Sadly due to a familial Christmas commitment I am missing tonight's game - and will most likely miss the January 8 game against Gold Coast as well. If I catch either game on Fox I shall post as normal.
To my vast audience - never fear, I shall return!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Game 19 - Sydney FC 0 vs Queensland Roar 1 - 12/12/10
"It could have been worse."
That is the frightening defeatism that has infected Sydney FC. This season has seen a champion squad plunge into despair and disrepair, with nary a captain or coach able to bail the water out of a sinking ship.
To say that Sydney FC won the second half flatters the hosts mightily. Brisbane rarely got out of second gear. Imagine what they could accomplish with a top class striker. The Roar worked their way down field methodically and brazenly, while Sydney struggled to play out of their own half.
All the old bad signs were there. Stephan Keller thumping the ball long and wide. Static fullbacks hugging the touch line. Players pointing at positions where they expected each other to be, five seconds after the ball had gone. Sydney's playmaker, either Mark Bridge or Terry Antonis, settling for occupying a defender instead of running them ragged.
Viteslav Lavicka should guide the club to the Asian Champions League but Sydney FC should not be offering him an Alan Pardew-esque five and a half year deal. Lavicka clearly arrived with Plan A - the same 4-4-2 diamond that Sydney have played for a year and a half - and no Plan B, despite Brisbane playing the same way they have all season.
Lavicka identified that Gan and Antonis were struggling but changed personnel without attacking the cause of the problem. Few managers have disrupted Brisbane this season but the diamond left Antonis and Bridge completely impotent - exhausted by defence and desperately out of position in transition attack. Brisbane apparently enjoyed 68 percent of possession in the first half. I'm surprised it wasn't more.
To go man for man, as Sydney were unable to do:
Ivan Necevski should have done better to block Kosta Barbarouses's cool finish but made some smart saves in either half. A good back up option for sure, but it seems Crazy Ivan has found his level.
Shannon Cole was easily Sydney's most impressive player over the 90 minutes. He supplied Sydney's only moment of skill with a cool backheel in the second half, put in a few threatening runs and kept Thomas Broich reasonably quiet. Cole backed himself in the tackle and on the ball, which was something few other Sydney players seemed willing to do. His combination with Dimitri Petratos was encouraging and should be nurtured.
Sung-Hwan Byun put in possibly his worst shift in a Sky Blue shirt. Apart from supplying atrocious delivery from wide areas throughout the match, Byun was one of many Sydney players who seemed more intent on ordering his teammates around than getting in a helpful position himself. Byun's mind seems off the job and Scott Jamieson cannot return soon enough.
Hayden Foxe and Stephan Keller may have been a great central combination five years ago. But Foxe's distribution has degraded over the past month and Keller's has probably been atrocious his entire career. That Brisbane did not win by more is evidence of their honest hard work but they were often caught too far apart, too far from their Solorzano, too deep (to cover their lack of pace) and too scared of the ball. It is time for Lavicka to recruit some replacements.
Sydney's under fire manager was forced to substitute Brendan Gan and Terry Antonis at halftime and both youngsters deserved the hook. Hopefully Antonis will not stay benched for long. The lad has undoubted ability but today's match was too cruel a test so early. His confidence must now be sand-bagged, not sabotaged. Sydney's first responsibility was too relieve defensive pressure and neither Gan nor Antonis contributed, while Terry McFlynn's performance was similarly lacking.
Terry McFlynn may be a Foundation Player but he needs to be a proper captain. It has been too long since McFlynn, or any Sydney player, took a match by the scruff of the neck. It is McFlynn's duty to lead by example, but doing a job is no longer enough in a Sydney side of much lower quality than last year's edition.
Hiro Moriyasu also put in a fairly abject performance. He was played in what is allegedly his preferred position at the base of Sydney's midfield, but lost possession time and again, took too long to select an option, was weak in the tackle and failed to interact properly with his defence. Hiro is best employed as a box to box harasser and lacks the composure to play as the screening anchor. An in-form Stuart Musialik is a better option, but Sydney have precious few players in form at the moment.
Big bad Bruno Cazarine was obviously not fully fit and played for free kicks before halftime. Alex Brosque was dynamic, inspirational and alone.
Mark Bridge was absolutely anonymous. Again. His new contract should be read to him like the Riot Act. Hopefully a rocket up the backside can push him past the barrier of his natural abilities. Bridge is an enigma without the ability to justify his inconsistency. Nicky Carle, it has been said too often, cannot return soon enough.
A champion side should not regress so poorly. A great manager should not allow them to. Great managers adapt. Great players overcome adversity. Sydney FC simply flounder while their crowds dwindle and The Cove grows quieter. Sydney's names were not cheered and the side was barely applauded onto the park.
Something is out of kilter and it is not just Nicky Carle's back.
That is the frightening defeatism that has infected Sydney FC. This season has seen a champion squad plunge into despair and disrepair, with nary a captain or coach able to bail the water out of a sinking ship.
To say that Sydney FC won the second half flatters the hosts mightily. Brisbane rarely got out of second gear. Imagine what they could accomplish with a top class striker. The Roar worked their way down field methodically and brazenly, while Sydney struggled to play out of their own half.
All the old bad signs were there. Stephan Keller thumping the ball long and wide. Static fullbacks hugging the touch line. Players pointing at positions where they expected each other to be, five seconds after the ball had gone. Sydney's playmaker, either Mark Bridge or Terry Antonis, settling for occupying a defender instead of running them ragged.
Viteslav Lavicka should guide the club to the Asian Champions League but Sydney FC should not be offering him an Alan Pardew-esque five and a half year deal. Lavicka clearly arrived with Plan A - the same 4-4-2 diamond that Sydney have played for a year and a half - and no Plan B, despite Brisbane playing the same way they have all season.
Lavicka identified that Gan and Antonis were struggling but changed personnel without attacking the cause of the problem. Few managers have disrupted Brisbane this season but the diamond left Antonis and Bridge completely impotent - exhausted by defence and desperately out of position in transition attack. Brisbane apparently enjoyed 68 percent of possession in the first half. I'm surprised it wasn't more.
To go man for man, as Sydney were unable to do:
Ivan Necevski should have done better to block Kosta Barbarouses's cool finish but made some smart saves in either half. A good back up option for sure, but it seems Crazy Ivan has found his level.
Shannon Cole was easily Sydney's most impressive player over the 90 minutes. He supplied Sydney's only moment of skill with a cool backheel in the second half, put in a few threatening runs and kept Thomas Broich reasonably quiet. Cole backed himself in the tackle and on the ball, which was something few other Sydney players seemed willing to do. His combination with Dimitri Petratos was encouraging and should be nurtured.
Sung-Hwan Byun put in possibly his worst shift in a Sky Blue shirt. Apart from supplying atrocious delivery from wide areas throughout the match, Byun was one of many Sydney players who seemed more intent on ordering his teammates around than getting in a helpful position himself. Byun's mind seems off the job and Scott Jamieson cannot return soon enough.
Hayden Foxe and Stephan Keller may have been a great central combination five years ago. But Foxe's distribution has degraded over the past month and Keller's has probably been atrocious his entire career. That Brisbane did not win by more is evidence of their honest hard work but they were often caught too far apart, too far from their Solorzano, too deep (to cover their lack of pace) and too scared of the ball. It is time for Lavicka to recruit some replacements.
Sydney's under fire manager was forced to substitute Brendan Gan and Terry Antonis at halftime and both youngsters deserved the hook. Hopefully Antonis will not stay benched for long. The lad has undoubted ability but today's match was too cruel a test so early. His confidence must now be sand-bagged, not sabotaged. Sydney's first responsibility was too relieve defensive pressure and neither Gan nor Antonis contributed, while Terry McFlynn's performance was similarly lacking.
Terry McFlynn may be a Foundation Player but he needs to be a proper captain. It has been too long since McFlynn, or any Sydney player, took a match by the scruff of the neck. It is McFlynn's duty to lead by example, but doing a job is no longer enough in a Sydney side of much lower quality than last year's edition.
Hiro Moriyasu also put in a fairly abject performance. He was played in what is allegedly his preferred position at the base of Sydney's midfield, but lost possession time and again, took too long to select an option, was weak in the tackle and failed to interact properly with his defence. Hiro is best employed as a box to box harasser and lacks the composure to play as the screening anchor. An in-form Stuart Musialik is a better option, but Sydney have precious few players in form at the moment.
Big bad Bruno Cazarine was obviously not fully fit and played for free kicks before halftime. Alex Brosque was dynamic, inspirational and alone.
