The Asian Champions League remains something of a conundrum for A-League clubs.
We know Australian teams are capable of having a significant impact on the tournament, best evidenced by Western Sydney’s winning campaign, but there is also a library of failures – most recently Brisbane Roar’s farcical defeat to Filipino side Ceres-Negros.
Competing in Asia brings with it a host of new challenges, including extensive travel, a large increase in matches played, changes to squad rules and unique conditioning requirements. It is a traditional theme that teams who do well in Asia, do poorly in Australia (and vice versa) simply because it’s difficult for Aussie clubs to avoid putting all their eggs in one basket, or spreading them too thinly between two.
However, there was great optimism about Sydney FC’s chances in this year’s campaign.
Graham Arnold’s team are one of, if not the best, team in A-League history, shattering records through near-unprecedented undefeated runs. The players are phenomenally talented, they are tactically excellent, prepared brilliantly physically, and have a superb team culture. It appeared like guaranteed success in Asia.
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Yet the defeat to Suwon Bluewings has been a nasty reality check for fans who may have felt their success would transfer easily to continental competition.
While you have to avoid the temptation of getting carried away with the result of one game, given the quality of teams in Sydney’s group, defeat at home to a team still in pre-season is a big blow.
How did Suwon crack the Sydney enigma? The major caveat is that the quality of individual players in the South Korean side was simply better compared to the average local player, which can be attributed to better financial health, but also the result of superior youth development structures and player recruitment.
The key factor, though, was their superb organisation. It was immediately obvious from the kick-off that they had a clear gameplan, and that each player understood their role.
Sadly, this is not consistent in the A-League, where teams such as Perth Glory rely on quality individual skills to mask a lack of tactical purpose. By contrast, Suwon had a plan to defend against Sydney’s strengths, and attack against their weaknesses.
Without the ball, Suwon defended in a 5-4-1 formation, which sometimes changed into a 5-2-3. The wide players in the first line defended narrow, blocking passes into the ‘half spaces’ – the area of the pitch between the centre and the wing, where Sydney’s playmakers Milos Ninkovic and Adrian Mierzejewski primarily operate.
If the winger decided to step forward and press Sydney’s centre-backs or fullback, the nearest central midfielder would slide across to cover the pass into a Ninkovic or Mierzejewski – and, if by any chance this was bypassed, and the playmakers got the ball, the wing-backs closed them down aggressively, preventing them from facing forward.
As a result, the foreigners were starved of the ball in their usual dangerous attacking zones and were forced to drop in front of Suwon’s defensive lines to get possession facing forward. Suwon adjusted even to this, bringing their lines up the pitch while pressing the ball to ensure they stayed compact, and didn’t allow the playmakers time and space to play penetrating forward passes.
As usual, to create a free man in the attacking third, Sydney’s double 6s made rotations into wide areas and in between the centre-backs. Suwon allowed Josh Brillante and Brandon O’Neill to move in front, focused on knocking out passing lanes into the playmakers behind them – but importantly, the front three put pressure on the central midfielders from behind. Brillante and O’Neill simply weren’t allowed to find a rhythm, so they couldn’t set the attacking tempo as usual.
Suwon’s use of wing-backs was also important. As Sydney’s wide players move infield, with the fullbacks Michael Zullo and Luke Wilkshire solely responsible for providing width, the K-League side was able to leave their wing-backs one-on-one against their direct opponent. Suwon’s wing-backs got high up the pitch, nullifying the Sky Blues’ usual overlapping threat.
Going forward, this was also crucial. As the Sydney fullbacks were both occupied with a wing-back, it meant Suwon had a striker and two wingers up against the two centre-backs, creating offensive overloads. There was also an overload at the back, where the Suwon back three could spread out across the width of the pitch and outnumber Sydney’s first pressing line three-on-two – so they could circulate the ball comfortably, waiting for the opportunity to play forward into the aforementioned attacking overload.
This point of explaining this tactical nuance is to demonstrate how Sydney was challenged against a well-organised team, which is not a weekly occurrence in the domestic competition. The teams that have done well against Sydney (Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets) have developed a clear strategy based on detailed opposition analysis.
Top-level football is increasingly about finding tactical solutions to the problems posed by the opposition’s strategy. While this culture is prevalent in the A-League, it’s not to the level of sophistication that Suwon demonstrated at Allianz Stadium.
It was obvious that Sydney was suddenly out of their comfort zone, having to find different solutions beyond those which have proven trustworthy over the past two seasons. Ultimately, that could become a positive.
Arnold’s team will have to adapt quickly, and a great test of the claims of being the best A-League team ever. Meanwhile, other Aussie clubs may challenge themselves to raise the bar, so that local football as a whole can reach a point where we consistently compete in Asia, not sporadically.
Will
Guest
Great piece, explains the problems aussie teams go through in the ACL. In the ACL teams would have little time on the ball, although last nights game was fantastic especially in the first half given how open it was the second half was more closed off, the attacking quality of the opposition is something Sydney FC are not accustomed too every day.
That A-League Fan
Roar Guru
Good piece. Shows that putting 5 at the back doesn’t mean a team is parking the bus!
Paul
Guest
Agree. Methinks a failure will mean a rethink for the national team job.
Waz
Guest
I’m confused? Who was “out thought , out played and out coached”?
JimmyJax
Guest
Useful analysis- I had the misfortune of sitting near a “Rugby type” at the game who was bemoaning that “nothing ever happens in soccer”. I should refer him to this analysis. My take on the night was one of disappointment - fc were out thought , out played and out coached and there wasn’t any consolation that it was a teachable moment for young Aussies coz Arnold doesn’t play them!
