Our series of 2015-16 A-League team previews continue with a look at last year’s runners-up, Sydney FC.
Offseason Transfers
Despite their relative success last season, Sydney FC have undergone a number of changes in their playing roster. The most notable absentee is last season’s Golden Boot winner, Marc Janko. The prolific Austrian fell out with the club during contract negotiations, with hefty national team duty apparently to blame and this could see Kiwi international Shane Smeltz, who started much of last season from the bench, step into a starting role. Other important losses include Serbian defender Nikola Petkovic and Terry Antonis. Their good form in the A-League resulted in positive European moves to Belgian club KVC Westerlo and Greek giants PAOK respectively. The same can be said for Bernie Ibini who, after a far more consistent A-League season with Sydney, earned a move to Belgian giants Club Brugge. The likes of Hagi Gligor, Corey Gameiro, Peter Triantis, Nicky Carle and Sasa Ognenovski were all released by the club.
So with a number of key players leaving the club, who has come in? The most high-profile signing of the transfer period came in the form of Milos Ninkovic. The Serbian midfielder will be keen to link up with fellow countryman Milos Dimitrejivic, who, after some uncertainty, also signed with the club. Also upgrading to full contracts were Senegalese duo Jacques Faty and Mickael Tavares. Sydney FC continued their international recruitment with Slovakian forward Filip Holosko, who joined from Besiktas in Turkey. With these established players coming into the club, the opportunity to bring in some young talent arose, paving the way for the likes of Riley Woodcock, Brandon O’Neill and Andrew Hoole to come in, all with prior A-League experience. Arnold reinforced defensively, with Zac Anderson coming down from the Central Coast and Jacob Tratt signing from local NPL club Sutherland Sharks with Matt Simon and Alex Mullen rounding off the recruits.
Last Season
For many of the Sky Blues supporters, last season exceeded expectation. After a number of lacklustre years, Sydney were hardly expected to mount a serious title challenge in Graham Arnold’s first year at the club, but that they did.
A lacklustre start to the campaign saw the Sky Blues floundering around the top four at Christmas, but they would soon to spark to life. A stellar period after the Asian Cup hiatus saw the harbour-based club drop just two points in seven games led by the insatiable form of marquee striker Janko. Sydney stormed home and were considered the form team of the competition, looking ready to cause an upset heading into the final series.
Finishing second in the league behind Melbourne Victory, the Sky Blues met a challenging away fixture to fourth-placed Wellington but goals from Ibini and Smeltz took them to the semi-final. Here, they faced what had previously been known as a bogey team in the form of Adelaide United. The Gombau-led side were irresistible going forward but an immense performance by Sydney resulted in their 4-1 demolition. Finally, they would meet the Victory in the grand final with what appeared to be a fair chance of winning. However, a performance reminiscent of their early-season form saw them lose out 3-0. It was a disappointing end to what had been an immensely, and in some ways, unexpectedly, successful season.
Manager
Coming into his second year at the helm, Graham Arnold proved all of his pedigree during his first season. The former Central Coast manager quickly organised a Sydney FC dressing room that was seemingly in disarray and put a structured system into play that got the best out of his current crop of players. Perhaps Arnold’s biggest achievement in his inaugural year was replacing Alessandro Del Piero’s individual influence through multiple players. For all the fanfare and hysteria surrounding the World Cup winner, Sydney suffered from a lack of substance during his two-year stay and Arnold has quickly built a team capable of outperforming that which contained the Italian.
Strengths
It was their international flair that made them such a threat last season and, considering their worldly recruitment, the trend may continue. In Dimitrejivic and now Ninkovic, Sydney posses some of the best creative midfielders in the league. Add to this the steely long-term additions of Faty and Tavares and Sydney begin to exhibit the strong ‘spine’ that is so sought after in footballing circles. With Smeltz up top, Arnold has a proven goalscorer and although they will rue the departure of Janko, the third all-time top A-League goalscorer will soften the blow.
Weaknesses
Graham Arnold has a track record with developing young players, however even he may have bitten off more than he can chew this season. Sydney look to have invested in the future by bringing a quite wholesome brigade of young players into the club for the 2015-16 season. Expect a few young benches this season and with injury that could become quite a young starting XI. If there is one manager who can make that work, however, it is Arnold.
Key Player
It has to be the new man Ninkovic. Silky on the ball, the talented playmaker has forged a career in Serbia and France with Red Star Belgrade and Evian respectively. However, his longest stint came during his nine years at Ukrainian Premier League and Champions League club, Dynamo Kiev. Not the perennial goalscorer the former Sky Blues marquee was, Ninkovic will most likely be notching up the assists instead.
Not a bad hit! Check out Milos Ninkovic’s stunning strike in a recent training match. #SydneyIsSkyBlue https://t.co/luOmTz0Ksl
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) September 14, 2015
In his countryman Dimitrejivic, Sydney have a surefire midfield maestro but it will be up to Ninkovic to provide the cutting edge in the final third. Like many a marquee player at Sydney FC, the pressure will be high. If one player personified Sydney FC’s previous season it was Janko and Ninkovic must have the same profound impact if Sydney are to make waves again this year.
Best XI
(4-2-3-1): Janjetovic (GK); Ryall, Faty, Jurman, Gersbach; Dimitrejivic, Tavares; Brosque, Ninkovic, Naumoff; Smeltz.
Prediction
Much depends on the effectiveness of overseas signings, however Sydney should do well once more. Quite a dramatic change in the playing roster may result in another slow start but with Dimitrejivic, Faty and Smeltz all firing, they will be around come finals time.
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