Mark Bridge was absolutely anonymous. Again. His new contract should be read to him like the Riot Act. Hopefully a rocket up the backside can push him past the barrier of his natural abilities. Bridge is an enigma without the ability to justify his inconsistency. Nicky Carle, it has been said too often, cannot return soon enough.
A champion side should not regress so poorly. A great manager should not allow them to. Great managers adapt. Great players overcome adversity. Sydney FC simply flounder while their crowds dwindle and The Cove grows quieter. Sydney's names were not cheered and the side was barely applauded onto the park.
Something is out of kilter and it is not just Nicky Carle's back.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Game 17 - Sydney FC 3 vs Wellington Phoenix 1 - 02/12/10
The four thousand hardy souls who ventured to the SFS on a wet and windy Wednesday night witnessed the possible birth of a new footballing star.
Terry Antonis only played for half an hour but he controlled the midfield with enthusiasm and daring. He ran at players with the ball at his feet, turned during his first touch despite the bucketing rain, took the initiative with a long range shot and most importantly - passed decisively, elegantly and forwards despite playing in the middle of a veritable monsoon.
Antonis played in Mark Bridge for Bridge's own drought-breaking goal and linked well with fellow super-sub Dimitri Petratos. If those two continue to improve Sydney have a pair of real prospects in their ranks.
Stuart Musialik must be wondering where he fits into Sydney's future as his contract winds down. Terry McFlynn is a defensive midfielder at heart and his status as skipper ensures his selection. Hiro Moriyasu is a box to box defensive type and was recently re-signed. Rhyan Grant has played junior international football and clearly has Lavicka's favour. Brendan Gan slotted in nicely on the right side of the diamond, though still fails to inspire complete confidence.
With Petratos growing into a deep-lying playmaker role and Musialik's selection anything but the sure thing it was last season, we may see Disco Stu head for safer pastures at the end of the season. It would be sad to see him go - at his best he offers far more than McFlynn, who maintains his spot thanks to Sydney's overall lack of aggression.
The match itself was a corker - and thanks to our Harbour City's allergic reaction to rain, I missed the first 35 minutes due to traffic jams. It boasted 26 shots - three of which hit the post - and four goals of high drama, if not high quality.
Bridge looked to be level as Antonis released him for his well-taken goal but Seb Ryall's handball for Sydney's third strike was as blatant as they come. Dylan Macallister's late goal was anything but a consolation as Wellington looked the marginally better side and finished far stronger than Sydney.
The Sky Blues reverted to some familiar bad habits after taking the lead. When opposing fullbacks push forward for a constructed overlap, Bridge in particular will often track back to within metres of a challenge but then not follow his man despite Sydney's left back committing to the opposing winger.
Sydney have been caught out by simple overlaps down the line time and time again this season and Wellington only failed to earn a point due to poor delivery. Kiwi crosses often found a sole Sydney defender with Phoenix strikers lurking to either side. When Sydney did have numbers back their marking was woefully poor and players failed to track fullbacks or close down Phoenix players as they pinged in crosses from deep.
If Sydney fail to cover these areas against the Mariners then expect an aerial bombardment aimed at their physically dynamic strikers. Of course, if Sydney are drawn too wide then Graham Arnold will direct his number 10 to drift into space.
The strikers must take responsibility for closing this increasingly obvious gap in Sydney's defensive set up. Bridge and Brosque need to track back and actually follow their man, not just get six feet behind the ball and wait for the opposition to lose it.
Sydney can take a lot from this match. The celebration with The Cove has returned with some welcome swagger on the ball. Scott Jamieson battled well before succumbing to illness and fatigue. Gan played well, Ryall was everywhere, Brosque and Bridge scored well-taken goals and Bridge in particular put in another impressive overall contribution. Hopefully some of Antonis's enthusiasm will encourage Bridge to pass first-time against the Mariners.
On the downside the delivery from Shannon Cole and Jamieson from wide areas was as rare as it was appalling, Hiro was largely anonymous, Ivan Necevski's distribution failed to improve and only Antonis had the wherewithal to test Mark Paston from distance in atrocious conditions (and did so weakly). But Sydney's inconsistency remains the biggest concern. Sydney take an even contest and find five minutes of beautiful passing football, but remain unable to wrest back the initiative when their opponent has the upper hand.
Sydney are playing below the Mariner's level, will be exhausted after a tough match in heavy rain and can only hope that the Mariner's are still in shock after the Roar savaged them 5-1. It is far more likely that Central Coast will be desperate to beat their rivals in front of their fans and salvage some pride. A point may be a good result.
Terry Antonis only played for half an hour but he controlled the midfield with enthusiasm and daring. He ran at players with the ball at his feet, turned during his first touch despite the bucketing rain, took the initiative with a long range shot and most importantly - passed decisively, elegantly and forwards despite playing in the middle of a veritable monsoon.
Antonis played in Mark Bridge for Bridge's own drought-breaking goal and linked well with fellow super-sub Dimitri Petratos. If those two continue to improve Sydney have a pair of real prospects in their ranks.
Stuart Musialik must be wondering where he fits into Sydney's future as his contract winds down. Terry McFlynn is a defensive midfielder at heart and his status as skipper ensures his selection. Hiro Moriyasu is a box to box defensive type and was recently re-signed. Rhyan Grant has played junior international football and clearly has Lavicka's favour. Brendan Gan slotted in nicely on the right side of the diamond, though still fails to inspire complete confidence.
With Petratos growing into a deep-lying playmaker role and Musialik's selection anything but the sure thing it was last season, we may see Disco Stu head for safer pastures at the end of the season. It would be sad to see him go - at his best he offers far more than McFlynn, who maintains his spot thanks to Sydney's overall lack of aggression.
The match itself was a corker - and thanks to our Harbour City's allergic reaction to rain, I missed the first 35 minutes due to traffic jams. It boasted 26 shots - three of which hit the post - and four goals of high drama, if not high quality.
Bridge looked to be level as Antonis released him for his well-taken goal but Seb Ryall's handball for Sydney's third strike was as blatant as they come. Dylan Macallister's late goal was anything but a consolation as Wellington looked the marginally better side and finished far stronger than Sydney.
The Sky Blues reverted to some familiar bad habits after taking the lead. When opposing fullbacks push forward for a constructed overlap, Bridge in particular will often track back to within metres of a challenge but then not follow his man despite Sydney's left back committing to the opposing winger.
Sydney have been caught out by simple overlaps down the line time and time again this season and Wellington only failed to earn a point due to poor delivery. Kiwi crosses often found a sole Sydney defender with Phoenix strikers lurking to either side. When Sydney did have numbers back their marking was woefully poor and players failed to track fullbacks or close down Phoenix players as they pinged in crosses from deep.
If Sydney fail to cover these areas against the Mariners then expect an aerial bombardment aimed at their physically dynamic strikers. Of course, if Sydney are drawn too wide then Graham Arnold will direct his number 10 to drift into space.
The strikers must take responsibility for closing this increasingly obvious gap in Sydney's defensive set up. Bridge and Brosque need to track back and actually follow their man, not just get six feet behind the ball and wait for the opposition to lose it.
Sydney can take a lot from this match. The celebration with The Cove has returned with some welcome swagger on the ball. Scott Jamieson battled well before succumbing to illness and fatigue. Gan played well, Ryall was everywhere, Brosque and Bridge scored well-taken goals and Bridge in particular put in another impressive overall contribution. Hopefully some of Antonis's enthusiasm will encourage Bridge to pass first-time against the Mariners.
On the downside the delivery from Shannon Cole and Jamieson from wide areas was as rare as it was appalling, Hiro was largely anonymous, Ivan Necevski's distribution failed to improve and only Antonis had the wherewithal to test Mark Paston from distance in atrocious conditions (and did so weakly). But Sydney's inconsistency remains the biggest concern. Sydney take an even contest and find five minutes of beautiful passing football, but remain unable to wrest back the initiative when their opponent has the upper hand.
Sydney are playing below the Mariner's level, will be exhausted after a tough match in heavy rain and can only hope that the Mariner's are still in shock after the Roar savaged them 5-1. It is far more likely that Central Coast will be desperate to beat their rivals in front of their fans and salvage some pride. A point may be a good result.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Game 15 - Sydney FC 2 vs Perth Gloy 0 - 21/11/10
Well, thank God for that. After 70 minutes of execrable football Sydney somehow discovered a blistering spell of one touch, pass and move football.
The ball spent precious little time on the ground for long periods of yesterday's match at Parramatta Stadium. Touch players Alex Brosque, Mark Bridge and Robbie Fowler could not get into a long-ball game - though Sydney's "Killer B's" were the best on the ground in the second half of the second period.
