Saturday night’s 0-0 stalemate in the Sydney Derby was the Western Sydney Wanderers’ first clean sheet of the season, which was the biggest positive from the match for coach Tony Popovic.
By contrast, though, it was the seventh clean sheet in this campaign for their neighbours in Sky Blue. Keeping their opponents scoreless was a breakthrough moment for the Wanderers; a run-of-the-mill event for Graham Arnold’s team.
Sydney’s defensive record this season is astonishing. They have conceded just seven goals in fifteen games. In the FFA Cup, they were breached only once (in the final against Melbourne City). They average just three shots conceded per game, easily the lowest in the league. So how do you score against such a mean, stingy defence?
Sydney’s defensive strategy can be broken down into two broad components. The first is their ability to press opponents high up the pitch, something Arnold constantly applauds when saying “our defence starts from the front.”
Sydney play a 4-2-3-1 formation that becomes a 4-4-2 without the ball. The front two, Alex Brosque and Bobo, form the first pressing line. Their exact starting position varies, but it is typically around the opposition’s deepest midfield player, as Sydney’s first priority defensively is to stop teams progressing the ball through central areas.
Depending on their overall tactics for a match, this first pressing line might be higher or deeper. However, the key principle – that the front two form the first line of defence, and position to force passes from the back wide – is always consistent.
To ensure the side has great horizontal compactness, the wide players, Filip Holosko and Milos Ninkovic, drop back into a position between the front two and the two central midfielders, blocking the passing lane into opposition midfielders. Often, this means they must leave the pass from opposition centre-back to full-back free and open – which is fine, because it fits into Sydney’s focus on forcing opponents wide when building up from the back.
Importantly, however, if the opposition does play a pass into the feet of a full-back, Sydney’s wingers spring into life. They press the ball aggressively, looking to force a backwards pass.
When this occurs, the entire defensive block moves forward collectively, lead by Brosque and Bobo. Sydney are unrelenting when teams pass backwards, with Brosque tireless in his efforts to maintain pressure on the ball.
Sydney will often press high based on a number of ‘triggers’ – including, but not limited to, backwards passes, poor first touches or poor passes. Regardless of the trigger, the resulting press is always collective. This means as the first pressing line moves forward, so does the rest of the defensive block, ensuring pressure on the ball is always consistent, and minimal space is conceded between the lines.
Beating this press is the first challenge of breaking down Sydney defensively. Several teams have tried in vain this season, to varying success. An interesting example was in the Sydney Derby. Popovic instructed Kearyn Baccus, one of two deep midfielders, to position himself in between Bobo and Brosque, in an attempt to separate the front two.
If Baccus could receive the ball between the two Sydney players and dribble forward, he could remove Sydney’s press from the equation, and give the Wanderers a chance to progress forward into the final third while still being in control of possession.
The problem is, even if you get into the middle third, the second component of Sydney’s defensive strategy is equally formidable. When teams have control of the ball inside the middle or front third, the wide players drop back alongside the central midfielders, and the front two drop goal side of the ball. This creates a solid defensive block.
Crucially, the defensive effort is still collective. If the ball shifts wide, the whole team shifts with it. If a central midfielder steps forward to close down an opponent, the players behind him squeeze horizontally and reduce the space. It is an extremely well-oiled machine.
This has been a hallmark of Arnold’s teams, including the 2012 Championship-winning Central Coast Mariners. Interestingly, however, this current Sydney team is more aggressive in trying to win the ball back. For example, Arnold encourages the full-backs to step up quickly to try and intercept passes into opposition wingers.
This was obvious in the Derby, when Rhyan Grant ran into some trouble with the referee when trying to rob Jaushua Sotirio of the ball from behind. While Grant has defended well in this manner throughout the season, it is a possible route of attack for opponents.
Drawing the Sydney full-backs up the pitch can create attacking possibilities elsewhere. Typically, if the full-back is beaten, and the ball progresses into a wide area of the front third, the nearest centre-back will not move out from the middle to pressure the player on the ball.
Rather, this is the responsibility of the nearest central midfielder, who shifts wide. This is because all of Sydney’s centre-backs are very strong in the air. They would prefer to invite aerial crosses into the middle rather than move out wide, risk being exposed in a one-on-one situation and leaving their other centre-back vulnerable in the penalty box.
The trick for Sydney’s opponents then, is to find a way to get in behind the full-back, then resist the temptation to cross into the middle. Rather, they should try and draw the midfielder out wide, then potentially attack the space vacated with a cut-back in front of the centre-backs.
As with all of the best-laid plans, though, this is one that sounds straightforward in theory, but difficult in practice. The real beauty of Sydney’s defensive system is simply how hard every player works. It is a real disciplined, collective effort, in a structured and organised unit.
