The one thing that’s struck me watching the Western Sydney Wanderers this season is just how calm and composed everyone is, and much of the credit for that appears to lie with the three-pronged Spanish anchor on the field and their little compatriot sitting next to Tony Popovic on the bench.
There isn’t much in stature to Andres Carrasco, Popovic’s assistant, but there’s an almost Dalai Lama-esque air of calm about the way he goes about work at both training and match-day.
Armed with a clipboard, walking at a relaxed pace, seemingly never rushed or flustered, Carrasco appears to have brought these qualities into the way the Wanderers work this season.
Mentality is an often undervalued attribute in the success or otherwise of a football team, and the Wanderers appear to have struck gold with the mentality of the four Spaniards brought in in the off-season.
While Carrasco adds the composure and tactical smarts alongside Popovic, one can’t underestimate the influence that Andreu, Alberto and Dimas have on the pitch, each a key character in the implementation of Popovic and Carrasco’s blueprint.
Experienced, tactically mature and also demonstrating a relaxed demeanour, they are the base on which the Wanderers’ greater possession game is built.
Andreu is the fulcrum, the number six that sets the tone of the team from his anchor in midfield, turning one way, jinking the other, utilising tiny pockets of space to prompt the Wanderers attack.
He is equally a defensive ball-winner and a prompter of attack, generally keeping his distribution simple.
Andreu’s work in tandem with Dimas and Alberto is a joy to watch. They are the new control merchants of the A-League, setting the team’s tone around where they win the ball, how high up they press to win it back quick, and how high the defensive line is.
Alberto is all calm at back, with and without the ball. He reminds me of those old fashioned liberos I grew up watching here, the likes of Milan Ivanovic and Ante Juric.
Alberto doesn’t look like he’d get flustered by much, let alone Besart Berisha. Indeed, you’d even back him to tame Diego Costa.
He sets the position of the defence.
Rather than drop-off and defend deep, the Wanderers stay high and win it early. It’s all about controlling the opponent by proactively chasing the ball to win it quick, no doubt a quality Carrasco is familiar with from his almost 15 years at Barcelona’s famed La Masia.
The work-rate is phenomenal and Scott Smith clearly has them fit.
By no means are Andreu and Dimas ball-playing maestros in the mould of a Sergi Busquets or Xavi, but they are clever, comfortable on the ball and keep it moving.
Apart from their mentality, some of their best qualities are also in the feistiness of their defensive work, sussing out the danger and shutting down opponents quickly. Dimas snipes away in midfield.
This is a combative and physical Wanderers side, but one that also features quality and calm on the ball.
It is not the expansive, possession-based control of the Ange Postecoglou Roarcelona, but rather a combative control, featuring physical work to win and keep the ball, and intensity and calm when in possession.
It’s clear the qualities brought by the Spaniards now run through the entire Wanderers squad.
Watching the way Nikolai-Topor Stanley relaxes in possession at the back, looking for a short play-out combination, is the stuff of transformation legend.
To his left, Scott Jamieson, all hustle and bustle, feisty and competitive, presses high to pressure opponents, but then, if nothing is on quickly, stops and puts his foot on the ball, keeping it.
Meanwhile, in front of Andreu and Dimas is the hitherto enigmatic Mitch Nichols, arguably the key influencer in attack this season.
He works brilliantly with the two Spanish midfielders, always moving to find pockets of space, knowing they’ll feed him quick, where he can turn to face forward and influence in attack.
While marquee Federico Piovaccari failed to hit any heights before suffering a strain, there has still been enough quality from Nichols, Romeo Castelen, Dario Vidosic and Mark Bridge up front to convert the game-control into points.
Meanwhile, Jaushua Sotirio, who I wrote about earlier in the season, had continued to get game-time and continued to improve.
Only a third of the way into the season, it’s perhaps a little too early to be talking titles, but the one thing that’s been clear is just how focussed and composed this squad looks on match-day.
And the influence that Carrasco, Alberto, Andreu and Dimas have brought shouldn’t be underestimated.
The original version of this piece mentioned Adam Waterson, who has left the Wanderers. He was replaced with Scott Smith.
Ian
Guest
Surely that is a baiting comment. And a ridiculous one. But keeping in line that no one else ever followed a football team before the RBB first copied a chant.
Ian
Guest
Gee a GF at Pirtek with a capacity under 20k. I know there is the theory of WSW keeping their sydney derbies at Pirtek for the fans, which is admirable and the majority seem to want this, but knowing Poppa would want a GF at a small venue I think is a tad selfish. if you could get 80,000 for a GF then why wouldn't you.
