SYDNEY FC fans probably won’t agree, but in my eyes Sunday’s trial between the home side and Newcastle Jets at the SFS was the classic tale of two halves.

To give credit where it's due, Sydney dominated the first half.

No doubt about it, there was only one team playing in the opening 45 at the sparsely populated Moore Park ground. Alex Brosque gave the Sky Blues a deserved lead just prior to the half hour and it could easily have been more.

Watching Viteslav Lavicka's scrutiny of the game, and decorum on the sideline was also a delight. In him you have sourced a coach with attributes many managers in the A-League, indeed around Australia, should learn.

Many will remember Les Murray - in part - berating Terry Butcher's clothing choice when he was Sydney FC manager, but so too did Lavicka don the tracksuit, showing sideline attire may maketh the look, but certainly doesn't maketh the manager, nor the man.

The second stanza was quite a different story. Indeed, it gave me hope that bright things could be on the horizon in this, the Branko era (who for his part looked über dashing in a suede coat seemingly straight from Jose Mourinho's closet). 

Firstly, I say my own personal thanks to the football gods that 'Super' Matty Thompson is not heading to the in-vogue Chinese Super League with Changchun Yatai. It was no coincidence that Newcastle's stronger second half showing coincided with Thompson's halftime introduction.

Secondly, I praise the powers that be that by week's end, the ink should be dry on possibly the most important contract in Newcastle Jets history. With Football Director Remo Nogarotto returning to Australia from Rome on Wednesday, it is with some consideration that I suggest this of Fabio Vignaroli's imminent capture.

I say this in respect of the timing of the deal. It could easily be pointed out the influence of Nick Carle in seasons one and two or Joel Griffiths' impact in our championship winning year, but Vignaroli puts pen to paper at a time when the Jets need a player who can single-handedly define matches.

Okay, so Vignaroli is unlikely to be the Jets top marksman, but for the 20 minutes he played yesterday, Newcastle looked an altogether much more able outfit. We saw his influence in what was for him an interrupted ACL campaign, so given an injury free run I've no hesitation in backing the experienced Italian to be one of the A-League's stars this season. 

Other exciting developments stemming from yesterday's 1-1 stalemate include Jin-Hyung Song's stellar showing. The crafty Korean produced a number of deft touches, back heels, neat passes and Newcastle's goal, reigniting memories of the kind of form that endeared him to Jets fans a year and a half ago. Crucially, Song got the full 90 under his belt.

Another player that played the entirety of yesterday's fixture was Shaun Ontong. Ontong, like Song and Vignaroli, looks to have overcome the injury woes that have plagued him over the past 12 months, making a number of useful contributions throughout yesterday's game. For mine, he's this season's joker in the pack.

Given the players unavailable for yesterday's trial - Tarek Elrich, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ben Kantarovski, Donny de Groot and Kaz Patafta - few could argue our second half performance wasn't at least a basis to be cautiously optimistic about our chances in the fast approaching A-League season five.

It's going to take some luck, there are more than a few rough edges still to be ironed out, but positive signs abound.

TRIALIST WATCH:

Paraguayan Jorge Florentin has been playing for La Paz in Bolivia and it's reasonably safe to assume he may have to head either back there or elsewhere to continue his football career. Florentin failed to impress in the opening 45 before being subbed at halftime.

Andrea Merenda has recently been plying his trade in the Central Coast Mariners Youth Team and for Marconi Stallions. The Italian didn't necessarily do much wrong but doesn't quite look the part and I'd sooner see him sent packing than signed.

Brazilian Felipe Garcia showed some nice touches in his late cameo. He's been turning out for the Western Strikers in the South Australian State League of late, a fertile breeding ground for A-League players recently. Garcia may be worth another look.

Striker Peter Haynes, whilst contracted throughout the ACL is now trialling for an A-League contract proper, and didn't do his chances any harm with a workman like effort upfront. Was involved in some of the Jets' best work in their uninspiring first 45. Could provide nuisance value from the bench ala Burns, Zullo and Kruse when they first hit the scene.

Chinese defensive midfielder Xiao Zhanbo watched from the sidelines but not before completing rehab work whilst the team warmed up. My sources have it Zhanbo is a week away from being fit, but the ex-Shanghai Shenhua has impeccable control and vision, and could be the link between defence and attack meaning Vignaroli could be given licence to create.

Joel Wood and Mitchell Johnson were unused substitutes.