Popovic In

To the haters

 

So far, Andreu, Dimas, Alberto, Vidosic and Nicholls all appear to be brilliant acquisitions.

 

Jamieson, Neville and Redmayne are looking good.

 

Pepper hasn't played enough to cast a fair judgment.

 

Even with Pio underperforming, the recruitment has been quality. We've never had a stronger team - or this much depth.

 

I thought Popa recruited well last season too. The circumstances just weren't in our favour.

Well said TorcidaSI, the only thing I'd add is that tonight we saw a bit more of Pio just focusing on being in the box rather than worry about getting involved in the nuts & bolts of chance creation. It is fortunate to have so many attacking players in form that it allows us to carry Pio till it clicks for him, hopefully that goal is a sign of things to come.

 

Funny how this thread got a lot of love from the #popaout people, but now it seems like we have hit our straps hitting good form & winning games so they go missing. So anyone out there want to have a crack at why popa shouldn't be in charge? Anyone else here #popaout?

So far, Andreu, Dimas, Alberto, Vidosic and Nicholls all appear to be brilliant acquisitions.

Jamieson, Neville and Redmayne are looking good.

Pepper hasn't played enough to cast a fair judgment.

Even with Pio underperforming, the recruitment has been quality. We've never had a stronger team - or this much depth.

I thought Popa recruited well last season too. The circumstances just weren't in our favour.

Do you really think he recruited well last season though? Too many flops Mullen, adeleke, Saba & then too many that we didn't just get the best out of with the likes of takahagi, kalmar plus the well established players who didn't perform well. I don't think we got our recruitment right last season, especially early on when we left it too late signing players & then struggled to fill our injured players with quality (bulut, takahagi, tanaka & Aspro aside).

 

I don't think people truly understand how the schedule, travel & injuries affected our squad which made it hard for popa to play the way he wanted or allow the new players to properly integrate into the squad. Too many people trotted out the stat before the Perth game of "we won 4 in 30, that's not good enough" or "doesn't win the next match he is out" without taking into account the circumstances of the season. It's quite frustrating that nobody really took into account either how well we performed in patches in the first three rounds, where all we needed to do was put together periods of play into a 90 minute match & the results would come. Low & behold, I'm glad we are starting to see the results that the boys deserved. Incredible belief popa has instilled into this team.

Do you really think he recruited well last season though? Too many flops Mullen, adeleke, Saba & then too many that we didn't just get the best out of with the likes of takahagi, kalmar plus the well established players who didn't perform well. I don't think we got our recruitment right last season, especially early on when we left it too late signing players & then struggled to fill our injured players with quality (bulut, takahagi, tanaka & Aspro aside).

I still think the recruitment was good. Adeleke was a flop but I wouldn't criticise the choice to bring in any of the other players.

 

Saba was one of the most technically gifted players the A-League has ever seen. I honestly think if the team wasn't struggling with confidence and fatigue so much, his 'head' could have been managed. The guy had all the other attributes to become something special in the league.

 

The Japanese duo struggled early on but were warming. I saw positive performances from both players - Takahagi in particular. Neither were overly expensive players and they primarily signed to see out the season. I think Popa did well to attract players of their caliber on 6 month deals. Most players around the world come off contract in May-July.

 

Mullen was only ever signed as cover.

 

How many times was Popa able to field a consistent team? There were too many new players and not a proper chance to get a feel for each other. Then there was also the issue of contracts running out without players knowing their future. Some may have even been told they'd have to move on. With no threat of relegation and the season already severely impacted by December, it's really not that difficult to imagine that Popa began to plan for the season ahead at the expense of last season.

#popaout

 

Not enough wins. **** recruitment. Horrible tactician.

 

Has to go. How this club has kept with him defies logic, there must be some conspiracy. Lederer is Lowys mate, popa played for ESFC once. The link is there people...

#popaout

Not enough wins. **** recruitment. Horrible tactician.

Has to go. How this club has kept with him defies logic, there must be some conspiracy. Lederer is Lowys mate, popa played for ESFC once. The link is there people...

Plus he's called Popa........Popa Smurf!!! Links everywhere.....

More links. Tony Popa and Tony Pig.

