Wanderers Obliterated By Sydney FC

When I arrived home my wife had the dishes lined up, bless her soul, she said " do you want to start with the cups, the saucers or dinner plates"

I think for me anyway the warning bells started to ring loud and clear when after long pre-season we had great difficulty beating Blactown in the FFA Cup.

We just don't have the players to compete with the likes of Sydney, they dissected and dismantled us without getting out of 2nd gear. The re-building needs to start at the back, we can't stop goals we leak badly there, we are unable to score goals and our middle just goes around in circles. I'm amazed and thankful Syd did not reach double figures, they should have.

i joked pre game that we would lose by 8 goals.......i wasnt too far off

I’m not ashamed to say I walked out at half-time last night. 

I’ve spent thousands of dollars following this team all over the country, stood in shitty little Western Sydney parks watching them during pre-season and even braved a ******* apocalyptic storm, hail and nearly zero-degree temperatures at Campbelltown for the Wanderers. But last night, the club and players disrespected me as a fan. 

I wouldn’t care if the boys lost every week if they just showed some heart and a passion for the club. None of them except Santa and maybe Clisby gave a **** last night. 

I’m not paying $400 a year to be served up that crap. So even though they’ve got my money and probably don’t give a **** what I think, I walked out in protest. We deserve more as fans and I think lots voted with their feet before and during the match. 

Add on to that, the cringe-fest that was the FFA’s decision to sellout our game for a few dollars in return for some gimmick movie ****. I was furious. 

The kebab I had on the way home was the best part of my night. That’s saying something.

The only redeeming factor of the day was meeting up with the regular WSF peeps and our new American friends at Concord West before the game. Good food and conversation as always. 

19 hours ago, MathyouWSW said:

Tonight will go down as one of the most horrific nights in the club's history. We can't afford to lose like this to our rivals. We will be hearing about this for weeks. 

This isn't directed at you Mathyou,  but are just my general thoughts.

Here's the thing....how much absolute  delight did many members of our fan base derive from SFC's misery "Seventh Heaven" etc etc

Season after season.

What goes around, comes around.

If people concentrate on deriving pleasure from their own team's successes and achievements , rather than from  the misery and humiliation of other teams and their supporters... maybe it's a bit less painful when the inevitable happens and our fortunes take a temporary a dive.

If that makes sense.

I couldn't care less what other teams supporters say or think.

There's nothing to be done but suck it up at the moment...give the coach time to sort things out over coming weeks, and,  if necessary, we write off this season if that doesn't happen and start again next season.

It's not going to stay like this,  as others have  philosophically pointed out. It's  tough atm but its easier, I think, if we focus on how to support our team as best we can rather than worry about the pleasure other teams' supporters might be getting from our disappointments.

For me the coach is totally to blame for yesterday's debacle.  Sending a completely unsuitable and inept line up to face arguably the best team in the history of the A league (and yes it does pain me to say that). WTF was the thinking?? The players did do their best and they were completely outclassed. I was against Gombau's appointment from the start as I believed his coaching style is unsuitable for our club and I have been proven correct.This is what happens when an appointment is made purely on celebrity value rather than any thought given to tactical suitability.

Anyway, unless there is a dramatic change in tactics and player selection I'm no longer attending anymore games. Call me a fair weather fan but I am not paying money to watch this "long process" as he calls it. And I know I'm not alone. 

Seems people are splitting into blame popa or blame Gombau groups.

Im going to blame both..

The squad once again isn’t good enough. 

But picking that team, and formation is on Gombau

- picked Australian right back at right wing when he’d never played there

- put Hammil in a poor centre back at right back etc

Pick your best 4, mess around up front a bit but that line up was inexcusable 

You could see after the first goal went in the players didn’t believe in it 

we will be lucky to get 6k for our next home game 

Spot on zakman.

Imo.....

Can't blame the squad. Same squad under foxe (who many ridiculed) drew with this lot and had the better of the match. If that twat carney didn't con the ref we probably win.

Can't  blame cornthwaite for not being able to play out from the back. He is the player he is. We improved last year when popa realised this and went direct and played deeper. Asking him to pretend to be mascherano will lead to the inevitable results we saw last night.

The squad clearly isn't  suited to how gombau wants to play so why do it? We are now looking at another huge clean out so gombau can bring in 'his players'.

