Following a blistering first two seasons, coupled with a historic ACL trophy, the Western Sydney Wanderers endured a tough third campaign in the A-League.
Rejuvenated, reborn and boasting a high personnel turnover, Tony Popovic’s Wanderers 2.0 could be ready for a return to the finals, however.
The Wanderers have released a large portion of their squad during the off-season, and the club’s fortunes depend largely on how quickly the new team can gel. Popovic has managed this feat once before, can he do it again?
Strengths
A new-look midfield should be the main cause of optimism for Wanderers fans. Mitch Nichols returns to Australia after a stint in Japan, while Dario Vidosic arrives from Switzerland. They will likely join Spaniards Andreu and Dimas to form the basis of a five-man unit behind a sole striker.
The Spaniards in particular could transform Popovic’s usually pragmatic tactics into a possession-based formula, and it will definitely be an interesting transition to watch throughout the season. Both have clocked game time in La Liga and the Segunda Division – that’s an equal or higher level of experience than Adelaide’s Spanish trio had before heading to the A-League.
Weaknesses
Popovic’s penchant for a lone striker looks set to continue, though his options this season have been severely depleted. The departures of Tomi Juric and Kerem Bulut will hurt, and how Popovic replaces their goals will be key to Western Sydney’s season.
New signing Federico Piovaccari is the only out-and-out No.9 and a lot will depend on how he adapts to his new teammates. Depth up front is therefore a concern, with fellow forwards such as Jaushua Sotirio, Romeo Castelen and Mark Bridge more accustomed to the wings, and Brendon Santalab not known for his goal-scoring exploits.
Big question: Can Popovic regain defensive resilience?
Western Sydney conceded 44 goals last season at an average of 1.6 per game. When compared to the 29 from 2013-14 and 21 from their debut campaign, it was a large reason for their capitulation.
With a new goalkeeper in Andrew Redmayne (or Dean Bouzanis), and new fullbacks in Scott Neville and Scott Jamieson, a lot of responsibility falls on captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley to lead a resurgence in the backline. The club’s third Spaniard, Alberto, will compete with Brendan Hamill for the final defensive role.
Key man: Federico Piovaccari
Having bounced around the lower Italian leagues for most of his career on loan deals, Piovaccari played a full season with La Liga outfit Eibar last season, scoring six goals in 28 games. The season prior he played Champions League football for Romanian club Steaua Bucharest.
His pedigree looks promising, and he could be a fantastic signing. As mentioned, however, the Italian’s fitness and form is crucial to the Wanderers’ finals aspirations.
Youngster to watch: Jaushua Sotirio
The Sydney local was offered just a one-year deal in the off-season and the pressure will be on for the 19-year-old to deliver. The forward is currently one of the club’s longest serving players since the squad overall and Popovic clearly sees potential. It is a big year for Sotirio.
Position last season: Ninth
Four wins, six draws and 17 losses, last season was a disaster for the Wanderers domestically. A rough schedule with the Asian Champions League, however, meant it was always going to be a tough ride.
Prediction: Outside finals chance
If Popovic can conjure up a second miracle and create a killer team from a fresh bunch of players, the Wanderers could finish on the edge of the finals spots. However, if Piovaccari fails to fire it could be another season in the wilderness.
First five fixtures
Brisbane Roar (H), Adelaide United (A), Sydney FC (A), Perth Glory (H), Newcastle Jets (A).
Possible line-up (4-2-3-1)
Piovacarri
Vidosic, Nichols, Castelen
Dimas, Andreu
Jamieson, Topor-Stanley, Alberto (Hamill), Neville
Redmayne
Ins
Dario Vidosic (FC Sion), Mitch Nichols (Cerezo Osaka), Andrew Redmayne (Melbourne City), Scott Jamieson (Perth Glory), Jacob Pepper (Newcastle Jets), Scott Neville (Newcastle Jets), Andreu Guerao Mayoral (Racing Santander), Federico Piovaccari (free agent), Dimas Delgado (free agent), Alberto (free).
Outs
Tomi Juric (released), Ante Covic (Glory), Kerem Bulut (Iraklis), Nikita Rukavytsya (released), Jason Trifiro (released), Nick Ward (injury replacement), Nick Kalmar (injury replacement), Antony Golec (Perth Glory), Adrian Madaschi (injury replacement), Iacopo La Rocca (Adelaide United), Yojiro Takahagi (FC Seoul), Yusuke Tanaka (released), Yianni Perkatis (Blacktown City), Steve Kuzmanovski (Melbourne City), Matthew Spiranovic (Hangzhou Greentown), Labinot Haliti (Newcastle Jets), Mateo Poljak (Newcastle Jets).
