Western United

[Edinburgh]

8 minutes ago, Smoggy said:

Launceston would be a good away trip, know the place quite well.

What's the road like between Melbourne and Launceston? 

[Smoggy]

Just now, Edinburgh said:

What's the road like between Melbourne and Launceston? 

Wet...

[WHACKO]

Hope it's us who plays them down there, good away trip. 

[MathyouWSW]

Western United have signed former Newcastle Jets player Kaine Sheppard till the end of the season:
 

 

Edited February 26, 2021 by MathyouWSW

[Davo]

There's something unsettling about Rudan staring right at me while smiling like that.

[MathyouWSW]

Rumoured to be signing Brad Inman in the upcoming days.

[MathyouWSW]

14 hours ago, MathyouWSW said:

Rumoured to be signing Brad Inman in the upcoming days.

Nevermind, 12 hours later...and it's confirmed:
 

 

[Davo]

Interesting font. If I tilt my head one way it says 5IGN5. If I tilt it the other way it says SN9IS.

[MathyouWSW]

12 minutes ago, Davo said:

Interesting font. If I tilt my head one way it says 5IGN5. If I tilt it the other way it says SN9IS.

I have to admit, the "S" does look like some fives

[theguyyouwishyouwere]

On 12/03/2021 at 2:07 PM, Davo said:

Interesting font. If I tilt my head one way it says 5IGN5. If I tilt it the other way it says SN9IS.

i've had SN9IS problems most of my life. worst at spring.

[Carns]

 

[pseudonym]

 

[Davo]

It's incredible how badly the wheels came of halfway through the season.

After their Round 18 win against the Jets they were in the top 6, they then drew with Adelaide and lost the next 8 straight. They didn't even have a particularly difficult run in as they played us, Perth, Nix and Victory who all missed the finals, yet they lost 5-0, 3-0, 3-0 and 6-1 in those games.

[MathyouWSW]

Rumours are out that Muscat will get the job replacing Rudan.

[Edinburgh]

1 hour ago, Davo said:

It's incredible how badly the wheels came of halfway through the season.

After their Round 18 win against the Jets they were in the top 6, they then drew with Adelaide and lost the next 8 straight. They didn't even have a particularly difficult run in as they played us, Perth, Nix and Victory who all missed the finals, yet they lost 5-0, 3-0, 3-0 and 6-1 in those games.

Everyone had travel and midweek matches to contend with during the season, but they had it extra tough during that run of losses.

[Davo]

11 minutes ago, Edinburgh said:

Everyone had travel and midweek matches to contend with during the season, but they had it extra tough during that run of losses.

Yeah that wouldn't have helped. Particularly as so many of their key players are the wrong side of 30 (Diamanti, Berisha, Durante).

[Sithslayer1991]

1 hour ago, MathyouWSW said:

Rumours are out that Muscat will get the job replacing Rudan.

There are also rumours Muscat will be Ange assistant at Celtic. If you had assistant at Celtic or Manager at Western united I think I would take Celtic to build the European manager portfolio.

[Davo]

I wonder how they'd like an ex-Rangers player as Celtic assistant manager.

[Carns]

 

[MathyouWSW]

14 hours ago, Carns said:

 

Great signing for them (if true). 

[MathyouWSW]

Western United have released the following players:

- Kaine Sheppard
- Iker Guarrotxena
- Tomislav Uskok (rumoured to head to Sydney United)
- Filip Kurto
- Brad Inman (loan return)

[Sithslayer1991]

Iker Guarrotxena was impressive at first took the pressure of Diamanti but then kinda fell away, but then the whole team did. I saw enough to consider him comming to Wanderers.

[MathyouWSW]

Tomoki Imai will be at Western United until 2024.

 

[WHACKO]

Aloisi the new coach.

[WHACKO]

Someone needs to be accountable for Western United's embarrassing stadium fiasco

Back in January 2020, I wrote about the damage Western United were doing to their brand by playing in ‘stadiums’ like Whitten Oval and Mars Stadium.

