Popovic In

if JVS has any role at Liverpool he'll get us relegated. Even if he's just a ball boy, the man's worse than farina

To be fair, Farina was a decent ball boy

Can someone please post this? Its good read.

http://m.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/western-sydney-wanderers/western-sydney-wanderers-coach-tony-popovic-he-can-build-but-can-he-renovate-20151007-gk383o.html

Can someone please post this? Its good read.

http://m.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/western-sydney-wanderers/western-sydney-wanderers-coach-tony-popovic-he-can-build-but-can-he-renovate-20151007-gk383o.html

 

The intelligence on Tony Popovic before sitting down to interview him was hardly promising. Impenetrable, just as he was as a defender for club and country. Good man, but tough nut to crack. Good luck, because you won't get much out of him.

 

Tell the Wanderers coach this and he roars with laughter. For a second. Then he gets serious and explains why he doesn't indulge the media with lavish interviews, because that would mean he might have to be something he is not.

 

"There are certain things that should come out, and some things that shouldn't," Popovic, 42, says. "That's how I am, not just with football but everything. In terms of what I do and the job I have at this football club, there are certain things that need to be protected.

 

"Those things won't come out. I'll do whatever is required for the club. But the thing is, I won't be someone I'm not. Just because someone else does something does not mean I will do it.

 

 

"I won't have people tell me, 'So-and-so lets us do this, so-and-so says that'. Well, that's him. That works for him and good on him. Unless my bosses tell me I have to do something different, I will always be who I am."

 

Who "so-and-so" might be isn't entirely clear but we'll hazard a broad guess: any individual – coach, player, official – who covets the spotlight ahead of the pure desire to simply win football matches.

 

To that end, Popovic is notoriously difficult to pin down for lengthy interviews. As the Wanderers carved out A-League history in their first season, he deflected most requests.

We meet for this one, just days before the start of the Wanderers' fourth season, at 8.30am on Sunday at the club's training base at Blacktown.

The rest of the city – or a large slab of it – has just watched the Wallabies triumph over England in the World Cup match at Twickenham. Later that night, they will be engrossed in the NRL grand final. Popovic trained his side early in order to beat the oncoming heat.

 

The launch of the A-League season might have seemed an afterthought to most during the long weekend, but it springs to life on Thursday night when the Wanderers play Brisbane Roar at Pirtek Stadium.

 

Popovic will stalk the coach's area with signature intensity, and while he does so knowing that he has the security of a new three-year deal, and the backing of co-owner and chairman Paul Lederer, he and the Wanderers are the most intriguing plot line of the season. There are points to be proven.

 

They claimed the Asian Champions League but finished second last in the premiership. Usually, the chairman would've pulled the trigger on the coach. Next!

Instead, Lederer re-signed him, and allowed a major clean out of the squad that saw 10 players moved on, including Socceroos striker Tomi Juric, crowd favourite Kerem Bulut and Ante Covic, the goalkeeping hero of the Asian Champions League triumph.

 

"It wasn't a successful A-League season – but was it a successful year?" asks Popovic.

 

"I would say yes. If winning an Asian Champions League is not a successful year, then we have some issues. Due to our standards, we aren't happy from November to May [last year]. We don't ever want to see that again.

 

"[Letting players go] are tough conversations because you build a close bond. I've been with them more than my own family. But it had to be done for the best interests of the club. The changes needed to be made. But those players will never be forgotten. Now, it's the next stage of our evolution."

 

On the surface, the insanity of an estimated 70,000 kilometres on the road, traipsing all over Asia to play cup matches, before returning to Sydney then Perth or Wellington and wherever else to play in the A-League, is a valid reason. The accepted wisdom is that no other sporting side in history has ever clocked as many miles.

 

"But if I use it solely as the reason for what happened in the A-League, it will be an excuse," Popvoic says.

"I won't do that. Does it play a part? Of course it did, and it played a part because of our success. We weren't in that situation because we were a poor side. We weren't in that situation because we couldn't win. We were in that situation because we were the best."

 

 

To understand why Popovic won't blame the horrendous travel schedule, you need to go back in time, to the 1970s, and a house in Fairfield where Popovic and his sister were raised to work hard and not make excuses.

 

His parents, Bratislav and Rada, abandoned impoverished Croatia in search of a better life and landed in Sydney's west, along with thousands more. His father worked in construction, his mum was a switchboard operator.

 

"They came here without a dollar, without English," Popovic says, "and they worked hard to make a living and life for themselves. My work ethic and the will that nothing will stand in your way, and that anything is achievable, comes from my family. I was never told, 'You can't achieve that'. My sister and I weren't allowed to think like that in the house. There was always a possibility that you could get there, no matter what it was.

