Western Sydney coach Carl Robinson says he will ignore the fevered speculation surrounding his future at the club after the Wanderers lost to Macarthur FC.
After a significant recruitment drive over the off-season, Robinson was under pressure to start the A-League Men’s season well but has so far only garnered one win from the Wanderers’ first four games.
That scrutiny intensified on Tuesday when the club were knocked out of the FFA Cup by part-timers APIA Leichhardt and it ratcheted up a further notch with Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Macarthur.
Despite dominating possession the Wanderers were unable to crack the Bulls’ defence, with Macarthur defender Tomislav Uskok and substitute Jake Hollman making them pay.
Asked about the heat he was under, Robinson said: “Someone mentioned that to me.
“You can control the controllables and that’s what I do.
“I’m sitting here as the third or fourth manager (of the Wanderers) in a couple of years.
“If you look at the history and the deep-rooted analogies and thought processes of experts and so-called people in the know, there’s a common theme.
“So, I’ll just do my business and be as open and honest with you and continue to work as hard as I can.”
Robinson says his goal is to develop a youthful side but only two players in his starting XI on Saturday – Thomas Aquilina and Johnny Koutroumbis – were under the age of 24.
“I’ve rumbled it up this year because what’s happened the last few years hasn’t worked,” he said.
“(The aim is) to try and bring youth players through. I can go and sign – and you’ll say Tomer Hemed is 34 and Dimi Petratos is 29 – 16, 18 really old players.
“I don’t want to do that. I had that last year and it didn’t work. I want to try and get the core and nucleus of players in an age range I want.
“To do that you have to be brave, and I’ve done that and told the club that’s what I want to do.
“I need to win as well and I’m not naive enough to not expect a bit of pressure when results come. You accept it and you move on.”
At such a critical time in his tenure, Robinson’s side now face three games on the road at Central Coast, Melbourne City and Newcastle before returning to Commbank Stadium on New Year’s Day.
Hemed and Jack Rodwell are both expected to be available next week after picking up knocks in last week’s win over Wellington.
