Season Preview – Western Sydney Wanderers (Part A)

Many believe that the Western Sydney Wanderers are due a slow season, after more than two years of consistently defying the odds against them. An off-season that has seen numerous of their star players, fundamental to their success over the past two seasons, leave the club will add fuel to that fire. However, after their incredible Asian Champions League run, providing the perfect lead-up to the 2014/15 A-League season, the club from Sydney’s west will be looking once more to exceed, if not destroy, expectations.

 

 

 

Head Coach:

Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic is the absolute key to the team’s success. There can be no denying that his pragmatic tactics, disciplined training and inspired leadership have been the cornerstone of the Wanderers’ performances in the past two seasons.

Although he is yet to decipher a Grand Final victory, Popovic has time and time again proven his genius; leading a sometimes unimpressive looking Wanderers squad on paper to unbelievable accolades. There is a general sense among fans, and the squad, that there is nothing he can’t get them to do.

Popovic has not only embedded his rigid defensive discipline into his squad, with adherence to structure the key to their performances, but has his players fitter than they have ever been in their career. Labinot Haliti, by way of example, has commented that he has never felt more fit and has never been leaner. Popovic’s staff are also to thank for this, with Strength and Conditioning coach, Adam Waterson, a major player.

However, those questioning the strength of the Wanderers’ shaken up squad will argue that Popovic is only human and cannot work miracles.

 

Season 2013/14:

Season 2013/14 was a relatively successful season for the Wanderers, in their bid to avoid “second season syndrome”. It was certainly not as incredible as their first, but behind a rampant Brisbane Roar outfit, the Wanderers were able to claim second place and qualify for the Grand Final.

In the lead up to the season, many wondered if their debut effort prior was just a flash in the pan. Popovic and his team set out to prove that not to be the case, and succeeded in doing so. Although teams were more accustomed to their tactics, the Wanderers performed admirably throughout and remained one of the league’s best sides.

They maintained their defensive, counter-attacking tactics; dropping into a well organised defensive structure and allowing the opposition, if in controlled possession, to try and break them down. If their opposition were not in controlled possession, the Wanderers would press aggressively so as to force an error. The team generally set up in a compact structure which forced other teams to push the ball wide.

Going forward often involved breaking quickly with direct balls forward to Ono, Juric or Hersi, who would hold up or break wide. This right side bias saw Bridge less prolific than in the side’s maiden year. Last season, however, saw the Wanderers increase their focus slightly on playing the ball out from the back; an experiment that saw mixed results.

Brisbane were simply too good. There was no beating them to the Premiership, and a devastating Grand Final saw the Wanderers miss out on any silverware.

The second half of the season, however, saw the Wanderers successfully manage their way through their first Asian Champions League group. In an incredible achievement, with their fans demanding they “Fear none, conquer all”, the Wanderers topped their group ahead of Ulsan Hyundai, Kawasaki Frontale and Guizhou Renhe.

In to the offseason, their Round of 16 clash against Japanese Champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima got off to a poor start, with a 3-1 loss away from home. The away goal from Juric would prove instrumental, however, with the Wanderers sealing a jubilant 2-0 victory in the return leg to make it through to the next round.

Their quarter-final draw could not have been more difficult, paired against Chinese giants and defending Asian Champions League champions, Guangzhou Evergrande. The Wanderers won their home leg 1-0, and then ran away with a 2-1 loss in China which again saw progression by away goal rule.

Their semi-final would be against FC Seoul, who had also competed in last year’s Asian Champions League final. The Wanderers progressed past Seoul into the Grand Final without losing, primed for the next month of football which will also see the A-League kick off.

Departure Lounge:

Tahj Minniecon (Rockdale City Suns), Youssouf Hersi (Perth), Adam D’Apuzzo (Retired), Aaron Mooy  (Melbourne City), Joshua Barresi (Newcastle Jets), Jerrad Tyson (Sun Pegasus), Jerome Polenz  (Sarpsborg 08), Shinji Ono (Consadole Sapporo), Dean Heffernan (Retired)

 

Over the winter, the Wanderers lost three absolutely key players in marquee Shinji Ono, winger Youssouf Hersi and fullback Jerome Polenz. This trio had been a major part of the team’s success in the previous two seasons. Hersi could always be relied on to find a channel and hold up the ball, when the team was under pressure. His pace down the wing would then provide the perfect attacking outlet. Polenz was a workhorse down the right flank, and provided immense quality going forward and in defence. Shinji Ono was the team’s tactical genius and playmaker in the middle of the park.

Hersi wanted a longer contract, and potentially more money than the Wanderers were willing to offer – moving from Western Sydney to Western Australia and Perth. Polenz too bargained for more than the Wanderers saw worthy and was released. Ono returned to his native Japan for family reasons, although some have it that Popovic also didn’t believe Ono was worth another year as the marquee player. This off-season saw the Wanderers clearly state their pragmatic intent towards players: there will be no sentimentality.

