Sydney Olympic is limping to a meek surrender of
its NSW Championship. As a poor season was compounded even further, by losing
to an anti-football Marconi side on Sunday Afternoon at Belmore Sports Ground.
We are entering territory where we now don’t have matters in our own hands and
we start needing “favours” and “results to go our way elsewhere” to even make
the Top 5, play Finals and defend our Championship. Which all things considered,
is very unlikely to occur anyway.
I will not be going through all the same issues and wasting everybody’s time, especially
about things that I have been posting about all season, as it is getting all
too repetitive, I’m sure. Most people who have eyes and who have either been to
matches or watched the games on the internet throughout the year, know and
understand what has been dished up this season.
Offensively, none of our supposed strikers have scored in any of the last 6 rounds.
Obviously, relying on your midfielders and defenders to score your goals every
match, is going to bring you nothing, and get you nowhere.
Defensively, we haven’t conceded this many goals (31) since season 2010, when
we finished a pathetic 2nd last. Bear in mind that there are still 2 rounds to
go though, so there is ample time to match the 40 we copped that year.
What a difference 12 months makes, we can’t score and can’t defend now and the
doom and gloom times have returned.
We were on a hiding to nothing from the get go. Everybody involved at the club
have dropped the ball. I’m not sure what went through their minds at the end of
last year, we just rock up in 2019 and everything just happens like magic
again?
Did they really think that was how it was going to play out?
Don’t bring in any new faces, don’t replace the talent that left in the off-season,
don’t sign anyone of note, then sign players who are duds who were way passed
it.
Good plan.
We got what we deserved in 2019 and that’s nothing. Not to mention the Cup run
we had this season, where it was as if we were trying very hard to get
ourselves knocked out by some random park teams at the earliest point possible.
People at the club instead have been too busy running around discussing
frivolous things like alleged National 2nd divisions and chasing agreements
concerning some sort of phantom promotion and relegation to the a-league.
I only speak for myself here, others may agree or disagree, but I couldn’t care
less about any of it, our focus should be fixing our own problems and getting our
own house in order, both on and off the field.
Speaking of which, there has still been no official communication from the club
over the Tempe debacle. Where’s the transparency? Whatever happened to those
CEO updates?
The official end to the season can’t come quickly enough.
In the Club Championship the 18s won 2-1 and the 20s won 2-0.
Next week is our final home match of the season, our home record in 2019 reads:
4 losses, 3 draws, 3 wins, with 1 of those home wins coming at Lambert Park in
the match that was moved against Hakoah in Round 15, so it is 2 wins at home at
Belmore this season. Disgraceful.
Next week: Sydney Olympic v Sydney United, Sunday Afternoon, August 4, Kick-Off
is at 4pm.
On the women’s side of things, they have done very well in their first season
in NPL 1. They are sitting in 2nd place, after a 1-0 win over the Northern
Tigers on the weekend. In the final round, they face NWS Koalas at Peter Moore
Field this Sunday, Kick-Off is at 3pm.
Monday, 29 July 2019
Monday, 22 July 2019
APIA Leichhardt 3-1 Sydney Olympic
Sydney Olympic blew a chance to cement a Top 5
position on Sunday Afternoon, falling to what was a fairly unimpressive APIA
Leichhardt side at Lambert Park. Sure, APIA have been and are a very good side once
again this season, but they did not play in a manner which signified anything
close to being levels above us or even dominant against us in the match yesterday.
In the first-half we were the better side, but that isn’t really anything to get excited about, as both sides were not that great. Even still, we managed to create a few openings, but when we did get ourselves in a position to have a shot at goal, our players preferred instead, to try and be cute and lay it off for someone else, instead of having a go themselves, this was all inside the box mind you. This cost us a few times during the first-half yesterday.
As is standard practice in this sport, if you fail to take your chances, the opposition goes down the other end and punishes you and that’s what happened. APIA hit us with a sucker-punch of a goal, when they really didn’t look threatening at all up to that point and at half-time we were down 1-0.
The opening stages of the second-half can only be described as a circus and cost us from getting anything from the match.
Firstly, everybody stood around as APIA walked the play inside our box, their shot was initially well saved but the ball rebounded flukily off the APIA player and nestled in the back of our net. Secondly, the same APIA player decided he was going to try his luck and swan dive inside the box as if he had been bowled over by a hurricane, the referee who was a prick all match decided yep, that’s a penalty. APIA converted the penalty and we were all of the sudden down 3-0 and the match was effectively all over.
