Sydney FC’s 1-1 draw with the Central Coast Mariners at Leichhardt Oval was another case of the Sky Blues doing everything right off the pitch and not a lot right on it.
How good was watching an A-League game at a packed Leichhardt?
The old ground looked a treat decked out in sky blue – and kudos to the sizeable contingent of travelling Mariners fans too – as Sydney FC proved once again that it’s possible to draw a crowd despite leading a nomadic existence.
The ground itself might not be the easiest for A-League fans to actually get to, but just about everything went right for Sydney FC on the day.
Leichhardt Oval during an NRL game. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
That is, of course, if you ignore what happened on the pitch.
And on the basis of yesterday’s performance it seems safe to say that Sydney FC won’t be winning the A-League this season.
You could just tell it was going to be one of those days for the Sky Blues when Ben Kennedy tipped a Milos Ninkovic strike onto the woodwork and the Serbian playmaker smashed the resultant rebound the wrong side of the far post.
Kennedy is hardly the most reliable goalkeeper but he was more brick wall than butter fingers in the summer sunshine.
And if it wasn’t for Sydney FC receiving what looked to be a soft penalty they would have come away from a game against the league’s bottom side with nothing.
Sydney FC fans. (Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Why is that?
It’s not as if they lack quality. So what is it about this season’s team that’s so different to previous incarnations?
Plenty of critics are starting to point the finger at rookie coach Steve Corica.
It’s true there’s been some questionable decision–making at times – taking off Danny De Silva when the midfielder was controlling the game against Brisbane Roar a fortnight ago foremost among them.
But surely it can’t all be down to the influence of the coach. Or can it?
The Sky Blues huffed and puffed against a stubborn Central Coast outfit, but after failing to break the deadlock they seemed to simply run out of steam.
Does Corica adequately motivate his players? What about his substitutions?
Steve Corica. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
I just wonder if the signing of Reza Ghoochannejhad hasn’t robbed Sydney FC of some of their equilibrium.
The Iranian is a class player – that much is obvious whenever he touches the ball – but where Sydney’s attacking play used to be funnelled through Adam le Fondre, the Sky Blues now seem to be second-guessing themselves.
Whatever the explanation, the Mariners were good value for their point.
They certainly put up more of a fight than Brisbane Roar did in their 4-0 mauling at the hands of Perth Glory on Saturday night.
Absolutely nothing has gone right for the Roar this season – the club was furious when goalkeeper Jamie Young’s three-game suspension was only reduced by a game on appeal last week – and some questions probably need to be asked of the judicial process.
This is not to imply that former Socceroos defender Alan Davidson is anything but an impartial judge, but how fair is it to ask him to adjudicate on a Match Review Panel that upholds Young’s suspension against a team for whom Davidson’s own son ends up opening the scoring?
A more professionally administered competition wouldn’t allow that sort of thing to happen.
Still, it was great to see to see another suburban stadium success story on Sunday and I have a feeling it won’t be the only boutique in use next season.
And it was nice to see a couple of A-League games this round that didn’t end up being foregone conclusions.
The top six looks fairly settled – although the Newcastle Jets might still make a late finals run – but on the basis of what we saw this weekend, there should still be some twists and turns remaining.
Jbinnie
Guest
Waz - I read somwhere recently that the seated areas at each end of QSAC are to be demolished (no doubt the fact that they are entirely made of timber and being some 40 years old nature is taking it's toll). QASC's capacity was reduced from 60,000 to 42,000 some time ago when there was another "big splash out" and another grandstand as built with a huge TV Screen mounted at one end, reducing that capacity even more ,all to cater for the huge crowds that attend athletic contests. With the relaying of running tracks and the above described "improvements it would be difficult to calculate what has been spent on this site, which seldom,if ever, is used. Cheers jb.
AGO74
Guest
Mate - I hope you do come back bigger next year as its good for our game. But right now, WSW is a shell of the former club it once was. To suggest otherwise is nonsense The mismanagement of your nomadic period has been farcical and was always going to happen once Homebush was chosen given it is an oval venue (which fans of all rectangular sports hate), cavernous (ANZ) and the vicinity itself is a massive hole. Building a new stadium will help but I wouldn't rely solely on that to get the numbers back. To rely solely on a 'build it and they will come' approach is flawed.
josh
Guest
WSW a shell ? Seen our membership numbers ? Next season you're in for a rude shock, WSW is bigger than SFC and always will be.
