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Popovic managing his men like a seasoned master

2nd January, 2013
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Tony Popovic has been consistently chopping and changing his Wanderers team. AAP Image/Theron Kirkman
Expert
2nd January, 2013
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It’s not every week you can rest your stars, come away from Perth with a point, then bring them back in and get exactly what you were after. But right now, everything Tony Popovic and his Western Sydney Wanderers touch appears to be turning to gold.

Many would have suggested that his decision to leave the likes of Youssouf Hersi, Shinji Ono, Jerome Polenz, Iacopo La Rocca and Adam D’Apuzzo at home for the round 13 trip to Perth was a gamble.

Popovic saw it as a calculated one. With one eye on the next game and dealing with a long trip to Perth, he no doubt saw it as an opportunity to rest some tired legs and give other members of his squad an opportunity.

After putting the cleaners through Adelaide four days out from Christmas, Popovic went to Perth six days later with a complete new-look, bringing the likes of Kwabena Appiah-Kubi, Labinot Haliti, Tarek Elrich, Jason Trifiro, Joey Gibbs and Shannon Cole into his XI.

Elrich and Appiah-Kubi, and Reece Caira on the bench, had barely kicked a first team ball this season.

While it gave these players on the periphery a sniff, the plan was as much about resting his stars for the next challenge, the high-flying Melbourne Victory on New Year’s day.

Back into his XI came the likes of Ono, Polenz, Bridge, Kresinger, La Rocca and Hersi, all freshened-up by either a spell back home over Christmas or a place on the bench in Perth.

Polenz, especially, would be a key return, charged with the responsibility of keeping up with one half of the dangerous Archie Thompson and Marco Rojas combo.

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Meanwhile, the entire front third was fresh on New Year’s day, therefore able to effect Popovic’s plans, which were to press the Victory high and put pressure on their back four and goalkeeper.

The plan was also about ensuring both Bridge and Hersi had the legs to drop back and help the fullbacks restrain Thompson and Rojas.

It proved a master-stroke.

While the Victory threatened to steal something from Parramatta late, when Spase Dilevski grabbed an equaliser, Western Sydney were able to rebound and finish strongly, getting what they deserved.

Ono, in particular, was fresh, and despite a heavy knock on the ankle was able to have a major influence on the outcome. Some show.

It was a credit not only to Popovic’s tactical acumen, but to the work of his  strength and conditioning coach, Adam Waterson, who has skilfully managed the workload of his squad.

While four games in 17 days across the festive period would test the depth of any squad, Popovic and Waterson have tinkered accordingly, and so far been rewarded.

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The manager, in doing so, has also sent a clear message about his faith in the squad, and his own strategies.

The fact Trifiro, Elrich, Appiah-Kubi and Haliti were able to come in and get the job done in Perth speaks to an understanding about their roles in his system.

It is a well refined modus operandi, which is not so much about the personnel, but the structure.

And it’s not the only time this season that Popovic has shuffled his pieces with great success.

When Aaron Mooy returned from the Socceroos’ East Asian Cup qualifiers in Hong Kong, many were expecting him to slot straight into the starting XI for the second Sydney Derby, especially after his two free-kick screamers in green and gold.

But Popovic had other ideas.

Reasoning that Mooy had only returned on Thursday, that he’d had a heavy workload under Holger Osieck and that his tactical plans were already in place for the derby, Popovic was happy to leave him on the bench.

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After all, Poljak and La Rocca had done the job against Brisbane a week earlier, with Mooy away, and deserved their derby spots.

Despite the great derby win, the next week, against Adelaide, Popovic made three more changes to his XI.

Bridge was one that came in, and promptly bagged a hat-trick.

Talk about the Midas Touch.

Every week, it seems, Popovic is sending out a strong message to his own men and opponents.

On Sunday, when the Mariners come to Wanderland, it’s likely Popovic will again shuffle his squad around, especially given the five day turn-around and the fact Kresinger limped off with what appeared to be a knee injury.

Popovic’s skilful man-management has already been one of the most endearing features of this most riveting of A-League seasons, but in the midst of it all he is already planning for the next.

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In the past week or so he’s extended the contracts of Mateo Poljak, Michael Beauchamp and Ante Covic into next season, and my mail is a couple more players will be re-signed this week.

It’s the type of detailed planning that has the Wanderers poised and pushing for a spot in the top two, and if they can take the scalp of the Mariners on Sunday, who knows how far Popovic and his motivated men can go.

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