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.
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Barcelona are boring because nobody likes Goliath
Wilt Chamberlain slept with twenty thousand girls and scored one hundred points in a single NBA game. 'Wilt the Stilt' was so dominant that he was booed despite his brilliance - until a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar rose to challenge him.
Wilt genially summed up his unpopularity for the media - "No one roots for Goliath." I felt the same way watching Manchester United wilt and fall to the irrepressible Barcelona in the Champions League final.
Barcelona's brilliance has transformed football into a game more akin to basketball, water polo or European handball. A team advances with the ball via a passage of intricate but predictable play, and then shoots.
The problem is that Barcelona are so good that the game is all one way. No one can get the ball off them, and no one can hold on to it against them. A match against the Catalans swiftly becomes a succession of one-way blows. Barca's unbridled success is well deserved but the majesty of their glory is fading, mostly thanks to the histrionics of Daniel Alves and Pedro.
It's surely indisputable that Barcelona's tiki-taka has claimed Spain, Europe and the world. The Barcelona way is now the Spanish way - the World Cup was proof of that. Alex Ferguson, perhaps the world's most experienced and financially-backed manager, has attacked them twice and failed miserably. Jose Mourinho assembled the most expensive squad in the history of football and failed to do anything but degenerate the game into more of a boxing match than Holland's attack on Spain in the World Cup Final.
Barca's dominance is best demonstrated by the brilliance of their players. Few could force their way into the Barcelona First XI. One might prefer a marauding Gareth Bale over Eric Abidal, or perhaps the cool Ricardo Carvalho instead of Gerard Pique. But apart from Arjen Robben (and of course, a certain C. Ronaldo) Barcelona can claim to have the best in the world - and their spine is completely home-grown.
I would love to see Barcelona in the flesh. They play a beautiful style of football, they dive less than most and they score wonderful goals.
But the time has come for a challenger to rise against them, for a tactical innovation to re-shape the game, to restore football to a match of 90 minutes and 90 emotions where any team with the requisite mix of valour and skill can score a goal. Football's inherent drama, its fundamental strength, springs from the contest.
The Barcelona carousel is mesmerizing, without a doubt - but nobody likes Goliath. Because Goliath is a bully.
But where can the challenge come from, and would it be worse than the beautiful game it seeks to destroy?
The safest bet is that Mourinho will find a way of stacking his defense. Real Madrid might take an ugly title over another year of humiliation, and perhaps a new "catenacchio" will emerge, a kind of inverse sweeper plugging the space where Messi, Xavi and Iniesta roam. Messi's magic from the false nine position has made the two centrebacks redundant. I'm betting that Mourinho will mould a back three to ward off Pedro and Villa, and send Pepe out to man-mark Messi. The determination to avoid another 5-nil thrashing is already evident in Pepe's transformation from centre back to midfield, and Mourinho's affection for a midfield made by the destroyers Diarra, Alonso and Khedira.
Mourinho beat Barca with Inter Milan by packing the defence and relying on one or two counter-attacks over 180 minutes. How Sir Alex Ferguson re-shapes his (surely final) challenge will be fascinating, while Chelsea and Manchester City are probably the only other clubs in with a fighting chance.
I fear that next season's Champions League will be dominated by clubs playing on the counter. That's why we should all mourn the absence of Tottenham Hotspur - a club long shorn of European glory, but with the verve, ability and ambition to take on any comers. Unfortunately their chance to take a shot at Barcelona was cruelled by Peter Crouch's stupidity.
Tottenham vs Barcelona - that would have been David vs Goliath. And David might have had a chance.
Wilt genially summed up his unpopularity for the media - "No one roots for Goliath." I felt the same way watching Manchester United wilt and fall to the irrepressible Barcelona in the Champions League final.
Barcelona's brilliance has transformed football into a game more akin to basketball, water polo or European handball. A team advances with the ball via a passage of intricate but predictable play, and then shoots.
The problem is that Barcelona are so good that the game is all one way. No one can get the ball off them, and no one can hold on to it against them. A match against the Catalans swiftly becomes a succession of one-way blows. Barca's unbridled success is well deserved but the majesty of their glory is fading, mostly thanks to the histrionics of Daniel Alves and Pedro.
It's surely indisputable that Barcelona's tiki-taka has claimed Spain, Europe and the world. The Barcelona way is now the Spanish way - the World Cup was proof of that. Alex Ferguson, perhaps the world's most experienced and financially-backed manager, has attacked them twice and failed miserably. Jose Mourinho assembled the most expensive squad in the history of football and failed to do anything but degenerate the game into more of a boxing match than Holland's attack on Spain in the World Cup Final.
