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Can anyone stop the fairytale story that is the Western Sydney Wanderers? Who would have thought the new A-League franchise would be leading season eight with four rounds left to play?
The Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers played a gripping contest in front of an amazing attendance of 18,721 fans in horrible conditions.
Although each match is important in its own respect, this match had a little bit more significance as first place was on the line and the Premiers Plate was being hotly contested.
Wanderers would finish this match the victors with an 81st minute goal that silenced the Mariners faithful but sent the estimated 6,000 supporters of the Wanderers into raptures – though half of them didn’t see it, but they acted as though had.
We are fast approaching the finals and debate continues to rage about the new structure of the finals system but with the Premiers Plate still not decided we are in for one of the closest finishes since the 2008-2009 season. Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United finished equal on 38 season points and an equal goal difference that season, but due to Victory’s superior goals for they would be crowned the Premiers that season.
Who would have thought that Western Sydney Wanderers, under the tutelage of Tony Popovic, would be creating such hysteria?
Even as the season nears its end, Wanderers continue to receive interest in foundation memberships and ticket sales continue selling.
The round 26 fixture of Wanderers versus Sydney FC is already sold out and as each round finishes the next round provides another vital clash to each teams aspirations for finals qualification and hopes of Premiers Plate success.
I have sat idly by watching with interest as the continual success of the Wanderers continues to roll on.
I have always found statistics and facts a more appealing aspect to develop my opinions on and the Wanderers continue to surprise me even after winning eight matches in a row – and I can no longer sit idly by.
The current off-field influences on the club continue to be well documented with attendances increasing, merchandise sales not able to meet demand and memberships being viewed as a necessity for many fans.
In time these off-field influences will have created and solidified a strong and stable football club within the Western Sydney community, essentially Parramatta.
Wanderers fans who continue to spruce how good their team have every right to and as success continues to unfold, the expectations will continue to rise.
I know all too well about this as my beloved Brisbane Roar produced phenomenal on-field success, thus creating the feeling within most fans that we can continue to raise the standard of football in Australia, reaching out to the local community to continue the upward trend that was attendances, memberships and corporate support: all vital aspects to the longevity of Brisbane Roar within Brisbane.
When your club isn’t fulfilling the expectations of fans and board staff, it’s when you are able to distinguish the fickle supporters (bandwagoners) to the core supporters (life and blood of the club).
Perhaps the fickle nature is ingrained into the DNA structures of Australian sporting fans?
As the fans sit there in the stands you’re always hoping for a great turn out as you know the significance hit has on the club you love, but this is also the reason why some supporters can become frustrated by the fickle support that trickles in as the winning trend continues.
The Wanderers are yet to experience the hardships of many other A-League clubs, but when it does of occur we will be able to identify how much of the Western Sydney community is willing to contribute to the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Ultimately it comes down to the on-field success that aids in the continuation of support, but then off-field aspects of ticket prices, community engagement and marketing are also vital to the stability of a club.
It may be the Wanderers’ first season and having not won a piece of silverware is what probably the only thing in-between the completion of the fairytale story, but whatever the end result the Wanderers have already added etched their name in the history books of the A-League.
Their off-field success has been well documented so I’ll look to dissect their on-field achievements, some that already make previous achievements look like cannon fodder when you remember this is only the Wanderers first season.
Currently the Wanderers are on an eight-game winning streak and have equaled the record set by Melbourne Victory back in 2006.
The Wanderers will face Wellington at ‘Wanderland’ this weekend and with Phoenix attempting to qualify for their fourth successive finals campaign, they will look to give the Wanderers hell.
If the Wanderers are to win, they will officially own the record of most successive wins in the A-League, with nine.
What is more impressive is the other accomplishments along the way. If the Wanderers win or draw this weekend they will sit equal eighth on the list of longest undefeated streak and also jump into fourth for most points collated in a season, which will be shared with Adelaide United on 50 points for the season of 2010-2011.
What makes the achievement of most points collated in a regular season is the fact that in 2010-2011, each team played an extra three games, totaling 30.
Brisbane Roar own that record with a total of 65 points but if the Wanderers were to win their remaining four matches they would sit in second place on the all-time list for most points collated in a regular season which would stand at 59 points, six points behind Brisbane Roar but once again in their first season makes all these achievements all the more memorable.
Another record in which the Wanderers could wrestle away in their first season could be the most wins during a regular season.
Once again Brisbane Roar own that record with 18 wins in the 2010-2011 season, but as it stands the Wanderers have won 15 matches and already sit in equal third along-side Sydney FC (27-game season), Central Coast Mariners (27-game season) and Adelaide United (30-game season).
Four games to go and only three wins separating them from first place Brisbane Roar and it these statistics continue to astound those who believed the Wanderers would eventuate to nothing in their first season – personally I was one of these people.
To top it off, Simon Hill recently wrote for Fox Sports how Wanderers have re-invented the possession based theory, something which Brisbane Roar became renowned for during their back-to-back championships.
Despite the eight match winning streak, 15 wins in a regular season and Premiers Plate beckoning, the Wanderers have only out-possessed a team just once all season. It was the round eight fixture against Melbourne Victory, in which they lost 2-0.
Phenomenal in today’s footballing world as Barcelona have become the team associated with possession-based football.
It goes to show that football’s philosophies continue to develop further each season and coaches are being required to adapt and equip themselves with the knowledge required to find the winning formula.
Tony Popovic, Graham Arnold and Ange Postecoglou have been able to aid in the revolution that is quality football continuing its rapid rise in Australia.
The Wanderers despite the off-field efforts and on-field success can attribute much of their success to Tony Popovic and the philosophies he has engrained into his playing squad.
Popovic has already gone as far to say they will be even better next season and based on this year’s results you cannot doubt his confidence and ability as a coach.
Whatever happens for the Wanderers heading towards the end of the season, the A-League and its supporters are proud of what you have brought to Australian football. So thank you and congratulations to the Western Sydney Wanderers.
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