Hello, handful of readers,
Sorry to disappoint you all, but I won't be blogging for the next few months, and quite possibly indefinitely. I'm still making the games but work demands and alcohol leave me rather unable to provide coherent tactical analysis.
Please check back in after New Years - things may have changed...
Otherwise please get in touch via Twitter (@alternative_PM) or on the SFCU forum.
Thanks for reading.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
FFA should establish Western Sydney Juniors
The A League should create Western Sydney Juniors to mine the real gold of the Greater Western Sydney Sporting Boom.
The statement "Western Sydney is a sporting battleground" approaches "Moving Forward" in the vacuous mission statement stakes, but the FFA have a wonderful opportunity to seal a strong footprint in their much-lauded "heartland" (there's another cliche).
The AFL have already abandoned Blacktown for Homebush (hardly Western in most minds), while the NRL has surely reached its peak popularity and is set for a shock when the gambling bubble bursts.
According to footballing folklore, the world game is king in Western Sydney when it comes to amateur participation. But how to entice an apathetic public in a saturated market? A market which already largely refuses to support Sydney FC?
The answer is to wed the new club to Western Sydney's great strength. Western Sydney Juniors should be the next team in the A League. And not in name only - Western Sydney Juniors should become a radically different, revolutionary A League club.
The Western Sydney Juniors squad of 23 should boast no less than 12 players who were born in, or have played some junior football in the Greater Western Sydney catchment. The club should fill its five international spots with first team players, and recruit another six top class Australians.
But the other 12 should be locals. This quota system enables the manager to recruit a strong starting 11 of foreigners and Australians, but obliges the club to play and promote local talent (obviously some Western Sydney "origin" players will win starting spots - and the more the better).
The quotas should be written into the club's mission statement or constitution. Tony Popovic might understandably blanch at such restrictions when he has a couple of months to build a squad, but the club should stand for something, and stand for something from the start.
A gradual implementation of the quota might be more realistic given the FFA's timetable, but in 2011-2012 Sydney FC's Australian contingent was almost entirely made up of players who had a footballing history in Sydney. It would not be impossible for Popovic to do the same.
Juniors could still strive to attract players like Yorke, Juninho or Fowler to fill their overseas spots and boost the starting 11, but would also choose to spend big money on Socceroos with Western Sydney roots such as Neill, Kewell or even Cahill (FFA budgetary considerations aside).
The FFA raves about the heartland. Establishing Western Sydney Juniors would instantly present a future to those hundreds of thousands of juniors footballers. Each and every kid could dream of playing for WS Juniors on their way to European and Socceroos glory.
The Sydney Juniors model has several intrinsic strengths. It speaks to football's global culture. It unashamedly promotes the A League's role in training players to become world class stars.
And, perhaps most importantly, Western Sydney Juniors would stand opposite and against incumbent franchise Sydney FC.
Clubs need to be more than geographically different. They need to speak to different tribes and attract different fans.
Sydney FC is historically wedded to the Bling FC culture. It is a Sydney Kings, Sydney Roosters-style club, an outfit seduced by the eternal dream of marquee players and domination, while crowds wax and wane with the club's success.
Western Sydney Juniors would stand against the Bling. To grossly exploit the cliche, it would be a "real" team of "local battlers" against a side made up of snobby elites. The rivalry would tap into Sydney's cultural history before a ball is kicked.
But it goes deeper than that. The "Juniors" mission, placing footballing education above all, would enable the FFA to found the club with a pledge to promote home-grown youth and to place positive play before success so as to teach kids to play "the right way." The short-termism that has plagued Sydney FC would be combated by a club with a clear mission: to give kids the chance to play, grow and excel.
The Western Sydney Juniors focus on youth would instantly attract those "old soccer" fans looking for a reason to emotionally invest in the A League. Juniors would not replace those deep ties with historical clubs, but rather establish bonds with mature clubs and a pathway for the players that "old soccer" fans take pride in following.
Most football fans who don't attend A League games ask, "Why would I, when I can watch the best football on tv?" The A League is for fans of clubs with identity, and Juniors offers those fans the chance to watch local players grow into Europe-bound stars without pretending to be Arsenal or Barcelona.
