A five-game winless run, including four straight losses.
Four goals scored. Nine goals conceded. Western Sydney was supposed to be a title challenger this season under Markus Babbel.
They had three wins from three at the start of the season and were unbeaten in their first four. However, a winless run that stretches back to the start of November has seen Babbel face more intense scrutiny as each defeat comes.
The Wanderers were top three weeks in. They are now sixth, currently teetering on a knife’s edge; three points separate them and last-placed Central Coast.
I initially predicted that Marco Kurz would be the first manager to be sacked this season. Panic stations are over in Melbourne however, with Kurz being rumoured to be sacked ever since Victory’s loss to Adelaide in the Original Rivalry.
Whilst Babbel’s German counterpart could still realistically get the chop, Babbel is currently the manager under the most pressure in the A-League, with several sources linking Kevin Muscat to the job, should Babbel be relieved of his duties.
Markus Babbel, the Wanderers’ head coach, in happier times (AAP Image/Danny Casey)
Maybe people are just being harsh. They have been on the end of some questionable refereeing decisions, and Newcastle were bailed out by Mitch Duke unable to score from his nine shots against the Jets, but it stems deeper than that.
In their unbeaten run at the start of the season, only two incorrect VAR decisions stopped success turning into defeat. In the 0-0 draw to Brisbane game, the start of the winless run, the Wanderers had nine fewer shots and three fewer shots on target than the Roar.
The winless run seems to be at the complete opposite of the spectrum in terms of referring decisions. While they were dominated statistically against Melbourne City, a debatable penalty from a foul by Pirmin Schwegler swung the game in the City Blues’ favour.
The post-match discussion following Western Sydney’s loss to Wellington last weekend was all centred around one talking point; Ulises Davila’s penalty, again given away by Schwegler, due to the ball hitting his hand while it was in a natural position.
While Babbel may blame dodgy referee calls and alleged bias against his side, the numbers don’t lie. In the first three games, the Wanderers were averaging 1.6 goals scored a game, whilst on average conceding 0.6 a game.
Since the Sydney game, Babbel’s charges are now scoring 0.8 goals a game, whilst conceding 1.8. Expected goals don’t paint a pretty picture either. Based on xG, the Wanderers should be conceding 1.25 goals a game, while scoring roughly 0.5.
Take into account the signings the Wanderers made in the off-season, and there is more of a reason to be annoyed.
Alex Meier? Has looked unfit and off the mark. Matt Jurman? Decent in distribution but hasn’t shone. Dylan McGowan and Daniel Georgevski? Good pick-ups given their defensive numbers.
Nicolai Muller? Has put up good defensive numbers given his role. Pirmin Schwegler? Average. The two signings worth giving more detail include Dani Lopar, who has been one of the signings of the season, saving the Wanderers on multiple occasions, and Radoslaw Majewski, who tore his ACL in pre-season and is still recovering, meaning opinions on him would have to be changed accordingly.
It’s clear that Markus Babbel is losing patience with everyone. Referees especially. Given the upcoming fixtures, trips to Perth and Adelaide, as well as a home game against Western United, which are all winnable, a continuation of the results and performances we’re seeing currently may see the board finally lose patience in Babbel.
dweezy2176
Guest
Problem for Babbel is who controls the side? Week after week whenever they aren’t happy with a ref’s decision the same three players start squealing, Georgievski, Swegler & Ziegler, very rarely does the captain, Dukes get involved .. no wonder the various refs have turned deaf ears and waved lotza yellow cards at this mob! The we have Yeboah who seems to have spend a lot of time watching videos of Neymar rolling around on the grass rather than how to score goals and “Hold my beer” is his expert interpretation! Maybe Foxtel summed it up correctly following last night’s defeat when along the bottom of the screen ran the caption ... Babbel’s rabble!
Redondo
Roar Rookie
7, 8 and 9 all have foreign coaches whose teams are built around foreign players they recruited (mostly).
Redondo
Roar Rookie
There is a lot of evidence that OGS is tactically one-dimensional. He's all about counter-attack and it seems not to work very well against teams that just sit back i.e. the poorer teams that don't expect to beat Manu. On the other hand it seems to work well against good teams that expect to dominate Manu because they have been $hit for the last few seasons. The style is real throwback to 90s Fergie.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
If McTominay and Fred turn out to be half as good as Keane and Scholes they'll be twice as good as I think they are.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Really! OGS has taken Rashford to another level. OGS saw the potential of Wan-Bissaka OGS had the foresight to bring Greenwood, Williams and James onto the first team. OGS has United tracking Champions League for next year and to put that into perspective he's fine it with the likes of Vidic, Mata, Pogba and Bailiy either on the bench or out completely. I have a feeling that you might not be old enough to remember but this is a replay of the late 80s when they built the class of 92
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Fad have you had a look at the way OGS has brought Rashford to a whole new level? If OGS was not up to the job why did he take Giggs recommendation on Dan James. If OGD wasn't up to the job how do you explain his insight to pair McTomminay and Fred in the centre, they have the potential to be the next Keane and Scholes the way they work together. If OGS is not up to the job why did he sign Wan-Bissaka?, his work rate is off the radar. To reinforce my previous comments, it takes time patience, analysis, and most importantly synchronicity of all the working parts to build a quality side. All this cannot be produced in accordance with today's over-expectant society.
