Western Sydney Wanderers coach Markus Babbel is having a tough time inspiring his players, but this might say more about the difficulty of coaching in the A-League than an entire generation of players.
Let’s get one thing straight.
The Wanderers did not get hammered 5-1 by the Newcastle Jets because of a generational issue.
The Wanderers lost because experienced players like Brendan Hammill and Raul Llorente made inexplicable mistakes, because Dimi Petratos was allowed to take three touches in the box before dispatching a brilliant finish into the top-corner and because their defenders continued to give away cheap fouls in terrible positions.
The Wanderers lost because their team, which featured players as old as 32, played without discipline, without structure and without the ability to get basic passes right.
To suggest that the biggest issue at the Wanderers is a generational issue is not just a cop-out, it’s factually wrong.
The average age of the Wanderers starting XI on Friday night was 25-years-old and featured four players over the age of 30.
In fact, it is Babbel’s continued reliance on some of the squad’s more experienced players who continue to disappoint, like Llorente, Hammill, Oriel Riera and Vedran Janjetovic which has proven one of the biggest contributors to the Wanderers’ disappointing season.
Babbel arrived on Australian shores to much hype and expectation. As a player, he won four Bundesliga titles, two UEFA Cups and a UEFA European championship, amongst other titles.
As a coach, he has managed in the UEFA Champions League and won a league title in Germany’s second division.
There’s absolutely no doubting that the German brings serious footballing pedigree and knowledge to Australian football, but perhaps Babbel needs to look closer to home when trying to understand why his team has been one of the most disappointing in the competition this season.
Coming from abroad to coach in the A-League is no easy task and one wonders if Babbel failed to appreciate some of the cultural differences between Australia and the rest of the footballing world.
The combination of salary caps, marquees, foreign player quotas and the inability to transfer players between A-League clubs is enough to make most Aussie heads spin, much less that of a man who has spent the last 27 years of his life at the top of European football.
Markus Babbel in happier times. (AAP Image/Danny Casey)
Nevertheless, one would have expected a manager of his pedigree and experience would have done a much better job of communicating his philosophy and principles to his players.
The Wanderers have looked incredibly disjointed throughout the campaign, rarely stringing together any more than 20 minutes of good play at a time.
The midfield, in particular, looks out of sync with the rest of the team. There is little in the way of any meaningful interplay between the midfield and forward lines, while an already fragile defence seems constantly exposed by a lack of structure higher up the pitch.
These issues have only been compounded by regular individual errors.
There was a comedy reel of them on Friday night against the Jets, despite a promising start from the team and any semblance of structure and discipline disappeared once the Wanderers found themselves 2-0 down.
It’s clear that the Wanderers have an issue with discipline, if not in terms of fouls, yellow cards and dismissals, then certainly in terms of commitment and positioning – but this is far from an issue with the team’s up-and-coming players.
Veteran keeper Janjetovic has perhaps been the worst offender, consistently costing his team by abandoning his goal line for desperate and hopeless rushing out, while Llorente – another experienced campaigner – has also failed to lead by example with a number of poor performances.
Somehow, they continue to be picked, rather than trying something different and promoting fresh, young talent from within.
It is worth noting that Babbel’s complaints about the new generation of footballers is nothing new.
In recent times, established managers like Jose Mourinho and Roy Keane have made similar complaints.
Perhaps, if there is a generational gap, it is from a bygone era where macho men dominated dressing rooms and the coaches and captains who shouted the loudest and berated the most team-mates commanded authority over their players or team-mates with an iron fist.
There’s no doubting a generational shift is occurring in football across the globe, but it is up to the managers of those players to move with the times.
Keane has failed miserably in that respect, while Mourinho recently came undone at Manchester United for failing to find a new way to communicate with and command respect from his players.
