Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold believes Sky Blues are in stronger position than last season

HIS side may be six points behind the Wanderers, but Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold believes the Sky Blues are better placed for a second-half surge than a year ago.

Sydney's coach Graham Arnold reacts during the round 12 A-League match between Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015. ((AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING,

HIS side may be six points behind their cross-city rivals, but Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold believes the Sky Blues are better placed for a second-half surge than a year ago.

Saturday’s 4-1 defeat of the Mariners came a year to the day after a 3-0 humbling at home to Adelaide, a result that left Sydney in fourth place on 17 points, 12 behind then leaders Perth.

Though the four goals against the Mariners added a third to Sydney’s tally for the whole season, Arnold argued that this season’s squad is in a stronger position than the one from which it reignited last season to reach the grand final.

Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold fires instructions during the Mariners game.

Sydney will lose a trio of players to the Olyroos for most of January, but Arnold said he would continue to play his squad’s younger members when their form demanded it - and wouldn’t shy away from dropping senior players, after relegating Jacques Faty and Milos Dimitrijevic to the bench against the Mariners.

“We’re three points better off than we were last year, and much closer to the top than we were last year,” Arnold said.

“We’re happy with the position we’re in. We’re playing better and better, and against the Mariners it could have been a cricket score.

“From the first minute we hit the crossbar, and Alex Brosque looked sharp in at No 9.

“The build-up down the left was good, with Andrew Hoole and Brandon O’Neill and Alex Gersbach. It’ll be a loss when lose those three to the Olympic team in January, but Ali Abbas is back, ready to take over from Gersbach.

“The young Aussies boys came in and did well.

“The hardest job for me is dropping players or leaving them out. We have a 23-man squad and only 11 can start. Each one needs to prove to me that they should be in the starting line-up. And if you’re in the starting line-up then keep it by performing.

“We’ve got some good kids, and I believe in Australian kids, if you have the right senior players around them that are positive and give confidence to the kids when they make a mistake.

“Sometimes it gets down to decision making, but having all those kids out on the field was probably something new for Sydney FC. Those kids’ll get better an better as the year goes on.”

Originally published as Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold believes Sky Blues are in stronger position than last season