While there is still much work to be done to turn around what has hitherto been an embarrassing season, there were much better signs from Sydney FC in their shock 1-0 win over the competition pace-setters on Thursday night.
Among the most impressive things about Sydney’s performance was the condition of the players.
Already there is evidence that Anthony Crea, the man brought in by Frank Farina to get the squad in shape has been having an impact.
For a team that has particularly struggled in defensive transition this season, this was their most complete defensive performance of the campaign.
While they didn’t always flow in attack, they looked for more structured and organised to deal with an opponent that has been flying at the head of the competition.
But for a couple of moments when Daniel McBreen and Mitchell Duke got in behind, the Sky Blues transitioned almost as swiftly into defence as the team coached by Vitezslav Lavicka in his first season.
Graham Arnold came into this game with a plan to sit back in his own half, not press Sydney high, and react swiftly when they won the ball.
No doubt reasoning that Sydney’s defence has looked a mess throughout the opening 12 rounds, he would have been hoping to take advantage of the holes he thought would inevitably open up on the counter.
But Farina and his men had other ideas.
Apart from the opening 15 minutes or so, when Tom Rogic threatened to cut the game open with his incisive touches, gliding and dribbling, Sydney coped well.
Once the game settled down and Sydney started to control possession through much patience on the ball and use of width, Sydney showed they might even have the ability to control an opponent.
At the heart of their plan without the ball was the young holding midfielder Peter Triantis, making his starting debut after coming off the bench in Wellington.
It was some responsibility for Farina to thrust his way.
Not only was Triantis the only holder in a new look four-man diamond midfield, but he was entrusted with the job of halting Rogic, one of the hottest properties in the local game.
Apart from the opening period, where he conceded a yellow card for a challenge from behind on Rogic, Triantis did an exemplary job.
The fact he played almost the entire game on a yellow card, with his type of combative game, speaks to a tactical awareness.
Shadowing Rogic everywhere he went, the player signed from Sydney Olympic on a youth contract frustrated the silky schemer for much of the night.
Perhaps it was Triantis’s bulldog-like pressing and hassling, invariably clean, that prompted Rogic to snap and get himself sent off for an awful late challenge.
Few have been able to shackle or rattle Rogic in the past 12 months, and he might now get a couple of weeks to think about how he reacts in future.
In many ways, Triantis reminds me of a couple of former Olympic players in Peter Zorbas and Paul Kohler, not the most blessed of passers, but diminutive and fiercely competitive in defence.
Looking at Farina’s 4-4-2 line-up, Triantis looked like he might be isolated, with Alessandro Del Piero ahead of him, Brett Emerton to his right and Ali Abbas to his left.
It looked a midfield bereft of press.
But with two speedsters in Blake Powell and Yairo Yau up top, split wide, Sydney had a plan.
It was to sustain possession, with Del Piero orchestrating the play, giving another master-class in how to protect the ball.
When Sydney dished it up, there was a real commitment to funnel men back behind the ball.
The Mariners tried to go quickly, but, much to their frustration, Sydney were able to keep up.
Even when the Mariners got in behind Sydney’s left late and Rogic was lining up a tap-in, there was Triantis, sprinting back, applying just enough pressure to get a touch and put Rogic off, forcing him to shoot over.
It typified Sydney’s desire this night.
Already, only a month or so after Farina and Crea joined, the Sky Blues look a far better conditioned side.
Arnold may have gambled that Sydney would crumble and his side would finish stronger, but there was a steely determination about the hosts, one we have rarely seen this season.
In front of a bumper Christmas crowd of just under 17,000, it was the type if mental approach Sydney fans would expect more regularly.
With Del Piero in a great mood, assuming the responsibility, and the rest providing the legs, they were able to finish strongly.
The Mariners, meanwhile, will mark is down as a poor day at the office, and the signs where there when their bus turned up late for pick-up.
Arnold will reflect and wonder whether sitting off and reacting swiftly was the best way to deal with this struggling Sydney side.
It wasn’t his greatest tactical night.
But Sydney and Farina, emboldened by some sustained possession and better defensive organisation, should take a bit of confidence out of this showing.