If Babbel cannot find a way to get through to his team-mates, then he may just end up joining Mourinho on the hunt for a new job.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Disagree with some of the conclusions of Matthew, but have to say well written, I think you need to understand what Babbel is saying. By generational issues he is meaning an awareness a maturity of the game. And he is right. He is not questioning the skill level of his younger players (like he as done with the older players such as Roly) he is questioning their ability to adapt to the game they are in. This comes from what a lot of us have been saying for a long time, our young players are not playing enough football they need to be playing 2-3 times more games. As they mature as they get more games under their belt they will adapt to what is occurring, not to the game plan they went into. As Mike Tyson said, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. As for many of the replies I have less time for the absolute twaddle you guys have added, Pete and Arthur you clearly don't have a clue, sorry but why would they move on to another coach? Babbel inherited a very poorly recruited team, many on bloated Salaries and many on the way out at the end of this year. Babbel has recruited 4 players at this time. Patrick and Baumjohan who have been the two best imports for the Wanderers this year, Yebboah, who is playing very well, and now Duke. The 4 he has brought in are quality (Alex is only a 1 year deal so will be interesting if he stays)
BWM
Guest
Have that discussion with the Mariners. It is not a sustaining vision for a football team. A good team, reduced to rubble, that Babbel couldn't fix on the double. Not trying to squabble, but its more defensive wobbles when the keeper can't handle the bobbles. I don't have answers for CCM, just be wise & learn from them.
josh
Guest
It's the same players every week who are causing the same errors.
Arthur Tserpes
Guest
The Wanderers don't need to poach Mark Rudan,who is doing an exceptional job with the Phoenix. But they can certainly use the same blueprint. There are so,so many experienced and successful coaches who like Rudan are hungry and dying out for the recognition and the opportunity to coach in the A-League. YES you will find them in our State Leagues......... Peter Tsekenis,Damian Mori,Bomber Brown,Mark Crighton (Blacktown City)......and many,many more. You will find plenty.....only if you knew where to look. The Phoenix knew where to look and look at them now. Don't be lazy and steal.....just be smart and repeat their successful blueprint. This way the A-League can get better by having more quality coaches.
Onside
Guest
Drop players who refuse to conform, because as professional footballers, that is what they are paid to do. I would rather lose matches with younger inexperienced players who tried hard, gave 100%, and were able to gradually improve, than persevere with players who let everybody down, because they have the wrong attitude.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Great column.
Nemesis
Guest
Maybe, the club is backing Babbel because his philosophy is one that the Club wants? At least with Babbel you know exactly the sort of footballer he expects. Is this appropriate? Up to the WSW owner. But at least we have no doubt about what Babbel wants.
pete4
Guest
Not sure why but the club seems to be backing Markus Babbel for some reason. Friday night's 5-1 hammering was rock bottom really so it's obvious the players have little faith in Babbel's tactics and aren't willing to dig in for their embattled coach If I was them I would be moving for Mark Rudan as no.1 target for next season
Buddy
Roar Rookie
If I remember correctly, the early part of the season was littered with comments from Babbel stating that WSW’S problems was a lack of goals and that was where theyneeded to sharpen up . That had the alarm bells ringing as to me it was blindingly obvious that the defence was deficient and the fact that Hammil was made club captain demonstrated how thin the stocks were. Even against Bonnyrigg in the FFA Cup the defence looked fragile. This was at a time before Janjetovic decided to make a grab for the headlines for his “Grobbelaresque” performances. Llorente proved unable to deal with any kind of pacey attack of which the A League is full and Risdon was turning up each week believing that as he was a Socceroo, players would just capitulate and be in awe of him, leaving him the ball each time. He certainly did not get picked for the Asian Cup squad on form as he has been well below average all season. German import Ziegler was out injured earlier in the season but looked to have some answers when he finally stepped out but by that time the damage was done and it did nt appear that Babbel and co had any idea how to arrest the situation. Right now the place is a train wreck and I have my doubts as to whether Babbel is the person to fix it, but I keep hearing that the club has a new expensive training facility and will be back at Parramatta next season so everything will be fine.