Analysing Sydney’s performance against Fury

 
Tony Tannous Columnist

By , 17 Sep 2009 Tony Tannous is a Roar Expert

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Daniel McBeen of the North Queensland Fury (left) is tackled by Rhyan Grant of Sydney FC during their round six A-League match at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009. North Queensland Fury beat Sydney FC 1-0. AAP Image/Sergio Dionisio

Daniel McBeen of the North Queensland Fury (left) is tackled by Rhyan Grant of Sydney FC during their round six A-League match at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009. North Queensland Fury beat Sydney FC 1-0. AAP Image/Sergio Dionisio

In my most recent article on The Roar, I wrote of the influence of Robbie Fowler, and particularly his wonderful ability to see things early and play his first option, be that a pass or shot. It was all about his quickness of mind.

It prompted an array of insightful commentary from Roar readers. But one regular blogger, Vincentin, being a Sydney fan, was at the game not so much for the Liverpool great but to see his own team.

Naturally, he left disappointed, and rightly so. Here is a part of Vincentin’s critique;

“Sydney looked really clueless on Saturday. There were never enough passing options for the player with the ball and most of the players would either have been static with their backs to goal (and with some huge Fury defender behind them) or they were running away from the player in possession and narrowing the angles and reducing the chances of a successful completion of the pass … Although I’m not an advocate of the Holman “run around like a headless chook” school of movement, opportunities just aren’t going to happen if everyone just stands around…. I still have faith but our Czech friend really needs to give them the football 101 lesson again.”

Like Vincentin, I saw much of the impressive Sydney pre-season, and what stood out was Sydney’s movement off the ball and their quick movement of the ball, points I discussed in this Roar piece.

So what, if anything, has changed over the past couple of weeks?

Sydney didn’t do a great deal wrong in an absorbing round five top-of-the-table clash against the Gold Coast, but were ultimately undone by some lax marking at a set piece, a great Smeltz header, and some sloppy work from both Clint Bolton and Karol Kisel.

Otherwise, it was pretty good.

That’s arguably to do with the fact that Gold Coast came at Sydney and allowed them some space the other way.

What was obvious against North Queensland on the weekend was that Sydney weren’t afforded any space in the front third, and their play was deliberate and predictable.

Ian Ferguson’s tactics were spot on. The Fury were organised, in touch and rarely allowed Sydney to use their main weapon, the quick transition.

With the Fury prepared to absorb, I was surprised Sydney couldn’t unlock them with some intricate play around the edge of the box. Not one player offered a point of difference; Brosque, Aloisi, Bridge, Kisel, Corica and Gan.

Danning had his odd moment off the bench, but failed to get in behind.

Afterwards, Viteszlav Lavicka was not only frustrated by the lack of creative spark in the front third, but as much by the lack of hunger and fight from his men, especially after going behind.

That, for me, was the more worrying sign, and little doubt Lavicka felt the same way.

At one point, late in the game, Corica played an aerial diagonal ball out to the left, into the box, hoping someone would be on the end of it. The ball was over-hit, Gan didn’t make the run and Paul Henderson collected.

Corica then berated the youngster for not making the run. In truth, he should have been self-assessing his over-hit ball.

Lavicka responded with some fist-pump gestures in the direction of his skipper.

It was not the reaction he would have wanted from his leader.

Lavicka will no doubt be looking for a more positive mental response against the Jets on Sunday, and will generally be seeking a better mentality, especially from his senior men, and especially when things get tough.

It was a point he touched upon in his analysis of the match;

“The players … must respond. This is a good chance for them to show their character – I still believe they have tough characters but now they must show it.”

While the mental part is one aspect, the other is more technical. Here are a few things I noticed about Sydney on Saturday, and even prior;

1. Aloisi is playing with his back to goal too much. Everyone talks about how well he has started to season, but personally I’ve yet to seem him offer anything that makes Sydney’s front third click. Indeed, for much of Saturday’s game, he only served to offer Sydney a static front third.

While he’s bagged a few goals, generally his play has been pedestrian. Last season I felt the criticism of him was largely unfair, mainly because of his injures and lack of a pre-season, but he can’t use that excuse now.

2. Brosque has been taking too many touches on the ball. It’s exactly the opposite of what I was talking about with Fowler in my most recent piece. In the pre-season Brosque was far more efficient and decisive.

3. The more Saturday’s game went on, the deeper Corica dropped. That looked to be partly tactical, after Bridge came on in the “hole”. Perhaps Lavicka was looking for a string puller in the mould of Talay, but chasing a game, looking to unlock a tight defence, one sensed Corica needed to be higher.

Beyond that, it’s fair to argue Corica no longer looks a 90 minute player. His best moments of late have been as an impact man.

5. Bridge was given a chance to start against Gold Coast and was ineffective, thus forcing him back to the bench against the Fury as Corica came back in. Bridge continues to be an enigma, drifting in and out of games.

4. Kisel started well, breaking forward in the opening half-hour, but went missing in the second half. While he has generally set a good tempo with his constant movement, more efficiency is required with his final ball.

Follow Tony on Twitter @TonyTannousTRBA
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