Didn't take long

[marinermick]

Culina Staying, Insists Sydney

Kevin Airs
Sep 19 2007 12:37

SYDNEY FC today denied claims that coach Branko Culina was on his way out of the club despite a dismal start to the season for the glamour A-League club.
Culina took control in February after Terry Butcher failed to take the club beyond the first round of last season’s finals.

In his opening matches for the Asian Champions League, he transformed the side and played attractive winning football, only narrowing missing out on a quarter-finals berth.

But since then, he has just won three of his 15 games with the club including a disastrous pre-season campaign and last weekend’s loss at home against bottom of the league Wellington Phoenix.

Rumours among fans this morning claimed the board had finally tired of Culina’s performance and had decided to sack the coach.

But a club spokesman today said: “I can categorically deny that.

“There was a board meeting earlier this week but we have board meetings on a regular basis and the topic of the coach never came up at any stage.”

[greenpoleffc]

Smoke + fire perhaps???

FWIW, I reckon the HAL managers chances of getting the punt by the end of the season (in order) are:-

1= Branco & Ron Smith
3 = GVE (coz he works for a loon and would be SFC's choice)
4 = Farina
5 = Vidmar
6 = Merrick
7 & 8 = Lawrie & Rickie Herbert

Be interesting to see how many get the chop by the end of V3??

[Adz]

Should call them McDonald's FC because they have a higher staff turnover than Maccas

[Bearinator]

Branco and Ron will be gone before years end.

Mitchell will take over at Perth till years end, whilst Sydney will hire Nik Theodorowhatshisface till years end.

GVE will then take over at QLD, as Cranky Franky will take over Sydney. Mitchell will stay head coach of Perth, and Ron will go to the Scum.

All the while, the mighty Mariners will sit top of the league, followed by Melbourne (minus Donkey Allsopp, who will leave in the next transfer window), Wellington, and Adelaide, whos coaches will all keep their jobs.

You heard it here 1st.

[curious]

3 = GVE (coz he works for a loon and would be SFC's choice)

He will get the sack after a blue about sending Jardel to the glue factory.

[serious14]

Just waiting for Branko to get the "full support of the board"...... (well, Uncle Frank)

[midfielder]

I hate Sydney but to wish Frank on them serious14, thats bad kama. If that happens something will happen to us the bus will cash into the Hawkerbury River or something.

So stop, we have a great coach and a great team, let the other's worrry about themselves.

Opinion best place after the match to have a feed.

[Bearinator]

midfielder said:

I hate Sydney but to wish Frank on them serious14, thats bad kama. If that happens something will happen to us the bus will cash into the Hawkerbury River or something.

So stop, we have a great coach and a great team, let the other's worrry about themselves.

Opinion best place after the match to have a feed.

Yes, how dare we have opinions about other teams in the a-league other than our own, in the australian football general section. Muppet.

[Rubbernose]

That's usually the coach's kiss of death in football isn't it.

IF Culina was to go - which, whilst it sounds utterly silly wouldn't actually surprise me from that club, nothing would anymore - I reckon Kosmina might step in.

They've been linked before, I believe Lowy was after him whilst he was still at Adelaide, and he must have a certain amount of faith in him if he appointed him the Socceroos Assistant Coach.

[serious14]

Midfielder - I don't quite understand your point...... I wasn't wishing Uncle Frank on them, they already have Uncle Frank on them, and I was merely stating that Frank's will is the boards will, and to think otherwise is short sighted.

LOLZ! at the thought of Kosmina coaching Sydney - I'm sure the Cove would LOVE that. ;D

[Perm]

would they love it more than GRAEME ARNOLD?

[T]

From the Daily Tele
By David Davutovic

September 20, 2007 12:00am

It's early in the season but Sydney FC lie bottom of the A-League, with dissent emanating from the boardroom. David Davutovic looks at why the so-called glamour club is in such a sorry state.

THEY proclaimed to be the Manchester United of the A-League at the start of the season yet Sydney FC are now stone motherless last and still winless.

A-League rivals claim Sydney FC have an air of artificial arrogance about them and say it's time to tone down the bravado.

The irony is that Sir Alex Ferguson is approaching his 21st anniversary with the Red Devils while a ruthless Sydney FC board may be preparing to appoint a fourth coach within four years.

How have things turned so sour since the stunning success of season one?

ARROGANCE FC

Some say the club has reeked of arrogance from day one when it adopted the "Bling FC" tag, which still lingers.

