Sydney FC’s Steve Corica (left) is tackled by Matthew Crowell of the Central Coast Mariners FC in their round 19 match in Sydney on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
In the most recent pre-season I was desperate to get out and see a few Sydney FC games. Not only was I needing my live football fix, but I wanted to see what had prompted the club, so often the laughing stock of the A-League, to go to Eastern Europe and hire a largely unknown Czech named Vitezslav Lavicka.
I was suitably impressed, not only by Lavicka’s methodical and detailed work, but the manner in which the players were responding.
Spending a little time with him after one of the pre-season wins only emphasised what a shrewd operator he was.
There have been times throughout the season proper when things have looked a touch shaky, particularly throughout a three game losing streak in November.
In the main though, Sydney have looked a well-oiled machine capable of winning its first premiership and qualifying for the 2011 Asian Champions League, the prizes awarded to the team that finishes the regular season on top.
That was only emphasised over the festive period, when Sydney strung together an impressive set of performances over a nine day stretch which saw them go away to the defending champions before picking up maximum points in two home games.
After the scoreless draw in Melbourne, much of the talk was about how the Victory had firmed in to title favouritism on the back of an aggressive and up-beat display.
But I was equally as impressed with the Sydney effort, feeling they came away from Docklands with the psychological edge.
Ernie Merrick’s men threw everything at Sydney, who refused to crack, finishing strongly.
Yes, Melbourne had dominated possession, and controlled much of the tempo, but I sensed Lavicka was more than happy to set the stall out deep and nullify the space in behind, forcing Archie Thompson to play in front of his back four.
Effectively he and his men were happy to play for the draw, not a bad strategy away from home and against a team that was flying.
Note also that Lavicka was missing his main defender Simon Colosimo on that night, with Stephan Keller and Sebastian Ryall stepping up with great displays. For all Melbourne’s efforts, Clint Bolton was left to focus on organising his defence.
All the while Sydney offered a threat on the counter, and in the dying moments just about made it a classic smash-and-grab.
Four days later I was at the SFS to see Lavicka’s men all but put the cleaners through their northern rival, the Central Coast Mariners.
Yes, Sydney only won thanks to Alex Brosque’s wonderful first-time first half strike, but in truth they were a two or three goal better team on the night, such was their domination in every third.
Surely they couldn’t sustain this type of methodical control four days later, when Adelaide came to town? Surely, after two intense mental and physical efforts, they were due for a let-down?
Not a chance.
Once again Lavicka’s men produced a professional performance full of poise and purpose, with the 1-0 scoreline not reflecting their domination.
Adelaide were shot, bereft of any control and short on ideas. As Aurelio Vidmar admitted after, “Sydney were very slick and very, very good.”
It is the type of European professionalism we have hitherto yet to see in the A-League and perhaps not since the days of Zoran Matic and Adelaide City, and you sense Lavicka has been building the team to peak about now, in the run-in to the finals.
In the early part of the season it was all about getting the back third functioning.
Then the attack started flourishing, with Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge offering constant pace, mobility and some super technical combination, ably supported by the evergreen Steve Corica, in some of the best form of his career.
No defence has able to get any rest with these three guys flying around the front third.
Now the diamond midfield is functioning beautifully, with Stuart Musialik pulling the strings from deep, Terry McFlynn adapting on the left, and Karol Kisel offering some wonderful energy and attitude from the right.
The Slovak took a while to get going, but his performances of late have been top-shelf, justifying Lavicka’s faith and eye for a player.
Sydney have been a work in progress, but Lavicka and his assistants, Michal Zach and Tony Popovic, have built a machine.
In recent times they have resembled a Melbourne Cup stayer, effortlessly put to sleep early before bursting to life in the home stretch.
Sydney, the city, has never seen anything like it, season one included.
Their team is watch-able, very, very watch-able.
The pity is that not enough is being done to sell this message.
