Borrello Gives Wanderers A Dozen Defeats

prepare yourselves.

Goes with our big plate...

However I feel we may get off the bottom yet

Popa has changed things, small things but he has tweaked the nonetheless

let's see how next season goes

By my rough count we've played approx 70 games since the commencement of the 13/14 AL season, with at least another 12 to play before our lads will get a much needed rest. 

If you add in all the travel & the shorter break our players received between seasons compared to other AL clubs, its no wonder that injuries & fatigue are becoming a factor, particularly when we are trailing late in games.

If we remember back to seasons 1 & 2, we were often the stronger team physically in the last 15 minutes of matches.

The ACL & CWC have certainly taken their toll on our squad in the last 12 months.

Everything you say above is a factor of course, but it has become the clubs go to mantra and it is getting old. There has to be more to this situation, the table doesn't lie and we have been so very awful to the point that fatigue and injuries cannot fully explain the situation we find ourselves in. I hope at the end of the season in the post mortem examination that the points you mention are not the only ones put forward as I personally think that would be an insult to the fans.

Just to confirm I am acknowledging that what you state has been an issue, of course it has, but there are more questions to be asked here.

• 2014 off season recruitment
• New club leadership
• Experienced players that were let go
• CWC fiasco
• Predictable unchanging style of play

No doubt someone else could add another few points to the list here.

The fall from grace has been far too dramatic to be purely fatigue and injury based in my opinion.

Personally I back Manfred's call for a fan forum, maybe we will be fobbed off but at least we can ask the questions ourselves. Or maybe Around the Block should do an end of season show with the club where we send our questions in?

Honestly thats was the worst performance ive seen so far , gutless and heartless , how much longer are people gonna keep smiling an keep saying "ohh dont worry , maybe next week" we played s..hit , so eat s..hit , is the feeling im getting from the players atm

the players i feel sorry for is bulut and Jaushua Sotirio, they actually tried but got zero service

Goes with our big plate...

 

However I feel we may get off the bottom yet

Newcastle at home in two weeks is shaping up as a big one!

Last thing I want to see though is fans dropping off because we aren't winning..

However I think there is a difference in not winning and not playing with the passion we expect of our team. 

I saw Bulut ready to pull his hair out a few times yesterday. He gave Bridge a few choice looks.. One or two players playing with a desire to never give up isn't enough...

Dont care if we lose (ok I really do, of course I do) but If I know the guys put in 100% I can take that away at least..

Yesterdays loss the the Roar was not representative of the Western Sydney ethos and way.

 

 

Up until Saudi Arabia our defence was our strength. Not any longer.

 

Up until Slade, Cheng, Duncan and Lederer our players, culture, coach, belief, passion, hunger were our strengths.

 

Rapidly disappearing under their stewardship...

 

how so (and its a genuine ask not a smart ass attempt) would be interested in your thoughts as im struggling to join the dots 

 

Whilst acknowledging all that has been said vis-a-vis fatigue, injuries, scheduling, the opposition, tactical rigidity, problematic recruiting, refereeing and bad juju, where I point the finger at the four key owners is that they created through their influence over pay negotiations a hostility within the squad that obviously has had its effect.

Now yes, there is a salary cap. And yes, some of the key players let go towards the end of last season were given the arse before the unholy foursome took on the ownership. And yes, Popa does have a big say in what happens.

However I know from personal experience what happens when those in a position of financial power disenfranchise their staff, as happened in that period leading into the CWC, and the effect that has on people needs to be recognised. Look at Shannon Cole. There was a guy who was playing his heart out & was fully on song in the ACL campaign leading up to the CWC. The poor bastard then has to front up as union rep to a mob that refused to negotiate and did most of their talking at the start in the media. Again, I know from personal experience what happens when you feel as if the higher ups will not listen, are doing their best to undermine or disrespect you, and need to be dragged kicking and screaming to the negotiation table. His form went out the window and we've seen some awful hammering since then.

Now I'm not saying that the players as a group are effectively on a 'go-slow' or work to rule campaign, but I would not be surprised if many of the old hands are being very cagey about what they say and do in such an environment. Their minds will be not 100% on the job at hand, and we know that a few have already taken a golden parachute, whilst others may be looking elsewhere but we can't be sure.

I also have a few questions over the owners and recruitment, but don't have enough coherent information one way or another. One thing I would like to know; were the owners approached by Popa for an o/s marquee, or did they suggest it to him? Was such a potential signing if postulated rejected because of dollars, or maybe due to Popa's tactical vision?

All up from a systemic POV the way I see it things have gone wrong off the pitch with the same frustrating regularity as on, and the most significant change since our first successful seasons have been the new owners. I could be totally off beam, but surely they must bear some responsibility somehow for what we've seen this season.

Honestly thats was the worst performance ive seen so far , gutless and heartless , how much longer are people gonna keep smiling an keep saying "ohh dont worry , maybe next week" we played s..hit , so eat s..hit , is the feeling im getting from the players atm

Thats exactly the way some players are. golec has been woeful ,easy turn overs, getting beaten by his man all the time and he got off yesterday and said he played well and it was bad luck.thats taking the fans for fools.

