Adelaide United hit the post twice and Ivan Necevski made six superb saves to secure Sydney FC three precious points on Sunday night.
It is a mark of Sydney's schizophrenic season that they could secure 65 percent of possession in the first half yet safely be described as undeserving winners. In the first 45 minutes Sydney enjoyed the ball without displaying real ruthlessness, until the previously-ineffective Joel Chianese caressed a difficult volley in from a corner.
The goal released all the pressure on Sydney FC and they came out after halftime determined to land a killer blow - yet Adelaide surged back and finished as the far stronger side. In the first half the South Australians closed down like Australian manufacturing, but in the second half they suffocated Sydney's creaky transition play.
Adelaide hit the post twice and while Eugene Galekovic made one save, clear man of the match Ivan Necevski made six and watched the ball smash against the upright.
Barbiero butchered a fantastic opporturnity, Cassio hit the post, Caravella drew the best out of Necevski from point-blank range and both managers acknowledged who Lady Luck favoured on Sunday night.
Sydney FC might sneak into the finals and will fancy themselves to do some damage. But they must be concerned after a dominant first half display with 65 percent of possession required a ricochet opening from a set piece.
A squad stacked with Socceroos in attacking positions should do better at fashioning opportunities (and congratulations to Brett Emerton and especially Nicky Carle for their well-deserved call ups for Wednesday night).
Wellington Phoenix are tougher prey and Viteslav Lavicka will have to weigh a number of issues.
The back five are sorted: Scott Jamieson put in an impressive attacking shift on Sunday and delivered the decisive through ball to Mitch Mallia after shrugging off a nasty head knock. Ivan Necevski keeps his place while Rhyan Grant continues his crash course at right back.
As ever, Sydney's front six are the paradox. Hiro Moriyasu put in a solid performance without expressing any real influence on the match. In fairness, Hiro is not a proper left winger and his best work comes in the middle of the park.
If Karol Kisel is fit to start, Moriyasu will probably drop to the bench despite Kisel's own dislike for the left side and Moriyasu's solid return to the starting line up (Terry Antonis should be given time in the youth league to reach proper match fitness for what will be a string of must-win games).
Goal scorer Joel Chianese will no doubt enjoy the opposite experience to Hiro: Chianese's strike will probably secure him another start, but the youngster stumbled over several other opportunities to shoot, cross or even trap and clearly remains a work in progress.
Chianese's scoring volley was sumptuously taken, but fundamental slips, such as failing to win a corner when trapped on the touchline, or not finding a yard to deliver a cross to Bruno (Chianese would be wise to study Cassio in this regard) will be more costly against an in-form Wellington.
In the end Chianese's game flattered and deceived. He often found dangerous positions but failed to make good decisions or execute them under pressure - except for a lovely goal. Obviously these elements of his game can be improved with time, but Sydney need to win to make the finals.
Chianese and Mallia both have potential but need to keep improving to keep Olyroos Dimitri Petratos and Terry Antonis out of the side when they return.
Sydney FC have every reason to beat Wellington Phoenix and every chance with the strong squad at Viteslav Lavicka's disposal. A win against the high-flying Phoenix could propel Sydney into outside chances for a grand final.
A loss would further dishearten those Sydney fans already dizzy from inconsistency and disappointed by defeat. Bring on the weekend.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
McFlynn out for Forgotten Hiro?
"Dignity" and "honour" were the words of last week after Sydney hit rock bottom against Newcastle. Sydney faced the A League's form side last Sunday and wrestled out a 2-1 victory against Perth that provides some of the path ahead.
Sydney were far from dominant at home - in the first half the Sky Blues were barely seen; Bruno Cazarine provided the only attacking thrust. But certain signs were encouraging: Sydney were a little more desperate, a little more alert, a little more willing in the challenge and pacy with the pass.
Brett Emerton and Scott Jamieson led the effort while Karol Kisel, Hiro Moriyasu and Bruno Cazarine played their roles. Captain Terry McFlynn was absent yet Sydney roused themselves after a fairly diabolical first half to secure three precious points.