Barca's dominance is best demonstrated by the brilliance of their players. Few could force their way into the Barcelona First XI. One might prefer a marauding Gareth Bale over Eric Abidal, or perhaps the cool Ricardo Carvalho instead of Gerard Pique. But apart from Arjen Robben (and of course, a certain C. Ronaldo) Barcelona can claim to have the best in the world - and their spine is completely home-grown.
I would love to see Barcelona in the flesh. They play a beautiful style of football, they dive less than most and they score wonderful goals.
But the time has come for a challenger to rise against them, for a tactical innovation to re-shape the game, to restore football to a match of 90 minutes and 90 emotions where any team with the requisite mix of valour and skill can score a goal. Football's inherent drama, its fundamental strength, springs from the contest.
The Barcelona carousel is mesmerizing, without a doubt - but nobody likes Goliath. Because Goliath is a bully.
But where can the challenge come from, and would it be worse than the beautiful game it seeks to destroy?
The safest bet is that Mourinho will find a way of stacking his defense. Real Madrid might take an ugly title over another year of humiliation, and perhaps a new "catenacchio" will emerge, a kind of inverse sweeper plugging the space where Messi, Xavi and Iniesta roam. Messi's magic from the false nine position has made the two centrebacks redundant. I'm betting that Mourinho will mould a back three to ward off Pedro and Villa, and send Pepe out to man-mark Messi. The determination to avoid another 5-nil thrashing is already evident in Pepe's transformation from centre back to midfield, and Mourinho's affection for a midfield made by the destroyers Diarra, Alonso and Khedira.
Mourinho beat Barca with Inter Milan by packing the defence and relying on one or two counter-attacks over 180 minutes. How Sir Alex Ferguson re-shapes his (surely final) challenge will be fascinating, while Chelsea and Manchester City are probably the only other clubs in with a fighting chance.
I fear that next season's Champions League will be dominated by clubs playing on the counter. That's why we should all mourn the absence of Tottenham Hotspur - a club long shorn of European glory, but with the verve, ability and ambition to take on any comers. Unfortunately their chance to take a shot at Barcelona was cruelled by Peter Crouch's stupidity.
Tottenham vs Barcelona - that would have been David vs Goliath. And David might have had a chance.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Game 19 - Sydney FC 0 vs Queensland Roar 1 - 12/12/10
"It could have been worse."
That is the frightening defeatism that has infected Sydney FC. This season has seen a champion squad plunge into despair and disrepair, with nary a captain or coach able to bail the water out of a sinking ship.
To say that Sydney FC won the second half flatters the hosts mightily. Brisbane rarely got out of second gear. Imagine what they could accomplish with a top class striker. The Roar worked their way down field methodically and brazenly, while Sydney struggled to play out of their own half.
All the old bad signs were there. Stephan Keller thumping the ball long and wide. Static fullbacks hugging the touch line. Players pointing at positions where they expected each other to be, five seconds after the ball had gone. Sydney's playmaker, either Mark Bridge or Terry Antonis, settling for occupying a defender instead of running them ragged.
Viteslav Lavicka should guide the club to the Asian Champions League but Sydney FC should not be offering him an Alan Pardew-esque five and a half year deal. Lavicka clearly arrived with Plan A - the same 4-4-2 diamond that Sydney have played for a year and a half - and no Plan B, despite Brisbane playing the same way they have all season.
Lavicka identified that Gan and Antonis were struggling but changed personnel without attacking the cause of the problem. Few managers have disrupted Brisbane this season but the diamond left Antonis and Bridge completely impotent - exhausted by defence and desperately out of position in transition attack. Brisbane apparently enjoyed 68 percent of possession in the first half. I'm surprised it wasn't more.
To go man for man, as Sydney were unable to do:
Ivan Necevski should have done better to block Kosta Barbarouses's cool finish but made some smart saves in either half. A good back up option for sure, but it seems Crazy Ivan has found his level.
Shannon Cole was easily Sydney's most impressive player over the 90 minutes. He supplied Sydney's only moment of skill with a cool backheel in the second half, put in a few threatening runs and kept Thomas Broich reasonably quiet. Cole backed himself in the tackle and on the ball, which was something few other Sydney players seemed willing to do. His combination with Dimitri Petratos was encouraging and should be nurtured.
Sung-Hwan Byun put in possibly his worst shift in a Sky Blue shirt. Apart from supplying atrocious delivery from wide areas throughout the match, Byun was one of many Sydney players who seemed more intent on ordering his teammates around than getting in a helpful position himself. Byun's mind seems off the job and Scott Jamieson cannot return soon enough.