We all know the financial woes of the FFA, and WS Juniors would no doubt need a number of financial fairy godmothers to establish themselves. But private investors would be enticed by a football club that is a genuine conveyor belt of talent keen to jump to higher honours.
The new Western Sydney club is genuinely too big to the FFA to fail. But while the AFL retreats and the GWS Giants become "Western" in name only, the FFA should make a bold, honest statement before the sporting bubble bursts: this is the club, it is truly here for you, and it is here for as long as you want to play the beautiful game.
The statement "Western Sydney is a sporting battleground" approaches "Moving Forward" in the vacuous mission statement stakes, but the FFA have a wonderful opportunity to seal a strong footprint in their much-lauded "heartland" (there's another cliche).
The AFL have already abandoned Blacktown for Homebush (hardly Western in most minds), while the NRL has surely reached its peak popularity and is set for a shock when the gambling bubble bursts.
According to footballing folklore, the world game is king in Western Sydney when it comes to amateur participation. But how to entice an apathetic public in a saturated market? A market which already largely refuses to support Sydney FC?
The answer is to wed the new club to Western Sydney's great strength. Western Sydney Juniors should be the next team in the A League. And not in name only - Western Sydney Juniors should become a radically different, revolutionary A League club.
The Western Sydney Juniors squad of 23 should boast no less than 12 players who were born in, or have played some junior football in the Greater Western Sydney catchment. The club should fill its five international spots with first team players, and recruit another six top class Australians.
But the other 12 should be locals. This quota system enables the manager to recruit a strong starting 11 of foreigners and Australians, but obliges the club to play and promote local talent (obviously some Western Sydney "origin" players will win starting spots - and the more the better).
The quotas should be written into the club's mission statement or constitution. Tony Popovic might understandably blanch at such restrictions when he has a couple of months to build a squad, but the club should stand for something, and stand for something from the start.
A gradual implementation of the quota might be more realistic given the FFA's timetable, but in 2011-2012 Sydney FC's Australian contingent was almost entirely made up of players who had a footballing history in Sydney. It would not be impossible for Popovic to do the same.
Juniors could still strive to attract players like Yorke, Juninho or Fowler to fill their overseas spots and boost the starting 11, but would also choose to spend big money on Socceroos with Western Sydney roots such as Neill, Kewell or even Cahill (FFA budgetary considerations aside).
The FFA raves about the heartland. Establishing Western Sydney Juniors would instantly present a future to those hundreds of thousands of juniors footballers. Each and every kid could dream of playing for WS Juniors on their way to European and Socceroos glory.
The Sydney Juniors model has several intrinsic strengths. It speaks to football's global culture. It unashamedly promotes the A League's role in training players to become world class stars.
And, perhaps most importantly, Western Sydney Juniors would stand opposite and against incumbent franchise Sydney FC.
Clubs need to be more than geographically different. They need to speak to different tribes and attract different fans.
Sydney FC is historically wedded to the Bling FC culture. It is a Sydney Kings, Sydney Roosters-style club, an outfit seduced by the eternal dream of marquee players and domination, while crowds wax and wane with the club's success.
Western Sydney Juniors would stand against the Bling. To grossly exploit the cliche, it would be a "real" team of "local battlers" against a side made up of snobby elites. The rivalry would tap into Sydney's cultural history before a ball is kicked.
But it goes deeper than that. The "Juniors" mission, placing footballing education above all, would enable the FFA to found the club with a pledge to promote home-grown youth and to place positive play before success so as to teach kids to play "the right way." The short-termism that has plagued Sydney FC would be combated by a club with a clear mission: to give kids the chance to play, grow and excel.
The Western Sydney Juniors focus on youth would instantly attract those "old soccer" fans looking for a reason to emotionally invest in the A League. Juniors would not replace those deep ties with historical clubs, but rather establish bonds with mature clubs and a pathway for the players that "old soccer" fans take pride in following.
Most football fans who don't attend A League games ask, "Why would I, when I can watch the best football on tv?" The A League is for fans of clubs with identity, and Juniors offers those fans the chance to watch local players grow into Europe-bound stars without pretending to be Arsenal or Barcelona.
