Sydney FC scored 29 goals in 30 games this season. The defending champions won the previous title by scoring then shutting teams out, but Sydney forgot how to score this time around and conceded 40 goals.
Sydney's precipitous drop in form was felt across the park and part one of my review examined the club's defenders and goalkeepers. It is now time to examine the men at the coalface - and how they let down their teammates and fans.
SQUAD REVIEW
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS
Stuart Musialik, Terry McFlynn, Hirofumi Moriyasu, Rhyan Grant
Stuart Musialik arrived in Sydney as a fringe Socceroo and an improving young player - a technically adroit defensive midfielder as composed on the ball as he was efficient off it. Musialik revelled in his favourite "sit and distribute" role last season as Lavicka sat him behind Steve Corica, Karol Kisel and the robust Terry McFlynn.
But Musialik has endured a poor 2010/11. After the opening match against Melbourne, I wrote "Musialik put in his usual performance: an excellent, controlling game apart from one or two dreadful errors that put his team under pressure". Unfortunately Musialik's moments of excellence dimmed until the New Year, and he lost his confidence on the ball just as Viteslav Lavicka lost confidence in his contribution. Musialik - a main man in the championship winning team - remains out of contract for next season. I would miss his best but not mourn his passing, and it would not surprise many to see him suiting up next to Jason Culina for the Jets next summer.
Skipper Terry McFlynn has been underwhelming ever since his superb chip agonizingly found the wrong side of the underside of the bar against the North Queensland Fury. That 1-1 draw in the September rain crippled Sydney's finals campaign and sucked the morale out of the club and the crowd. For McFlynn to finally produce a moment of skill but miss by centimetres from far outside the box was crushing.
McFlynn has offered precious little on the ball and while the skipper's return from injury certainly steadied the ship after Sydney's first few matches, the improvement in A League midfields may have made McFlynn obsolete - at least as a wide midfielder. One goal and one assist in 27 games tells a partial but compelling story and regular readers of this column (I appreciate all two of you!) will know I am not a great fan of what McFlynn brings to the team (his wonderful clearance off the line against the Glory aside).
The future for Sydney is a little brighter. Rhyan Grant enjoyed a strong tournament for the Young Socceroos and looked comfortable enough when filling in for an out-of-form Stuart Musialik. He could seize the position at the base of Sydney's diamond with a strong pre-season, particularly if Musialik leaves as expected. While he is dynamic enough when played wider, he offered few moments of creativity or threat on the ball to suggest he is anything but a defensive midfielder.
New signing Hiro Moriyasu is an interesting case. Hiro played without the fear that seemed to afflict Sydney after Nicky Carle succumbed to injury and his dynamism in midfield was a big reason that the Sky Blues shook themselves back to life. He tackles decisively and backs himself technically - sometimes to his detriment, particularly against fast-pressing teams such as Brisbane.
Hiro has found his home on either side of the midfield diamond and contributes as a box-to-box hard-running midfielder, who can also play a pass (such as the assist for Alex Brosque at Parramatta Stadium). His limitations are clear: he scored one goal from 38 attempts this season and freezes when running at goal with the ball at his feet.
If Hiro can improve his shooting and dribbling options then Sydney will boast a competent trio of screeners and box-to-box players next season. If Stuart Musialik stays in Sydney then Grant may suffer without game time. But will Lavicka gamble on an inexperienced player in such a vital decision-making position? Time will tell.
One thing is clear. Grant, McFlynn, Musialik and Moriyasu provided just four goals all season. Sydney can only afford to have two of the three in the team. The more defensively minded midfielders must be complemented by an attacking player like Karol Kisel or Dimitri Petratos. Left back Scott Jamieson's presence in left midfield at the start of the season shackled an already low scoring side.
And finally: defensive midfield may be the side's engine room, but Sydney need more from their skipper. Will McFlynn keep the armband?