Rather embarrassingly, I believed the newly-bald Rhyan Grant was Scott Jamieson for a long time (and found it curious that he was playing on the right of the midfield three). Playing three defensive midfielders against the A League's weakest team was quite Manchester City of Sydney FC. Once again the conservative formation produced frustrating football for an enthusiastic Western Sydney crowd - until Sydney slipped into gear.
The crowd of 6654 is reportedly Sydney's record low. The club must take action to draw back the fans for the build up to the Asian Champion's League campaign. A guest player in the ilk of Kazu must be contemplated. Sydney's style of football is not going to bring back the fans - unless of course the Sky Blues can get out of second gear for more than 20 minutes of a match.
Shannon Cole's decisive run, goal and backflip celebration were all perfectly timed. But his man of the match award was farcical - Cole's distribution was off all afternoon and at times he comically gave away the ball. Byun was a little more solid on the other side and both fullbacks at least did the job defensively.
Hayden Foxe was similarly wasteful and during the first half he took the ball past the Perth centre circle before playing a poor pass straight to a Glory player. Sydney were so startled to see a centre half in a ball-playing role that Foxe's position was left completely empty and only an atrocious Perth pass saved Sydney's skin.
The comparison with Brisbane's Luke DeVere is stark. Sydney are still ball-watching and only thinking one pass ahead.
When Dimitri Petratos took the field, it seemed the team collectively decided to play football. Sydney played first time passes, cute balls around the corner and made runs that actually predicted the play two moves ahead.
Though Hiro Moriyasu make some incisive runs (before taking dreadful options) the most surprising performance came from Mark Bridge, who showed glimpses of his creative best while still taking a touch too many on several occasions. Nicky Carle should return to the first choice 11 but Bridge did well in the absence of Carle and Bruno Cazarine.
The brief glimpse of swashbuckling football at the end of the second half was largely sparked by Bridge and Alex Brosque. Where Hiro's swashbuckling runs ended in damnable indecision, Bridge and Brosque reignited their once-lethal understanding and buzzed around Perth's static defence. Their movement and touch was powered by the faith of their midfield, who finally had the guts to play a short pass and move forward to create space for a comrade.
Michael Cockerill puts Brosque's inconsistency down to a lack of desire. I doubt that this is the case. Brosque's touch, pace and finishing have found their level: he is a four star A League striker. Brosque has never stood up and claimed a spot for the Socceroos, he has only scored 38 goals in 123 A League appearances and has never bagged more than 8 in a season.
Brosque has been Sydney's best player this season (which isn't saying much) but even in last season's ball-to-feet focused side, he only scored seven goals. His 10 assists that year tell the story - Brosque is not a goal machine striker and that is why Bruno Cazarine is so important to the squad.
Brosque has appropriately won the headlines but Bridge was impressive and may keep his spot when Bruno returns. I would slot Hiro back into the midfield three at Grant's expense. If you are going to have three defensive midfielders, one of them should at least show a bit of dynamism.
If Shannon Cole can do the simple things but keep the showtime going, if Hiro can take better options (such as his through ball that released Brosque for the second goal) and if Mark Bridge can keep improving, Sydney might still sneak a finals spot.
With Bruno and Nicky Carle coming back into the squad, the future is looking brighter for Sydney FC.
The ball spent precious little time on the ground for long periods of yesterday's match at Parramatta Stadium. Touch players Alex Brosque, Mark Bridge and Robbie Fowler could not get into a long-ball game - though Sydney's "Killer B's" were the best on the ground in the second half of the second period.
Rather embarrassingly, I believed the newly-bald Rhyan Grant was Scott Jamieson for a long time (and found it curious that he was playing on the right of the midfield three). Playing three defensive midfielders against the A League's weakest team was quite Manchester City of Sydney FC. Once again the conservative formation produced frustrating football for an enthusiastic Western Sydney crowd - until Sydney slipped into gear.
The crowd of 6654 is reportedly Sydney's record low. The club must take action to draw back the fans for the build up to the Asian Champion's League campaign. A guest player in the ilk of Kazu must be contemplated. Sydney's style of football is not going to bring back the fans - unless of course the Sky Blues can get out of second gear for more than 20 minutes of a match.
Shannon Cole's decisive run, goal and backflip celebration were all perfectly timed. But his man of the match award was farcical - Cole's distribution was off all afternoon and at times he comically gave away the ball. Byun was a little more solid on the other side and both fullbacks at least did the job defensively.
Hayden Foxe was similarly wasteful and during the first half he took the ball past the Perth centre circle before playing a poor pass straight to a Glory player. Sydney were so startled to see a centre half in a ball-playing role that Foxe's position was left completely empty and only an atrocious Perth pass saved Sydney's skin.
The comparison with Brisbane's Luke DeVere is stark. Sydney are still ball-watching and only thinking one pass ahead.
When Dimitri Petratos took the field, it seemed the team collectively decided to play football. Sydney played first time passes, cute balls around the corner and made runs that actually predicted the play two moves ahead.
Though Hiro Moriyasu make some incisive runs (before taking dreadful options) the most surprising performance came from Mark Bridge, who showed glimpses of his creative best while still taking a touch too many on several occasions. Nicky Carle should return to the first choice 11 but Bridge did well in the absence of Carle and Bruno Cazarine.
The brief glimpse of swashbuckling football at the end of the second half was largely sparked by Bridge and Alex Brosque. Where Hiro's swashbuckling runs ended in damnable indecision, Bridge and Brosque reignited their once-lethal understanding and buzzed around Perth's static defence. Their movement and touch was powered by the faith of their midfield, who finally had the guts to play a short pass and move forward to create space for a comrade.
Michael Cockerill puts Brosque's inconsistency down to a lack of desire. I doubt that this is the case. Brosque's touch, pace and finishing have found their level: he is a four star A League striker. Brosque has never stood up and claimed a spot for the Socceroos, he has only scored 38 goals in 123 A League appearances and has never bagged more than 8 in a season.
Brosque has been Sydney's best player this season (which isn't saying much) but even in last season's ball-to-feet focused side, he only scored seven goals. His 10 assists that year tell the story - Brosque is not a goal machine striker and that is why Bruno Cazarine is so important to the squad.
Brosque has appropriately won the headlines but Bridge was impressive and may keep his spot when Bruno returns. I would slot Hiro back into the midfield three at Grant's expense. If you are going to have three defensive midfielders, one of them should at least show a bit of dynamism.
If Shannon Cole can do the simple things but keep the showtime going, if Hiro can take better options (such as his through ball that released Brosque for the second goal) and if Mark Bridge can keep improving, Sydney might still sneak a finals spot.
With Bruno and Nicky Carle coming back into the squad, the future is looking brighter for Sydney FC.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Game 13 - Sydney FC 1 vs Newcastle Jets 0 - 7/11/10
Perhaps Sydney were due a gift. But Sunday's scrappy win against fellow cellar-dwellers Newcastle left a bitter taste in the mouth.
Sydney created few chances and will take little confidence to the Gold Coast despite the win and first clean sheet of the season. The champions should not settle for winning ugly. Viteslav Lavicka was not wrong to state: "We are doing small steps forward now."
Sydney FC should be running. Hiro Moriyasu earned his new contract for his enthusiasm. His dynamic play has energized Sydney's formerly ponderous midfield and it was little surprise to see him pushed further forward into a front three role. If his touch could compare to Karol Kisel's, Sydney might be in business.
It doesn't. Not yet, anyway. But Lavicka is entitled to expect further improvements from his state league recruit. Without Nicky Carle he has few others to turn to, as it would seem that Danning and Antonis may as well write off the season.
Goal scorer Bruno Cazarine continues to impress. He lacks Viduka's touch and his distribution is frequently dodgy, but Bruno closes down, employs more than one defender at most times and is adept at stealing goals. His heading at set pieces has been disappointing in the last few home matches and he and Brosque rarely display an understanding. Again, more is expected as time goes on. Both men are undroppable with Mark Bridge injured and out of form.
That said, it has been a long time since Alex Brosque has made an impression on a match. Some strikers can afford to live moment by moment. Sydney need more from their most creative (healthy) player.
Bridge will surely return to the bench for the next match as Stuart Musialik mostly impressed with more agile men around him. Lavicka will however be disappointed by how Newcastle overran and outplayed Sydney for large periods of the match.
Sydney's midfield were unable to keep the ball under sustained pressure and the old bad habit of ball watching and finger pointing resurfaced in the second half. Players seemed intent on bossing each other around and not moving into space to receive or allow a pass. Rhyan Grant is still finding his way and Terry McFlynn offered aggression and little else. Ben Kantarovski would slide straight into this Sydney side and so would a few others.
Ali Abbas impressed with everything but his finishing and it is high time that Scott Jamieson repayed the club for recruiting him with intent. By all reports Byun will depart at the end of his contract and Jamieson must start defending with effort and authority. Shannon Cole similarly needs to get out of third gear and the delivery from wide areas has been poor all season.