brisvegas
Guest
The only up-side of not having relegation is that Brisbane might as well play the young uns and give them some experience. As you say, nothing to lose.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Mike i have been in and around football fir nearly as 40 years. There are two types of players, those that are the reak deal and make things happen through genuine skill, initiative and creativity and those who want to be the former but aren't so they dodgey it. You might know them as divers. And they get worse as they get older to compensate for their age. There is no greater example of this than Alex Brosque. Yesterday was nothing more than an embarrassment to the A-League and provision of fodder to the anti-football media. Alex Brosque's "illustrious" international career speaks volumes. Two things need to occur, 1 The sooner Brosque retires the better the game will be. Play the game properly or get out it's simple. 2. The educationally challenged refs we have n3ed to be enlightened as to the effects of their actions and that FIFA is actually trying to stop this no propergate it. Yesterday was just another repeat of the situation suffered by Jason Hoffman. The game will prosper when this pro-sydney rubbishbis stomped out. I have no doubt that I am not Robinson Crusoe in my view.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
If Sydney FC signed a team of Olympic divers, they couldn't "earn" any more penalties than this lot!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Matt Simon. There’s your answer Mike. When Annie needed an extra ounce of grit to unbalance and flummox the opposition he’d send out Matt. Job done. Corica, he’s gone all culturally PC and bought some fancy pants Iranian dude who might look flash but doesn’t possess the Axe man’s straight ahead, cut through technique :)
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
T who? agree Waz - that's what I'm saying, but give Leck and Brady a go, and a few of the other academy players. Nothing to lose.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Not quite the same argument Fadida. All referees have to come from a State, unless we hire foreigners? All MRP members don’t have to be the father of a current player, that was just dumb.
Waz
Roar Rookie
6 players aged under 22 on Saturday night is a trend we’re likely to see continue. There’s not much point in doing anything else really - does anyone want to see TK given a farewell run??
Waz
Roar Rookie
QSAC is out as it’s bigger than Suncorp and PP’s 5k capacity rules that out. Dolphin Oval has a 10k capacity and is the only alternative really
jupiter53
Roar Pro
Not for me. I see no romance in being cooked senseless at 4pm on a hot Sydney day, no matter how photogenic a ground Leichhardt Oval is. Perhaps the Friday night Leichhardt game will be less miserable, but as far as I am concerned my experiences in general admission seats at the SCG, Kogarah and Leichhardt all make me want to go back to the SFS. Even if it is partly demolished - I'll bring my own seat.
oldpsyco
Guest
The Sydney FC front few have turned falling down in the box into an art-form over the last couple of seasons. Everyone knows the referees are art lovers!
Fadida
Roar Rookie
If he had great technique he'd be able to keep and pass the ball better. His passing is actually wasteful at times.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
yes, look I strongly support our academy and other youth getting a go at present, well we've got no option anyway, but let's be realistic. Darren Davies is thrown in the deep end and doesn't even have an assistant (Drew Sherman is with him on game day, but he's still the academy coach isn't he? I guess the two teams are training together, as they often do apparently). I've never worked out D'Agostino - he's willing, and works hard but has he ever been involved in a goal? Both Leck and Brady have previous A League experience and are killing them in NPL at present - give them a go, and Jay Barnett's looked good the few minutes he's had, and he's used to playing with Joe Caletti - give them midfield and let Matt McKay move back in defence, or sub him and Joe. Our defence is a sham, nothing to lose by giving our young centre-backs more game time. They look to be for the future but now's an ideal opportunity to build experience. And young Izzie at left back has shown he can handle himself. It's high risk playing too many youth, but I think they'll benefit from it, and might win us a few games.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Good luck to the Jets for that Kashima Antlers game
brisvegas
Guest
Oh I don't know about that. Apart from the result, the fact that they were outplayed all over the park in both halves and hardly had the ball in any meaningful way, I think they came close.
Will
Guest
I disagree he lacks technically, Mooy i would not call him a technician but hes an excellent passer with decent attackers around him he looks good. De Silva doesn't lack in technique, in fact, that's his strength, but he lacks physically and consistency to dominate games with more goals and assists which Mooy can do.
Will
Guest
Sounds like he's at the crossroads of his young career given where he was going after he signed with AS Roma, fast forward to now hes not where he wanted to be and now he isnt the same when he once was as a player. Its a great shame, i hope he can turn it around and start to fulfill hes potential again otherwise this is a Patafta 2.0 writen all over this.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
He seems to lack both physicality and great technique. You can survive with either one, eg Mooy technique, Leckie physicality, but he has neither. Games pass him by, and he's unable to influence them. It's those bandy little legs. And yes, I also question his mentality.