Hayden Foxe and Stephan Keller may have been a great central combination five years ago. But Foxe's distribution has degraded over the past month and Keller's has probably been atrocious his entire career. That Brisbane did not win by more is evidence of their honest hard work but they were often caught too far apart, too far from their Solorzano, too deep (to cover their lack of pace) and too scared of the ball. It is time for Lavicka to recruit some replacements.
Sydney's under fire manager was forced to substitute Brendan Gan and Terry Antonis at halftime and both youngsters deserved the hook. Hopefully Antonis will not stay benched for long. The lad has undoubted ability but today's match was too cruel a test so early. His confidence must now be sand-bagged, not sabotaged. Sydney's first responsibility was too relieve defensive pressure and neither Gan nor Antonis contributed, while Terry McFlynn's performance was similarly lacking.
Terry McFlynn may be a Foundation Player but he needs to be a proper captain. It has been too long since McFlynn, or any Sydney player, took a match by the scruff of the neck. It is McFlynn's duty to lead by example, but doing a job is no longer enough in a Sydney side of much lower quality than last year's edition.
Hiro Moriyasu also put in a fairly abject performance. He was played in what is allegedly his preferred position at the base of Sydney's midfield, but lost possession time and again, took too long to select an option, was weak in the tackle and failed to interact properly with his defence. Hiro is best employed as a box to box harasser and lacks the composure to play as the screening anchor. An in-form Stuart Musialik is a better option, but Sydney have precious few players in form at the moment.
Big bad Bruno Cazarine was obviously not fully fit and played for free kicks before halftime. Alex Brosque was dynamic, inspirational and alone.
Mark Bridge was absolutely anonymous. Again. His new contract should be read to him like the Riot Act. Hopefully a rocket up the backside can push him past the barrier of his natural abilities. Bridge is an enigma without the ability to justify his inconsistency. Nicky Carle, it has been said too often, cannot return soon enough.
A champion side should not regress so poorly. A great manager should not allow them to. Great managers adapt. Great players overcome adversity. Sydney FC simply flounder while their crowds dwindle and The Cove grows quieter. Sydney's names were not cheered and the side was barely applauded onto the park.
Something is out of kilter and it is not just Nicky Carle's back.
That is the frightening defeatism that has infected Sydney FC. This season has seen a champion squad plunge into despair and disrepair, with nary a captain or coach able to bail the water out of a sinking ship.
To say that Sydney FC won the second half flatters the hosts mightily. Brisbane rarely got out of second gear. Imagine what they could accomplish with a top class striker. The Roar worked their way down field methodically and brazenly, while Sydney struggled to play out of their own half.
All the old bad signs were there. Stephan Keller thumping the ball long and wide. Static fullbacks hugging the touch line. Players pointing at positions where they expected each other to be, five seconds after the ball had gone. Sydney's playmaker, either Mark Bridge or Terry Antonis, settling for occupying a defender instead of running them ragged.
Viteslav Lavicka should guide the club to the Asian Champions League but Sydney FC should not be offering him an Alan Pardew-esque five and a half year deal. Lavicka clearly arrived with Plan A - the same 4-4-2 diamond that Sydney have played for a year and a half - and no Plan B, despite Brisbane playing the same way they have all season.
Lavicka identified that Gan and Antonis were struggling but changed personnel without attacking the cause of the problem. Few managers have disrupted Brisbane this season but the diamond left Antonis and Bridge completely impotent - exhausted by defence and desperately out of position in transition attack. Brisbane apparently enjoyed 68 percent of possession in the first half. I'm surprised it wasn't more.
To go man for man, as Sydney were unable to do:
Ivan Necevski should have done better to block Kosta Barbarouses's cool finish but made some smart saves in either half. A good back up option for sure, but it seems Crazy Ivan has found his level.
Shannon Cole was easily Sydney's most impressive player over the 90 minutes. He supplied Sydney's only moment of skill with a cool backheel in the second half, put in a few threatening runs and kept Thomas Broich reasonably quiet. Cole backed himself in the tackle and on the ball, which was something few other Sydney players seemed willing to do. His combination with Dimitri Petratos was encouraging and should be nurtured.
Sung-Hwan Byun put in possibly his worst shift in a Sky Blue shirt. Apart from supplying atrocious delivery from wide areas throughout the match, Byun was one of many Sydney players who seemed more intent on ordering his teammates around than getting in a helpful position himself. Byun's mind seems off the job and Scott Jamieson cannot return soon enough.
Hayden Foxe and Stephan Keller may have been a great central combination five years ago. But Foxe's distribution has degraded over the past month and Keller's has probably been atrocious his entire career. That Brisbane did not win by more is evidence of their honest hard work but they were often caught too far apart, too far from their Solorzano, too deep (to cover their lack of pace) and too scared of the ball. It is time for Lavicka to recruit some replacements.
