When Dylan Wenzel-Halls opened the scoring for Brisbane Roar late Saturday afternoon, things looked ominous for reigning champions Sydney FC.
The Sky Blues had been out-enthused early, would continue to be so for much of the contest and Andrew Redmayne’s clanger between the sticks was the last thing they needed.
Entering the match week in ninth and looking a far cry from the dominant force they have been in recent seasons, a good start would have been the basis of the Sydney pre-game talk.
Redmayne needs no scolding, it was a rare howler and on the balance of play Brisbane appeared the far more likely to score.
However, the shock of the moment was potentially emblematic of Sydney’s season thus far; one where things are travelling far less swimmingly than what they have become used to.
As was the next moment, one which raised a serious and obvious question for coach Steve Corica.
Wenzel-Halls’ strike had come in the 18th minute. In the 22nd, Sydney had the chance to draw level. A good chance. A very, very good chance. A seemingly unmissable chance.
As is often the case Milos Ninkovic triggered the ignition sequence for the attack, before Anthony Caceres played a key role, receiving the ball from the Serbian and sliding it through deftly, on a slight angle and perfectly into the path of Kosta Barbarouses.
It was the kind of opportunity that a 239 game A-League player with 72 career goals would and should bury with ease.
Instead, with the weakest and most unconvincing use of his right foot, Barbarouses meekly dribbled the ball directly and slowly into the bread basket of Jamie Young.
In anticipation of a strike that would be directed to a corner of his net, Young had set himself athletically for the save and the limited physical exertion he actually required to secure the ball made his effort seem somewhat overstated.
Kosta Barbarouses of Sydney (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
I’m not sure the shot stopper could believe it, nor anyone at the ground, nor Barbarouses himself, let alone stunned A-League fans at home who let out a collective, “What in the world was that?”
In isolation the moment would mean little, if anything. Yet it rubber stamped a broadly held belief that Barbarouses is well out of form, down on confidence and making things very difficult for Sydney FC to extricate themselves from the mini-slump in which they lie.
To be blunt, the 31-year-old Kiwi international stank on Saturday. When he took possession Barbarouses lost it or seemed likely to, he was caught offside lazily and offered little in terms of service to his men in the box when occupying a wide channel.
Toss in the butchering of a gilt-edged chance that could have changed the momentum of the match and potentially the outcome, and a player rating of two or three would have been a fair and justified assessment.
A minor injury to speedster Trent Buhagiar has combined with Barbarouses’ poor form to expose a disturbing truth in Sydney’s attacking stocks.
Without those two in form and buzzing around the box, it is simply far too slow.
Ninkovic continues to shine, yet Alex Baumjohann looks short of a gallop and despite the obvious aerial danger he presents to defences, Bobo certainly doesn’t add speed to Sydney’s attacking waves.
Therefore, the task of moving the ball briskly enough to threaten opposition defences lies with Ninkovic, the inconsistent Caceres, an out of form Luke Brattan and Rhyan Grant, the absent Buhagiar and Barbarouses himself.
No wonder Sydney FC are in serious trouble.
Still a clear three points from the top-six and surrounded by teams with a game in hand, Sydney FC need a circuit breaker up front. If Corica does not make the difficult call and drop one his most experienced servants for Wednesday night’s clash with Western United, he will be playing a very risky game and sending a dangerous message to others keen to grasp their opportunity.
Western United will prove a mighty challenge, a side playing confidently despite gifting the Wanderers a win with an appalling defensive error on Sunday.
If a flailing Barbarouses again produces nothing better than his recent form, United will walk away winners and journalists would be fair to ask Corica just how long he can persist with a player desperately in need of a break and a re-wiring.
Kosta Barbarouses has A-League play in his blood and no one takes satisfaction from citing his recent ponderous performances.
However, in professional football the spade must be called a spade and the coaching staff in Sydney need to make a call on a front third that is just not working; should they still have ambitions of challenging for the A-League championship this season.
Punter
Roar Rookie
There is day & night between majority of clubs finances in every country in the world of football. If you can't deal with that you will only find bitterness. My club in England doesn't have the finance of Manchester City, I have accepted that.
A League is Awesome
Guest
Come on City. It is a pretty deep squad with a very attackive style of play when everything clicks.