It was Hiro, Bruno and Kisel who made Sydney's first goal - Hiro showed great awareness to combine a tackle with a touch on, Bruno perfectly released Kisel and the Slovak scampered down his least favoured left side while Joel Chianese led the defence to the near post.
The highlights show the rest: Emerton's emphatic finish, the deliberate celebration in front of The Cove, and Sydney were off to the races.
Sydney found further joy down the flanks through Jamieson and Shannon Cole before Emerton showed wonderful judgement to curl a lofted ball around a defender on the goal line and on to the brave Bruno's bullet header.
Naturally a clean sheet was too much to ask, and Sydney's inability to keep the ball in the final stages provided a needlessly nail-biting finale as Perth surged forward.
Terry McFlynn will be available for selection against Adelaide and now the dilemma presents itself: will Lavicka restore his captain to a victorious side? Hiro Moriyasu has barely played for Sydney since signing an extended contract last season, but he was incisive and decisive against Perth.
Hiro has his limitations and some touches out of trouble seemed a little speculative, but Moriyasu made the most of his opportunity and does not deserve to be dropped.
The obvious move would be to ditch home debutant Joel Chianese, who looked willing but limited as a second striker, and move Carle forward, leaving a midfield of Kisel, McFlynn, Moriyasu and Emerton.
But Nicky Carle has repeated his statement that he prefers playing at 8 over 10 and Carle has always looked better with players in front of him. Unfortunately a central midfield of Carle and Moriyasu is hardly going to help in the mix or at set pieces and when Dario Vidosic starts sending freekicks at Adelaide's smorgasbord of big men, Sydney might rue their diminutive midfield.
Lavicka's alternatives are to play Mitch Mallia next to Bruno Cazarine in a classic little/large predator/target man pairing, and slot McFlynn next Carle; or to drop McFlynn to the bench.
Lavicka has run out of reasons to pick anything but a team that matches his footballing philosophy. The outgoing manager will probably push Carle forward behind Bruno and hope that Sydney's new-found width continues to threaten. Mitch Mallia, Rhyan Grant and Carle might need to wait for next year to get a go at their preferred positions.
The rest of the side picks itself: Bruno, Emerton and Kisel will start, while Rhyan Grant and the Beauchamp/Bosschaart central pairing are chiseled into the backline.
Scott Jamieson had a brain fade against the Newcastle Jets but he seems to have dodged the usual bullet for abandoning his post. The former Next Big Thing has shown glimpses of class this season and was a constant threat on Saturday.
Shannon Cole looked lively against Perth but will remain on the bench as the great struggle for a contract continues. It is hard to believe that Sydney could cut loose a local boy and fan favourite who can cover four positions and once earned selection for the Socceroos, but Cole might be running out of chances to win a new contract.
Earlier this season Sydney FC honoured William Doggadog Duran, a fan I never met but who was clearly loved within The Cove and respected by the players. Barely a month later, less than ten thousand Sydneysiders showed up for Saturday night's game. Those who stayed missed the dignified performance they've been praying for.
If Sydney beat Adelaide, who ended their own wretched run of form with a scrappy win over Gold Coast on the weekend, the fans should return for a pivotal clash against the high-flying Wellington Phoenix on February 25.
Sydney were far from dominant at home - in the first half the Sky Blues were barely seen; Bruno Cazarine provided the only attacking thrust. But certain signs were encouraging: Sydney were a little more desperate, a little more alert, a little more willing in the challenge and pacy with the pass.
Brett Emerton and Scott Jamieson led the effort while Karol Kisel, Hiro Moriyasu and Bruno Cazarine played their roles. Captain Terry McFlynn was absent yet Sydney roused themselves after a fairly diabolical first half to secure three precious points.
It was Hiro, Bruno and Kisel who made Sydney's first goal - Hiro showed great awareness to combine a tackle with a touch on, Bruno perfectly released Kisel and the Slovak scampered down his least favoured left side while Joel Chianese led the defence to the near post.
The highlights show the rest: Emerton's emphatic finish, the deliberate celebration in front of The Cove, and Sydney were off to the races.
