‘Time for big decisions at Sydney FC’

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

POST mortems are never easy, especially after such a heartbreaking end to your season.

Still, you can't dodge the tough decisions for too long and Sydney FC have some big issues to face over the next few days and weeks.

The moves Sydney FC chief executive Tony Pignata make now will not only shape the direction of the team, but also football in this city.

The Sky Blues were brave against Melbourne Victory in Friday night's elimination final. It's always tough to go interstate for a finals match, knowing you have to win in a hostile environment. That's why a top-two place is so crucial.

Gui Finkler's winner in injury time ended Sydney's season and potentially Alessandro Del Piero's time in the A-League. I think it's fair to say the Sky Blues have underachieved in the two years they have had the Italian maestro.

Time to reflect. Source: Getty Images

He was dispossessed for the first goal to Archie Thompson and he has struggled at times this year with the pace of the A-League. Then you see the exquisite touch and vision and it reminds you how blessed we have been to have Del Piero in our game.

To do what he has done at the age of 39 shows he was one of the greatest footballers the world has seen because this isn't an easy league.

The big question — the only question — is can Sydney win the championship with him? It will be an emotional decision because he has brought so much to the city in terms of profile, everyone loves him and he can still be a match-winner on his day.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

However, teams such as Brisbane, Central Coast, the Wanderers and Melbourne Victory play at a tempo that Sydney fail to match at times. Del Piero, for all his talent, struggles to track back and this season he was hampered by soft tissue injuries.

These football issues have to be weighed against his value as a true marquee star.

If Del Piero's time is up — and he has indicated he wants to play on — it has been a privilege to watch him play in Australia. If you had asked me 20 years ago if a player of ADP's pedigree would come to our league, and embrace it so passionately, I would never have believed you.

Of course, no matter what happens at Sydney, fans will have the opportunity to say thank you when he leads the All Stars against Juventus in August.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Frank Farina's future is the other issue hanging heavily over Sydney. He needed a top-four finish to guarantee a contract for next season. The Sydney front office isn't known for stability, so who knows what they will do.

Farina did a good job this year under difficult circumstances. It must be extremely difficult to coach a team under so much uncertainty and he handled all the questions about his future with great dignity.

His team was so brave against Victory and they clearly played for the coach. You could never question their heart or spirit.

Will Frank Farina be given another year at Sydney FC? Source: Getty Images

The club has now come to the end of a two-year cycle, they have to sign new players and also decide if Frank's the man to build the new era. I'd like to see him stay.

Finally, if fans want a glimpse of the future, it was there in Terry Antonis.

He is getting better all the time and, at 20, I hope he doesn't go to Europe too soon. His dream of playing Serie A will always be there, but he will leave as a better player if he stays in Sydney for at least one more season.

It's exciting when young talent comes through and you can understand a player wanting it all right now.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Yet, too many times, we have seen a player leave the A-League and get lost in Europe. You almost need to send a search party out to find them.

The last thing Australian football needs is what happened to Tommy Rogic at Celtic repeating itself with Antonis. He missed so much game time this year with a thigh injury, he needs miles in his legs. He will get that here.

A finals spot was a good result when you consider their early-season problems. But a club the size of Sydney has to aim higher than fifth place.

Sydney should be a club of ambition — and those tough decisions have to be made now.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

‘Time for big decisions at Sydney FC’

Dengan url

http://sportifoclube.blogspot.com/2014/04/atime-for-big-decisions-at-sydney-fca.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

‘Time for big decisions at Sydney FC’

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

‘Time for big decisions at Sydney FC’

sebagai sumbernya