We all know the financial woes of the FFA, and WS Juniors would no doubt need a number of financial fairy godmothers to establish themselves. But private investors would be enticed by a football club that is a genuine conveyor belt of talent keen to jump to higher honours.
The new Western Sydney club is genuinely too big to the FFA to fail. But while the AFL retreats and the GWS Giants become "Western" in name only, the FFA should make a bold, honest statement before the sporting bubble bursts: this is the club, it is truly here for you, and it is here for as long as you want to play the beautiful game.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Sydney FC Clear Out The Best Credentialed
Sydney FC's new head coach Ian Crook has moved decisively and courageously to axe three former Socceroos. The off-season will be long but fascinating as Crook uses significant room in the salary cap to fill his roster.
Michael Beauchamp was part of the Socceroos squad for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. Scott Jamieson was the A League's Young Player of the Year in 2009 and has played for Australia three times. Shannon Cole scored spectacular goals for Sydney FC and represented Australia against Indonesia.
None were deemed worth retaining by Crook, who has worked with each as an assistant coach for Sydney FC. For a squad short on defensive options, Crook's cuts look courageous indeed. One can only surmise that some were asking for more money than Crook believed their performances warranted, or that the new coach has other options in mind. The speed of his decision perhaps indicates the latter.
But there are few Australians of obvious quality available as A League clubs cannot pursue a player under contract at another team. Left-footed fullbacks are even thinner on the ground and the new Western Sydney squad will voraciously pursue any Australian talent not yet tied down. Bruno Cazarine has also departed, despite being the club's leading goalscorer for the last two seasons, and Sydney need to add strength at both ends of the park.
Thankfully for Sydney, Crook has a lot of salary to spend and three foreign slots available. Crook will also promote young, home-schooled talent: the well-credentialed coach is the former overseer of Sydney's youth squad and has partly-chaperoned Terry Antonis, Dimitri Petratos, Joel Chianese and others into the first team.
Vacancies at left back and striker will be at least partially filled by youngsters Mitch Mallia and Daniel Petkovski, but Crook and football manager Gary Cole will pursue flashier options. David Carney and perhaps even Scott Chipperfield will fuel discussions on filling the left side. One also hopes the club will at least explore unlikely options such as Matthew Spiranovic or other members of the Asian-based defensive diaspora.
At centreback, with Pascal Bosschart injured, Crook only has Seb Ryall, who has failed to force his way into the first team for three seasons, and young Nathan Sherlock. Strikers looks similarly slim on the ground - Crook believes Chianese is more of a midfielder (despite his stunning end to the season), while Mallia is quick but raw. Mark Bridge remains the main man on the roster, despite scoring four goals in two years.
Other gaps exist: at right back Rhyan Grant and Ryall are no more than stopgaps while Brett Emerton is needed further forward. Ivan Necevski has won the number one jersey but will need competition and cover between the sticks.
Sydney's current marquee men Emerton and Nicky Carle are taking up a huge slab of the club's budget and any third big-name signing will have to fit under the salary cap. That factor, plus the appetites of cash-rich clubs throughout Asia and the Middle East, probably rule out names like Michael Owen or even James Beattie. Foreign recruits are likely to be previously-unknown surprise packets such as Thomas Broich, Besart Berisha, Carlos Hernandez or Patricio Perez.
An off-season of speculation awaits as the club again yearns for stability. A new coach, a new squad, and perhaps most importantly, a new chief executive under a new majority owner in David Traktovenko will present their class of Sydney FC to the Cove in five months time.
Crook will be under the most pressure. Will he move Sydney away from the midfield diamond? Will he alter the at-times soporific pace of play? Will he find the men he needs to do it?
It seems clear that while Tratkovenko and chairman Scott Barlow seek a new CEO, Crook needs to recruit a new striker, left midfielder, left back, centreback and find cover at right back and goalkeeper. Crook has the time and the money to get exactly who he wants. But has he burnt his best options?
Michael Beauchamp was part of the Socceroos squad for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. Scott Jamieson was the A League's Young Player of the Year in 2009 and has played for Australia three times. Shannon Cole scored spectacular goals for Sydney FC and represented Australia against Indonesia.