Showing posts with label Stuart Musialik. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stuart Musialik. Show all posts
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Game 17 - Sydney FC 3 vs Wellington Phoenix 1 - 02/12/10
The four thousand hardy souls who ventured to the SFS on a wet and windy Wednesday night witnessed the possible birth of a new footballing star.
Terry Antonis only played for half an hour but he controlled the midfield with enthusiasm and daring. He ran at players with the ball at his feet, turned during his first touch despite the bucketing rain, took the initiative with a long range shot and most importantly - passed decisively, elegantly and forwards despite playing in the middle of a veritable monsoon.
Antonis played in Mark Bridge for Bridge's own drought-breaking goal and linked well with fellow super-sub Dimitri Petratos. If those two continue to improve Sydney have a pair of real prospects in their ranks.
Stuart Musialik must be wondering where he fits into Sydney's future as his contract winds down. Terry McFlynn is a defensive midfielder at heart and his status as skipper ensures his selection. Hiro Moriyasu is a box to box defensive type and was recently re-signed. Rhyan Grant has played junior international football and clearly has Lavicka's favour. Brendan Gan slotted in nicely on the right side of the diamond, though still fails to inspire complete confidence.
With Petratos growing into a deep-lying playmaker role and Musialik's selection anything but the sure thing it was last season, we may see Disco Stu head for safer pastures at the end of the season. It would be sad to see him go - at his best he offers far more than McFlynn, who maintains his spot thanks to Sydney's overall lack of aggression.
The match itself was a corker - and thanks to our Harbour City's allergic reaction to rain, I missed the first 35 minutes due to traffic jams. It boasted 26 shots - three of which hit the post - and four goals of high drama, if not high quality.
Bridge looked to be level as Antonis released him for his well-taken goal but Seb Ryall's handball for Sydney's third strike was as blatant as they come. Dylan Macallister's late goal was anything but a consolation as Wellington looked the marginally better side and finished far stronger than Sydney.
The Sky Blues reverted to some familiar bad habits after taking the lead. When opposing fullbacks push forward for a constructed overlap, Bridge in particular will often track back to within metres of a challenge but then not follow his man despite Sydney's left back committing to the opposing winger.
Sydney have been caught out by simple overlaps down the line time and time again this season and Wellington only failed to earn a point due to poor delivery. Kiwi crosses often found a sole Sydney defender with Phoenix strikers lurking to either side. When Sydney did have numbers back their marking was woefully poor and players failed to track fullbacks or close down Phoenix players as they pinged in crosses from deep.
If Sydney fail to cover these areas against the Mariners then expect an aerial bombardment aimed at their physically dynamic strikers. Of course, if Sydney are drawn too wide then Graham Arnold will direct his number 10 to drift into space.
The strikers must take responsibility for closing this increasingly obvious gap in Sydney's defensive set up. Bridge and Brosque need to track back and actually follow their man, not just get six feet behind the ball and wait for the opposition to lose it.
Sydney can take a lot from this match. The celebration with The Cove has returned with some welcome swagger on the ball. Scott Jamieson battled well before succumbing to illness and fatigue. Gan played well, Ryall was everywhere, Brosque and Bridge scored well-taken goals and Bridge in particular put in another impressive overall contribution. Hopefully some of Antonis's enthusiasm will encourage Bridge to pass first-time against the Mariners.
On the downside the delivery from Shannon Cole and Jamieson from wide areas was as rare as it was appalling, Hiro was largely anonymous, Ivan Necevski's distribution failed to improve and only Antonis had the wherewithal to test Mark Paston from distance in atrocious conditions (and did so weakly). But Sydney's inconsistency remains the biggest concern. Sydney take an even contest and find five minutes of beautiful passing football, but remain unable to wrest back the initiative when their opponent has the upper hand.
Sydney are playing below the Mariner's level, will be exhausted after a tough match in heavy rain and can only hope that the Mariner's are still in shock after the Roar savaged them 5-1. It is far more likely that Central Coast will be desperate to beat their rivals in front of their fans and salvage some pride. A point may be a good result.
