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The scene was the Sydney Football Stadium, matchday one of the Asian Champions League, a third of the way into Sydney FC’s match against South Korea’s Suwon Bluewings. The Sky Blues’ skipper Terry McFlynn had just been sent off for a reckless stomp on Suwon’s Lee Sangho.
Vitezslav Lavicka had a couple of options.
Having started the match with a 4-2-3-1, which featured Hiro Moriyasu on the left, debutant David Williams on the right, Nicky Carle in behind Bruno Cazarine, and McFlynn and Stuart Musialik in the anchor roles, his response wasn’t exactly the most obvious.
From my vantage at the SFS the most likely option appeared to be to drop Moriyasu into the holding midfield, alongside Musialik, and then get Carle and Williams running off and supporting the big Brazilian.
But Lavicka, in his almost characteristic conservative way, took a far simpler option, dropping Carle deeper, into a more traditional central midfield role, not quite in line with Musialik, but only slightly advanced of him.
He went to what essentially became a 4-4-1.
It effectively killed any hope Sydney had of getting on the front foot and dictating proceedings, but, having been reduced to 10 men with two-thirds of the match left, the objective clearly became about surviving and trying to pinch something.
What followed was 66 minutes of lung-busting effort from Sydney’s marquee, perhaps Carle’s finest performance yet for Lavicka.
Even though his performance in the final few weeks of the regular season, since returning from injury, were very promising, including a cracking goal at Perth, this was a more complete effort, demonstrating he was back on song, both physically and mentally.
For a player known more for his touch and work in and around the opposition box, this was a job full of industry and commitment, a part of his game that should never be under-estimated.
At one point, late in the game, he made a 30 metre sprint to the left side of Sydney’s defence to shut down a Suwon raid.
Clearly some lessons learnt in Crystal Palace’s 4-4-2 were at work.
Even if he wasn’t wearing the skipper’s armband after McFlynn’s dismissal (that honour went to Musialik), this was the work of a leader. Carle took one for the team.
Certainly, the fans appeared to respond, not only to Carle’s effort, but the spirited nature of Sydney’s well-earned point against the odds.
Now, with Sydney FC at home to Shanghai Shenhua and Kashima Antlers over the next two matchdays, starting tonight, Carle must continue to assume the responsibility bestowed upon him by his pay-packet.
Whereas he was required to roll up the sleeves against Suwon, tonight he might be required to roll out the odd move, even if the pitch doesn’t look entirely conducive to keeping the ball on the deck, a point well made by the visiting manager.
The role of main man is one Carle appeared reluctant to take on when he was unveiled as Sydney’s marquee signing, instead deflecting attention to team-mates like Alex Brosque and the collective.
In recent times he has kept a low profile, preferring to work himself back to full fitness away from the limelight.
But there was a sense of ownership and steely determination in his matchday one effort, and Sydney fans will be hoping it’s just the start of bigger and better things to come.
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