Vedran Janjetovic’s transfer to Western Sydney Wanderers was a tale of two press releases.
One, from Wanderers, was effusive in its praise for the goalkeeper. Janjetovic himself was equally complimentary about his new club.
The other, from Sydney FC, described how his contract had been terminated. Not much else. Not a word of thanks, or acknowledgement of his 100 A-League appearances in Sky Blue.
In moving from Moore Park to Rooty Hill, Janjetovic has broken new ground – the first player to move from Sydney to Wanderers during the season. Many in red and black once wore sky blue, but none went from one to the other. None of them had the choice.
Janjetovic’s move is a fan to the flames of the Sydney derby – and how delightful it is that his second match for his new club will be the derby at Allianz Stadium early in the new year.
Not many players swap from one side of the derby to the other in football, but those that do aren’t forgotten.
Ask any Tottenham fan how they feel about Sol Campbell’s move to Arsenal, or a United fan about Carlos Tevez’s move to City.
West Ham fans never forgave Frank Lampard for moving to Chelsea, despite his father’s iconic status at the Hammers, while some Chelsea fans booed the club legend when he returned to Stamford Bridge in Manchester City colours.
Sydney FC fans now have their own traitor in Janjetovic.
The circumstances of the move are curious. Janjetovic was thrust into the first team by Frank Farina and played just about every game thereafter.
His veteran understudy Ivan Necevski couldn’t get a look in, even in the deadest of dead rubbers – he even left and came back without getting on the park.
And then Sydney decided that after Janjetovic dropped one high ball too many that perhaps he was due for some competition.
Goalkeeping coach John Crawley plumped for one of his previous proteges, Danny Vukovic, who was desperate to move back to Sydney to be a nearer his family, and the rest is history.
Vukovic went straight into the team and showed a high level of class and composure that eluded Janjetovic in the big moments and the Sky Blues are unbeaten in 11 rounds.
Janjetovic shirked the idea of competition, instead citing “personal issues” – he hasn’t been spotted since Round 5, but was quick to appear holding a Wanderers jersey on Tuesday, even though his transfer won’t be officially ratified until the first week of January.
Sydney fans have every right to feel like they’ve been slapped in the face.
For all Janjetovic’s talk of having sky blue blood and his interviews about how important the Sydney support was to him and the team, he jumped ship. And at the first sight of any competition for his place.
He could have taken a leaf out of Necevski’s book – he could have stuck around, driven on his fellow goalkeeper and try to be part of something special.
Petr Cech did that at Chelsea when Thibaut Courtois took his place. Cech played a few games and made some hugely important saves, Chelsea won another Premier League title.
Even later on, when Cech ended up moving to Arsenal, he has never been booed at the Bridge, because the fans know and appreciate the move wasn’t of his own volition. He had to go in order to play football to continue to represent his country.
The fact he stuck around and helped the club to another trophy far outweighed his move to a bitter rival.
It could have been that way for Janjetovic.
He could have supported Vukovic, perhaps even stepped in should the number one come across an injury, suspension, or dramatic loss of form.
He could have moved on at the season’s end, even to Wanderers, perhaps as an A-League champion. All would have been forgiven, because football fans are generally an understanding bunch.
But instead he shunned the club who gave him his national league opportunity, and the fans who backed him to the hilt.
It’s at that point where all understanding ends.
And won’t Janjetovic know about when he’s standing in front of the Cove in a few weeks, in the colour of the fiercest enemy.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
If another Foxtel media personality started encroaching on your territory, eventually shunting you to the backbench and you saught greener pastures with another sports news agency on radio, tv or internet would I call you a traitor. Would I suggest you threw in the towel? No way. I would say you were no fool, saw the writing on the wall and looked after your own interests which subsequently affect your family and future. Stop trying to make this into something that doesn't exist. Players are bought and sold like pawns by clubs. They are completely expendable. When they make a decision in their own vested interest, they are not traitors, they are merely being proactive.
sydster
Guest
Marron, Sydney FC have reached out to 5000 students this year and have 11 camps during January alone during this year's school holidays including Wagga, not to mention their academy which produced 7 trophies in NPL 2 during the past season.Not bad for a team from the supposed east.
marron
Guest
North ryde Rockdale Chiswick Homebush Lol
marron
Guest
I first caught wind of this back in October; I don't know about anyone else but I've therefore had time to digest it - and it's still distasteful, even aside from any personal issues. It is amusing though. And of course I'd be ropeable if one of our star players who bleeds for the shirt went straight over to the other side. Like, erm.....
marron
Guest
Seeing as most of this stuff about personal reasons etc is supposition I'm not sure you can just say "we don't know that's the case" with any authority. You - and the author - seem to have forgotten the kalac factor in all of this.
