SYDNEY FC’s performance against Melbourne City hardly reached great heights, but again they’ve distanced themselves at the top of the table.
Before the other teams played, the Sky Blues had opened up an eight-point lead over the Newcastle Jets at the top of the A-League ladder. Incredibly, 18 points separate them from Melbourne Victory.
Though it wasn’t a glittering performance on Friday night, in the quality of their goals, particularly Adrian Mierzejewski’s and Alex Brosque’s, there was certainly a lot to be admired. And therein lies the key to what Sydney are all about — even when they’re not at their best they have enough quality all over the park to win games.
Would Sydney FC fans accept the former Wanderers coach? Photo: Brett CostelloThey went 1-0 down against City at home, but showed the character of champions to come back and win the game. And winning is what Sydney are doing from all angles — by leading, going behind, it seems no matter what happens to them they find a way out.
The key to what they’re doing has come about because of what happened to them in Gosford a few weeks ago, when they were well beaten by the Central Coast Mariners. It was the kick in the pants they needed to get the machine rolling again. And the frightening thing for everyone else in the competition is that the machine isn’t even rolling at full speed yet, but we saw what they’re capable of when everything clicked against the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Arnie coy on Aus coaching gig
What could potentially throw a spanner in the works is the possibility of losing Graham Arnold to the Socceroos. Sydney have understandably dug their heels in by sending a letter to FFA reminding them Arnold is contracted to the club for a further 18 months and you can understand why — they don’t want to lose him — but the sacking of Tony Popovic in Turkey might throw up a solution.
It’s a big maybe, but not out of the question that should Arnie take over as Socceroos coach, Popovic could be in line to move to Sydney. Whether that would actually happen or not remains to be seen because, believe me Sydney will do everyone they can to hold onto Arnie.
If Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold joins Socceroos, could former Wanderers boss Tony Popovic replace him? | Daily Telegraph