Sydney's under fire manager was forced to substitute Brendan Gan and Terry Antonis at halftime and both youngsters deserved the hook. Hopefully Antonis will not stay benched for long. The lad has undoubted ability but today's match was too cruel a test so early. His confidence must now be sand-bagged, not sabotaged. Sydney's first responsibility was too relieve defensive pressure and neither Gan nor Antonis contributed, while Terry McFlynn's performance was similarly lacking.
Terry McFlynn may be a Foundation Player but he needs to be a proper captain. It has been too long since McFlynn, or any Sydney player, took a match by the scruff of the neck. It is McFlynn's duty to lead by example, but doing a job is no longer enough in a Sydney side of much lower quality than last year's edition.
Hiro Moriyasu also put in a fairly abject performance. He was played in what is allegedly his preferred position at the base of Sydney's midfield, but lost possession time and again, took too long to select an option, was weak in the tackle and failed to interact properly with his defence. Hiro is best employed as a box to box harasser and lacks the composure to play as the screening anchor. An in-form Stuart Musialik is a better option, but Sydney have precious few players in form at the moment.
Big bad Bruno Cazarine was obviously not fully fit and played for free kicks before halftime. Alex Brosque was dynamic, inspirational and alone.
Mark Bridge was absolutely anonymous. Again. His new contract should be read to him like the Riot Act. Hopefully a rocket up the backside can push him past the barrier of his natural abilities. Bridge is an enigma without the ability to justify his inconsistency. Nicky Carle, it has been said too often, cannot return soon enough.
A champion side should not regress so poorly. A great manager should not allow them to. Great managers adapt. Great players overcome adversity. Sydney FC simply flounder while their crowds dwindle and The Cove grows quieter. Sydney's names were not cheered and the side was barely applauded onto the park.
Something is out of kilter and it is not just Nicky Carle's back.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Game 7 - Sydney FC 1 vs Gold Coast United 1 - 26/9/2010
It's a big week for football in Sydney but the city's football club is still tottering on the precipice, determined not to make a leap of faith, and refusing to kick out and kick-start a stalled season.
In fairness, Sydney FC could not have come much closer to finding their first win (incredible, isn't it?) of the season. To have one goal scored a second after the ref's whistle, hit the post and play against ten men for a good half hour but still not win must be galling.
Take heart boys. Sunday afternoon's draw against Gold Coast was surely Sydney's most impressive performance of the season. The Sky Blues showed some of last season's maturity, determination and composure but still could not truly earn three points.
Essentially Sydney have to rediscover their ruthless streak. This obviously applies to efforts in front of goal where Alex Brosque was unlucky and rusty, Byun continues to frustrate, Bridge seems uninterested in striking through the ball and Musialik looks more likely to lob the keeper from 50 metres than smack one from the edge of the box.
Sydney must also find their edge in possession. Too many players settled for crossing the ball from deep when Gold Coast were down to ten men, despite the true Bling FC boys looking far more vulnerable throughout the match to feints and touches around the edge of the box. By the end of the match Sydney were attempting one-man plays and panicking for the goal, but again seemed completely terrified of turning with their first touch despite having space to do so. This is a continuing facet of the Age of Lavicka and a lamentable one.
When your opponent is down to 10 men and sitting deep it is the number 10's job to make the play. Mark Bridge pulled the strings well and played some nice football but failed to impose himself when it mattered most and remains an absolute enigma. I have long thought Bridge is best played as a target man but coaches switch him from a leading striker to a ghost striker, then to a man in the hole and even send him to either side as a genuine winger. Bridge has the basic skills to play each position and rarely puts in a horrible game. But he is yet to dominate a match and should be dropped for Nicky Carle as soon as possible.
Alex Brosque is understandably yet to form this season but if he can play 60 minutes on Wednesday night, I think he will score. He hit the post, slightly dithered over his "non-goal" and failed when sent through the lines by Bridge in the second half. Sydney need him sharper and focused on the right battles. New man Bruno Cazarine sated his taste for goal and heard his name sung by The Cove. Let us hope that is enough as he seems a willing striker and tough player, but certainly not someone to frighten the likes of Michael Thwaite or Simon Colosimo.
Enough carping. Sydney's improvement was dramatic and it began, as it always should, at the back and off the ball.
For once Byun and Jamieson worked in harmony on the left. Jamieson remains an enigma within the team - technically adequate with the ball at his feet, positionally very sound, defensively strong, but entirely unwilling to (or not allowed to) take on a man. He put in a good shift but his substitution came as no surprise despite Sydney starting with at least three other players short of genuine match fitness.
