When you think of the success the Wanderers had in their first season and just how crucial Michael Beauchamp and Mateo Poljak were to it, it’s almost unfathomable to think, six rounds into the next season, they aren’t part of the starting 11.
But that exactly the scenario at the Western Sydney Wanderers at moment as Tony Popovic looks to be evolving his team into one that possess the ball more than it has yet done.
There’s an old adage that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, yet Popovic appears to be defying that logic and, as he invariably does, finding success in his formula.
As I wrote in my Wanderers season preview, standing still is no longer good enough in the A-League, and finding improvement would be a key to whether the Wanderers made any progress this campaign.
Yet few would have predicated that two of last season’s key men, the skipper and the midfield enforcer, would be looking for a way back into the starting 11 after only six games.
Beauchamp, as we know, formed a formidable partnership with Nikolai Topor-Stanley last season, so much so he had many calling for him be recalled to the Socceroos.
Poljak, at times, resembled Miley Cyrus, a midfield wrecking ball.
When he was in, the Wanderers looked a formidable physical force, almost impossible to dominate.
In many ways, Poljak was the Wanderers bodyguard.
There was one occasion, at Wanderland, when Western Sydney had a player sent off early against the Melbourne Heart, that Popovic adjusted by leaving Poljak on his own in central midfield.
As I wrote at the time, he might have been up against three Heart midfielders, but Poljak blitzed them, destroying every potential raid with a characteristic high-octane display.
Yet both now appear to be on the fringes.
The reasoning makes sense from a football perspective.
While hitherto the Wanderers have been very much about being well organised and keeping it simple at the back and playing their football in the front third, now they appear intent to play out and possess the ball more.
To that end Matt Spiranovic and Aaron Mooy are the players that have come in for Beauchamp and Poljak, and their greater comfort on the ball is starting to make the Wanderers look like a team that can keep the ball and build from defence, through midfield.
Mooy had his best game in red and black against the Melbourne Victory on Saturday night, regularly making himself available and getting the ball, either deep in his own half or higher up the pitch, where he could influence the attack.
Whether dropping between the two central defenders to start a home attack or playing combinations on the edge of the Victory box, Mooy was everywhere.
Last season, when he did feature as one of the twin pivots in Popovic’s 4-2-3-1, Mooy looked to struggle with the workrate required as the Wanderers invariably where on the wrong end of the possession counts.
Their game was very much about absorbing and reacting by getting it quickly to the likes of Youssouf Hersi, Shinji Ono and Mark Bridge.
The twin screeners, Poljak and, most often, Iacopo La Rocca, were there not so much to play, but break down opponents.
While Mooy might have been part of the starting 11 plans at the beginning of the campaign, by the end he was very much an impact option.
Indeed, there was even some speculation Mooy might be on the outer at the start of this season, but anyone who watched the Wanderers pre-season will have known how important he would be to Popovic’s plans.
Spiranovic, too, is already proving a big difference in allowing the Wanderers to keep the ball and build up patiently from the back.
Taking up Beauchamp’s right-central-defender position, one can already see how comfortable he is as demanding the ball and carrying it forward, something that has never been a strength of Topor-Stanley and Beauchamp.
Also noticeable in his first two games have been his accurate switches of play.
If you want a pointer to the way the Wanderers are looking to play, you have to look no further than the kick-offs.
Whereas in the past they gave always knocked it back to Topor-Stanley who will invariably hoof it into the opponents half, now there have been a couple of examples of them playing it shorter to Mooy, and trying to keep it.
It is rare to see the Victory on the wrong end of a possession count, and the fact it was the Wanderers who out-possessed them tells you much about the influence of Spiranovic and Mooy already.
Credit should also go to Topor-Stanley and La Rocca, who have looked composed around them the past two games.
Popovic, of course, will look to evolve this even further throughout the season, and hinted as much with his post-match comments, saying there were better signs of the possession game he was after, but more to come.
While Tomi Juric has undoubtedly given the Wanderers a focal point in attack in the opening few rounds, the ability to possess the ball better and build from the back gives Popovic even more tactical flexibility as the season unfolds.
Friday night’s top of the table clash away to the Brisbane Roar, who like to use the width of Lang Park to stretch opponents, will be another test for Popovic and Ante Milicic, to see whether they look to absorb the Roar or keep the ball, or use a combination of both.
The fact the Wanderers are building these options should make them stronger in their second season.
