Northcote City boss Goran Lozanovski has admitted the turnaround in playing staff has played a large role in the sides underwhelming start to the 2014 NPL season.
Last seasons premiers have begun the New Year in uninspiring fashion, conceding six goals on their way to consecutive losses, the latest being a 2-3 loss to fellow Grand Finalists Bentleigh Greens.
The departure of no less than eight players in the off-season has derailed any sort of momentum Lozanovski planned on riding after the success of last season but the head coach still feels there is enough strength in his squad to challenge for top honours.
“Look, we just keep working on [results] I suppose,” he said in the wake of their loss to Bentleigh.
“We’ve had an eight player change in roster so it hasn’t been ideal in pre-season but I’ve had to manage with what I’ve got.”
Those losses have mainly been offset by the promotion of several players from the clubs youth side.
“We’ve brought up at least six young boys from the U/20’s from last season, so they’re obviously learning the hard way at the moment but we just have to keep positive with that and that’s what we’ve got, that’s our group,” Lozanovski said.
“It’s still a good group, I still think we play some good stuff but like I keep saying it’s all about the one percenters and if we do those right then I think we’ll win a lot more games than we lose.”
One young player who did make his mark on the weekend was young forward Wade Dekker, who deputised in the absence of ex-captain Trent Rixon.
Lozanovski was full of praise for the academy graduate, who is sure to provide his coach with some proper selection headaches after nabbing his side’s second goal of the night.
“[Dekker’s] progress has been fantastic, the last couple of years of playing in our U20’s and being part of the senior squad,” the head coach said.
“This year he’s showing glimpses that he wants to step up and he’s proving it.
“Like I said to Wade there is no use being in the first XI and just making up numbers so he’s gone out there and showed he’s a difference, scored a great goal today and obviously got involved in the first goal and he’s probably unfortunate that he doesn’t maybe get another goal.
“If he keeps going the way he’s going he’s obviously putting a lot of pressure on players like Kalifatidis and Rixon as well so it’s important for us that these young boys do step up and he’s one of five others that need to step up as well.”
Northcote’s young brigade get the chance to redeem themselves against Ballarat Red Devils this Saturday in what is nearly a must win match for the title chasers.
“Definitely, I think you need to win as many games as you can to keep yourself up with the rest of the pack so the longer we take to get our first win or any sort of points, the harder it is for us to chase the pack, especially the top three of four,” Lozanovski said.
“It’s important that we do get a win next week, [Ballarat] obviously got a win so they’re up and flying so I think everyone’s got a win bar a couple of clubs.
“It’s important we’re at home, we obviously have to get off to a good start and make sure we don’t concede soft goals.”
Northcote will be looking to open their account this weekend against Ballarat on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off at John Cain Memorial Park is scheduled for 3:00pm.