Halfway through the season - Where are we at?

 3^rd on the ladder, into the round of 32 of the FFA Cup, and still in the Waratah Cup, if someone had said that’s where Sydney Olympic would be sitting halfway into the season, I, and most Olympic supporters would have probably taken that. But is it as hunky-dory as it seems?

Squad performance wise, it’s been pretty good as a whole, the last 3 weeks not withstanding. Injuries have played a part in the problems of several positions. Troy Danaskos (outside of preseason) has not played a game this year. Howard Fondyke was looking in decent form, but got injured as well and has now not played for 2 months. Harris Gaitatzis’ agent has taken him to Thailand for a trial with a 2^nd tier side and as a result has missed the last 2 matches.

All 3 players are major losses that have hurt us in the LB - DM - AM positions, positions where we have struggled to fill as a result, which comes back to a lack of quality in our depth. But at Olympic we should be bigger and better than that, last year we experienced something similar at the back end of the year where the fixtures came thick and fast, and our lack of depth in several positions cost us in the big games. Hopefully there is not a repeat of that this season.

In the last 2-3 matches, the players are not playing up to the club’s high standards, some look dis-interested or have lacked the energy and desire, Is there enough internal competition within the squad so that the players are constantly pushing each other and as a result raising their levels? Maybe a few feel a little too comfortable? A lot of the players have been involved in the tough schedule, are they just tired?

I’m not in the business of telling people what to do with their money, how to run the club, or how to run the squad, but it is patently clear to me at least, that we must improve our squad with the inclusion of a couple of quality players. The issue then becomes, Where are these players? and Where are we going to get them from? This is another matter, but we desperately need re-enforcements.

Below are our results against our fellow current top 5 teams:
Well beaten 4-2 by Blacktown away (All be it with a weakened team)
2-2 Draw away to A.P.I.A
Flogged 3-0 away at United
2-2 Draw at home to Bonnyrigg (Should have put our foot on their throat and won 5-0)

Outside of Bonnyrigg, the other 3 teams have the quality but also impressive depth of quality in their squads.

Now I’m not stupid enough to proclaim panic stations, but the bad signs of the last 2-3 weeks leaves me to at least be a little worried of where we will end up this season. Barring some ridiculous form slump we will make the top 5, but is that enough given we made the Grand Final last year? A Grand Final where we were unlucky not to win.