Tag: Sydney FC

Summer of Discontent in Australia’s A-League

“In the nine months since we launched Northern Pitch, we’ve received attention not just from Minnesota or the United States, but across the world. Among them was @sydneyfcinsider, (aka “John Smith”) an Australian fan and blogger, who chimed in occasionally on Minnesota news, from the latest on Tiago Calvano (a former Sydney FC player) to the success of Miguel Ibarra.

Recently, some major news about Australia’s soccer scene made its way to our shores, and so we turned to our Aussie readership of one to make some sense of it all.”

Read the full, original post on Northern Pitch.

John Smith – Sydney Tribune Chief Football Analyst

Why Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory?

Arnie in the SMH.

“We’re the team that represents Sydney, they’re still the team that represents Melbourne, and both cities think they’re the country’s best. That’s why this is elevated above.”

John Smith – Sydney Tribune Chief Football Analyst

Friday Night Lights: Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar Preview

Sydney FC Squad: 1. Vedran JANJETOVIC (GK), 2. Seb RYALL, 3. Alex GERSBACH, 5. Matt JURMAN, 7. Andrew HOOLE, 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 11. Christopher NAUMOFF, 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 14. Alex BROSQUE (c), 18. Matt SIMON, 19. Jacques FATY, 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (GK), 21. Filip HOLOSKO, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 24. George BLACKWOOD, 27. Mickael TAVARES. **Two to be omitted**

Ins: 10. Milos NINKOVIC (promoted), 24. George BLACKWOOD (promoted)

Outs: nil

Unavailable: 22. Ali ABBAS (knee — indefinite)

Ideal Lineup:
———Janjetovic
–Ryall–Faty–Jurman–Grant
——-O’Neil–Tavares
–Holosko–Ninkovic–Brosque
———-Simon

Necevski
Grant
Dimitrijevic
Naumoff
Simon

Selection Conundrums:

How do you manage Smelt’z form slump?

Do you start Matt Simon?

While Sydney FC have a few manageable selection issues elsewhere, these are the big questions that stand out. The days of the mainstay marquee striker in Marc Janko are long gone and an ageing, out of form Smeltz sees his position possibly up for grabs. Yes Smeltz scored last week, but he was still largely invisible throughout large majorities of the match. Reward performances Arnie and make the change. Matt Simon is never going to be more motivated than now.

With Hoole, Naumoff and Blackwood fighting for what looks like a single bench spot, your alternative could be to play Holosko at number 9 to open up an extra spot? Unfair on Simon after last week, but he knows he is a role player and not a long term solution to an out of form Smeltz. It wont happen this week, but Holosko’s versatility is an option worth discussing.

I would however like to see Arnie pull the trigger and start Tavares ahead of Dimitrijevic. Tavares has looked the goods off the bench, while the guile of the Brisbane midfield could see us needing the extra cover that he provides.

Finally from a tactical point of view, the left side is still open for the debate. Gersbach’s attacking talents far outweigh those of Grant, but the opposite can be said in defence. I have been pleasantly surprised by the fitness and work rate of Brosque who I can’t remember ever running more than he has to start the season, so for me Grant gets the nod from the start but this is my tactical talking point.

Brisbane Roar FC Squad: 3. Shane STEFANUTTO, 5. Corey BROWN, 7. CORONA, 8. Steven LUSTICA, 9. Jamie MACLAREN, 12. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 13. Jade NORTH, 14. Daniel BOWLES, 15. James DONACHIE, 16. Devante CLUT, 17. Matt McKAY (c), 19. Jack HINGERT, 21. Jamie YOUNG (GK), 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Dimitri PETRATOS, 28. Brandon BORRELLO, 36. Andre JANNESE (GK). **One to be omitted**

Ins: 12. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO (return from injury), 15. James DONACHIE (return from injury)

Outs: 20. Shannon BRADY (not considered)

Unavailable: 1. Michael THEO (GK) (quad strain — 1 week), 10. HENRIQUE (knee ACL reconstruction — 2-4 weeks), 33. Luke DE VERE (quad — 4-6 weeks)

weird

Browsing through some old Sydney v Brisbane images and I came across this. For someone that won championships for the club, how strange does Berisha look in Orange! He’s definitely found a home with the Tards.

