The age of mediocrity is now

[Ironbark]

Don't get me wrong, I see why people are worried. I am too. We could easily not get there, or teams work us out, we have agonising loses every week and we don't make finals. All very possible.

Based on performances and a bit off bad luck (hitting woodwork, great saves) we aren't currently that far off and could easily have won some games by now. But we are no doubt a long way from being the polished final product.

But that's to be expected. It's a rebuild.

It looks like emotion is guiding the perception of where we're at for many though.
From 6-1 championship winners to struggling to click is hard to take. It's a long stretch to say we're back to the dark days though.

Watch objectively, without the emotional investment, and it's clear that with a little more gelling we absolutely win games atm. I expect to improve game by game (see rebuilding). But it's also true that we lack depth, and maybe coaching (too early to know) and maybe we don't get there.

Still, objectively we can't expect this team with a new coach to be firing on all cylinders yet.
Getting all upset, angry and dismayed is an emotional response rather than a realistic one based on the margins.

Objectively,
* We are creating a lot of chances.
We are wasting them, as we did the last 2 season starts under Monty. We are also facing good saves and the woodwork.

* We are leaking goals.
But we've also had 2 reds and 2 significant injuries in 3 games, whilst chasing games we should have been leading. We've also leaked because we become less refined the further a game goes on and energy/concentration seeps due to applying a non-stop press.

So to repeat - it's only been 3 games, we've been in all of them until a point and barring chance could have scored many goals.
We are at the start of a rebuild.
Patience is required. So chill and let's see where this is headed before cracking open each other's heads and feasting on the goo inside hey

 

[Tevor]

Don't get me wrong, I see why people are worried. I am too. We could easily not get there, or teams work us out, we have agonising loses every week and we don't make finals. All very possible.

Based on performances and a bit off bad luck (hitting woodwork, great saves) we aren't currently that far off and could easily have won some games by now. But we are no doubt a long way from being the polished final product.

But that's to be expected. It's a rebuild.

It looks like emotion is guiding the perception of where we're at for many though.
From 6-1 championship winners to struggling to click is hard to take. It's a long stretch to say we're back to the dark days though.

Watch objectively, without the emotional investment, and it's clear that with a little more gelling we absolutely win games atm. I expect to improve game by game (see rebuilding). But it's also true that we lack depth, and maybe coaching (too early to know) and maybe we don't get there.

Still, objectively we can't expect this team with a new coach to be firing on all cylinders yet.
Getting all upset, angry and dismayed is an emotional response rather than a realistic one based on the margins.

Objectively,
* We are creating a lot of chances.
We are wasting them, as we did the last 2 season starts under Monty. We are also facing good saves and the woodwork.

* We are leaking goals.
But we've also had 2 reds and 2 significant injuries in 3 games, whilst chasing games we should have been leading. We've also leaked because we become less refined the further a game goes on and energy/concentration seeps due to applying a non-stop press.

So to repeat - it's only been 3 games, we've been in all of them until a point and barring chance could have scored many goals.
We are at the start of a rebuild.
Patience is required. So chill and let's see where this is headed before cracking open each other's heads and feasting on the goo inside hey

We have had three strong seasons in a row it’s not just coming off the GF win. That’s been a prolonged period of success. Watched all four games yesterday and we are clearly one of the weaker teams in the comp in my opinion. We look the worst in attack in the comp, I don’t see that changing with these players and our game plan. I had hope for Torres but he does deserve the criticism. Kuol, well now we know why we had to buy him back. DWH, I was sceptical when we signed him. He has 20 goals from over 100 games and is playing like he always has. This front third isn’t going to trouble many defenders or good keepers just as we are witnessing every week. It’s why Faz looks like our best attacking option. That’s a huge worry if you are a striker in our team.