By no means has their season turned around, but it was a performance that gives them hope, even if the Mariners played into their hands somewhat.
While Farina still has much to sort out, if he can get this type of mental and physical application, and all-team defensive effort, on a consistent basis, then he at least has a base.
If he can surround such plans with more quality, then the football is likely to get better, and Sydney FC fans will tell you it’s not before time.
David Heidelberg
Guest
Nice to see Ryall getting some credit, has been one of SFC'c best this year and showing passion in a team that has lacked it at times.
Kasey
Guest
There is no question Rogic is one of the nice guys who just had a rush of blood and was tired late in the game. I'm sure he is as 'devastated' with his tackle as Arnie bleats that he is. He is certainly no Muscrat. I have to agree with your comment regarding provocation, ADP showed how to a true experienced professional handles it, with a knowing smile on his face almost viewing it as a compliment that the other team thought the only way to stop him was to get rough. Now we have EuroSnobs in Adelaide spitting the Dummy online because they bought their ticket to see ADP and they feel robbed that he's not playing. Not going to a live football game you've already paid for because one player out of 22 on the park is injured and out = NOT a football fan. If he had played and snapped his hammy 5 minutes in would they have got up and left the stadium?
Melange
Guest
Kasey, I think the Rogic tackle was more badly timed then malicious. Perhaps the CCM fans (and I am one) are reacting more to some over the top comments suggesting Rogic was trying to end Grant's season. What strikes me as ludicrous, is hearing Slater's comments that any review panel should take into consideration the amount of times Rogic was hacked down during the match and be lenient. Sorry, but a bad tackle is a bad tackle, how you were treated in the lead up has nothing to do with it.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Why isn't Culina playing... Is he injured, or was he dropped ..?
Tony Tannous
Expert
Thanks for your contribution Jupiter, it's a fair observation re the formation, but there really isn't much of a difference in what you describe and what I saw. The diamond also features a deeper sitting holder distanced from the rest. It's true though that Emerton and Abbas were a little higher and wider than say the CCM diamond of last season, at times close to ADP, but this was also down to ADP's propensity to drop, in order to influence the play. Other times ADP was higher that Emerton & Abbas, closer to Yau & Powell, making it more of a 4-3-3. Other times Yau & Powell would drop off into the same line as Emerton, ADP & Abbas, making it a 4-1-5. Let's not get caught up in debate about the exact formation, as this varies at any one point in a game. Otherwise, some good points.
Tony Tannous
Expert
Thanks Tim, and thanks also for sending your post, very good job. I'm particularly glad you pointed out the diagram relating to Grant's passing, you must have had an ear to my thoughts throughout the game, as I was certainly very vocal about it to those I was with. It was so frustrating watching a left back come inside every time due to a technical inability to use his left peg. On many occasions he was in a great position to cross or come down the line, but invariably hesitated, dropped onto his right and came back or inside. His game was full of industry/effort, but I couldn't get over this technical hole. It is why, when debating who should have got the Alex Tobin 3, 2, 1 the next day on Twitter, I stayed right away from Grant & went ADP, Triantis & Ryall. Having said, Grant is miles ahead of Fabio as a left back option. I'll just have to put up with this frustration until something better is found. Apart from that, you make a point about CCM's going slow in forward transition, and it's true they didn't go forward as well as they have, but I believe much of this was down to Sydney's better conditioning, which allowed them to remain better organised and transition very well into defence, as a unit. That and Triantis's job on CCM's main transition point, Rogic.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Interesting analysis... (regrettably I missed the match)
Kasey
Guest
We will find out how deep their squad is now with Rogic and McBreen out for at least a week (Rogic for 3 games total I believe) there is only 2 points between p1[CCM] and p2[AU], 4 pts between p1 and p3 [MBV]..another exciting run in to the Finals looms for the A-League:)
Jupiter53
Guest
Culina [hopefully able to play a whole game] and Griffiths certainly. Bosschaert has not yet recovered his standard of last season; I'm guessing fitness is still a problem. I'm totally unconvinced by Fabio.