Popa was an exceptional a-league manager who got his players to play as a unit and play above their normal level. In 3 games we have played way below the ability level of our players.

Last night was the lowest point in the club's short history and it is impossible for me to come up with any positives.

Luckily my years of training as a leeds fan have me well prepared for these moments.

Yeah.... popa OUT!!!!

Mini baccus looked good that’s the positive I took 

Im thinking negative right now but just wondering if the coach did that on purpose last night. There was no reason to play such a weak side any week let alone in a derby. So then he can go to the club and say I need rid of players? If so feel sorry for us fans and then lederer and tatsimas because this squad should be top 4 at worst. The squad is there. Also don't understand how coaches only have one system they go off. For me a good coach should be able to adapt.

1 minute ago, Thommo said:

Im thinking negative right now but just wondering if the coach did that on purpose last night. There was no reason to play such a weak side any week let alone in a derby. So then he can go to the club and say I need rid of players? If so feel sorry for us fans and then lederer and tatsimas because this squad should be top 4 at worst. The squad is there. Also don't understand how coaches only have one system they go off. For me a good coach should be able to adapt.

Agree with most of your post except..."Im thinking negative right now but just wondering if the coach did that on purpose last night".... If any coach of our club goes into a game with the aim of getting thrashed then he needs to be sacked on the spot. 

6 minutes ago, Thommo said:

Im thinking negative right now but just wondering if the coach did that on purpose last night. There was no reason to play such a weak side any week let alone in a derby. So then he can go to the club and say I need rid of players? If so feel sorry for us fans and then lederer and tatsimas because this squad should be top 4 at worst. The squad is there. Also don't understand how coaches only have one system they go off. For me a good coach should be able to adapt.

If he did it on purpose (and I don’t think he did) he should be sacked immediately 

it was a derby you don’t throw derbys 

5 minutes ago, Thommo said:

Im thinking negative right now but just wondering if the coach did that on purpose last night. There was no reason to play such a weak side any week let alone in a derby. So then he can go to the club and say I need rid of players? If so feel sorry for us fans and then lederer and tatsimas because this squad should be top 4 at worst. The squad is there. Also don't understand how coaches only have one system they go off. For me a good coach should be able to adapt.

No coach does that on purpose, problem is he is delusional and believes that those players he coached in the young socceroos team Lachy Scott, Aspro, Baby Bacchus, (and Sotirio would of played if not injured) are better than they are.

11 minutes ago, Thommo said:

Im thinking negative right now but just wondering if the coach did that on purpose last night. There was no reason to play such a weak side any week let alone in a derby. So then he can go to the club and say I need rid of players? If so feel sorry for us fans and then lederer and tatsimas because this squad should be top 4 at worst. The squad is there. Also don't understand how coaches only have one system they go off. For me a good coach should be able to adapt.

That reminds me of Brendan ROgers when he was coaching Liverpool, benching his best players against Real Madrid and starting a bunch fringe and youth players. The aftermath? Key players rebeled against Rogers. Gerrard left and Sterling went to Citeh

2 minutes ago, SBW said:

That reminds me of Brendan ROgers when he was coaching Liverpool, benching his best players against Real Madrid and starting a bunch fringe and youth players. The aftermath? Key players rebeled against Rogers. Gerrard left and Sterling went to Citeh

And the constant talk of Philosophies and process 

I think we just need to wait and see what happens in the coming months. Too hard to process this humiliation. I have my doubts about the coach. But our players also have no mettle or steel about them. Also a lot of journey men in our club happy to simply get paid and go through the motions.Then there is the management at the club..

There is a poor culture currently that has filtrated its way into the club. Something needs to be done to rectify this. 

Still cannot understand that lineup. Was Llorente injured or is he one on the out?

1 hour ago, CaptainJess said:

I’m not ashamed to say I walked out at half-time last night. 

I’ve spent thousands of dollars following this team all over the country, stood in shitty little Western Sydney parks watching them during pre-season and even braved a ******* apocalyptic storm, hail and nearly zero-degree temperatures at Campbelltown for the Wanderers. But last night, the club and players disrespected me as a fan. 

I wouldn’t care if the boys lost every week if they just showed some heart and a passion for the club. None of them except Santa and maybe Clisby gave a **** last night. 

I’m not paying $400 a year to be served up that crap. So even though they’ve got my money and probably don’t give a **** what I think, I walked out in protest. We deserve more as fans and I think lots voted with their feet before and during the match. 