Sydney found further joy down the flanks through Jamieson and Shannon Cole before Emerton showed wonderful judgement to curl a lofted ball around a defender on the goal line and on to the brave Bruno's bullet header.
Naturally a clean sheet was too much to ask, and Sydney's inability to keep the ball in the final stages provided a needlessly nail-biting finale as Perth surged forward.
Terry McFlynn will be available for selection against Adelaide and now the dilemma presents itself: will Lavicka restore his captain to a victorious side? Hiro Moriyasu has barely played for Sydney since signing an extended contract last season, but he was incisive and decisive against Perth.
Hiro has his limitations and some touches out of trouble seemed a little speculative, but Moriyasu made the most of his opportunity and does not deserve to be dropped.
The obvious move would be to ditch home debutant Joel Chianese, who looked willing but limited as a second striker, and move Carle forward, leaving a midfield of Kisel, McFlynn, Moriyasu and Emerton.
But Nicky Carle has repeated his statement that he prefers playing at 8 over 10 and Carle has always looked better with players in front of him. Unfortunately a central midfield of Carle and Moriyasu is hardly going to help in the mix or at set pieces and when Dario Vidosic starts sending freekicks at Adelaide's smorgasbord of big men, Sydney might rue their diminutive midfield.
Lavicka's alternatives are to play Mitch Mallia next to Bruno Cazarine in a classic little/large predator/target man pairing, and slot McFlynn next Carle; or to drop McFlynn to the bench.
Lavicka has run out of reasons to pick anything but a team that matches his footballing philosophy. The outgoing manager will probably push Carle forward behind Bruno and hope that Sydney's new-found width continues to threaten. Mitch Mallia, Rhyan Grant and Carle might need to wait for next year to get a go at their preferred positions.
The rest of the side picks itself: Bruno, Emerton and Kisel will start, while Rhyan Grant and the Beauchamp/Bosschaart central pairing are chiseled into the backline.
Scott Jamieson had a brain fade against the Newcastle Jets but he seems to have dodged the usual bullet for abandoning his post. The former Next Big Thing has shown glimpses of class this season and was a constant threat on Saturday.
Shannon Cole looked lively against Perth but will remain on the bench as the great struggle for a contract continues. It is hard to believe that Sydney could cut loose a local boy and fan favourite who can cover four positions and once earned selection for the Socceroos, but Cole might be running out of chances to win a new contract.
Earlier this season Sydney FC honoured William Doggadog Duran, a fan I never met but who was clearly loved within The Cove and respected by the players. Barely a month later, less than ten thousand Sydneysiders showed up for Saturday night's game. Those who stayed missed the dignified performance they've been praying for.
If Sydney beat Adelaide, who ended their own wretched run of form with a scrappy win over Gold Coast on the weekend, the fans should return for a pivotal clash against the high-flying Wellington Phoenix on February 25.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Melton's "Look In The Mirror" Comment Not Aimed At Fans
Both Dirk Melton and Adam Lucius, the writer of the article quoted below, have informed me that the following comment made by Melton was not aimed at Sydney FC fans.
"(Sydney FC manager Viteslav Lavicka) has been here for three years and been given an absolutely dignified farewell and given an opportunity to do what he needs to do for the rest of the year," the Sydney boss said.
"If people find any difficulty in that then they probably need to look in the mirror."
My previous column was somewhat sparked by the belief that Melton had aimed the "look in the mirror" comment at fans calling for Lavicka's sacking.
I read the Sydney CEO's remarks as a broadside aimed at anyone calling for Lavicka's removal. It seems that several other Sydney fans felt the same way, but Melton and Lucius have now said that the "people" being discussed were not Sydney fans or members. I accept this, apologize for assuming the aim of the quote (though I can't say that the context was particularly clear), and regret any confusion my column may have spread.
You can see Adam Lucius's Twitter profile here, and Dirk Melton's is found here. My Twitter profile is found here.
Readers of my column will note that it discusses other matters - notably Sydney FC's undignified recent form and the end of the option to sack Lavicka - which are separate to the issue of what must never be referred to as "Mirrorgate." The column will be left as it is, with a link to this article.
