Western Sydney were hard to beat in most games, but struggles in the front third plus defensive lapses at crucial times led to an eighth-place finish.

An opening day defeat to Newcastle was followed by a dramatic 2-1 win over Adelaide before the Red and Black had their backs to the wall after losing three of their next four games, a period in which they scored only two goals. 

The Wanderers briefly kept their slim finals hopes alive with another win over Adelaide in Round 8, but their fate was sealed after conceding late goals to Melbourne City and Canberra United in their next two games. Their second clash with Victory started with promise, but again they failed to hold on to the lead as the two sides drew yet again 1-1.

They finally found their shooting boots in Round 13, coming from behind to defeat Perth 4-3 and register only their third win in 2017-18, but the season ended with a disappointing 4-1 defeat at the hands of Sydney.

After a difficult past few seasons, the Wanderers are finally looking like a team ready to challenge for some silverware.

There is a different vibe emanating from the club this time around; a deep excitement can be felt from the fans as well as from the players, their optimism bolstered by an enviable off-season recruitment blitz and an enthusiastic social media campaign.

Newly-appointed head coach Daniel Barrett has been key to starting this new chapter in WSW history. Barrett made his intentions clear in August when he told The Women’s Game: “I’ve always been in finals; that’s a record I’d like to keep, that’s just something I always set for myself: number one finishing in the top four and then look to go beyond that.”

Wanderers have been on the front foot when it comes to signing the best and brightest, looking to other W-League clubs and dipping into various NPLW clubs to find potential stars.

Erica Halloway is back in red and black after a successful 2018 season with the Illawarra Stingrays in the NSW NPL and is joined by her Stingrays team-mate Liana Danaskos, a crafty midfielder who has played previously with the Jets and Canberra. They will be joined by veteran Caitlin Jarvie, who was part of WSW in their inaugural season in 2012. She returns to the W-League after playing abroad in Spain and representing Australia at the 2017 Futsal World Cup.

This isn’t to suggest that WSW are shying away from young or undiscovered talent. Young Matildas Susan Phonsongkham and Rachel Lowe make their returns to the club, hoping to secure spots in the starting XI after making irregular appearances last season. Goalkeeper Jada Whyman is back for her fourth year, having recently earned a call-up to the Matildas side for their France and England friendlies.

Phonsongkham, Lowe, and Whyman undoubtedly played a role in attracting their Young Matildas teammate Courtney Nevin to the club, the left-footed free kick wizard signing her first ever W-League contract for the red and black.

These rising stars will be joined by WSW and Matildas veteran Servet Uzunlar, who is back in the W-League after taking time away from the game. Uzunlar was the Wanderers’ W-League Player of the Year in the club’s first season and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help guide her younger teammates.

Another returning player is Caitlin Cooper, who spent last season with cross-town rivals Sydney FC. Cooper also has a great history with the club, being named the Wanderers’ W-League Player of the Year in their 2016-17 campaign. Cooper has bought into Barrett’s project, telling The Women’s Game; “Finals are 110% my goal and in helping create an environment within the team of success, belief and positivity, we will no doubt achieve [that] this year.” She’s also focused on making the Matildas squad for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.

She is joined by resurgent midfielder and former Matilda Kylie Ledbrook, who was central to Sydney's successes in 2017-18. Veteran striker Leena Khamis and NSW NPL Golden Boot winner Georgia Yeoman-Dale have also made the switch to the Wanderers.

Khamis told The Women’s Game that the chemistry she has developed with Ledbrook and Yeoman-Dale will be helpful given the number of new signings and new relationships that will need to be developed on the pitch.

“A few of us played in the NPL and had a successful season and wish to carry that over,” she said. “It’s a new-look team. I think a very experienced team, which I think will hopefully help during the season.”

That chemistry can only be helped by the recruitment of Young Matildas striker Remy Siemsen, who became Sydney FC’s top scorer and won the W-League Young Player of the Year in 2016-17. Recently, Siemsen has been plying her trade in the US with the WPSL team California Storm.

These stellar signings come after a number of departures in the off-season. Midfielder Kahlia Hogg has made the move to Adelaide, while WSW have also lost the services of veteran W-League players Ellie Brush, Rosie Sutton, and Trudy Burke. Other players who have not re-signed this year include Marushchka Waldus, Lee Falkon, Marlous Pieete, Olivia Price, Alix Roberts, Katelyn Leadbetter, Sunny Franco, Chloe O’Brien, and Alex Huynh.

On the international front, WSW have re-signed talented midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta, whose technical abilities and reading of the game made her a crowd favourite last year. LaBonta returns on loan from her North American NWSL club Utah Royals, where she played a key role in helping them to fifth place in their inaugural season.

Like many of her WSW team-mates, she believes in what Barrett wants to do at the club: “For the team, especially with this new and experienced squad, I think a goal everybody is going to buy into and commit to is making finals,” she told The Women’s Game. “With that mentality, I believe this squad will be very successful.”

LaBonta also played a part in attracting her Utah Royals team-mate, defender Sydney Miramontez, to the club for her first stint in the W-League. 