 

Illuminati 

I still think the recruitment was good. Adeleke was a flop but I wouldn't criticise the choice to bring in any of the other players.

1.

Saba was one of the most technically gifted players the A-League has ever seen. I honestly think if the team wasn't struggling with confidence and fatigue so much, his 'head' could have been managed. The guy had all the other attributes to become something special in the league.

2.

The Japanese duo struggled early on but were warming. I saw positive performances from both players - Takahagi in particular. Neither were overly expensive players and they primarily signed to see out the season. I think Popa did well to attract players of their caliber on 6 month deals. Most players around the world come off contract in May-July.

3.

Mullen was only ever signed as cover.

4.

How many times was Popa able to field a consistent team? There were too many new players and not a proper chance to get a feel for each other. Then there was also the issue of contracts running out without players knowing their future. Some may have even been told they'd have to move on. With no threat of relegation and the season already severely impacted by December, it's really not that difficult to imagine that Popa began to plan for the season ahead at the expense of last season.

1.

I think popa was hoping that Saba would fill Ono's boots but for whatever reason you want to mention he failed. The other thing you need to remember Saba was brought in to fill both Ono & Mooy's position at 10, not having a proper 10 really hurt us but it was also Ono's ability to play with 2 defensive minded players behind him that was the real master stroke from S1 & S2. As soon as Ono left, nobody was able to fill that hole whilst playing with Poljak & La Rocca together. In the end popa had to drop takahagi into the 6/8 position to help with the balance.

 

I think Saba had big boots to fill & popa got the call wrong to bring him to the club. Very true what you say about his head. I think there is a real disconnect between his ability & his own mental desire to push him into fulfilling his amazing potential.

2.

- I feel bringing them into the squad halfway during the season meant we never saw these guys true potential.

- Takahagi playing in a deeper role is not where he excelled & hurt him ever seeing the best of him

- Tanaka was a freak but the schedule never helped him. Would have loved to see him how he goes playing 1 game a week

- We would have never attracted these players had we not won the ACL, they wanted to play for the Asian champions & the coach who led them to the title.

- Asian football goes from Jan-Dec, so that's why we could only bring them in Jan whereas the rest of the world goes from July-June

3.

Mullen was signed as an ACL player initially but was signed to the Alesgue squad for S3. He was not just a squad player.

4.

Look I don't disagree with you regarding the team. Schedule/travel/injuries meant that it was going to be very hard to get through the year let alone have a really successful season on so many fronts. On contracts, the official story is that they have performance reviews the week after the season ends & that is when players are told they staying on or let go. Unofficially I think players get a good feeling within the the last few weeks of the season whether they'll be kept on or let go as in the last 6 months of there contract players are able to start negotiations with other clubs. Surely they must know?

Saba wouldn't have been on Ono's salary. On ability alone, Saba was a good signing. When you factor in temperament and professionalism, no it wasn't a good deal. Perhaps the club didn't have a clue about those things. Perhaps they did (and Popa was hopeful of putting him in line). On the balance of things, you'd have to say it was a bad signing in hindsight, however, I'm still comfortable with the decision to give Saba a go.

 

Since Saba, look at the foreigners brought in. Dimas, Andreu and Alberto seem to be professionals with good temperament. You don't hear a word about Piovaccari off the pitch. I don't think there is a coincidence.

 

Mullen's deal was done in February. The ACL foreigner limits meant Popa had to look for an Aussie defender. Mullen was probably the best available at the time. The deal made sense. As far as squad depth goes, I doubt there would be many A-League clubs who wouldn't take Mullen on an average wage.

Bloody well said ^^^

Bump!

 

Someone please embed this pic for me... delusion has no bounds for some.

 

http://imgur.com/Eu8cfan

I would be happy if Popovic remained for the next 10 years

To the haters

Quoted for its relevance today as it was 6 weeks ago

ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜

Surely there are better options then popa,

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

Bump

 

 

Surely there are better options then popa,

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

Bump

Yeah get rid of him! Has no idea , overrated , can't do shiit right.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

......I'm talking 'bout you JAYZKO!!!!