None were deemed worth retaining by Crook, who has worked with each as an assistant coach for Sydney FC. For a squad short on defensive options, Crook's cuts look courageous indeed. One can only surmise that some were asking for more money than Crook believed their performances warranted, or that the new coach has other options in mind. The speed of his decision perhaps indicates the latter.
But there are few Australians of obvious quality available as A League clubs cannot pursue a player under contract at another team. Left-footed fullbacks are even thinner on the ground and the new Western Sydney squad will voraciously pursue any Australian talent not yet tied down. Bruno Cazarine has also departed, despite being the club's leading goalscorer for the last two seasons, and Sydney need to add strength at both ends of the park.
Thankfully for Sydney, Crook has a lot of salary to spend and three foreign slots available. Crook will also promote young, home-schooled talent: the well-credentialed coach is the former overseer of Sydney's youth squad and has partly-chaperoned Terry Antonis, Dimitri Petratos, Joel Chianese and others into the first team.
Vacancies at left back and striker will be at least partially filled by youngsters Mitch Mallia and Daniel Petkovski, but Crook and football manager Gary Cole will pursue flashier options. David Carney and perhaps even Scott Chipperfield will fuel discussions on filling the left side. One also hopes the club will at least explore unlikely options such as Matthew Spiranovic or other members of the Asian-based defensive diaspora.
At centreback, with Pascal Bosschart injured, Crook only has Seb Ryall, who has failed to force his way into the first team for three seasons, and young Nathan Sherlock. Strikers looks similarly slim on the ground - Crook believes Chianese is more of a midfielder (despite his stunning end to the season), while Mallia is quick but raw. Mark Bridge remains the main man on the roster, despite scoring four goals in two years.
Other gaps exist: at right back Rhyan Grant and Ryall are no more than stopgaps while Brett Emerton is needed further forward. Ivan Necevski has won the number one jersey but will need competition and cover between the sticks.
Sydney's current marquee men Emerton and Nicky Carle are taking up a huge slab of the club's budget and any third big-name signing will have to fit under the salary cap. That factor, plus the appetites of cash-rich clubs throughout Asia and the Middle East, probably rule out names like Michael Owen or even James Beattie. Foreign recruits are likely to be previously-unknown surprise packets such as Thomas Broich, Besart Berisha, Carlos Hernandez or Patricio Perez.
An off-season of speculation awaits as the club again yearns for stability. A new coach, a new squad, and perhaps most importantly, a new chief executive under a new majority owner in David Traktovenko will present their class of Sydney FC to the Cove in five months time.
Crook will be under the most pressure. Will he move Sydney away from the midfield diamond? Will he alter the at-times soporific pace of play? Will he find the men he needs to do it?
It seems clear that while Tratkovenko and chairman Scott Barlow seek a new CEO, Crook needs to recruit a new striker, left midfielder, left back, centreback and find cover at right back and goalkeeper. Crook has the time and the money to get exactly who he wants. But has he burnt his best options?
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sydney Should Steer Clear of Arnold
It is probably too late - it seems that Sydney FC have pursued Graham Arnold for months, and the Mariners' exit from the A League finals will loosen Arnold's ties to the Central Coast.
But for what it's worth, this is a plea to the club - do not hire Graham Arnold.
The case for Arnold is simple. The former Socceroo player and manager has led an unfancied and cheaply assembled Mariners outfit to a grand final and a Premier's Plate in two seasons. He has promoted several young players who have blossomed into budding stars. Arnold's Mariners have mostly dominated the Lavicka-led Sydney FC. And while Arnold's A League coaching record is second only to Ange Postecoglou, Arnold is the better-credentialed coach as he is a rare Australian-born manager with international and Asian experience.
With Postecoglou either Melbourne-bound or staying in Brisbane, Arnold looks like the obvious choice. But he is not the man that Sydney need.
Even if all that an Arnold era promises came true - if Sydney FC won the league - they would win ugly. And winning ugly is a pass mark in the A League's toughest market.
Viteslav Lavicka was respected for his acumen and decency, but his style of football saw the club shed members when losses mounted. Even the premiership season was witnessed by an average amount of fans.
