"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.
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