 

Arrivals:

Vitor Saba (Brescia Calcio), Sandro Pasalic (youth squad Burghausen U19), Romeo Castelen (RKC Waalwijk), Brendan Hamill (Seongnam Ilhwa), Seyi Adeleke(Lazio), Dean Bouzanis (Carlisle United), Martin Lo (promoted from Youth Squad), Alusine Fofanah (promoted from Youth Squad)

Youssouf Hersi’s replacement came in almost like-for-like form with Romeo Castelen. Castelen, like Hersi, had been an injury prone African star in the Dutch Eredivisie, who never quite made it to the big time. However, from his performances at training and in the off-season, it looks as if Castelen might prove even better than Hersi for the Wanderers.

Not only does he look extremely good, but he is coming off a full season in the Dutch first division for RKC Waalwijk, where he starred; appearing 34 times, scoring six goals and tallying ten assists. He played primarily at right wing, although commonly featuring as striker.

Vitor Saba is another highly touted signing for the club, arriving from Italy’s Serie B and Brescia. A Brazilian playmaker, with buckets of skill and confidence (arrogance?), Saba has caused much excitement among Wanderers fans. His beard has caused even more excitement among casual observers. Always willing to be honest and forthright on social media and in interviews, Saba has yet to have been given many opportunities to prove his worth on the field; but the signs look good.

Highly rated at Flamengo in Brazil, and initially in Italy, many have said that Saba’s attitude has held him back. But at only 24 years old, the youngster has plenty to prove and no better environment to do so than under the guidance of Popovic and within the cauldron that is Parramatta Stadium.

It will take some time for the Brazilian to settle into Popovic’s structure and adapt to his tactics, but once this is ingrained, Saba will provide a hugely useful creative outlet for the side. He has also been known to possess a deadly freekick, which should feature throughout the season.

The Wanderers’ final visa signing has been shrouded in frustration throughout the off-season. Seyi Adeleke hasn’t even been able to arrive in Australia yet, with visa issues preventing his departure from Italy. Having not even met his team mates, it is likely that Adeleke will be very gradually eased into the squad and might not feature prominently until much later in the year. That is, if he ever arrives here; the youngster has expressed much annoyance on social media regarding the issue.

However, there is plenty to look forward to in the young Nigerian. Adeleke is a dynamic, powerful and agile player who can play at fullback or in central midfield. This sort of flexibility will play right into Popovic’s hands. Like Saba, he is young and looking to kick-start his career; there will be hunger and desire to tap into. His signing, however, ruled out the possibility of a foreign marquee for the Wanderers.

Brendan Hamill, signed from Korea, has had a baptism of fire at the Wanderers and come out well on top. The young Australian, who previously featured at the Melbourne Heart before moving to Seongnam, has been thrown straight into the centre of defence for the Wanderers in their Asian Champions League ties against Guangzhou and Seoul, due to the injury of Spiranovic. He has been a rock alongside Topor Stanley, and crucial in Western Sydney’s progression past both Asian giants.

Finally, Wanderers fans will be eagerly looking forward to seeing the development of Alusine Fofanah and Martin Lo, who have been hugely impressive for the side’s National Youth League squad. Both are flexible central midfielders who promise to be household names in the future. Daniel Alessi, too, has already had his fair share of appearances for Western Sydney, and the seventeen year old has been impressive at fullback – he will play a big role. Yianni Perkatis missed out on the last season through injury, but will make his return to the first-team for 2014/15. The future looks bright.

Key Player:

Romeo Castelen will be the key player for the Wanderers this season. The squad’s defensive foundations remain well in place, if not stronger than last season, however their attacking structure has been dissected. Romeo Castelen is the solution to these concerns.

For a long time, the Wanderers did not win any games that Hersi did not appear in; such is the importance to their structure of a pacey winger who can hold up the ball in danger and launch counter-attacks down the wing.

Romeo has by all accounts looked superb in the off-season (although unable to appear for the side in the Asian Champions League) and promises to be all of what Hersi was for the side and more. If he can remain injury free, Castelen alongside Saba and Juric could be a consistent game-winner for the Western Sydney Wanderers.

What’s he still doing here?

It is difficult to point out anyone in the Wanderers squad (although I will admit my clear bias) who should not be there. Time and time again, players who have received immense criticism at previous clubs have stepped up to the plate and provided heroic performances in red and black.

There is no-one in this squad that Popovic doesn’t believe plays an important role, and isn’t capable of doing so.

Extra time:

It is always difficult to forecast how the Wanderers will perform, as before each of their seasons they have been predicted by many to struggle and both times, they have defied the odds. So perhaps it is easy to predict how the Wanderers will perform: well.

But there is certainly cause for concern, particularly from pessimists like myself, as to how the side’s shaken up squad will handle an A-League which has continued to grow in competitiveness. Squads around the Wanderers, notably Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory, have made some apt recruitments over the off-season. Meanwhile, teams continue to get used to Popovic’s style of play and have learnt how to combat it. This is not something that the Asian Champions League teams, conquered in the off-season, were afforded.

But it would take a silly man to bet against Popovic, and it is likely that the Wanderers will finish in the top four – with a strong possibility that they can compete for even more. Their defence looks even stronger than before, with Spiranovic, Topor-Stanley and Hamill all very good options centrally. Meanwhile, Golec has settled into his new fullback position well. Poljak and La Rocca continue to bond in holding midfield, and have looked superb in the Asian Champions League together. If Popovic can get Juric, Saba and Castelen firing on all cylinders up front, the Wanderers have all the ingredients to challenge once more for trophies.

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