By Cathy Walshe
Wellington Phoenix left back Tom Doyle might be coming out of his shell, but he's nowhere near satisfied with the results.
Consistency is key for the 23-year-old defender, and in the Phoenix's four games to date this season, he doesn't feel that he's delivered.
Wellington have two wins - including one sparkling effort against Brisbane Roar - and two losses, the most disappointing Monday's 3-0 loss to Melbourne Victory.
Doyle admits he didn't always get his decision-making or timing right against the defending champions, and striker Kosta Barbarouses proved particularly punishing.
"When you're marking someone like Kosta, you leave him free and he's probably going to score. You really have to pick your times."
Sitting fifth on the A-League ladder, the Phoenix now travel to Gosford for their fifth-round match against ninth-placed Central Coast Mariners on Sunday.
And while injured skipper Andrew Durante is back again to marshall the back four, Wellington will be without midfielder Vince Lia, out for six to eight weeks with a serious hamstring tear.
Doyle is hoping both he and the Phoenix can rediscover some consistency against the struggling Mariners, who have just one win from four starts.
And while his core role at the back still has top priority, he's looking to improve his game in other areas coach Ernie Merrick has highlighted.
"I'm getting forward a lot more, which is what Ernie wants me to do, but there's just a lot of room for improvement," Doyle said.
"I really want to score - it's my goal for the year. Getting forward is a big thing for me this year.
"I think defensively, I do my job pretty well but adding something to the team going forward is what Ernie's looking for in his wing backs, so it's something I have to do, and you need to be passionate about doing it."
Doyle is particularly looking forward to matching wits with All Whites teammate Storm Roux, hoping to stretch the in-form Mariners' attacking fullback.
"I know him pretty well, so I'll just be looking to get in that space behind and get Mikey (McGlinchey) on the ball as much as possible," he said.
Drawing Roux wide and creating room for the likes of Roy Krishna or Jeffrey Sarpong to benefit from could also prove fruitful, with the Mariners struggling defensively in their early matches.
"They're a bit scattered at the back at the moment, so if we can exploit that then we'll do very well against them."
