The self-proclaimed biggest club in the A-Leagues is on the edge of an abyss, after the Mariners’ 2-0 win in Gosford left Western Sydney Wanderers staring at yet another wasted season.
Western Sydney’s last three fixtures have yielded a 2-0 defeat to neighbours Macarthur FC, a 2-1 loss to NPL side APIA Leichhardt in the FFA Cup and Saturday’s dismal 2-0 defeat on the Central Coast.
Carl Robinson had few answers on the pitch – even if he was typically forthright in the post-match press conference – but the real fireworks came on Twitter a day later when former Western Sydney coaches Dean Heffernan and Patrick Zwaanswijk both teed off on the club.
Heffernan and Zwaanswijk are perhaps better known as former Mariners players, but until Robinson arrived at CommBank Stadium, both were on the Wanderers’ coaching staff.
That was until Robinson – who oversees the entire football department – deemed assistant coach Zwaanswijk surplus to requirements, while Heffernan said he rejected a third year as the Wanderers’ women’s coach because of the club’s “toxic environment”.
And in name-checking chief executive John Tsatsimas and general manager of football operations Gavin Costello, Heffernan went further than most in his quest to identify the culprits for Western Sydney’s ongoing poor form.
That stats make for sobering reading. Not since the 2016-17 campaign have the Wanderers played finals football, while Robinson is the club’s fifth different coach since Tony Popovic departed for Turkey in October 2017.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
They’ve since churned through players at a rate of knots and despite moving into the best purpose-built stadium in Australia, the red-and-blacks have never once looked like recapturing the essence of what made them the most exciting team in the league during their early years.
The question now is: how much longer can the club stand behind the beleaguered Robinson?
Fans of rival clubs might be watching on with glee, but the reality is that Western Sydney’s diabolical form is costing the Australian Professional Leagues and broadcasters Ten and Paramount+ big time at the box office.
How much longer can a club which has seen their average attendance halved over the past five years be allowed to wither on the vine?
There’s no doubt Robinson is a gifted communicator. He almost seems better suited to being a TV pundit than he does an A-Leagues coach.
The Welshman speaks so forcefully and with such conviction that it’s hard not to wonder whether his employers aren’t actually intimidated by him. But at some point owner Paul Lederer is going to have to make some tough decisions.
There’s a perfectly good coach in Mark Rudan who knows the league and the region currently twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines, so why not start with him?
Channel Ten are fortunate they had the Melbourne derby to broadcast on Saturday night because it took some of the focus away from what’s going on in Parramatta.
The derby was undoubtedly the game of the season, as Italian import Francesco Margiotta opened the scoring following a quick free-kick from Jake Brimmer, before City hit back through two well-taken goals from Jamie Maclaren and Andrew Nabbout.
It was fitting that Nick D’Agostino scored such a ridiculous equaliser in front of Victory’s deafening away fans, before the match descended into an utterly crazy finale at the death.
And who was the coach whose substitutions changed the complexion of the derby? Tony Popovic.
More than four years after his departure, the Wanderers are yet to adequately replace the former Socceroo.
And what made the Melbourne derby so compelling, aside from the high quality of football, was simply the noise raining down from the stands at AAMI Park.
It’s a noise that used to be synonymous with the Western Sydney Wanderers – and the A-Leagues desperately need it back.
They won’t get it with Carl Robinson at the helm because the fan-base has already turned on him.
Which begs the question: how much longer can the Western Sydney Wanderers afford to carry their underperforming coach?
Dennis
Guest
Just looked at the blogs. Lederer describes all this fan discontentment and poor results as ‘outside noise’. Totally patronising and talking down to fans. Don’t address the problem merely belittle it! Unless this is addressed very soon I can see problems ahead for both wsw, the league and beyond. Anybody else find these comments offered by wsw as totally insulting?
David V
Guest
No amount of changing and chopping managers and players will change a thing. WSW have been a poorly run club ever since they passed out of the care of the FFA in 2014 to owners who have allowed a toxic culture and a sense of disconnect to develop. It's been felt year after year and as always will snowball if not addressed quickly.
David V
Guest
Actually there are, but they were never going to embrace GWS given they had existing Swans or Victorian AFL club allegiances (and realistically many of those may also be WSW members).
