For too long Sydney FC has had a poor footballing culture, lacking passion and a clear style of football that the fans so desperately want.
The futile attempts to rectify this through the hiring and sacking of substandard coaches Vítězslav Lavička, Ian Crook goes as far back to Branco Culina and John Kosmina.
This has seen the club sink to a lower level, to be a below average team who are painful to support.
One of the major problems that have led to this mediocrity has been the poor recruiting of players in the last few years.
Sydney is the heartland of Australian football with our most successful sons of late, Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill, learning the game at their respective clubs.
Yet somehow, the focus seems to be on bringing in international players to fill squad rotations.
Yairo Yao departed the club this month, who was originally signed from Panama, not exactly a place where scouts could watch his performances regularly before signing him.
His performances resembled the enthusiasm of Alessandro Del Piero’s walk off Pirtek Park on Saturday night.
Game after game of small cameos off the bench, Yau showed his speed and his ability to give the ball to the opposition.
It almost seemed that the club was looking for some pace and so went out to the other side of the world to find pace… but not much else.
Stark comparison to Yairo Yao is the home grown Ryan Grant, who is part of an elite crew of Sydney FC players who actually look as if they want to win on match days.
His work rate and competitiveness for the ball is a breath of fresh air at the back. This is especially so when the likes of Bojic, Jurman and one of the two calamities at left back, Warren or Abbas, prance around thinking about what they’ll eat after the game instead of trying to win.
And as a sidetone, thank god Sydney replaced the great decision making of Fabio Alves with someone who is as equally scared of keeping possession, Marc Warren.
It is truly a shame to see Grant on the sidelines when Sydney so desperately need someone to show what competitiveness is, although Garcia and Gamerio aren’t far off the pace.
As if the 16 year old Daniel Allessi wasn’t another reminder that there are great young players to be found in Sydney. Allessi played his football in the North Shore, Sydney FC ‘heartland’, before the Western Sydney Wanderers picked him up.
Sydney only need look right under their nose to see the up and coming stars of the future.
The second part of the of the Sydney FC recruitment failure is the obvious age factor.
No doubt that every club needs experienced players, but a balance of young energetic players is also needed to ensure the team stays dynamic while also creating leaders for the future.
Sydney has the oldest match day squad by far in the league and I might also add the slowest.
This is not down to past players ageing. It is the result of buying old players who take up cap space and deny an opportunity of a young player to come into the team.
A prime example of this is the Matt Thompson deal. Thompson was signed a week out from the season opener on an injury replacement contract.
Yet somehow he has spent most of the season in the starting line-up and earned himself a new contract.
This is the same player who was released from the Melbourne Heart squad and is 31 years old is now somehow is good enough for a starting spot at Sydney FC.
Suddenly the short term injury replacement for Triantis has become a long-term solution to the CM position.
The end of the season will see the end of nine first team contracts, two of which belong to Del Piero and Emerton.
Though I will admit ADP’s lack of defensive pressure and fight to win back the ball hurts Sydney, It will be a shame to see him go.
Emerton I struggle to say the same thing, just the other day I had to remind myself that he is a “marquee” player for Sydney, well at least a player on a marquee contract.
I hope the club sees the opportunity to renew its playing style by bringing in players who have hearts bigger than egos, players who have something to prove when the walk out on the pitch and ultimately players who want to win.
It may seem cliché to call for the coach’s head, however Frank Farina’s poor decision making with recruiting, starting 11 selections and substitutions (i.e., taking ADP off against WSW) as well as the lack of any playing style in the team’s play, means he has to go.
But if he goes assistant Rado Vidosic also has to go.
Is he truly an assistant coach or just an overplayed set-piece coordinator?
And whoever has let Bojic gain 15kg and subsequently lose all his speed should follow, or at least start doing his/her job now and slim him down so he can do what he is meant to do, get round wingers and deliver first time balls into the box.
A proven coach needs to be brought in who would be strong enough to make bold decisions to sack backroom staff and players who don’t bleed for the club and to enlist hunger and passion in the playing group.
A certain Ange Postecoglu comes to mind.
The club culture has never really existed. There has never been a time when supporters, players and club officials can all say “we are proud of the way we are playing”.
Sydney supporters long for a time when the team are a unit with a distinct style of play that is both interesting to watch and effective in getting results, such as the Brisbane Roar of 2011-12.
It is not going to happen by buying established players with their career behind them and it’s not going to happen in six months.
It needs sustained long-term effort and patience with a coach who seeks success in the seasons to come not just in the next match and players who know the systems and want to win for the club.