Terry Antonis only played for half an hour but he controlled the midfield with enthusiasm and daring. He ran at players with the ball at his feet, turned during his first touch despite the bucketing rain, took the initiative with a long range shot and most importantly - passed decisively, elegantly and forwards despite playing in the middle of a veritable monsoon.
Antonis played in Mark Bridge for Bridge's own drought-breaking goal and linked well with fellow super-sub Dimitri Petratos. If those two continue to improve Sydney have a pair of real prospects in their ranks.
Stuart Musialik must be wondering where he fits into Sydney's future as his contract winds down. Terry McFlynn is a defensive midfielder at heart and his status as skipper ensures his selection. Hiro Moriyasu is a box to box defensive type and was recently re-signed. Rhyan Grant has played junior international football and clearly has Lavicka's favour. Brendan Gan slotted in nicely on the right side of the diamond, though still fails to inspire complete confidence.
With Petratos growing into a deep-lying playmaker role and Musialik's selection anything but the sure thing it was last season, we may see Disco Stu head for safer pastures at the end of the season. It would be sad to see him go - at his best he offers far more than McFlynn, who maintains his spot thanks to Sydney's overall lack of aggression.
The match itself was a corker - and thanks to our Harbour City's allergic reaction to rain, I missed the first 35 minutes due to traffic jams. It boasted 26 shots - three of which hit the post - and four goals of high drama, if not high quality.
Bridge looked to be level as Antonis released him for his well-taken goal but Seb Ryall's handball for Sydney's third strike was as blatant as they come. Dylan Macallister's late goal was anything but a consolation as Wellington looked the marginally better side and finished far stronger than Sydney.
The Sky Blues reverted to some familiar bad habits after taking the lead. When opposing fullbacks push forward for a constructed overlap, Bridge in particular will often track back to within metres of a challenge but then not follow his man despite Sydney's left back committing to the opposing winger.
Sydney have been caught out by simple overlaps down the line time and time again this season and Wellington only failed to earn a point due to poor delivery. Kiwi crosses often found a sole Sydney defender with Phoenix strikers lurking to either side. When Sydney did have numbers back their marking was woefully poor and players failed to track fullbacks or close down Phoenix players as they pinged in crosses from deep.
If Sydney fail to cover these areas against the Mariners then expect an aerial bombardment aimed at their physically dynamic strikers. Of course, if Sydney are drawn too wide then Graham Arnold will direct his number 10 to drift into space.
The strikers must take responsibility for closing this increasingly obvious gap in Sydney's defensive set up. Bridge and Brosque need to track back and actually follow their man, not just get six feet behind the ball and wait for the opposition to lose it.
Sydney can take a lot from this match. The celebration with The Cove has returned with some welcome swagger on the ball. Scott Jamieson battled well before succumbing to illness and fatigue. Gan played well, Ryall was everywhere, Brosque and Bridge scored well-taken goals and Bridge in particular put in another impressive overall contribution. Hopefully some of Antonis's enthusiasm will encourage Bridge to pass first-time against the Mariners.
On the downside the delivery from Shannon Cole and Jamieson from wide areas was as rare as it was appalling, Hiro was largely anonymous, Ivan Necevski's distribution failed to improve and only Antonis had the wherewithal to test Mark Paston from distance in atrocious conditions (and did so weakly). But Sydney's inconsistency remains the biggest concern. Sydney take an even contest and find five minutes of beautiful passing football, but remain unable to wrest back the initiative when their opponent has the upper hand.
Sydney are playing below the Mariner's level, will be exhausted after a tough match in heavy rain and can only hope that the Mariner's are still in shock after the Roar savaged them 5-1. It is far more likely that Central Coast will be desperate to beat their rivals in front of their fans and salvage some pride. A point may be a good result.
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.
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