 

 

However I know from personal experience what happens when those in a position of financial power disenfranchise their staff,

The truth behind this seasons disappointment is yet to surface I feel..there have been to many indicators of discontent to ignore.

This kind of mess starts at the top im afraid..

I have no idea about the inner workings of the club or what goes on at a management level but if there are problems then you wouldn't know it. At training the mood is still great, everyone is working hard but enjoying themselves at the same time. There's still a fun feeling around the place.

I still think this is just one of those seasons. Bad luck, injuries, intense scheduling and fatigue that are intensifying our results. I usually don't buy into the excuse of teams and athletes being fatigued cause that's their job but really, when you look at it, most of these guys haven't had a proper rest since the off season between season 1 and 2 which is a relatively long time ago. We have become somewhat victims of our own success basically.

I have no idea about the inner workings of the club or what goes on at a management level but if there are problems then you wouldn't know it. At training the mood is still great, everyone is working hard but enjoying themselves at the same time. There's still a fun feeling around the place.

 

I still think this is just one of those seasons. Bad luck, injuries, intense scheduling and fatigue that are intensifying our results. I usually don't buy into the excuse of teams and athletes being fatigued cause that's their job but really, when you look at it, most of these guys haven't had a proper rest since the off season between season 1 and 2 which is a relatively long time ago. We have become somewhat victims of our own success basically.

Thanks for the insight..

No ACL next year may help..

Last thing I want to see though is fans dropping off because we aren't winning.

Our following is still strong, sold out membership and I always see people wearing jerseys even the day after we loose.

A season like this will get rid of the bandwagonners next year through the membership cycle and make way for those on the wait list.

With so many games schedules at the moment it's not unusual to see less fans at the games.

season starts in December, after Asian cup, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, this Wednesday night. Will be a great turn up if we crack 9000.

I don't buy the whole "things are happening behind the scenes" stuff. If anything is happening behind the scenes it is because we are losing and most players and coaches don't like to be at the bottom of the table having won only one game in 15. If we were winning there wouldn't be any talk of this whatsoever.

People should remember that the new owners were there when we won the ACL title. I didn't hear anything back then. Of course not, because we were winning. The question is if there is something happening behind the scenes, how much is it to do with the new owners? How much day to day contact the do the owners have with the actual players. I would say not much at all, if any. So if there is very little contact how are the players getting affected? Do you think the owners are there at training screaming on the players threatening to cut their pay? They are still getting paid their wages. There is no sign that their contracts are in danger. The bonus pay dispute happened a while back and got resolved. If the players are still thinking about that, then they should be questioned about their mental strength.

I do think that the "we are playing a lot of games" excuse is actually a legitimate one. It is probably right now a huge factor in our performances, especially considering the lack of depth we have. But for me this pattern of bad performances started a long time ago. It was happening in the ACL and even towards the end of last season where we were so fully focused on just defending leads (probably affected us in the grand final too). Our first season we played a no frills counter attacking style which was effective. As time went on we thought we could change our style, but this is what has caused us problems. We now try to build up from the back and we can't do it, so we get pinned/pressed and have no solutions. So we either lose the ball in our own half or lob it back to the opposition. Add the fatigue issue and the fact that our players technically don't seem to be up to the standard of other teams. Then there is the issue of Popa's recruiting (Saba, Sydney FC rejects, Golec, Nick Ward etc) and his insistence on playing the same style and system (4231), and you can see why we are just so rubbish. How we won the ACL is truly a miracle, but I'll take it.

Now the owners might play a small part in this current slump (everyone has to take a portion of the blame), but in my opinion there are much bigger problems than the owners. I actually think the owners are being quite genrous to Popa to get things right. Our problem isn't so much that we are coming last, but the way we are playing. I find it very hard to watch. Most people will only take so much as we don't even look like winning a game at all this season. Will it take a couple of 8k crowds in a row before management pulls their finger out and realises things need a shake up?

 

 

It shows....they've given up.

What annoys me is that if that is the case then let some of the youths play. At least we.get something out of these games. The ground was bad and the conditions awful so why not rest players like Spiral who looked disinterested and out of sorts

A coach cannot rest the first choice Australian centreback for an 18 year old he would be a laughing stock

I think we are past being the laughing stock. If you watched the game, Spira had an awful game and if he is selected for the socceroos then we are going to miss him for a couple of weeks anyway.

 

True

The real sad part is.....

 

I'll be there on Wednesday night with bells on.....

 

Knowing full well that Aaron Mooy is gonna tear us a new one..........

 

We should have kept him and pushed him further up field.

I don't buy the whole "things are happening behind the scenes" stuff. If anything is happening behind the scenes it is because we are losing and most players and coaches don't like to be at the bottom of the table having won only one game in 15. If we were winning there wouldn't be any talk of this whatsoever.

