Matthew Hall
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The Silent Civil War
Hungry for success, Sydney FC is now eating itself.
What was originally billed as a season of sure success has become another chapter in an ever-unfolding saga of drama, deceit, and, ultimately, disappointment.
Picking over the bones, fans, media, and club officials all want scapegoats and someone to blame. It's not pretty and it is far from dignified.
Frank Lowy possibly can't believe his luck at being able to extract himself from the fiasco and sell his shares to David Traktovenko.
But the Russian, at home in St Petersburg mulling over bigger and badder businesses that he is involved with, is possibly wondering what he got himself into by buying this dysfunctional football club in Australia.
And extreme dysfunction is what it is.
How else to explain a club where the star player, coach, and chairman are at war with each other, won't talk with each other, and all claim each other as the reason for the season's woes (privately, if not publicly).
Exhibit A: John Aloisi, the household name signed with much fanfare as the highest-paid footballer in the country. Except that he was played within a tactical formation that doesn't suit his assets and the result is terrible season in front of goal. Boo-hoo, his salary has become a focal point of grievance. Fans complain. Everything, apparently, is Aloisi's fault and that includes a global recession, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the price of a hot dog at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Exhibit B: John Kosmina, Sydney FC's beleaguered coach who has to produce a Championship, with style, or else he's dead meat destined for one of those SCG hot dogs. One of the best Sydney squads ever, including local heroes Aloisi, Simon Colosimo, and Mark Bridge, has the talent to deliver on its promise wrapped up in a shiny bow. Except Aloisi hits a downturn, Colosimo is injured and Bridge goes nowhere. Meanwhile, there's talk the dressing room has turned. Maybe Branko Culina, Terry Butcher, and Pierre Littbarski weren't so bad after all.
Exhibit C: Andrew Kemeny, club chairman who is friends with no one - except Frank Lowy and Kosmina, which counts for everything as this cast covers its back. But rather than support Aloisi, Kemeny publicly twists a "gentleman's agreement" in an effort to get the player he signed to walk away from his contract.
What will transpire over the next few weeks remains uncertain but one thing is sure - this club isn't big enough for all of these guys.
Who will exit?
Kemeny is on borrowed time when Traktovenko takes over in March.
Aloisi has a contract that Sydney cannot afford to pay out.
Kosmina has underachieved, when former coaches have been fired for less clear reasons.
"Be part of something big," claims Sydney FC's website.
A big mess wasn't the original implication.
COMMENTS
TO MANY PEOPLE DONT KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT FOOTBALL FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
JUST LOOK AT THE GOLD COAST UNITED
HOW IT IS RUN, ALL WITH FOOTBALL
EXPERIENCE. BYE BYE SYDNEY FC.
- by JOSEPH MIZZI on January 10, 2009 at 09:53 PM
I was just wondering Sydney has done poorly in second half of season after a "FEW" of their players have signed elsewhere and each week these players are the ones not really putting in,they need to take a good look at Taj who even though has signed for GGU puts in 100%
as it is about professionalism.Good luck Fury you are going to need it as these players are worrying about themselves and not the team/club-I was a big supporter of some of thees players not anymore.Shame,shame,shame.
PS Kossie look to your youth as they seem the only ones that really want it for the pride of Sydney.
- by Andrew English on January 10, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Everybody knows that Kemeny signed Aloisi in what was the "most embarrassing piece of football administration ever" (an SFC boardmember's quote)
Kosmina recruited a great squad at Adelaide ... he has an eye for talent, but tactically ... he's void.
New chairman and new coach required ... and a second Sydney team please ... who get it right off the park, as well as on .... many Sydney people support the Mariners .... that's the biggest embarrassment of all.
- by Phil on January 11, 2009 at 09:25 AM
Too many ego's at SFC , including even the fans (refer SFC fans forum)! Kosmina gets right up my nose, he's unprofessional, as can be seen in the photos and his interviews.