Bosschaart says hi.

John Smith – Sydney Tribune Chief Football Analyst

The Story that is Matt Simon

They say that sport is the greatest drama theatre of all and Matt Simon delivering against his former club was better than any movie, drama or show on offer. Reality TV? This is reality.

Matt Simon. The Central Coast Mariners’ all time leading goal scorer. One time club pin up boy. Local junior. Bled yellow for the club and the area that the club represented.

But after missing the whole of last pre-season for personal reasons followed by an injury riddled season where he fell out of favour toward the end of the season, the club informed Simon that he would be released at the end of the year.

Simon was devastated. Even offering to play for his hometown club on minimum wage just so he could stay in the city that was so close to his heart. In today’s world of professional sport, becoming a one club player especially in your home domestic league is a big deal and that’s what Simon wanted.

In what could only be seen as supreme disrespect to a local junior and club legend, summing up the type of man that Matt Simon is, he handled his release with the upmost professionalism, not making waves and accepted the decision.

Enter stage left Graham Arnold. He himself knowing what it is like to be disrespected from the former club that he delivered so much success to, gave Simon a lifeline as backup to Shane Smletz. Never complaining, putting his head down and working hard, the stage was set for him to come off the bench in Gosford, but this time wearing the sky blue of Sydney FC.

When he made his substitution, all Arnold said was “the scene is set”. To which Simon replied in true chill, coastie fashion, “Don’t worry, I’ll go out and win it for you”.

And deliver he did.

Showing again his professionalism and respect for the people of his home town, even after they booed his entry to the match mind you, Simon celebrated with only a chill central coast shaka above his head.

After copping it week after week from his former club, Graham Arnold no longer had it in him to hold back and unleashed an emotional tirade across to the bench that he too once say on.

untitled (2)

“You didn’t want him!”

“Thank you!”

What a result. What a man. What a story. This is football.

John Smith – Sydney Tribune Chief Football Analyst

The Sydney Derby: Sydney is Sky Blue

Sydney FC:
1.Vedran JANJETOVIC (GK), 2.Seb RYALL, 3.Alex GERSBACH, 5.Matt JURMAN, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Christopher NAUMOFF, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (C), 18.Matt SIMON, 19.Jacques FATY, 20.Ivan NECEVSKI (GK), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.George BLACKWOOD, 27.Mickael TAVARES ***Two to be omitted***

Ins: 7.Andrew HOOLE (return from suspension) 21.Filip HOLOSKO (return from injury)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 22.Ali ABBAS (knee – indefinite)

———Janjetovic
–Grant–Faty–Jurman–Gersbach
——O’Neil–Tavares
–Holosko–Ninkovic–Brosque
———-Smeltz

Necevski
Ryall
Tavares
Naumoff
Simon

With the above being my preferred line-up, we have a few selection headaches that present themselves.

Seb Ryall v Rhyan Grant: With Grant being the Mr fix it that he is, after Seb Ryall’s disgusting dive last week obviously frustrating Arnold who has repeatedly told him to cut that rubbish out, he is the obvious choice to slot into right back. The question is what you lose and what you gain and whether it’s worth it in a derby to prove an ethical point. I would say that it is worth it because after Grant’s excellent start to the season he deserves his spot on form which should end the discussion there.

Milos Dimitrijevic v Mickael Tavares: I love that the question is between these two veterans and not O’Neil who has earned and locked down his spot. Milos hasn’t done anything wrong, but boy Tavares looked good last week when he got his chance off the bench. For the fact its a derby and we need some hard, reliable tackling to start the match I’d start Tavares and bring on Milos further up the pitch during the 2nd half.