 

People should remember that the new owners were there when we won the ACL title. I didn't hear anything back then. Of course not, because we were winning. The question is if there is something happening behind the scenes, how much is it to do with the new owners? How much day to day contact the do the owners have with the actual players. I would say not much at all, if any. So if there is very little contact how are the players getting affected? Do you think the owners are there at training screaming on the players threatening to cut their pay? They are still getting paid their wages. There is no sign that their contracts are in danger. The bonus pay dispute happened a while back and got resolved. If the players are still thinking about that, then they should be questioned about their mental strength.

 

I do think that the "we are playing a lot of games" excuse is actually a legitimate one. It is probably right now a huge factor in our performances, especially considering the lack of depth we have. But for me this pattern of bad performances started a long time ago. It was happening in the ACL and even towards the end of last season where we were so fully focused on just defending leads (probably affected us in the grand final too). Our first season we played a no frills counter attacking style which was effective. As time went on we thought we could change our style, but this is what has caused us problems. We now try to build up from the back and we can't do it, so we get pinned/pressed and have no solutions. So we either lose the ball in our own half or lob it back to the opposition. Add the fatigue issue and the fact that our players technically don't seem to be up to the standard of other teams. Then there is the issue of Popa's recruiting (Saba, Sydney FC rejects, Golec, Nick Ward etc) and his insistence on playing the same style and system (4231), and you can see why we are just so rubbish. How we won the ACL is truly a miracle, but I'll take it.

 

Now the owners might play a small part in this current slump (everyone has to take a portion of the blame), but in my opinion there are much bigger problems than the owners. I actually think the owners are being quite genrous to Popa to get things right. Our problem isn't so much that we are coming last, but the way we are playing. I find it very hard to watch. Most people will only take so much as we don't even look like winning a game at all this season. Will it take a couple of 8k crowds in a row before management pulls their finger out and realises things need a shake up?

Of course it is legitimate, and I don't think anyone here would disagree. The recruitment policy since last off season has been confusing and has failed to get a balanced side. I look at the out goings and the in comings since June last year and you do wonder! The loss of Ono and the incoming and subsequent failure of Saba was a disaster, we didn't replace experience and that has killed us. We let Beauchamp go but never really developed another big stable central defensive pairing. NTS has looked badly exposed all season long. The creativity we had in the midfield in the first two seasons has gone and not been replaced. Romeo looks the business I will give you that, we need  game time from him. Ruka doesn't look settled and Juric's mind looks like it has already departed wanderland.

 

Last thing I want to see though is fans dropping off because we aren't winning.

Our following is still strong, sold out membership and I always see people wearing jerseys even the day after we loose.

 

A season like this will get rid of the bandwagonners next year through the membership cycle and make way for those on the wait list.

 

With so many games schedules at the moment it's not unusual to see less fans at the games.

 

Sold out membership....that was at the beginning of the season..Reserve that comment until next seasons renewal numbers are posted..

Getting rid of bandwaggoners..?? never understood this ideology, seems an elitist perspective..

I do wonder why someone becomes a member (and apparently we have over 18k) and doesnt turn up to games?, despite the associated rhetoric of schedule etc..

I have talked with a few people who have dropped off going to games, and their responses weren't exactly what I was expecting to hear.

I agree though that there are people on the waiting list who in all probability will get the call up season 4, and thats encouraging.

Stav, what were you hearing from those who weren't turning up?

You really want to know..?

Some folks wont like the answers.

Put it this way, its a combination of what we know (things we see), and what we read and hear..people saying look, I didnt sign up to be a part of that garbage (certain behavior) and its become about that..Also the schedule has impacted, plus the poor performances of the club etc...No Wanderdogs etc.

This is from a large network of people I know, not associate with or socialise I might ad, except we know we each are Wanderers fans. 

Sorry to report that back, didnt want to..not popular etc

Defending is pretty simple: delay, deny, deflect and defend

Wax on, wax off!

If we were a team who wanted to win but was 'fatigued', we would have started strong and then faded. But no, we were crap from the start. Keep in mind we had few weeks off in Coffs and Brisbane are also in the ACL. Fatigue may be a factor but not an excuse for what were dishing out.

No Wanderdogs etc.

 c

Or is it the curse of the greyish jersey (bring back red and black hoops).

Curse of the black or white shorts.

The curse of Saba's twitter feed.

Or we could just be having a **** season which is understandable due to acl cwc etc.

Gotta give Popa a fresh start next season as this one is written off and we must support him and the boys instead of listening to the idiots calling for Popaout crap.

I don't buy the 'we are playing a lot of games' excuse.

We had a decent break in January, came back fresh and were dreadful against Melb City.

 

Defending is pretty simple: delay, deny, deflect and defend

Wax on, wax off!

 

If you can defend a wrench, you can defend a lead.

I don't buy the 'we are playing a lot of games' excuse.

 

We had a decent break in January, came back fresh and were dreadful against Melb City.

Elaborate.

 

I don't buy the 'we are playing a lot of games' excuse.

 

We had a decent break in January, came back fresh and were dreadful against Melb City.

 

Elaborate.

 

One-word posts that are homonyms really float my boat. I deliberately read the unintended word.