 

[turbo]

So chill and let's see where this is headed before cracking open each other's heads and feasting on the goo inside hey

The worrying thing is we’ve already played a few of the weaker sides in Perth and Macarthur. City will be rallying be the time we get to them. WU might be one of the more winnable games, Sydney a bit of a mystery atm,

 

[Ironbark]

I wonder about some of our players and how they might have gone under Monty. He/Serg were superb at bringing the best out of players.

Eg. DWH was a Monty project. Without Monty will he stagnate? Would Monty have turned him into a force? Can MJ? Will he make it anyway?

I reckon a few signings were projects, that unfortunately may not evolve the way they might have under Monty.

Time will tell

 

[Meerkat]

I wonder about some of our players and how they might have gone under Monty. He/Serg were superb at bringing the best out of players.

Eg. DWH was a Monty project. Without Monty will he stagnate? Would Monty have turned him into a force? Can MJ? Will he make it anyway?

I reckon a few signings were projects, that unfortunately may not evolve the way they might have under Monty.

Time will tell

I would go as far as to say half of them were Monty / Serg projects that may / may not have worked under them either. Much like Kelechi / Ayongo / Ruhs / Aquilina. As much as I love Monty and understand why he left, he still had to be accountable for the situation we are in. He signed these players and bailed. Won’t bother him I don’t think, in his new role where he no longer answers to us, but to say he isn’t culpable at all would be inaccurate.

 

[Tevor]

I wonder about some of our players and how they might have gone under Monty. He/Serg were superb at bringing the best out of players.

Eg. DWH was a Monty project. Without Monty will he stagnate? Would Monty have turned him into a force? Can MJ? Will he make it anyway?

I reckon a few signings were projects, that unfortunately may not evolve the way they might have under Monty.

Time will tell

To be honest Monty isn’t setting the world on fire in the SPL. Like MJ he is working with a team he didn’t pick. I see they just got knocked out of the Cup, they are mid table and only 4 points above last place. It’s a long season but he hasn’t improved them heaps yet.

With what MJ has said in his presser the players are the ones not performing and doing what they are asked. Maybe we would be going ordinary with Monty as well.

 

[FFC Mariner]

If Monty keeps going badly he might be free sooner rather than later.
Hibs are a clusterf**k and won't hesitate to spear him rather than blame themselves.

 

[Meerkat]

Aside from Alou who we have bought back cheaply.., the recruits are a bunch of freebies.

Great business if they prove successful. But selling championship winning players and barely spending a cent to replace them may explain a few things if I’m honest.

 

[LFCMariners]

Went to the basketball today with a couple of old friends, one of whom is a SFC member. We were talking about recent A-League games and he was laughing at people on SFCU who are acting like 3 rounds are enough to declare that the season is over and I said "Hey- that sounds like CCMFans at the moment!"

 

[adz]

Tbf it is over for Sydney tho

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Don't get me wrong, I see why people are worried. I am too. We could easily not get there, or teams work us out, we have agonising loses every week and we don't make finals. All very possible.

Based on performances and a bit off bad luck (hitting woodwork, great saves) we aren't currently that far off and could easily have won some games by now. But we are no doubt a long way from being the polished final product.

But that's to be expected. It's a rebuild.

It looks like emotion is guiding the perception of where we're at for many though.
From 6-1 championship winners to struggling to click is hard to take. It's a long stretch to say we're back to the dark days though.

Watch objectively, without the emotional investment, and it's clear that with a little more gelling we absolutely win games atm. I expect to improve game by game (see rebuilding). But it's also true that we lack depth, and maybe coaching (too early to know) and maybe we don't get there.

Still, objectively we can't expect this team with a new coach to be firing on all cylinders yet.
Getting all upset, angry and dismayed is an emotional response rather than a realistic one based on the margins.

Objectively,
* We are creating a lot of chances.
We are wasting them, as we did the last 2 season starts under Monty. We are also facing good saves and the woodwork.

* We are leaking goals.
But we've also had 2 reds and 2 significant injuries in 3 games, whilst chasing games we should have been leading. We've also leaked because we become less refined the further a game goes on and energy/concentration seeps due to applying a non-stop press.

