New role sits well with Carle

Sydney's 'fantasista' has played as a sitting midfielder in the team's two official trials so far.

And he said he was enjoying every minute of his new role.

Carle joined the club at the start of 2010-2011 and he was used essentially as an attacking midfielder or a second striker by coach Vitezslav Lavicka.

But new coach Ian Crook sees the former Newcastle Jets star as a deep-lying midfielder.

Crook's judgment appears to be spot-on so far because Carle played a leading role for Sydney in its 5-0 win over second-tier NSW team St George at Kogarah on Tuesday night.

"I'm a professional and I'll play wherever the coach wants me to play because I'm here to do a job," Carle said after playing for 65 minutes.

"It's a different role for me but I'm really enjoying it.

”I've had a chat with Crookie and he seems to believe that this is a good position for me.

"It means I get a lot more of the ball which is good and I get myself into positions where I can create some stuff and help out the team in whichever way.

"Crookie wants me to get onto the ball and dictate the game in the middle of the park.

"It does not mean I'm going to play there all year ... we're trialling things out, it's pre-season.

"So far in the past two games I've really enjoyed it.

"The way we're playing, we have two sitting midfielders and I'm one of them.

"This always gives me that liberty to attack, especially playing with Terry McFlynn beside me who always sits and does a brilliant job."

Although Carle admits that his role in the team is likely to be different this season, his committed approach to the game won't change.

"The fans will see the same Nicky Carle as they have always seen," he said.

"The same player who works as hard as he can for the team and do whatever he can do to help it succeed.

"I think I've always given 100 per cent to all the teams I have played for and nothing will change regardless of where I play on the field.

"My first season with Sydney was a disaster with the injuries I had but last season I thought I played well and got back in the Socceroos side.

"This pre-season I'm feeling good and raring to go again."

Sydney's play has become demonstrably faster since Englishman Crook took over from the Czech, the emphasis being on sharp and crisp passing and swift movement and transition.

Sydney's higher tempo that is designed to free up space up front should enhance Carle's exquisite passing skills.

"We have a faster movement because we have a better structure," he said.

"Everyone knows what's demanded of them and we now have a style where we play out from the back and use our wingers pretty quick.

"It is no secret that we have a lot of speed up front which makes a massive difference.

"With the likes of Joel Chianese, Mitch Mallia, Yairo Yau, Ali Abbas and Dimi Petratos we have an abundance of pace and youth which, coupled with older blokes like Kruno Lovrek, McFlynn and myself, makes for an exciting team.

"Crookie has been brilliant and a breath of fresh air because he wants us to play attractive football with some good, high intensity passing.

"At the moment it looks very promising. We played St George this time last year and I know that we already are miles ahead from last season's game. It's been all positive."

Carle could not speak highly enough of the club's acquisitions in the off-season.

"We've been training for a while and it's been pressure, pressure," he said.

"But the likes of Lovrek, what a clever and great footballer.

”He can play as a No 10 and a striker but basically he is a very creative player.

"Then on top of that we have Abbas and Yau up front and Adam Griffiths at the back.

"I think we've signed very well and we have a very balanced squad this year.

"We also have good players fighting for every role which is always a good position to be in."

So will Sydney be strong enough to challenge for the A-League title?

"Look, it's very early and too hard to tell," he said.

"There are some strong teams out there and a lot of hard work for us but we definitely are not going in there not to win."