Hayden Foxe and Stephan Keller were pegged back but managed for the most part. But the question must be asked - with Ryall benched, Foxe surely on his last legs and Keller similarly out of contract, does Lavicka have a recruitment strategy in place? One would hope so, but his work in this department does not inspire confidence. A top class centreback must be the first priority for Asia.
And now Sydney travel to meet their nemesis. Thankfully Gold Coast cannot boast much of a home ground advantage. It is time for several Sydney players to remember how good they can be.
Sydney created few chances and will take little confidence to the Gold Coast despite the win and first clean sheet of the season. The champions should not settle for winning ugly. Viteslav Lavicka was not wrong to state: "We are doing small steps forward now."
Sydney FC should be running. Hiro Moriyasu earned his new contract for his enthusiasm. His dynamic play has energized Sydney's formerly ponderous midfield and it was little surprise to see him pushed further forward into a front three role. If his touch could compare to Karol Kisel's, Sydney might be in business.
It doesn't. Not yet, anyway. But Lavicka is entitled to expect further improvements from his state league recruit. Without Nicky Carle he has few others to turn to, as it would seem that Danning and Antonis may as well write off the season.
Goal scorer Bruno Cazarine continues to impress. He lacks Viduka's touch and his distribution is frequently dodgy, but Bruno closes down, employs more than one defender at most times and is adept at stealing goals. His heading at set pieces has been disappointing in the last few home matches and he and Brosque rarely display an understanding. Again, more is expected as time goes on. Both men are undroppable with Mark Bridge injured and out of form.
That said, it has been a long time since Alex Brosque has made an impression on a match. Some strikers can afford to live moment by moment. Sydney need more from their most creative (healthy) player.
Bridge will surely return to the bench for the next match as Stuart Musialik mostly impressed with more agile men around him. Lavicka will however be disappointed by how Newcastle overran and outplayed Sydney for large periods of the match.
Sydney's midfield were unable to keep the ball under sustained pressure and the old bad habit of ball watching and finger pointing resurfaced in the second half. Players seemed intent on bossing each other around and not moving into space to receive or allow a pass. Rhyan Grant is still finding his way and Terry McFlynn offered aggression and little else. Ben Kantarovski would slide straight into this Sydney side and so would a few others.
Ali Abbas impressed with everything but his finishing and it is high time that Scott Jamieson repayed the club for recruiting him with intent. By all reports Byun will depart at the end of his contract and Jamieson must start defending with effort and authority. Shannon Cole similarly needs to get out of third gear and the delivery from wide areas has been poor all season.
Hayden Foxe and Stephan Keller were pegged back but managed for the most part. But the question must be asked - with Ryall benched, Foxe surely on his last legs and Keller similarly out of contract, does Lavicka have a recruitment strategy in place? One would hope so, but his work in this department does not inspire confidence. A top class centreback must be the first priority for Asia.
And now Sydney travel to meet their nemesis. Thankfully Gold Coast cannot boast much of a home ground advantage. It is time for several Sydney players to remember how good they can be.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Game 12 - Sydney FC 1 vs Brisbane Roar 1 - 30/10/10
It is perhaps appropriate to pen this rather late analysis of the Roar game as we learn that Nicky Carle will be out for another month.
Michael Cockerill has written quite persuasively that Sydney's title defence is over and the club should look to the Asian Champions League. With Carle succumbing to another injury I completely agree with him. Sydney’s chance of making the finals is as unlikely as West Brom reaching the Champions League, but the Asian preparations require more than tinkering around the edges of Terry McFlynn's responsibilities.
Carle has played seven games for Sydney and frankly his performance in the opening match against Melbourne remains the most complete I have seen from any Sky Blue this season.
That a season can start so well and slip so low is lamentable. An impressive preseason against high class European opposition seems so long ago. It is time to properly blood youngsters such as Terry Antonis and Seb Ryall, bench underperformers (most notably Bridge) and finally give Kofi Danning a three or four game stretch to test out his errant touch. If he fails, let the lad go to a club like the Fury, where his pace may finally find a home.
If Byun will not sign a new deal, Scott Jamieson should play at left back. Hayden Foxe, class player that he is, cannot be expected to lead the backline for much longer and may not last the Asian campaign. Lavicka must play Ryall to build his confidence. He must also decide on his best goalkeeper and stick with him. Hiro Moriyasu deserves to keep his spot and the chance at a new deal.
It is time for Sydney to "move forward". Brisbane again showed Sydney that standing still is no option in the A League. The Roar had an off night yet moved the ball with pace, intent and absolute confidence. Sydney had an off night and looked continually shell-shocked.
Only Bruno Cazarine and Hiro Moriyasu played above themselves. The back four put in an adequate shift but Necevski's punch was so bad it was perhaps best he did not attempt to catch the ball.
Terry McFlynn was wasteful with the ball and Brisbane's quick passing showed up his general lack of mobility. Rhyan Grant was anonymous and tortured by the Roar's quick movement, but it is early days and his manager did the lad no favours by leaving him on the pitch when he was clearly exhausted. Stuart Musialik's sins must have been grave indeed.
As for Alex Brosque, his chipped goal was coolly done, but the Asian Cup is surely receding faster and faster from view from a player unable to influence a match. Mark Bridge put in another feeble performance and his new contract must seem like a blessing.
Sydney pressed three at a time and moved off the ball in trios, not as a team. Brisbane blew them off the park. Defending champions should not pray for the whistle. Their fans should not have to whistle from the stands. It should never be acceptable, but it was, and I was whistling as well, whistling into a deepening dark.
Ever since Viteslav Lavicka arrived he has attempted to teach Sydney to play a multi-paced, patient game based around short passes, movement off the ball and neat first touches around a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond. The full backs provide most of the width but crawl rather than break forward, and the pivotal man in the hole requires creative support from his midfield comrades.
The system relies on a cool-headed number 10, a stingy defence, confidence throughout the squad and a lethal frontman. This season Lavicka has no Steve Corica, Karol Kisel, Nicky Carle or John Aloisi. The side has lost experience, enjoys no confidence and literally cannot keep a clean sheet.
This Sky Blues squad degrade in the second half and the Brisbane match was no exception. As the match wound down Sydney laid on three bad passes, four dodgy first touches and the same number of turnovers in a five minute period.
Sydney scored a lucky goal with their first shot of the match. They would muster few others. That a defending champion can take less than half a dozen shots in a home match demonstrates the exciting, evolutionary nature of the A League - as well as Sydney's evolving mediocrity.
The squad's new striker would provide Lavicka with welcome selection headache, but as I have stated before, Lavicka more desperately needs a playmaker to back up Carle - or more accurately, to play the Kisel to Corica's Carle.
Or he could change his system. Like he did against Perth. When Sydney won. Hmm...
Michael Cockerill has written quite persuasively that Sydney's title defence is over and the club should look to the Asian Champions League. With Carle succumbing to another injury I completely agree with him. Sydney’s chance of making the finals is as unlikely as West Brom reaching the Champions League, but the Asian preparations require more than tinkering around the edges of Terry McFlynn's responsibilities.
Carle has played seven games for Sydney and frankly his performance in the opening match against Melbourne remains the most complete I have seen from any Sky Blue this season.
That a season can start so well and slip so low is lamentable. An impressive preseason against high class European opposition seems so long ago. It is time to properly blood youngsters such as Terry Antonis and Seb Ryall, bench underperformers (most notably Bridge) and finally give Kofi Danning a three or four game stretch to test out his errant touch. If he fails, let the lad go to a club like the Fury, where his pace may finally find a home.
If Byun will not sign a new deal, Scott Jamieson should play at left back. Hayden Foxe, class player that he is, cannot be expected to lead the backline for much longer and may not last the Asian campaign. Lavicka must play Ryall to build his confidence. He must also decide on his best goalkeeper and stick with him. Hiro Moriyasu deserves to keep his spot and the chance at a new deal.
It is time for Sydney to "move forward". Brisbane again showed Sydney that standing still is no option in the A League. The Roar had an off night yet moved the ball with pace, intent and absolute confidence. Sydney had an off night and looked continually shell-shocked.
Only Bruno Cazarine and Hiro Moriyasu played above themselves. The back four put in an adequate shift but Necevski's punch was so bad it was perhaps best he did not attempt to catch the ball.
Terry McFlynn was wasteful with the ball and Brisbane's quick passing showed up his general lack of mobility. Rhyan Grant was anonymous and tortured by the Roar's quick movement, but it is early days and his manager did the lad no favours by leaving him on the pitch when he was clearly exhausted. Stuart Musialik's sins must have been grave indeed.
