Is it too simplistic to blame it all on the gaffer's decision to leave for greener pastures?

This is the question Sydney FC fans are asking themselves as the club collapses towards their second successive A-League Premiership. 

Arnold's men seemed like such a tight, disciplined unit that it was hard to imagine the wheels falling off just because the driver decided to switch up a model. It was Australian football's worst kept secret that the Sky Blues coach would take over the Socceroos, so why are Sydney FC losing the plot now?

Carney leaving the stadium half-way through Sydney's loss to Brisbane Roar, only to be chastised by his clubs' CEO, Danny Townsend, has turned a simple loss-of-form into a PR disaster. 

While Brosque has been acquitted of spitting at a referee due to "lack of evidence", it's hard to look past further examples of indiscipline snaking their way into Sydney's ranks.

One win in their past seven matches now bodes as a death-knell, rather than a slump. Even without Andrew Nabbout, Newcastle Jets have never looked more dangerous. 

But in all fairness, even great sides go through difficult periods and Sydney have little reason to stay motivated. They know - bar uncomprehensible defeats against Central Coast Mariners and Perth Glory - that they've won the league. They also know they've already been dumped out of the Asian Champions League. 

In hindsight, their performances in that competition have shattered the ego that Arnold carefully built within that group, and it makes sense that without the ACL, everything seems a little dulled at this stage.

There's also the support to consider. Despite Sydney shellacking teams at Allianz in their last proper campaign at the stadium, only 15,000 fans are turning up per-match.

That's a 3,000 decrease on last season, despite Sydney's standard continuing to rise. Add Arnold abandoning ship and suddenly Sydney's record-breaking Premiership isn't a pleasure-cruise anymore.

So where do they go from here? In his time in charge of the Socceroos in 2007, Arnold dissolved into the in-fighting and controversy within his squad.

For his part, Arnold was quick to come out and say that he needed to "step up" this time. But there were questions over his ability to handle the pressure when he was re-appointed Socceroos boss, which were largely swathed by Arnold's insistence that he'd changed, not just as a coach, but as a person.

Now everyone gets to see that for themselves. If Sydney bounce back and dominate the Finals Series - like they're capable of - it shows Arnold can maintain control, motivate a disheartened team and repair fractured relationships.

If they don't, well, can the Socceroos handle another abrasive local coach? Another Aussie who can't shoulder the expectations of a nation?

If Arnie fails, we might be staring at a return to the good ol' days of half-baked, disinterested foreign replacements. Maybe Australia should be backing Bling FC after all...