Dl2136
Guest
Strathfield is blue. Frank should get another season with his own roster. He's got form - he had the roar more than half way to where they got to with Ange, plus he'd developed and sold oar zullo Sarota and kruse. This year there's as many young guys getting a go as there are spots to put them given injuries to grant triantis antonis etc and being compelled to play the expensive old guys. If you swapped popa and frank, both clubs would be around about where they are now. Popa would have half a dozen old blokes that he'd be forced to play, and frank would have been able to start from scratch. Finally, unless there's a super coach of the NYL team who is allowed to run his own race without any reference to or input from frank and co, I reckon the board wouldn't be entirely unhappy with what he's building at our club.
Dl2136
Guest
Arto
Guest
I agree with the comments on here about SFC having lacked an on-field philosophy for years now and have pretty much hired managers on a scatter-gun approach - this has, IMO, mainly to do with the unstable boardroom we've had throughout our history as it wasn't until recently that we had a majority owner who could stamp his authority on the club (hence Pignata's relatively long stay in the CEO chair). I have a feeling that this off-season could be a huge one for SFC - they have a number of players coming off contract that currently make up a huge part of their salary cap amount. IF we miss out on the playoffs again then I can't see Farina seeing out the last year of his contract - especially as it would allow a much cleaner slate for a new coach to come in than a year later. As much as I feel Farina has done ok, I can't see him taking SFC to the levels required to not just win the HAL, but dominate the HAL in the manner that Roar currently do (& dare I say it, MV would have with Postecoglu in charge). I really hope they spend some big bucks to get a top, top manager who can get SFC playing winning and attractive football (I have no idea who realistically that could be, as that's the key - it's easy to bandy names like Bielsa and Hiddink about, but are they actually a genuine chance of taking the job?). I see this as being the last season for ADP, Carle, Emerton, Thiago, & McFlynn in an SFC shirt, with possibly Abbas, Necevski, Thompson, Chianese & Warren also being let go by a new manager. Then Despotovic, Petkovic, & Garcia might all be tempted to play elsewhere if they can't see a bright 2014-15 season ahead. So that's possibly 13 out of the 23 man squad gone along with questions marks over a number of young players such as Malia, Powell, Jurman (not to mention the injured trio of Antonis, Grant & Triantis) so this could be an unprecedented situation for a HAL team (apart from WSW perhaps who had to start from scratch within an off-season). It's not likely to get as bad as that, but only, Janjetovic, Bojic, Ryall & Gameiro are, for my mind, locked in for next season!
Arto
Guest
@ keyless sky blues fan: After reading your post, I think you should change your tag name to clueless syd blues fan, as that was pretty much garbage from 1st letter to last and I'm an SFC fan. If you seriously think that playing well in the NYL equates to playing well in the HAL, then you're not the most learned football fan around...
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
It all seems a little, er, unilateral.
SN2204
Guest
AZ_RBB What the western sydney wanderers consider to be their border in on page 4 on their own policy.Apart from the Gladesville/Hornsby football association being up for discussion as a part of western sydney and maybe how far west Bankstown really is in a growing city.The official border from a WSW perspective has existed from day one ;) !! It's on page 4 http://www.wanderland.com.au/
SN2204
Guest
I can't see how the border between western sydney and eastern sydney is up for discussion.There is an official border you know !! Western sydney official starts at Bankstown/holroyd council.WSW officially acknowledged this border and has drawn a line border at the Bankstown football association.Which makes Centenery drive/lidcombe approximately where western sydney starts and places lakemba,Stathfield,Belmore,concord,belfield etc outside their engagement area and falls into the CDSFA which is rightfully aligned to SFC. The borders are being based on local football associations
bill boomer
Guest
I'm sure the record you quote is accurate but there is more to it than win loss record though i think we(socceroos) underperformed during his time should really have gone to Japan/Korea. Anyway its his current performance that is questionable and what's that saying about your last game.
bill boomer
Guest
I'm sure the record you quote is accurate but there is more to it than win loss record though i think we(socceroos) underperformed during his time should really have gone to Japan/Korea. Anyway its his current performance that is questionable and what's that saying about your last game.