With Lavicka heading home, the A League limping into an off-season and Sydney rudderless at front office, Sydney FC need success. They need an inspired choice who will commit to playing attacking football, not a man who plays the admirably dogged Daniel McBreen at number 10 and whose tactics attract 7,500 fans to an elimination final.
Sydney need someone who can communicate with the city and seduce those former members who have severed ties. Graham Arnold has strengths but communication is not one of them.
The final factor is less obvious but no less important. Sydney FC is a club diametrically different to the Mariners in culture, profile and expectation. Sydney FC have Socceroos and marquees where the Mariners have a small-town ethos (and Arnold's record at managing Socceroos is aging, but not encouraging). Sydney is the bling football club in a city that ignores domestic football, while the Mariners are the only fish in a much smaller pond. And while Mariners fans delight in surpassing expectations, Sydney players are slowly boiled in them.
Graham Arnold has proved himself as an excellent coach and his achievement at the Mariners is undoubted. But football repeatedly shows that success at one club does not guarantee the same elsewhere.
Winning ugly is the minimum that Sydney demands and a pass mark will not do it anymore. Sydney FC have bled fans since season one, and while the club's immediate future is assured, it is time for Sydney to strive for success.
Sadly this devilish dilemma comes at the worst possible time. Sydney's acting CEO Stefan Kamasz is caught in the vice. He needs to find a coach so the roster can be filled before Western Sydney and other clubs sweep up the best Australians. But if he makes the wrong appointment, Sydney will suffer a worse fate - for every coach or CEO that departs, members decide their dollars are better spent elsewhere.
Former CEO Dirk Melton had a hit list lined up but one wonders if Kamasz has had the time to look overseas. I have no suggestions for him. But the club should look further than Arnold.
But for what it's worth, this is a plea to the club - do not hire Graham Arnold.
The case for Arnold is simple. The former Socceroo player and manager has led an unfancied and cheaply assembled Mariners outfit to a grand final and a Premier's Plate in two seasons. He has promoted several young players who have blossomed into budding stars. Arnold's Mariners have mostly dominated the Lavicka-led Sydney FC. And while Arnold's A League coaching record is second only to Ange Postecoglou, Arnold is the better-credentialed coach as he is a rare Australian-born manager with international and Asian experience.
With Postecoglou either Melbourne-bound or staying in Brisbane, Arnold looks like the obvious choice. But he is not the man that Sydney need.
Even if all that an Arnold era promises came true - if Sydney FC won the league - they would win ugly. And winning ugly is a pass mark in the A League's toughest market.
Viteslav Lavicka was respected for his acumen and decency, but his style of football saw the club shed members when losses mounted. Even the premiership season was witnessed by an average amount of fans.
With Lavicka heading home, the A League limping into an off-season and Sydney rudderless at front office, Sydney FC need success. They need an inspired choice who will commit to playing attacking football, not a man who plays the admirably dogged Daniel McBreen at number 10 and whose tactics attract 7,500 fans to an elimination final.
Sydney need someone who can communicate with the city and seduce those former members who have severed ties. Graham Arnold has strengths but communication is not one of them.
The final factor is less obvious but no less important. Sydney FC is a club diametrically different to the Mariners in culture, profile and expectation. Sydney FC have Socceroos and marquees where the Mariners have a small-town ethos (and Arnold's record at managing Socceroos is aging, but not encouraging). Sydney is the bling football club in a city that ignores domestic football, while the Mariners are the only fish in a much smaller pond. And while Mariners fans delight in surpassing expectations, Sydney players are slowly boiled in them.
Graham Arnold has proved himself as an excellent coach and his achievement at the Mariners is undoubted. But football repeatedly shows that success at one club does not guarantee the same elsewhere.
Winning ugly is the minimum that Sydney demands and a pass mark will not do it anymore. Sydney FC have bled fans since season one, and while the club's immediate future is assured, it is time for Sydney to strive for success.
Sadly this devilish dilemma comes at the worst possible time. Sydney's acting CEO Stefan Kamasz is caught in the vice. He needs to find a coach so the roster can be filled before Western Sydney and other clubs sweep up the best Australians. But if he makes the wrong appointment, Sydney will suffer a worse fate - for every coach or CEO that departs, members decide their dollars are better spent elsewhere.