sydster
Guest
It's always humorous hearing or reading a west syd fan dish out a geography lesson.Any location partially east from where they're standing in their minds is considered the Eastern Suburbs, therefore when Sydney FC hold soccer camps in North Ryde, Rochdale or Chiwsick, these suburbs form part of the eastern side of the city? Some of us live in the west and passionately support the Sky Blues and proudly don't give a continental which side of the city our club is situated.Seems to be a favourite pastime of individuals living past Homebush for example crying from rooftops they live in a different region than many others.Reminds me very much of people living south of the border and despising anything north of the Murray River - finding a carpenter and working on those wooden shoulders would help all involved.As for VJ, his actions were gutless, spineless and headless chook material.Sure he wants to play, the lack of fight, courage and character he has shown is diabolical, thank God he no longer has Sky Blue blood in his veins as he once publicly stated.End result Sydney FC likely to pick up Redmayne, is it any wonder fans feel dudded more than once in this grubby saga
Post_hoc
Guest
I was surprised at first, but when i stopped and thought about it, it was just smart (and very Mariners like) Western Sydney had produced more Socceroos than any other area, fish where the fish are an all that
Post_hoc
Guest
You did notice I said barely a jersey in sight, I didn't sau you didn't have any members out here (Iknow two in my extended family, we tolerate them, they usually have to sit on the kids table at Christmas time, jk) The simple fact is you can tell yourself you are a club for all of Sydney but the reality is, you are not and never have been, hence why the Wanderers were such a success fan wise from Day 1
punter
Guest
Popa, he would have got rid of him after 2 seasons like he does his whole squad.
Paul
Guest
You forgot that Vukovic did not go through on a gentleman's agreement with Popovic when he left Perth Glory. Vukovic had agreed to join the Wanderers before Melbourne Victory offered him more money. Who's the traitor now!
Buddy
Guest
Is this deliberate pre Christmas drivel or someone wanting to talk up the next derby - as though it needs it? The internet contains plenty of web sites that show unusual/unlikely transfers that have taken place down the years and each one has a story, or bits of a story, or stuff made up to suit a particular narrative. My concern with the transfer is simply about the quality of the product. I don't see WSW as having gained anything worthwhile in making the signing. If Redmayne is as bad as most fans believe and is possibly on his way out, then that is an indictement on the management of the club and their ability to assess talent. Redmayne was brought in to replace Covic, who had been a great servant but it appeared was too old? There was no obvious improvement - regression according to most, Tyson travels back from Perth, having previously been considered as surplus? Now he finally gets a start but wakes up to find another immediate threat hanging over him....not sure about the messages coming out of the club. Defence has been ordinary to say the least and there is still no sign of anyone with the ability to sign a goalscorer. Just another head scratching moment in the club's short history.
Aethelbert
Guest
Confirmation bias is a wonderful thing.
Aethelbert
Guest
If this was Juric to Sydney FC, the RBB would literally send death threats his way. The WSW fans trying to sound calm about this are total hypocrites, you wouldn't like it if your fan favourite was tapped up by us, then made an excuse about "Mental stress" Only to suddenly get better and sign for a club he's on field beef with. You people are unbelievable. Oh well, enjoy having a player that bottles it first sign of competition.
Arto
Guest
So if we were to judge this in any other paying job, you're saying it's ok to do whatever (within the law) you like to break a contract in order to get what you want? And spare me the line about a 'football career is a limited one', as they work less hours than the majority of people and get extremely well paid for doing something they REALLY enjoy which is an aweful lot better than what most people can say about their employement situation. If they use a little forward planning, they can set themselves up for a very good life after their 'sporting' career is over.
Arto
Guest
And how much is David Carney liked up Newcastle way? Carney engineered his move away too so I can understand Jets fans not liking him after that for the same reasons... The fact Newcastle got nothing is not the fault of the clubs, inter-club transfers aren't allowed under FFA laws, so if you're still dirty about Carney moving for nothing, then you need to take that up with FFA as the clubs tried to negotiate a deal and in the end, Newcastle agreed to terminate Carney's contract (rightly or wrongly)... As it turned out, Hoole went back anyway, so maybe it's not completely correct to say Newcastle got nothing for David Carney... ;-)
Arto
Guest
Yes, of course, he could have fallen out with GA - Faty, Hoole, & Tavares all did that reportedly, so that is definitely a possible factor at play, but it doesn't take away from the fact that Janjetovic has enginnered his move away via pretty much refusing to play if he was put on the bench anymore. If he had acted more like those 3 others when they lost their places in the starting XI, then he wouldn't be getting the stick he is at present...
Arto
Guest
You must still feel pissed off at him then! I'd suggest there are a fair few other ex-MV players you have more reason to be pissed off with for moving, although maybe your anger is more to do with what Ryall has done while at SFC than for him actually moving there...
Mitcher
Guest
It's all a bit of pantomime. Don't upset yourself.
Bondy
jamesb I agree good post . I couldnt care where he plays as long as he's getting game time ... ....
SM
Guest
Calling Lampard or Tevez traitors is really quite funny. Are you aware of the story of either of those transfers? Particularly Lampard's