Naumoff v Hoole v Holosko: There are still some questions around Holosko’s fitness and with Hoole coming back in, it will be interesting to see the pecking order between himself and Naumoff. I’d take Naumoff ahead of Hoole but I have a feeling that Arnie doesn’t see it that way. If Holosko’s fitness isn’t up to scratch then the question might not need to be answered but lets not get too far ahead of ourselves here.

There is a final twist to this selection conundrum which I brought up on the @sydneyfcinsider Twitter last night and that’s what happens if we take Smeltz out of the line-up? Does Arnold persist with the same formation with a lone striker in Holosko or Simon? Holosko was brought here to provide versatility up front afterall. Or would we go with the kids and Brosque in a mobile false 9 type formation? These questions are going to come up in a match situation soon enough.

Whatever Arnold goes with, the quality depth that this squad has is immense.

Western Sydney Wanderers FC:
1.Turncoat BOUZANIS (GK), 3.Turncoat JAMIESON, 4.Turncoat TOPOR-STANLEY (c), 5.Brendan HAMILL, 6.Mitch NICHOLS, 7.Romeo CASTELEN, 8.DIMAS, 9.Federico PIOVACCARI, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 16.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 17.ALBERTO, 18.ANDREU, 20.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 21.Jacob PEPPER, 22.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 33.Josh MACDONALD ***Two to be omitted***

Ins: 17.ALBERTO (promoted), 22.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS (promoted)
Outs: nil
Unavailable: 2.Turncoat COLE (lack of ball sack – 1 week)

Couldn’t give 2 shits who or what these mugs put out. Journalism. I will however leave you with this quote from the Newcastle post match:

“Whatever, it’s derby week. This city is sky blue. Don’t let any turncoat you work with, study with or talk to through the week forget that, or forget the type of person they are. They turned their back on their football club, and I won’t ever accept the argument that Sydney FC didn’t appeal to them at the start, because if you were a football person in this city, you supported the club in some capacity.

You can tell a lot about a man from football. If you can so easily turn your back on your football club then you can just as easily turn your back on the people in your life that matter the most when in need. Don’t let them forget that.”

To end things up, I’m really interested in hearing your thoughts around the issue of Riot Police at the football. Are they there because you are in the wrong or to protect you from others in the wrong?

Sydney is Sky Blue!

John Smith – Sydney Tribune Chief Football Analyst

Riot Police at the Football

On the eve of another Sydney derby, I cannot wait to get my taste of the charged atmosphere that only a football derby can bring out of this beautiful city. It is an amazing feeling and brilliant to be a part of. For a lot of us, it was and still is the reason we all love football, and is the game’s defining feature when it comes to our battle for attention amongst the establishment.

But this charge that we all love is still seen by law enforcement as criminal and dangerous. So much to the point that the presence of HUNDREDS of riot police is felt to be required to handle what they perceive as danger. Saturday night’s Sydney derby is sure to be one of these ‘dangerous’ occasions where the fans will be greeted by lines of armed police who do not want to make small talk.

I’m from the Sutherland Shire. I’ve spent a lot of Saturday nights trekking to and from Shark Park on public transport and enjoying the nightlife around the Shire for a pre and post match beverage or two around the rugby league. People always ask why it is that I fell in love with football and it’s always hard to explain because its a feeling. A buzz and connection that the crowd and football moving as one brings together that you just don’t feel at the rugby league.

The atmosphere at rugby league matches is a much more lonely experience. Anyone that wants to voice their opinion does so with a lone voice. Both happiness and anger toward the pitch turns to incoherent abuse which just doesn’t feel good to be around. Rugby league crowd’s are actually the definition of anti-social behaviour, yet no overzealous police presence is seen to be required.