McFlynn was McFlynn, a welcome return, but a midfield of McFlynn, Jamieson and Musialik is never going to create much. That will heap more pressure on Cazarinie, Brosque, Bridge and Carle, whose stats suggest they have never been prolific goalscorers. These are the personnel choices Lavicka has made and now he has to justify them on Wednesday night.
Sydney can take most heart from their centre of defence. I thought Keller was due a spell on the bench but he and Ryall performed mostly brilliantly in open play, with Ryall unlucky not to be man of the match. I used to have little time for Ryall but if he plays this well against the Fury and particularly Adelaide, the future will look decidedly brighter for all Sydney fans.
Both goals came from corners and featured positionally astute finishing. Sydney inexplicably pulled the ball out of their net with two men at the near post and after allowing two free headers. McFlynn has confessed to losing his man but it was Keller who went for the ball and completely missed it while vacating the space that Djite eagerly entered. It was a lax moment and to concede in added time only added to the bitterness of another soft goal.
Reddy looked solid in goal (if a little erratic when coming to punch) and continues to justify his recruitment.
Gold Coast can heart from this match. Bruce Djite looks an improved player and hungry for goals, while Culina and Porter will win them games like this. They have no obvious weak link and may well play a home semifinal in front of two thousand fans.
The big story for Sydney is that the pressure on last season's champions will continue to build until Wednesday night. The clearest symptom of the strain on the squad came when Sydney received yet another card for dissent after Alex Brosque decided to inexplicably tick off a previously-friendly referee. But injuries and fitness permitting, Viteslav Lavicka showed on Sunday that he has no need to change his system. His players just need to perform to the level required by it.
In fairness, Sydney FC could not have come much closer to finding their first win (incredible, isn't it?) of the season. To have one goal scored a second after the ref's whistle, hit the post and play against ten men for a good half hour but still not win must be galling.
Take heart boys. Sunday afternoon's draw against Gold Coast was surely Sydney's most impressive performance of the season. The Sky Blues showed some of last season's maturity, determination and composure but still could not truly earn three points.
Essentially Sydney have to rediscover their ruthless streak. This obviously applies to efforts in front of goal where Alex Brosque was unlucky and rusty, Byun continues to frustrate, Bridge seems uninterested in striking through the ball and Musialik looks more likely to lob the keeper from 50 metres than smack one from the edge of the box.
Sydney must also find their edge in possession. Too many players settled for crossing the ball from deep when Gold Coast were down to ten men, despite the true Bling FC boys looking far more vulnerable throughout the match to feints and touches around the edge of the box. By the end of the match Sydney were attempting one-man plays and panicking for the goal, but again seemed completely terrified of turning with their first touch despite having space to do so. This is a continuing facet of the Age of Lavicka and a lamentable one.
When your opponent is down to 10 men and sitting deep it is the number 10's job to make the play. Mark Bridge pulled the strings well and played some nice football but failed to impose himself when it mattered most and remains an absolute enigma. I have long thought Bridge is best played as a target man but coaches switch him from a leading striker to a ghost striker, then to a man in the hole and even send him to either side as a genuine winger. Bridge has the basic skills to play each position and rarely puts in a horrible game. But he is yet to dominate a match and should be dropped for Nicky Carle as soon as possible.
Alex Brosque is understandably yet to form this season but if he can play 60 minutes on Wednesday night, I think he will score. He hit the post, slightly dithered over his "non-goal" and failed when sent through the lines by Bridge in the second half. Sydney need him sharper and focused on the right battles. New man Bruno Cazarine sated his taste for goal and heard his name sung by The Cove. Let us hope that is enough as he seems a willing striker and tough player, but certainly not someone to frighten the likes of Michael Thwaite or Simon Colosimo.
Enough carping. Sydney's improvement was dramatic and it began, as it always should, at the back and off the ball.
For once Byun and Jamieson worked in harmony on the left. Jamieson remains an enigma within the team - technically adequate with the ball at his feet, positionally very sound, defensively strong, but entirely unwilling to (or not allowed to) take on a man. He put in a good shift but his substitution came as no surprise despite Sydney starting with at least three other players short of genuine match fitness.
McFlynn was McFlynn, a welcome return, but a midfield of McFlynn, Jamieson and Musialik is never going to create much. That will heap more pressure on Cazarinie, Brosque, Bridge and Carle, whose stats suggest they have never been prolific goalscorers. These are the personnel choices Lavicka has made and now he has to justify them on Wednesday night.
Sydney can take most heart from their centre of defence. I thought Keller was due a spell on the bench but he and Ryall performed mostly brilliantly in open play, with Ryall unlucky not to be man of the match. I used to have little time for Ryall but if he plays this well against the Fury and particularly Adelaide, the future will look decidedly brighter for all Sydney fans.
