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  • Josep Gombau Is New Wanderers Manager


    mack

    Josep Gombau has been appointed as the new manager for the Western Sydney Wanderers

    After the shock exit of Tony Popovic, goalkeeping coach Zeljko Kalac and assistant manager Andres Carrasco, the Western Sydney Wanderers were flooded with applicants for the vacant managerial position. Reportedly Gombau was not the first choice for the boardroom, with Australian National team assistant manager Ante Milicic and German Dirk Schuster both being preferred, only to have the appointments fall through upon salary negotiations.

    Gombauis no stranger to the A-League, having lead Adelaide United for the 2013/14 & 2014/15 seasons. He began his managerial career in a less than orthodox fashion, starting as a goalkeeper for Amposta in Spain before switching to coaching as a teenager. His first major appointment, at age 27, was as a member of the famous Barcelona youth academy La Masia.

    Having served at Barcelona until 2009 he joined Kitchee United in Hong Kong for his first managerial role. He bought success to the club, winning multiple league titles & cup competitions. This bought the attention of the A-League, and he joined Adelaide United, leading them to victory in the inaugural FFA Cup, in 2014. After an apparent fallout with the Adelaide United board Gombau joined the Australian national team setup where he was nominally the U23 team coach, but was a key scout under the Ange Postecoglu regime. In this role he was seen scouting across Australia, with numerous sightings at Wanderers A-League games. Gombau can be expected to replicate his attacking possession football style that bought him Cup success at Adelaide along with a 43% winning record.

    With the Wanderers ending their search for a manager, Gombau will be expected to push the side into the top 4 as a minimum result, and go on the hunt for silverware that has eluded the Wanderers since their Asian Champions League victory in 2014.


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    Zelinsky

    Posted

    Prydz, I just read what you wrote, and I get it.

     

    1) Gombau is an underachiever

    2) say no to attacking football

    3) say no to a Barca philosophy (or any other philosophy for that matter0 at WSW

    4) Say no to patience

    5) Say no to making changes

    6) Say no to caucious optimism

    7) Say no to fun rides

    8) Say no to HAL

    9) Say no to football

    10) Say no to too optimistic and too pessimistic fans

     

    I've had enough of him already. Outrageous decision. Gombau out!

    Legionista

    Posted

    Very important that we make steady progress to playing a good brand of football. 

    Hopefully he will get us playing. 

    Zelinsky

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, wendybr said:

    :lol:. You're in a very funny mood FCB!

    It must be Friday! :xnod:

    Say no to late night sex under bridges, in Gosford or elsewhere! Even if there's food on offer. And don't get me started on anyone daring to talk about the new coach is this thread!

     

    lloydy136

    Posted

    30 minutes ago, Prydzopolis said:

    So it seems like I’m the only one here with Iloydy....

    I too was concerned week on week. Ever since Perth it has seemed that we have been holding it together but now we know why, first we chased Ante and then the German. That’s why it has been dragging on. Good on Foxe for doing the best he could...

    On Gombau, I believe we haven’t seen the best of him and with his added experience now after the national team it will be great to see what he can achieve.

    In saying that, I am still cautious: (1) Gombau did well in Adelaide but I wonder whether he under achieved when you compare his achievements to Amor. (2) People are excited, not just Wanderers but the league because Gombau will bring an exciting attacking brand of football. Open, attacking football and lots of goals will change our very solid defensive foundation. My point: Great for league but good for Wanderers? (3) It will fundamentally change the way the Wanderers will be regarded as a club if he instills his own philosophy and ideals on the club. I think it would be a shame if we lost the mentality that we worked the hardest, trained the hardest, never say die attitude which is something which really reflects that reflects the Western Sydney region. I guess we just don’t know right now what Gomb has planned. (4) How long is it going to take for him to have an impact on the club? How long are we going to be patient with him? How are the fans and club going to react to a period without results or trophies?

    Ideally, this season you’ll see small Gombau changes on the team. Slight tactical changes (no massive system changes), changes in patterns of play, getting players to think differently and through drills getting players to play in a style that he wants to take the club forward. Similar to the way, in which Martinez took over from Everton and was fantastic in year 1. If he doesn’t change too much I think we have a chance to put pressure on the top 2-3.