As always, your comments or tweets on this or other issues are always welcomed.
Postscript: Amid the sound and fury, it is quite remarkable that Dirk Melton found time late on a Monday night to write to me regarding my blog - an action above and beyond the duties of a CEO. For this and many other reasons, Sydney's front office seems to be in good hands.
"(Sydney FC manager Viteslav Lavicka) has been here for three years and been given an absolutely dignified farewell and given an opportunity to do what he needs to do for the rest of the year," the Sydney boss said.
"If people find any difficulty in that then they probably need to look in the mirror."
My previous column was somewhat sparked by the belief that Melton had aimed the "look in the mirror" comment at fans calling for Lavicka's sacking.
I read the Sydney CEO's remarks as a broadside aimed at anyone calling for Lavicka's removal. It seems that several other Sydney fans felt the same way, but Melton and Lucius have now said that the "people" being discussed were not Sydney fans or members. I accept this, apologize for assuming the aim of the quote (though I can't say that the context was particularly clear), and regret any confusion my column may have spread.
You can see Adam Lucius's Twitter profile here, and Dirk Melton's is found here. My Twitter profile is found here.
Readers of my column will note that it discusses other matters - notably Sydney FC's undignified recent form and the end of the option to sack Lavicka - which are separate to the issue of what must never be referred to as "Mirrorgate." The column will be left as it is, with a link to this article.
As always, your comments or tweets on this or other issues are always welcomed.
Postscript: Amid the sound and fury, it is quite remarkable that Dirk Melton found time late on a Monday night to write to me regarding my blog - an action above and beyond the duties of a CEO. For this and many other reasons, Sydney's front office seems to be in good hands.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Melton Should Crucify Lavicka (now amended due to response from Melton)
Sydney FC CEO Dirk Melton has made his first big mistake. In an interview published on Sportal Melton delivered a rightly circumspect whip to the players but a rather stinging putdown to a growing group of Sydney FC fans.
"(Coach Viteslav Lavicka) has been here for three years and been given an absolutely dignified farewell and given an opportunity to do what he needs to do for the rest of the year. If people find any difficulty in that then they probably need to look in the mirror."
Melton has not been at the club long enough to tell the fans what to do. Even if he is right, and I do not believe that he is, those are poorly chosen words for the thousands who have clearly given up on the Lavicka school of football. Bluntly bagging fans for criticizing the coach, cruel as they may be, is a stupid thing to do at the best of times.
To do it in the name of dignity is particularly galling. If Sunday's game was a horse race Sydney FC would have found dignity behind a tent and a shotgun. They played with intent for less than half of a home match against geographic rivals.
By contrast the fans have largely held their tongues. The Cove has not chanted for Lavicka's head. The banners have not risen against the once-successful Czech. The venom is reserved for the people most to blame: the players who continually fail to deliver on their potential.
It is true that Sydney fans take too much delight in booing their own players. I wish it were a club that cheered on losing Sky Blues at half time. I wish that confidence players were given more than 30 minutes to change a game.
But changing that culture (a worthy mission that needs a different strategy than Melton's here) will take time and Sydney have bigger problems. Melton is smart enough in his remarks to hold back from trying to take the motivational reins. The players are Lavicka's problem and Lavicka has to deal with it.
This failing squad is Lavicka's responsibility and many fans, if not most, have lost patience with Lavicka's tenure. It's nothing personal. It's simply football.
For two years Sydney have been a bottom half side. They don't deserve a place in the finals this season, and they didn't deserve one last season. The evidence is quite obvious.
Since Lavicka claimed Sydney's sweetest title, the club has played 50 games, won 14, drawn 16 and lost 20. Those results do not include the club's desolate Asian Champion's League campaign.
Last season Sydney finished 9th. Right now they lie 7th and no one is tipping them to rise higher.
Sydney have won a single game in their last nine matches. They've lost 5-2 and 4-nil at home. The Sky Blues have kept four clean sheets in 20 matches. In the last nine games they've conceded 22 goals.