Will
Guest
WSW lack an identity ever since Popa left them, they appointed different coaches but they haven't worked well. The only coach that had a identify in their playing style was Gombau but didnt last for no more than less than a season into the job. Babbel didnt show much as a coach and Robinson so far is all over the place with players and different formations too trying to figure it out. I never understood why clubs would rely on the head coach to get things right, surely you have a technical director or a sporting director like they do in Europe whom could make sound decisions and coaches and players that fit into the clubs philosophy or playing project that have?
Josh
Guest
Sorry to break the news to you, there aren't any there.
Dennis
Guest
Good point but it is the WSW CEO that is treating people with contempt. I also include the Manager Football Operations too in this. So would it not be better if JT and GC were told get on your bike?
chris
Guest
Yes its "western suburbs" or "westie's"
chris
Guest
LH I can assure you I have not been reading too much of Murdoch. Or for that matter any of the tri pe he peddles.
c
Roar Rookie
meanwhile nrl is securing excellent media deals
c
Roar Rookie
its very problematical we have a brand new arrangement and all i seem to hear is how the new media deal is a failure and there is no support for our game hopefully the new stakeholders can maintain their position for the long-term in anticipation of an improvement in interest and investment and quality on the pitch
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I might be incorrect, but Robinson only has Vancouver Whitecaps and the Jets as previous experience. Considering the size of the task at hand and the quality of players at his disposal, does he have enough experience? Are we asking a P plater to drive a Porsche 911? And what did Carl do to the Jets, dump them right in it and steal half of it's playing squad. I have been involved in football for years, and i could get into one of those presser and talk it up like Carl does. If you want a measure or yard stick, look at Arthur Papas. Ok, the Jets had a Barry Crocker against the Bulls, but Newy are playing the best football in years and yet when Papas is interviewed, comments are brief to the point and accurate. There's no "used car salesman" element to it. Bottom line is that this is professional football, and with one of the best squads in the league, what Robinson has done, is quite simply appalling and the fans, who fork out their hard earned to attend have every right to be dark on this bloke. Additionally, the league needs a strong Wanderers. A strong Wanderers like it was when Shinji Ono showed Australia how it's done, means a strong A-League. The same question could probably be asked about Steve Corica. Is he good enough? Has he relied on his playing squad to mask his possible lack of management depth? Have a look at the Gaffers who have really stood out in the A-League. Popovic who spent considerable time early in his management career at Crystal Palace learning all he could. Ange Postecoglou, spent considerable time at Arsenal almost broke, but managed to survive to learn as much as he could, a little hard to say this, but even Graham Arnold has taken time to go overseas and learn as much as he could. Throw in Pierre Littbarski, Gui Amor, Erick Mombaerts and John Van't Schip and you are looking at managers who have depth, experience, versatility, Ok, Robinson has an overseas background but in comparison to Kisnorbo who again spent time learning overseas and then from Mombaerts and Papas who in a short time, has achieved impressive things including learning from Ange and spending time in the U.S., Robinson doesn't really compete. The Wanderers CEO needs to step in and say"you are treating my football club with contempt, on your bike mate". And you're right, get Mark Rudan in there, he knows this league, he knows the playing squad's strengths and weakness and even if it's only an interim gig, he would do much better than this bloke. Robinson his costing sponsors, clubs, owners and the FFA, so put him on a plane whilst the borders are still open.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
If it's not obvious to the APL that all clubs should be treated equally, and no individual club is more important than any other club, we have a major problem.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
Apart from AFL fans.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
Typo: Rudan is the man to bring WSW to the dead.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
I honestly don't know if its worse supporting the Wanderers or Glory right now. I can say as a Perth fan that I’m struggling to stay interested in this season given we may not play potentially until mid January.
Tigertown
Guest
I agree, AA, the scheduling is a massive headache & it clearly favours certain teams over others.
Tigertown
Guest
For me, it does come down to empathy. Somehow, each club has to convince the wider football world they are important. In marketing, it’s called: perception of value.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Not only that, but if the omicron variant persist for the next few months, with booster shots continuing to lag a bit, both will be lucky to even get 1,000 to a game.
Josh
Guest
Not a single person in Western Sydney uses the term 'Greater Western Sydney' FYI.
Josh
Guest
Say whatever you like, WSW should be so far in front it isn't funny. Feel free to enjoy wins against WSW so far, now you know the reason why you won.