FRANK Farina isn't hanging around.

Less than a week after his side has been eliminated from A-League finals contention, and the Sydney FC coach is leafing through what looks suspiciously like rosters, targets, training programs and the like in consultation with both his club chairman and CEO.

Outside the rain is pouring down, but Farina is animated and eager to get on with addressing the riddle that has brought undone many men before him.

In short, how does the most expensive roster in Australian football - arguably the most expensive in Australian sport - get reworked and reprogrammed to ensure that next year is a season worthy of its assembled talents?

The reworking bit of the challenge is already proving hard work.

In short, Farina will have four senior spots to fill, and of the players contracted for the next A-League season he has two centrebacks, one of whom is 33 and in the midst of a second major rehab program in a year.

So don't, he says, expect major changes in the make-up.

media_camera Sydney FC coach Frank Farina claims there is a problem with the timing of the A-League transfer window

THE SQUAD

"What we have to strengthen from last year is obviously the defence - we conceded way too many goals," he said.

"In terms of how we play and set up, it's about what players understanding what their roles are, and most of them are buying into that.

"Look at the personnel we've got, and what we can bring in, and it's all tied in together. You can want to play in a certain style, but without the right players for it you have to be flexible and change.

"We're not starting a new club, you can't go out and sign 23 players from scratch. A lot of our supporters think we can make wholesale changes next year, but we have 19 contracted players for next season and only a certain amount in the salary cap.

"You want every base covered twice - we don't have that balance at the moment, as we didn't last year, but I only have four players to bring in."

media_camera Sydney FC's Alessandro Del Piero is still a goal-scoring wizard. Picture: Brett Costello.

THE REGIME

Farina's arrival was marked by a huge lift in training intensity, with some players breaking down in response. With six months until the new season, he has time to address these shortcomings.

"There will be changes in mentality, work ethic and team structure," he said. "When I came in it was all about results - the structure was about being desperate for results.

"The pre-season is when you do your work on the team, which is what we have to do. The whole preparation will be very different - for whatever reason last year there were injuries, late signings and so on.

"But we'll play anywhere up to a dozen trial games - we'll be back from the first week in June. The planning and the calendar is being done now for what we'll do in training and games, a lot of which hopefully will be against NSW Premier League games.

"There'll be a bit of movement on the staffing front - (former Socceroos conditioner) Anthony Crea stays on, but there will be some changes in responsibilities and personnel."

media_camera Brisbane Roar coach Rado Vidosic. Picture: Jono Searle

THE COACHES

Farina is looking to add to his support staff, and though he won't comment on names, Brisbane sources confirm he's keen on Rado Vidosic, his former assistant at the Roar.

What Farina can say is that "the coaching structure will change - not dramatically, but the group of five or six coaches will be not only first team but youth team as well.

"Those squads are going to work together, with a much closer relationship.

"When I came in, none of the youth team players trained with the first team, which I found strange. Now, the youth team will play in the same style as the first team. It's not rocket science, it means when the players come up from the youth team they know the style and what's expected in their positions."

THE INQUEST

Farina insists he will also learn the lessons of what became a trying season for the Sky Blue faithful, where the team could win 7-1, lose 7-2 and finish outside the top six.

"We look back at the season gone, the positives and negatives, and ask where we can improve," he said.

"Just as you analyse a game, so we have to break down the season - what worked well, who was good, who was bad. From there, how do we fix what didn't work well?

"We have to identify the areas we have to improve on - starting with stats like four wins from the first 13 games, 51 goals conceded, our discipline. If we can improve 20 per cent in those areas we'll be OK."

Originally published as Time for a Frank assessment