Already the drums have starting beating for the head of Sydney FC head coach Ian Crook after the Sky Blues were humiliated 7-2 by the Central Coast Mariners.
Twitter was abuzz on Saturday night after the record-breaking defeat, Sydney FC’s largest-ever loss, and what many have viewed as a disappointing start to the A-League season.
At the moment the Sky Blues sit in sixth place on the ladder, with six points, after two wins and three losses. They are three points ahead of bottom-placed Melbourne Victory and six points off leaders Adelaide United.
So far they have managed a disappointing season-opening 2-0 loss away at Wellington, a 3-2 loss at home to Newcastle, a close 1-0 derby win over the Wanderers, thanks to an Alessandro Del Piero goal, a somewhat fortunate 2-1 victory over Perth and the heavy defeat at Bluetongue Stadium.
Apart from the brilliance of Del Piero and some patches of quality, Sydney FC has largely flattered to deceive. Football is a game of margins and they have ridden their luck to get six points, holding on against Western Sydney and Perth failing to get a late penalty shout for handball at ANZ Stadium.
Victory may be the A-League’s biggest club but the Sky Blues are the glamour club, ‘Bling FC’, who reside in Australia’s biggest city and the biggest media market. The pressure and attention the club receives immense, and this has only quadrupled since the arrival of the Azzurri great.
Every team wants to perform against the glamour side and every team wants to beat the Del Piero-led Sky Blues. There will be no easy games at the likes of North Queensland and Gold Coast this season.
Adding to this is the new tenure of Ian Crook. The former Newcastle, American Samoa, Norwich and NSWIS coach has only been in the hot seat since May and hasn’t had long to work with his team.
Sydney FC were recruiting, granted along with a lot of other teams, right up until opening day and the arrival of the Italian maestro has changed the dynamic of the team.
Some people forget that it is virtually a whole new first-team squad the Sky Blues have this season, compared with the team of 2011/2012. No other A-League squad, apart from perhaps Gary van Egmond’s Jets, has had as much change.
In has came Fabio, Alia Abbas, Yairo Yau, Krunoslav Lovrek, Adam Griffiths, Vedran Janjetović, Trent McClenahan, Paul Reid, Jason Culina and Del Piero. Out has gone Liam Reddy, Jamie Coyne, Michael Beauchamp, Bruno Cazarine, Shannon Cole, Juho Makela, Mark Bridge and Scott Jamieson.
A whole raft of young talent has also been promoted from the youth talent.
This amount of player turnover means it will take time to get things right. Injuries to Pascal Bosschaart, Griffiths and Fabio have also not helped.
Crook’s first-choice defence, apart from Ivan Necevski, has hardly been available for selection. Sydney FC’s frailty at the back and organisation has been their biggest problem. Kids like Daniel Petkovski and Hagi Gligor have been forced to play big minutes, with Terry Antonis away on Young Socceroo duty.
But the Sky Blues have too much quality for things not to go right.
With Culina back to full fitness and the likes of Emerton and Del Piero firing, Sydney FC have a lot of class. There have been other bright spots as well – the form of Ali Abbas has been inspiring and Yairo Yau looks a likely player who will command more minutes.
Some have said Sydney FC need a ‘big-name’ manager and Crook is not up to the task. I disagree. The 49-year old Englishman and former NSL Coach of the Year has the tools and the experience to get the job done.
The Sky Blues need more matches under their belt and more work on the training pitch, as well as some fit bodies, to get things right. A new central defender in the January transfer window may be required too.
The A-League is won in April, not November, and I’m picking Sydney FC to be in the top six come finals time.
Follow John on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
AVictory
Guest
What if you were to judge his managing skills based on the past 5 performances? first 11 players or not, every player should know what their role is, that is the job of the coach. If it's individual mistakes that are being made that is costing the team, then that is out of the coaches hands, but that is not the problem here...
apaway
Roar Guru
Ian Crook has a fine coaching pedigree, an astute football mind and is a good people-manager. To hang him out to dry based on a performance that went awfully pear-shaped for 13 minutes in the second half (and no, I'm not saying SFC have been great at all other times) is pretty knee-jerk. Not that long ago, Manchester United lost successive games 5-0 to Newcastle and 6-3 to Southampton. They won the title that year.
Titus
Guest
Culina, Bosschaart, Fabio and Griffiths all played over 45mins and had no problems, Sydney again beat the Wanderers 1-0 to remain Sydney's premier team.