Needles
Guest
Yes I agree. They are great when attacking from a turnover knowing that they have the skill. Refreshing change from the past years
Needles
Guest
No need to worry. We'll most likely see them play again in the final, hopefully at Moore Park
Arto
Guest
Maybe you weren't including the Derby as an 'away' game as such and as it'll be in Sydney I guess that's fair enough, but playing at ANZ is different to playing at Allianz - especially if WSW's drop in crowds continues - I can't see another 60K crowd for that match happening unless they start improving their performances and winning games... As for your analysis of the run in, I beg to differ on the outcomes... AU at home tomorrow is arguably the easiest although Nix don't travel too well. The OZ Day game is definitely the hardest, but historically we've done ok on that day with a win (5-0), 2 draws and a loss (1-3) in the past 5 years... Brisbane will also be tough, but judging on our earlier visit this season (& current form) it's more likely to be a win for us than for BR. Nix, as I said don't travel well, so I expect 3pts there. The Derby is a law unto itself, but it's over 3 yrs since our last loss in that game and we could have won the last gameagainst them too. City away and MV at home are fairly far ahead and who knows what can happen in between now and then in terms of injuries and suspensions so I'd say their both 50-50 and getting either 2 draws or 1 win& 1 loss would be more than acceptable from those 2 fixtures...
Arto
Guest
I think luck evens out over the course of the season and to a certain extent, one makes one's own luck as well so whilst I definitely agree that they have been lucky in games, they are clearly the best team in the league (along with MV) and whilst MC may have been able to hold their own against SFC this season, look at the other games they have played like tonight's turgid affair against CCM as a prime example - SFC won their home fixture against CCM 4-1 against 11 men! As for Perth, they lack pace in the middle of the park and therefore struggle when the ball moves quickly so when Castro is either marked out of the game or has a bad day, then they are a fairly ordinary side as their league position suggests...
Arto
Guest
@ Mister Football: Sorry, but I think your analysis is a bit too simplistic - essentially you are saying that if everyone parks the bus against SFC then they will beat SFC (or at least won't get beaten by them)! Yes, it's easier to play a defensive (destructive/anti-football?) style than it is to play beautiful attacking football, but to win you have to score and at some point the will to win has to kick in to the extent that parking the bus isn't enough. Also, to suggest that it's the conditions of the league that force teams to play a style of football they aren't good enough to play is a pretty long bow to draw - I doubt any of the coaches of the "weaker" teams (apart from CCM's previous coach) say that they only care about playing beautiful football and don't care if they lose trying to play it! Of course everyone wants to play attractive attacking football, but you have to cut your cloth to the shape you've got in order to look good. In actual fact, by your logic the opposite should be happening as coaches have relatively low job security and and there isn't an awful lot of opportunities so therefore it stands to the same reasoning then that they would be going for the win at all costs and couldn't give shit about being entertaining or not! I think the situation is more nuanced than you make it out to be and therefore it's a testament to what SFC have achieved rather than a failing of the other teams to play cynical enough football that has SFC so far out in front - it also stands to reason by your logic that conceeding such a small amount of goals should happen fairly often as that's the 'obvious' way to beat teams.
Arto
Guest
100% agree with you!
Arto
Guest
Ahh, seen in that light then yes, I can see your point quite easily now! Apologies for the misunderstanding! :-)
Nemesis
Guest
Arto, you make good points. In no way was I suggesting other teams have better Back 4s. However, from what I see, Sydney's low goals conceded is largely due to Vukovic and very strong work by the midfield & even the attackers to stop supply. If fact, I'd say the Back 4 for Sydney are the least impressive unit of Sydney FC's structure. Vukovic & the midfielders are the key. Plus the attackers have been extremely clinical with finishing - albeit they've been less clinical in recent weeks.