The two Americans will be joined by Ghanaian international and W-League debutant Elizabeth Addo, whose career has so far taken her across Europe and North America. The tricky forward most recently made several appearances for Seattle Reign FC in the NWSL, helping the team finish third overall in the 2018 season. Her experience, technique, and physicality could be exactly what the team needs to fire them into their first ever top four finish this season.

THE STRENGTHS

WSW have plenty of promising young talent. Lowe, Phonsongkham, and Nevin have been selected in the Young Matildas squad for the upcoming AFC U19 Championship qualifiers. Nevin was also the joint winner of this year’s NSW NPL Player of the Year award, alongside new fellow Wanderer Ledbrook.

Whyman will be entering her fourth W-League season, despite only turning 19 the day before the season opener. She has been in red-hot form recently winning the 2018 NSW NPL Goalkeeper of the Year award for her stellar performance between the sticks for the Football NSW Institute.

Barrett has also recruited experienced players to complement his young stars with creative midfielder and dead ball specialist Ledbrook and W-League veterans Khamis, Uzunlar, Yeoman-Dale, and Cooper, all of whom have experience at the highest levels. These new players will not only bring attacking quality and determination to improve on last season’s 13 goals, but also a more organised defence, having previously conceded 21 goals.

THE CHALLENGE

The Wanderers have not seriously challenged the W-League heavyweights since entering the league but the addition of multiple players with Matildas experience brings new expectations and also raises a number of questions.

The biggest question is how quickly will this diverse group find the type of cohesion and chemistry necessary for silverware? They will be coming up against teams who have been playing together for several years at national and international levels. Can the players build those on-pitch relationships fast enough to ensure they can mount a viable challenge to these more experienced teams?

Who will partner Cooper in central defence? Cooper is comfortable in that role, however, the question of who will best complement her there remains unanswered. Miramontez is still young and new to Australian football, while Nevin has yet to make an appearance in the W-League. Uzunlar has plenty of experience but is better known as an outside back or defensive midfielder.

Halloway will also be moved from her usual position as a striker to left back this year. Could this be a stroke of genius by Barrett, or will the move backfire? Halloway’s entire football career to date has been about scoring goals, not stopping them.

WSW biggest issue in seasons past has been converting their chances. Remy Siemsen was impressive at Sydney FC since her debut in 2016-17, making a name for herself predominantly as a substitute striker. She will now be WSW’s main goalscoring threat after a productive stint in the US. Can Siemsen live up to the hype and fire the Wanderers into their first ever top four finish? Or will the weight of expectation be too much for the Young Matilda?

The disappointing performances of the last few seasons continue to hang over the Wanderers like a dark cloud. Since their inception in 2012-13, their best ever finish has been sixth place. Dan Barrett’s aggressive off-season recruitment campaign suggests this final four drought may be about to end, but this new look team have a number of questions to answer before they get there. 

KEY PLAYERS

Remy Siemsen (Forward)

Siemsen’s successful off-season in the US, coming on the back of productive seasons with Sydney FC since 2016, makes her WSW’s most potent attacking threat. Not only does Siemsen boast a record of 42 goals in 50 appearances in the NSW NPL, but she also has a proven talent for making or breaking games, scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances for the Sky Blues, many of which came off the bench. With Siemsen now being deployed as WSW’s starting centre forward, there’s no knowing how many more she could put in the back of the net by season’s end.

Kylie Ledbrook (Midfield)

It’s impressive to win the W-League’s Golden Boot Award; it’s even more impressive to have done it from central midfield at the age of 32. Resurgent ex-Matilda Kylie Ledbrook’s experience at the highest levels of football will be crucial in guiding the new-look WSW team to their potential first-ever top four finish this season. Her ability to control the game from the central midfield, including incisive passes in between defenders as well as her unrivalled abilities over a dead ball, could be exactly what the Red & Black need to carry them to their first finals appearance.

Caitlin Cooper (Defence)

Like Ledbrook, Caitlin Cooper has several years’ worth of knowledge and experience to draw upon as she looks to cement her spot at a starting centre-back. With over 100 appearances in the W-League, Cooper’s seen it all, and the wisdom she’s gained in the back line at both national and international levels will be key if WSW wants to ensure a more successful season. Versatile, physical, and a good leader, Cooper will be a key figure for the team in dictating play from the back and shoring up the defence.

ONE TO WATCH

Susan Phonsongkham (Midfield)

With tricky feet and a blistering turn of pace, Young Matilda Susan Phonsongkham will be Western Sydney’s breakout star this season. Having made only a few appearances off the bench in her debut season in 2017-18, which included a long-range strike against Melbourne Victory in Round 12 (which won Goal of the Round), Phonsongkham has worked on her attacking game in the off-season, scoring 16 goals in 23 appearances in the NSW NPL. Deployed primarily as a left-winger, her ability to dribble past defenders and break through the line will make her one to watch in the red & black this season.

SQUAD

Jada WHYMAN, Erica HALLOWAY, Rachel LOWE, Susan PHONSONGKHAM, Leena KHAMIS, Kylie LEDBROOK, Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, Courtney NEVIN, Lo'eau LABONTA, Caitlin COOPER, Liana DANASKOS, Caitlin JARVIE, Remy SIEMSEN, Servet UZUNLAR, Elizabeth ADDO, Sydney MIRAMONTEZ and Talitha KRAMER