I was taken aback that when watching their home games, I was greeted with shots that had service stations in the background.

The sight of NPL-level crowds was another fun aspect of watching United games.

This club probably should never have been granted an A-League license.

Despite their relatively successful on-field showings in their first two campaigns, their nomadic existence, player turnover and complete lack of stability has many A-League fans worried about their future.

But I digress. The fact remains that Western are an A-League club, and they are here to stay.

It’s not been all bad – like I said, a semi-final appearance in the Bankwest Stadium bubble in their inaugural campaign was pretty impressive. And with the addition of Macarthur, the league now has six fixtures per round to sell to broadcasters.

However, the almost monolithic elephant in the room is their stadium situation. Frankly, it’s embarrassing that we have got to this point without even a sod-turning ceremony.

Apologists might point to the economic impacts of COVID and bureaucracy – planning approvals and the like – to rationalise the grim state of affairs.

The point could be made that it is not easy to build a football club from scratch, nor is it easy to convince your local council to allow you to build a granny flat in the backyard, let alone a football ground, and I take that point.

But what I know is when you make certain promises as a club, you have to follow through on them.

I was concerned about this situation even pre-COVID. Just think how long ago that was – back when we took having a beer with mates for granted, back when you could exercise in a group of three.

The latest report I was able to find on the state of the new Tarneit ground mentions construction on the ground is scheduled to be completed in “May, 2023”.

May, 2023. Western United’s shiny new home – the first of its kind in this wonderful league of ours – will finally be completed three-and-a-half years after their first A-League game.

And that’s the best case scenario.

Worryingly, that Wyndham Star Weekly article also mentions the facility will boast a “5000-spectator capacity main turf pitch”.

Now, assuming that information is accurate, has the original capacity been reduced by two thirds, or will United boast one of the largest secondary stadiums in world football?

For context, Manchester City Women’s Football Club play in the 5000-seat Manchester Academy Stadium.

If that is what a club like Manchester City boasts as a secondary stadium, is it reasonable to assume that Western are going ahead with their original 15,000-capacity main ground, and a 5000-capacity secondary facility?

Admittedly, I haven’t seen it reported that the new stadium will be reduced to just 5000 seats, but I’d be lying if I said anything about this disastrous state of play makes me feel the least bit assured that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The World Game (RIP, old friend) reported in February that the facility will feature a 5000-seat training pitch, but how much can we trust any report on this situation, let alone one that is six months old?

I concede that is two sources with the same information, but I find it very difficult not being sceptical about the veracity of the reports.

Even if the project is delivered by the expected date, what will the club’s fanbase look like in one-and-a-half years’ time?

I really hope for a positive outcome for Western United and their fans, but I’m not holding my breath.

The club have talked the talk with a great deal of ambition and confidence. It is surely now time for them to walk the walk.

Edited July 31, 2021 by WHACKO
Not written by me.

[Carns]

The only reason this team were admitted was their promise of a stadium. It was arguably a weaker bid than Team 11 (South East Melbourne). It has been an absolute shambles. Would prefer them to hand the license to Wollongong, Canberra, even a second Brisbane team if this stadium doesn't eventuate quickly.

[StringerBellend]

10 hours ago, WHACKO said:

Someone needs to be accountable for Western United's embarrassing stadium fiasco

Back in January 2020, I wrote about the damage Western United were doing to their brand by playing in ‘stadiums’ like Whitten Oval and Mars Stadium.

I was taken aback that when watching their home games, I was greeted with shots that had service stations in the background.

The sight of NPL-level crowds was another fun aspect of watching United games.

This club probably should never have been granted an A-League license.

Despite their relatively successful on-field showings in their first two campaigns, their nomadic existence, player turnover and complete lack of stability has many A-League fans worried about their future.

But I digress. The fact remains that Western are an A-League club, and they are here to stay.

It’s not been all bad – like I said, a semi-final appearance in the Bankwest Stadium bubble in their inaugural campaign was pretty impressive. And with the addition of Macarthur, the league now has six fixtures per round to sell to broadcasters.