Former CEO Dirk Melton had a hit list lined up but one wonders if Kamasz has had the time to look overseas. I have no suggestions for him. But the club should look further than Arnold.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Kisel and Lavicka Bid Melbourne Goodbye
Sydney FC trounced Melbourne on Saturday night and while the victory might have felt sweetest to the fans, Viteslav Lavicka and Karol Kisel can take the most pride in the performance.
Kisel put in a solid performance on the ball, was one cog in a dominant midfield and did not so much slot his penalty as smack it through to an adoring Cove. He later signed himself up for miss of the season (joining the unfortunate Joel Chianese) but the animated Slovak has adopted Sydney as his hometown and Melbourne as his nemesis.
Lavicka chose a predictable but fascinating squad - he kept faith with Chianese and relegated Dimitri Petratos and Mitch Mallia. Mark Bridge was restored to the bench, perhaps with his own record against Melbourne in mind, but did little to secure a spot next week.
Terry Antonis also returned from injury and mirrored Chianese's ability to find dangerous positions and shank passes and chances. The best news for Sydney is they have youngsters with potential fighting for places. The bad news is it is too late to be a real finals threat.
Melbourne's performance was universally disparaged (not least by their own manager) and Mark Bosnich apparently called it the worst in the club's history. Satisfying as the win was, Sydney's inability to score more than one goal or to extend their first half dominance will hardly have the Heart or the Jets shaking in their finals-bound boots.
Lavicka has established a new period of dominance against Sydney's most bitter rivals and will leave at the end of the season with some pride to go with disappointment - still, Sydney have not shown they can send their coach out as a winner. The best the club can hope for is a late run at the finals and a final look at some players.
Sydney have always had the squad to win this season. They have never displayed the ruthlessness required and a club in crisis will have to be ruthless in its contracting for the next campaign.
Obviously the biggest vacancies are at the top. Some might claim that finding the right CEO is more important to the club's future than the right manager, but Sydney have the remarkable record of employing more chief executives than managers - and the Sky Blues have sacked plenty of managers.
While the club desperately search for the right men (or, god forbid, women), Gary Cole is left with the job of finding the right players for next season. Proper contract negotiations are presumably on hold for now, but Cole will want to hook the players he fancies as soon as possible.
Sydney fans well know the importance of proper recruitment. After winning the double Sydney failed to replace a handful of key men and the club plunged to ninth place. A similar number of players are off contract at the end of this season (my thanks to those on The Cove forums who have compiled a series of excellent and comprehensive lists that I have shamelessly swiped):
Contracts expire at the end of this season:
Juho Makela (foreign)
Bruno Cazarine (foreign)
Karol Kisel (foreign)
Scott Jamieson
Shannon Cole
Michael Beauchamp
Chris Coyne
All these players have claimed first team roles (albeit some only briefly) this season and Cazarine, Jamieson, Kisel and Beauchamp started against Melbourne. If the club gets the recruitment wrong it risks sending Sydney back into the doldrums.
Makela and Kisel are almost certainly out the door - Kisel for a career in the law, Makela for more game time. While Kisel's decisive and dynamic contributions will be missed, few will mourn the loss of Makela, who managed to knock in a couple of crucial goals but rarely showed the touch required of a quality striker.
Bruno Cazarine remains an enigma. The burly Brazilian continues to win penalties, score goals and unsettle defenders, but occasionally goes missing from games and traps Sydney into playing a certain way.
More pertinently the club can only sign four foreigners next season and Pascal Bosschaart and Hiro Moriyasu are already on the books. Sydney are sure to go for a quality foreign striker or left midfielder and with Brett Emerton and Nicky Carle filling up the marquee places, the Sky Blues only have so much money left for wages under the salary cap.
If Bruno won't settle for a wage befitting a squad player, the Brazilian's nomadic career will continue elsewhere. Cazarine's goal-getting abilities will be missed but he looks like getting squeezed out by wage and foreign player demands. Sydney should retain him but not break the bank to do so.
Gary Cole and the club's new backroom masters will have to juggle some delicate backline management. Cole, Beauchamp, Jamieson and Coyne have all started in Sydney's defence this season and better alternatives are sparse on the ground.
