With Viteslav Lavicka gone at the end of the season, it’s time for Sydney FC to ready itself for a player clean out. While things have improved off the field for the Sky Blues, it hasn’t gone to plan on the field this season.
I wrote the other day that Lavicka leaving was the right call, and now the Sydney FC board need to make some tough decisions on the club’s playing roster.
A number of players haven’t cut it this season, or last season, and this was plainly evident at yesterday’s game. I was in attendance as Sydney FC was cut to shreds in the first half, fought back impressively in the second, and were then hit on the counter twice in the final 10 to 15 minutes.
This was against an up-and-down Newcastle Jets squad, a team that you really never know who is going to turn up (the team that beat Brisbane Roar last weekend or the team that suffered losses to the Gold Coast and Melbourne Victory. The Jets are unpredictable, but will undergo a clean out of their own in two months time, and at least on paper Sydney FC has a team that should be more than a match for the Novocastrians.
But the Sky Blues played with little heart, determination or smarts yesterday at the SFS. And funnily enough, as it always seems to happy in football, it was a host of former Sydney FC players in Newcastle colours who put their old club to the sword.
So who should Sydney FC get rid of, and who should they keep?
Obviously Nicky Carle and Brett Emerton will be retained, although Emerton’s constant absences through injury have been a concern. Terry Antonis is another certainty, as one of the most promising youngsters in Australian football.
Both goalkeepers, Reddy and Necesvksi, should stay, as both are solid and really they aren’t many other options on that front.
In the backline there seems to be a lot of deadwood. Pascal Bosschaart has been a good signing, and should be retained if possible.
Michael Beachamp, on the other hand, hasn’t lived up to his past billing. Jamie Coyne hasn’t done much in a blue shirt, while Nathan Sherlock hasn’t had much game time. I would most probably keep Cole, Jamieson and Ryall.
In midfield, Sydney FC really need to hold their breath and let Terry McFlynn go. He has been an admirable leader for the club and a loyal servant, but his time is up. He has too often been exposed technically and for a lack of pace in midfield.
Exits should also go to Chianese and Moriyasu, and while Kisel has done well, he is most likely to return home to Prague as the end of the season. He will be missed.
Up front has been the most problematic area for the Sky Blues. Mark Bridge has had a difficult past two seasons. Where is the damaging young player who got the winner in the 2008 grand final?
Juho Makela was a disputed signing and has never really caught fire in the harbour city. Dimi Petratos has huge potential and is still learning – he should definitely be retained. Bruno Cazarine has scored goals, but just isn’t the time of player that Sydney needs to be leading the line. They really need a high-profile marquee, an overseas international, to be their star striker.
Obviously salary cap restrictions come into play, but a big name international player to lead the line would be a godsend for Sydney. A van Nistelrooy, a Del Piero, a Raul – it might be a dream, but someone of that ilk or close to it would be huge for Sydney FC and for the A-League in general.
On the youth front, Sydney’s National Youth League team are currently fifth on the table in the 10-team competition. Considering the playing base of Australia’s biggest city, and the talent that has come out of it over the decades, this probably isn’t good enough.
The Sky Blues need to be producing great young players, and crucially, they need to hold onto them as they graduate to senior football. Matt Jurman and Kerum Bulut are two talented players who have been let go in recent years, not to mention Sydneysiders like Matt Ryan, Musti Amini and Bernie Ibini-Isei who went north to the Mariners. Sydney FC need to get their scouting and playing recruitment in order.
Sydney FC may get their season back together and make the semi-finals, but big decisions lie ahead regardless.
With a new coach on board and I believe a host of new blood to be injected into the club, there should be a very different Sky Blues outfit that takes the field for the 2012-2013 season.
Chris
Guest
McFlynn is one of the worst players in the league. how he plays let alone be the captain of the team is a joke Well done Sydney, always 10 steps behind Melbourne
Mato-Bateman
Guest
I disagree with releasing Joel Chianese. The guy showed alot of promise coming off the bench last Sunday and I'd be playing him every game for the rest of the season. Sydney FC seem to let alot of young talent go. Andy Harper was right last on Fox FC. He said that Sydney always seem to want to sign players from overseas instead of signing up and giving young talent a go from the youth team. They seem to let the best young players go. Nothing aganist Grant but he isn't a Sydney FC type player. They let Iain Ramsey go to Adelaide as well, a guy who has unbelievable potential. Chianese, Petratos, Sherlock, Antonis, Mallia are the future of the club; keep hold of them and give Chianese, Sherlock and Mallia some game time. If Makela isn't going to be there next season, don't play him. Bridge HAS to be let go. Not sure when his contract is up but I'd be putting him on the transfer list. His had enough chances in 4 years to show what he is capable of and it just hasn't been enough. He needs a change of clubs to find his form he showed at Newcastle 5 years ago. I think another loss this Saturday night aganist Perth could spell the end of Lavicka before the season is out.
oly09
Guest
I thought he looked good against Newcastle. At least he provided a bit of pace! Why would they get rid of him?
