A decade ago, A-League side Sydney FC "went unchallenged as the league's
self-styled glamour club," according to Sebastian Hassett of the CANBERRA TIMES. Such aspirations "remain intact but if they
were the original Ferrari, the A-League parking lot has gradually filled
up with Maseratis and Porsches," not to mention Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic's
"blood-splattered Hummer." Sydney Manager Graham Arnold has "no doubt about the direction." Speaking to "650 or so present,
the coach was asked how he hoped the club would be known in 10 years." Arnold: "Manchester United. That big. These boys have to go out and
believe they are at the best club in the country. I believe they're at
the best club in the country. I've only been here four months, but I've
fallen in love with the club." There is a "clear maturing of the football marketplace in Sydney, a sense
the code's followers now care about winning with panache as much as an
iconic name on their replica shirts." Sydney Chair Scott Barlow said, "Sales have been incredibly strong, in fact they've been the best we've
seen here at Sydney FC. Already we've
passed 10,500 members and we'll set a new record of 11,000 members in
the coming days" (CANBERRA TIMES, 10/8).
