After suffering a 2-1 loss on Saturday at the hands of the Newcastle jets, the Western Sydney Wanderers are looking at finishing their third season in existence with the dreaded wooden spoon.
It’s been a roller coaster season for the Wanderers faithful, the crescendo of being crowned Asian Champions has given way to the embarrassment of a likely wooden spoon.
So where has it all gone wrong for the Wanderers, and where to from here?
Western Sydney’s third season was never going to be easy. Having lost several players in the off-season, caught in the floodlights of Asian Champions League competition, plagued by injury and forced to juggle an unacceptably packed match schedule, the Wanderers were destined to endure turbulence after a near perfect first two seasons.
The trouble started when foundation players began parachuting out of the Red and Black machine, that had somehow operated so smoothly since its makeshift construction. Marquee man Shinji Ono said goodbte, young gun Aaron Mooy found himself firing at Melbourne City and inaugural captain Michael Beauchamp found himself without a club and contract.
With such key components absent, it was left to coach Tony Popovic to patch the Wanderers back together. After finding themselves in the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League it would have to be a rushed and inadequate quick fix.
In place of Ono, the Brazilian Vitor Saba was bought in, and he worked no better than duct tape compared to the fine stitching Shinji had brought to the club. Saba had his moments, but he lacked both the physicality and mentality the A-League demanded.
It was a similarly short stay for defender Seyi Adeleke, who was never really given the opportunity to prove his worthiness.
Despite these failed player signings and rumours of a minor pay dispute, the Wanderers defied the odds to win the Asian Champions League.
The win however, would come at a cost. The once well-oiled machine that was the Wanderers is now squeaking and churning back in domestic competition.
Still reeling from a busy schedule that had to incorporate a fortnight long trip to Morocco for the World Club Cup, the Wanderers were a make-shift and ever-changing side. Injuries compounded these problems with no Wanderers line-up in 2015 the same for any two consecutive matches.
In hindsight there’s little wonder why the Wanderers are set to claim the wooden spoon. Their Asian success was truly a sacrifice that the Wanderers continue to be impacted by. The loss of foundation players and recruitment of ill-suited replacements is this only furthering the toll of the Wanderers Asian escapades.
So where to for the Wanderers?
Ironically it looks like the solution has come from and will be tested in Asia. The recruitment of Japanese duo Yojiro Takahagi and Yusuke Tanaka has been a silver lining of tumultuous season for the Wanderers.
Takahagi in the heart of midfield is stitching together the Wanderers side with the same fine needle-like passing that Shinji Ono once provided, whilst Tanaka is a reliable defender down the left flank that always posing a threat going forward.
With the A-League regular season only spanning another five games, the Wanderers will be into to the realms of the Asian Champions League once again for some redemption and much needed fine-tuning.
Three guaranteed games remain for the Wanderers against Asian opposition. They need to find some much needed consistency if they want to play more.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
Zac Sapsford put the Wanderers back on level terms but as the match looked headed for a draw, Jaiden Kucharski netted for the Sky…
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
Western Sydney coach Marko Rudan says his side have recaptured their edge after breaking their Campbelltown Stadium hoodoo with a 3-1 clobbering of cross-town…
The Wanderers coach admits he has stuff going on in his personal life, and insists he has full support of playing group.