Punter
Guest
Can keep Fabio on the sidelines.
alexspeirs
Roar Rookie
It's surprises me that nobody has mentioned the fact that SFC still has Culina, Joel Griffiths, Bosschaart and Fabio to still come back into the team. That is a lot of talent to have on the sidelines, and bodes well for the Sky Blues going forward..
Tim Palmer
Guest
Great analysis Tony, I've also written up a few tactical observations at my blog --> http://wp.me/p2WWlv-7C
Steve
Guest
Nice comparison with Kohler and Zorbas Tony, but little Petey Triantis has a bit more than those guys.
Jupiter53
Guest
I would have called it 4-1-3-2 rather than 4-4-2, as Triantis was consistently sitting just in front of the defensive 4. When SFC were defending the other 3 midfielders all dropped back, and there was some rotation into and out of central midfield when SFC had the ball and were trying to build, but it was more 4-1-3-2 than anything else [although some people might say who cares what you call it as long as it works]. It certainly made much more sense for the players on the park than the previous 4-2-3-1 has. I don't think Sydney has anybody with the skills and mobility to be a lone striker, and it has tended to end up with long balls being hit futilely forward for the 1 to chase. With the 4-1-3-2 ADP had less pressure on him as he was able to go deeper to look for the ball without then finding that he had denuded the SFC attacking options by removing himself. Instead of admiring his determination and sympathising with his frustration as in previous games we were able to enjoy his skill and effect on the game. It's only one game, but for the first time this season there were signs of a guiding intelligence [thank you Frank Farina], also the fitness necessary to finish the game strongly [thank you Anthony Crea]. Just as importantly, everyone [not just a few] seemed to be really trying whether they were playing well or not. It's great to see younger players getting a chance and doing well [Triantis and Urosevic]. Perhaps there is more point to the SFC youth team than just developing players for other clubs. Grant at left back was amazingly good. Fabio has been fine going forward but defensively poor and Grant was as good attacking wise and hugely better defensively. And Janjetovic on his performances so far is the first convincing keeper we have had since Bolton. I thought CCM made a mistake not pressuring more when SFC defenders were trying to build play. Griffiths certainly showed several times that he was uncertain under pressure, as did Triantis early on. Arnold might want to rethink that next time. And Rogic! Although his night ended in deserved ignominy, what an exciting and gifted player he is. As a Socceroo fan I find the prospect of his future development tantalising [as an SFC fan I was glad that we somehow managed to contain and frustrate him].
holly
Guest
Maybe CCM aren't as good as we believed - just a thought.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Yes, to me the two standout aspects of SFC's game was their structure and their ability to see out the game. I've always said that their second half of the season will be a big improvement on their first. If the team can achieve a good level of fitness and the ability to maintain good structural discipline, then there is enough talent in the team to get some good results. But get the basics right first.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Definitely some improvement but with an average striker like Yau it's always going to be hard to win games. He has speed but his accuracy is pretty poor. He made a mess of AdP's pass above the last defender, probably because he didn't 'feel' the pass of the Italian. A striker has to score goals without necessarily outpacing the defence.
AGO74
Guest
Personally (and I am FC biased) I think ADP got more rough treatment than Rogic. No question Rogic deserved red.
striker
Guest
What i loved with ADP reaction after the game he was so happy and that to me shows that he wants to stay in Sydney and if sydney wants to build a solid club with a big fan base they must re-sign ADP at all cost as he gives this club and league so much credibility, the games this year have been outstanding and i prefer watching our games to the premier league.
Kasey
Guest
Great article again Tony. If I may go off on a Tangent. The Rogic Straight Red late in the game. For me it was as easy a decision as a ref has had to make all season. a two-footed lunge certainly qualifies as serious foul play(or even violent conduct!) under the LOTG, but I have seen many Coastie fans online unhappy with the decision. I could see that Rogic was being 'tagged' quite heavily to use an AFL term and he copped more than a few little niggling fouls from the Sydney midfielders trying to disrupt his running with the ball, but there is no excuse for that sort of tackle. I get the feeling those Mariner fans unhappy with the decision including Mr G Arnold are just having a whinge because they lost to the bottom placed team. ADP was also being very closely marked and copped quite a few niggling jabs but he didn't lash out in frustration at the end. What does the peanut gallery on here think?