RbbAnonymous
Roar Rookie
I honestly dont think that losing just one game at home is cause for alarm. Sure I would like to have seen more away wins, however, it is tough to win away at home. We are away from home again this week.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
That is the best kept secret so far this season. With Majersevski out for the season, there is no really established playmaker in the side. I’m hoping that Young Sullivan can take the leap but it is a big ask. Without creativity, the team appears to simply lack a plan and you can’t “wing it”.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Thanks Nem foresight is an asset.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
They have lost to many teams below them. Drew with Sheffield United? That's promoted Sheffield United who's entire squad cost less than Harry Maguire. Great achievement.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Compare them to the Nix though. Brand new coach, essentially a totally new squad. Regarding a game and a half in the middle of their defeats they have played enterprising and flowing football. There is an obvious style, an obvious plan. They have arguably, or not, copped more poor VAR decisions than any one. What is the WSW style of play? I can't tell. Babbel has been there a lot longer than Talay. If he can't show more ability pretty soon he's going to be in trouble, and rightly so. He also needs to demonstrate he can make game subs to change the momentum. Sat on his hands last week as the Nix stormed over the top of them. 3/10 for the start
Nemesis
Guest
They’re is no evidence OGS is up to the job. Facts: After nearly 1/2 season, Manchester United coached by OGS is sitting 5th on the table. They have not lost to any team above them. They have beaten: Leicester, ManCity, Chelsea. They drew with Liverpool. They beat Spurs when Spurs was above United. They drew with Sheffield Utd & Arsenal when those teams were above United. Are United the best in England? Nope. Are they now looking to be on the right path, by playing the kids who've come through the Man United Academy: McTominay, Greenwood, James, Williams, Rashford? The facts say: Yes
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I recall being somewhat castigated a few weeks ago when I suggested that after 3 rounds Wanderers could just have easily been on nil points and that the results were masking the underlying problems. All that has changed is that they have clocked up more losses!
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Read around the EPL and the utter frustration with the VAR. Every bit as bad as here
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Bad example. They're is no evidence OGS is up to the job.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
WSW were very lucky in the Derby too
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Babble is a bit like Solskjaer, he's rebuilding. He's passionate and knows what he wants to build. There is too much impatience and expectation of immediate results. Football is a vomrx game and you have to be cognisant of what's required for success.
Waz
Roar Rookie
WSW were lucky against Roar and Mariners.
Franko
Guest
I wouldn't be sacking him just yet, sides can turn bery quickly, look at the Nix.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
As a WSW supporter not only do I find the run of results depressing but also the stories concerning the manager and the overall set up, especially when the name Kevin Muscat is mentioned as a candidate for a job at the club. Whilst the club is looking for success on the field, they are also looking for stability and to re-establish themselves at the new Bankwest stadium. The club is trying to re-engage with fans and to re-create the energy that surrounded the club prior to the upheaval. Whilst some of that is impossible and times have changed, people have moved on etc, at least the club is working hard to make connections with the community. Attendances have been reasonable although they look to be sliding at present. There again, the way the fixtures have been worked out leaves an awful lot to be desired and you cannot help but wonder at the logic of it all. The jets have already had two byes before 8 rounds are completed, some teams have met twice and not met other teams at all and whatever happened to home/away/home/away? WSW are about to play their third consecutive away game before returning to Parramatta for a Friday night fixture against Western United - just before Christmas so not expecting much of a turnout there. Back on the managerial front. I am not one who ponders the mysteries of VAR and I am not into refereeing conspiracies either. 90 minutes is enough time to prove you can score goals and dominate another team if you are good enough. Even with the bad run of results, would I be looking at major changes right now? Not on your life. A third of the way through the season and a different manager trying to piece together the existing plans and make enough changes to make a difference. Sounds to me like a recipe for chaos at the least and disaster at worst. As previously stated, stability is required at the club and the full amount of time needed to see if the current plan can produce anything. Allow the incumbent the season and if the club is not happy with the outcomes, make the changes in May and start a new plan. Oh, and before you sack a manager, make sure you have a replacement in the wings fully signed up and be sure his initials are not KM. I am pretty sure that would be one of the worst appointments possible from a fan perspective. Ignoring any successes, I am talking here about the personality and conduct of an individual, someone that embodies just about the worst traits of any manager I have ever witnessed in the A League. IMO he would be a terrible fit at the club and would not be in keeping with the direction the club is taking. My membership and quite a few others would be returned and even if the club became a dominating force under his stewardship, I wouldn’t be crossing the threshold again. I’d rather drive for 2.5 to 3 hours to watch the Jets. So please stop pedalling that line - we all know the media publishes wild and wacky ideas and then someone picks up the notion and decides to run with it after a while. Thanks but no thanks.