Sydney FC coach Steve Corica isn’t about to hit the panic button after a first A-League Men season in five without a trophy for the club in 2020-21.
The Sky Blues, back-to-back grand final winners in 2018-19 and 2019-20, were pipped to both the premiers’ plate and the championship by Melbourne City last season.
City have emerged as the biggest challengers to Sydney’s superiority in the competition, the backing of the City Football Group propelling them into the league’s elite.
While second-place on the ladder and a grand final appearance would suit most clubs just fine, Sydney FC’s expectations are just that bit higher.
Corica however doesn’t believe it will take much to topple City and regain their status as the league’s top team.
“We just fell a little bit short last year – we were only two points behind City – and if you look at that, we had a draw with them at Leichhardt Oval, if we’d won that it could’ve been a different story,” Corica told AAP.
“But they were the best team, I think, overall.
“We made it to another grand final – three in a row – but we come up short in that case as well.
“A lot of positives. We had the best defence in the league. So that’s a very good starting point for us again this season.
“We just need to score more goals than what we did last year because goals obviously bring points and if you’ve got a good defence as well, you win a lot more games.
“Towards the back end of the season, having Bobo and (Adam) Le Fondre come back into the side, we started to score a lot more regularly.”
In the spirit of evolution, not revolution, Sydney’s squad has only undergone minor alterations in the off-season.
German midfielder Alexander Baumjohann and experienced Socceroos defender Ryan McGowan are the key departures.
In their place, Corica has added Max Burgess following his troubled stint at Western United and three-time A-League grand finalist James Donachie.
Olyroo Connor O’Toole has also added depth at left-back while pacy Burundian international Elvis Kimsoba crosses the Big Blue divide following his exit from rivals Melbourne Victory.
“We didn’t need an overhaul. We finished second and we made another grand final. So we were there or thereabouts,” Corica said.
“We’ve got very good depth in the squad this season and something a little bit different which we tried to bring in with Elvis.”
The club could also potentially have been on the hunt for a new head coach with Corica linked in the off-season with a job at his former J-League club Sanfrecce in July but the 48-year-old insists he’s as committed to Sydney as ever heading into the new campaign.
“I have a year left on my contract. I don’t want to go anywhere else if I’m in Australia,” he said.
“I’m at the best club. I’ve been here since the start. I know all about it and I’m very passionate about the club and feel ambitious to win more trophies.”
At work
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately I think we'll be battling for 5th, with pressure on Coricas head by seasons end.
At work
Roar Rookie
There's a lot riding on Max Burgess, because the squad is older and we'll likely continue to play the boring build up and possession style that Corica plays. I'm actually feeling okay about Elvis Kamsoba joining as he brings energy and pace and could revitalise the style of play (when he comes off the bench - he shouldn't be starting)
At work
Roar Rookie
Technically Sydney may have finished 2 points behind City, but that's only because City basically had the league wrapped up several weeks prior. In reality City were way better than us and easily deserved to be Premiers. However that game at Leichhardt definitely could've gone the other way
Winter
Guest
Last season City had more fans than Victory towards the end of the season. This was new. But I guess 6.0 and 7.0 score line helps.
josh
Guest
They won't even make finals this season and that's a good thing.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Grem - "Van Der Saag, Niewenhoff, Buhagiar, Wood, King and Burgess get lots of minutes as they each have a great future." I think we will see more of these players through the season. The older brigade will be there of course, but the coaching staff will take every opportunity to manage and rest them on occasions throughout the season. This will be a transition season for the club I think.
Grem
Roar Rookie
One year too many for a few players - we're about to find out. Wilkinson, Bobo and Ninkovic have been great - can they perform to their high standards for one more year? Sydney really need to be looking for replacements, but if this is Corica's last year as well this may be the perfect scenario for a wonderful finish for these four and a sweep out next year with a new coach. I do hope, though, that Van Der Saag, Niewenhoff, Buhagiar, Wood, King and Burgess get lots of minutes as they each have a great future.
Waz
Roar Rookie
SFC are definitely gambling on age this season, several of their key players are 35-37 age range, but they are at least known quantities to Sydney coaching staff. Both Donachie and Elvis are pretty underwhelming signings imo, both are lucky to be starters in any ALM team and both are getting on a bit themselves - signing younger players hoping to develop them is one thing but these two fall in to “old dogs/new tricks” territory now so it will be interesting to see what their coaching staff can do with these two. This looks to be a really tough season to call. City and MacArthur should be up there, Victory and WSW will want to be up there but have they made the right signings? and SFC and Glory could easily be up top if things go their way Then Roar, Jets and Adelaide all look handy if things can click. Mariners look weaker than last year and Nix look a bit hamstrung but have a great coach (going to SFC next season maybe?) and neither should be written off. And Aloisi has pulled off some impressive signings so who knows how they’ll go? City for the title but after that a real dog fight for a finals place I recon.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Given Victory’s recent woes, and the possibility that City will become a powerhouse club, one wonders whether City can bridge the current gap in support with Victory. As a general observation, given the way the last two years have panned out, and some of the restrictions clubs are working with, impediments might be a better word, you have a situation where anything is possible, and any club is a chance to move up the table.
Chopper
Roar Rookie
No Sydney are too old to bounce. Younger more flexible teams in the A League will run them ragged and they will be lucky to reach the finals even with the East Coast Bias.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
There are going to be a lot more competitive teams for the top this year. City last season they started poorly mainly due to Kisnorbo, he had Atkinson,Galloway on the bench and didnt even put on some of his young stars in the game. Corica was unlucky that injuries forced Kisnorbo into a better line up otherwise City could have plonked on. Then City were great till the end of the season and then having won the league early they then lost some games at the end with reserves give a go. In the middle of the season City scored 49 goals in 17 games. The worrying thing for Sydney is so many teams have brought in younger players and had clear outs. City have a lot of young players to build on last season, Sydney the starting line 4 players will be 35+ and a year older than last year. Brattan is also getting on and going downhill fast with age. Barbarouses and Grant have lost a bit pace but holding up reasonably well othewise. Sydneys defense well with less old players at the start of the season Sydney were better defensively but Redmayne let some goals in. As the season went on Corica brings in Bobo then La Fondre but Redmayne regained his form.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Bounce back from being a top 2 side and coming runners up in the final? Fmd its not like they came last. More click bait about the most plastic club in Australia.