For Steve Corica and the Sydney FC board, the prawns and pavlova on the table for Christmas lunch would have done little to bring the festive cheer to the harbour city, where blue skies have become increasingly grey in recent weeks.
A difficult 2022 for Sydney’s A-League Men’s side ended not with a bang, but with a whimper, as they fell to a demoralising 3-0 defeat at home to Macarthur FC on Christmas Eve. It was their heaviest defeat of the season so far and also their most concerning performance, with Macarthur recording nine more shots than Corica’s side despite having only 43% of the ball.
There was a large mitigating factor in a Joe Lolley red-card just before the hour mark with the score at 1-0 that left Sydney without their star attacker, but the way the side capitulated in the aftermath and their record for the season so far – five losses in nine games – has sent alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power in Sydney.
All of this off the back of a season where they finished outside the finals for the first time since 2016 means that Corica’s status as coach is openly being questioned by fans and media alike.
There was hope that the break for the World Cup would give Sydney the chance to reset and for injured players to find their fitness, particularly as they lost their two matches before the break. Whilst a 2-1 win at home over ladder leading Melbourne City sparked hopes of a revival, they have thudded back down to earth with two losses in a row.
What’s more, the injury crisis still remains an issue as Jack Rodwell has only played 45 minutes (coming off at half-time against Melbourne City), whilst centre-back partner and club captain Alex Wilkinson has failed to play a minute since limping off at half-time in the opening match of the season, with Corica admitting that he won’t see the field till the end of January.
The injuries have had a huge impact on Sydney’s defensive performances, with the Sky Blues currently having the equal worst defence in the league, conceding 18 goals. James Donachie is struggling to lead the line, which is having an impact on the young Aaron Gurd who is still a raw talent, and Adrian Vlastelica who is having to make a big transition to A-League level from the NPL with Sydney United.
Despite this, there have also been occasions this season where Sydney’s defensive structure has disintegrated completely from top to bottom, where the team concedes easy goals in transition as happened against Macarthur, or fails to react to the second phase of set-pieces or to put adequate pressure on attacking players, as was the case in their 3-1 loss to Brisbane in November. That isn’t just down to personnel issues, that reflects issues with the tactical set up and the way the side is being coached to defend.
And this isn’t unique to this season. Sydney also had the third worst defence in the competition last season, and that was with Wilkinson playing all 26 league matches.
Sydney’s attack also isn’t free from criticism; whilst they have 14 goals – which is more than four teams in front of them on the table – it is being largely carried by wingers Lolley and Robert Mak, and the former will now miss the next two games through suspension. Their derby loss to Western Sydney showcased their wastefulness in front of goal and their struggle to make the right decisions in the final third, another theme from last season.
Despite last season’s struggles, Corica was handed a new two-year deal by the club, partly in recognition for his two grand-final wins, but also due to his promises that he would rebuild and reshape the side to be winners again. There were new signings, a formation change and the highly publicised defection of a former club legend, this increased the pressure on Corica and meant his side had to hit the ground running. They haven’t.
He gambled in relying on a 38 year-old Wilkinson and Rodwell – who has a history of injuries – to anchor the defence, and gambled in placing the faith in an ageing Adam Le Fondre to effectively lead the line up front. It could be argued that the Sydney board gambled in giving Corica they keys once again when there have been premonitions surrounding Corica and this Sydney side since the 2020-21 season where despite making the grand final, the sheen of a previously invincible team began to come away.
In truth, if there was an ‘ideal’ time to dispense of Corica and start anew, it would have been at the end of last season; with his contract expiring, it offered the chance of a clean break without the ignominy of having to sack him, as well as the chance to give a club legend the farewell he deserves for his 17 years of service to the Sky Blues. Yet it is now looking increasingly likely that barring a massive upturn in form, that Corica will soon be dismissed from his role just months after signing a new deal, with his legacy somewhat diminished as he presided over a team that went from world-beaters to inconsistency and mediocrity.
The warning signs were there to see, yet it is unclear if Scott Barlow and the rest of the Sydney power brokers could see them. Maybe they truly trusted Corica to get them out of the slump, or maybe they didn’t want to be seen as having a rebuilding year in their first season at the new Allianz Stadium.
Whatever the reasons, they are staring down the barrel of having to do an embarrassing u-turn if Corica cannot turn the results around. And it feels like a situation that could have been totally avoidable.
Corica’s harshest critics will claim that he has simply ridden on the coattails of Graham Arnold’s success during his tenure, and whilst that is a harsh conclusion, there is no denying the Arnold and Corica era’s are closely intertwined. And whilst it’s true that the grass always looks greener on the other side, there is a growing sense that a total reboot is needed in Sydney after eight seasons under the same two managers.
Sydney erred in not making the tough choice at the end of last season, and that could make any rebuilding project harder and more painful in more ways than one.
Image Source: Getty Images/Cameron Spencer