My main question is just why? Why are riot police there? Why are they needed on a Saturday night out at the football? RIOT POLICE. Who are they keeping safe and who/what is it they are keeping them safe from? For standing at the back of the home end, am I the criminal or are they there to protect me from someone else?

It’s the football! We are going to the football for a night out. Why does football get the riot police treatment while rugby league crowds are treated as having a laugh? We’re the same people who go to the same jobs in the same city. There is no class divide that makes this code more dangerous than another.

Maybe if NSW Police took the time to understand football culture and especially what it means to be a football fan in Australia, then there would be less police driven hostility. But as that is a common sense approach, we are most definitely not going to see that anytime soon.

Supporting my football club is not a crime.

Read the Sydney Derby Preview here.

John Smith – Sydney Tribune Chief Football Analyst

Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC Post Game; The Smeltz Boot and FFA Mandated Pyro

BROSQUE! BROSQUE WILL TEAR YOU APART! AGAIN!

There’s nothing better than a late winner away from home when you make the effort to travel. Really happy for the lads that made the effort and were rewarded with that peach of a header from a club legend, delivered by our most exciting young prospect.

Line-up:
———Janjetovic
–Ryall–Faty–Jurman–Grant
——O’Neil
———–Dimitrijevic
–Naumoff—–Ninkovic
—————-Brosque
———-Smeltz

Necevski
Gersbach – for Grant
Tavares – for Dimitrijevic
Blackwood – for Naumoff
Simon

The 4-2-3-1 ends up something like the above when in play, with the lines becoming much more noticeably fluid and interchangeable than in past seasons.

I commented on Twitter during the match that I am always surprised by how fit Alex Brosque is. With each season that goes by, I expect his legs to slow down but he has started the season as fit, sharp and hungry as ever. He put in a man of the match performance on Saturday and is always the first to press off the ball, leading from the front. A true leader on the pitch and a gentleman off it. Couldn’t be more proud to have this man lead our club.

I wanted more from Naumoff, but in his first game of the season did well all things considered. Another mobile young attacker that could have had a goal or 2. It does however look as though Blackwood is going to be given a proper chance to take his spot by Arnie this season. He’s shown some classy turns and touches but hasn’t had his finishing boots on. The story of the Sydney FC youth prospect… Chianese, Powell etc etc. At least we know that Arnold won’t give up on them like some of our past managers did the previous lot.

Grant wasn’t as sharp this week and with Gersbach impressing on his cameo debut, looking sharp on his wing and delivering the corner for the winner, he should take his starting spot back for the derby. Tavares also made his debut off the bench and showed his class. You can’t drop O’Neil, but can you swap him with Dimitrijevic to start? Not sure if that’s the move you want to make for a home derby, but we’ll see. O’Neil has shown a lot more in attack than anyone expected, highlighted by that ball to Smeltz for the incident. How much penetration in attach would we lose with a midfield of O’Neil and Tavares and whether it would be made up for in ball winning and fast distribution are all questions that need to be considered.

I know we haven’t yet clicked, but we have 4 points from a possible 6 to start the season and I am FROTHING on the entertainment potential of this side. If I’m getting too far ahead of myself, so be it. At least we are going to go down swinging!

The Smeltz Boot:
We all saw it and I’m not going to post any close up photos or anything more. Obviously it was a shit outcome and in hindsight was reckless/careless, whatever by Smeltz to leave the boot in. But on the football pitch, at full pace with a split second to decide if you can score or not, I can’t begrudge Smeltz for going for it.

According to Ray Gatt on Twitter, this is where we go from here:

It was careless and he will get a few weeks if the referee didn’t deem it an accident or had a view. I don’t think it’s fair as it was a 50/50 football incident that went wrong, but I can understand it if that’s the outcome.

All the best to Birraz and Smeltz who I know are family friends off the park. Whatever happens, cop it and move on from there. That’s football.

FFA Mandated Pyro:
The last point I wanted to make was around how ridiculous I find the FFA using their own fully mandated, crowd safety approved, atmosphere increasing, pyro and smoke displays.

