Champions ready for battle

Sydney fans last left Aussie Stadium in March with the immortal words of Dwight Yorke ringing true in their ears, “Lets party tonight.”

For many weeks Sydney fans partied, and as we prepare to enter season two, the challenge of defending the title remains the objective for Australia’s biggest football team.

Despite the World Cup providing a more than adequate distraction for football-starved fans across the country, Sydney FC was barely able to escape the media spotlight for too long. The acrimonious departure of former boss Pierre Littbarski who was reportedly set to agree to a new contract, albeit a reduced offer, before ending his brief relationship with the club in rather public manner.

Couple that with continued speculation over the losses that the club had suffered in season one - with figures seemingly ranging anywhere from three to the seven million mark - and the reported move to oust club chairman Walter Bugno, and the A-League champions appeared to have had some problems arising on the horizon.

Enter Terry Butcher, the affable former manager of Scottish Premier League side who agreed to take over the reigns to defend the title, thus heralding a new era into the Asian Champions League in 2007. David Carney, one of the stars of season one, rejected the lure of Germany to sign a new contract with Sydney, a move met with strong support from the fans.

Then along came former Roar attacking midfielder Alex Brosque, who after a slow start for the Queensland side last term, ended up joint top goalscorer alongside his new team-mate Sasho Petrovski, Mariners forward Stewart Petrie and Melbourne Victory’s Archie Thompson. Ruben Zadkovich has signed on after impressing on a short-term contract at the end of last season, and add to that the inclusion of former Knights starlet and New Zealand international Jeremy Brockie and the side is in a strong position for their title defence.

At the season launch on Monday night, the players said how delighted they were with the depth in the squad, with competition for places more fierce than ever. Even marquee signing Dwight Yorke, who has recommitted himself to seeing out his contract, is not assured of a starting birth come Round One.

There is also a feeling amongst the players who want to win, but not only that, but to win the league convincingly. With not only a place in the Asian Champions league beckoning, if the likes of Carney, Brosque, Bolton and Milligan keep in form, a place in the squad for the Asian Cup next season is not unlikely.

The pre-season form has been strong, with the club losing only once to Adelaide, and despite missing six of the players that beat Kuwait last Wednesday, they defeated the Newcastle Jets with ease, despite the Jets fielding what is mainly their first choice outfit. Apart from the Brosque’s, the Brockie's and so forth, the addition of Manly United defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley - on a short-term deal to cover the injuries to Jacob Timpano and Ruben Zadkovich - has earnt rave reviews from Butcher and the fans alike.

Sydney FC are trying to sign him on a permanent deal, something which hinges on the departure of Wade Oostendorp, who has never played for Sydney apart from fifteen minute spell in the opening pre-season clash in Canberra. With the young defender not appearing in the team photo or taking part in the last pre-season clash in Campbelltown, it seems a deal is imminent for Topor-Stanley.

Butcher has promised Sydney fans he will play an attacking style and if the pre-season is anything to go by, Sydney have the team and coaching staff to deliver. Speaking the other night at the Season launch, Butcher reassured the attentive audience his side is fitter than they were last year, thanks in part to the work of Former Socceroos Strength and Conditioning Coach Anthony Crea.

So come February next year, fans of the club can have a strong belief going into the new season that once again Dwight Yorke will be echoing his now famous words, “lets party tonight”.

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