Sydney FC fans are either eternally loyal or completely daft for their continuing support of arguably the most frustrating team in the A-League.
A Sydney FC home game generally means one of two things: that it will rain and that Sydney fans will go home with chewed fingernails after watching their team mix a combination of the sublime with the downright stupid in their bid to collect points.
Last night’s 2-2 draw with Adelaide United was a classic case in point as Sydney skipper Terry McFlynn needlessly conceded an early corner and then watched in horror as Adelaide defender Daniel Mullen headed it home at the near post.
McFlynn is one of the more curious figures in the A-League.
As a captain he’s loved and loathed in almost equal measure, his passing is erratic and when it comes to timing his tackles, he’s about as accurate as a counterfeit Casio.
Yet he’s in the starting team on a weekly basis, in part because coach Vitezslav Lavicka seems to view change as a major inconvenience to be stubbornly resisted for as long as possible.
But just when Sky Blues fans drop their heads at the hopelessness of it all, up steps Bruno Cazarine with some cunning penalty-box football to coax defender Nigel Boogaard into committing a foul and suddenly Sydney fans are wondering why Cazarine doesn’t start every week.
And then the big striker breaks clear in open play and Sydney fans have an emphatic answer: Cazarine is about as pacy as a fish on a sand dune and any attempted through ball which doesn’t land within millimetres of his bootlaces is essentially wasted.
Sydney are full of contradictions on and off the park, yet the 10,000-strong core of their supporter base turns up regularly to spur their team on.
Does a club in a one-team town of more than four million deserve to play in front of bigger crowds? Undoubtedly.
But all the moaning and groaning about Sydney’s crowds sizes – and this point is applicable to all clubs across the A-League – ignores the loyal supporters who do turn out, in favour of persistently admonishing ‘fans’ who exist in name only.
And the idea that a western Sydney team will significantly build on the city’s A-League base is a notion fraught with danger.
We heard similar promises before when the Parramatta Eels rugby league side bankrolled NSL club the Parramatta Power, who lost fistfuls of money playing in front of lacklustre crowds.
And when so many so-called supporters conjure every excuse imaginable not to attend A-League games at the Sydney Football Stadium, who is to say they’d bother turning out anywhere else?
For all the talk of Sydneysiders being spoiled for entertainment choices, I’d say the truth is probably more prosaic – Sydney is a staggeringly expensive city to live in.
And with so many sports fans conditioned to stay at home and get their fix on television, I can’t see that situation changing regardless of where a western Sydney team is based.
That’s a moot point for now and so we’re back on to Sydney FC and their small but loyal band of supporters.
They’ve been rewarded with two championships so far, but they’ve also been punished by some of the most insipid football imaginable – most notably under Terry Butcher but at times under Lavicka as well.
Thankfully he’s taken the hint that fielding youngsters is not a crime and it was no surprise to see teenager Dimi Petratos smash home a stunning equaliser last night.
It left Sydney FC fans bounding home with a spring in their step and a sparkle in their eyes, despite the shoddy defending and mistimed tackles and heavy skies.
And a riddle which has existed since day one came no closer to being solved: are Sydney FC the most frustating A-League team to watch of all?
PeterK
Guest
Punter, I live without Pay-TV, and I'd strongly prefer a full delayed "match of the round" to a "highlights" package. I can't see why Fox wouldn't benefit from onselling cheaply a "match of the round" to SBS for Monday nights.
j binnie
Guest
Mike - Another thought provoking article which, because the question it asks is opinionative,& will provoke debate. Good journalism. I would like to question one or two points in it just to "test the water" so to speak, Where, anywhere in the football world ,can a football crowd be related to that area / city population?. The obvious conundrum in that is surely Manchester where United "sell-out" every game at 70k, while their cross town rivals City (who lead the EPL) regularly draw around 40k???? Surely that proves that a population has no relationship to attendances. a population simply indicates a potential market???. I do agree with your observation of the prospect and establishment of a WS team being fraught with danger.We have a little bit of history to aid us in this observation ,something I feel is oft ignored by those loudly advocating this step.The NSL. In that comp's 27 year history it had around 42 teams participating. Note the number for a country wide competition. Out of those 42 positions 13 (30%) were taken by what could only be described as Sydney suburban sides with 5 of the 13 having direct connections to what could be described as a "migrant" or "ethnic" (hate those words) organisations. Three of those 5 clubs were in the league for most of it's life,Marconi,Olympic & United who between them chalked up 67 years service out of a possible 81years. The other 10 clubs who participated had chequered stays in the league, some having 2 goes,but between them could only amass 61 years service out of a possible 270 years.This is direct proof of the fractured nature of Sydney football supporters.Can they,the supporters,not the population, be united behind a potential team?,that is your "fraught with danger" question. Back to "derbys". Enjoyed last night's game immensely,great atmosphere,great goals, lots of evidence that the HAL is on the improve.What we didn't learn is what derby games do to crowds.With a limited capacity stadium we got our atmosphere but did we learn the true "pulling power" of these games. The answer has to be no, we didn't for by simply adding the 2 club's seasonal averages so far we come up with a figure of a potential 24k crowd . That leaves me wondering,were we to play the game next week in a larger ground how big the crowd???? Cheers jb
Whites
Guest
The thought had crossed my mind. The Sky Blues in the city and the Reds at Liverpool. Then to complete the picture. A third team based at Blacktown with a new stadium home to the football team plus the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels(or the Parramatta Panthers). And the post above is not up to my usual standards. Should be the council was sacked not stacked and the new stadium would be close to Liverpool train station.