I always laugh when I see the FFA using the atmosphere of a misty stadium in their advertisements, while at the same time publicly shaming and cracking down on the freedom of active support in the stands. The definition of ironic.

Flares aren’t safe and are rightly not tolerated, but you can’t have it both ways guys. The forced fakeness makes me sick.

Whatever, it’s derby week. This city is sky blue. Don’t let any turncoat you work with, study with or talk to through the week forget that, or forget the type of person they are. They turned their back on their football club, and I won’t ever accept the argument that Sydney FC didn’t appeal to them at the start, because if you were a football person in this city, you supported the club in some capacity.

You can tell a lot about a man from football. If you can so easily turn your back on your football club then you can just as easily turn your back on the people in your life that matter the most when in need. Don’t let them forget that.

Sydney is sky blue.

John Smith – Sydney Tribune Chief Football Analyst

Pre Game: Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC

Sydney FC travel up the F3 to face Newcastle in an early season clash between NSW rivals. The pre-game banter in the media between Miller and Arnold has been great and is EXACTLY the sort of fresh, no fear of the establishment that a young coach brings to the league. Keep ruffling those feathers Scotty!

Newcastle Jets squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Daniel MULLEN, 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI (c), 6.Cameron WATSON, 7.Enver ALIVODIC, 8.Mateo POLJAK, 9.Milos TRIFUNOVIC, 10.LEONARDO, 11.Labinot HALITI, 14.Mitch COOPER, 15.Themba MUATA-MARLOW, 17.Radovan PAVICEVIC, 20.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 23.David CARNEY, 24.Nick COWBURN, 25.Brandon LUNDY, 29.Andrew PAWIAK. **Two to be omitted**

Ins: 17.Radovan PAVICEVIC (promoted), 24.Nick COWBURN (promoted), 25.Brandon LUNDY (promoted), 29.Andrew PAWIAK (promoted)

Outs: 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (suspended – 1 week), 13.Lee KI-JE (virus – 1 week)

Unavailable: nil

Newcastle looked good… or were made to look good by a rusty Phoenix side in week 1. To me Leonardo looked light, fragile and one who looks for fouls. Something that obviously doesn’t fit in with the culture of the A-League. Looking for him to settle here.

On the positive side, it was great to see our Super Dave back happy and playing well. Will always have a soft spot for the lad.

I’ll leave the rest of the Jets commentary to those more informed than I and move onto worrying about our own.

Sydney FC Squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 3.Alex GERSBACH, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Rob STAMBOLZIEV, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Christopher NAUMOFF, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 18.Matt SIMON, 19.Jacques FATY, 20.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.George BLACKWOOD, 27.Mickael TAVARES. **Two to be omitted**

Ins: 11.Christopher NAUMOFF (return from international duty), 6.Robert STAMBOLZIEV (promoted)

Outs: nil

Unavailable: 7.Andrew HOOLE (suspended – 1 week), 22.Ali ABBAS (knee – indefinite)

———Janjetovic
–Ryall–Faty–Jurman–Gersbach
——O’Neil–Dimitrijevic
–Naumoff–Ninkovic–Brosque
———-Smeltz

Necevski
Grant
Tavares
Holosko
Simon

Grant by far the most unlucky player in the squad. With limited space on the bench there could even be no room for the superstar even in the matchday squad! With Arnold needing the substitute flexibility of a specialist central defender on the bench, this could again see no space for Grant or Woodcock (who we assume is injured).

I like the idea of Ryall being the CB cover, with Grant being able to play both left and right fullback on the bench but I’m not holding my breath on this one as it looks like Ryall’s days of playing in the middle are long gone.

O’Neil surely keeps his place ahead of Tavares who will have to bide his time and earn his spot back. In a long season full of Asian Champions League commitments, resting the older legs through the early matches of the domestic season could be a blessing in disguise anyway.

