The mediocre performance dished up by the once great Sydney FC in the opening round of the A-League Men’s competition last Saturday night has Sky Blue fans frustrated and concerned recent past is set to be replicated in 2023/24.
There does appear to be something fundamentally wrong in the harbour city, with years of dominance and success followed by two disappointing recent campaigns.
The obvious frailties in the squad were once again exposed on Saturday night, this time by a professional Victory outfit that frankly, could have added a few more goals to its haul with a little luck.
But for Englishman Joe Lolley, Sydney looked completely outplayed and the cheers of the Victory fans chorused with many other throngs around the nation, as the team in the lighter blue continued its struggles.
Some would argue that the competition looks far better for it.
After looking unlikely to even qualify for the finals at the midway point of the 2022/23 season, opposition fans were salivating at the thought of a second consecutive top six knock out campaign without the perennial contenders’ presence.
Melbourne Victory’s Bruno Fornaroli celebrates a goal against Sydney FC. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
Steve Corica’s men did manage a rally late in the season and even snuck past the Wanderers to start the finals, before being reminded just how average they were by Melbourne City, who spanked them 5-1 on aggregate across the two-legged semi-final.
That fade-out came off the back of another weak campaign the season earlier, where just eight wins saw the Sky Blues finish in eighth place and miss the finals by a whopping eight points.
A year earlier, Sydney were beaten well in the Grand Final by Melbourne City, yet the final 3-1 margin did not appear to foretell a long term demise.
Who would have thought that following two championship years immediately after taking the reins at Australia’s winningest club in 2018, Corica would enter 2023/24 with a weight of pressure on his back and a need to turn things around quickly.
In a nutshell, Sydney look a little terrible and have done so for some time.
The goal-scoring presences of Adam Le Fondre and Brazilian Bobo seemed to keep the Sky Blues heads above water, as many questioned the club’s lack of emphasis on the replenishment of talent via the enormous pool of players at its disposal.
Watching Luke Ivanovic and Tom Heward-Belle across the weekend during the opening round was a distinct reminder that Sydney does indeed have access to quality youth.
However, as a traditionally older and experienced team; one sent into battle to win titles and little else, was also the reminder that blending youth and experience is essential to crafting long term success.
The presence of Rhyan Grant, Anthony Caceres, Andrew Redmayne and Luke Brattan enunciates the point clearly, as does the presence of Lolley and Robert Mak, both very good players well past the age 30 mark.
Sydney FC Manager Steve Corica. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Many a promising junior has been let go, and as the local products such as Patrick Wood, Jaiden Kucharski and Jake Girwood-Reich continue to struggle to demand regular first team selection, the need to look elsewhere for players such as Jordan Courtney-Perkins has the Sydney fans as little miffed.
As does the recruitment policy that brought Brazilians Fabio Gomes and Gabriel Lacerda to the club; two signings that look somewhat questionable after a month or two in Sky Blue.
Right across the league, young talent from the nation’s most populated city are enjoying the benefits of heading to greener pastures, where the limits on match minutes experienced in Sydney simply do not exist.
Sydney FC appear to have gotten that crucial balance wrong over the last few seasons under Corica and if the start of the 2023/24 league campaign was anything to go by, they may well be facing another difficult task in terms of qualifying for the finals.
If that is the case, Corica must be held accountable and that reality was etched on his face as the final minutes ticked down on Saturday night during the Big Blue.
I think he knows his squad is simply not at the standard of a few others and that he is in trouble come midseason.
If Sydney FC turn the last two seasons around and make the top four, all credit to them. If they don’t, the recruitment and retention decisions made, with Corica instrumental in them, should see someone held accountable.
After a wonderful honeymoon period, Steve Corica has his greatest challenge ahead of him this season.