Post hoc
Guest
All I care about is the Premiers plate, you guys can have the toilet seat
josh
Guest
Settle down my red and black brother, it's too early.
marron
Roar Guru
Possibly he meant, for themselves. But we must assume all wanderers fans are up themselves and only started watching football in 2012 mustn't we...
Brian
Guest
They're peaking too early. MV to walk all over them come finals time.
RBBWanderers
Guest
The title is OURS there is no way we will lose it from here. WSW are CHAMPIONS. No team has come even close to us this season, we are the best, Mitch will win the Golden Boot and be player of the year, Popa will be coach of the year, every player he has signed has been a STAR, the RBB are the best supporters in the world, our playing kit is even better than everyone else's, you all wish you were Wanderers but you can't be, we are, your not. We will win the FFA Cup and the ACL (again) next year, nothing can stop us, we are too strong, we are the masters of everything! WSW HAL CHAMPIONS 2015/16 WSW FA Cup WINNERS 2016 WSS ACL WINNERS 2017
Los Oso
Guest
They should win the title - and I'm an MV fan. Experienced in key areas on the pitch, very well managed, a settled and balanced line-up and no ACL commitments. Lock them in for the title and potentially the Grand Final too, though I personally consider that secondary to the title. Injuries could hurt them or any team but they run as deep as any A-League side, that is to say, not overly deep but enough quality there to cover should one of their first XI be missing.
Justin Thighm
Roar Guru
Under Arnold, Sydney are notoriously slow out of the blocks and fast finishers. Good chance Arnold will get them to the GF again and it would have to be played at the Olympic Stadium, especially if the FFA are picking the venue. I know Popovic would like the GF played at Pirtek, but no chance of that.
Waz
Guest
Smurfs in the Grand Final???? Not a chance
Justin Thighm
Roar Guru
The hype's been there since their first game in the A-League. A great example of how a team should be put together and managed. Even when they were running last, they had a memberships waiting list of nearly 3,000.
Justin Thighm
Roar Guru
What about the manager, he isn't Spanish. He's the calming influence too and has learnt a lot from last year's bad season, which good managers do. Great credit to Poppa for what he has a achieved with this team and can do. A ready replacement for Postecoglou if his wheels fall off. I hope it's finally a Sydney FC v Wanderers Toilet Seat Grand Final. We will rock ANZ stadium.
Kaks
Roar Guru
He was still probably trying to figure out his best team during those periods, or changing his team to combat the opposition as we were largely seen as the underdog punching above its weight. He now has a squad that is one of the best in the league who can control games
Paul
Guest
Raised the bar??? You're having a laugh right - playing catch up on the football Mariners, Roar and Victory have been playing for years more like. And you've a lot of learning to do still ...
Paul
Guest
Hmm, all of a sudden there is a lot of hype building up around WSW. Nichols is quoted in the media today that soon Wanderers are going to "start punishing opponents" which, no doubt taken out of context as journo's like to do with their sound-bite reporting, just adds to the hype that is building. Will this pressure push Wanderers along or will they buckle under the weight of expectations and go on a 4 or 5 winless streak run?? Who knows, but don't you just love football :)
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Have you noticed he is not rotating the squad over nearly as much as in previous seasons. Yes I know we don't have ACL commitments but I was thinking more about season 1 and the beginning of season 2.
pete4
Guest
Have to give Popovic credit after initially being sceptical about WSW's squad turnover in the off-season. With no ACL commitments they definately have a big chance this year!
Ara
Guest
I have watched all Wanderers games from Day 1. Wanderers are playing very different to the previous 3 years. This year it is all about controlling tempo, keeping possession and looking for opportunities. Even when we lost to Roars and Sydney earlier in the season Wanderers were not out played at anytime. Wanderers have raised the bar again and what ever happens it is a very positive thing for the A League.
josh
Guest
I don't think a great deal has been spoken about the resurgence of the WSW stalwarts, players like Bridge and NTS have never been in better form. The only issue at the moment is the marquee, he was just starting to come good now we need him back with too many others accumulating several yellows - the match against Perth will be a chance to rest several of these guys but with the way Perth played last night I don't think that's the best idea...
Kaks
Roar Guru
"This is a combative and physical Wanderers side, but one that also features quality and calm on the ball." Probably the best summary of this seasons team. They grind, they play simple football, they play to their strengths and they are efficient in their football. It's great to see the optimism around the stadium again