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...
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