Jamie Coyne is almost certainly gone. If Coyne makes one more appearance he will automatically earn a new deal with the club, but now that Seb Ryall has returned only an injury crisis will see Coyne on the field. Coyne carried the bag for some inconsistent defensive performances and despite starting his Sydney spell brightly, he won't be missed by most Sydney fans.
Michael Beauchamp came to the club in strange circumstances. Beauchamp and Simon Colosimo were supposed to form a Socceroo-quality rearguard at Melbourne Heart but neither managed to impress. Beauchamp went from World Cup player to damaged goods and was glad to come to Sydney as soon as possible.
Beauchamp's inconsistent performances have unfortunately continued and he's far from sure of a new deal. His consistent selection probably owes more to his manager's view of Seb Ryall than Beauchamp's own performances. Beauchamp has played some good matches but been dominated physically and aerially by the best in the league and is only going to lose more mobility as he ages (Beauchamp turned 32 last week).
Sydney would be wise to pursue alternatives such as Michael Thwaite, who will need a home after the demise of Gold Coast. As he ages Beauchamp might have to settle for less money to stay with Sydney.
If Beauchamp and Coyne depart Sydney, the club will be left with Pascal Bosschaart and Seb Ryall as recognized centrebacks, with the young Nathan Sherlock a untried alternative. One imagines the club will look for an upgrade of Beauchamp.
Sydney might look light on for central defenders but the club's real deficiency is on the left. The Sky Blues continue to lack a left-footed left midfielder and if Scott Jamieson and Shannon Cole leave, Sydney won't have a senior left back.
Shannon Cole deserves to stay but probably won't. Cole can play on either side in defence or midfield, is confident on the ball, scores spectacular goals from set pieces and broken play and is a local hero to many fans. But Cole has failed to win his place in the last two years and one can imagine the one-time Socceroo leaving if an established manager makes him an offer combining good money with game time.
Scott Jamieson is the man most likely to stay. Jamieson failed to impress in a midfield role last season, but has locked down the left back role and demonstrated a welcome ability to sling in a pacy, curving dead ball. Jamieson is young enough to improve all aspects of his game - hopefully including his rather poor right foot. Jamieson seems the likeliest to stay and probably deserves it the most.
Kisel put in a solid performance on the ball, was one cog in a dominant midfield and did not so much slot his penalty as smack it through to an adoring Cove. He later signed himself up for miss of the season (joining the unfortunate Joel Chianese) but the animated Slovak has adopted Sydney as his hometown and Melbourne as his nemesis.
Lavicka chose a predictable but fascinating squad - he kept faith with Chianese and relegated Dimitri Petratos and Mitch Mallia. Mark Bridge was restored to the bench, perhaps with his own record against Melbourne in mind, but did little to secure a spot next week.
Terry Antonis also returned from injury and mirrored Chianese's ability to find dangerous positions and shank passes and chances. The best news for Sydney is they have youngsters with potential fighting for places. The bad news is it is too late to be a real finals threat.
Melbourne's performance was universally disparaged (not least by their own manager) and Mark Bosnich apparently called it the worst in the club's history. Satisfying as the win was, Sydney's inability to score more than one goal or to extend their first half dominance will hardly have the Heart or the Jets shaking in their finals-bound boots.
Lavicka has established a new period of dominance against Sydney's most bitter rivals and will leave at the end of the season with some pride to go with disappointment - still, Sydney have not shown they can send their coach out as a winner. The best the club can hope for is a late run at the finals and a final look at some players.
Sydney have always had the squad to win this season. They have never displayed the ruthlessness required and a club in crisis will have to be ruthless in its contracting for the next campaign.
Obviously the biggest vacancies are at the top. Some might claim that finding the right CEO is more important to the club's future than the right manager, but Sydney have the remarkable record of employing more chief executives than managers - and the Sky Blues have sacked plenty of managers.
While the club desperately search for the right men (or, god forbid, women), Gary Cole is left with the job of finding the right players for next season. Proper contract negotiations are presumably on hold for now, but Cole will want to hook the players he fancies as soon as possible.
