Star signing Brett Emerton has called for a strong showing by Sydney FC fans, as the Sky Blues look to end reigning champions Brisbane Roar's 29-match unbeaten run on Saturday.
The former Blackburn Rovers regular is hopeful of a big turn-out for his first home match at the Sydney Football Stadium after describing last week's 40,000-strong crowd for the blockbuster season opener against Harry Kewell's Melbourne Victory at Docklands as a "European-like" atmosphere.
"There's no denying that when there is a good crowd here (Sydney Football Stadium) we get great support, I've witnessed that before when I've played here with my old club Blackburn (in July 2010), and I'm expecting it to be a good atmosphere on Saturday," he said.
"Hopefully they come out and support and hopefully we repay their support with a good performance."
With 89 international caps and 18 goals for Australia, the Sky Blues will be looking to marquee signing Emerton to boost the club's attendance record, which last season averaged just under 8,000 a match.
"I hope people come out to watch me play, it's part of the reason I'm at this football club and I just want to put on a good show," Emerton said.
"But it's not about me, it's about the team and if we play well, play entertaining football they'll come back week in, week out."
Emerton, who says he is impressed with the standard of the league after the first round of play, is excited by the challenge of facing the title holders.
"It was a decent result last week, a good start for the club, so hopefully we can build on that," Emerton said.
"Brisbane are defending champions and look like being one of the teams to beat again this season.
"They haven't gone 29 games unbeaten for no reason.
"They're a good team and a great footballing team so obviously something we're looking to do is stop that run of theirs."
Aside from Emerton, Sydney has several key additions to the team with the returning Slovakian import Karol Kisel, Michael Beauchamp and Jamie Coyne among the off-season recruits.
And while there appears reason to be hopeful things will turn around for the Sky Blues this season, coach Vitezslav Lavicka is still wary of declaring his side certain to improve on last year's dismal ninth-place finish.
"We have made a few changes in the squad from last season, we've brought quality players, with maybe more leadership on the park, but I don't like to say too much after one game," Lavicka said.
"It was a good, small step last week and we're looking to continue that this weekend."
Sydney will be without striker Mark Bridge, who is out for two weeks after being red-carded against Melbourne, with last season's top goal scorer Bruno Cazarine his likely replacement and Kisel to return from injury.
AAP
Tags: soccer, sport, sydney-2000 First posted October 13, 2011 17:53:23
No comments:
Post a Comment