What I loved most about O’Neil at DM is his positivity and speed of release. There is nothing more frustrating than watching a DM who dwells on the ball, turning back and forwards before releasing a backward ball. Keep an eye on the speed that O’Neil gets things started with and the opportunities that come off it today.

Holosko is reportedly 50/50 and for this reason I’d like to see Naumoff thrown into the starting side. As I said in my season preview, this is the make or break year for Naumoff and Arnie has to give him the chance to take it. Holosko was a little underdone anyway and easing the 2 into the season together and giving some healthy competition sounds like the best outcome for all involved.

I also have been talking about Brosque cutting in which would leave the wing open for the left fullback to attack into. Grant did a great job getting forward and I expect the same thing from Gersbach. There didn’t seem to be the balance issues last week that I thought might arise, but with young guys in the fullback position alone, older heads opposing them on the wing could really exploit this if Sydney aren’t careful.

The tactical difference in round 1 against Manchester Tax Dodge was noticeable. The new boys gave Sydney the speed and movement required to pull of the change of style and it was exciting to watch. When it clicks, Sydney are going to tear teams to shreds on their day. That day may as well be today!

John Smith – Sydney Tribune Chief Football Analyst

Pre Game: Sydney FC v Manchester Tax Dodge

Football day! The smell of freshly cut grass. Body odour wafting through the warm, city pre-match pub. Seeing your brothers that you’ve stood side by side with for the last decade and giving that nod of acknowledgement. Ah yes ladies and gentleman, it’s good to be back!

Following on from the Sydney FC and A-League season preview with predictions and an ideal first team formation, the international break and various youth national teams away throughout Asia playing qualifiers, have already thrown a curveball into selection.

Sydney FC squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 4.Zac ANDERSON, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Rob STAMBOLZIEV, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 18.Matt SIMON, 19.Jacques FATY, 20.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.George BLACKWOOD, 25.Aaron CALVER, 27.Mickael TAVARES **two to be omitted**

Ins: nil
Outs: nil

Unavailable: 7.Andrew HOOLE (international duty), 11.Christopher NAUMOFF (international duty), 22.Ali ABBAS (knee – indefinite)

I’m not really sure why Alex Gersbach isn’t even listed in the ‘unavailable’ section of the squads that were released but after playing for the Young Socceroos midweek, I’m sure that probably has something to do with it. In saying that, there was some chatter on social media from the fans that he was actually back training to end the week so it will be interesting to see just how much Arnie trusts his young defenders when his team is released.

I think Sydney will line up something like this:

———Janjetovic
–Ryall–Faty–Anderson–Grant
——Tavaras–Dimitrijevic
–Holosko–Ninkovic–Brosque
———-Smeltz

Necevski
Woodcock
O’Neil
Stambolziev
Simon

I think to start the season we’ll get some surprises in the backline but most likely see the tried and trusted with Grant or Jurman getting the nod at left back. I’d be happy to start Grant to shore things up and then ease Woodcock into things sometime during the 2nd half but am not a fan of central defenders shifting across. Arnie, say no to Jurman at fullback.

The rest of the team picks itself while everybody is fit and the kids are away on Olyroos duty, with the only dilemma I’m having being: What to do with Alex Brosque. Since returning for his 2nd stint with the club, he has never been used on the left. His legs just aren’t up to it anymore and while it seems logical to put the left winger on the left, I have a feeling we’ll see him central with Ninkovic out wide and cutting in. This just adds to the importance of settling on a proper left fullback who can use the wing in attack. Grant isn’t this type of player.