Just out of curiosity,

back in 2012 when the club started does anyone know who the other options were to coach us?
Was there anyone else on the shortlist if Popa decided to stay at Crystal Palace? 
Where if he had stayed he probably would've gotten the job as interim manager at some point in the past 3 years too!

Gorman didn't have a Plan B. He always wanted Popa, didn't speak to anyone else.

I seem to remember Gorman asking about mackinna at one of the forums and being howled down.

should have to buy another jersey with Pio's name on it for that comment

 

 

Surely there are better options then popa,
Popa# out if we're bottom by next home game

Bump

 

Gorman didn't have a Plan B. He always wanted Popa, didn't speak to anyone else.

But let's say that Popa was comfortable with Crystal Palace and didn't want to take on the role of starting a new club in a few months before the season started.

 

First name that comes to mind is Ernie Merrick.

 

Bleiberg was a possibility as well?

 

Good times

Anyway.

 

Popas little tweaks at half time to be a bit more direct showed how much he's developed imo. I've always said I hope we hang on to him as long as possible. It's as much fun watching him develop as a coach as it is any player.

 

 

Surely there are better options then popa,

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

Bump

Yeah get rid of him! Has no idea , overrated , can't do shiit right.........

......I'm talking 'bout you JAYZKO!!!!

Some laxettes should fix that right up. Not too many though, or you'll end up where you started and Jack will be on your case again.

Geez, ESFC must still be livid they failed to sign up Popa. They had a chance before he went over to Palace, plus another chance just when WSW was formed. Lol

Geez, ESFC must still be livid they failed to sign up Popa. They had a chance before he went over to Palace, plus another chance just when WSW was formed. Lol

Agreed, but to be fair, it'd be the equivalent of us having someone like Covic or Topor as a player then move into assistant for 2 or so years and then giving them the top job without prior (manager) experience.

 

With hindsight, a great decision. But a huge risk at the time.

 

Geez, ESFC must still be livid they failed to sign up Popa. They had a chance before he went over to Palace, plus another chance just when WSW was formed. Lol

 

Agreed, but to be fair, it'd be the equivalent of us having someone like Covic or Topor as a player then move into assistant for 2 or so years and then giving them the top job without prior (manager) experience.

 

With hindsight, a great decision. But a huge risk at the time.

When you consider the coaches they'd had in that time, Farina, Butcher, Crook? Surely it's not that much of a risk?

It is for a "big club". All the others had previous manager experience. No one could've predicted the almost instant success of Popa.

 

 

Geez, ESFC must still be livid they failed to sign up Popa. They had a chance before he went over to Palace, plus another chance just when WSW was formed. Lol

 

Agreed, but to be fair, it'd be the equivalent of us having someone like Covic or Topor as a player then move into assistant for 2 or so years and then giving them the top job without prior (manager) experience.

 

With hindsight, a great decision. But a huge risk at the time.

When you consider the coaches they'd had in that time, Farina, Butcher, Crook? Surely it's not that much of a risk?

Far out they have had some sh*t managers.

It is for a "big club". All the others had previous manager experience. No one could've predicted the almost instant success of Popa.

Mmmmm.... They have had managing experience but it's not like they have been that amazing that it wasn't worth the risk of going after a young manager. For example when Popa goes would you rather go after a manager like Mark Rudan or someone who has been around the blocks for the last few years?

 

It is for a "big club". All the others had previous manager experience. No one could've predicted the almost instant success of Popa.

Mmmmm.... They have had managing experience but it's not like they have been that amazing that it wasn't worth the risk of going after a young manager. For example when Popa goes would you rather go after a manager like Mark Rudan or someone who has been around the blocks for the last few years?

 

I'd prefer Milicic, or maybe even our Spanish assistant? That's mainly because there aren't many other current A-league managers I would want. And we can't attract really big name managers, it'll be either the A-league coaching merry go round, or giving new managers a chance for a little while yet. We can't compete with Asia, the Arab nations, the States or Europe for the top managers.

 

This is all easy to say with hindsight, but I can't see a team that had been crap for years (SFC) gambling on a first time manager. Jets have recently done it, but that's partly because he's cheap (FFA saving cash), and because of the success of Popa.