 

"Anything's possible. I went that way through my career. I never felt that a dream was too distant. That everything was achievable. That went from playing to coaching. People will say it's easy with hindsight, but we had an expectation to challenge for the title in year one [at the Wanderers]. Is that naivety from me? I don't know. But that's how I was raised. We had a grace period of three years to come last. For me, that didn't work."

 

That ruthless discipline was evident, too, throughout his playing career that took him from Sydney United to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan to Crystal Palace in the English Premier League and back to Sydney FC.

 

In his early 20s, he was writing at length about his own performance. "Not because I wanted to coach, but for myself," Popovic says. "Did I train well? Why didn't I? Didn't I sleep well or eat well? If I didn't train well, I was honest with myself. I was always looking at the little details to make things better. I wasn't one looking for an excuse."

Yet it was the events of 2005 that nailed his colours to the mast. Early that year, Popovic ripped the ligaments in his ankle during a Confederation's Cup match against Germany. His dream of playing in the World Cup was shattered.

 

For the next five months, he trained in silence, hoping to be merely fit enough to be a part of Guus Hiddink's Socceroos squad. "What nobody knew is that for two months I trained seven days a week to try to physically be at a level that Guus might see me in the camp and say, 'I'll play him'. Which is a long shot when you haven't played any football."

 

The postscript is that Popovic did play in the defining qualification matches against Uruguay, including the legendary incident in the tunnel at Stadium Australia after he and striker Richard Morales grabbed each by the throat.

 

"They picked on the wrong man and the wrong country," midfielder Vince Grella said in the aftermath of Australia's breakthrough win on penalties that catapulted them into the World Cup finals in Germany.

 

Popovic smirks when you tell him this quote. "Four years earlier against Uruguay, we were overawed," he says. "They bullied us to get to the World Cup, they didn't beat us. We couldn't be intimidated any more. When I think back, that is one of the greatest personal achievements for me: to pull that off after playing no football for five months."

He has a similar response when you ask him if it's true that he collected players' fines for turning up late in those Socceroos camps. That he was, according to a former teammate, "Guus's muscle".

 

"Yeah, I was the fine master," he says. "I was the one who collected all the fines. You always need someone in the team to do that. That was my little job off the field. It's part of your discipline. You have to be on time. You have to have a laugh as well."

Players can afford to laugh, but coaches …

 

There's an undercurrent of belief among some in the A-League that Popovic's belligerent, meticulous style wore down some of his players last season.

 

Veteran coaches in any code will tell you the fundamental trick of the trade is establishing whether a player needs a cuddle or a kick up the arse.

Ask Popovic if he's had to tone down his style, and all he will offer is this: "That will always be difficult. The generations are changing. Man management is not one-size-fits-all."

Those within football compare him to Melbourne Storm rugby league coach Craig Bellamy, whose temper and high standards are legendary.

 

"He's done a lot more than I have," Popovic says. "I'm a sucker for learning. I demand a lot from players. I expect a lot. But I also believe that they should expect a lot from me. If I'm a leader, I have to lead the way and evolve and improve. I have read Craig Bellamy's book. I have a lot of respect for him. I could say that about so many others in rugby league and AFL. I like to go out and watch training sessions [at different codes]. It doesn't matter what it is."

 

Popovic might compare notes with rival codes, but they can't really understand the significance of his job.

 

Unlike any other sporting team in the big, glorious, imperfect melting pot of Sydney's western suburbs, the Wanderers have unified the masses. In the space of three seasons, they became the best thing going for the A-League, as much as other codes and clubs might deny it.

 

Their hardcore fans might be out of control at times - all eyes are on the thin blue line at Pirtek on Thursday night - but the Wanderers tapped into an emotional supporter base that other codes, especially rugby league, can only dream about.

 

Popovic has shown that he can build. But can he renovate? And after that, for how long will he stay around? Last year, Crystal Palace were said to be interested in signing him as manager.

 

"Growing up, no dream for me is unachievable," he says. "As a player I was like that. As a coach I am no different. I want to be the best. If being the best is one day coaching your country or in the Premier League. I have dreams to achieve all of that. I know I'm a better coach now than when I started. By far. I know I'll be better in another three years. Where that takes me, I don't know."

 

Wherever he wants, because no dream is ever too distant.

 

Thanks Balks.

Sounds like Popa's following the methods of some dude from the UK

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Surely there are better options then popa,

Popa# out if we're bottom by next home game

Surely there are better options then popa,

Roberto Carlos wants to coach in the A League dude! Give him a call .........

Jackd doff they should call you tensi

Jackd doff they should call you tensi

I'm feeling a little tensi right now........

ROFLMAO, but serious do you think attitudes will change if this seasons a flop???? Popa won us the acl.. But when do we get our pitch forks ready???