Arto
Guest
@ Nemesis & jupiter 53: A bit of a tough call to say the back 4 is nothing special. Let's make a comparison with the other 3 sides in the Top 4, shall we in order to get a bit of perspective... MV - Geria, Ansell, Baro, Broxham (last game vs Nix - vs. BR, Baro was suspended so Donachie played & vs AU, Doncahie played instead of Ansell) Geria & Zullo have been the best 2 performing LBs in the comp, so even match-up there. The Jurman/Wilkinson combo is at least as good as any of the combinations MV have used in the last 3 games, Broxham is a better DM than RB and whilst admittedly it's a bit of fantasy/hysteria Grant has been nominated by some as earning a Socceroos call-up (he is a former U-23 & U-20 player for Aus) so I'd suggest SFC's back 4 is slightly better. MC - Colazzo, Jakobsen, Malik, Franjic (Tongyik has played in 2 of the last 3 matches, but that's all the exp he has in the A-League. Josh Rose could arguably play LB instead of Colazzo, but Colazzo seems to be the current first-choice) As mentioned above, Zullo has been the best LB season (with Geria) and is also a former Socceroo, whereas Colazzo is more of an attacking player than defender and Rose's best years are behind him so it's fair to say Zullo wins that battle. Jakobsen has been a revelation for MC and a major reason why they have done well so far, but Malik is too inconsistent and has defensive lapses too often so whlilst one might argue Jakobsen is better than both Jurman and Wilkinson, SFC's CB combination is better overall. Whilst Franjic has had his moments this season, he has been disrupted by the serious injury he had in pre-season and hasn't hit top form so far so despite him being a better RB than Grant on paper, Grant also wins this battle based upon form and performance. And last but not least, BR - Brown, North, De Vere, Hingert (this 4 has started every A-League game this season) Zullo is a better LB than Brown and only BR fans would probably argue otherwise. North is a good defender, but this hasn't been his best season, Jurman has arguably played as well as last season where he won all the player awards available at SFC, therefore I'd say Jurman has been the better CB this season. De Vere has been one of the league's best CBs this season and like Grant has also been mentioned in Socceroos terms, so whilst Wilkinson has been terriffic too, I'll put De Vere ahead slightly in that battle and call the CB-combo match-up even. Then finally to Hingert and he's in the same situation as his RB counterpart in that he matches up against arguably the the best RB in the A-League this season so he too must also lose that match-up. Therefore I'd suggest that whilst SFC's back-4 isn't necessarily full of flashy names, they are pretty much THE BEST back-4 this season and I'd really like to know which team has a better back-4 and if people still want to say they "aren't that special", so please define your definition(s) of special to back up that claim... Cheers, a SFC-fan! :-)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Hi men, been away and just got back to Sydney. Absorb and explode with speed. Simple tactic. Happy to turn it over in offence yet never in own third. Press well, turn over and then explode. Its very predictable, very Arnie, yet difficult to stop if you have the skill to create scoring opportunities. Loving watching them play this year, other sides looking good with it, yet Sydney looking dangerous when the turn over occurs. Victory blew a big chance tuesday. Glad to be back with internet connection.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
As I intimate above, if half of the teams are trying to play possession-based game, building from the back, etc, and if they are ill-equipped to play in such a manner, what will the smart teams do? (like SFC and MV) - sweat on them, turn it over in the opposition half, one or two passes, goal opportunity. Absolutely nothing is more efficient than that in those sorts of circumstances.
pacman
Guest
Great history SN & jb. Impossible to include all the great wingers, but one who comes to mind, rated by some highly qualified observers as better than Matthews or Finney, is John Robertson of Nottingham Forest in their heyday. Whilst managed by Brian Cough, John Robertson was irrepressible. Before and after, another story. Nevertheless, for two years Robertson was the dominant winger in European football.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Fair comment
Squizz
Guest
Arnold has basically re-created structurally his Championship side from CCM including most of the coaching staff.
punter
Guest
Yes exactly. SFC is top of the table. I have seen every SFC game & with a bias eye, the only time I feel we were lucky was without doubt Nix in NZ.
j binnie
Guest
Square N -Thanks for the link, obviously written with an English newspaper n mind but can't say I disagree with most of the choices. In his discussion he mentions 2 Scottish wingers Jimmy and Willie Johstone and I think he has made an error there, the two great wingers of Celtic and Rangers were Jimmy Johnstone and Willie HENDERSON, both magicians with the ball at their feet. Back to the 10. I have been lucky enough to see some of them play,,Garrincha ,Best, Mathews, Finney and of course Gento,but one of the best I ever saw play was a Swede, Kurt Hamrin, who, as an out and out winger played most of his football in the Serie A and I believe he is among the top 8 goalscorers EVER in Italian football.What does that tell you when we remember some great strikers in Italy. He played for Fiorentina and other top sides but his record speaks louder than words, In a career spanning 20 years he played 472 top class games and scored 244 goals which is better than 1 goal every 2 matches. He kept up the same average with Sweden ,playing 32 times and scoring 17 goals. That included a World Cup final v Germany.Thanks for the memories. Cheers jb.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
@ Franko, it may be that some on this site just like the FFA and some Foxsports commentators, (both of whom are blatantly biased towards the Melbourne teams), aren't interested in publicising anything to do with last nights spanking........especially after M.V. spending their persuasion on the FFA/MRP to sit down early, over the weekend so as to allow Berisha's Red Card to be rescinded so he can travel with his team mates. Suppose there's only so much zipper action from Kevin Muscat the footballing public can put up with, lol.
Nemesis
Guest
We'll have the answer by the start of March. Lots of football to be played between now and then. Nix may finish top of the Table, just to annoy Bozza.
punter
Guest
They won't lose in Melbourne!!! Victory lost to Nix & City lost to CCM. SFC has the player in the League in Ninkovic.
marron
Guest
One thing I was disappointed about re: Popa was not putting more pressure on Grant especially after his yellow. But then, this comes down to his coaching style - plan A plan A plan A.