After a six month hiatus it’s finally here and the nervous anticipation is palpable. A-League squads are all but finalised and playing styles are being perfected. So how are the boys looking with the season just about upon us?

Before I get to that, kudos to the FFA:

One, for handling the Victorian match fixing scandal the right way – by turning it over to the police. No glib statements, obfuscation or injunctions, just plain dealing in facts and letting cards fall where they may. Other codes could learn a thing or two from this. Well done, David Gallop.

And speaking of other sports, big ups to the FFA’s marketing people for their clever ambush marketing at the AFL Grand Final. “We Are Football” paraded on trucks in front of a captive audience? I love it. If the AFL is upset by the message, well hey, they never liked us anyway.

So on to the upcoming season. The Sky Blues have once again enjoyed a mixed preseason, starting well but fading in the straight. Put it down to a heavy training schedule or the new playing style but we have hardly convinced in trial matches. To be fair, Farina has tinkered, giving youngsters and fringe-dwellers time on the park. No trial match has seen what appears to be our best 11. And the new style will take a while to adopt.

Those unfamiliar with corporate-speak may be unaware of a method called the SWOT Analysis. It is a useful tool for analysing one’s own position, examining your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. So here goes:

 

STRENGTHS

Goalkeeper – Vedran Janjetovic was a breath of fresh air last season and looks as if he will be entrusted with the gloves this time round. Which, most will agree, is a good thing, except that he is out injured the first few weeks. Here’s hoping Ivan does the job in the meantime.

Rightback – if there is one position Sydney have never settled over the years it is Rightback. Seb Ryall was outstanding last season but he will move to central defence in order to accommodate former Mariner Pedj Bojic, one of the league’s best rightbacks in recent seasons. Bojic’s experience and attacking thrust is a welcome addition to the team.

Midfield – there is definitely more technique in midfield than in recent seasons. Carle, Emerton and Grant should be able to keep possession for extended periods and once Terry Antonis is back to full fitness we should have arguably the most technically gifted midfield in the country.

Depth – this Sydney squad not only has a good blend of youth and experience but also the depth and versatility to cope with any injury crisis.

Del Piero – last season it often appeared that the great man would look around, see no one on his wavelength and go it alone. With a season and a tour of Italy under their belts the players should have learnt how ADP wants the ball and what runs to make off him. I am seeing fewer goals but more assists for Il Pinturichhio.

 

WEAKNESSES

This squad does not seem to have any obvious weaknesses but there are clearly some potential threats, as below:

 

THREATS

Defence – While the partnership of Bosschaart and Ryall offers much promise, the Dutchman must prove himself yet again as he works his way back to full fitness. Should he stay the course we will defensive solidity plus that extra edge in building up from the back that he offers but if his return takes that much longer it may expose the weaknesses of backup stoppers Jurman, Petkovic, Tiago and young Aaron Calver and take us back to the woes of last season.

Marc Warren – the young leftback is an unknown quantity. His pedigree is hardly the stuff of legends but if he demonstrates the defensive awareness that eluded Fabio then I’ll be happy. I still wonder why we let Jamo go but there is no barking up that tree now.

Brett Emerton – the Emo of the 2011/12 season carried an ankle injury throughout the campaign. Last season he covered every blade of grass as always but just could not get going in a side whose game was as disjointed and inconsistent as his own. I do believe that this is the final season his professional career and that he still harbours World Cup aspirations, which is why I am of the opinion that we will see the very best of the marquee man in the autumn of his career. If this is his swansong, he deserves to go out on a high but right now the veteran Socceroo is something of a question mark.

What if Bosschaart and ADP are injured for extended periods? If the unthinkable happens we may find ourselves exposed because even with a squad of good depth, these two are all but irreplaceable and neither is getting any younger.

Del Piero – what if the great man loses form? If age finally catches up with him? Could we cope?

 

OPPORTUNITIES

The biggest opportunity is to convince the fans and the A-League that we play a style that is both attractive and effective rather than the war of attrition that the boys had been forced to fight week in, week out the previous two years.

Last season the backline copped much of the vitriol but it was the midfield that kept turning over possession. Result? A defence that was left exposed time and again. One would hope that the new, possession-based style will mean less pressure on the backline which should lead to fewer goals conceded. Let’s face it, last campaign we had no trouble scoring them so if we fix the leaks at the back we should have a good season.

I like that we have a number of young players in the squad who are now experienced enough to be relied on throughout the season. There is no more naivety in Ryall, Warren, Grant, Antonis, Gameiro, Chianese, Yau, Mallia or Powell and they will be expected to pull their weight, no longer the “promising youngsters” of seasons past.

And speaking of promising youngsters, there is excitement over the emergence of talented Sydney teenagers Bouzanis, Petkovski, Calver, Gligor, Macdonald, Naumov and Urosevski and I believe one or two of them will make the starting 11 spot his own this season. My money is on wunderkind Josh Macdonald to become an influential Sky Blue factor by February. The kid has class.

 

FAN EXPECTATION

After three largely forgettable seasons no one is getting ahead of themselves with outrageous predictions. Few Sydney fans are expecting a top-of-the-table finish or a Grand Final victory and are generally happy to leave the headlines and preseason braggadocio to our noisy neighbours.

I do believe that aiming at the Top 4 is a realistic goal and one that we have the resources to attain. If we get our passing game working, tighten the defence and keep our attack firing as it did last season, we will get there. 

In some respects our long-suffering fans will be happy to contend themselves with a spot in the six as long as we also win the derbies that matter. It’s been a tough three years and the Sky Blue faithful have been sufficiently scarred to see themselves as underdogs rather than the Bling FC of yesteryear, no matter the presence of football royalty out on the pitch.

But they will expect total commitment, concentration at the back and accurate passing whilst also hoping for a Sydney outfit that can turn on the style. If we do that AND win matches I can see no reason why the club shouldn’t get back to the regular 25K+ crowd numbers of 2007 and give us, the fans, something to really sing about.

Excitement mixed with nervous apprehension. Friday week can’t come soon enough.