So to repeat - it's only been 3 games, we've been in all of them until a point and barring chance could have scored many goals.
We are at the start of a rebuild.
Patience is required. So chill and let's see where this is headed before cracking open each other's heads and feasting on the goo inside hey

Great post.

A little bit of luck in a couple of those games would have been nice, as the job is only getting harder as we all know losing perpetuates losing. But there are solid reasons as to why any team wouldn't yet be firing and enough signs that we can hope to ably compete. That still doesn't mean the sky won't fall in or that MJ is a great coach. But if I'm the coach, personally I'm looking at those games cursing at how winnable they were. Which is not even remotely close to our dark times.

Everything would turn around fast if Alou and DWH start banging in a goal every other game. Which is not an unreasonable aspiration or as a manager too big an ask - especially given as that we're getting possession in good territory, have butchered a significant number of chances and as IB points out, have had also some great defensive efforts spoil our party.

 

[Big Al]

Over 270 minutes of football, we have scored 1 goal... From a defender.

Let that sink in

So your saying we are playing Kaltak out position.

 

[Insertnamehere]

So your saying we are playing Kaltak out position.

The old centre half to striker conversion. Was it Jamie Harnwell for the glory who did that?

 

[marinermick]

The old centre half to striker conversion. Was it Jamie Harnwell for the glory who did that?

Robbie Cornthwaite for Arnie’s Socceroos or Paul O’Grady for us under Lawrie

 

[FFC Mariner]

Robbie Cornthwaite for Arnie’s Socceroos or Paul O’Grady for us under Lawrie

"He drinks, he drives, crashes and survives".............

 

[turbo]

he was laughing at people on SFCU who are acting like 3 rounds are enough to declare that the season is over and I said "Hey- that sounds like CCMFans at the moment!"

The difference is Sydney have the players and the budget to turn it around. Right now I don't think we've got the cattle to be anything higher than mid table and very much doubt we spend a bunch in Jan to even make that a reality.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

To be honest Monty isn’t setting the world on fire in the SPL. Like MJ he is working with a team he didn’t pick. I see they just got knocked out of the Cup, they are mid table and only 4 points above last place. It’s a long season but he hasn’t improved them heaps yet.

With what MJ has said in his presser the players are the ones not performing and doing what they are asked. Maybe we would be going ordinary with Monty as well.

Sitting at home sick, so very long post warning.

Good point Tevor. And honestly, I think it's more likely than not. We know Monty and co have gotten their share of signings wrong too and last year just without Cummings we would have had a mediocre season. Take out Silvera as well... We wouldn't have even made finals. Take out Nectar and Beni... who knows where we'd have finished.

Maybe I'm a fool, but for some reason I still believe that Alou has it in him. But time is running out fast. If no one steps up and starts finding the net, then we will suffer until we get reinforcements and it seems plenty of fans are going to blame Jackson even though he's obviously come in last minute and it's not his squad. Actually makes me a bit glad it wasn't Ben Cahn. May have been an impossible hill to climb that would have stalled his otherwise promising career. Of course everyone wants the gig. But hard time to take over.

I do hate this position though. Because if Jackson truly is shit, it does mean that we are at risk of enduring a relatively poor season under him, but not until a little over a year from now when Jackson has built his own squad and had a proper pre season, will we be able to be sure that he's genuinely shit and sack him. Like the Moss era when he was running on Arnie's fumes for a while.

So in the interim. I'm bracing, but I'm still determined to try to see and things as clearly as I can. Quite a few people have been decrying the tactics and the coaching, but largely the only substantiation I've heard is that players are not playing well enough. That 'could' be a result of bad coaching. But it's not in itself hard evidence of bad coaching - especially when what we're seeing is issues in a specific area and the players playing in that area are either new recruits the last coach signed or our bench players previously.

