Brisbane Roar coach Ange Postecoglou's avowed love of a challenge will be thoroughly tested as his struggling A-League champions deal with a deepening attacking injury crisis.
Not only has Brisbane slumped to third on the back of a club record five-match losing streak, it must now wait at least another four matches to have key duo Thomas Broich and Henrique back on deck.
On top of that, Mitch Nichols sat out training with a groin problem on Thursday and is in serious doubt for Saturday's home clash with the Melbourne Victory.
While Broich (heel), Henrique (knee) and super-sub James Meyer were ruled out of next week's road double against Perth and Adelaide, Postecoglou rated Nichols only a 50 per cent chance of playing against the Victory.
That would thrust little-used Rocky Visconte into the playmaking hot seat at a time when they need all the attacking thrust they can find.
Postecoglou has attributed the bulk of their recent woes to an inability to convert the fewer chances they've created since ending their national record 36-match unbeaten streak a month ago.
That was when the classy Broich played his last match, with his tricky heel problem failing to heal completely.
Postecoglou admitted confidence had slipped but he insisted there was no need to panic or even modify his vibrant, possession-at-all-costs passing game until his attacking stars return.
"I've certainly been around long enough to have seen worse than this," Postecoglou said.
"You know in the journey as a coach ... there is some pretty fine lines between what is successful and what isn't.
"From my point of view nothing's really changed and, if anything, that's kind of what I like about it - it's challenging and it would be boring if it wasn't.
"It's great, it tests me."
But the injuries continue to make the examination tougher as there's no magic fix for the depleted and out-of-form forward line.
"That's the area where we're struggling," Postecoglou said.
"We're still keeping good shape and good possession and the opposition is rarely threatening us still.
"Every now and then they will hit us on the break.
"But because we're not scoring we're not putting pressure on the opposition.
"It's one area of the game we did really well (during the streak) and it's the one area of the game we need to change if we're going to turn the results around."
In some welcome good news for the Roar, captain Matt Smith re-signed for a further two seasons before rating himself a likely starter against the Victory despite being troubled by a groin injury.
"I wouldn't call it a slump if you look at the performances," Smith said.
"I just think we're missing that final third at the moment and also we've been conceding goals that we haven't been in the past."
Smith, 29, who spent most of his career in the English lower leagues before returning to the Queensland state league in 2008, has risen through the ranks rapidly at Brisbane after leaving the defunct North Queensland Fury last year.
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be and I've seen a lot of growth in the club," Smith said.
"What we've done over the last 18 months is just a small glimpse at what Ange's plans are here so I want to be a big part of that.
"Obviously I was very, very fortunate to get the opportunity with the Fury and obviously just as fortunate that Ange chose us to come to Brisbane.
"It's been a whirlwind 18 months really."
AAP
Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, australia, qld, brisbane-4000 First posted December 29, 2011 11:42:18
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