Tony Tannous
Expert
Two great comments gentlemen, very good observations. I agree, spot on
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Plus, I'd suggest that because he had to build this team from scratch in a short period of time with an abbreviated off-season before last season, it means even more so that he probably aimed for a more simple method last year and this year is then looking to evolve that more. Last year was about the basics. Get the defense solid and work out an attack that could hit on the counter and score goals. Then coming into this season he can build on that very solid foundation by implementing a better passing game and bringing in players able to carry this out better. He certainly does seem able to get the most out of players who've maybe not been as successful at other clubs too.
j binnie
Guest
Tony - A very "straight to the point" article which should not really surprise you if you have any admiration for the coach.Having won a premiership a good coach will immediately look at where he can improve his team for that is the nature of tactical football,always stay a jump ahead of your rivals & in trying to integrate the two players you mention ,Tony Popovic has shown that he is well aware of this circumstance & is working out new options for his team.That to me is coaching of the highest degree.Another measure of Popovic's acumen is last weekend where ,in the dying minutes,he brought on a "game changer" & nabbed 2 points. Victory & Roar brought on substitutes & their overall game suffered, both walking away with nothing from their games.. A subtle but nevertheless effective difference. jb
Matthew Skellett
Roar Rookie
Isnt McFlynn making his name at SFC Johan? Would be interesting to see if Popa could coax the real Zidane out of retirement now that Gallas his fellow countryman is playing here :-)
Johan
Guest
Although I don't support the Wanderers I am surprised how poppa has managed to turn totally mediocre players into slightly better players (good players by a league standard) He is clearly a good manager. Lucky for wanderland that he was not interested in the socceroos gig. Is there any chance he could buy Tezza 'zidane' Mcfylnn? I can confirm that I am and never have been mcfylnn's agent.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Re Ono. Agree. He seemed to play an odd role on Saturday. But I think it had a lot to do with how compact WSW were playing. He was almost squeezed out of the game. If he was to go out wide, away from the rest of the team he would've ended up in no mans land. I'm quite certain the plan was to stay tight and suffocate MVFC. It was frustrating to watch at times but it worked in the end. I thought Archie had an incredible game through the middle of the field. Just didn't have his shooting boots on.
nearpost
Guest
Odd to see Shinji hanging around alongside Bridge, Santalab and Cole all in a line. Shinji is best when he, a la ADP, roams free and is available for the ball from Mooy or the defence, against Victory too many times he simply stood in the forward line, tightly marked. A tactical plan or is he just a bit too lazy? Everytime he's on the ball facing forward you are in trouble, but he can't get it if he's too high when Wanderers have the ball. Victory were great but a lack of a 9 helped in breaking down the Wanderers play but Archie and Pain often had no-one to play into when they had the ball wide. Interesting the tactic from last year of Archie/Rojas simply bursting forward and knocking the ball to the far post where Archie/Rojas would tap in doesn't appear to be working this year. on Saturday when Archie looked to play the ball Pain was unable to get far enough forward and without a no. 9 no one else was going to get it. Archie for 9 or false 9 maybe the way to go as he loses a bit of speed - but like ADP, Giggs and co surely Archie can be reinvented. With his ball control he could move into a 9 or 10 role more easily and extend his career. He's not breaking away with his awesome pace as often as in previous years it seems to me. That was one great A-League game on Saturday at Wanderland.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Really really impressed with Spira's stats. Topor had 100% accuracy from 34 passes i think. great to see us playing it out from the back instead of just hoofing it.
oly09
Guest
La Rocca 94%? Wow, he barely completed a pass in the draw with Wellington. But has looked good in recent weeks.
Michael
Guest
Good read Tony.
j binnie
Guest
Mid - While on the subject of stats here are the figures as promised you after each round & the comparison with last year. At game 29 last year all games had attracted a total of 418,314. This year the figure has risen to 445,824,an increase of 6.5% The average gate is also in decline (as is normal) & has now dropped to 15,373 but this decline will slow markedly & should bottom out around game 50.at roughly 14,000. Hope this is of interest. jb
Dyssius
Guest
Mooy only had a 75% passing accuracy (78 total passes) whilst La Rocca had 94% (51 TP). If Mooy could boost his accuracy, he could be truly lethal. Although Spiranovic had 92% accuracy from 77 passes, which is great.
Midfielder
Guest
Rd 6 SBS ...MH V SFC [Metro only i.e. no regional's].... 148 [ interesting MH V WSW last week 134K] Fox MH V SFC ... 93 K PG V AU .... 81 K Jest V Roar ,,, 91 K WSW V MV .... 143 K Total Rd to date 408 K average 102 K Mariners V Nix match delayed ... Is worth noting most consider SBS rating are not counted correctly and are considerably higher ... Fox would be very happy the numbers are holding ... ie last year was no fluke ... RD 2 W-League ABC - 3pm CAN vs WSW 61k
Midfielder
Guest
The Drive Bys are looking strong this year again and with GA & AP gone Maybe Popa has the edge in the coaching stakes ...