The 2008/09 season may go down as the worst in Sydney FC’s history but there are signs the future is actually quite bright for the Sky Blues.
John Kosmina’s men thumped Newcastle 4-0 on Sunday to ensure a fifth-place finish on the A-League ladder, but in a campaign dominated by injuries to key players and under-performing new signings, the emergence of the club’s youngsters has given a beacon of hope to the 2005/06 champions.
John Kosmina admitted last week he had made mistakes with some of his decisions and selections this season, but he was adamant the emergence of youngsters Rhyan Grant, Kofi Danning, Shannon Cole and Brendan Gan had been the positive of the club’s season.
The quartet are under 21 with Danning and Grant still teenagers, but all four played significant roles as the Jets were brushed aside.
Kosmina employed Grant in a central midfield role for the first time and the AIS graduate took to the position like a duck to water, much to his coach’s delight.
“For a 17-year-old kid Rhyan Grant looked like he had been out there for 10 years; he was everywhere, he reads the game well, his distribution is good, he’s composed,” Kosmina said.
“If you look at Rhyan, Kofi, Brendan there is a bright future for a lot of the kids, Matty Jurman was another player who did well, it was the first time I have been able to play him as a left-sided centre-back and what a difference it makes having a left-footer in that role.”
While Sydney’s youngsters are the future, Steve Corica, a player who has been the heartbeat of the club since its first season, recently hinted he may hang up his boots at season’s end.
But Kosmina wants the 34-year-old former Socceroo to see out the final year of his contract.
“He could have had a hat-trick before half-time … and did well, he did a great job for us again and the role we played him … in front of the four in the middle … worked well and shows what we can do when we have the players available to suit a formation.
“It is his decision to play on, he has a contract for another year … he did well today and I would love to have seen him score.”
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