Okay, so it appears Sydney FC are looking for a more modest approach to the way they go about things this season, and ‘about time’ I hear you say. But ultimately the success of their upcoming season will be judged by how they fair on the pitch, and the start has certainly been encouraging.

Played eight, won eight, 20 goals for, zero against.

Any way you look at it and against any opposition, it’s an impressive record.

So what have been the hallmarks of their pre-season and what might we might we have learnt for the season proper? Here are some early observations;

1. Sydney have been flogged by Vitezslav Lavicka and strength/condition coach Craig Duncan, having upwards of eight sessions a week, including field, gym, recovery, yoga, swim and all forms of cross-training.

Couple that with the game-a-week calendar and it’s easy to see why FC has been finishing games so strongly. Against Sydney United they were full of running in the final 15 minutes, while they have scored seven goals in the second half in their past three games. It’s all about building one the fittest A-League teams, and it’s clear that hard work and honesty are the Lavicka way.

2. This increased fitness has laid a platform for the way Sydney wish to play, which is a high tempo and high octane style.

And this is as much about their work without the ball as it is with it. What has struck me has been their excellent work in transition from attack to defence, and how quickly they suffocate the opposition and win the ball back. This defending starts as soon as they cough it up, with the strikers setting the tempo.

3. The other encouraging thing about their defensive structure, and the reason they haven’t coughed up too many chances, is their higher position up the pitch.

When they lose the ball, the back four keep a fairly high line, not dropping to their 18 yard box. The compact shape gives the opposition little space to play and really does make the back fours job easier.

4. One thing that has impressed me about Lavicka is his rotation and use of the entire squad. It’s about building mileage, familiarity and experience in his young squad, and hitherto they have shown they can really do a job for the Czech.

The squad is young, and Lavicka admitted in our chat last week he will be relying on the kids to come through. The signs are looking good they can.

Gan and Grant have been the stand-outs and appear to be right in the first 11 mix, while Danning, Payne, Jurman, Cairncross and Casey haven’t been too far behind. A sign of any good manager is an ability to develop his players and get the absolute best out of them, and the early signs from Lavicka are good.

5. Casey has been interesting case, and the evidence is Lavicka wants to utilise his pace from deep, using him as a right back.

Cole has often occupied the left back spot and it clear Lavicka doesn’t see him as a wide midfielder. I sense that’s because of a lack of pace. In any case, Cole’s minutes look limited if Byun is any good.

6. Going the other way is Grant, who was used by Kosmina as a right back, but is getting plenty of time in an advanced central midfield role. Meanwhile Gan, used centrally by Kosmina, is being deployed on the flanks, with excellent effect.

7. While the kids have been adding the depth, the real stars of the pre-season have been Brosque and McFlynn.

Brosque looks electric in the front third, and has often been found tracking back to help the midfield and defence, getting a vital foot in. He has been Sydney’s everywhere man. Meanwhile McFlynn is the absolute boss of the midfield, dictating Sydney’s high tempo game with his ball-winning and efficient use. Musialik has work to do to get in the 11.

8. If Brosque and McFlynn have been the bosses of the front two thirds, the boss at the back has been Colosimo, who looks the fittest and sharpest I’ve seen him for at least five years.

9. Lavicka has nursed the other veterans, Corica and Aloisi. Corica has looked his usual assured self, however Aloisi still appears to be feeling his way in, and these days appears more of a back-to-goal target-man than a predator running angles, playing off the shoulder of the last man and looking to get in behind defences. However, no-one can fault his workrate.

10. Interestingly, against Sydney United, Lavicka used Kisel in a three-man central midfield. It proved the Slovak is adaptable and could provide some drive, getting into the box for a few chances. The width came from the likes of Brosque and Gan.

11. Ironically, despite scoring goals for fun, I sense Lavicka is looking for more fluidity in the front third. When I asked him if he was happy with how his front third was functioning, he stopped short and emphasised he was happy with how hard they were all working.

12. While 4-4-2 looks his preferred template, Lavicka has also used various forms of a 4-3-3.

Follow Tony on Twitter @TonyTannousTRBA

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