Tony Popovic might prefer to keep a lid on the hype, but right now, with their organisation and tactical awareness, the Western Sydney Wanderers look likely as anyone to lift the golden toilet seat at the end of April.
While there remains a third of regular season to go, the Wanderers, firmly ensconced in the top four, can start entertaining the prospect of not only being there at the business end of the season, but winning the whole thing.
While the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory remain ahead of them both on the table and in the eyes of the bookies, it is becoming clear that Popovic’s men aren’t afraid of anyone.
That’s because he has created an environment where his team is well conditioned and confident in the art of controlling a match, irrespective of the circumstances thrown at them.
We saw that again on Saturday in another pulsating night out at Wanderland, the home ground that is fast becoming the hottest place to be in Australian sport.
Confronted by the early send-off of right back Jerome Polenz and facing a penalty, the Wanderers refused to buckle.
Indeed, emboldened by a thrilling penalty save by Ante Covic, which generated what must have been one of the loudest roars Parramatta Stadium has ever seen, the Wanderers seemed to grow even more after the send-off.
Much of that was down to Popovic’s tactical decision after Polenz’s red card.
While the tactical convention in a situation like that, in a 4-2-3-1, is to take off one of your front four and play with what is ostensibly a 4-2-3 or 4-4-1, Popovic went for the jugular.
While he was warming Iaccopa La Rocca up, Popovic and his assistant Ante Milicic switched their tactical lynch-pin Mateo Poljak from central midfield to right back, leaving Aaron Mooy on his own in central midfield.
It seemed this would only be a temporary gesture and that one of his front four, Shinji Ono, Mark Bridge, Youssouf Hersi or Dino Kresinger would be sacrificed once La Rocca came on.
But in the few minutes it took to get La Rocca ready, the Wanderers looked a threat in the final third, controlling possession well.
Each of the quartet not only looked influential on the ball, but had a purpose defensively.
Popovic instead took off Mooy, one of his two anchors, returning Poljak to the centre of midfield on his own.
He essentially went to a 4-1-3-1.
Surely the Melbourne Heart midfield trio of Matt Thompson, Nick Kalmar and Jonathan Germano would be able to gang-up on Poljak and control the midfield and game.
Alas, it was the 10-man Wanderers who were able to control the rest of the match, eventually getting a deserved winner when Hersi went to work in the box late and Ono converted the resulting penalty.
Poljak was everywhere, a one-man midfield wrecking ball.
Catching up with Popovic after the game, he suggested the move was an instinctive one, and there was certainly a hint of intuition about it.
After all, the excellent recent run had no doubt given the Wanderers a bit of buffer and comfort in the top four, and playing at home certainly helped.
In many ways, Popovic had nothing to lose, and it showed with him taking such a gamble.
But beyond the intuition, the move was as much about the belief flowing through the Wanderers’ technical staff and players.
The belief is not only in their understanding of the Wanderers’ system and what’s required in various scenarios, but in the physical conditioning of the players.
Patently they believe they have the legs to run over any opponent, even when a man short.
With a well organised and in-touch defensive structure, this physicality has helped them boss games this season.
Particularly when the highly under-rated Poljak is available, few are able to compete with the Wanderers’ physicality.
Indeed, they are the masters of picking up the second ball and applying the team press.
While the Victory and Mariners have already posed the Wanderers a headache or two this season, there appears to be growing belief within the camp they can compete equally.
Certainly, beating the Victory 2-1 at Wanderland on New Year’s Day, after suffering a 2-0 loss to them only a few weeks earlier, even after Sam Gallagher was sent off, appeared to instil much belief.
This was particularly so after romping through Adelaide 6-1 a few days before Christmas.
What Popovic and Milicic proved on New Year’s Day is they had learnt from the earlier loss to the Victory, devised a plan to combat Archie Thompson and Marco Rojas, and managed to execute it.
It has been very rare in recent years to find Ange Postecoglou tactically out-thought, but he was certainly second-best on his second trip to Parramatta this season.
While the Wanderers weren’t able to repeat this feat a few days later against the competition front-runners, the Mariners, the fact they went into that blockbuster without the likes of Kresinger, Michael Beauchamp, Poljak and Hersi will embolden them the next time they meet.
