Del Piero's first training session

From an administration perspective Sydney FC are doing everything right at the moment and the media coverage is certainly reflecting that. The club today held a special training session at Allianz Stadium for Alessandro Del Piero's first day at the office and a large media cohort turned up to get a glimpse of the star in action. 

And not just the usual football suspects either. Stalwarts Les Murray and Michael Cockerill were flanked by newcomers, who muttered to one another "Terry who?" as the Sydney FC captain was interviewed. McFlynn was named captain by head coach Ian Crook - stating that he will definitely be wearing the armband this season and that the Italian will join the leadership group.

Crook was very pleased with his team's performance at the training session, noting that they lifted immensely due to the Del Piero effect. And you'd hope they'd lift - a 5-1 drubbing from Brisbane Roar in Mackay last weekend is far from the team many pundits are tipping to be Championship contenders.

And Del Piero himself? He'll take about ten days to settle into the team says the coach. From today's session of small sided football his class and finesse was blatantly apparent but it was hard to gauge his level of fitness.

Crook and the rest of the coaching staff will sit down with Alessandro tomorrow for the first time to discuss his position in the team. It's sure to be an interesting meeting, one I'd love to be a fly on the wall for. The self-deprecating Crook jokingly stated he doesn't know if he's got much to offer the player in terms of coaching, and added that he'd be playing Del Piero as a goalkeeper.

Pull the other one, Crooky!