Okay. So let me get this straight.
Since the departure of Tony Popovic, the Western Sydney Wanderers have not threatened for an A-League championship.
In actual fact, things have slowly worsened year by year since the new manager of Greek club Xanthi FC departed Western Sydney in October of 2017.
Their seventh-placed finish in 2017-18 was followed by an eighth-placed result in the following campaign and in the COVID-19 affected 2019-20 season, the Wanderers slumped to a lowly ninth on the ladder, topping just the dismal Victory and ever-battling Mariners.
When Markus Babbel was sacked by the Wanderers board in late January 2020, assistant coach Jean-Paul de Marigny was charged with taking the reins. The early signs were not disappointing.
As something of an aggressive motivator and passionate cheerleader for his team, de Marigny managed to achieve three wins and three losses following the departure of Babbel, before the powers at be in Western Sydney saw reason to re-sign him for a further two seasons as the club entered the reconvened and COVID interrupted season.
From the final five games, de Marigny managed to produce a further two wins, despite the team failing to elevate themselves into finals’ contention. All seemed somewhat promising for the coach, club and squad considering the bizarre nature of 2020.
Western Sydney Wanderers fans. (Photo by Nigel Owen/Action Plus via Getty Images)
There were to be some significant off season losses in personnel for the men in red and black, with Swiss Pirmin Schwegler retiring after a creditable career and the injured Radoslaw Majewski also departing.
However, the late season promise that had been shown appeared likely to give the coach and his players much hope as they entered pre-season training for the 2020-21 season slated to begin in the upcoming festive period.
For those of us aligning to that way of thinking, how silly do we now look? On Monday, the Wanderers moved on their newly appointed coach, astonishingly sacking him with the season drawing ever closer.
The public received a brief, 42-word statement outlining the decision they had made. It read:
“Western Sydney Wanderers FC have today parted ways with head coach Jean-Paul de Marigny. The club thanks Jean-Paul for his efforts and wishes him success in the future. The club will make an announcement in the coming days on a replacement coach.”
Yeesh! Thanks for coming Jean-Paul. Three days out from the players resuming training for the upcoming season and after a final third to 2019-20 that was far more promising than the first two, de Marigny is out the door?
I smell a rat.
Contacting Wanderers’ fans on social media late Monday, their sentiment was one of confusion. The decision appeared to have come from nowhere and at the most inopportune time for a club desperately seeking stability.
In all likelihood, Western Sydney have either found a far more qualified and effective manager ready to start work ASAP, or there is something far more adversarial about the decision they have made.
Should there be a big name about to take the helm in Parramatta, I guess the move is understandable. However, such a coup is unlikely to have been planned and executed in the short space of time available since the decision was made to permanently appoint de Marigny in July.
More likely are rumours of a falling out between the manager and others members of the Wanderers’ brand.
There are whispers of de Marigny’s disappointment at the pool of money available to him for short-term recruitment and suggestions that his frustration around that issue has driven something of a communication wedge between he and his employer.
That seems probable, with Western Sydney having currently signed no player of significance for the new season. The losses of the two previously mentioned foreign players along with the departure of Mitchell Duke to Saudi Arabia and Matthew Jurman to Greece further deepen the need for greater investment in the current squad.
All in all, it is the oddest of timing and to tweak a phrase from one on the best, something really does smell rotten in the state of Western Sydney.
Already the rumours of a John Aloisi return to senior A-League management are abound. If Western Sydney do go down that road the results had better be brisk in arriving.
Should they not, the fans would well be within their rights to wonder if the manager they already had was actually up to the task.
David Palmer
Guest
I am a Jets member and supporter. Message to all stakeholders in the game, the club's outside the capitol cities are also important. If there were a few more of those clubs that would be realised. If Fox Sports and the game only want Sydney v Melbourne and Adelaide v Melbourne, Melbourne v Sydney then keep doing what you are doing. If not spread the game include Tassie, Canberra and Wollongong. And consider Auckland to give Wellington meaning. With most sides playing in smaller grounds and venues. People may even go!
Josh
Guest
This is the whole reason SFC wanted them in.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
And see this is where I get in trouble. A big story breaks in the Wanderers' world, the Eds no doubt want to lead with it and then any commentary is written off as 'smurf' interference. Ah........Sydney. It's a wonderful place. That's it. I'm all Brisbane Roar now. We've always got on well. Would they accept me?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
There is a serious rumour circulating about Graham Arnold being the man, although the club have clearly met with Carl Robinson and that appears to be the most likely outcome. The Wanderers' fans would would if Arnold arrived. Surely he is still keen to pursue the Socceroos' future?