We pulled a goal back but the players and the fans, never believed we could perform any miracles and thus ended a disappointing day, a 3-1 loss and a near fatal blow to our season.
The players could not overcome their poor display, especially the period between the last 10 minutes of the first-half and first 10 minutes of the second-half, the lack of concentration in that time killed us, but also they were never going to overcome that cheat of a referee which is what he was.
I’ve seen enough sport personally to notice a Championship let down season when I see one. The 2018 season swelled the heads of several players and many simply do not give a toss this season, which is sad to see.
The lack of motivation yesterday and all season has been extremely disheartening. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, as they say.
The board must take its share of the blame also, they simply did not rejuvenate the team at all. Other than losing Max Burgess, the squad is pretty much the same as last year. Standing still and resting on our laurels was never going to get us anywhere in 2019, we had to freshen up the squad and the few signings they did make, have been positively horrendous, atrocious, shocking.
We lauded the coach last year and rightly so, but this year he has to take his share of the blame and he showed that he could not adapt to a new season and a change in circumstances.
In the Club Championship, the 18s won for the first time in a long time, 2-0, and in the 20s we lost 2-0.
Next week is absolutely the last roll of the dice, it’s must win now, as we take on Marconi next Sunday Afternoon July 28, at Belmore Sports Ground, Kick-Off is at 4pm.
As for the First Grade women’s team, they smashed the Newcastle Jets 5-0 on Sunday and moved into 2nd spot on the NPL 1 ladder. Next Sunday Afternoon they travel to face the Northern Tigers, Kick-Off at 3.30pm.
In the first-half we were the better side, but that isn’t really anything to get excited about, as both sides were not that great. Even still, we managed to create a few openings, but when we did get ourselves in a position to have a shot at goal, our players preferred instead, to try and be cute and lay it off for someone else, instead of having a go themselves, this was all inside the box mind you. This cost us a few times during the first-half yesterday.
As is standard practice in this sport, if you fail to take your chances, the opposition goes down the other end and punishes you and that’s what happened. APIA hit us with a sucker-punch of a goal, when they really didn’t look threatening at all up to that point and at half-time we were down 1-0.
The opening stages of the second-half can only be described as a circus and cost us from getting anything from the match.
Firstly, everybody stood around as APIA walked the play inside our box, their shot was initially well saved but the ball rebounded flukily off the APIA player and nestled in the back of our net. Secondly, the same APIA player decided he was going to try his luck and swan dive inside the box as if he had been bowled over by a hurricane, the referee who was a prick all match decided yep, that’s a penalty. APIA converted the penalty and we were all of the sudden down 3-0 and the match was effectively all over.
We pulled a goal back but the players and the fans, never believed we could perform any miracles and thus ended a disappointing day, a 3-1 loss and a near fatal blow to our season.
The players could not overcome their poor display, especially the period between the last 10 minutes of the first-half and first 10 minutes of the second-half, the lack of concentration in that time killed us, but also they were never going to overcome that cheat of a referee which is what he was.
I’ve seen enough sport personally to notice a Championship let down season when I see one. The 2018 season swelled the heads of several players and many simply do not give a toss this season, which is sad to see.
The lack of motivation yesterday and all season has been extremely disheartening. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, as they say.
The board must take its share of the blame also, they simply did not rejuvenate the team at all. Other than losing Max Burgess, the squad is pretty much the same as last year. Standing still and resting on our laurels was never going to get us anywhere in 2019, we had to freshen up the squad and the few signings they did make, have been positively horrendous, atrocious, shocking.
We lauded the coach last year and rightly so, but this year he has to take his share of the blame and he showed that he could not adapt to a new season and a change in circumstances.
In the Club Championship, the 18s won for the first time in a long time, 2-0, and in the 20s we lost 2-0.
Next week is absolutely the last roll of the dice, it’s must win now, as we take on Marconi next Sunday Afternoon July 28, at Belmore Sports Ground, Kick-Off is at 4pm.
As for the First Grade women’s team, they smashed the Newcastle Jets 5-0 on Sunday and moved into 2nd spot on the NPL 1 ladder. Next Sunday Afternoon they travel to face the Northern Tigers, Kick-Off at 3.30pm.
Monday, 8 July 2019
Manly United 1-2 Sydney Olympic
Sydney Olympic have kept their season alive for
another week, after coming away with a very important and much needed victory,
away to an always difficult Manly United side on Sunday Afternoon.
