Sydney FC captain Terry McFlynn is confident the glamour club can atone for last year’s ‘unacceptable’ campaign when the new Hyundai A-League season kicks off in October.
While the Sky Blues remain hopeful of securing Socceroos superstar Harry Kewell, who has also been linked with Melbourne Victory, they have already bolstered their roster with some impressive signings.
Former Socceroos defender Michael Beauchamp, Perth Glory stalwart Jamie Coyne and well-credentialed Dutchman Pascal Bosschaart will bolster Sydney’s back four, while popular Slovak international Karol Kisel returns for his second stint at the club.
And after finishing a disappointing ninth on the ladder last season, the skipper is confident the new recruits can make an immediate impact.
“We’re very confident and I think very excited is probably a better word,” McFlynn said at Sydney FC’s membership launch at Martin Place on Monday.
“To have the three new boys that have signed, they bring a wealth of experience and quality to the team, and Karol Kisel we’ve all seen what he can do when he was here before (in 2009/10).”
“When he left us he went on to play for Slavia Prague and captained them which shows a lot of leadership qualities, so it’s great to have him back on board and all four boys have really added to the squad.”
Pressed on whether the two-time A-League Champions have a point to prove this season, McFlynn said: “I think collectively across the board at Sydney FC we set very high standards, we’re honest and realistic enough or ourselves to know we didn’t reach those standards last season.”
“It was unacceptable, so we know what we have to do and it’s just about getting your head down and getting on with the hard work day to day at training … we owe it to ourselves and we owe it to our fans.”
Meanwhile, Sydney’s Dutch recruit says he’s settling in well after arriving in late May.
The 31-year-old central defender amassed 350 appearances in Holland’s premier football division over 15 seasons before deciding he needed a change of scenery.
His decorated career has so far included stints at world renowned clubs Utrecht and Feyenoord, while he captained his most recent club ADO Den Haag.
“So far it’s fantastic, it’s unbelievable, it’s a big club and a big city and everything is okay,” Bosschaart enthused.
“I played for 15 years professionally in Holland already so I wanted something else.”
“I had three options but I think if you can choose Sydney FC and the chance to live in Sydney, it’s quite easy to choose.”
He admits he’s been pleasantly surprised by the abilities of his new team-mates.
“Australian football in Holland is not that popular and everybody says the level of the football is not that good, but I see already in the first week the level is good,” Bosschaart said.
“We’ve got very good players and we’ve also got young and talented players, and I think it (the talent level) is no different to Holland.”