Nathan of Perth
Guest
A sub appearance where he was arguably second of third best on ground, subs included.
John Davidson
Roar Guru
DF, there is still a lot of players who should be shown the door - Makela, Cazarine, Bridge, Beachamp etc. Some, obviously where possible, at the end of this season and others at the end of next season when their contracts expire. Some may be convinced to head elsewhere before thier contracts are up if they know they aren't going to be part of the long term future. Agreed, the flexibility on their current marquee status is difficult, but perhaps there could some re-negotiation. Having two Aussie marquees clearly isn't working when it comes to crowd numbers. There was 10,500 something there on Sunday - considering the weather (first nice summers day in Sydney for a while), the timing of the season and the opponent (though Newcastle's traveling supporters numbers was a bit ordinary) this wasn't good enough. I haven't seen a lot of Chianese, I admit, but he didn't play well on Sunday. But he's a young guy who should get a better chance to prove himself, so his exit call was a bit harsh. Let's see what he can do in the rest Reddy and Necesvksi are both solid, in my opinion, if unspectacular. I would put them on a similar level as Theolokitos and Vukovic, in that middle ground behind the likes of Ryan and Covic. But probably just ahead of Kennedy, Warner and others. Not the best in the comp, but not the worst either. The more Reddy lays off punching players the better. Some tough decisions might not be able to be made until next year, but Sydney FC needs to start planning ahead. Some contracts might need to paid out if possible, or contracted players shopped to other clubs. Hard as it may be, there's too much deadwood there at the moment.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
They need to hire a marquee coach who knows talent and can bring some good players to the club with him. Maybe Zola fits the bill with his EPL and Seria A contacts. Lavicka takes most of the responsibility for the squad he has assembled over the past 3 years and half of them are not worthy to be Sydney FC players really. Looks like he bought most of them on Euro eBay!
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Bring back All Night Dwight as the manager. It'll be one big party and even if we aren't winning any games, it will feel like we are!
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Dirk Melton and the club management are doing an excellent job off the park and have put together a very good business plan. I have been very impressed with Melton's performance particularly in a difficult job. This is reflected in a big increase in memberships, attendances and revenues this year, even though the club is not in the top six currently. However the football manager is hamstrung by average players on longer contracts and limited budgets to spend on players. Over the next few years Sydney will bounce back on the park and will rise back up the ladder. Melton will make sure of that because to be a successful and profitable club you need to be winning games and getting the fans back to the games - especially in a very competitive market like Sydney.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Agree. First thing they should do is sign a couple of decent goal keepers. Reddy out! Nicevski out!
Jupiter53
Guest
Probably a more rational reply than my first one would be that I would like to see Sydney lift the level again. It's obvious Arnie and Ange have raised the standard. I'd like to see Sydney find a coach who can take it further. We're not going to be able to afford any sort of "name" coach, so I'd like us to look for a smart up and coming coach from Holland, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Uruguay i.e. from a country with a strong tradition of smart football. [Brazil are in the tactical doldrums at the moment so I wouldn't look there; but maybe Chile given the way their best clubs are playing]. Or indeed Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia etc.; after all Rale Rasic, Frank Arok and Zoran Matic were from this culture and contributed hugely to Australian football
Johnno
Guest
So jupiter should man united and chelsea and man city and arsenal and liverpool , and teams like barcelona and real madrid , slow down on the ruthless level and quest for dominance and winning all the time in the name of equality , and doing what may be good for the gam and not be hard nosed. I don't think you would be popular jupiter with the big soccer clubs of the world like real madrid or chelsea who try to have every good player they can get there hands on and coaches.
Jupiter53
Guest
Of course you are right from a business point of view. But... although I have been a Sydney member from the start I go and watch the Mariners occasionally, plan to watch them in the ACL and I would like to see them do well. I would prefer to see Sydney add to and improve the overall coaching stocks of the A League rather than just shuffle the decent coaches already here. So my reasons are romantic and idealistic rather than hard nosed.
Titus
Guest
Agree with you about getting someone like Van T'Schip, someone who recognises talent and ability, nurtures it and gives it opportunities. Carle, Boss, Emmo are solid senior players, Jamo, Cole, Ryall are decent squaddies, Antonis, Petratos, Chianese and Mallia are promising young players, Petkovski and Gligor could also step up from youth over the next couple of years. So bring in some talent to replace Kisel, Coyne, Beauchamp, Bruno, Makela, and a good coach and we could be back on track next season.
Johnno
Guest
Why would it be shameful to pinch Arnold from the mariners. What does sydney F.C owe the Mariners ,nothing Jupiter.