    Conversally, if he makes too many changes too early then I see running into many issues. Funnily enough, with Everton in Martinez’s second season without Moyes defensive base which made him so successful in his first year, the second year was absolutely diabolical. Next season will probably see a squad rebuild one that will be technically proficient to play the type of football that Running Man wants to bring to our squad.

    Suffice to say, it’s goung to be a fun ride. I’m cautiously optimistic about what he can achieve at our club but at the same time have my reservations.

    well said prydz but I think you are right mate that we are pretty much on our own in terms of having concern about gombau's style. i really do think that people remember gombau's antics more than his foootball. sections of our fanbase have struggled to cope with slow build up play at times over the past couple of seasons - what are they expecting to see from gombau?

    wswtragic

    Posted

    24 minutes ago, FCB said:

    Say no to late night sex under bridges, in Gosford or elsewhere! Even if there's food on offer. And don't get me started on anyone daring to talk about the new coach is this thread!

     

    Did you say food?

    beatsurrender

    Posted (edited)

    Happy to give Josep a go. I think it is a positive move. 

    Good job Redmayne isn't still around though as one thing Josep knows when he sees it, is a 'sh1t goalkeeper'

     

    Edited by beatsurrender
    Edinburgh

    Posted

    1 hour ago, FCB said:

    And now the Gombau thread has turned into a "where to eat in Gosford on match day" conversation.

    I feel like throwing myself behind a train, or jump out of the basement window.

    The train option is the way to go

    wendybr

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, Edinburgh said:

    The train option is the way to go

    Gotta make sure it's under the bridge tho.

    WestSyd

    Posted

    I think it is a bit disingenuous to say that people want Gombau as coach because of his sideline antics. People know there is certainly more to him than that. It is a bit like focusing on Arnie's trolling rather than his actual record in the league.

    The stats show Gombau had a pretty good winning record in this league. He believes in a certain way of playing. He has experience. He knows the club and fits in well into the place. That's a pretty good reason to hire someone.

    Whether it works out or not is another thing. But you have to give the man a chance.

    Edinburgh

    Posted

    Just now, wendybr said:

    Gotta make sure it's under the bridge tho.

    And standing still because of trackwork on the way to Gosford

    wendybr

    Posted

    :crazy: Glad I'm not the only one in à silly mood!

    But maybe we're annoying those who want a serious Gombau discussion? ? :cheeky:

    mack

    Posted

    I wonder if Gombau might convince Paul Marti to leave the Barca U18's and come back to Australia as his assistant. Maybe he'll have some other ex-Barca people in mind.

    StringerBellend

    Posted

    2 hours ago, lloydy136 said:

    well said prydz but I think you are right mate that we are pretty much on our own in terms of having concern about gombau's style. i really do think that people remember gombau's antics more than his foootball. sections of our fanbase have struggled to cope with slow build up play at times over the past couple of seasons - what are they expecting to see from gombau?

    If I remember Gombau’s time at Adelaide the early period was all aimless keep ball with Craig Foster getting quite turned on by it but not much in the way of results. But after a little while he became a bit more pragmatic and a little more direct and they were more than decent.

    I’m all for possession football long as the team is looking to pass forward where possible. Times early last season I wanted to pitch invade when we would aimlessly pass the ball backwards to “recycle” possession until we end up back with Redmayne then hoofing it back up field

    We still do it now, eg the ffa cup loss 89th minute and we are playing keep ball between midfield and centre backs. 

    What am I expecting from gombau?

    in two words 

    Sexual  football 

    Im hoping that we attack with purpose, also I hope we press high without the ball and not sit deep.

    None of that made sense did it? might go back to my wine 

    Edinburgh

    Posted

    10 minutes ago, StringerBellend said:

    If I remember Gombau’s time at Adelaide the early period was all aimless keep ball with Craig Foster getting quite turned on by it but not much in the way of results. But after a little while he became a bit more pragmatic and a little more direct and they were more than decent.

    I’m all for possession football long as the team is looking to pass forward where possible. Times early last season I wanted to pitch invade when we would aimlessly pass the ball backwards to “recycle” possession until we end up back with Redmayne then hoofing it back up field

    We still do it now, eg the ffa cup loss 89th minute and we are playing keep ball between midfield and centre backs. 