Add on to that, the cringe-fest that was the FFA’s decision to sellout our game for a few dollars in return for some gimmick movie ****. I was furious. 

The kebab I had on the way home was the best part of my night. That’s saying something.

The only redeeming factor of the day was meeting up with the regular WSF peeps and our new American friends at Concord West before the game. Good food and conversation as always. 

 

As did I. 100% agree. 

51 minutes ago, StringerBellend said:

Seems people are splitting into blame popa or blame Gombau groups.

Im going to blame both..

The squad once again isn’t good enough. 

But picking that team, and formation is on Gombau

- picked Australian right back at right wing when he’d never played there

- put Hammil in a poor centre back at right back etc

Pick your best 4, mess around up front a bit but that line up was inexcusable 

You could see after the first goal went in the players didn’t believe in it 

we will be lucky to get 6k for our next home game 

I think the squad is good enough. From the back I think Vedran is as good as any in the league. At right back Risdon (a current Socceroo) with hammill as cover. The two Thwaites in central defence experienced and should be strong enough for this league. . Llorente at left back with Clisby as cover should be more than adequate without necessarily being brilliant.

midfield - Roly looked amazing at Wellington was wrapped with his purchase. Jumpei looks like he can spark something at any time and cejudo was bought in from La liga midfield and has shown glimpses. Herd looks like he'll be injury prone but baccus for me is more than a league level. I'll pass on melling and sotirio.

strikers - santalab and riera. Got to be up there with the best options in the league. Maybe play them both at the same time?. I'll pass on lachy scott.

That squad is top 4 in this league. The coach was given good players. I agree with the rest of your post.

“If you’re going through hell, keep going”

I knew that we'd lose before the game, and when I saw the starting 11 and formation it was a certainty in my eyes. It was simply a matter of by how many. The fact that we could've easily lost by 8 or 10 shows how poor we were. Imagine if ESFC had Ninkovic playing too?

I'm a sucker for punishment, so I stayed to the end (always do), but they sure don't make it easy.

And all the Star Wars **** is an abomination. We really are a tinpot, circus league serving up this shite.

Just an embarrassment of a night. 

Everyone involved at the club should be ashamed of themselves. That should not be happening.

I don't know what's going on, but ever since Lederer and his gang took over, the club has fallen to a mediocre, pile of ****. The first few seasons were so much fun, but now it's becoming a struggle to follow the team with that same passion that we all had during the beginning. 

Parra can't come soon enough, I ******* miss that place. 

Popovic progressed in the past two seasons to a game focused on possession. In simple terms, Gombau has ramped that up even more, with more short passes, less long balls, running the other team off its feet, breaking them down to the point of exhaustion.

"When I left Adelaide, I brought this philosophy," he says. "It takes time. Five six months to play the way I like, no? We are doing here quicker. We are in the middle of the competition and we have a test every week. I understand the fans want to see the team winning. I understand the players for a long time they are used to all those things. This club only have one coach, which is not usual, no? It's true that some are open, some that aren't that open, but I have had nothing to say to any player. They are working hard."

Says Cornthwaite: "popa was so meticulous that there was little room to move. It was his way or that was it. That worked, for a lot of players; he got players who others thought were rejects to play their best football. That was a mark of how good a coach he was. Josep likes to keep everyone happy. He likes to give them freedom away from the field. But it's a case of 'value the ball, run, be the best'. If we stick together and work on his game, we'll play the most attractive football in Australia in the next 12 months."

---

Right now we are playing the most attractive football for our opponents, the Smurfs really looked exhausted from celebrating all these goals.

 In 12 months most of the current crop of senior players will be gone, Cornflakes being one of them. Never mind about 12 months, or even 12 weeks. If there's similar performances in the next 12 days then all hell will break lose.

Yes.the Smurfs have Ninkovic to come back into that team. Not sure why llorente was benched. He's been ok hasn't he? It was simply embarrassing. We are stunned. Its an indictment of the league though that win our game in hand and we move into the top 6.

I will be in Gosford next week. They beat the smurfs! 

11 minutes ago, FCB said:

But it's a case of 'value the ball, run, be the best'. If we stick together and work on his game, we'll play the most attractive football in Australia in the next 12 months

12 months is a long time in football and I doubt most of the team will be here in 12 months. Does that mean another 12months to train the new players? 