A League is Awesome
Guest
I don't get the richer club argument. Does Adelaide not hit their salary cap? If there was no salary cap, than sure a richer club can pull ahead. Debuting a 15 year old is a nice head line but as you mentioned a lot of the younger guys fizzle out as well. For younger guys to enter the A League up to speed, the national 2nd league has to be almost on par. NPL is still off the pace and an Academy life can only teach so much without the rigours of tough weekly competition.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Probably because half there youth teams over the past few years have been adelaide players lol
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Brilliant.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Probably won't be as dramatic as that, but hard to see another title. I'm sticking with City, been coming for a few years really. Deeeeeeeeep squad!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Has Bruce worked out who it is yet?
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
he's a chequebook managers, he cant develop young players (like a manager is supposed to do) he just buys them
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
the a league is a developmental and selling league. It always has been and always will be. the smallers clubs (central/newcastle/adelaide) develope young players and sell them on. the larger clubs (victory/sydney/city) buy older players that still have a bit of life in them and then sell them on for a profit after 1/2 good years in the a league. do you think we got rid of 13 players (the most in the a league) from last years squad because we didnt need to the money? Develope and sell that should be the a leagues motto, unfotunately melbourne missed the memo on this because they have no good kids and sydney are struggling because theyre being forced to actually play younger players for a change why have a ladder? well the point is to have relegation, so teams like central coast wouldnt finish bottom for multiple seasons because they would've been relegated years ago why even have a salary cap? it has never made the league fair like it was meant to do
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
generally you dont win anything with several players in your matchday squad under the age of 18. One week they're great, the next they're not existant. The point is you have to keep the faith in them and continually play them to improve. The salary cap was introduced to make it even for all clubs, unfortunately its never happened. The rich clubs (sydney/victory/city) just get richer, the poorer clubs (central coast/newcastle/adelaide) have to develope there own players. The a league is a selling league, maybe once transfer fees locally are introduced you might see a shift towards the smaller clubs Before the years out you'll see a 15 year old musa toure make his debut as well as ang costanzos son (dominic).
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Last 5 games. Brisbane Roar goals: 2 Goals allowed: 6
A League is Awesome
Guest
Regarding Barbarouses, its just really bad coaching expecting a midfielder to be a striker. True strikers like Fornaroli, Berisha etc have always played as a striker. You can't change the neural pathways in people's heads that have been fine tuned over decades and turn a midfielder into a striker. This is a positive as the league has become significantly more attacking in this season and if you don't have a striker or two, than you get punished. And that for Australian football is the ultimate blessing as the Socceroos have never been able to attack. Maybe the last striker was Viduka but even his football was based on an 80s, 90s style.
A League is Awesome
Guest
Victory is the perfect example.
A League is Awesome
Guest
That kind of makes sense but when there will be a second league, most of the clubs will be made of younger locals will be from Melbourne and Sydney. You also don't see many SA clubs in the final stages of the FFA Cups. If Adelaide consistently win A League Championships with a younger squad than you can say you have a club philosophy. I haven't looked into it but what was the average age of the squad that actually won the League?
A League is Awesome
Guest
Great point. You can have a window where a bunch of 30+ players may win but continuing with the same philosophy until they can't run won't continue performance. It also shows Corica inherited a great squad and philosophy and can't come up with his own as rehiring Bobo is just trying to replicate what worked for Graham. If you want to spend big bucks, buy players in the 23 to 27 range.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
disagree, one of the clubs you mentioned has always made it clear they will bring local homegrown talent through to the first team. There's a reason per population it produces the most a league players as was stated in the FA report that was released
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
where your argument fails is you have several million people opposed to 1.6 million people, of course you should have more players in all age groups representing austalia, your pool is miles bigger than south australia lol. the majority of these under age australian players dont even get a chance in your first team lol you have this fascination with beating adelaide, (much like the other posters here) and so you should. We're the form team of the comp at the moment on the longest winning streak, comfortably entrenched in the top 4 with an injury riddled squad, playing talented kids. while youre..... relying on a 36 year old to save your season
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
i didnt think you were a justin timberlake fan :laughing: and of course you reply with "get a better owner" that generally requires someone with money. There is day and night between majority of clubs finances, something you still fail to realize with comments like that
Will
Guest
Patrick Wood will come good with more opportunities given he's only 18 and still developing at this level, its almost unfair to expect him to take a large burden for Sydney's goals. Barbarouses was never a striker at Melbourne Victory, in fact he played as a right winger in Victory's 4-3-3 so expecting him to take up a large burden in front of goal is almost unrealistic. Le Fondre is not here anymore and Bobo's has just come back, it think Sydney FC will be fine as they creating enough chances in their matches. It shows not everything can go your way in football and Sydney have had plenty thats gone their way in recent seasons so this isnt a surprise.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
he was up against the best defence in the league on Saturday Stuart, what do you expect?