Sydney FC – the big team that couldn't

@ Dylan Arvela: Two points... 1. "His recent signing of Milos Dimitrijevic was a waste when you have the likes of Matt Thompson on the bench and Terry Antonis in your youth squad – the same Antonis that was on the cusp of a transfer to Serie A middleweights, Parma, in the winter." Your logic here is seriously flawed... Antonis played his 1st game back from long-term injury for the NYL team the day AFTER the AU game, so he's not going to be match fit for a while yet... 2. "Sydney FC are a frustrating team to watch and it is safe to say that if the Sky Blues do not win the grand final this year then Alessandro Del Piero will be out of there – which could be a blessing in disguise." Whilst I understand where you're coming from (the signing of ADP has distracted everyone from the serious problems with the way the club is run - to also imply that ADP's time at the club has been a negative thing is just plain wrong! The guy has not only done wonders for SFC (incl. things to the current players we won't see the benefit of until the coming years!), but he's been a HUGE boost for the HAL as a whole - much like Beckham was for MLS all those years ago. We may not have so many overseas greats in our league at the moment, but this is only a matter of time (again like the MLS) as his arrival legitimised our league for the rest of the football-following world and interest in it from outside our borders will grow exponentially as a result (eg: today's news about Fernando Hierro).

Nordster, obviously a poor choice of words on my part. Those teams, particularly Roar, are more than pretty good. They are playing great football and are still improving. Again, the Roar has discovered and developed some great talents that have been selected to the Socceroos etc. And what about current locals like Luke Brattan. I remember signing him as a junior for Qld Lions in 2000 and witnessed his development over the years. Why buy if you can identify and develop locals. It's quite ironic that Sydney F.C. has had so many exciting talented young players over the years, but where are they now? Dimitri Petratos is a great example. My point is, Brisbane Roar has the best team in the HAL and has done it on a budget. Why can't Sydney? Perhaps too much like hard work? And Adelaide is doing it, so are Wellington and others. Nothing like a reasonably level playing field to sort the wheat from the chaf. Spend your resources in the right areas and you'll taste success. Go Roar!

It doesn't guarantee success its just another factor. Do we want "pretty good" aka mediocre forever? Maybe we need some primo clubs as well.

You think getting 3rd rate instead of 4th rate European footballers with clubs rising and falling at the whim of their owners who would come and go like a revolving door would attract fans? How many halfway decent players would be interested in playing in a league with 5 teams and stuff all fans?

What do you want. Why should the size of your chequebook guarantee your success. Phoenix, Adelaide and Roar, to name but a few, also are restricted by the cap and they manage to put together some pretty good squads and play some damn good football. It's like in Junior football where some clubs charge a $ 1000 or more for juniors to register and supposedly guarantee a pathway to representative and national football. In that case it is ability to pay rather than ability to play. So wrong!!!!

Just say the bottom four sides in the A League suddenly all acquired above average coaches,or coaches all demonstrably superior at least, to those currently in place. I know its hypothetical, but what might be the result. Would all four teams likely find themselves in the top six, and the following season the bottom four sides follow suite and also seek to appoint a new you beaut coach. This basic, seemingly dumb question, is only trying to flesh out to what degree the the coach can be held responsible. Only one can be champion, and in the A-League the worst you can do is come tenth.

Exactly look what Poppa did with a bunch of discards....no disrespect to the guy but its a bad sign for this league if a team like that can win a Prem so fast. And im a wsw fan... Getting the best from an average bunch....look for that on the next coaches CV i guess! Its what this league is designed to be...average.... Being able to pay above the rest is what allows clubs in other leagues to improve much quicker and drag the standard of the league with it. That allows the talent to condense at fewer clubs....a positive for football standards....

"If the coach cant get the best out of the players he has then it doesnt make a difference if you pay them millions or peanuts!" Yes, look no further than Moyes for proof of that statement.

I would argue that Perth Glory is in a worse position as far as coaching goes than Sydney FC. Even watching games from when Mich D'Avray was in charge is difficult, so many long balls and a kick-it-and-hope philosophy. This is dating back to NSL season 2001-2002, dudes and dudettes! Glory has not had a truly great manager since Bernd Stange. At least Sydney FC have the titles they won under Littbarski and Lavicka, in the "new football" era Glory have absolutely nothing and will continue to have nothing until Tony Sage brings in a quality manager from Europe or South America!

Well put. The most successful teams over recent years, MV, CCM, WSW and BR all have an over-arching philosophy. Phoenix and AU are in the process of implementing similar. Heart under MCFC will follow suit. FC, Glory and Jets are basket cases.

Sydney need to: (i) Determine a club philosophy (ii) Develop a strategic plan for the implementation of this philosophy (covering a) 1st Team & coaching support (Men & Women), b) Youth Development, c) Fan & Community Engagement and d) Administration) (iii) Recruit coaches and administrators that meet this philosophy; remove those that do not. (iv) Recruit players (Senior mens, women & youth) that can adopt & support this philosophy; remove those who cannot (v) Articulate the longer term plan and philosophical back-pinnings to the fan base, community and corporate sponsors. Note: A philosophy isn't a playing style, though a style may well develop from a philosophy Вот где собака зарыта!

Look what Popa did with a bunch of 'discards'.. Mariners consistently being contenders without 'big name players'.. Roar are playing some of the best football ever seen in Australia.. If the coach cant get the best out of the players he has then it doesnt make a difference if you pay them millions or peanuts!

Those coaches who "work with what they have" are good and bad...its a quality to have for sure. They exist u would think at a lot of mid to low level clubs in o/s leagues. Maybe a good place to look for coaches for the hal. I would hope though that we also want a different type of club here as well...even if they are ambitious beyond the arbitrary basic squad cap level. Frank Farina cleaned out some of the squad but could never bring in players who were any better than the ones that left for the most part. So i guess the level playing field is "working"...replace mediocre players with more of the same. Take away the cap (and ban on transfer fees) then at least SFC coaches will be able to pick off some actual quality from around the league rather than the throwaways...which is what most recruiting in this league is. Good players are only going overseas when they should also have opportunities at bigger clubs in this league too. The internal recruiting is basically discards from other teams...or returning players from overseas. Many of which also discards.

Excellent point.

There's another kind of coach though and that is one that is able to work with what he has - see the strengths of players and put them into a system that will work to their advantage. A particular philosophy is not necessary (not saying these kind of coaches don't have one). A coach like this can do well in the particular situation that is ours in the a-league, where there are limitations. Having said that Frankie still brought in and renewed and sacked a bunch of players didn't he. It's his squad.

Thus their dilemma...want to be a big club, should be a big club...in this league as is...will never be a big club....

Sydney have never really had a long term top Coach. Butcher,( Old School) Culina ( living off NSL Glory days) Crook , nice bloke but knowledge stuck in English Football. Farina - a mixture of all the aforementioned. They need a top credentialed coach in line with a playing style and philosophy

Soooo.... Come join us in the libertarian promised land of european football ;) But no they're too unequal....no one would ever follow a football league like that.

Wearing thin...all the same...again... i am correct :) Why would i want to be an afl fan and why on earth is their situation relevant. In football we have external benchmarks to meet....level playing field be damned...

Yet i'm right though, classic or not. The thing that holds SFC back from being the super club they could be is the salary cap. How can they "recruit accordingly" when they want (need!) to be this bold, ambitious club....yet its the strayan sporting equality mentality that holds them back.