Jupiter53
Guest
I agree that recruitment has been terrible. There has been no doubting the effort that the players have put in [including against the Jets] but for many their technique is just not adequate. Terry McFlynn seems a decent whole hearted person, his covering and tackling [badly judged though it often is] is presumably why he is still in the team, but his passing is in general appalling. In the deep-lying position he plays you need someone who is reliably available to receive and return short passes, and who ideally is able to hit accurate 30 metre balls; he just can't. We have never replaced Brosque. Bridge has totally lost whatever form he had for the Jets and in his first season for SFC. Makela makes OK runs but his touch is terrible [e.g. the chance he bombed late in the second half when he hit it so far in front that it was easy for Kennedy]. Bruno has generally been getting poor service so only gets rare chances to use his impressive heading; unfortunately his game otherwise is let down by his poor technique and slowness. Defensive frailties have been obvious, but I would put the blame equally on the midfield. It seemed to me that Grant was left horribly exposed against the Jets with 2 players combining against him and with inadequate support from Kisel or McFlynn. Kisel was brilliant in his first year here but I think this is a season too late. Beauchamp's embarrassment against Aussie Ali came when the ball had been given away cheaply in midfield and Abbas was allowed to run freely at him. Coyne's form has been sad. At least Jamison showed some hopeful glimpses reminding us of how good he was for Adelaide. How did we let Jurman go? Who is actually responsible and has Melton led them quietly outside and told them not to come back? I have no major complaints about the keepers; I think the games are being won and lost in front of them. To me of the senior players Carle and Bosschaert are unequivocally worth their place. I think it's worth persevering with Antonis and Petratos, Chianese looks promising and so does Malia. I haven't seen enough of the other youth players to have a view. I have no views on what players we should buy. Who knew about Broich, Ifill or Flores before they came here? That's where the club should be doing the work, finding players we can afford who are fit and can actually play now. It can't be based on reputation. We've been burnt before with Juninho who was wonderful to watch but spent so much time injured he was overall ineffective. Similarly I can't say who the coach should be. Even Mourinho or Guardiola would struggle to do better with the squad we have this year. I do think we need someone who is capable of lifting the standard of team play and co-ordination of the whole club and who is given time to do so. I am happy to have Corica and Kalac on the coaching staff but it's too soon for them. To me there are no obvious younger Australian coaches with the required knowledge and experience. It would be shameful to pinch Arnold from the Mariners. The Heart have benefited from Van T'Schip particularly with the young players they are developing and maybe looking for another overseas coach who can mentor as well as coach. The league as a whole has to develop young players and I don't believe that the conveyor belt from Sydney's suburbs has been turned off. Let's hope Melton is as professional in his choice of the next coach as he appears otherwise.
Rangaraider
Guest
Wow a bit of research first, as many have said there are only 7 - 8 players off contract the rest are stitched up. Find out who these are and make a comment otherwise everything your saying is pie in the sky stuff. And you were aware that we have 2 marquees, which one would you like to sack before we hire Lionel Messi? Seriously...Guru pfft
Chris
Guest
As has been pointed out by previous posters, the majority of the squad has been signed for next year. Which will make the job of the coach interesting - could a different personality make a difference with this bunch of players? It's the year after next that I'm most interested in, as I think its recruitment that's been the problem with SFC, not the coaching. Who's doing the recruiting over the next two years will be key to getting SFC towards some sort of stability on the pitch.
AL
Guest
Maybe we need to get a priest to Moore park and bless the ground, because every palyer needs divine assistance after Sundays performance. The Jets game was painful to watch. Yes you could shed players, contracts permitting. But that will not help this salvage this season. Juding just on Suday only Nick Carle, Bosshcaart & Kiesel could call themselves A-League level. The most painful part of it all was we had chances on Sunday to at least draw the game. Couple of one on ones stuffed up by bad touches Makela and the young bloke whos names escapes me. Some aspects of Sunday where un-coachable.
SAMURAI
Roar Pro
Yeah, like Mark Rudan was saying on Fox Sports on the weekend, clubs like Sydney FC are lacking vision and don't have clear long term goals, I think this is evident in their squad.
Sky Blue Ram
Guest
You made me fall off my chair at "Both goalkeepers, Reddy and Necesvksi, should stay, as both are solid....." I don't know what you're seeing but it's not what I'm seeing, our keepers have cost us so many points over this and last season, I'm actually upset and annoyed at the knowledge they've been re-signed, they are awful. What I wouldn't give for a Covic or Ryan, anyone but our two butter fingers. Chianese is a shining light, think he has great potential. I'd strip the captaincy from McFlynn, that way he's not obliged to play him week in week out and if we can't get rid I'd put him on the bench at best. Coyne is terrible and we should never have signed him, Jamieson is ok, if he plays well for the rest of the season I'd re-sign him but to be honest last year he was awful and this year he has been better but inconsistent.