For the last two seasons the crowd rises slightly when success beckons or Brett Emerton debuts, but flee when Sydney lose. Football's Capital demands success with style. They've had neither for two weary years.
Melton would find it hard to find a fan who dislikes Lavicka as a person (although the man who threw his membership card at the Czech when he withdrew Nicky Carle against Gold Coast might volunteer). Lavicka is well-known and liked for the way he speaks to fans and applauds their efforts, particularly on away trips.
Obviously Lavicka's character and his debut double, combined with the front office's long-stated desire to stabilize a previously-bloodthirsty club, has stayed the knife. But Sydney FC is toxic now. The mood amongst the players seemingly matches their performances and the atrocious results. The crowd will shrink until only the malcontents remain because no one wants to watch a good man leave in disgrace.
Melton said Lavicka has been given an absolutely dignified farewell and an opportunity to do what he needs to do.
It won't be dignified if Sydney continue to lose. It may sink the club further into footballing disrepute. What Lavicka "needs to do" is find a way to win matches with one of the most expensive sides in the A League. A double in the first season is not enough to offset shame in the last.
And Lavicka's "dignified" long goodbye smacks of spin more than substance: perhaps the club wants to avoid a Melbourne/Durakovic situation while it hooks Graham Arnold or a big foreign fish for next season.
Saturday night's match against Perth should be a big occasion - Sydney fighting for a finals berth against a side brimming with talent. But the crowd won't reach ten thousand in "Football's Capital".
Pontius Pilate-like, Melton has appealed to the angry mob for mercy. But Lavicka's fate really rests in the hands of his supposed disciples: the players. Only they can save him from bitter, pathetic disgrace.
As unfair, undignified, dishonorable as it is, if Sydney fail against Perth, Lavicka should carry the cross - provided Ian Crook or Steve Corica are prepared to take the burden for the rest of the season.
Unfortunately this cannot even happen. Melton may be trying to re-shape Sydney FC, the most fickle club in the land, into a better place. I applaud the intention but today's interview is a serious misstep along a difficult path. The decision to name the Clubman Of The Year Award after Lavicka might reflect "core values" but it has effectively taken Melton's only option away.
Dignity and loyalty are things to be exchanged between players and fans, not ephemeral concepts to fall back on when poor decisions create a vacuum of leadership. Nature abhors a vacuum - this one has been filled with disaffection and vitriol. It started with the thousands of members who refused to renew their membership for this season, despite the recruitment of Emerton.
Melton struggled to understand that then. He surely has to understand now. Can he wash his hands of a good man's demolition? If Sydney FC fold against Perth, Melton should give the mob their head.
AMENDMENT: Dirk Melton replied to me on Twitter last night saying he's been misquoted and wouldn't disrespect fans. (You can see this on his Twitter account here: https://twitter.com/#!/Dirk_Melton).
As a former journo I know how things can quite easily be taken out of context. I hope this is addressed and corrected by Melton and the website in a more formal way.
You can see an additional post explaining what happened next here: http://afootontheball.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/meltons-look-in-mirror-comment-not.html
"(Coach Viteslav Lavicka) has been here for three years and been given an absolutely dignified farewell and given an opportunity to do what he needs to do for the rest of the year. If people find any difficulty in that then they probably need to look in the mirror."
Melton has not been at the club long enough to tell the fans what to do. Even if he is right, and I do not believe that he is, those are poorly chosen words for the thousands who have clearly given up on the Lavicka school of football. Bluntly bagging fans for criticizing the coach, cruel as they may be, is a stupid thing to do at the best of times.
To do it in the name of dignity is particularly galling. If Sunday's game was a horse race Sydney FC would have found dignity behind a tent and a shotgun. They played with intent for less than half of a home match against geographic rivals.
By contrast the fans have largely held their tongues. The Cove has not chanted for Lavicka's head. The banners have not risen against the once-successful Czech. The venom is reserved for the people most to blame: the players who continually fail to deliver on their potential.
It is true that Sydney fans take too much delight in booing their own players. I wish it were a club that cheered on losing Sky Blues at half time. I wish that confidence players were given more than 30 minutes to change a game.