Roarfan
Guest
If and when Sydney F.C.can get their first choice team together they will be an entirely different proposition. Culina, Bosschart, Griffith, Fabio and Chianese when fit and firing will make a huge difference. There is not a single team in the HAL, excpt perhaps Wellington Phoenix that can afford to be without that many top players. Credit also to Ian Crooke who backed his players during a very tough post match interview Whilst he ackowledged that the team's 'quality' of play was poor, they did not lack commitlment or fighting qualities.I though Ian handled the interview extremly well, even though he must have been hurting like hell on the inside. Give the man a chance Nobody, including Melbourne Victory, but Brisbane Roar was prepared to give Ange Postecoglou a chance and history was made. Let's give Ian a chance too please. And I am not an SFC supporter!!!!!.
ChrisW
Guest
Wait until hes given a full squad, SFC are currently beating WSW in a freindly.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
It's not that. He just didn't seem cut up enough for my liking. Seems like the fire might be going out.
George
Guest
Nacevski has been going ok. its the bad back four that are pants and making him work overtime! but yes, and it makes me wonder if that new kid Janjectovic is any good.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
Ha,ha..you gotta be careful with using other people's images though. ;-)
George
Guest
Pro sports people in this country in general need a kick up the bum with regards to post match interviews.. Only a handful of them show any kind of regard to the media and the fans when things go bad for the team..
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
No same name only.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
Just a question Peter. Why does everyone in the football community say you're a recluse? Doesn't seem like it to me. You are the real deal I'm assuming?
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
Will be interesting to see who plays and if Nicevski gets dropped. Would also be great to see Culina back to his best.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
I remember watching Emmo for Olympic at Belmore George. A long time ago now. He really needs to step up this year in the shadow of ADP or it's curtains for him I fear. Or at least he won't be able to command the high wages anymore. His post match interview, attitude and performance on the pitch has me worried.
George
Guest
Credit where its due Crook is standing up and taking the heat.. At least it shows he's got some balls about him. Lets just see if we can wriggle out of this mess in fashion against MV.
George
Guest
Good points Minister, Griff looks to be a competant player when he has a dominant CB next to him. Abit like Stephan Keller, he looked immense when he had Colosimo next to him but a complete shadow of a player when Colosimo left. And yeah, we are pretty light in the right back dept, id love to see Emmo in the right mid position too, so that can be moved around a tad. Maybe just maybe Trent Mac can actually be shifted to his usual position which is RB as he has been below par as a CB. Chianese is young but i saw enough of him last season to suggest he can give it a crack.. Lovrek has had his op but hasnt taken it (probably because he is too similar to ADP) You know back in Emmo's youth he was a striker at Sydney Olympic and scored goals too. (just saying) :) But how i would of loved Bruno be at the club now.., A proper number 9 with service coming in from the middle and the width! Yes he missed some sitters but he has the desire to get there all the time, the strength and presense about him too which meant that he would score goals!
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
Actually, I think Crook is the right man to lead them out of this, he has accepted responsibility and fallen on his sword, while some managers would blame the players or the referees. He and the players have also set about doing something about it. Also don't forget that 7 of his regular first team players were out injured including ADP and Chianese, who is SFC's most promising and attacking young player. 5 of those 7 return this week and barring any further mishaps, Sydney will bounce back against Victory. If I was an MV fan, I wouldn't be counting 3 points for Saturday night just yet.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
A.Griffiths has never convinced me either George, lucky he missed the massacre. I wonder if it would have been much different with him on the pitch. Your team selection looks alright except for me Yau has to be the centre-forward based on last weekend's match. He has the physique and finishing quality. Chianese is still developing and his frame is still to slight to play up front by himself. I'd have have Emmo at wide right and then the only question mark remains over right full-back. Mmm...who else could play there? Just not Grant !
George
Guest
Take away the 2 injured Centrebacks in Grif and Pascal plus our Fullback Fabio and our defensive line lacks quality from the older experienced players, and the younger players arent ready to take control. Coyne for all his faults would run rings around the 2 current centrebacks playing and i doubt would of commanded more money that they each earn. And what the heck happened to Seb Ryall! He was a young gun when he burst into the scene at MV and has pretty much gone backwards at SFC. In saying all that, it's a broken record that has been played by many a punter but once the squad is injury free and fully fit, Syd FC will have a gun of a starting 11! -----------Ivan----------- Emmo-Pascal-Grif-Fab ----------Culina--------- Yau--Antonis--Abbas --------Del-Piero-------- ---------Chianese------- One can only hope that it actually happens and we do have a fully fit squad.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Finally an article that isn't predicting (or asking for) Crook's immediate sacking. People also need to keep in mind that all the injured players will take time to a) come back into the team, b) work their way back into match fitness and c) slot back into team structures. Patience people, patience.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
I'm usually a patient person by nature but somehow I get the feeling Ian Crook's coaching career at SFC is going to be a still born. But I'm happy to be proven wrong for the sake of the club.