Manchester Tax Dodge squad: 1.Thomas SORENSEN (gk), 4.Connor CHAPMAN, 6.Erik PAARTALU, 8.Aaron MOOY, 10.Robert KOREN, 11.Michael ZULLO, 16.Jason TRIFIRO, 17.Wade DEKKER, 18.Paulo RETRE, 20.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 22.Jack CLISBY, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 24.Patrick KISNORBO (c), 25.Jacob MELLING, 27.Callum RICHARDSON, 28.Steve KUZMANOVSKI, 29.Stefan ZINNI, 30.Hernan ESPINDOLA **two to be omitted**

Ins: nil
Outs: nil

Unavailable: 3.Aaron HUGHES (international duty), 5.Ivan FRANJIC (quad – 5-7 weeks), 7.Corey GAMEIRO (knee – 1-2 weeks), 9.Harry NOVILLO (hamstring – 4-5 weeks), 14.James BROWN (foot – TBC), 19.Ben GARUCCIO (foot – 1-2 weeks), 21.Stefan MAUK (international duty), 26.Marc MARINO (knee – 3 months)

What about an injury and international struck line-up for City?

————-Sorenson
–Retre–Kisnorbo–Chapman–Clisby
——Mooy–Paartulu–Melling
——Koren–Fornaroli–Williams

Velaphi
Zullo

Judging by the Cup warm up matches we’ve seen, City will look to play some sort of 4-3-3 variant that relies on mobility and speed. Sound familiar?

Surely Sorenson is going to get the nod ahead of old mate Tando. Surelyyy. You waste a foreign spot on an aging keeper and you sit him on the bench behind a player who has consistently failed to make an impact in the A-League? Come on JvS, what are you doing down there?!

It doesn’t sound like Zullo is fit but I do think they’ll rush Mooy straight into the starting side. The Manchester Oil Barron Overlords aren’t going to fly their star man on a private jet from the Middle East just to sit on the bench. He’ll play.

I’m just glad my football club didn’t sell their soul to the highest bidder to become a tax dodge for the worlds biggest bandwagon club. I feel no animosity or rivalry toward Heart/City/Manchester because what has happened is just sad.

Come on Sydney!

John Smith – Sydney Tribune Chief Football Analyst

Sydney FC and A-League 2015/16 Preview

Sydney FC Squad:
It’s an expectation that Graham Arnold will employ his Central Coast Mariners 4-4-2 diamond that morphs into a 4-2-3-1 depending on how you look at it.

With Arnold focusing on his job of recruitment, his attention turned to making sure that there are at least 2 players to fill each position in the squad. Now a week out from round 1, we take a look at what Arnold has to choose from.

———-Janjetovic
Ryall–Faty–Anderson–Gersbach
——Tavaras–Dimitrijevic
—Holosko–Ninkovic–Brosque
————Smeltz

With backups from:

———-Necevski
Grant–Jurman–Calver–Tratt
——–O’Neill–Abbas
—Hoole–Blackwood–Naumoff
————Simon

Plus Stambolziev, Mullen, Woodcock and Bouzanis

After drawing up my preferred first 11, I then had no problem at all putting each of the backups in their preferred position. Something that shows the balance of the squad and something that hasn’t been the easiest of tasks after an injury or 2 under past managers! *Cough Frank*

Sydney FC Strengths and Weaknesses:
Of course Sydney FC have signed Filip Holosko as their marquee man and therefore it would be a safe bet in predicting the top dog to receive all the applause, but to be honest it’s Milos Ninkovic that I’m most looking forward to seeing play. An intelligent, extremely tidy player on the ball to sit in behind the striker was the one thing that Sydney have lacked for a few years now. Brosque isn’t a playmaker and neither Dimitrijevic or Antonis were true playmakers either. Alessandro Del Pierro brought his own set of issues mostly revolving around, well… running. Now take a look at some of Ninkovic’s work in this video and tell me you’re not excited!

Sit Ninkovic in front of Tavares and Dimitrijevic and you have a VERY technically tidy as well as mobile midfield to provide service to the likes of Smeltz, Brosque and Holosko who we know will have no trouble putting the ball in the back of the net.

