The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

How the West was won, and maybe lost

Is the RBB overreacting? (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Roar Guru
1st April, 2018
35

It seems like only a short while ago, FFA were delving into the many areas that make up what is popularly referred to as Western Sydney.

In truth the geographic area is huge and about the only thing that many suburbs have in common is the fact they are a fair distance from the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the coast.

The very real consultation that took place at many levels and subsequent birth of the Western Sydney Wanderers is generally regarded as a roaring success both in terms of the process employed and what evolved from the exercise.

Everyone knows the history. The success in the club’s first season, Australian joy in the ACL etc etc. The club moved into private ownership, Lyall Gorman moved on to spearhead the renaissance of the Cronulla Sharks and the club began to change or perhaps evolve.

During that time, the club enjoyed strong and energetic support, growth in membership and a seemingly strong bond between the playing staff and supporters. Players making appearances in shopping centres were swept up in the joyous singing and chanting from hundreds and sometimes thousands of fans, congregating and all decked out in the club colours and it seemed that Tony Popovic and his team could do no wrong.

Wind the clock forward and the exciting news was that Parramatta stadium was to be redeveloped and turned into a stadium that the various football codes would be proud of in the early part of the 21st century. The downside was that the redevelopment would take three years and that WSW needed a new place to call home.

While The Eels were in a similar position, they had regularly played at Homebush, specifically at ANZ and the upheaval did not appear to particularly unsettle the Rugby League fraternity.

However, as soon as the announcement was made concerning “time in the wilderness” the prophets of doom came out of hiding and predicted a very unhappy ending. Two seasons have now passed, Mr Popovich moved on and in spite of a win and five draws Hayden Foxe was moved on and Josep Gumbau took over the hot seat.

Advertisement

The playing record and results gained to date would have most coaches examining what is available on Seek.com.au or similar employment web sites although rumours abound of more ex-Adelaide players signing up to join up with their old coach which perhaps indicates Gombau has more time to turn things around.

Josep Gombau

(AAP Image/ Julian Smith)

Clearly some of the players are not happy with the set up, style of play or game time they are receiving and it appears that there will be yet another mass turnover of players at season end.

The players are one aspect, the fans a separate issue altogether. It appears that the club has grown tired of the antics of the active support and now are not bothered whether they show up or not.

The rest of the fans are heavily divided on the subject although the majority at least want to hear the singing and chanting and boisterous support if not some of the more nefarious activities associated with the club’s active support.

Two seasons playing at the two soulless and unsuitable stadiums at Homebush is wearing down many supporters. The crowds are dwindling and the care factor is disappearing.

Next week’s game is “make or break” on the field against Brisbane but asking around a broad range of supporters, nobody seems to be particularly concerned.

Advertisement

In fact I even heard a fellow fan mention he would miss next week’s game in favour of watching GWS play the Swans and that would have been unheard of just a few seasons ago.

So is it a correct assertion that the owners don’t care about the fans? The players don’t care about performance and the fans don’t care about the club?

If that is the case, there might not be much to come back to in Parramatta at the end of next season. The local restaurants and pubs have certainly missed the fans and I suspect many fans feel the same way about all the Church street eateries and other licensed establishments.

Visiting Lidcombe and Homebush before or after the match just doesn’t contain the same warm inviting glow that is generated along “the strip”.

Meanwhile right in the middle of all the upheaval, cross town rivals SFC have been producing “in spades” just as many predicted when the A-League first came along.

Does the level of success of Graham Arnold and his cohorts make things even more difficult for WSW both on and off the field?

Right now, Western Sydney is ripe for the picking if there is to be a third Sydney side anytime soon. If it is set up in the right manner, it may well attract across plenty of fans that liked the original Wanderers but have become disenchanted during the time in exile.

Advertisement

It begs the question, has John Tsatsimas and his team lost the battle of the west already?

close