Both goals came from corners and featured positionally astute finishing. Sydney inexplicably pulled the ball out of their net with two men at the near post and after allowing two free headers. McFlynn has confessed to losing his man but it was Keller who went for the ball and completely missed it while vacating the space that Djite eagerly entered. It was a lax moment and to concede in added time only added to the bitterness of another soft goal.
Reddy looked solid in goal (if a little erratic when coming to punch) and continues to justify his recruitment.
Gold Coast can heart from this match. Bruce Djite looks an improved player and hungry for goals, while Culina and Porter will win them games like this. They have no obvious weak link and may well play a home semifinal in front of two thousand fans.
The big story for Sydney is that the pressure on last season's champions will continue to build until Wednesday night. The clearest symptom of the strain on the squad came when Sydney received yet another card for dissent after Alex Brosque decided to inexplicably tick off a previously-friendly referee. But injuries and fitness permitting, Viteslav Lavicka showed on Sunday that he has no need to change his system. His players just need to perform to the level required by it.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Game 4 - Sydney FC 1 vs Central Coast Mariners 1 - 28/8/2010
Sydney FC is a club in trouble, but the boss has again sounded the right notes of calm and reflection. Whether he meant to describe his players as "frustrated" and not "frustrating" is another question.
It is too early to abandon talk of a title defence but far too soon for players to lose their heads. Saturday’s (frankly disappointing) home crowd had bought the right to boo referee Matthew Breeze, but the amount of dissent on the field was understandable and not excusable. We pay to sing, cheer good play and occasionally boo bad football. The Sky Blues are paid to play football and should have gotten on with it.
Last season Sydney FC collectively dominated their opponent. Now they bitch and moan, often to each other, and did so long before Breeze’s latest bungle spoiled Saturday night’s emotional derby against Central Coast
But before examining Sydney FC, let’s bag the ref. I am grateful to every person who becomes a referee, but as Jesse Fink so rightly put it, for the FFA to honour Breeze’s 100th game after the final whistle was high farce. How the referee and linesmen combined to miss the Mariners’ handball, award the penalty and send off Liam Reddy must be explained. Obviously any keeper in that situation risks giving away a spotkick but Reddy was far from the last man, Perez was not heading “towards goal”, and it was demonstrably not a “clear goalscoring opportunity” after Perez kicked the ball away from goal and towards onrushing defenders.
To add acid to the wound Sydney
The tragic fact is that this game underlined the saddest and most cast-iron convention in football: if you are fouled in the box, you must fall over or you will never win a penalty.
Forget video replays, forget retrospective punishments: give teams a chance to get a spotkick honestly and they might just stop falling over in disgraceful fashion.
Breeze said of his milestone: “Like a player, these achievements are nice at the time and I’m sure I will look back on moments like this with fondness.”
“Like a player”? We can liken Breeze to Clayton Zane, another Australian whose game went downhill after his first sniff of Confederations Cup glory.
As for Sydney Sydney
Scott Jamieson looks a promising player but a natural left back and he and Byun are not yet gelling. While Danning looks destined to return to the bench, it will be interesting to see who loses their place to Terry McFlynn and (hopefully) Alex Brosque after Rhyan Grant’s impressive performance.
Stuart Musialik again coughed up the odd cataclysmic error, particularly early on, and though Sydney
Nicky Carle, so dominant in that game, was sorely underused and no other Sydney Mark Bridge
No Sky Blue seemed to think about testing the Mariners’ 18-year-old debutant keeper from range. No cross seemed likely to find a target or test the nerves of young Matthew Ryan, until Rhyan Grant’s goal, which was celebrated like a 30-yard match winner and not a barely-earned gift. Few passes were delivered with pace or invention and the red card robbed Lavicka of his chance to switch things up in the second half.
Give Graham Arnold his due. He compressed the Mariners around the centre circle and dared Sydney Sydney Central Coast
One of the compensating pleasures for A League fans shorn of world class talent is to watch the game evolve season by season. It appears that this vintage of the A League has moved on markedly and Sydney FC is swinging in the breeze.
Lavicka’s men have been worked out. Their next challenge is: don’t panic.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Game 1 - Sydney FC 3 vs Melbourne Victory 3 - 7/8/2010
Pity the fans that did not turn up. Sydney FC’s A League opener was a game rich with drama and ability, passion and promise. Sydney and Melbourne showed their best and worst and a genuine star enjoyed a second (or third) homecoming in a contest that stamped last season’s great rivals as this year’s strongest contenders.
It appears that Vitezslav Lavicka flirted with a flat 4-4-2 during the preseason to find a back up plan for a Sydney FC shorn of Nicky Carle. With a fully fit marquee man the Sydney diamond was restored and after a stifled opening, Carle slotted comfortably in behind the gifted Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge. The results were more than encouraging.
