It’s a big question that just a few weeks ago would have had a much simpler answer. But suddenly, the Slovak midfielder is living up to the expectation that was put on him.
He is now Sydney’s top offensive player and has the fifth best goal-to-minute ratio of any winger in the competition. He is the eighth-highest goal scorer in the league. But is it enough to secure him his future at Sydney?
Keeping Holosko
Well, if he continues his current run of form it will be a good move for Sydney. He offers something different down the right hand side to what Bernie Ibini offered.
Statistically, Holosko has actually been the better player. He has more goals and more assists than Ibini did in his last season at Sydney.
To compare the two, seems pointless given their completely different playing styles, but given the fact many say Ibini left a hole in the right midfield, it is quite fair. Holosko has contributed more directly to Sydney’s goal scoring despite not having anywhere near the athletic ability Ibini had.
In fact Holosko has been the main source of goals for Sydney this season despite playing on the right hand side.
In fact, Shane Smeltz and Alex Brosque’s combined contribution is not equal to that of Holosko. He has the same number of goals as the two combined but two more assists.
Holosko has showed he is determined to dedicate himself to Sydney. He has said he wants to be here for at least one more season and has even rejected a national team call up in order to stay and fight with Sydney.
More than anything, his dedication should be rewarded. He has shown that Sydney is his number one priority despite being left out of the Asian Champions League side.
Mind you, should Sydney FC progress from the group stage, they may name Holosko in the Round of 16 squad.
Given his abilities shown this season, Holosko deserves another chance, though maybe not as a right midfielder. His attributes as a centre forward are outstanding and if he were paired alongside a target man style striker, the impact for Sydney could be deadly.
Two forward marquees would be possible with Alex Brosque’s spot likely to open up as he is relegated to regular player status. With this in mind, there is certainly a case to keep him in the side for the next season.
Releasing Holosko
Despite how well he has played, he has not lived up to what a marquee should be. His impact on the team has been good but when compared to Marc Janko last season as well as Aaron Mooy and Diego Castro at other clubs, he has been average.
While arguably the best player for Sydney this year, his position is not ideally suited to a marquee. Should he shift more centrally then maybe there is a case for keeping him but unless he can start to produce a higher calibre of football, his days are numbered.
His exclusion from the Asian Champions League squad does not speak of much confidence by Arnold in the player. The explanation that he was dropped to focus more on A-League wore thin for some but his recent spike in form could be proving them wrong.
Were Holosko to be paid inside the salary cap, we would be singing his praises as a great addition to the A-League.
Unfortunately, we hold our marquees in a very different light. They either have to improve the gameplay or the marketability of the side. Holosko was brought in to fulfil the former of those and that has not been what has happened.
If Holosko is to leave, Sydney need to have a serious think about the player that will replace him.
He is the only true right sided midfielder in the squad and while Christopher Naumoff has shown he can play there and play well, a proper right midfielder would be needed.
The conclusion
Give him another season. A-League football can be tricky for a foreign player as they shift their whole life over to a different country.
In all honesty, Alex Brosque has failed to live up to the marquee title placed on him for several years now and now that the club is allowed two foreign marquees, he could be a good player to have.
His most recent few games have shown how effective he can be and his final two games will be what he is judged upon the most.
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