Every time we have been challenged we've lost lately vs roar, nix , Perth, Ccm so on

We don't need a new coach we need a steady team, if players not injured don't change.

We don't need a new coach we need a steady team, if players not injured don't change.

Or the new style excuse

#PopaIn

Hopefully all will be well when Santalabs comes to town

ROFLMAO, but serious do you think attitudes will change if this seasons a flop???? Popa won us the acl.. But when do we get our pitch forks ready???

Every time we have been challenged we've lost lately vs roar, nix , Perth, Ccm so on

We did beat roar in the FFA cup when they had a stronger squad and we were even "greener"

ROFLMAO, but serious do you think attitudes will change if this seasons a flop???? Popa won us the acl.. But when do we get our pitch forks ready???

Every time we have been challenged we've lost lately vs roar, nix , Perth, Ccm so on

seriously, I think your Ritalin dose needs to be doubled.

Really, no thoughts on Popa's letter to members? I thought this thread would explode into a war of Zayko, River, etc vs the rest

But what happens, fellas if in five weeks we have no points. Answer plEase?

I'm saying this because we look the weakest link I watched every game this round just saying...

Really, no thoughts on Popa's letter to members? I thought this thread would explode into a war of Zayko, River, etc vs the rest

Words that I've already read in other pre-season articles, have been regurgitated by the front office, into a letter supposedly penned by the head coach. 

Do they honestly believe we're that stupid, as to fall for that load of codswallop? 

So Taurus haven't received an email yet what's it say

This is what I was referring too. 

 

1/1

Head coach Tony Popovic has penned a letter to the fans

 -

nothing about my missing membership pin....

Sounds like Popa is on the verge of lineing up for Centrelink 😒

 

This is what I was referring too. 

 

HOME  NEWS  TONY POPOVIC: LETTER TO THE FANS

Tony Popovic: Letter to the fans

 

1/1

Head coach Tony Popovic has penned a letter to the fans

 

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

 -

Tony Popovic

 

In three years we’ve had a fantastic time as a club, we’ve played in major competitions, twice in the Champions League, we’ve been in two Grand Finals, won the Premiers’ Plate and the Champions League. We’ve got accustomed to success, expectation is high and that is how we like it.

There has always been a plan and a vision for the Wanderers and that we’d be at a certain point after five years. After three years the fact we’ve achieved so much, we made the decision that now was the right time to take the next step in our evolution as a Club and that includes our playing style.

 

While we maintain the core values that are so important to this Club – the discipline, hard work, hunger and winning mentality – values that must always remain as they are the cornerstones of this Football Club, within that we want to improve, we want to get better. With the players we have brought in and the changes we’ve made to the coaching staff we feel that this will propel our club forward over the next five years to achieve a lot more success.

 

This season you will see a very ambitious group of players that want to get back to the top in the Hyundai A-League. You will see the core values of this football club in every match and you will see us evolving and that will take place throughout the year. Players come here because they want to play for a top club, that’s how the new players view us. They saw our success from the outside and they want to be a part of it.

 

My expectation is for us to always be the best we can be every day and challenge for titles every year. That was the same in year one when we were just forming as a club, when in June we didn’t have a team, internally the ambition was to always challenge for honours.

 

This is a fantastic club to be a part of and I want us to be the best. We are a young organisation with great ambition and are currently in the next phase of our vision and evolution from the first team to the Academy, where we begin the process of nurturing the future stars of the Wanderers

 

I look forward to seeing all of our amazing fans this season at centrelink as we continue our journey to be the best.

 

Tony Popovic

Head Coach

Western Sydney Wanderers

 

Sounds like Popa is on the verge of lineing up for Centrelink

I see what you mean

 

Really, no thoughts on Popa's letter to members? I thought this thread would explode into a war of Zayko, River, etc vs the rest

 

Words that I've already read in other pre-season articles, have been regurgitated by the front office, into a letter supposedly penned by the head coach. 

 

Do they honestly believe we're that stupid, as to fall for that load of codswallop? 

 

YOU MEAN POPA DIDN'T REALLY WRITE THAT LETTER??!!

Sounds like Popa is on the verge of lineing up for Centrelink

He didn't write it! If he hadve written it , it would start something like " Tony Popovic faarken.... " then say .... " stop you whinging faarken bloody bastards , we win ACL , fuuck bloody shiit " thank you.....

He didn't write it! If he hadve written it , it would start something like " Tony Popovic faarken.... " then say .... " stop you whinging faarken bloody bastards , we win ACL , fuuck bloody shiit " thank you.....

Anyone else read this in a Asian accent lol

Fake fans get fake letters from their coach

Just an FYI, this letter was printed in the match day program. Just putting out content on Facebook by reposting the article.