That match, scheduled for round 23 on March 2, is likely to prove very telling in the title race, particularly if both sides are at full strength.
Another match that’s likely to be a title barometer comes two weeks earlier, in round 21, when the Wanderers travel to AAMI Park to take on Postecoglou for a third time.
Indeed, with Adelaide United scheduled for this week, the Wanderers will be away to all the other current members of the top four in the final third of the season.
It’s another big test and if the Wanderers can pass it, they’ll take their momentum all the way to the finals.
With much momentum continuing to build off the pitch (the support of the fans appeared to have a major impact on the result against the Heart), there’s no doubt few will relish meeting the Wanderers.
While there’s still a fair part of the season remaining, right now, if you were framing a market for the championship, you’d be crazy not to have the Wanderers right in the mix.
With their tactical flexibility and physicality, the big key for Popovic, like it will be for Graham Arnold and Postecoglou, will be to have his big guns available when it counts.
If he does, the Wanderers will take much stopping.
Dean
Guest
Hey Australian Rules, I've been observing various football articles because of my keen interest in football and additionally enjoy the commentary from people from diverse loyalties and passions. I find the discussion informative and thought provoking. But tell me something...How come I get a sense of negativity with each and every contribution you make to football articles? With respect to football, I think you are a negative person. For what motive I am not sure but I am assuming for an undying loyalty to another code, conscious or sub-conscious. In my opinion negative people are like human black holes which come out of nowhere and just suck the life out of you. One tries to stay positive and remain strong but their negativity just continues to drain you. One feels unnecessarily exhausted and starts to get depressed too So what can we as football followers do? For a start, be aware who are the negative people in one's life and remain emotionally detached from this negativity. His viewpoint of the world is very skewed and it's unlikely one would be able to change it no matter what you say One needs to keep in mind that he may be trying to manipulate with his comments which is why he is providing this information to us.......his undying love for the other code. Footbal lovers, keep these thoughts in mind and you'll prevent yourself from any emotional commotion that happens when the "blamer" starts making negative comments.
Tony Tannous
Expert
Tantilising prospect Peter, but it would mean that Syd need to pull the finger out and start making some tough/right calls. I wrote about this last week, suggesting Farina should bring Triantis in for McFlynn. It's been obvious for 3 seasons at least. He didn't. Right now they remain pretenders
Tony Tannous
Expert
Dino concurs... http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/01/31/wanderers-eyeing-a-league-crown-kresinger/
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
I think Popoic is already a better coach than Postecoglou, given their experience, the budgets they have to spend and the players they have at their disposal. I hope its a Wanderers v SFC Toilet Seat decider at ANZ Stadium, so we can break the A-League attendance record again.
Tony Tannous
Expert
Fascinating, thought provoking mid, thanks for sharing... In a few more years this might worry a local code or two...
Australian Rules
Guest
Bondy, refer to my above post. The AFL gave more than anyone...and was willing to give even more again...then Buckley & Lowy fluffed it. All for 1 pathetic vote.
Australian Rules
Guest
MidF You talk about the reaction to the "AFL position on the WC Bid"... this reaction toward the AFL after the failed WC Bid was completely unfair & uninformed. The AFL was the only...repeat only...code in the country which offered to give up it's most important stadium (the MCG) in order for Australia to host the World Cup. It also agreed to re-fixture it's entire season and renogiate other stadiums contracts around the country to allow for a WCup. (remember, whilst obviously not as "big" as a World Cup, the AFL is still a multi-million dollar industry which has binding legal contracts for ad space, TV and radio air-time, existing naming rights sponsorships for stadiums, clubs etc.) So, the AFL had agreed to alter their existing MCG contract to allow WC games to be played...and so they should. However (and this is the bit people don't understand), Ben Buckley then went on radio and said in an interview "and we also have access to Etihad Stadium too". Andrew Demetriou responded with "hang on, you haven't asked us about that yet, we haven't discussed this with our existing sponsors and partners yet"...and so he pushed back a bit and said "we're willing to be reasonable, we're willing to discuss it and be accommodating...but don't publicly claim you have rights to our stadiums without talking to us first!" It was the mismanagement by Buckley and Lowy across a whole range of issues (not the position of the AFL on Etihad) that added to the WCBid failure. Buckley & Lowy did a shambolic job in the bid process and Australia was duly rewarded with 1 measely vote. The AFL was, of course, the scapegoat that they needed.