AWOL
Guest
At the moment, Sydney are like that person in your family who you know from the bottom of your heart should be doing more with their life, but they don't because they're their own worst enemy...they have the support, the players (when fit) to really make an impression. I just hope for our sake we realise that potential sooner rather than later
wisey_9
Roar Guru
If you've seen him coach before? Then you'll know that he has a reasonably good record. (Credit to another Roarer - Franko - who I am re-posting) First year player coach at Brisbane Strikers – wins the league Gets Socceroos job Wins Oceania Nations Cup – Easy Third place in the 2001 Confed cup beating Brazil, France and Mexico on the way Lost to a very good Uruguay in qualifying for 2002 WC Beat England 3-1 in London A disinterested Australian C team struggles in Oceania Nations Cup shortly after missing qualification in 2002 Wins Oceania Nations Cup 2004 – Easy 2005 confed cup, credible losses to Germany 4-3 and Argentina 4-2, then a diabolical loss to Tunisia – sacked Leads QLD Roar to a prelim final which they lost in extra time in first full season in charge Second season sees them finish 3rd and again to a prelim During his time in QLD brought in guys like Oar, Van Djik, DeVere, Kruse, Zullo and Nichols Sacked for off-field reasons Walks in to a disaster at SFC and rescues their season.
bill boomer
Guest
Frank needs to be given more time? Yeah cause we've never seen him coach before. Actually I've seen enough, he should go though the form suggests if he does they'll line up the usual suspects. Kosmina, Culina ... and of course the inevitable suggestion of Hiddink. They had the right idea when they were formed and hired a top class manager in Litbarski and ok they couldn't keep him but why not do it again. The ADP money would have been more value paying for the right guy. More time, what like Aloisi.
Towser
Guest
AZ_RBB There will be for a considerable while yet 3 Sydney Derbies per season. Cant see why the 3rd match cant be at Olympic park. Lets face it this is not a fair & balanced home & away comp,so why not maximise crowds attention at a third match after two home & away matches. Will only work in one city Sydney in regards to stadium size at Olympic park, catering for than a bigger crowd than could be expected at both home venues. Wont work in Melbourne ,because Etihad is big enough to cater for any Melbourne Derby currently & anyway at the MCG its cricket season.
AZ_RBB
Guest
You're right. I should've said not including Strathfield, or more specifically where the M4 begins/ends. Again drives home why a derby at Olympic Park would be so awesome. Can't imagine there are many or any other football derbies in the world fought out on the border of the two territories. Also very true re being proudly west. That has been the biggest achievement of WSW. There is now a greater sense of pride for people around this area. At least for me on a personal level.
Allan
Guest
Im going with Lidcombe, I bet people in Strathfield don't believe they are part of Western Sydney, instead referring to themselves as Inner West. The more interesting area is Quakers Hill because I have known several people from there who called themselves 'hills district' now WSW are here they are proudly West. It's quite funny.
Matty C
Guest
I agree that Farina needs more time to truly make his mark on the side. At minimum he should be given next year to show that he can bring together a squad which can be competitive and play a decent standard of football. With what, a dozen odd players off contract at the end of this season, its almost like he has a clean slate to start with. He needs to develop a philosophy about the way he wants FC to play them go about recruiting players who can work within this structure.
Bjorn
Guest
Ummm while I agree. I wouldn't call popovic credentialed. First time head coach. Doesn't he just have a license high enough to be coach and nothing more, as far as i am aware anyway. Compared with say Lavicka who has a UEFA pro coaching licence.
Nova
Guest
I agree completely with this comment. The article is pretty simplistic and unfairly reductive in many parts. The fact that he singles Abbas, who is commonly in the best team of the week, as a waste of space is puzzling. As is the idea that Frank hasn't tried to bring youth into the squad - Antonis, Chianese, Gameiro, Triantis, Grant, Ryall, Naumoff and Gligor are all top players - it's the injuries that are the issue. I also wonder about the WSW culture at the moment too - I think it is all well and good while they are winning to say that the culture is a good one, but ever since results haven't been going their way we are starting to hear stories of un-rest and resentment at not being on the park (Ono and Beauchamp particularly and Mooy if you believe social media). Sydney have issues - but I'm sick of the "quick fix" mentality. Let Frank build a squad and give him two or three seasons to make an impact. Trust the coach and force the players to conform to the coach's plan or they are out. It's what Arnold, Postecoglou and Freaking Ferguson did best.
The Auteur
Guest
My point is clubs can still pull ahead of the pack by investing in a good coach and good player support infrastructure along with having good scouts. Cheap coaches produce poor results: Crook, Durakovic, Culina, Kosmina, Vidosic, Ferguson, Aloisi. More 'credentialed' coaches are more likely to produce better results: Lavicka, Arnold, Littbarski, Popovic.
Rangaraider
Guest
This is a key for all clubs, given the equalisation on the field the only way to get an advantage is off it and is the area wealthier clubs should be exploiting. With all the talk of foreigners taking up spots recently, this would be less of an issue if clubs with coin like SFC spent their money on decent scouting set ups to get the right players. The "Football Department" (their words not mine) is an area I know the wealthier AFL clubs exploit to get an advantage at all levels, coaching staff, sports science training facilities etc it needs to be the same in Football here, until the cap is gone (not likely in my lifetime)