However, the almost monolithic elephant in the room is their stadium situation. Frankly, it’s embarrassing that we have got to this point without even a sod-turning ceremony.

Apologists might point to the economic impacts of COVID and bureaucracy – planning approvals and the like – to rationalise the grim state of affairs.

The point could be made that it is not easy to build a football club from scratch, nor is it easy to convince your local council to allow you to build a granny flat in the backyard, let alone a football ground, and I take that point.

But what I know is when you make certain promises as a club, you have to follow through on them.

I was concerned about this situation even pre-COVID. Just think how long ago that was – back when we took having a beer with mates for granted, back when you could exercise in a group of three.

The latest report I was able to find on the state of the new Tarneit ground mentions construction on the ground is scheduled to be completed in “May, 2023”.

May, 2023. Western United’s shiny new home – the first of its kind in this wonderful league of ours – will finally be completed three-and-a-half years after their first A-League game.

And that’s the best case scenario.

Worryingly, that Wyndham Star Weekly article also mentions the facility will boast a “5000-spectator capacity main turf pitch”.

Now, assuming that information is accurate, has the original capacity been reduced by two thirds, or will United boast one of the largest secondary stadiums in world football?

For context, Manchester City Women’s Football Club play in the 5000-seat Manchester Academy Stadium.

If that is what a club like Manchester City boasts as a secondary stadium, is it reasonable to assume that Western are going ahead with their original 15,000-capacity main ground, and a 5000-capacity secondary facility?

Admittedly, I haven’t seen it reported that the new stadium will be reduced to just 5000 seats, but I’d be lying if I said anything about this disastrous state of play makes me feel the least bit assured that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The World Game (RIP, old friend) reported in February that the facility will feature a 5000-seat training pitch, but how much can we trust any report on this situation, let alone one that is six months old?

I concede that is two sources with the same information, but I find it very difficult not being sceptical about the veracity of the reports.

Even if the project is delivered by the expected date, what will the club’s fanbase look like in one-and-a-half years’ time?

I really hope for a positive outcome for Western United and their fans, but I’m not holding my breath.

The club have talked the talk with a great deal of ambition and confidence. It is surely now time for them to walk the walk.

If you are going to have 1 imaginary stadium you might as well have 2.

The new stadium will be 15,000, with a 5000 seat W League ground next door. Heated seats, an olympic sized pool, a lake with the lochness monster in it, Elvis performing at the licensed club .. the tooth fairy will come out at half time and collect all the kids teeth, while santa delivers presents

 

[MathyouWSW]

I've decided to post every clubs clubs transfers, departures and resigns. (sorry if some of you think it's spam)

As of today (15th August 2021)

INS:
Dylan Wenzel-Halls - signed till 2023/24
Jamie Young - signed till 2022/23
Noah Botic - signed till 2022/23
Rhys Bozinovski (scholarship) - signed till 2022/23
Ajak Deu (scholarship) - signed till 2022/23
Adisu Bayew (scholarship) - signed till 2022/23
Nikolai Topor-Stanley - signed till 2021/22
Ben Garuccio - signed till 2021/22

OUTS:
Andrew Durante > Retired
Aaron Calver > Perth Glory
Brendan Hamill > Melbourne Victory
Tomislav Uskok > Macarthur FC
Iker Guarrotxena > UD Logrones (Spanish Third Division)
Kaine Sheppard > Free Agent
Filip Kurto > Free Agent
Brad Inman > Free Agent
Besart Berisha > Free Agent

RE-SIGNS:
Tomoki Imai - signed till 2023/24
Luke Duzel - signed till 2022/23
Nicholas Milanovic - signed till 2022/23
Ryan Scott - signed till 2022/23
Connor Pain - signed till 2022/23
Dylan Pierias - signed till 2022/23

RUMOURS:
Nothing at the moment

[MathyouWSW]

Western United are rumoured to sign Neil Kilkenny 

[MathyouWSW]

Western United have signed Swiss defender Leo Lacroix:

Also, Kilkenny has joined them as well

Edited September 1, 2021 by MathyouWSW