Yes, the three new imports aren’t big names, but in Keller, Kisel and the unsung Sung-Hwan Byun, Sydney have picked up three winners, whose performances are getting better with the season.
The Korean has been a revelation, not always for his attacking work, but importantly for his defensive work.
Sitting alongside Colosimo, he has excellent positional sense, good coverage on the ground, and a decent leap, emphasised by some handy aerial work on Matt Simon and Co. recently.
Meanwhile, the Swiss central defender has been brilliant. The bigger the game, the more dependable he appears.
The form of all of these key men says much about Lavicka’s shrewd work, and the FC board would do well to lock the Czech in long term.
Melbourne may have a game in hand, but right now, and provided injuries don’t hit, you’d be game to back against the Sky Blues finishing the season first past the post for the first time.
Midfielder
Guest
Tony Gotta admit the new management team at SFC has turned things around in a big way... Sadly for them they will never be the team they could have been... that honour will go to the Rovers when they come in... The A=League needed all teams to fire ... IMO the three most important and in this order where Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane... only MV have stood up to date... Australian football needs a strong team in Sydney with a massive following so the media can see where football is moving... that chance has gone now for SFC it will never come back.... however thaey are heaps better than they where.
Tony Tannous
Expert
...thats one thing Sydney have in their favour a settled solid defence, which more often than not wins championships.... Spot on agga, one of the reasons Sydney look hardest to beat at the moment...the defence is machine-like, so well drilled. Adelaide tried to crack 'em and basically gave up, and Melb didn't fair much better. I feel the biggest weakness is Shannon Cole on the right, and he has improved his defensive work markdedly on last season, but there were signs in the second half against the Mariners that he can be exposed...Heffernan had it all over him, and I was surprised Lavicka didn't bring on Ryall in his place. MV fans will obviously remember Ryall was a solid defensive option on the right side of MVs defence in the run to and throughout the finals last season, but I sense Lavicka likes Cole's ability to get on the ball in forward sense. But this is the one area Syd may look to strengthen, and Ryall might be the man.
agga78
Guest
GCU defence is slower than the Queen Mary Van den Brink, Rees, Pantelidis, Daniel Piorkowski, are all pretty slow and get caught out with attackers running in and around the back of them, Michael Thwaite is not overly slow but he isn't quick either, their quickest defender Traore is out for a long time to come, can their front third make up for their defence's weekness, im not convinced, When it comes down to finals football will Gold Coast's defence let the team down, thats one thing Sydney have in their favour a settled solid defence, which more often than not wins championships.
Tony Tannous
Expert
Thanks James and KB (AF) for the kind words, AF, I did see the Gold Coast put the cleaners through Brisbane. It was a very impressive performance, especially to fight back from a goal down. The Roar capitulated, especially after stringing together impressive wins against the Fury and Mariners. Having been at the Mariners game, I expected the Roar to offer more resistance at Robina, but the whole ‘Moore’ thing was obviously playing itself out in the background – he was poor against the Mariners and worse against United But take nothing away from the Gold Coast, they are starting to hit their straps after a difficult middle third of the season. Miller makes an instant impression, diverting some of the attention away from Culina, who has lifted his rating. Smeltz is banging them away, and Caravella has fitted seamlessly back in. I’ve also been impressed by the output of vanstrattan over the past few games. He is finally fulfilling some of his potential, but needs to keep it up….I also like how he looks for an early option as soon as he gets the ball. Distribution from the goalkeeper is such a key part of the modern game I wrote recently about how the Gold Coast counter attacked so impressively against the Central Coast Mariners, and vanstrattan was a key figure on that night. It is clearly part of the GCU modus operandi, to utilise the quick outlet and catch teams out. http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/12/07/gold-coast-counter-and-expose-a-chink-in-the-mariners-defence/ As an aside, I was guttered to see Traore go down with what looked another serious injury (but almost fittingly he was in the opposition box, looking to make a diff in the front third). I thought he made a massive diff to GCU as soon as he came back in...