Wellington captain Ross Aloisi yesterday confirmed comments made by FC coach Branko Culina were a source of motivation for last Friday's 2-1 upset in Sydney.

Culina claimed "it was like they went on a victory lap" pre- game, referring to the Phoenix celebrating a goal against Sydney in the pre-season cup.

"Saying something that's untrue annoyed certain people and we used it as motivation," Aloisi said. "It was strange and I wouldn't like my coach making such a comment.



"Even after Friday's game, he said they gifted us the first goal, but it was a brilliant strike by Felipe."

Others believe Sydney players are also to blame.

"Since losing Dwight Yorke they have tried to live up to that image. They've got a coach who's very strong-willed and confident but the players aren't up to it," he said.

"I know a player who went on trial there and most players didn't even say hello."

Also, former Wigan goalkeeper John Filan was training with the team and was set to sign a contract before opting out because he didn't like the vibe, it is understood.

Another A-League player said FC deserve the scrutiny if they can't live up to the hype.

"They've got to cop it because they keep talking themselves up," he said. "If Manchester United were last they would cop it too," he said.

Another source said the whole ethos of the club had to be reformed.

RECRUITMENT

Culina has to deal with the fact that Sydney FC's team is not as good as it was in season one, while the rest of the league have improved considerably.

Prime movers Dwight Yorke, David Carney, Alvin Ceccoli and Sasho Petrovski are gone. Juninho, Tony Popovic, Alex Brosque, Michael Enfield, Adam Casey, Brendon Santalab, Patrick plus a handful of kids have been drafted and none have yet stamped their imprint, although Juninho and Popovic have barely arrived and should be given time.

SEASON ONE SINS

Reckless spending was Sydney FC's motto in season one under the Tim Parker administration and they are still paying dearly for it.

"I can't believe what they were offering players, it was ludicrous," one agent said.

Culina's recruiting drive didn't lure too many prize catches, but was that his fault?

FC had to free Ceccoli and Petrovski before Culina arrived. Much of that had to do with making room in the salary cap and disenchantment with predecessor Terry Butcher.

Even so, Culina's hands were tied.

The state leagues of NSW and Victoria are not laden with talent but useful players are earning more money there than they would in the A-League.

By the end of this season several top earners will be coming out of contract, including David Zdrilic, Ufuk Talay and Mark Rudan. If they are to be re-signed they are likely to be offered lesser deals.

MAKESHIFT TEAM

Former Socceroo Robbie Slater says too many players are in makeshift roles.

"There's too much imbalance, like Iain Fyfe isn't a left back," Slater said.

"Coaches, players and marquee players have come and gone and that's created a degree of instability in the team.



"It has to work because Sydney's such a vital market."

INSTABILITY

Sydney face the prospect of a fourth coach in as many seasons should Culina face the chop, a plausible scenario with such an impatient board. FC have already gone through three chairmen, chief executives and marketing managers.

"What are they trying to build? There's a real ad-hoc and quick-fix mentality and when that's the case you can't build a culture," a source said.





FANS OFFSIDE

Sydney is a demanding sporting market and beyond the hardcore Cove, FC fans are as fickle as they come.

One Sydney FC member said the loss to Wellington was the first time he could remember the team being booed off.

"Friday night was D-grade stuff," he said.





THE CROWDS

Sydney seem to be making commercial progress after locking in improved sponsorship deals but there are doubts as to their marketing prowess.

"Have you seen a Brazilian beat drum there yet? Have they executed a marketing campaign to capitalise on Juninho's signing?" said a PR voice.

Another member said the Wellington attendance was cause for grave concern. "It was a nice night and there were only 11,000, that should be a worry," he said.

"They're failing to connect with the community."

[greenpoleffc]

How terribly sad :-)

[nutmeg]

The headings and the photos in the paper version are classic

[serious14]

*smiles at the very thought of Arnold coaching Sydney*

Just imagine it - "Arnold Out!!!" chants by the home AND away crowds...... not that Sydney will have more than 10 000 to deal with soon.

[Pete]

I can see Arnold's name coming into the mix after the new coach of the Socceroos is announced officially.

Culina is dealing with a squad that's not his choosing, he should take this season as one big trial - tell the players just that - and then recommend to the Board who stays and who goes.

There has already been media talk about the age of his squad, and the stupidity of some of the original contracts signed, so my guess is that Culina will stay and conduct a bloody big cleanout of old players and get players he wants.

That top media story about the Board meeting regularly - I'm sure I saw an almost identical story at the start of the turn against Butcher last year, which must be a worry to Culina though.