Sydney fans well know the importance of proper recruitment. After winning the double Sydney failed to replace a handful of key men and the club plunged to ninth place. A similar number of players are off contract at the end of this season (my thanks to those on The Cove forums who have compiled a series of excellent and comprehensive lists that I have shamelessly swiped):
Contracts expire at the end of this season:
Juho Makela (foreign)
Bruno Cazarine (foreign)
Karol Kisel (foreign)
Scott Jamieson
Shannon Cole
Michael Beauchamp
Chris Coyne
All these players have claimed first team roles (albeit some only briefly) this season and Cazarine, Jamieson, Kisel and Beauchamp started against Melbourne. If the club gets the recruitment wrong it risks sending Sydney back into the doldrums.
Makela and Kisel are almost certainly out the door - Kisel for a career in the law, Makela for more game time. While Kisel's decisive and dynamic contributions will be missed, few will mourn the loss of Makela, who managed to knock in a couple of crucial goals but rarely showed the touch required of a quality striker.
Bruno Cazarine remains an enigma. The burly Brazilian continues to win penalties, score goals and unsettle defenders, but occasionally goes missing from games and traps Sydney into playing a certain way.
More pertinently the club can only sign four foreigners next season and Pascal Bosschaart and Hiro Moriyasu are already on the books. Sydney are sure to go for a quality foreign striker or left midfielder and with Brett Emerton and Nicky Carle filling up the marquee places, the Sky Blues only have so much money left for wages under the salary cap.
If Bruno won't settle for a wage befitting a squad player, the Brazilian's nomadic career will continue elsewhere. Cazarine's goal-getting abilities will be missed but he looks like getting squeezed out by wage and foreign player demands. Sydney should retain him but not break the bank to do so.
Gary Cole and the club's new backroom masters will have to juggle some delicate backline management. Cole, Beauchamp, Jamieson and Coyne have all started in Sydney's defence this season and better alternatives are sparse on the ground.
Jamie Coyne is almost certainly gone. If Coyne makes one more appearance he will automatically earn a new deal with the club, but now that Seb Ryall has returned only an injury crisis will see Coyne on the field. Coyne carried the bag for some inconsistent defensive performances and despite starting his Sydney spell brightly, he won't be missed by most Sydney fans.
Michael Beauchamp came to the club in strange circumstances. Beauchamp and Simon Colosimo were supposed to form a Socceroo-quality rearguard at Melbourne Heart but neither managed to impress. Beauchamp went from World Cup player to damaged goods and was glad to come to Sydney as soon as possible.
Beauchamp's inconsistent performances have unfortunately continued and he's far from sure of a new deal. His consistent selection probably owes more to his manager's view of Seb Ryall than Beauchamp's own performances. Beauchamp has played some good matches but been dominated physically and aerially by the best in the league and is only going to lose more mobility as he ages (Beauchamp turned 32 last week).
Sydney would be wise to pursue alternatives such as Michael Thwaite, who will need a home after the demise of Gold Coast. As he ages Beauchamp might have to settle for less money to stay with Sydney.
If Beauchamp and Coyne depart Sydney, the club will be left with Pascal Bosschaart and Seb Ryall as recognized centrebacks, with the young Nathan Sherlock a untried alternative. One imagines the club will look for an upgrade of Beauchamp.
Sydney might look light on for central defenders but the club's real deficiency is on the left. The Sky Blues continue to lack a left-footed left midfielder and if Scott Jamieson and Shannon Cole leave, Sydney won't have a senior left back.
Shannon Cole deserves to stay but probably won't. Cole can play on either side in defence or midfield, is confident on the ball, scores spectacular goals from set pieces and broken play and is a local hero to many fans. But Cole has failed to win his place in the last two years and one can imagine the one-time Socceroo leaving if an established manager makes him an offer combining good money with game time.
Scott Jamieson is the man most likely to stay. Jamieson failed to impress in a midfield role last season, but has locked down the left back role and demonstrated a welcome ability to sling in a pacy, curving dead ball. Jamieson is young enough to improve all aspects of his game - hopefully including his rather poor right foot. Jamieson seems the likeliest to stay and probably deserves it the most.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Sydney FC Steal Hope Against Adelaide
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.
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.
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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