FIVE points taken from the last 21 points available - pitiful, isn’t it?

Like many SFC fans, I’ve spent the last few days racking my brain trying to think about what’s going wrong, and how we can fix it. Is it the injury list? Is it the constant defensive reshuffles? Is it the questionable conservative tactics?

I’d say it’s all of the above, and you can see it plastered across media outlets and fans forum nationwide. But yesterday, one article jumped at me that made me realise a big problem that no one seems to have covered:
“Corica: Age Will Not Weary Me”

FourFourTwo’s interview with man the fans call Silver Dragon had piqued my interest.

This will be sure to draw some criticism, but a big part of Sydney FC’s recent problems have been the inconsistent and largely unimpressive form of Steve Corica in recent weeks. He’s not been the only one underperforming, but the man charged with being Sydney’s creative outlet has been well below his usually high standard.

Without a goal from open play since round 2, and with just the one assist all year, Sydney’s #10 is not fulfilling his creative duty.

Whilst the likes of Fyfe, Aloisi and Cole are being rightly criticised for their below par showings, Corica’s ordinary form seems to have flown under the radar. Whilst Aloisi can point to ordinary service, and Cole can point to a first-season adjustment phase, Corica has no such luxury.

Having played in the same #10 role all year and getting plenty of touches, his contribution has dropped to being negligible at best in recent weeks. I simply can’t remember the last time his trademark mazy runs through middle actually came to anything.

Most concerning of all is the Silver Dragon’s fitness. It feels like almost every game has the compulsory feature of Corica being subbed off the pitch during an ineffective second half. Sadly, the idea of Corica running out 90mins with a constant effect on the game is virtually now a flashback to past years.

If I am to be blunt – I’ll say that age is starting to weary Steve Corica. I’ll be blunt again and say that contrary to his thoughts in that interview, I hope the great man does hang his boots up at the end of this season.

Boasting a (deserved) six-figure salary, the last thing I would wish upon Steve Corica or Sydney FC, is to have a valuable roster space wasted by a player going that bit too far – we’ve had enough of that this year.

As a model professional from Sydney FC’s inception, revered by fans and fellow players, I can think of nothing worse than the possibility of Corica playing on next year and tarnishing a great career with a final season spent well behind the 8-ball.

On the flip side, if Corica is to stay on and fulfil his contract (which expires at the end of next season), Sydney need to accept that he can no longer be the guaranteed first-teamer he is now.

If he does go one final round, Sydney still need to find a player capable of replacing him in that creative midfield role, helping gain results by regularly putting in 90 minute performances.

The recent retirement of Tony Popovic, as well as the impressive form of Sydney FC’s all-conquering youth team, has brought about a real focus on youth development at SFC over the past six weeks. With more youth team players signed to first-team deals next year than any other club, the NYL squad is being looked at first for all replacement players for next year.

But despite the talent on show in NYL, the one thing that they will not be providing is a replacement for Steve Corica. Why? Because quite simply – it can’t.

The Youth League might be producing some talented playmakers (Adam Sarota has signed for QRFC’s first team, whilst Brendan Gan has showed small glimpses of some potential with Sydney), there is no one quite ready to step in straight in to the massive hole Corica leaves behind.

Looking across the A-League to the likes of Charlie Miller and Carlos Hernandez, an imported playmaker seems to be Sydney’s best and perhaps only option.

So to me it’s simple – Sydney FC must venture back to the overseas market to replace Corica next year. I would say that aside from finding two senior central defenders (to replace Popovic and Fyfe), this is the most important signing of the off-season.

The club that this year decided to shun the international market must now embrace it in search of a key component in the 2009/10 squad. Whilst rumours of a pricey move to snatch Diego Walsh from Adelaide are flying thick in the background, I am left hoping the club will aim a bit higher.

By choosing to couple an impressive approach to youth with an impressive approach to foreign recruitment, Sydney could use the cap space available to snare us someone a bit more special. And to be honest they need to.

Because it’s going to take someone REALLY special to fill the boots of Steve Corica.