I HAVEN'T had a chance to comment on the recent footballing developments in our backyard, but it seems that Frank and Ben have been at it in a backroom.
Months later, Sydney FC finally have a sibling. No more than an embryo really, which kangaroo style, has been kicked out of the womb and now must struggle to find a place to attach itself.
Whilst that sibling might have been a towering twin for Sydney FC, the unfortunate marriage of convenience that has been charged with bringing this being into life has done the one thing - probably the only thing - that could ruin the new club's success. They made it Sydney's homeless, unclaimed, bastard child. For good measure they then gave it a dogs' name.
Poor Rover, doesn't know where he lives. The early indications were that Rover might find a home in Blacktown. He nicked the colours and had a photo taken in the stadium. A Blacktown Rover. But people got confused; wasn't there something about an FFA directive about not copying overseas clubs directly?
Besides, it doesn't look like Lancashire in Western Sydney (well, OK, some of it... NO! Bad Rover!). Instead Rover's owners will make him shelter anywhere that will take him in. North, South, Northeast, Southeast, Wollongong, Katoomba, Canberra and occasionally (but as discreetly as possible and definitely not mostly) in Western Sydney.
So, welcome to Western Sydney, Rover. It takes a very good dog to be all things to all people, everywhere.
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Most of the Sydney players from the match against Adelaide have no problems telling you where they belong. In central Sydney. Of the 14 players named for the Adelaide game (and indeed the Melbourne game before it), 12 of them want to play in the centre of the pitch.
Unsurprisingly, that's exactly what they did. When Aloisi came on for Cole, 10 of the 11 players on the pitch ideally ply their trade running up and down the middle of a football pitch. Everyone except Byun, who had a quiet game.
The make-up of the team that played Melbourne was largely ruled by necessity, and it was probably lucky that we played the narrowest team in the league. It would have been a hard coach to change a side that won so well, but the same team looked unbalanced and one dimensional against Adelaide. This wasn't a performance where we created plenty of chances and were a bit unlucky - we just struggled to break down an Adelaide side that quickly figured out our plan A and worked hard to negate it.
It didn't help us that Adelaide started the match determined to prove a point, and just got angrier with every toot of the ref's whistle. Sydney didn't match Adelaide's intensity. Fortress Clint dropped one over the line, tenacious Terry's marking went astray on the only occasion it would matter and our much vaunted midfield struggled with Adelaide's close pressing. In attack, we just lacked the pace and precision that has characterised the previous couple of matches.
I suppose the benefit of a result like this is that it gives the coach the licence to make changes. We have a full squad and real depth, which means that any changes will not cost us quality. Keller is an obvious one - we missed his no-nonsense, play-the-game-in-front-of-me approach to defending. But if Cole drops to the bench then we will get even narrower as a team. Grant and Danning must surely come into consideration. In a team that was shown up for pace and width last week, leaving Australia's two best young, fast wingers in the stands again, would make no sense.
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The game against Brisbane is going to be a real test of our Premiership credentials. Every team performs well after their coach is replaced. Sydney's players even managed to make Kosmina briefly look like a decent coach. The Brisbane players will be playing out of their skins, to prove a point to Ange Postecoglou. But in a close league, winning our home matches will be the key to a top two finish. To do the business, Sydney FC need to treat this game as a cup final and play with all the pace and verve they can muster. If we can do that, the match is going to be a cracker.
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Finally, while it was great to see Aloisi score last week, the hype surrounding Yorkie's return shows (yet again) the benefit of having a proper marquee. It will be great to welcome Yorkie back to Sydney for a proper sending off (err... you know what I mean). And if Yorkie's hype encourages the new owners to scour the big leagues for another player of Dwight's stature and quality, then we will have yet another reason to raise our plastic cups of VB to the great man. Cheers Yorkie and see you at the game.