As for Alex Brosque, his chipped goal was coolly done, but the Asian Cup is surely receding faster and faster from view from a player unable to influence a match. Mark Bridge put in another feeble performance and his new contract must seem like a blessing.
Sydney pressed three at a time and moved off the ball in trios, not as a team. Brisbane blew them off the park. Defending champions should not pray for the whistle. Their fans should not have to whistle from the stands. It should never be acceptable, but it was, and I was whistling as well, whistling into a deepening dark.
Ever since Viteslav Lavicka arrived he has attempted to teach Sydney to play a multi-paced, patient game based around short passes, movement off the ball and neat first touches around a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond. The full backs provide most of the width but crawl rather than break forward, and the pivotal man in the hole requires creative support from his midfield comrades.
The system relies on a cool-headed number 10, a stingy defence, confidence throughout the squad and a lethal frontman. This season Lavicka has no Steve Corica, Karol Kisel, Nicky Carle or John Aloisi. The side has lost experience, enjoys no confidence and literally cannot keep a clean sheet.
This Sky Blues squad degrade in the second half and the Brisbane match was no exception. As the match wound down Sydney laid on three bad passes, four dodgy first touches and the same number of turnovers in a five minute period.
Sydney scored a lucky goal with their first shot of the match. They would muster few others. That a defending champion can take less than half a dozen shots in a home match demonstrates the exciting, evolutionary nature of the A League - as well as Sydney's evolving mediocrity.
The squad's new striker would provide Lavicka with welcome selection headache, but as I have stated before, Lavicka more desperately needs a playmaker to back up Carle - or more accurately, to play the Kisel to Corica's Carle.
Or he could change his system. Like he did against Perth. When Sydney won. Hmm...
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Games 8 and 9 - Sydney FC vs North Queensland Fury and Adelaide United
Sydney FC are losing games because they do not score enough goals, and they are not scoring enough goals because of a simple mistake in recruitment that has destroyed the strength of Viteslav Lavicka's system.
I doubt that Sydney FC were ever a club in denial. Now it is undoubtedly a team in decline. And the question must be asked: how, how on God's green turf, how did it come to this?
Four points in nine games. Nine games without a win. Only 16 goals conceded, but only 10 scored.
The worst factor is the crowd numbers. To endure a crowd of just under 7,000 on a rainy Wednesday night is understandable. To witness the same number turn up to watch top of the table Adelaide on a public holiday was enormously depressing. One can only imagine the effect on the players.
Dire, desperate times await. Sydney had three home games in eight days to get a win and never looked like deserving one. Not even in the brightest of times against Gold Coast did Sydney look like ruthless champions. It seems that the Sky Blues have forgotten that they hoisted the A League toilet seat just months ago.
Mark Bridge has not scored for Sydney in seven games. Alex Brosque has two in five, Bruno Cazarine likewise. Sydney have played more games than they have goalscorers.
To say that a Herculean task awaits Sydney FC is not an understatement. The only saving grace for Lavicka is the margin: Sydney are only seven points from the playoffs. Three straight wins and they are straight back in the game.
But to win three straight games when you have not won a match in nine is a pretty tall order.
The blame must be apportioned to the club's recruitment and tactical development. Both have been disappointing. Lavicka's job should not be under enormous pressure - indeed, I hope he stays for this season and the next at least. But one bungled recruitment decision has caused him an unending tactical headache.
It is not the striking position. This was the focus during the off season and until the recruitment of big Bruno Cazarine. But the problem stems from further back in the team.
Karol Kisel was arguably Sydney's best player last season. The silky winger took to playing on the side of a midfield diamond with panache and provided Sydney with creativity and determination in equal measure. He flitted between central positions to give and receive one-touch passes and also hugged the line to spread the opposition and drive in crosses. He lifted his teammates and the crowd at just the right moments in the finals.
Lavicka replaced captain Steve Corica with Nicky Carle (in my opinion, a worthy change). But he has not replaced Kisel and this has crippled the team.
Sydney won the championship with the team below.
--------------Bridge-------Brosque-------------
-------------------Corica---------------------
------------Kisel-----------McFlynn---- (switching sides)
-------------------Musialik-----------------
-------Byun----Colosimo----Keller---------Cole--
-----------------------Bolton----------------
Compare that to Lavicka's new (preferred) 11.
------------Brosque--------Cazarine/Bridge----
------------------Carle/Bridge---------------
-----------Jamieson-----------McFlynn--------
--------------------Musialik----------------
-------Byun-----Keller----Ryall----------Cole-
---------------------Reddy------------------
Lavicka has lost a creative, attacking midfielder and winger and replaced him with a young left back. Scott Jamieson is a great prospect and tidy recruit, but a square peg in a round hole and offers solid safety but no attacking threat. Seb Ryall is a promising defender and a reasonable distributor, but does not have Colosimo's vision and steadying influence. Kisel, Colosimo and Corica knew when to turn on the ball, when to encourage their fullback forward and when to (God forbid) pull the trigger.
To lose Kisel's leadership, drive and creativity, as well as Simon Colosimo's expertise in midfield and defence was always going to hurt. But Nicky Carle's injury and Mark Bridge's almost total loss of form and confidence has destroyed this Sydney FC squad. The new look Sydney only have three genuinely creative players in their first 11 and unless Lavicka plays Bridge in the hole and Carle as a wide player in his diamond, he has no Plan B. As good as Hiro Moriyasu is, he is not Karol Kisel, and there is no youth player ready to step into the breach.
Sydney have generally dominated possession and carved out several half-chances this season, but have been unable to stick the ball in the back of the net. They have lacked a prolific goal scorer since the advent of the A League, but got away with it last season because of their tactical superiority. In 2010-2011, other clubs have evolved, Sydney have regressed and found themselves eating dust.
Mark Bridge and Alex Brosque have never been reliable goalscorers. The only way Sydney can win with these strikers is to excel in every other department and create numerous chances, but the Sky Blues have not been putting them away. Free headers sail over. Players hit the post from inside the box. Midfielders only pull the trigger after the pass has been considered and a defender is ready to block. It's just not happening and Sydney are starting to collect more yellow cards for dissent than goals.
The matches against the Fury and Adelaide underlined the malaise. Sydney played their dominating game against both clubs and lost points. They managed to play the ball on the ground throughout Wednesday's rain-soaked match against the Fury, but were unable to score a second goal. They should have trounced Adelaide but again couldn't lift in the final third of the pitch and tired legs collapsed in the last ten minutes of the match.
Sydney's best performance of the season came in the opening match when Nicky Carle destroyed Melbourne, particularly in the second half. Sydney have struggled to score ever since that game because a team boasting only three creative players relies on at least one massive performance each match. Carle, Brosque and Bridge have suffered injuries, Cazarine is settling in and Brosque and Bridge are struggling for confidence. None look like world beaters and Brosque's Socceroo selection looks extremely fortunate.
I believe Lavicka has several options. He can discover some way to reinvigorate Mark Bridge, promote a young bolter (Terry Antonis would be the hyped choice) into Kisel's position, or wait until Carle's return and play Carle there, on the side of the diamond. This is a poor solution because it robs the side's best player of his preferred position.
But Scott Jamieson, Brendan Gan, Kofi Danning and Hiro Moriyasu cannot play the Kisel role. Jamieson is a fullback whose delivery and positional play was so scattergun on Monday that it seems his stint in midfield has confused him. Danning is an out and out winger who looks suited to a flat 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 and Hiro is willing but unlikely to reach the creative heights required when Musialik and McFlynn offer so little in the attacking final third.
A change of formation is the other option. But with Lavicka in charge it seems very, very, very unlikely.
I doubt that Sydney FC were ever a club in denial. Now it is undoubtedly a team in decline. And the question must be asked: how, how on God's green turf, how did it come to this?
Four points in nine games. Nine games without a win. Only 16 goals conceded, but only 10 scored.
The worst factor is the crowd numbers. To endure a crowd of just under 7,000 on a rainy Wednesday night is understandable. To witness the same number turn up to watch top of the table Adelaide on a public holiday was enormously depressing. One can only imagine the effect on the players.
Dire, desperate times await. Sydney had three home games in eight days to get a win and never looked like deserving one. Not even in the brightest of times against Gold Coast did Sydney look like ruthless champions. It seems that the Sky Blues have forgotten that they hoisted the A League toilet seat just months ago.
Mark Bridge has not scored for Sydney in seven games. Alex Brosque has two in five, Bruno Cazarine likewise. Sydney have played more games than they have goalscorers.
To say that a Herculean task awaits Sydney FC is not an understatement. The only saving grace for Lavicka is the margin: Sydney are only seven points from the playoffs. Three straight wins and they are straight back in the game.