Redb
Roar Guru
Mid, I repeat "the AFL invasion talk in Western Sydney started at least 2 years before the World Cup bid was even conceived." There may have been some WCB fallout but from RL perspective they had the guns out long before. It doesn't stop a lot of people following both the AFL and A League.
Midfielder
Guest
Redb And you don't think the TerrOR used the WCB stance to justify what it was doing and stir RU, Football, Hockey, Cricket fans to support and prove what they were saying... also to further call to arms RL folk... As I keep saying to you whether the AFL was right or wrong makes no difference ... the general perception of the AFL in NSW & QLD and the media in general i.e. Sydney based ABC folk etc and News juno's outside their RL folk totally changed ... the man in the street, at the water cooler, at the pub .... it was proof of what they had been saying and allowed it to be even more ramped up... the SMH joined in as did talk back .... talk back in sports shows was full of RL & RU saying this and that and all using the WCB as absolute proof and it was milked by and large by the RL folk who are the ones that run the sports talk back shows in NSW & QLD... Mate I cannot change how nor why the citizens of NSW & QLD interpreted the AFL position on the WC Bid... all I can say is it changed [forever I think] how the AFL management is viewed in NSW & QLD...
Redb
Roar Guru
Mid, Except that the AFL invasion talk in Western Sydney started at least 2 years before the World Cup bid was even conceived. Rugby league News Ltd didn't like the cashed up AFL. The World Cup bid was irrelevant.
Midfielder
Guest
Redb You have totally missed my point in the defence of the AFL reaction.... NSW & QLD folk saw the AFL in a totally different light to what they had before ... the rights and wrongs of the AFL position is not the issue... the issue is how the AFL was and currently is viewed and that by and large that started with the WC Bid ...nothing can change that it created a total shift in how the AFL management and expansion was / is viewed by the other three football codes...
Redb
Roar Guru
Not doing it Bondy, I am Israel you are Palestine re opinions on the World Cup bid - it is entrenched. Does any soccer fan think Frank lowy might just have tried to push a bit harder than he needed in Melbourne?
Bondy
Guest
Sporting capital of the world Melbourne allegadely, and it didn't want the most popular sports tournament in the world there, strange form of pholosiphy to me,sounds like a jealous mindset.
Redb
Roar Guru
Mid, I disagree the AFL had no choice it wasnt about getting publicity for the AFL especially seeing as the 'battlefield' was Melbourne. This very much depends on your perspective. Oh gawd let's not open that particular can of worms again. :) My point was that RL picked the fight with the AFL in Western Sydney, they saw it as an invasion. Other codes can expand but not so the AFL?
Midfielder
Guest
Redb A rose by any other name is still a rose.... the AFL has not done its best to get to where it is today and good on em... althrough I know little of the game I do respect the management ... jealous envious even... but to say the AFL has not engaged in promoting itself at the expenses of other sports is simply wrong... We have discussed this before and I know your views on the matter ... but the world cup bid showed a side of the AFL no one in NSW & QLD had ever seen .... and it changed I think forever how supporters and media folk of other codes look at the AFL...
Midfielder
Guest
Tony Totally off topic in fact you could not get more off topic but tho you would be very interested in this article ... http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/8239913/Schedule-shift-mooted-for-European-football
Bondy
Guest
Redb, Was that a sufficent enough crowd for the one dayer to your eye in mlb two days ago ?. Just curious I dont know.
Redb
Roar Guru
striker, You can lay the blame squarely at the feet of the rugby league media unit known as the Daily Telegraph. News Ltd may no longer own the NRL but they sure started the 'war'.
striker
Guest
Clipper sorry the south west also, i always said if we are united as a code we can be up there with NRL-AFL as there are hundreds of thousand that love this game in sydney,the wanderers fans are showing the other codes that football has a massive following in this city and will only grow bigger in time.
clipper
Guest
Striker - don't forget the South West! One of the examples of this was Birchgrove Oval where league (with media on side) was so obsessed with stopping the local AFL team getting a foothold there that they completely ignored Football which then gained 40% more time at league's expense.