Paul
Guest
no one mentioned the coaching changes. with the Spider as head GK coach, we should see improvement. with the Spanish assistant, we should see a passing game particularly if Andreu manages to stay fit. have really enjoyed watching Mitch Nichols in pre-season. really looking forward to seeing vidosic, piovarri and castelen on the attack together with the midfield. but they NEED PENALTY PRACTICE. never saw Tomi Juric miss a penalty. I hope Alberto can match Spira in the backline. with tomi and mat gone we don't have senior socceroos so no excuse there. however, many youth played in afc are u19s qualifiers over the last 6 days. we also may have some away for olyroos duty. I think some of the turnover had to do with the world club cup pay issues.
josh
Guest
A final like that would out-crowd the NRL (let's face it the AFL in Sydney aren't even in the running and Rugby could only muster 60,000 for a final)
Post hoc
Guest
Agree, a big season from those 4 and it will do amazing things for the league, a 2 Sydney or 2 Melbourne final would be a massive thing. A 2 Sydney final would be at ANZ and would be a show piece. I rate the Jets more than they are being given credit for, I think they will do ok, might start slow but will come good. I hope for Aloisi sake the Roar do well, Mariners sorry just cant see it.
Buddy
Guest
I was a fan of Juric and stuck with him last year but he had an awful season really and did nothing to enhance his value for overseas offers...yes I was there for the ACL but look at the overall picture. As for Bulut, loved the never say die attitude but he hardly fitted the bill as a main striker and did the club really need that image and reputation? Therefore making comparisons between current stocks and last aeason is somewhat pointless...let's just say the jury is out...we will turn up and hope to be entertained this season whereas there was more enjoyment last year to be gained in selecting somewhere to eat along the church street precinct.
marron
Roar Guru
Well they can't move anywhere else, their memberships would be only on the nt and there's no room elsewhere anyway.
marron
Roar Guru
Hmm.... I'd sit on the fence a bit longer RBB. Pretty sure that some of these guys have been responsible for a fair amount of things you've criticized the RBB for on the past.
Midfielder
Guest
Our saying from year 1 has been Nobody rates us We don't care... I honestly think we will go better than most think..
Kaks
Roar Guru
Cant help but worry about it, the fans are what makes the club. If there is hostility in the stands then that reflects poorly on the club.
Realfootball
Guest
:) Guardian has CCM and Roar at 10 and 9 respectively. Hope your boys give em hell on the weekend.
Josh
Guest
Yeah they're literally one bay over in the same terrace, if they were on the other side of the stadium it'd be newsworthy.
Midfielder
Guest
Real Smell of a kero lamp...
Realfootball
Guest
Which at least is better than the Jets, who are more like a clapped out windmill, and CCM, who rely on kero lamps.
Realfootball
Guest
As a neutral, I'm hoping for a big season from the Wanderers. The best thing that can happen right now for the A League is to have 2 firing Melbourne teams and two firing Sydney teams. That would energise the entire A League. There's no doubt that Sydney and Melbourne are the nuclear reactors of the competition. Up at Brisbane, we're more like an old coal fired job, and with dodgy owners.
Realfootball
Guest
Agree with RBB, speaking as a neutral. NTS is a square peg in a round hole in the A League. He is the footballing equivalent of a stone axe.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I say don't worry about it. Just enjoy the football.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I dont get it, Bay 53 is in the RBB section. What are they going to do? Sing their own songs while the RBB sing theirs? I can understand some of the founding members wanting to leave the RBB with the amount of boofhead wannabe ultra's that seemed to have flocked into there who's favourite three letters are FTP (just rolled my eyes at how cringe a minority of the RBB are with their tough guy attitude) but I dont see how sitting next to the RBB will do anything other than create trouble.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I don't agree with the RBB a lot of the time. But I don't feel that the leaders have much impact on my experience. I like the chants. I like choreo. So I do them for the team. Breakaway groups only politicise the situation and make it seem very insular.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Seems like "Things" articles is the newest form of lazy journalism so here goes. My 4 things about WSW this season 1. Goalkeepers. Don't mind Bouzanis or Redmayne. But are they one of the better keepers in the league. Not even close. I hope they improve enormously in the coming months otherwise this is might be a problem area for us. 2. Defenders. Good but needs work. Have looked shaky throughout the pre season. I don't believe NTS should be guaranteed a spot particularly if there is a better ball player for that role. Lacking depth in full backs as well. 3. Midfield. Easily our strongest area. Good depth. Great players. Now the coaching staff need to get them hitting their potential. 4. Forwards. An unknown factor here. We have the depth but whether we have the quality remains to be seen. Keen to see how it goes on Thursday. Otherwise the club seems to be in good shape leading into the season. Nearly 17k members. New stadium on the way. Reached compromise with authorities. Lots of projects on the horizon. Bring on the football.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I think I know the people who are behind this group and I welcome them supporting the team. I have been highly critical of our RBB "leaders" and I use the word loosely. I believe this is the original group who formed the RBB. The RBB is now run by "North Gate" who I have no affinity with. They have no idea how to make decisions and when they do they usually make very bad ones. Will be an interesting dynamic to say the least. I know who I will be supporting.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Interesting to read that the RBB has split. A new supporter group, calling themselves "West Sydney Terrace" claim to have: "a different mentality & direction" to the RBB and will be moving to Bay 53. Their vision is to "prioritise the team & all supporters". https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQng_-IUcAAFhcj.jpg