On this week’s episode of Total A-Leagues, host and Sydney Morning Herald reporter Vince Rugari, and retired Socceroo Tommy Oar discussed the form of Western Sydney Wanderers, a Golden Boot challenger and the future of John Aloisi.
Western Sydney Wanderers are in the midst of their best run in a decade as they loom as a genuine contender in the Isuzu UTE A-League but importantly, according to Vince Rugari, they have an identity under Alen Stajcic.
The Wanderers have only made the Finals Series once in the past seven seasons, having reached three Grand Finals across their first four years of existence in the competition.
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But after falling short of the top six in 2023-24, the Wanderers loom large this term. Western Sydney are fourth thanks to a run of eight games without defeat – their best streak since going 10 games unbeaten in 2015.
Playing a transitional brand of football, the Wanderers have scored a league-high 50 goals in Stajcic’s first season at CommBank Stadium, where Western Sydney will host second-placed Western United in Sunday’s blockbuster.
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On this week’s episode of Total A-Leagues, retired Socceroo and former A-Leagues star Tommy Oar said: “You’ve got to give Alan Stajcic a lot of credit, because he’s really addressed those issues.
“We just spoke about Adelaide and how defensively they are conceding a lot of goals. They’re a team that hasn’t been able to address those problems. It’s a complete opposite for the Wanderers, and I think that they’ve developed a kind of mentality where they’re really difficult to break down.
“They don’t always try and overplay, which I think they were trying to do at the start of the season. They sometimes keep things simple defensively, and then with the quality they have in the front third, they’re always capable of scoring goals, which is what they’ve been doing.”
Rugari added: “I stand by our bigger picture criticisms of the club in terms of identity, what do they want to be, all that sort of stuff because it has seemed to waver.
“But I reckon if this is who they want to be, then, enshrine it. Decide this is our style. Let that sort of dictate your recruitment and your Academy staff, so that the next coach after Staj will play Staj’s way.”
Oar concluded: “Exactly, and Staj obviously signed, allegedly, a short-term contract there. I think he’s done enough for him to extend that they should give him the confidence to go and build upon the foundation he’s created now.
“Oviously there’s still a lot to play out this season. I still think the Wanderers could really give the finals a good shake. They’re making all the right noises, and the kind of football they play is good finals football, because being defensively kind of stubborn and hard to beat.
“Then having the players they do, (Nicolas) Milanovic, obviously in scintillating form, (Brandon) Borrello, these kinds of players on the counter attack. Nobody wants to play teams like that.”
Europe beckons for A-Leagues gun
Nicolas Milanovic is playing a key role in Western Sydney’s title pursuit this season and it could lead to an overseas transfer, according to the Total A-Leagues panel.
Milanovic has scored a career-high 11 goals to sit just one shy of the Golden Boot lead as the Wanderers eye their maiden Championship.
The 23-year-old star was linked with a move away at the end of 2023-24 after earning the club’s Golden Boot while he was also named the Wanderers’ Media Player of the Year and Members’ Player of the Year.
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There was interest from Europe before Milanovic opted to re-sign at Wanderland until the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
“Interesting question around Milanovic and what they do in the off-season coming up, because he’s contracted until the end of next season,” Rugari said.
“Will he be looking to sign another contract with the Wanderers? Probably not. He’ll probably be looking to give Europe a crack. And so the question then becomes, what does the club do if they’re going to get anything for him, they need to sell him?”
Oar replied: “I think the club will be looking at this off-season and hoping that he can attract some interest from overseas.
“I’m sure he’s attracting significant interest. I’m sure that they’ll be looking to kind of earn some money for him and if that doesn’t eventuate, I think that day one pre-season, they might come to him and with a contract offer for an extension.
“It’s definitely one to keep an eye on, looking at his age and what he’s done the last two seasons, I think the time is right for him to probably move on and I think Europe’s calling for sure.”
‘He’s more than capable of doing the same thing‘
Could John Aloisi become the next CommBank Matildas head coach? Former A-Leagues star Oar would “love” to see it happen.
The Matildas are still on the hunt for a new coach after Tony Gustavsson departed following the 2024 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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Lyon head coach and A-Leagues great Joe Montemurro – a two-time Ninja A-League champion with Melbourne City – is reportedly the frontrunner to land the Australian gig, though Western United boss Aloisi has recently emerged as a candidate with the Socceroos legend out of contract at the end of the season.
Aloisi has Western vying for Premiership and Championship honours in the Isuzu UTE A-League this season, having already guided the Green and Black to glory in the 2022 Grand Final.
On this week’s episode of Total A-Leagues, retired Socceroo Oar was asked if Aloisi should be keen on the Matildas job.
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“I would love to see John Aloisi take that job because as an Australian I want to see the Matildas do well,” Oar said.
“I think that he would do that. I think he’s a fantastic coach. Whatever direction he decides to go in his career, I’m not sure what his aspirations are, but I think that he’s got a really high ceiling.
“We’ve seen other Aussie coaches go overseas and make a name for themselves in Asia and in Europe. If he has that ambition to go over there, I think that he’s more than capable of doing the same thing.
“But also domestically, if you look at Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC, Western Sydney, big picture, I think John Aloisi should be a name on every team’s radar in the A-League.”