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Looks like wsw are taking the jets coach . I don’t know how many more kicks in the guts the jets can take . 40 years of hurt for Newcastle soccer . Whenever a slight bit of optimism appears , we get rorted by a bad owner or a predatory club .
pete4
Guest
On point this needs to be no.1 "There are an extra 2.7 million Australians who watch European leagues and not the A-League. This presents as a significant market to tap into during the recovery from Covid-19"
Bendtner52
Roar Pro
Something tells me that this won’t be the unexplained departure between now and that start of the season
Buddy
Roar Rookie
what a pile of twaddle! The article had no substance, no criteria applied or method of obtaining the information....Spike Milligan published a book many moons ago entitled "very interesting but stupid"
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Off topic! http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8537-a-league-supporter-ladder-2020-202010120022 Brisbane Roar is the most widely supported A-League club
Waz
Roar Rookie
Didn’t realise Wanderers management made Tifo’s?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Smurf Stuart stirring the Wanderers pot there ..... like it :stoked:
pete4
Guest
Would help if WSW could find a player like Shinji Ono again who was the club icon on & off the park
pete4
Guest
Also Macarthur Bulls coming in next season going to make an impact on WSW one suspects
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I remember those days. I was invited along to Football NSW for a Q&A session with Mr Butcher. I recall thinking at the time that it would end in tears - mainly for supporters! - there again before Mr Barlow and co realized the importance of having some stability, particularly in the coaching ranks. As for scouting forwards - Well TP was pretty awful and it is hard to believe that anyone there actually knows what the pre-requisites of a striker actually are!
Coastyboi
Guest
The RBB & WSW management let themselves down in 2017 by mocking Graham Arnold with a phallic banner. The Wanderers have forever been playing the victim card ever since. “WESTERN Sydney Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas has ruled out a club apology to Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold after Saturday night’s display of a lewd banner at ANZ Stadium by members of the Red & Black Bloc active supporter group.” - Fox Sports, Feb 22, 2017.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Connection to community is the biggest complaint I hear from Wanderers faithful. Comments such as, "Not the same club I joined" are commonplace. Sort of agreeing with Buddy I guess.
Tezza
Guest
Managers being sacked is part and parcel of football. I mean if a former NPL Manager with a 30-1 win loss ratio can be sacked, any Manager can :shocked:
Johan
Guest
Many Wanderers Fans and especially the RBB feel that they have been badly treated and let down by the owners of the club and also by the FFA. The club and FFA have imposed too many ridiculous rules and fans have been treated like children. The endless rules has also been enforced by private security guards in an overly draconian manner so that many of the fans and especially the RBB have left and no longer follow the club. In addition the owners have promised the fans much success but not delivered for many years. However, the FFA have also let down the Wanderers by adding MacArthur FC which is obviously not needed at all and which will likely only serve to reduce the Wanderers’ existing and potential fan base and also their income from potential sponsors.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
So many things have gone wrong for the Wanderers. Going back to when Popa walked out, it was obvious to those who are not so close to the club, to smile and say, "Things are wrong at that club". Like many people who don't follow the club, I miss the old Wanderers and the infamous RBB, they certainly added to the match day entertainment. Whether we like it or not, active supporters are needed and we should [we being the sport] be encouraging that type of involvement in match days. One of the highlights for me is our home games against Victory, the match generally lives up to expectations and the banter within the ground is both humorous and full of vitriol. Pure tribal. We have all seen what our games look like without fans, we are an essential part of the match day game, in fact the whole sport. So now that we have seen our worse nightmare come true, games without fans, what are the powers that be going to do about it to entice us back. Back to the WSW, fingers crossed it is short term pain for some long term gain for them. Be warned, if you put all your eggs in one basket, [winning the next game] then you are bound to be in for a lot of long term pain and misery.
Marcel
Guest
Hi Buddy...that all sounds unfortunately similar to a time back when Mr Terry Butcher was employed at SFC. Let's hope the coming season can get the Wanderers heading back in the right direction... As a start, whoever it is that scouts their strikers probably needs to be re-skilled for another role !