But to win three straight games when you have not won a match in nine is a pretty tall order.
The blame must be apportioned to the club's recruitment and tactical development. Both have been disappointing. Lavicka's job should not be under enormous pressure - indeed, I hope he stays for this season and the next at least. But one bungled recruitment decision has caused him an unending tactical headache.
It is not the striking position. This was the focus during the off season and until the recruitment of big Bruno Cazarine. But the problem stems from further back in the team.
Karol Kisel was arguably Sydney's best player last season. The silky winger took to playing on the side of a midfield diamond with panache and provided Sydney with creativity and determination in equal measure. He flitted between central positions to give and receive one-touch passes and also hugged the line to spread the opposition and drive in crosses. He lifted his teammates and the crowd at just the right moments in the finals.
Lavicka replaced captain Steve Corica with Nicky Carle (in my opinion, a worthy change). But he has not replaced Kisel and this has crippled the team.
Sydney won the championship with the team below.
--------------Bridge-------Brosque-------------
-------------------Corica---------------------
------------Kisel-----------McFlynn---- (switching sides)
-------------------Musialik-----------------
-------Byun----Colosimo----Keller---------Cole--
-----------------------Bolton----------------
Compare that to Lavicka's new (preferred) 11.
------------Brosque--------Cazarine/Bridge----
------------------Carle/Bridge---------------
-----------Jamieson-----------McFlynn--------
--------------------Musialik----------------
-------Byun-----Keller----Ryall----------Cole-
---------------------Reddy------------------
Lavicka has lost a creative, attacking midfielder and winger and replaced him with a young left back. Scott Jamieson is a great prospect and tidy recruit, but a square peg in a round hole and offers solid safety but no attacking threat. Seb Ryall is a promising defender and a reasonable distributor, but does not have Colosimo's vision and steadying influence. Kisel, Colosimo and Corica knew when to turn on the ball, when to encourage their fullback forward and when to (God forbid) pull the trigger.
To lose Kisel's leadership, drive and creativity, as well as Simon Colosimo's expertise in midfield and defence was always going to hurt. But Nicky Carle's injury and Mark Bridge's almost total loss of form and confidence has destroyed this Sydney FC squad. The new look Sydney only have three genuinely creative players in their first 11 and unless Lavicka plays Bridge in the hole and Carle as a wide player in his diamond, he has no Plan B. As good as Hiro Moriyasu is, he is not Karol Kisel, and there is no youth player ready to step into the breach.
Sydney have generally dominated possession and carved out several half-chances this season, but have been unable to stick the ball in the back of the net. They have lacked a prolific goal scorer since the advent of the A League, but got away with it last season because of their tactical superiority. In 2010-2011, other clubs have evolved, Sydney have regressed and found themselves eating dust.
Mark Bridge and Alex Brosque have never been reliable goalscorers. The only way Sydney can win with these strikers is to excel in every other department and create numerous chances, but the Sky Blues have not been putting them away. Free headers sail over. Players hit the post from inside the box. Midfielders only pull the trigger after the pass has been considered and a defender is ready to block. It's just not happening and Sydney are starting to collect more yellow cards for dissent than goals.
The matches against the Fury and Adelaide underlined the malaise. Sydney played their dominating game against both clubs and lost points. They managed to play the ball on the ground throughout Wednesday's rain-soaked match against the Fury, but were unable to score a second goal. They should have trounced Adelaide but again couldn't lift in the final third of the pitch and tired legs collapsed in the last ten minutes of the match.
Sydney's best performance of the season came in the opening match when Nicky Carle destroyed Melbourne, particularly in the second half. Sydney have struggled to score ever since that game because a team boasting only three creative players relies on at least one massive performance each match. Carle, Brosque and Bridge have suffered injuries, Cazarine is settling in and Brosque and Bridge are struggling for confidence. None look like world beaters and Brosque's Socceroo selection looks extremely fortunate.
I believe Lavicka has several options. He can discover some way to reinvigorate Mark Bridge, promote a young bolter (Terry Antonis would be the hyped choice) into Kisel's position, or wait until Carle's return and play Carle there, on the side of the diamond. This is a poor solution because it robs the side's best player of his preferred position.
But Scott Jamieson, Brendan Gan, Kofi Danning and Hiro Moriyasu cannot play the Kisel role. Jamieson is a fullback whose delivery and positional play was so scattergun on Monday that it seems his stint in midfield has confused him. Danning is an out and out winger who looks suited to a flat 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 and Hiro is willing but unlikely to reach the creative heights required when Musialik and McFlynn offer so little in the attacking final third.
A change of formation is the other option. But with Lavicka in charge it seems very, very, very unlikely.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Game 7 - Sydney FC 1 vs Gold Coast United 1 - 26/9/2010
It's a big week for football in Sydney but the city's football club is still tottering on the precipice, determined not to make a leap of faith, and refusing to kick out and kick-start a stalled season.
In fairness, Sydney FC could not have come much closer to finding their first win (incredible, isn't it?) of the season. To have one goal scored a second after the ref's whistle, hit the post and play against ten men for a good half hour but still not win must be galling.
Take heart boys. Sunday afternoon's draw against Gold Coast was surely Sydney's most impressive performance of the season. The Sky Blues showed some of last season's maturity, determination and composure but still could not truly earn three points.
Essentially Sydney have to rediscover their ruthless streak. This obviously applies to efforts in front of goal where Alex Brosque was unlucky and rusty, Byun continues to frustrate, Bridge seems uninterested in striking through the ball and Musialik looks more likely to lob the keeper from 50 metres than smack one from the edge of the box.
Sydney must also find their edge in possession. Too many players settled for crossing the ball from deep when Gold Coast were down to ten men, despite the true Bling FC boys looking far more vulnerable throughout the match to feints and touches around the edge of the box. By the end of the match Sydney were attempting one-man plays and panicking for the goal, but again seemed completely terrified of turning with their first touch despite having space to do so. This is a continuing facet of the Age of Lavicka and a lamentable one.
When your opponent is down to 10 men and sitting deep it is the number 10's job to make the play. Mark Bridge pulled the strings well and played some nice football but failed to impose himself when it mattered most and remains an absolute enigma. I have long thought Bridge is best played as a target man but coaches switch him from a leading striker to a ghost striker, then to a man in the hole and even send him to either side as a genuine winger. Bridge has the basic skills to play each position and rarely puts in a horrible game. But he is yet to dominate a match and should be dropped for Nicky Carle as soon as possible.
Alex Brosque is understandably yet to form this season but if he can play 60 minutes on Wednesday night, I think he will score. He hit the post, slightly dithered over his "non-goal" and failed when sent through the lines by Bridge in the second half. Sydney need him sharper and focused on the right battles. New man Bruno Cazarine sated his taste for goal and heard his name sung by The Cove. Let us hope that is enough as he seems a willing striker and tough player, but certainly not someone to frighten the likes of Michael Thwaite or Simon Colosimo.
Enough carping. Sydney's improvement was dramatic and it began, as it always should, at the back and off the ball.
For once Byun and Jamieson worked in harmony on the left. Jamieson remains an enigma within the team - technically adequate with the ball at his feet, positionally very sound, defensively strong, but entirely unwilling to (or not allowed to) take on a man. He put in a good shift but his substitution came as no surprise despite Sydney starting with at least three other players short of genuine match fitness.
McFlynn was McFlynn, a welcome return, but a midfield of McFlynn, Jamieson and Musialik is never going to create much. That will heap more pressure on Cazarinie, Brosque, Bridge and Carle, whose stats suggest they have never been prolific goalscorers. These are the personnel choices Lavicka has made and now he has to justify them on Wednesday night.
Sydney can take most heart from their centre of defence. I thought Keller was due a spell on the bench but he and Ryall performed mostly brilliantly in open play, with Ryall unlucky not to be man of the match. I used to have little time for Ryall but if he plays this well against the Fury and particularly Adelaide, the future will look decidedly brighter for all Sydney fans.
Both goals came from corners and featured positionally astute finishing. Sydney inexplicably pulled the ball out of their net with two men at the near post and after allowing two free headers. McFlynn has confessed to losing his man but it was Keller who went for the ball and completely missed it while vacating the space that Djite eagerly entered. It was a lax moment and to concede in added time only added to the bitterness of another soft goal.
Reddy looked solid in goal (if a little erratic when coming to punch) and continues to justify his recruitment.
Gold Coast can heart from this match. Bruce Djite looks an improved player and hungry for goals, while Culina and Porter will win them games like this. They have no obvious weak link and may well play a home semifinal in front of two thousand fans.