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Is SFC on the verge of breaking the record for the most 1-0 wins in a season?
MV Dave
Guest
Oh thee of little faith AF...let me remind which club currently holds all 3 HAL titles Premiers, Champions and Pre Season Cup winners...yes the mighty Melbourne Victory. Dont worry about GCU or SFC it will be MV with a full strength side who run home over the top to win another double in 2010 (as the last winners we keep the pre season cup) :) At their best MV play the most attacking and attractive football in the HAL.
Australian Football
Guest
Tony, your articles are nearly not frequent enough... I always enjoy reading what you have to say especially on your analysis of SFC’s and GCU’s past performances; both of these teams are the teams I support... SFC is my spiritual club as an ex pat from Sydney and GCU because where I live today... With these teams sitting a few points apart they are the best two teams in the HAL playing the most attractive football to watch (my humble opinion), of course we would have some MV supporters who would argue differently... ;) Sydney always find it hard against GCU when they meet... I can’t comment on SFC last outing against AU FC as I missed it, however, I concur that they are playing their best football now under Lavicka in a long while with standouts Corica and Colosimo playing their best football in a long time... However, when they come up against GCU they can’t put it together... I saw them play at Skilled Stadium twice so far this season and both times GCU have had the wood over them when they meet... They simply can’t break down the GCU full strength team at the back... GCU at full strength are the team to beat; never mind about Melb Vic it will be GCU that SFC will have to worry about... You wrote an article about GCU’s system of 2-4-2-2 well last home game it destroyed the ROAR FC 5-1 and I think SFC are going to struggle against GCU who are controlling every game from the back with the best keeper in the league distributing the ball, which so often leads to many GCU’s goals, and Bolton his opposite No. at the other end has been woeful in this department... This maybe a strange thing to say, but I think it will be the difference, between these two teams when they meet next in the final... I’m sure they will be both there at the end of the season... Melb Vic will start to fade is my prediction. ~~~~~~ AF
james
Guest
Footbal, most so called A-League critics wouldn't know quality football if it hit them square in the jaw with a 4x2.Their idea of quality football is a 4-3 scoreline. One particular summary of the Sydney/Adelaide game effectively said it was a boring game for all but the first 10 minutes, and that was published in a major metropolitan broadsheet. Thank god for Tony Tannous and David Lowe, the only football writers in this country worthy of the title ‘analyst’. Another excellent article Tony, it’s been a long couple of weeks in waiting.
Tony Tannous
Expert
agga, as i noted in my final par, "provided injuries dont hit", I think they'll be hard to beat to first place... As for the final, it's another thing, with Gold Coast and Melb coming into it, and maybe even Brisbane if they can bring in an expereinced central defender for Moore...
Realfootball
Guest
The second last Gold Coast/Melbourne game could well decide who finishes first past the post - it could even go right down to the last game of the season in a 3 way split between Melbourne, Sydney and GCU. The only downside in all of this is that more people aren't turning up to the SFS to see this terrific Sydney team in action.
agga78
Guest
Sydney are a very good side, but I would like too see how they goif they lost a few players, all season they have been able to basically have the same squad for each match apart from the odd injury, this stability has allowed them to be in the position they are in. Melbourne on the other hand have been battered by injury all season having lost every player in midefield for long periods through injury, Ward,Brebner,Celeski,Sukha, even Hernandez have all missed matches and Melbourne have still played the best most attractive football and still only 3 points behind with a game in hand. Sydney are a good team but their depth has not been tested at all, it will interesting too see how they go if they start to lose 4-5 players through injury for a long period and will see how good Sydney really are. If Melbourne get all their players back and have a full strength side going into the finals watch out Sydney.
Footbal
Guest
I was at the Syd/Mariners & Syd/Adel games, & the quality of football Sydney are playing is outstanding. Balls being played into feet, one touch passes & outstanding movement of the ball. Most impressive is the variation in the speed of their game, this is develeping into a very good team. Many A league critics need to watch one of these games.