TBH if we have 12 months of displays like last night.....Josep will be gone as well.

Can’t say I’m surprised at the scoreline. After last weeks horrible performance, Sydney FC are league leaders, missing some players so our coach gambled with the starting lineup & it didn’t work. 

Add on to that we are trying to transition to a new style which still looks like a mile off implementing. Plus in the current system we have no cutting edge in the front third..

0-5 is embarrassing though, you just can’t waltz into a game against top of the ladder in a derby no least. You can’t say that our players didn’t try but the gulf in class was telling, as FCB said men vs boys.

Credit to Sydney FC, well deserved. 

Fellow Wanderers, prepare for much more pain ahead.

————————

Reading through the comments my observations:

- Players did try but Gombau seems to have thrown the foundations of S1-4 out the window. You can’t come in, turn everything on it’s head & expect all to be okay. Our preseason for season five started when Gombau took over (good call FCB)

- It was my concern when we appointed Gombau. His philosophy was very different to what we had, how long was it going to implement? How long will the fans be happy to continue without results?

- In my book, bench your under performing players is not an outrageous move as manager. It is a normal move but it backfired completely.

- The other issue, Gombau needs to find a solution with the players available. We are blaming the players for not adapting to the managers style. No point in throwing the baby out with the bath water because our squad didn’t come up through La Masia. The players confidence looks shot to pieces and Gombau looks bereft of ideas.

28 minutes ago, Thommo said:

I think the squad is good enough. From the back I think Vedran is as good as any in the league. At right back Risdon (a current Socceroo) with hammill as cover. The two Thwaites in central defence experienced and should be strong enough for this league. . Llorente at left back with Clisby as cover should be more than adequate without necessarily being brilliant.

 

midfield - Roly looked amazing at Wellington was wrapped with his purchase. Jumpei looks like he can spark something at any time and cejudo was bought in from La liga midfield and has shown glimpses. Herd looks like he'll be injury prone but baccus for me is more than a league level. I'll pass on melling and sotirio.

 

strikers - santalab and riera. Got to be up there with the best options in the league. Maybe play them both at the same time?. I'll pass on lachy scott.

That squad is top 4 in this league. The coach was given good players. I agree with the rest of your post.

 

The Problem with squad and most of this was becoming clear before Gombau

Centre backs are ageing and too slow

We lack creativity and threat in the attacking midfield spots

Sotirio is useless, running fast might win stuff in athletics but is pointless in football if you can’t control the ball 

Jumpei is a slightly more exotic sotirio with the odd step over and nutmeg but again no end product 

Roly isn’t a number 10 (and has been disappointing since round 1)

cejudo is yet to have any meaningful impact

Herd is an odd one, doesn’t seem committed to being here at all

But yes that squad should get top 4 or at least 6 not bottom of the table embarrassment 

last night is mainly on gombau 

We have a decent back four (albeit slow) but instead he played only 1 of them in the back four and another in midfield 

I don’t buy at all Into this process nonsense and more importantly the players don’t 

It’s hard to get my head around. We got thumped, but we also have players who were able to beat their players. As a group we were pretty **** in transition and poor in communication and execution, but that comes from not “knowing” one another, not knowing your position or expectations. So, what’s going on in training? Why were so many passes lost, they fell short of their targets, were too low and lacked conviction and confidence.

There are a few rules you can follow when defending 1-on-1, such as showing them the (side)line to keep them wide etc, but for fukcs sake stop letting the oppositions players use their preferred foot. Our guys were turning their polish maestro onto his favoured left foot, literally forcing him to play more aggressively. It’s basic football. Carney is a **** on the field, but his favoured foot is left so keep it on his right. It was infuriating to watch **** I’ve taught 12 year olds happening in professional football.

Our interplay through our mids was great (at times) and movement in counter attack was quick enough to bamboozle their (great) midfield, but we got to a point where we slowed down enough that that sydfc midfield and defence reorganised and we’d turn back inwards, allowing any holes to close up. If we used pace and released an early ball for one of our guys it may have reaped a chance (probably a horribly skewed shot), but instead we kept turning back in. STOP TRYING TO RUN THE ******* BALL OVER THE GOAL LINE. Barcelona break quickly and pass a lot, but they also know a quick pass and speed to profit from an opponents disorganised mid/defence when in transition.

anyway, there’s so much wrong that it’ll keep our coaches and players busy for a while