- by Mike on January 11, 2009 at 09:54 AM
Well said Matt. Also agree with your article in SunHerald today. To blame Aloisi for Sydney's woes is ludicrous. Apart from Corica, it would be hard to pick any player who has shown and maintained the standard this season. Bolton continues to have brain snaps, Fyfe has been at direct fault for more goals than any other by my reckoning (and Kosmina makes him captain if Corica is off!), Bridge has been anonymous/lazy all season, Brosque is a one-footed lightweight. These are all senior players who have a lot to answer for.
The jeering of Aloisi by the Cove last home game was disgraceful and simply shows their ignorance. There has been no plan (or, at least, doesn't seem to have be one) to Sydney's play and this goes much deeper than just one player.
- by Peter on January 11, 2009 at 10:59 AM
The fact of the matter is Frank Lowy distabalised the club having no experience in football management he issued instructions to cut corners and anyperson too professional to be disposed of! This includes from Any Harper, Pierre, Yorke, Junhino Peter Turnbull who invesd plenty of meney in the club start-up was kicked off the board and many other great staff and supporters who are waiting to jump on the Sydney West wagon. They were all shown the door because they beleive in the realism of football. The business sector has never supported Sydney due t the fact Lowy is denial he has been in conflict with his chairperson position. His chairperson position I commend to date but there he reports to the Austtralian Body of Sport who oversees him. Having a leader with such bad representation and who cannot fill the chairmans luncheon with 50 numbers every home game is appalling. The above fact are from our surveys and are true and correct in every way.
- by GK on January 11, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Sydney need some stability and build a team like everyone else. Last thing they need is another overhaul of coach and players.
- by Brett Jakes on January 11, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Kosmina is to blame for Aloisi not performing as he sets out the formation and tactics. If Aloisi doesn't get the ball there isn't much he can do about scoring now is there? How Aloisi scores is a well known fact yet Kosmina consistently played a system that did not give Aloisi an opportunity to score, forget the 2 sitters, all strikers miss sitters from time to time, they usually get more than 2 shots a year though! Kosmina has to go, get a decent overseas coach and rebuild.
- by Vince on January 11, 2009 at 01:16 PM
FC need to start developing a strong club culuture. A football institution which develops players and rewards performance. This can only be driven by a club with the vision and strategy to develop the best players in this state. FC have failed to engage and involve state league clubs who together could identify the best talent available. Since inception the only thing FC have offered is ego and arrogance. Look at CC and its strategy and you may find the key to running a succesful club. Succesful organisations have strong leadership with clear direction.
Success on the field is driven by success off it.
- by CP on January 18, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Matthew, the silent civil war you describe in your article happens in any workplace small or large everyday and is never reported. Most people go through this kind of stressor in the workplace leave as no one will do anything about it and management and human resources find some way to blame the individual rather than ever admit that they are to blame for the unrest in the workplace. Back to Sydney FC!! Sydney FC needs to observe what Melbourne Victory, Adelaide and Central Coast are doing right. Management, coaching, players, fans and packing stadiums. Personally, I think management needs an overhaul and Kosmina needs to go. I gave Kosmina a go. He needs to learn that as a manager, he has to be professional and to set an example to his players. Actions speak louder than words!! A good coach or manager needs to find the strengths of his team and to use his personnel/players to the best of their potential every time they play. I really feel for the players in this scenario. I would have thought that Kosmina would have learnt from past mistakes but unfortunately he hasn't. John Kosmina, some words of advice: Grow up!!
- by travelling_max on January 25, 2009 at 12:33 PM
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Agree with your comments on Aloisi, not sure whose decision it was to sign him but the fact remains that he is at the club, he is the marquee player yet he doesn't get the service that he needs, and he doesn't get played. Clearly Kossie doesn't want Aloisi at the club. Not sure where it all went wrong for Sydney, how can our club go from champions to has beens. Consider clubs like Adelaide and Central Coast who have had stability, and even though they haven't won a title they have maintained a high standard both on and off the field. CC are building a multiple million dollar complex, Adelaide play good football and did well in Asia, yet Sydney go from bad to worse. Kossie has used too many players, has introduced too many young players, had used too many excuses, he has lost the fans, his time now is up.