02/12/2008 11:31 AM
Struggling Sydney FC striker John Aloisi insists the goals will come, possibly as soon as next week, because proven scorers always emerge from droughts.
Signed by the Sky Blues amid much fanfare on a contact worth in excess of $1m a season, the former Socceroos sharp-shooter has been more water pistol than AK-47.
One goal from 11 matches and periods on the reserves' bench has added up to a frustrating campaign for both player and club, but Aloisi is adamant better times are ahead.
"I can understand people getting frustrated and critical, but everywhere I've been I've scored goals," said the man whose career has taken him to the UK, Spain and back to Australia.
"You don't just stop scoring as a goalscorer. You go through patches."
"This is a bad patch. I'll get through it, hopefully sooner rather than later - hopefully next week and then it continues on to the finals."
A national hero when he slotted the penalty that took Australia to the 2006 World Cup finals, Aloisi has been copping it from Sydney's increasingly impatient fans.
The marquee player's lack of goals coupled with the team's indifferent form, which included an unimpressive 1-1 draw with Queensland last start, has the one-time Hyundai A-League glamour club closer to the bottom than top.
"Goalscorers want to score goals," Aloisi said.
"It is a bit frustrating when you're not scoring."
As for the team, languishing in sixth with rounds remaining, the upbeat striker declared: "I said to a few of our players (after the Queensland game) 'if we keep playing like that, the goals will come. We'll start winning games again."
"I thought we played some good stuff and it was a good game."
Sydney travels up the F3 on Sunday for a vital meeting with equally desperate Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium.