The age-old conundrum of “what would you have taken before kick off” has never been so pertinently applied to a football team than the WSW Wanderers at this present moment.
In this case, the theory is tweaked to read “what would you have taken before inauguration” for a club that has captured the minds of fans from one of the most diverse sporting landscapes in the entire world.
The club’s early success is the envy of many in a burgeoning league. A premier’s plate in their first season; two grand final appearances and the crowning achievement of the Asian Champions League has had Wanderland in a frenzy of excitement.
That very success is the reason that fans of WSW are becoming increasingly disgruntled at the stuttering nature of their third A-League campaign that sees them rooted to the bottom of the ladder.
It might be a bit rich to suggest that such an expectation of continued success is warranted noting that many would have only dreamed of the silverware that sits proudly in Parramatta after 2.5 years.
Don’t forget WSW were only a few minutes away from a date with Real Madrid and the chance to show football royalty that they belong among the very best.
However, mediocrity is something that can never be settled for now following their scintillating start.
Reality has hit hard and there’s a very real chance that a cooking utensil will take its place alongside the ACL crown.
One of the reasons that can be attributed to the performance slump has been the departure of Ante Milicic from the coaching staff. The Wanderers have always been a well drilled defensive unit, setting up to contain and hit hard on the break. There’s no doubt that Milicic was influential in establishing the cohesiveness and efficiency that allowed WSW to take their chances in front of goal and win matches.
WSW now seem devoid of ideas going forward as players like Bridge and Haliti continue to strike blanks in front of goal, being included consistently ahead of Tomi Juric, for example.
Popovic’s rotation policy is another real sore point being questioned among the faithful. Consistency in line-up selection has been rare at best while the formation seems to remain the same win, lose or draw.
Perhaps the main reason behind the fall from grace has been the players that Popovic no longer has available to select.
Aaron Mooy has excelled at City and was desperately unlucky not to be a part of the Socceroos Asian Cup winning Squad.
Jerome Polenz is a fantastic pick up for the Brisbane Roar while Shinji Ono could still have played a massive part as an old head in a somewhat young squad.
Michael Beauchamp’s dumping from the 2014 grand final side against Brisbane was also mystifying. It’s no surprise that he doesn’t don the black and red anymore.
Vitor Saba’s existence as a Wanderers player was also a strange one. His talent was never in question. Whether he had an issue with the coach, his discipline, or if it was his general fit in the side is a question that deserves an answer. The biggest regret is Saba being a player on specialised visa requirement much like Adeleke, only to be released months later in a shroud of controversy and cryptic tweets as to the exact reason for his sudden departure.
Accountability is a key part of any job and this also applies to the manager of a football team when performances aren’t reflecting the expectation of the club’s biggest commodity – those who buy their seats regularly and proudly.
Borussia Dortmund is a perfect example of a club that has been turned on its head in recent times with a league position that requires a double-take when looking at the table.
Jurgen Klopp led his men to consecutive Bundesliga titles and a narrow Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich only 18 months ago.
Since then, the possibility of relegation, however unlikely that may seem, has hovered over the heads of the side from the Westfalenstadion.
Three wins in a row in the league has lifted Dortmund mid-table to ease the pressure on Klopp. The club made it clear that his position is safe for the time being, and that his record holds him in high regard.
Achievements are to be respected, absolutely no doubt. WSW fans are grateful for the joy the club has brought them to date.
The Wanderers are desperate for a lift and to ease the pressure on Popovic, and the side needs to win and go on a run fast.
Whatever the reason for this season’s slump, the buck has to stop somewhere.
Reasons for dropped points have sounded more like excuses when there are obvious remedies like playing your best players week in week out and keeping rotation to a minimum to aid resuscitation.
Popovic is safe for now, though patience will continue to wear thin while responsibility treads water.
j binnie
Guest
Towser - You could be on "dangerous ground" there for Wanderers are now owned by a consortium of wealthy Sydney business men but what you may not be aware of is that the connection/link between one of those men with the chairman of the FFA goes back a long, long way and there is a train of thought that would see one of those men being "groomed" to take the chairman's place when he is expected to resign in the not -too-distant future.For many years in the 70/80's the name Lederer was synonomous with the Socceroo teams of the day and of course Stydney City of the NSL. That name was one Andrew Lederer who as far back as the late 50's ,like Frank Lowy,was building the foundations of a businees empirebased on smallgoods,as was Lowy in his early days. Andrew passed away some years ago leaving control of his empire to his nephew,who is now chairman of WSW, Get the connection. Your mate jb
Flipa
Guest
That record stands whilst having milicic by his side. Unfortunately with milicic gone he is the WORST coach in the league... Signs are clear
Josh
Guest
As long as he wants, he has my support even if we lose every other game this season and bomb out of the ACL. He's from the west, we don't turn on our own (1 anonymous hothead doesn't count there either).
Josh
Guest
Beating teams like Seoul & Sanfrecce was a miracle ?
SVB
Guest
"for now" are the key words there. What's working against Popa is that he doesn't look like he'll change much from what he has been doing already. Whether that's because he doesn't want to, or because he is not capable of doing so is up for debate. If people saw some change and marginal improvement, they would have a little more faith. Whatever is happening now is just not working.
britesparke
Roar Rookie
Just a postscript to this. John Tsatsimas has already stated that Popovic's tenure at the Wanderers is safe for now.So expect more of the same for the time being.
britesparke
Roar Rookie
Yes, as good as his achievements are on paper and in the trophy room....the reality is that it can only sustain for so long and Paul Lederer's patience may be running out. Whilst the two remain good friends for now, I can see that if a kitchen utensil is picked up to sit adjacent to the ACL trophy and the side crashes out in the group stage in dismal fashion then that will facilitate his departure. It all depends on the start next season. Some have suggested 4 games, others 6 and then ten. Fact is, if there are consecutive losses of say 6, he should start writing his resignation.
joe
Guest
I think he has till the end if this season. Unless he somehow, by miracle turns things around.
j binnie
Guest
Towser - You may have hit the nail on the head there my friend. Melbourne Ciy's best 2 crowds of the season (derby excepted) were their first 2 matches,15,717 and 13,083. With Villa's departure it would appear the crowds droppped to 9,500 and then further to around 7,000 lately.. Good observation Cheers jb..
AZ_RBB
Guest
I'll give him 10 games into next season before I start questioning his position. Even then that will probably be dependent upon various other issues such as improvement, style and players available.
Realfootball
Guest
I ask a WSW suppporter again: how long has Popa got if the team keeps losing and stays bottom of the table. My estimate is this season and first four games of next season. What do you think, bs? There is a limit to what can be accepted by the owners.
Realfootball
Guest
First sign????? How many losses do you need from the team at the bottom of the League? The 1/10 was for this A League season. Take your red glasses off and look at your team's results and the table! Both are utterly abysmal.
Realfootball
Guest
What, as an WSW supporter, do you known any better than me? Pull the other one, Josh. It's an opinion, that's all. Not objective fact. But here's a question for you: how long do you think Popa will stay in the job with his team bottom or near bottom of the table? As a WSW fan.
Realfootball
Guest
How WSW won that competition is a miracle of Biblical proportions. I stand by my assessment of that team. It is has subsequently been proven accurate this season in the A League.
britesparke
Roar Rookie
GC79 spot on. Our midfield is simply dysfunctional. Agree that if Ono is known to be returning to Japan why let Mooy go? Some commenters have suggested that Mooy was unhappy and would have gone anyhow but I believe man management to be the problem. We could have kept BOTH Ono and Mooy and have the best midfield in the league. If one had to go keep the other - Either way a combination of either Saba,Mooy or Ono would have been much better than what we have now. It will take the new japanese player time to settle.
GC79
Roar Rookie
what happens on the administration side of the club shouldn't affect what happens on the pitch what i do know is that Lederer gave Popa the green light to sign a marquee and Popa decided he didn't need it.. is that is stubborness getting in the way again?
GC79
Roar Rookie
sorry, hit the shortcut key to post... Mark Bridge is absolutely clueless in that role, he's slow on the ball, has a poor touch, poor vision and always turns over position even in very good positions Saba would find himself selected at right wing, a left footer on the right flank.. is Popa serious? He did the same to Ruka, when has Ruka ever played on the right flank for any club? With regard to Mooy, if your intention is to get rid of Ono.. why wouldn't you try and hold on to Mooy? Suddenly we don't have anyone in the middle to run the show.. Poljak and La rocca are good CDM's, but their distribution is basic as opposed to Mooy's brilliance in that part of his game.. Mooy can turn defence to attack in a second with his pin point, long range passing.. it takes us an eternity to move the ball from defence to attack.. we often don't, by-pass the middle and hoof it to the front.. such a terrible style of play If Saba was his man to run the middle, then blame squarely sits with Popa.. he was scouting him from season 1, so he knew all about him.. his treatment of him was disgraceful.. and the whole time the club was trying to pull wool over eyes about the whole saga
britesparke
Roar Rookie
Dismissing Tony Popovic is definitely not the answer. I think what is really required is an excellent assistant coach who is a complement to Popa (a noted defender and expert on all matters defensive) such as Ante was. He needs someone with attacking nous, an expert on attacking strategy to get the team finding the net again. Bridge is a shadow of the former goalscoring machine from a couple of seasons ago. Why? Lack of attacking direction. Crook is not the man- Kosmina (if he can work with Popa) would be a better alternative. The WSW attack has no teeth -just dentures!
britesparke
Roar Rookie
I firmly believe the change of ownership has affected the club on many levels. Firstly, when owned by the FFA there certainly would have been a sense of security and a certain freedom of autonomy in football management and decision making -Lyall Gorman was a highly experienced footballing administrator who knew how to run the operation. He is now gone. In comes Paul Lederer and his consortium, who picked the club for a bargain basement price. Private ownership changes things dramatically. Ask the question: Would the pay dispute have eventuated if the FFA were still owners? Probably not-at least it would have handled much better. Now the club is accountable to a private owner. Not the same so the goalposts have shifted.
GC79
Roar Rookie
Saba was never really given a chance to impress in the no 10 role, more often than not Bridge was selected ahead of him in the position.. MARK BRIDGE!!