The big story for Sydney is that the pressure on last season's champions will continue to build until Wednesday night. The clearest symptom of the strain on the squad came when Sydney received yet another card for dissent after Alex Brosque decided to inexplicably tick off a previously-friendly referee. But injuries and fitness permitting, Viteslav Lavicka showed on Sunday that he has no need to change his system. His players just need to perform to the level required by it.
In fairness, Sydney FC could not have come much closer to finding their first win (incredible, isn't it?) of the season. To have one goal scored a second after the ref's whistle, hit the post and play against ten men for a good half hour but still not win must be galling.
Take heart boys. Sunday afternoon's draw against Gold Coast was surely Sydney's most impressive performance of the season. The Sky Blues showed some of last season's maturity, determination and composure but still could not truly earn three points.
Essentially Sydney have to rediscover their ruthless streak. This obviously applies to efforts in front of goal where Alex Brosque was unlucky and rusty, Byun continues to frustrate, Bridge seems uninterested in striking through the ball and Musialik looks more likely to lob the keeper from 50 metres than smack one from the edge of the box.
Sydney must also find their edge in possession. Too many players settled for crossing the ball from deep when Gold Coast were down to ten men, despite the true Bling FC boys looking far more vulnerable throughout the match to feints and touches around the edge of the box. By the end of the match Sydney were attempting one-man plays and panicking for the goal, but again seemed completely terrified of turning with their first touch despite having space to do so. This is a continuing facet of the Age of Lavicka and a lamentable one.
When your opponent is down to 10 men and sitting deep it is the number 10's job to make the play. Mark Bridge pulled the strings well and played some nice football but failed to impose himself when it mattered most and remains an absolute enigma. I have long thought Bridge is best played as a target man but coaches switch him from a leading striker to a ghost striker, then to a man in the hole and even send him to either side as a genuine winger. Bridge has the basic skills to play each position and rarely puts in a horrible game. But he is yet to dominate a match and should be dropped for Nicky Carle as soon as possible.
Alex Brosque is understandably yet to form this season but if he can play 60 minutes on Wednesday night, I think he will score. He hit the post, slightly dithered over his "non-goal" and failed when sent through the lines by Bridge in the second half. Sydney need him sharper and focused on the right battles. New man Bruno Cazarine sated his taste for goal and heard his name sung by The Cove. Let us hope that is enough as he seems a willing striker and tough player, but certainly not someone to frighten the likes of Michael Thwaite or Simon Colosimo.
Enough carping. Sydney's improvement was dramatic and it began, as it always should, at the back and off the ball.
For once Byun and Jamieson worked in harmony on the left. Jamieson remains an enigma within the team - technically adequate with the ball at his feet, positionally very sound, defensively strong, but entirely unwilling to (or not allowed to) take on a man. He put in a good shift but his substitution came as no surprise despite Sydney starting with at least three other players short of genuine match fitness.
McFlynn was McFlynn, a welcome return, but a midfield of McFlynn, Jamieson and Musialik is never going to create much. That will heap more pressure on Cazarinie, Brosque, Bridge and Carle, whose stats suggest they have never been prolific goalscorers. These are the personnel choices Lavicka has made and now he has to justify them on Wednesday night.
Sydney can take most heart from their centre of defence. I thought Keller was due a spell on the bench but he and Ryall performed mostly brilliantly in open play, with Ryall unlucky not to be man of the match. I used to have little time for Ryall but if he plays this well against the Fury and particularly Adelaide, the future will look decidedly brighter for all Sydney fans.
Both goals came from corners and featured positionally astute finishing. Sydney inexplicably pulled the ball out of their net with two men at the near post and after allowing two free headers. McFlynn has confessed to losing his man but it was Keller who went for the ball and completely missed it while vacating the space that Djite eagerly entered. It was a lax moment and to concede in added time only added to the bitterness of another soft goal.
Reddy looked solid in goal (if a little erratic when coming to punch) and continues to justify his recruitment.
Gold Coast can heart from this match. Bruce Djite looks an improved player and hungry for goals, while Culina and Porter will win them games like this. They have no obvious weak link and may well play a home semifinal in front of two thousand fans.
The big story for Sydney is that the pressure on last season's champions will continue to build until Wednesday night. The clearest symptom of the strain on the squad came when Sydney received yet another card for dissent after Alex Brosque decided to inexplicably tick off a previously-friendly referee. But injuries and fitness permitting, Viteslav Lavicka showed on Sunday that he has no need to change his system. His players just need to perform to the level required by it.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Game 4 - Sydney FC 1 vs Central Coast Mariners 1 - 28/8/2010
Sydney FC is a club in trouble, but the boss has again sounded the right notes of calm and reflection. Whether he meant to describe his players as "frustrated" and not "frustrating" is another question.
It is too early to abandon talk of a title defence but far too soon for players to lose their heads. Saturday’s (frankly disappointing) home crowd had bought the right to boo referee Matthew Breeze, but the amount of dissent on the field was understandable and not excusable. We pay to sing, cheer good play and occasionally boo bad football. The Sky Blues are paid to play football and should have gotten on with it.
Last season Sydney FC collectively dominated their opponent. Now they bitch and moan, often to each other, and did so long before Breeze’s latest bungle spoiled Saturday night’s emotional derby against Central Coast
But before examining Sydney FC, let’s bag the ref. I am grateful to every person who becomes a referee, but as Jesse Fink so rightly put it, for the FFA to honour Breeze’s 100th game after the final whistle was high farce. How the referee and linesmen combined to miss the Mariners’ handball, award the penalty and send off Liam Reddy must be explained. Obviously any keeper in that situation risks giving away a spotkick but Reddy was far from the last man, Perez was not heading “towards goal”, and it was demonstrably not a “clear goalscoring opportunity” after Perez kicked the ball away from goal and towards onrushing defenders.
To add acid to the wound Sydney
The tragic fact is that this game underlined the saddest and most cast-iron convention in football: if you are fouled in the box, you must fall over or you will never win a penalty.
Forget video replays, forget retrospective punishments: give teams a chance to get a spotkick honestly and they might just stop falling over in disgraceful fashion.
Breeze said of his milestone: “Like a player, these achievements are nice at the time and I’m sure I will look back on moments like this with fondness.”
“Like a player”? We can liken Breeze to Clayton Zane, another Australian whose game went downhill after his first sniff of Confederations Cup glory.
As for Sydney Sydney
Scott Jamieson looks a promising player but a natural left back and he and Byun are not yet gelling. While Danning looks destined to return to the bench, it will be interesting to see who loses their place to Terry McFlynn and (hopefully) Alex Brosque after Rhyan Grant’s impressive performance.
Stuart Musialik again coughed up the odd cataclysmic error, particularly early on, and though Sydney
Nicky Carle, so dominant in that game, was sorely underused and no other Sydney Mark Bridge
No Sky Blue seemed to think about testing the Mariners’ 18-year-old debutant keeper from range. No cross seemed likely to find a target or test the nerves of young Matthew Ryan, until Rhyan Grant’s goal, which was celebrated like a 30-yard match winner and not a barely-earned gift. Few passes were delivered with pace or invention and the red card robbed Lavicka of his chance to switch things up in the second half.
Give Graham Arnold his due. He compressed the Mariners around the centre circle and dared Sydney Sydney Central Coast
One of the compensating pleasures for A League fans shorn of world class talent is to watch the game evolve season by season. It appears that this vintage of the A League has moved on markedly and Sydney FC is swinging in the breeze.
Lavicka’s men have been worked out. Their next challenge is: don’t panic.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Game 1 - Sydney FC 3 vs Melbourne Victory 3 - 7/8/2010
Pity the fans that did not turn up. Sydney FC’s A League opener was a game rich with drama and ability, passion and promise. Sydney and Melbourne showed their best and worst and a genuine star enjoyed a second (or third) homecoming in a contest that stamped last season’s great rivals as this year’s strongest contenders.
It appears that Vitezslav Lavicka flirted with a flat 4-4-2 during the preseason to find a back up plan for a Sydney FC shorn of Nicky Carle. With a fully fit marquee man the Sydney diamond was restored and after a stifled opening, Carle slotted comfortably in behind the gifted Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge. The results were more than encouraging.
Sydney’s first choice B-B-C frontline is technically adroit, reasonably hard-working and comfortable working without the ball to find space. Each player can take on a man, hit the flanks, run a good line in behind the defence or hold up the ball in their own way.
Karol Kisel will remain a Sydney FC hero but Carle surpassed Kisel's erratic contributions by providing some welcome composure and true creativity. And while the Cove’s fantastic banners at the start of the match hailed the contribution of Steve Corica, by fulltime the boys in blue were praising their eternal skipper’s true successor. Carle is a genuine playmaker, a genuine marquee and a number 10 to match Carlos Hernandez and Jason Culina. His flicks and tricks won him the space and time to pick a pass and the growing admiration of a responsive crowd. Melbourne eventually stood off him after he defied any attempt to put him off the ball and his game.
