Sydney FC adapting to Corica way

Sydney FC marquee Siem de Jong believes his team are showing signs they are adapting to the coaching style of Steve Corica.

Siem de Jong celebrates with Paulo Retre after scoring against the Wanderers.

It’s taken some time but Sydney FC marquee Siem de Jong believes his team are starting to show signs they are adapting better to the coaching style of Steve Corica.

While the Sky Blues are nicely poised in third spot with a third of the season gone, it’s fair to say they have not been the efficient, well-oiled outfit we have come to know.

A shock 3-1 home loss to Wellington Phoenix three games back set the tongues wagging and piled pressure on Corica, who took over from championship-winning coach Graham Arnold at the start of the season.

It’s a different story now following successive wins over Western Sydney Wanderers in the Sydney derby and last week’s outstanding 2-1 success over the previously unbeaten Perth Glory away.

The performance against the Glory was easily Sydney’s best of the season and led de Jong to the conclusion they are now on the right track.

“We have a few new players so we have had to get used to each other and get used to him (Corica),” de Jong said yesterday ahead of the game against struggling Brisbane Roar at Sydney’s Jubilee Stadium tomorrow. “A few games we have not performed well, but we have been playing better, especially the last two games.

“We are improving individually and as a group and all the staff are getting to know each other better.

“We are doing well but we need to continue like that.”

The 29-year-old former Netherlands international, who joined the club at the start of the season after 11 years plying his trade in The Netherlands and the English Premier League, has taken time to find his feet. A hamstring injury in the first derby game against the Wanderers in week two did not help. He missed four matches, but has come through the past three unscathed since returning.

De Jong came on as a substitute in the loss to the Phoenix but has started the last two against the Wanderers (71 minutes) and Glory (60 minutes) and it is no coincidence the Sky Blues have looked a much more dangerous outfit.

“I have played a few games now and I am fit and healthy,” he said. “It feels good to get more game time, so now I would like to get 90 minutes in and to feel completely 100 per cent.”

Sydney will go into the game against the Queenslanders looking to break through for their first win at their temporary home ground, Jubilee Stadium, which they are using while Allianz Stadium is being rebuilt.

With losses to Melbourne Victory and Wellington, it’s been an unhappy hunting ground.

De Jong does not believe there is a mental barrier involved in playing there.

“We played there in the pre-season as well and I enjoyed it,” he said. “It’s a nice venue and I really like the pitch. We need to prove we can win there so this game will be a good time to start.”