We're fans, we all love to talk shape and selections and play football manager. But unless you're privvy to all the trainings and convos, most things are pretty hard to tell when it comes to specifically apportioning blame. You don't know if players are not really being coached, being mis-coached, simply in poor form, just not good enough or simply undertaking something new and just need a bit more time.

Putting shape, broader game management strategies or a coaches given philosophy/system aside. If I made a by no means comprehensive check list off the top of my head, even the more likely indications of shit coaching have to be consistently displayed by a team to be able to reliably suggest it has to be a result of bad coaching...

- being dominated in possession
- losing the midfield
- poor territory / low entries into opponents final third
- unable to play out
- turn overs & unforced errors
- failure to create chances
- too much space between the lines
- failure to slide, mark or track back
- poor positioning - by unit or collectively
- poor timing of movement - be it stepping up or second waves into the box
- poor communication
- unorganised defensive line
- regularly conceding from set pieces
- failure to tackle or force turn overs
- not contesting or winning second balls
- lack of intelligent movement off the ball and runs
- slow ball movement
- poor link play
- lack of effort
- lack of confidence
- lack of concentration
- lack of belief
- lack of discipline
- obvious team disharmony
- poor team selection
- poor substitutions
- poor recruitment
- wrong tactical response
- slow tactical response
- no tactical response
- tactical inflexibility

I'm willing to put defensive lapses aside for now, as we all know it's a given that some brain farts at the back are par the course with our money ball and youth policy. From the above list, I personally haven't seen all that much yet that shouts out that it's clearly Jackson who's responsible for our short comings. Conversely, as a few others have tried to say, if you watch the games objectively like a neutral, we've actually been ticking quite a few of the boxes and it's been pretty bloody clear what hasn't been working.

Now maybe Jackson is handling his attackers poorly in training and or telling them the wrong things, but if so, despite it, they've still all had plenty of chances to shine in games and or get the win for us but they simply have not taken their moments.

Why? Well, it's always a hard job. And right now? Loss of Monty would have hurt them no doubt. JC and co have also just cast a pretty damn big shadow which may be affecting them. But whatever it is, what's most worrying and costly right now is our decision making/final ball and goal scoring. Further compromised by our lack of attacking depth, heavier schedule and ever present budget limitations.

I agree with calling out our attack. So the only marks against Jackson for me so far, and tbf he has to work with the squad he has, has been a couple of selections. Wilson over Theo... but so many doubters of Theo on here that would have surely made the same error. Storm over Doka. But was Storm fit? I'd take Hall over Paull. But there's probably not a real lot in it...

BUT... the big inescapable argument against that places all and any consideration above aside, is that he is now 3 losses from 3. It's not remotely the full picture, so it would be completely unfair not to contextualise it. But if we're winless in 6. Context doesn't matter. The battle is now becoming massive mentally for players, coaches and fans, et al. So like anyone else, rightly or wrongly, even just for morale, I think he would have to go.

But for mine we're not there yet... and there's still some hope. But it does mean Alou, Torres, Tulio, and DWH must come good. And I think he knows that. Hence his comments. Because he doesn't have any other options. Reec, Wilson or even Di Pizio are not going to save our season.

 

[marinermick]

The difference is Sydney have the players and the budget to turn it around. Right now I don't think we've got the cattle to be anything higher than mid table and very much doubt we spend a bunch in Jan to even make that a reality.

This is actually debatable at the moment. Scott Barlow, the owner, is going through a divorce at the moment and will lose his cash cow billionaire father-in-law.

He is currently putting some of his property up for sale.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

This is actually debatable at the moment. Scott Barlow, the owner, is going through a divorce at the moment and will lose his cash cow billionaire father-in-law.

He is currently putting some of his property up for sale.

Oooh interesting times.

 

[Wombat]

The old centre half to striker conversion. Was it Jamie Harnwell for the glory who did that?

He used to score for fun. What a great player Harnwell was.