It was an intriguing first-half and had the feeling of a Finals match, given how desperate both sides were. We played OK throughout, but there was not too much to get excited about during that first-half. We did manage to create a few openings but we did not create many clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities. Defensively we were also fairly solid, snuffing out any Manly attacks.
In the second-half it would be a different story, as we witnessed 2 goal of the season contenders from a player in Nikola Kuleski, who just does not do tap-ins.
The first goal was a 30 metre volley giving the Manly goalkeeper no chance. The second goal was a great freekick which once again beat the Manly goalkeeper, who simply had no chance once again.
In between these 2 bombs, Manly equalised, with one of my personally most hated goals to concede. A cross come shot which alluded every player on the field, bounced inside the box, confusing the goalkeeper in the process, to find the back of our net.
There was some nervous moments near the end as Manly aggressively chased an equaliser, but we managed to hold on to record an important victory.
We somehow find ourselves still alive this season by virtue of every other side also being crazily inconsistent, bar the top 3 sides in Wollongong, APIA Leichhardt and Blacktown City.
The win over Hakoah a few weeks ago, which was nothing to write home about performance wise, was a turning point for this team. With 4 rounds remaining we are in with a chance of defending our Championship.
In the Club Championship, the 18s lost 1-0, and in the 20s we won 1-0.
An update on former player George Timotheou, who played with us last season and then was transferred to Schalke in Germany. After spending most of the last season playing for the Schalke reserves, he managed to feature in a few Schalke 1st team matchday squads and even played in the 1st team late in the season. He has recently been sold to Belgian side Zulte Waregem, where he will continue his career and we wish him the best of luck.
Whether Sydney Olympic has inserted any on-sale clauses or anything of that sort, nobody knows and it remains to be seen.
Next week is a bye round as a result of the Waratah Cup Final taking place. So we are next back in action in 2 weeks time, on Sunday Afternoon, July 21, a huge match away to old rivals APIA Leichhardt at Lambert Park, Kick-Off is at 3.30pm.
As for the First Grade women’s team, they beat the Bankstown Lions 2-1 on Sunday Afternoon to remain in 3rd spot on the ladder in NPL 1. Next Sunday Afternoon they themselves head to Cromer Park to face Manly United, this Sunday, Kick-Off at 3pm.
It was an intriguing first-half and had the feeling of a Finals match, given how desperate both sides were. We played OK throughout, but there was not too much to get excited about during that first-half. We did manage to create a few openings but we did not create many clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities. Defensively we were also fairly solid, snuffing out any Manly attacks.
In the second-half it would be a different story, as we witnessed 2 goal of the season contenders from a player in Nikola Kuleski, who just does not do tap-ins.
The first goal was a 30 metre volley giving the Manly goalkeeper no chance. The second goal was a great freekick which once again beat the Manly goalkeeper, who simply had no chance once again.
In between these 2 bombs, Manly equalised, with one of my personally most hated goals to concede. A cross come shot which alluded every player on the field, bounced inside the box, confusing the goalkeeper in the process, to find the back of our net.
There was some nervous moments near the end as Manly aggressively chased an equaliser, but we managed to hold on to record an important victory.
We somehow find ourselves still alive this season by virtue of every other side also being crazily inconsistent, bar the top 3 sides in Wollongong, APIA Leichhardt and Blacktown City.
The win over Hakoah a few weeks ago, which was nothing to write home about performance wise, was a turning point for this team. With 4 rounds remaining we are in with a chance of defending our Championship.
In the Club Championship, the 18s lost 1-0, and in the 20s we won 1-0.
An update on former player George Timotheou, who played with us last season and then was transferred to Schalke in Germany. After spending most of the last season playing for the Schalke reserves, he managed to feature in a few Schalke 1st team matchday squads and even played in the 1st team late in the season. He has recently been sold to Belgian side Zulte Waregem, where he will continue his career and we wish him the best of luck.
Whether Sydney Olympic has inserted any on-sale clauses or anything of that sort, nobody knows and it remains to be seen.
Next week is a bye round as a result of the Waratah Cup Final taking place. So we are next back in action in 2 weeks time, on Sunday Afternoon, July 21, a huge match away to old rivals APIA Leichhardt at Lambert Park, Kick-Off is at 3.30pm.
As for the First Grade women’s team, they beat the Bankstown Lions 2-1 on Sunday Afternoon to remain in 3rd spot on the ladder in NPL 1. Next Sunday Afternoon they themselves head to Cromer Park to face Manly United, this Sunday, Kick-Off at 3pm.
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