It’s in defense however, that there are still some unknowns. Faty has the pedigree and has shown some glimpses of being the experienced CB required, but there are still some major concerns around consistency on the back of fitness. I still don’t think we’ve fully replaced Ognenovski more in terms of leadership and organisation he provides to the players beside him in the back line. Faty, Anderson and Jurman all provide the defending, but the team NEEDS someone back there to step up and become a true leader of the squad. I can see that quality in Ryall, maybe this is his year to really take ownership of that defensive line.

There are also a couple of the young X-Factors in the squad I am expecting big things from. This is the last chance for Naumoff to really break out, and sitting behind the big guns in the front 3rd pecking order, I do have my doubts whether he will be able to. Each time I watch Naumoff play in any of the youth national teams, he shows me enough to want to keep persisting with him, but we need to see composure and finishing at the adult level improve 10 fold. Although slightly younger and not having had the same opportunity yet, Burgess is moving toward the same category as Naumoff. One of them HAS to step up this season.

Something we know will happen is that Arnold will give youth a chance. I’ve only mentioned a few names here, but he will not be afraid to throw a kid in the deep end if he thinks he can do a job. Something that keeps the year exciting and slightly unpredictable when it comes to team selection.

A-League Rundown:
Moving a bit further away from the Republic, the SFCU forum has a great yearly post that I’m going to steal the following template from, titled A-League Predictions.

A-LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Sydney FC
A-LEAGUE PREMIERS: Sydney FC
THE FINAL LADDER:
#1) Sydney FC
#2) Melbourne Victory
#3) Brisbane Roar
#4) Adelaide United
#5) Newcastle Jets
#6) Wellington Phoenix
#7) Central Coast Mariners
#8) Perth Glory
#9) Western Sydney Wanderers
#10) Melbourne City

GRAND FINALISTS: Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar

SYDNEY SEASON MVP: Milos Ninkovic
SYDNEY GOLDEN BOOT WINNER: Shane Smeltz

JOHNNY WARREN MEDAL WINNER: Milos Ninkovic
JOE MARSTON MEDAL WINNER: Shane Smeltz
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Giancarlo Gallifuoco
GOLDEN BOOT WINNER: Besart Berisha
COACH OF THE YEAR: John Aloisi

BEST NEW SIGNING: Oliver Bozanic
BIGGEST FLOP SIGNING: Marc Warren
1st COACH SACKED: Kenny Lowe
FFA CUP WINNER: Melbourne Victory

Elsewhere across the league, I see a lot more of the same as last season. While each new season always throws up one surprise contender, I’m going with this year’s being the Brisbane Roar under Vundercoach John Aloisi. The Victory will again be very hard to beat. They have a true football club culture being build down there which is great for the league and the rivalry. Likewise, Adelaide have looked good in pre-season and the FFA Cup but I’ll hold off on praising their club culture until we see how much of the Gombau style and success is continued under new manager Amor.

On the other side of the coin, I just can’t see anything changing for Heart or our friends out West. Neither have recruited overly well and with managers that have been found out in the past by the top half of the league, I see more of the same.

But really it’s in the dugout where I’m most excited. The A-League needs young, fresh coaches to step up and with Scott Miller from a health science background at the helm at Newcastle, we have a fresh perspective on how things should be done. I really want him to succeed for the good of coach regeneration in the league for the future but putting Newcastle as high as they are is more in hope than in confidence.

John Aloisi is another one that although fits into the re-hashed loser category, I think will actually be hugely successful. Aloisi didn’t have any success in Melbourne, but since losing his job there has gone overseas to broaden his education and come back hungry and full of knowledge. The ownership debacle in Brisbane hopefully wont scuttle his chances of success because I see huge parallels between what Postecoglu did.

The fact that Kenny Lowe signed Marc Warren, possibly the worst footballer to ever pull on an A-League jersey shows why we need the young generation to succeed with fresh ideas.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming season? Leave a comment and let us know.

John Smith – Sydney Tribune Chief Football Analyst