JoshW
Roar Rookie
Yes. When it comes to fan days etc. Not recruiting (yet). Sydney don't venture past the inner west and Wanderers aren't allowed near Campbelltown anymore. SFC have some kind of deal with Bonnyrigg High School too, don't know too much about it but they've managed to get around these borders the FA put up.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I don’t think Glover’s a Socceroos keeper either. I think we need to look further and harder. We need to find a keeper who saves the easy ones, pulls of some spectacular ones and doesn’t make errors. It’s a shame Jamie Young is not young.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It was an iconic moment and will be Rene for a long time. Maybe Ryan would have saved 2? Who knows? He’s a decent keeper and I’m happy to see him continue at Sydney FC, but I don’t think he’s good enough for the Socceroos.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
yeah, that annoys me Grem. Would it not be smart to give Tommy G or Redders a game instead of just Ryan game in game out. How are your 2nd and 3rd keepers supposed to become normalised to international football if you don't give me a chance. Yeah Arnold's the boss, but I would suggest that Muelensteen is the brains in the outfit now, and you couple him with Talay. That's couple of really sharp football brains.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I have to agree that Redmayne is a good keeper and off the pitch a brilliant role model. But imagine if Sydney had a Gaffer, either Australian or International who had overseas experience, who knew how to foster talent and keep it in the club, strike me, Sydney would be a strong outfit for sure.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
some of the fools on here purport to be football knowledgeable, but I guess that's why we call them 'some of the fools"
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Your club bleeds talented youth like a fire hose. That's the first sign of issues. Your Gaffer has no overseas experience. Your Gaffer relies on the old boys. You compare your squad to that of e.g. Adelaide or WU. Much younger squads and yet holding their own. And when Sydney's old boys are retired and forgotten about, those Adelaide lads will still be playing fine football. It's one thing to knock over a bunch of NPL teams and scrape past Coasties at the last minute, it's another thing to go up against the likes of Victory, City, WU, Adelaide and Wanderers. We'll see how Sydney are tracking about March, April.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Grem there's something else we have in common. We both want to see the back end of Corica. Not only is he relying on a bunch of veritable geriatrics to get him to glory, his behaviour is unconscionable.
Grem
Roar Rookie
No apologies needed. I’m not a Corica fan. I haven’t been sure about his impact and that was even when they won 2 premierships.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I reckon Rudan's gone next season. Wanderers management surely know they could go up a notch on the Gaffer scale
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
G'day lads, i wanted to comment on this article yesterday. I will cut to the chase with this one. Ufuk Talay - Spent time in the Turkish Superliga learning from some serious Gaffers. Ange Postecoglou - Lived on the poverty line to spend time at Arsenal to learn all he could. Pat Kisnorbo after he retired learning at QPR and Hull if I am not wrong, Tony Popovic, post-retirement spent time at Palace learning the trade, even Graham Arnold has engaged with Man Utd consistently to learn the skills of a high quality Gaffer. Now ask yourself, what has Corica done. Grem, I am sorry mate, but the honest truth is that Corica has done bugger all, but I might be wrong. Any football club that is bleeding as much young talent as Sydney has and is, would have alarm bells ringing and lights flashing, but not Sydney. The Gaffer relies wholly and solely on the old boys. To be honest, even Fornaroli, at 36 years of age out ran some of the Sydney players. I know it's the first game of the season but struth, when Melbourne is bringing on the likes of Folami and Ikonomidis as late replacements, there was an obvious disparity from where I am sitting. Sydney would be a far better club if they had nabbed Talay. But he's now ensconced in the National Team set up, and they'll only be stronger for his presence. In a way, I feel for Sydney, there's someone at the top who's looking after there mate in my opinion. They could do so much better when it comes to a Gaffer, and more importantly, they could get themselves a Gaffer that would address the obvious haemorrhaging of highly talented youth. And it's the young lads who are really making their mark these days. Just look at Adelaide last Friday night.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Why? Some of the fools on here didnt want Australia to make the world cup so they could get Arnold sacked and put in a stool pigeon they could then use to cap players they wanted to sell, Redmayne did the job if they didnt have him maybe it would have been Peru.
Grem
Roar Rookie
The money’s in and I can guarantee they’ll all be at the next home game.
Grem
Roar Rookie
He is definitely a nice guy and a decent keeper. He should not be a Socceroos 2nd or 3rd choice though.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Peace out Chris!
338
Roar Rookie
:laughing: ‘if roar had a striker’…we seem to have been saying it every year since Bes left!! Agree roar were all over them in the first half, then Sydney had quality to burn and they did what was required.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
How's those 20k SFC members going? Will they ever show up to a game?
Punter
Roar Rookie
Sydney was so disappointing on Saturday night, Coricaout.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I fully understand. Sydney would go close to making a decent A Leagues team themselves from the players who have been released over the years. You can add in Cam Devlin, Callum Talbot and even Max Burgess, who they were able to get back. A few such as Teague, Pepuion, Yazbeck we’re at least sold
Buddy
Roar Rookie
You won’t be seeing me anywhere near the ground whilst he is in charge of things.