Sydney FC legend Alex Brosque says Adam Le Fondre’s mid-season return has helped the second-placed Sky Blues regain the cutting edge they’ve lacked since the Englishman’s departure at the end of the last A-League season.
The two-time A-League Champion put on his best performance of the current campaign in Sydney’s 4-1 win over Adelaide United in Matchweek 23. Le Fondre scored two goals and assisted a third as the reigning Champions notched a fourth-consecutive win to build momentum in pursuit of a third-consecutive A-League title.
Speaking on this week’s instalment of SEN’S ‘The Global Game’, Brosque and Simon Hill marvelled at Le Fondre’s recent impact on Sydney FC’s “ominous” form, whilst assessing whether Macarthur FC can make a splash in the upcoming 2020/21 Finals Series.
READ: How to watch A-League Matchweek 24
LISTEN: SEN’s ‘The Global Game’, with Simon Hill and Alex Brosque
Le Fondre helping in-form Sky Blues side regain their ‘edge’
“The back end of the season has been very, very good for your old club Brosquey,” Hill said. “Sydney FC, 4-1 winners at Adelaide United – as a little smile breaks over your face.”
After playing alongside one another on the path to the 2018/19 A-League Championship with Sydney FC, Brosque now sits back in delight as he watches his former teammate Le Fondre fire the Sky Blues into contention for a third-straight title, two seasons after getting the run started together with a Grand Final penalty shootout win over Perth Glory at Optus Stadium.
There’s one major obstacle in the way for Steve Corica’s side: a Premiership-winning Melbourne City side gunning to set the record straight after losing to the Sky Blues in last season’s decider.
Both sides occupying first and second have suffered loss of personnel of late, with Socceroos duty calling for City’s Jamie Maclaren, Connor Metcalfe and Curtis Good along with Sydney’s Andrew Redmayne, Ryan McGowan and Rhyan Grant.
Listen to SEN’s ‘The Global Game’ HERE!
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But whilst the two Championship favourites suffered their equal share of loss, there’s been one positive squad update in Sydney: English spearhead Le Fondre’s return.
Brosque says the energetic striker’s absence was truly felt by the Sky Blues throughout the opening stages of the 2020/21 campaign after Le Fondre departed for Indian Super League side Mumbai City FC – and what better way is there to replace one player’s impact, than to regain the services of that very same player?
“They’re starting to look a bit ominous aren’t they, the Sky Blues?” Hill asked.
“Four straight wins, eight goals scored, just one conceded. The goals are starting to flow, second spot (is) confirmed.”
“I said it last week when we spoke to Alfie, I said it to him (and) to you. I think him coming back has just provided Sydney with that extra edge that they haven’t had all season,” Brosque replied.
“His energy, the runs that he makes, the forward runs. He drops deep, he’s constantly got the defenders worrying about him, the pressing, all of that I think has contributed to giving Sydney what they were lacking.
The past couple of years, that edge they’ve had, someone up front pressing like Alfie and being a nuisance. When he left, they lost that.
Yes, they had quality, but that little extra to I think make things uncomfortable for teams and to add to the quality they have wasn’t there. For me it’s no coincidence.
“You look around at Melbourne City with (Andrew) Nabbout being injured and Maclaren being away, you’d have to think that Sydney now in the form they are in are going to be hard to beat.”
READ: Team of the Week, presented by Bunnings Warehouse – Matchweek 23
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Brosque: Bulls bound for the Finals Series – but are unlikely to cause a stir
“They’ve been incredibly inconsistent all year round… because of that it’s hard to see that they will have much of a say come finals time.”
While Brosque sees Sydney FC causing problems for City on their quest for a maiden A-League Championship, the former Sky Blues striker can’t see the new boys in New South Wales making a deep run after Macarthur officially qualified for the Finals Series at the end of Matchweek 23.
The Bulls can finish as high as third if Ante Milicic’s side beat Wellington Phoenix on Friday night and Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners both fail to win in their respective final fixtures of the season.
A third or fourth-placed finish would guarantee Macarthur a home Elimination Final in the club’s maiden A-League campaign. But how far can the Bulls go from there?
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After notching a maximum winning streak of three games and a pair of successive wins throughout the season, Brosque believes Macarthur lack the consistency to win their way to the 2020/21 Grand Final.
“When you’re starting up a new club there are so many things that come into doing that. It’s not just making sure the team plays well from week to week,” he said.
“For starters you’re recruiting an entirely new team which they’ve done, and they’ve done it well.
“They’ve been incredibly inconsistent all year round… because of that it’s hard to see that they will have much of a say come finals time.
“I mean, they’ve struggled to put two wins together all year. In the finals you obviously have to win a few games in a row to win the Grand Final.
“Look, they’ve got some big quality players who can stand up in those moments but regardless, in their first year I think Ante Milicic has done an incredible job.”
Matchweek 24 fixtures
Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers
Thursday, June 3 2021
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 7.35pm AEST
Match Centre
Macarthur FC v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, June 4 2021
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEST
Match Centre
Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC
Saturday, June 5 2021
Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium
Kick-off: 3.05pm AEST
Match Centre
Central Coast Mariners v Western United
Saturday, June 5 2021
Venue: Central Coast Stadium
Kick-off: 5.05 pm AEST
Match Centre
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory
Saturday, June 5 2021
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 7.10pm AEST
Match Centre
Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City
Sunday, June 6 2021
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEST
Match Centre
