Our A-League team previews continue with a look at the A-League’s youngest club the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Offseason transfers
It has been a busy offseason for Tony Popovic, who has set about dismantling his squad for a raft of fresh faces for the Western Sydney Wanderers’ 2015-16 A-League campaign.
The departure list is a lengthy one. Preferred strikers of choice Tomi Juric and Kerem Bulut have both left the club for greener pastures in Europe, while Australian marquee Matthew Spiranovic has signed with Chinese Super League side Hangzhou Greentown FC in the offseason. Jason Trifiro, Antony Golec, Iacopo La Rocca, Mateo Poljak, Labinot Haliti, Steve Kuzmanovski and Ante Covic have all re-settled at new A-League clubs for the upcoming season. Japanese duo Yusuke Tanaka and Yojiro Takahagi, along with Adrian Madaschi, Nick Kalmar and Nikita Rukavystya, round out Tony Popovic’s massive squad clear-out.
Western Sydney’s midfield is certainly a different prospect to last season, with the introduction of enigmatic playmaker Mitch Nichols and Spanish imports Andreu Guerao Mayoral and Dimas Delgado. Expectations are also high for newly unveiled Australian marquee Dario Vidosic. Jacob Pepper makes the switch from Newcastle Jets to provide some depth and versatility to Tony Popovic’s new look squad.
Defensively, Western Sydney has also undergone a makeover. The departure of Socceroo Matthew Spiranovic has made room for the Wanderers third Spanish signing, Alberto Aguilar. Experienced A-League players Scott Jamieson and Scott Neville are also welcome reinforcements for the full-back positions.
The burden of goal scoring will rest on the shoulders of new target man Federico Piovaccari, who has notched up an impressive 83 goals during from his time playing in Europe. The Italian is yet to impress in preseason, but much is expected of the club’s new international marquee.
The shock release of veteran custodian Ante Covic prompted the acquisition of former Melbourne City goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne, who will compete with Dean Bouzanis for goalkeeping duties.
Last season
After two seasons of success in the A-League, the Wanderers embarked on a horror 2014-15 season. The club’s historic Asian Champions League win in November 2014 took its toll on the squad, along with a congested fixture schedule compounded by the club’s involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup and its sophomore ACL campaign. A lack of pre-season meant scarce time for new signings to settle and ensured a glaring lack of cohesion in the front third. A 4-1 loss to Melbourne Victory in the opening round of season was a signpost of what was to come for the side.
Narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon, the Wanderers finished in ninth place on the table, only winning four matches out of 27. A chance to defend its Asian Champions League title was also cut short at the group stage, with the Wanderers failing to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Manager
Last season was a steep learning curve for Tony Popovic, who was forced to rotate an exhausted squad in the face of a jam-packed fixture schedule. Little success in the transfer window also contributed greatly to Western Sydney’s lacklustre season, with international signings Seyi Adeleke and Vitor Saba failing to impress in their respective positions. With the acquisition of four new international imports for the upcoming campaign, it remains to be seen whether Popovic has restored his previous ability to find unknown foreign gems of the ilk of Iacopo La Rocca, Youssouf Hersi and Mateo Poljak.
Despite finishing a disappointing ninth last season, the club has shown faith in Popovic by renewing his contract until 2018. After embarking on a squad rejuvenation and with only a domestic campaign to focus on, expectations will be on Popovic to propel the Wanderers back into the top six.
Strengths
With so many new players joining the club in the offseason, it is still early to pinpoint the clear-cut strengths for the Wanderers this upcoming season. The trio of Nichols, Castelen and Vidosic is likely to produce the creativity that was badly missing from the Wanderers midfield last season. There is also depth in the front third with Mark Bridge and Golgol Mebrahtu as viable options on the flanks.
Foreign midfielders Dimas and Andreu also look to be promising acquisitions by Popovic and so far appear to be upgrades on foundation players Poljak and La Rocca. Left full-back Jamieson’s penchant for getting forward will also add a new dimension to the Wanderers game.
Weaknesses
The position between the posts seems to be the biggest cause of concern for the Wanderers. The departure of Wanderland hero Ante Covic has opened up competition between Dean Bouzanis and Andrew Redmayne for the gloves, with both yet to fully impress.
Lack of depth in the lone striker role could also come to haunt Western Sydney later in the season if Piovaccari is injured or fails to fire in front of goal.
Key Player – Mitch Nichols
As Vidosic is yet to reach full match fitness, the creativity of the Wanderers midfield will largely be the responsibility of 26-year-old Mitch Nichols. Once regarded as one of Australia’s most promising midfielders, Nichols’ career flatlined somewhat after an unsuccessful foray in the J-League and an injury blighted 2013-14 season with Perth Glory. The Wanderers struggled to unlock defences and provide adequate service to its target man last season, and a lot of the side’s future success will hinge on whether Nichols can live up to the once high expectations placed on him as one of the best homegrown playmakers going around.
Best XI:
(4-2-3-1): Redmayne (GK); Jamieson, Topor-Stanley, Alberto, Neville; Andreu, Dimas; Vidosic, Nichols, Castelen; Piovaccari.
Prediction – 6th place
The Wanderers have recruited some key players in last campaign’s problem positions but it will take longer than one season for the club to re-build and compete for top honours in the A-league.
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