Frankly, if Carle plays that well throughout the season, Sydney will tear at least one team apart at the seams and it was a shame that his match-controlling performance did not produce more goals.
Bridge and Brosque did well without breaking the game open and one senses that if Lavicka had signed a third striker Bridge would have been substituted halfway through the second half. Sydney FC has never really enjoyed the services of a Smeltz-like predator and the club is now blessed with creativity. What Sydney need is someone to smash the ball into the back of the net and hopefully Bridge will become that man. After all, it would surprise if Sydney can generate that many good chances against Melbourne again this season.
Sadly for Sydney, an A League match is rarely won by the front men. Two of Melbourne’s three goals (and, to be fair, two of Sydney’s) were mostly the result of poor positioning and decision-making in possession and then defence. Only two Victory players hit the box for the cross that led to their first goal, but both outfoxed five Sydney defenders. Mate Dugandzic’s equalising strike was well-taken but he did not have a foot, hand or body near him when he first received the ball. And the third goal resembled a FIFA 2006 play as Melbourne passed their way through the Sydney midfield and defence with consummate ease.
The rot started at the front as Sydney forgot to close down collectively after their second goal. With Carle drawn forward and Brosque and Bridge wide, Scott Jamieson got unsurprisingly lost as part of a three-man holding midfield. Sydney’s flanks were exposed and the central defenders seemed unsure of whether to tag and follow or pass on their man. Jamieson had an unhappy match crowned by an air swing at a beckoning strike on goal, but his preseason form was encouraging and he will find his feet.
At least Sydney were assured when they could put their foot on the ball. The Victory missed a number of first-team players but apart from Melbourne’s seven minutes of madness, Sydney almost totally dominated the match and enforced their will from back to front.
Skipper Terry McFlynn played a strong game and took his goal well, while Stuart Musialik put in his usual performance: an excellent, controlling game apart from one or two dreadful errors that put his team under pressure. Musialik is a vital player for Sydney and when he returned to the side last season the Sky Blues rocketed towards glory. If he can continue to reduce his errors in possession he should again find himself in the frame for the Socceroos.
Another man who delivered welcome composure was Hayden Foxe. Foxe slipped straight into Simon Colosimo’s quarterback role and looks to be a marvellous acquisition. But with a Keller/Foxe partnership Sydney clearly lack pace in central defence. If Lavicka sticks with this combination he will be stretching his tactical blanket like mad. It will be fascinating to see how Lavicka can sit his team high and play a short passing game with overlapping fullbacks and simultaneously cover runs from fast strikers with a fairly plodding central defensive combination.
Presumably Foxe will miss games due to injury and recovery and the burden will fall heavily on Seb Ryall, who is yet to convince. Ryall put in a good shift at right back and offered a surprising threat in attack, but was caught out of position during several of Melbourne’s lethal moments. Shannon Cole will rightfully push him all the way this season and will probably start games against lesser teams than Melbourne.
On the other side, it is perhaps best to simply say that Jamieson and Byun worked hard on the pitch but have work to do off it.
Much more has been said elsewhere about the "disappointing" crowd. I was stunned when the figure of 12,000 came up – it felt that at least 16,000 were in the stadium. The crowd enjoyed a fantastic atmosphere, thrilling goals, some brilliant skill – mostly from Carle – and a passionate match that was laudably contested through ball-on-the-ground, short passing football. I was disappointed by the people who didn't turn up, including the other 12,000 Sydney fans who made it to the Valentine's Day fixture, or some of the 40,000 who went to the Everton match, but couldn't be bothered watching Sydney's opener. Those who were there were fantastic and deserved the spectacle they received.
So if you know a Sydney football fan, buy them a ticket for August 28. Because Carle and company are well worth the meagre price of admission.
It appears that Vitezslav Lavicka flirted with a flat 4-4-2 during the preseason to find a back up plan for a Sydney FC shorn of Nicky Carle. With a fully fit marquee man the Sydney diamond was restored and after a stifled opening, Carle slotted comfortably in behind the gifted Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge. The results were more than encouraging.
Sydney’s first choice B-B-C frontline is technically adroit, reasonably hard-working and comfortable working without the ball to find space. Each player can take on a man, hit the flanks, run a good line in behind the defence or hold up the ball in their own way.
Karol Kisel will remain a Sydney FC hero but Carle surpassed Kisel's erratic contributions by providing some welcome composure and true creativity. And while the Cove’s fantastic banners at the start of the match hailed the contribution of Steve Corica, by fulltime the boys in blue were praising their eternal skipper’s true successor. Carle is a genuine playmaker, a genuine marquee and a number 10 to match Carlos Hernandez and Jason Culina. His flicks and tricks won him the space and time to pick a pass and the growing admiration of a responsive crowd. Melbourne eventually stood off him after he defied any attempt to put him off the ball and his game.
Frankly, if Carle plays that well throughout the season, Sydney will tear at least one team apart at the seams and it was a shame that his match-controlling performance did not produce more goals.
Bridge and Brosque did well without breaking the game open and one senses that if Lavicka had signed a third striker Bridge would have been substituted halfway through the second half. Sydney FC has never really enjoyed the services of a Smeltz-like predator and the club is now blessed with creativity. What Sydney need is someone to smash the ball into the back of the net and hopefully Bridge will become that man. After all, it would surprise if Sydney can generate that many good chances against Melbourne again this season.
Sadly for Sydney, an A League match is rarely won by the front men. Two of Melbourne’s three goals (and, to be fair, two of Sydney’s) were mostly the result of poor positioning and decision-making in possession and then defence. Only two Victory players hit the box for the cross that led to their first goal, but both outfoxed five Sydney defenders. Mate Dugandzic’s equalising strike was well-taken but he did not have a foot, hand or body near him when he first received the ball. And the third goal resembled a FIFA 2006 play as Melbourne passed their way through the Sydney midfield and defence with consummate ease.
The rot started at the front as Sydney forgot to close down collectively after their second goal. With Carle drawn forward and Brosque and Bridge wide, Scott Jamieson got unsurprisingly lost as part of a three-man holding midfield. Sydney’s flanks were exposed and the central defenders seemed unsure of whether to tag and follow or pass on their man. Jamieson had an unhappy match crowned by an air swing at a beckoning strike on goal, but his preseason form was encouraging and he will find his feet.
At least Sydney were assured when they could put their foot on the ball. The Victory missed a number of first-team players but apart from Melbourne’s seven minutes of madness, Sydney almost totally dominated the match and enforced their will from back to front.
Skipper Terry McFlynn played a strong game and took his goal well, while Stuart Musialik put in his usual performance: an excellent, controlling game apart from one or two dreadful errors that put his team under pressure. Musialik is a vital player for Sydney and when he returned to the side last season the Sky Blues rocketed towards glory. If he can continue to reduce his errors in possession he should again find himself in the frame for the Socceroos.
Another man who delivered welcome composure was Hayden Foxe. Foxe slipped straight into Simon Colosimo’s quarterback role and looks to be a marvellous acquisition. But with a Keller/Foxe partnership Sydney clearly lack pace in central defence. If Lavicka sticks with this combination he will be stretching his tactical blanket like mad. It will be fascinating to see how Lavicka can sit his team high and play a short passing game with overlapping fullbacks and simultaneously cover runs from fast strikers with a fairly plodding central defensive combination.
Presumably Foxe will miss games due to injury and recovery and the burden will fall heavily on Seb Ryall, who is yet to convince. Ryall put in a good shift at right back and offered a surprising threat in attack, but was caught out of position during several of Melbourne’s lethal moments. Shannon Cole will rightfully push him all the way this season and will probably start games against lesser teams than Melbourne.
On the other side, it is perhaps best to simply say that Jamieson and Byun worked hard on the pitch but have work to do off it.
Much more has been said elsewhere about the "disappointing" crowd. I was stunned when the figure of 12,000 came up – it felt that at least 16,000 were in the stadium. The crowd enjoyed a fantastic atmosphere, thrilling goals, some brilliant skill – mostly from Carle – and a passionate match that was laudably contested through ball-on-the-ground, short passing football. I was disappointed by the people who didn't turn up, including the other 12,000 Sydney fans who made it to the Valentine's Day fixture, or some of the 40,000 who went to the Everton match, but couldn't be bothered watching Sydney's opener. Those who were there were fantastic and deserved the spectacle they received.
So if you know a Sydney football fan, buy them a ticket for August 28. Because Carle and company are well worth the meagre price of admission.
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