    What am I expecting from gombau?

    in two words 

    Sexual  football 

    Im hoping that we attack with purpose, also I hope we press high without the ball and not sit deep.

    None of that made sense did it? might go back to my wine 

    The last sentence made sense

    lloydy136

    Posted

    @ stringer

    yeah don't get me wrong. I don't think gombau is rubbish and I absolutely want him to succeed. As you say - adelaide played some great stuff once they got his system down.

    i stand by my reservations though - stringer you mention that early period at adelaide and that is what is stuck in my head. the facebook warriors will be on the pitch if we play like that for half a game - let alone the half a season it took the adelaide players to adjust.

    i think we need to be more direct - not less. Get it to baccus' feet and have him turn and play forward early.

    I think we need to sit deeper not push up in the 'barca' way to suit the way our centrebacks play best.

    we will see what gombau does but i'm not interested in people talking about his 'passion' and 'enthusiasm' - you want that in your right back not your manager imo.

    EmMac

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, Edinburgh said:

    We haven't heard from Taurus for a while. Has he gone to Turkey with Popa?

    Lol, had a similar thought. Though mine was along the lines of, 'OMG Taurus was Popa'!

    mack

    Posted

    15 minutes ago, Edinburgh said:

    We haven't heard from Taurus for a while. Has he gone to Turkey with Popa?

    Moving house, don't think he's hit internet yet.

    Edinburgh

    Posted

    19 minutes ago, EmMac said:

    I liked the popa theory better.

    I haven't seen them both in the same room at the same time - has Popa ever worn a KFC bucket?

    JayZko

    Posted (edited)

    47 minutes ago, EmMac said:

    Lol, had a similar thought. Though mine was along the lines of, 'OMG Taurus was Popa'!

    Rofl would of made absolute sense the only man that defends nonsense signingS 

    lol someone  will bag a brace now from a soft header and a penalty joy....

    Not my type of striker only one of his goals made me happy the one were he ran beat the last defender scored

    Edited by JayZko
    Davo

    Posted

    Gombau had some teething problems when he took over at Adelaide but part of that was because he had to turn a Kosmina team into Barca lite.

    This time he's starting with a possession based Popa/Carrasco team so hopefully they'll get into his style a lot faster. 

    btron3000

    Posted

    The thing that I like most abou the announcement is that they were talking about the whole club, not just the A-League team.  They clearly want the future to be about bringing Western Sydney kids through the ranks, and what better place to model that on than La Masia.  Some people might not agree with the footnall philosophy on the pitch, but the way they go about it is quality. If we get half the structures in place like them, we'll be on the way.

    One of the best ways to get the most out of a salary cap system is to bring through juniors who can slot in to the first team's style easily. Now, if only the FFA will allow transfers between A-League clubs then having a great academy would help on another level too, as we provide players for other teams as well as ours...

    MeurantsLane

    Posted (edited)

    16 hours ago, wendybr said:

    I've never bought anything from that pie place..but I think it does good business whenever WSW people are up there. There's usually a queue. :lol:

    Joe's Pizza near Gosford Station is Ok for the next time you all take a train trip up, they also have coffee & gelato which considering the immediate surrounds is enlightened.   Besides that you could nuke Gosford & I don't think anyone would notice. 

    Edited by MeurantsLane
    MeurantsLane

    Posted

    I don't think you can completely transform a team in one week however nor do I think he is going to change playing style dramatically in the immediate future, these things DO take time to implement despite how excited & apprehensive we all are.  All I'm expecting for the next couple of weeks are a couple of tweaks in player positioning, a new coaches priority is more a case of man management rather than anything too technical.    

     

    Zelinsky

    Posted

    4 hours ago, btron3000 said:

    The thing that I like most abou the announcement is that they were talking about the whole club, not just the A-League team.  They clearly want the future to be about bringing Western Sydney kids through the ranks, and what better place to model that on than La Masia.  

    Let's sign Ante! Not available. Dreads!

    Let's sign a German with a rock solid defensive philosophy. Too expensive. Dreads!

    But wait: we want to play like Barca. How could we forget?! Let's sign Gombau and give him a three year contract. And he can stay for the rest of his football career at WSW, Lederer says.

    Huh?

    Am I the only one who feels a little dizzy? 




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