Sydney’s first choice B-B-C frontline is technically adroit, reasonably hard-working and comfortable working without the ball to find space. Each player can take on a man, hit the flanks, run a good line in behind the defence or hold up the ball in their own way.
Karol Kisel will remain a Sydney FC hero but Carle surpassed Kisel's erratic contributions by providing some welcome composure and true creativity. And while the Cove’s fantastic banners at the start of the match hailed the contribution of Steve Corica, by fulltime the boys in blue were praising their eternal skipper’s true successor. Carle is a genuine playmaker, a genuine marquee and a number 10 to match Carlos Hernandez and Jason Culina. His flicks and tricks won him the space and time to pick a pass and the growing admiration of a responsive crowd. Melbourne eventually stood off him after he defied any attempt to put him off the ball and his game.
Frankly, if Carle plays that well throughout the season, Sydney will tear at least one team apart at the seams and it was a shame that his match-controlling performance did not produce more goals.
Bridge and Brosque did well without breaking the game open and one senses that if Lavicka had signed a third striker Bridge would have been substituted halfway through the second half. Sydney FC has never really enjoyed the services of a Smeltz-like predator and the club is now blessed with creativity. What Sydney need is someone to smash the ball into the back of the net and hopefully Bridge will become that man. After all, it would surprise if Sydney can generate that many good chances against Melbourne again this season.
Sadly for Sydney, an A League match is rarely won by the front men. Two of Melbourne’s three goals (and, to be fair, two of Sydney’s) were mostly the result of poor positioning and decision-making in possession and then defence. Only two Victory players hit the box for the cross that led to their first goal, but both outfoxed five Sydney defenders. Mate Dugandzic’s equalising strike was well-taken but he did not have a foot, hand or body near him when he first received the ball. And the third goal resembled a FIFA 2006 play as Melbourne passed their way through the Sydney midfield and defence with consummate ease.
The rot started at the front as Sydney forgot to close down collectively after their second goal. With Carle drawn forward and Brosque and Bridge wide, Scott Jamieson got unsurprisingly lost as part of a three-man holding midfield. Sydney’s flanks were exposed and the central defenders seemed unsure of whether to tag and follow or pass on their man. Jamieson had an unhappy match crowned by an air swing at a beckoning strike on goal, but his preseason form was encouraging and he will find his feet.
At least Sydney were assured when they could put their foot on the ball. The Victory missed a number of first-team players but apart from Melbourne’s seven minutes of madness, Sydney almost totally dominated the match and enforced their will from back to front.
Skipper Terry McFlynn played a strong game and took his goal well, while Stuart Musialik put in his usual performance: an excellent, controlling game apart from one or two dreadful errors that put his team under pressure. Musialik is a vital player for Sydney and when he returned to the side last season the Sky Blues rocketed towards glory. If he can continue to reduce his errors in possession he should again find himself in the frame for the Socceroos.
Another man who delivered welcome composure was Hayden Foxe. Foxe slipped straight into Simon Colosimo’s quarterback role and looks to be a marvellous acquisition. But with a Keller/Foxe partnership Sydney clearly lack pace in central defence. If Lavicka sticks with this combination he will be stretching his tactical blanket like mad. It will be fascinating to see how Lavicka can sit his team high and play a short passing game with overlapping fullbacks and simultaneously cover runs from fast strikers with a fairly plodding central defensive combination.
Presumably Foxe will miss games due to injury and recovery and the burden will fall heavily on Seb Ryall, who is yet to convince. Ryall put in a good shift at right back and offered a surprising threat in attack, but was caught out of position during several of Melbourne’s lethal moments. Shannon Cole will rightfully push him all the way this season and will probably start games against lesser teams than Melbourne.
On the other side, it is perhaps best to simply say that Jamieson and Byun worked hard on the pitch but have work to do off it.
Much more has been said elsewhere about the "disappointing" crowd. I was stunned when the figure of 12,000 came up – it felt that at least 16,000 were in the stadium. The crowd enjoyed a fantastic atmosphere, thrilling goals, some brilliant skill – mostly from Carle – and a passionate match that was laudably contested through ball-on-the-ground, short passing football. I was disappointed by the people who didn't turn up, including the other 12,000 Sydney fans who made it to the Valentine's Day fixture, or some of the 40,000 who went to the Everton match, but couldn't be bothered watching Sydney's opener. Those who were there were fantastic and deserved the spectacle they received.
So if you know a Sydney football fan, buy them a ticket for August 28. Because Carle and company are well worth the meagre price of admission.