Titus
Guest
Que? Adelaide were lucky to get a point and Sydney, as the article alludes to, were frustrating in their inability to finish teams off. Adelaide showed some ticka which should please fans but Sydney totaly dominated and should have scored three or four and conceded one at most. Am I seeing this with one eye?
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Pele was the best, but Garrincha was better.
Punter
Guest
Yes they say the new superstar Neymar is the best Brazilian since Garrincha, they also say he has already signed for Barcelona. For the people from Brazil, there was no better than Garrincha.
White Eagle
Guest
This article perfectly sums up everything that frustrates me about Sydney FC. Well done Mike! McFlynn out, Lavicka out, Bruno on the bench, and MORE YOUTH. However, I have to disagree about the Western Sydney team. I think it's absolutely necessary and will hardly reduce Sydney FC crowds, which are mostly drawn from the areas around Moore Park (east, inner west, St. George & Sutherland, etc.). A good rivalry is a MUST for the game to take off in Sydney.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Could we have a 2nd Sydney team called Liverpool? That would be a marketing stroke of genius if it could be pulled off.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Did Djite play games under Kossie back in season 2? or did he play his first game under Vidmar?
gawa
Guest
Kosmina used a tactic that some coaches find too hard, he played his best players in their best positions and I'm guessing he also told them to go out and play football. After seven seasons of the media blowing smoke about Sydney FC ( why do they insist on the FC?) I am sick of it. They deserved no better than a draw last night and were indeed lucky that the ref did not award a first half penalty and he should also have sent Reddy off as the last man for the penalty they did concede.
Matt F
Guest
Roarchild - Mcflynn is now an Australian citizen so he no longer counts as an import. I'm more worried about why we keep Moriyasu despite him not being able to make the first team and clogging up an import slot, Makela as well, though I think Juho could be a decent player for us if given the chance.
Whites
Guest
Just to take up you mention of LIverpool. In an ideal world LIverpool would be the perfect spot to base a 2nd Sydney team. "Western Sydney" is just to big and diverse to have just one team represent the whole area. Having it as a southwest Sydney team would give it some focus. Liverpool Council, the Bulldogs and others had planned to build a 35,000 seat stadium at Woodward Park as part of their Oasis project(the whole thing fell apart in a corruption scandel and the whole council was stacked). Still, this doesn't mean a stadium at Liverpool is a bad idea. It would be a great permanent home stadium for the Bulldogs, West Tigers and a West Sydney FC. At a purpose built rectangular stadium the 2 NRL teams would average around 30,000 pergame. As the home ground for 3 teams it would have 40-50 games per season. It could be built either side of Newbridge Road right next to Liverpool. That's the dream, sadly we have to live in reality.
Whites
Guest
The Big Bash may have some impact on the desire of TV networks to obtain the TV rights for Football at an attractive price for the game. A new league with 8 new teams with no history is very similar to the start of the A-League. So far the TV ratings are still holding up quiet well and the difference with the A-League is quiet stark. Thursday night top 20 1.LIVE: CRICKET: BIG BASH LEAGUE FOX SPORTS 2 330,000 19.LIVE: FOOTBALL: A-LEAGUE SYD FC V ADE FOX SPORTS 1 58,000 Ratings have generally been double the state based version of the last Big Bash.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Punter, Let me show you some film of Garrincha. You know who he is, right ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx1jfndUXqk
Punter
Guest
Mid, you are so mean to Koala Bear.
Axelv
Guest
Agree gawa, I was thoroughly entertained, I couldn't keep my eyes off it. This was the best performance by Adelaide of the year by far. Sure it wasn't perfect and both teams had mistakes, but there were also moments of brilliance, Adelaide have not kept the ball this well all season, they looked very positive.
Midfielder
Guest
+ 9999
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
We don't normally agree on all Football matters MId----but you are correct with what you have put down here. Time for Kalac and Corica to take control at SFC. Appointing foreign coaches are now a thing of the past.
Midfielder
Guest
The thing I have found with all Sydney coaches is with all the talent they have at their door they just don't get the players or build the community support they should .... from a recent shm article by Michael Cockerill... """"""" The side that Arnie built is there by design, not accident. With the help of youth coach Tony Walmsley, and the scouting system set in place by Lawrie McKinna, the Mariners have assembled some of the best emerging talent in the country. How Sydney FC must rue allowing Mustafa Amini, Bernie Ibini and Matthew Ryan to escape their net. All three teenagers played like seasoned veterans against the Jets, and there's more to come. If you doubt Central Coast have the best youngsters in the A-League, consider this: there are five Olyroos in the squad and on Saturday night only one, Ryan, started the game. Amini and Ibini are the next generation, and there's already a next generation after that. Mitchell Duke and Kwabena Appiah-Kubi are being talked about as potential stars"""""" What saddens me is the Mariners have last count 9 current Olyroos or U 20 players, plus two U 17 players contracted but don't start to next year ... and only one was signed while being an Australian rep [i think only Olly]...All of the players come from Sydney juniors.... not that I mind too much ... However Amini, Innie, Ryan ... then add Mitchell Duke, Kwabena Appiah-Kub, Sam Gallagher, Trent Sainbury.... BTW Kwabena Appiah-Kub is a bigger miss than Musty .... We need Sydney to show it understand its own backyard before they can be fully accepted... just as an aside my business took me to Liverpool last week and I went for some quick lunches at Westfield Liverpool... I saw all sorts of overseas club shirts no SFC shirt and half a dozen Mariners shirts .... As I said SFC do not have the respect of the broader football family as I see it more they are seen as a buy the comp type team...
Midfielder
Guest
and your real age is only 29 ... see what following those teams does ...