Onside
Guest
I enjoyed watching a match that was different in style to our ten team HAL . I wonder in time, if the inclusion of 4 more teams might create different styles of play and tactics, especially when also married to a less restrictive salary cap . It occurred me the game may have helped opposition HAL coaches see a way to defeat Sydney . Watching the ACL always reminds me of Western Sydney Wanderers victory that in my opinion rates as one the greatest achievements ever in Australian sporting history.
Kris
Guest
And it is good to see some of them getting a game - although many seem to get picked only reluctantly by their managers and sent straight back to the bench at the first chance. It is just frustrating when Adelaide imports a guy from the Swiss 2nd division which probably sends a Blackwood back to the bench ... and don't get me started on Mills spudding-up and down the Perth touchline.
apaway
Roar Guru
With respect, I don't think Sydney FC's domestic success has anything to do with 50-50 calls and niggling fouls. It has been built on a consistency and understanding that stems very much from the link play of O'Neill and Brillante, and is underscored by the ability of Zullo and Wilkshire to attack and defend with equal consistency. Against the best in the A-League, they are a cut above, especially with Bobo's goals and Adrian's magic. Quite simply, the ACL is another step-up in class. Central Coast Mariners - of all teams - showed that strict adherence to a game plan can unsettle the reigning champions. I agree with other posts that Arnold now needs to devise a strategy to overcome a tactical opposition who stifle Sydney's first-choice game-plan. Given the leaving out of Buijs, it may be difficult, but a switch to a 3-4-3 with more emphasisi on pushing Zullo and Wilkshire higher might have been an effective Plan B against Suwon.
Nemesis
Guest
Yet, MVFC were not monstered by Ulsan in the opening match & Ulsan finished 6pts above Suwon last season. Also, SydFC finished Top of their Group in 2016, the K-League team finished bottom. And, that was an inferior SydFC Team in 2016 compared to the 2018 version of SydFC.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
We were monstered against Suwon. My naive impressions on the night were that Suwon were generally physically quicker and stronger than most A League players, and that they moved the ball much quicker than any current A League team. They seemed very well organised in both attack and defence. Tim's analysis makes the mechanism of the defeat more comprehensible. It will be fascinating tonight to see if Arnie and the players can respond effectively.
Kangajets
Guest
What Suwon did the other night was not rocket science. Block fc’s passing channels, deny playmakers space and stop forward movement from the back. That’s the key to stopping most teams , it’s the execution of that plan which relies on the collective ability of a team or some individual errors . The remaining 5 games and what Sydney FC achieve will mark them as great or just very good Be interesting to watch .
Waz
Guest
There’s only SFC and lately Roar putting old teams out. The rest have decent youth contingents right
Waz
Guest
I’d say give Arnie a couple more games to see what he can do tactically before jumping to conclusions, certainly a lot was expected from SFC in this ACL and they fell down last week but still too soon to judge. The performance tonight will say a lot.
Football is Life
Guest
Kris I have question your statement about being 30 or older. You only need to look at Adelaide. They constantly garner my respect with the likes of Izzo Mileusnic Strain etc. Around the league you have young Singh at Wellington Arzani at City Geria Theoharous Ingham and Deng at Victory Petratos Nabbout Jackson at Newy Da Silva at Coasties Ikonomides at Wanderers etc etc. And that'sa only a few of them
Realfootball
Guest
Good post, AG. But I do think the A League has been slipping backwards in terms of playing standards for the past 2-3 seasons.
Nemesis
Guest
Don't forget AUFC also qualified for the Final of the ACL in 2008. So, in the previous 11 ACL tournaments, ALeague teams have made 2 ACL Finals And, AUFC also made the QF in 2012. The missed a spot in the Semi Final losing to a goal in the 104' of Extra Time. And we've now had 5 teams make the Ro16 level: 2009: Jets (even though they ended up bottom of the ALeague in 2008/09) 2010: AUFC 2013: CCM 2016: SydFC, MVFC So, it's certainly not as bad as people make out. Sydney FC finished top of their Group in 2016. MVFC finished 2nd above the KLeague & JLeague teams.
chris
Guest
No of course it wasn't a one off. They've had a number of below par performances this season. And no doubt they will have a few more. At their best they are capable of playing football at a very high level. What Suwon did the other night was not rocket science. Block fc's passing channels, deny playmakers space and stop forward movement from the back. And they did all those things really really well.
AGO74
Guest
You are probably right with the UCL comparison. Some of the same teams in UCL compete year after year but are never truly challengers. And this applies to a-league in last 10 years not just Sydney fc this season (save for wanderers miracle run to win comp which was largely atttibutable to amongst other things parking the bus). This 10 year performance Is more or less a reflection on average of where our competition is when compared to our asian neighbours.
Kris
Guest
They might be well prepared physically but it seems to be compulsory to be 30yo before an A-League coach will put you on the park. Suwan rang rings around Sydney and exposed the lack of athleticism. It gets even more pronounced when the opposition has a good first touch and can actually pass the ball. Now they are moving both themselves and the ball faster than you. When Arnold needed to inject some life into his team to chase the game and could only look to Carney and Simon it pretty much shows how lacking in athleticism our veteran's league is. Perhaps the A-League needs to tweek some rules to reserve 2 of the import spots for players under 26? Summer football and all-veteran line-ups tends to promote a fairly ponderous brand of football.
Football is Life
Guest
It's plain to see that Sydney were out of their depth last week therefore therefore the question that needs to be tabled is " if Arnold cannot adjust from Club to ACL level how the heck is he going to cope at international level. And yes Australian clubs are simply out-funded