It appears that Vitezslav Lavicka flirted with a flat 4-4-2 during the preseason to find a back up plan for a Sydney FC shorn of Nicky Carle. With a fully fit marquee man the Sydney diamond was restored and after a stifled opening, Carle slotted comfortably in behind the gifted Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge. The results were more than encouraging.
Sydney’s first choice B-B-C frontline is technically adroit, reasonably hard-working and comfortable working without the ball to find space. Each player can take on a man, hit the flanks, run a good line in behind the defence or hold up the ball in their own way.
Karol Kisel will remain a Sydney FC hero but Carle surpassed Kisel's erratic contributions by providing some welcome composure and true creativity. And while the Cove’s fantastic banners at the start of the match hailed the contribution of Steve Corica, by fulltime the boys in blue were praising their eternal skipper’s true successor. Carle is a genuine playmaker, a genuine marquee and a number 10 to match Carlos Hernandez and Jason Culina. His flicks and tricks won him the space and time to pick a pass and the growing admiration of a responsive crowd. Melbourne eventually stood off him after he defied any attempt to put him off the ball and his game.
Frankly, if Carle plays that well throughout the season, Sydney will tear at least one team apart at the seams and it was a shame that his match-controlling performance did not produce more goals.
Bridge and Brosque did well without breaking the game open and one senses that if Lavicka had signed a third striker Bridge would have been substituted halfway through the second half. Sydney FC has never really enjoyed the services of a Smeltz-like predator and the club is now blessed with creativity. What Sydney need is someone to smash the ball into the back of the net and hopefully Bridge will become that man. After all, it would surprise if Sydney can generate that many good chances against Melbourne again this season.
Sadly for Sydney, an A League match is rarely won by the front men. Two of Melbourne’s three goals (and, to be fair, two of Sydney’s) were mostly the result of poor positioning and decision-making in possession and then defence. Only two Victory players hit the box for the cross that led to their first goal, but both outfoxed five Sydney defenders. Mate Dugandzic’s equalising strike was well-taken but he did not have a foot, hand or body near him when he first received the ball. And the third goal resembled a FIFA 2006 play as Melbourne passed their way through the Sydney midfield and defence with consummate ease.
The rot started at the front as Sydney forgot to close down collectively after their second goal. With Carle drawn forward and Brosque and Bridge wide, Scott Jamieson got unsurprisingly lost as part of a three-man holding midfield. Sydney’s flanks were exposed and the central defenders seemed unsure of whether to tag and follow or pass on their man. Jamieson had an unhappy match crowned by an air swing at a beckoning strike on goal, but his preseason form was encouraging and he will find his feet.
At least Sydney were assured when they could put their foot on the ball. The Victory missed a number of first-team players but apart from Melbourne’s seven minutes of madness, Sydney almost totally dominated the match and enforced their will from back to front.
Skipper Terry McFlynn played a strong game and took his goal well, while Stuart Musialik put in his usual performance: an excellent, controlling game apart from one or two dreadful errors that put his team under pressure. Musialik is a vital player for Sydney and when he returned to the side last season the Sky Blues rocketed towards glory. If he can continue to reduce his errors in possession he should again find himself in the frame for the Socceroos.
Another man who delivered welcome composure was Hayden Foxe. Foxe slipped straight into Simon Colosimo’s quarterback role and looks to be a marvellous acquisition. But with a Keller/Foxe partnership Sydney clearly lack pace in central defence. If Lavicka sticks with this combination he will be stretching his tactical blanket like mad. It will be fascinating to see how Lavicka can sit his team high and play a short passing game with overlapping fullbacks and simultaneously cover runs from fast strikers with a fairly plodding central defensive combination.
Presumably Foxe will miss games due to injury and recovery and the burden will fall heavily on Seb Ryall, who is yet to convince. Ryall put in a good shift at right back and offered a surprising threat in attack, but was caught out of position during several of Melbourne’s lethal moments. Shannon Cole will rightfully push him all the way this season and will probably start games against lesser teams than Melbourne.
On the other side, it is perhaps best to simply say that Jamieson and Byun worked hard on the pitch but have work to do off it.
Much more has been said elsewhere about the "disappointing" crowd. I was stunned when the figure of 12,000 came up – it felt that at least 16,000 were in the stadium. The crowd enjoyed a fantastic atmosphere, thrilling goals, some brilliant skill – mostly from Carle – and a passionate match that was laudably contested through ball-on-the-ground, short passing football. I was disappointed by the people who didn't turn up, including the other 12,000 Sydney fans who made it to the Valentine's Day fixture, or some of the 40,000 who went to the Everton match, but couldn't be bothered watching Sydney's opener. Those who were there were fantastic and deserved the spectacle they received.
So if you know a Sydney football fan, buy them a ticket for August 28. Because Carle and company are well worth the meagre price of admission.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)