But changing that culture (a worthy mission that needs a different strategy than Melton's here) will take time and Sydney have bigger problems. Melton is smart enough in his remarks to hold back from trying to take the motivational reins. The players are Lavicka's problem and Lavicka has to deal with it.
This failing squad is Lavicka's responsibility and many fans, if not most, have lost patience with Lavicka's tenure. It's nothing personal. It's simply football.
For two years Sydney have been a bottom half side. They don't deserve a place in the finals this season, and they didn't deserve one last season. The evidence is quite obvious.
Since Lavicka claimed Sydney's sweetest title, the club has played 50 games, won 14, drawn 16 and lost 20. Those results do not include the club's desolate Asian Champion's League campaign.
Last season Sydney finished 9th. Right now they lie 7th and no one is tipping them to rise higher.
Sydney have won a single game in their last nine matches. They've lost 5-2 and 4-nil at home. The Sky Blues have kept four clean sheets in 20 matches. In the last nine games they've conceded 22 goals.
For the last two seasons the crowd rises slightly when success beckons or Brett Emerton debuts, but flee when Sydney lose. Football's Capital demands success with style. They've had neither for two weary years.
Melton would find it hard to find a fan who dislikes Lavicka as a person (although the man who threw his membership card at the Czech when he withdrew Nicky Carle against Gold Coast might volunteer). Lavicka is well-known and liked for the way he speaks to fans and applauds their efforts, particularly on away trips.
Obviously Lavicka's character and his debut double, combined with the front office's long-stated desire to stabilize a previously-bloodthirsty club, has stayed the knife. But Sydney FC is toxic now. The mood amongst the players seemingly matches their performances and the atrocious results. The crowd will shrink until only the malcontents remain because no one wants to watch a good man leave in disgrace.
Melton said Lavicka has been given an absolutely dignified farewell and an opportunity to do what he needs to do.
It won't be dignified if Sydney continue to lose. It may sink the club further into footballing disrepute. What Lavicka "needs to do" is find a way to win matches with one of the most expensive sides in the A League. A double in the first season is not enough to offset shame in the last.
And Lavicka's "dignified" long goodbye smacks of spin more than substance: perhaps the club wants to avoid a Melbourne/Durakovic situation while it hooks Graham Arnold or a big foreign fish for next season.
Saturday night's match against Perth should be a big occasion - Sydney fighting for a finals berth against a side brimming with talent. But the crowd won't reach ten thousand in "Football's Capital".
Pontius Pilate-like, Melton has appealed to the angry mob for mercy. But Lavicka's fate really rests in the hands of his supposed disciples: the players. Only they can save him from bitter, pathetic disgrace.
As unfair, undignified, dishonorable as it is, if Sydney fail against Perth, Lavicka should carry the cross - provided Ian Crook or Steve Corica are prepared to take the burden for the rest of the season.
Unfortunately this cannot even happen. Melton may be trying to re-shape Sydney FC, the most fickle club in the land, into a better place. I applaud the intention but today's interview is a serious misstep along a difficult path. The decision to name the Clubman Of The Year Award after Lavicka might reflect "core values" but it has effectively taken Melton's only option away.
Dignity and loyalty are things to be exchanged between players and fans, not ephemeral concepts to fall back on when poor decisions create a vacuum of leadership. Nature abhors a vacuum - this one has been filled with disaffection and vitriol. It started with the thousands of members who refused to renew their membership for this season, despite the recruitment of Emerton.
Melton struggled to understand that then. He surely has to understand now. Can he wash his hands of a good man's demolition? If Sydney FC fold against Perth, Melton should give the mob their head.
AMENDMENT: Dirk Melton replied to me on Twitter last night saying he's been misquoted and wouldn't disrespect fans. (You can see this on his Twitter account here: https://twitter.com/#!/Dirk_Melton).
As a former journo I know how things can quite easily be taken out of context. I hope this is addressed and corrected by Melton and the website in a more formal way.
You can see an additional post explaining what happened next here: http://afootontheball.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/meltons-look-in-mirror-comment-not.html
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