Sydney FC scored 29 goals in 30 games this season. The defending champions won the previous title by scoring then shutting teams out, but Sydney forgot how to score this time around and conceded 40 goals.
Sydney's precipitous drop in form was felt across the park and part one of my review examined the club's defenders and goalkeepers. It is now time to examine the men at the coalface - and how they let down their teammates and fans.
SQUAD REVIEW
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS
Stuart Musialik, Terry McFlynn, Hirofumi Moriyasu, Rhyan Grant
Stuart Musialik arrived in Sydney as a fringe Socceroo and an improving young player - a technically adroit defensive midfielder as composed on the ball as he was efficient off it. Musialik revelled in his favourite "sit and distribute" role last season as Lavicka sat him behind Steve Corica, Karol Kisel and the robust Terry McFlynn.
But Musialik has endured a poor 2010/11. After the opening match against Melbourne, I wrote "Musialik put in his usual performance: an excellent, controlling game apart from one or two dreadful errors that put his team under pressure". Unfortunately Musialik's moments of excellence dimmed until the New Year, and he lost his confidence on the ball just as Viteslav Lavicka lost confidence in his contribution. Musialik - a main man in the championship winning team - remains out of contract for next season. I would miss his best but not mourn his passing, and it would not surprise many to see him suiting up next to Jason Culina for the Jets next summer.
Skipper Terry McFlynn has been underwhelming ever since his superb chip agonizingly found the wrong side of the underside of the bar against the North Queensland Fury. That 1-1 draw in the September rain crippled Sydney's finals campaign and sucked the morale out of the club and the crowd. For McFlynn to finally produce a moment of skill but miss by centimetres from far outside the box was crushing.
McFlynn has offered precious little on the ball and while the skipper's return from injury certainly steadied the ship after Sydney's first few matches, the improvement in A League midfields may have made McFlynn obsolete - at least as a wide midfielder. One goal and one assist in 27 games tells a partial but compelling story and regular readers of this column (I appreciate all two of you!) will know I am not a great fan of what McFlynn brings to the team (his wonderful clearance off the line against the Glory aside).
The future for Sydney is a little brighter. Rhyan Grant enjoyed a strong tournament for the Young Socceroos and looked comfortable enough when filling in for an out-of-form Stuart Musialik. He could seize the position at the base of Sydney's diamond with a strong pre-season, particularly if Musialik leaves as expected. While he is dynamic enough when played wider, he offered few moments of creativity or threat on the ball to suggest he is anything but a defensive midfielder.
New signing Hiro Moriyasu is an interesting case. Hiro played without the fear that seemed to afflict Sydney after Nicky Carle succumbed to injury and his dynamism in midfield was a big reason that the Sky Blues shook themselves back to life. He tackles decisively and backs himself technically - sometimes to his detriment, particularly against fast-pressing teams such as Brisbane.
Hiro has found his home on either side of the midfield diamond and contributes as a box-to-box hard-running midfielder, who can also play a pass (such as the assist for Alex Brosque at Parramatta Stadium). His limitations are clear: he scored one goal from 38 attempts this season and freezes when running at goal with the ball at his feet.
If Hiro can improve his shooting and dribbling options then Sydney will boast a competent trio of screeners and box-to-box players next season. If Stuart Musialik stays in Sydney then Grant may suffer without game time. But will Lavicka gamble on an inexperienced player in such a vital decision-making position? Time will tell.
One thing is clear. Grant, McFlynn, Musialik and Moriyasu provided just four goals all season. Sydney can only afford to have two of the three in the team. The more defensively minded midfielders must be complemented by an attacking player like Karol Kisel or Dimitri Petratos. Left back Scott Jamieson's presence in left midfield at the start of the season shackled an already low scoring side.
And finally: defensive midfield may be the side's engine room, but Sydney need more from their skipper. Will McFlynn keep the armband?
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