Sydney balancing recruitment drive with celebrations as next A-League season comes in focus

IT was a season for the ages and the grand final win was the perfect finishing touch. Tom Smithies rates every Sydney FC player and looks ahead to the club’s title defence.

Milos Ninkovic has shown just how valuable he is to the Sydney cause.

THE celebrations are still in full swing, but already attention is turning to next season for Sydney FC with a series of major decisions to be made about personnel for the next campaign.

Will the current squad stay together?

Or is the more pertinent question, can they stay together considering the constraints of a salary cap?

Tom Smithies runs the rule over the entire Sydney squad to rate their impact on the just-completed season and also assess their future with the club.

Danny Vukovic was one of the Sydney heroes with his penalty saves.

Danny Vukovic

This year: the A-League’s best goalkeeper capped a stellar season by saving Marcos Rojas’s penalty in the grand final shootout. Few would begrudge the upturn in his family and football fortunes.

Rating: 9/10

Next year: has a contract until the end of next season and won’t want to go anywhere now he is back living surrounded by friends and family.

Rhyan Grant

This year: a call-up to the Socceroos was testament to his consistency, especially now that he has been allowed to play a single role rather than being deployed as a utility player all over the park.

Rating: 7/10

Next year: re-signed for another two years and will complete 10 years at Sydney by the end of his new deal.

Alex Wilkinson

This year: the model of consistency and leadership, Wilkinson’s unflappable temperament and astute positioning make him indispensable — the only surprise was losing favour in the national team set-up.

Rating: 8/10

Next year: has another year to go on his current deal, and there’s a good chance that might be extended further.

Will Jordy Buijs and Sydney come to an agreement?

Jordy Buijs

This year: the sale of Matt Jurman and Seb Ryall’s subsequent injury were the closest Sydney came to a crisis — that it didn’t happen was down to Buij’s seamless integration into the defence (and the attack at times, too).

Rating: 7/10

Next year: wants to stay on and has surely done enough to earn a new deal — agreeing terms will be the only issue.

Michael Zullo

This year: Zullo himself admitted that he has been working his way back to full fitness after a series of injuries, but his confidence levels are clearly rising. Will aim for more consistency going forward.

Rating: 6/10

Next year: under contract until the end of next season and will only benefit from another full pre-season.

Brandon O’Neill

This year: scored a brilliant freekick in round one and never looked back. His passing is an underrated resource for the Sky Blues, and plays with his brain as much as his body.

Rating: 8/10

Next year: was only too delighted to extend his contract three months ago and wants to stay for the long term.

Josh Brilliante had an excellent season.

Josh Brillante

This year: older and wiser for a chastening experience in Italian football, Brillante has been the lungs of this Sydney team. Quietly efficient as a screener, and scored two outstanding goals.

Rating: 8/10

Next year: has another two years to go on his current deal, and he may want another crack at Europe at some point.

Filip Holosko

This year: he scored eight goals and never stopped working, but it’s hard to mount an irresistible case that he was worth his marquee wages, especially as he so rarely finished a game on the pitch.

Rating: 6/10

Next year: would have to accept a new deal inside the cap, but it’s questionable whether even that will be forthcoming.

Milos Ninkovic

This year: the Daily Telegraph’s thesaurus took a pounding as we searched for new superlatives each week for the Johnny Warren Medal winner. Goals, assists and silverware is a winning return.

Rating: 10/10

Next year: a few weeks ago he seemed likely to return to Serbia, but now the lure of playing on in this team is proving strong. Sydney are very hopeful he’ll stay.

Milos Ninkovic has shown just how valuable he is to the Sydney cause.

Alex Brosque

This year: the agony of his hamstring issues from last season is a distant memory, testament to the work he put in during the pre-season to get fit again. Still one of the fastest players on any pitch.

Rating: 8/10

Next year: wants to play on, and will have no trouble agreeing a new deal as his leadership is so valued.

Bobo

This year: scored on his full debut, scored in round one, and quickly proved himself an invaluable signing. Scored 14 times in the A-League and showed marquee players can have the best work ethic of all.

Rating: 9/10

Next year: enjoys life in Sydney and his family is happy, so increasingly likely to re-sign.

David Carney

This year: had to settle for a role off the bench, but proved to be a catalyst for changing the tide of big games, especially those against Victory.

Rating: 6/10

Next year: off contract, but Arnold wants him to stay. Will get more opportunities next season, especially if Holosko leaves.

Bernie Ibini

This year: his comeback from injury was a feel-good story, but a strained hamstring ruled him out of the grand final. Still looks as if his body is adjusting to a new post-injury state.

Rating: 6/10

Next year: his loan spell is about to expire and will have to report back to Club Brugges unless Sydney can negotiate another year on the same terms.

Berni Ibini’s future in Sydney in under a cloud.

Milos Dimitrijevic

This year: forced to adopt a bit part role thanks to Brillante and O’Neill’s form and fitness, though looked assured when called upon. Suspicion is that his pace is diminishing.

Rating: 5/10

Next year: wants to stay in Australia and would be very useful in the Asian Champions League if he accepts reduced terms.

Matt Simon

This year: Arnold’s battering ram off the bench, Simon’s pursuit of lost causes and defenders in possession isn’t subtle but is highly effective, especially late on in games.

Rating: 6/10

Next year: surely will be offered another one-year deal.