Well another weekend,
another home game and another missed opportunity to make up ground on the Top 5.
It was another frustrating Sunday at Belmore Sports Ground where once again our
general play was good, but there was simply no end product.
We started the match off well, we were looking sharp. In that First Half alone, new boy Rene Klingenburg, William Angel, Harris Gaitatzis and Mitch Stamatellis all had great opportunities to score, but neither were able to hit the back of the net. A combination of a lack of composure, as well as some fine goalkeeping from the opposition shot-stopper, who rightly has a lot of people talking of him going to the next level, kept the score at 0-0. During the First Half we were no doubt the better team, everybody was playing well, but as has been the case this season, we were just unable to take advantage and turn our good play into goals. Throughout the First Half the opposition had a few half chances and some good moments, but in the end we were by far and away the better side, but unfortunately we went to the half-time break dead-locked at 0-0.
If in the First Half we started off well, the Second Half began in the complete opposite fashion. We conceded an early penalty which the opposition dispatched. After a good performance by Sydney Olympic to that point, we were unjustly 1-0 behind. The next 15 minutes was all Sydney Olympic again, as we had 3 great chances to pull level, a combination of poor finishing and some good goalkeeping made sure we still trailed. With us opening up trying to chase the equaliser, it gave the opposition the chance and the space to go and chase a second goal, and they did have a couple of half chances. But it would be us that would continue to rue the constant missed chances. Late on, the opposition managed to bundle in a scrappy goal to put them 2-0 up and the match was effectively over. It was another loss at home and no doubt it is becoming a frustrating period for all Sydney Olympic Supporters. Finally in what became a running theme throughout the entire match was the shocking officiating from the 3 blind mice out there. If ever you need anybody to ruin a match, give these 3 a call, because for most of it, they had absolutely no idea what they were doing. I can see how this team is so far in front on the ladder.
If it feels like a broken record on here every week, you may be on to something, because basically I am on here telling you what seems like the same story every week. Good play, we are working hard, we are solid defensively, but where it matters the most, on the scoreboard, we just cannot seem to get it ticking over by scoring goals, having the 2nd worst attack in the League only confirms this.
Sunday saw the debut of our German recruit Rene Klingenburg. It might take him a couple of matches to get used to this League, but judging from what I saw on Sunday, he has immense quality and was far and away the best player on the park, from either side.
With Adrian Vranic, Chris Triantis, Michael Gaitatzis all leaving for varying reasons, a couple of others allegedly heading for the door before the season is out and with Jacob Boutoubia apparently suffering a season ending injury, we’re limping towards the end of the season, it has been a forgettable year. Reports are that Brayden Sorge who has missed a large chunk of this season, may be ready for next Sunday. So let’s hope we can show something in these last 6 weeks of the season.
For the Club Championship, for the third week in a row we have had a shocking weekend. Our U18s won 2-0, the U20s lost 2-1, adding in our 2-0 loss in First Grade, and that is a combined 3 points for the entire weekend. We are sliding ever closer back towards a relegation dog-fight. We need to wake up in all three grades and turn it around, beginning with next weekend.
Next Sunday Afternoon we have an absolute must win clash, at home at Belmore Sports Ground, against Parramatta FC. Kickoff is at 3pm.
We started the match off well, we were looking sharp. In that First Half alone, new boy Rene Klingenburg, William Angel, Harris Gaitatzis and Mitch Stamatellis all had great opportunities to score, but neither were able to hit the back of the net. A combination of a lack of composure, as well as some fine goalkeeping from the opposition shot-stopper, who rightly has a lot of people talking of him going to the next level, kept the score at 0-0. During the First Half we were no doubt the better team, everybody was playing well, but as has been the case this season, we were just unable to take advantage and turn our good play into goals. Throughout the First Half the opposition had a few half chances and some good moments, but in the end we were by far and away the better side, but unfortunately we went to the half-time break dead-locked at 0-0.
If in the First Half we started off well, the Second Half began in the complete opposite fashion. We conceded an early penalty which the opposition dispatched. After a good performance by Sydney Olympic to that point, we were unjustly 1-0 behind. The next 15 minutes was all Sydney Olympic again, as we had 3 great chances to pull level, a combination of poor finishing and some good goalkeeping made sure we still trailed. With us opening up trying to chase the equaliser, it gave the opposition the chance and the space to go and chase a second goal, and they did have a couple of half chances. But it would be us that would continue to rue the constant missed chances. Late on, the opposition managed to bundle in a scrappy goal to put them 2-0 up and the match was effectively over. It was another loss at home and no doubt it is becoming a frustrating period for all Sydney Olympic Supporters. Finally in what became a running theme throughout the entire match was the shocking officiating from the 3 blind mice out there. If ever you need anybody to ruin a match, give these 3 a call, because for most of it, they had absolutely no idea what they were doing. I can see how this team is so far in front on the ladder.
If it feels like a broken record on here every week, you may be on to something, because basically I am on here telling you what seems like the same story every week. Good play, we are working hard, we are solid defensively, but where it matters the most, on the scoreboard, we just cannot seem to get it ticking over by scoring goals, having the 2nd worst attack in the League only confirms this.
Sunday saw the debut of our German recruit Rene Klingenburg. It might take him a couple of matches to get used to this League, but judging from what I saw on Sunday, he has immense quality and was far and away the best player on the park, from either side.
With Adrian Vranic, Chris Triantis, Michael Gaitatzis all leaving for varying reasons, a couple of others allegedly heading for the door before the season is out and with Jacob Boutoubia apparently suffering a season ending injury, we’re limping towards the end of the season, it has been a forgettable year. Reports are that Brayden Sorge who has missed a large chunk of this season, may be ready for next Sunday. So let’s hope we can show something in these last 6 weeks of the season.
For the Club Championship, for the third week in a row we have had a shocking weekend. Our U18s won 2-0, the U20s lost 2-1, adding in our 2-0 loss in First Grade, and that is a combined 3 points for the entire weekend. We are sliding ever closer back towards a relegation dog-fight. We need to wake up in all three grades and turn it around, beginning with next weekend.
Next Sunday Afternoon we have an absolute must win clash, at home at Belmore Sports Ground, against Parramatta FC. Kickoff is at 3pm.
How much is this season about just hanging on to a first division spot, until things like the Tempe plan fall into place? Or are this season's struggles more indicative of a longer term malaise at the club?
ReplyDeleteMost supporters you speak to would probably all say they expected this type of season, reports from as early as late last year all suggested that the club was scaling back the 1st Grade Budget for 2016, with Tempe being the focus for a while, so no Sydney Olympic supporter would be surprised with our ladder position up to this point.
DeleteBut that doesnt mean that everybody is liking our current predicament, it is what it is