Jacob Stevens 
Western United 2024/25 A-League season preview. Photo: Texi Smith. Design: Round Ball Australia
Where do you even begin with Western United? They are a team that, for an outspoken part of the A-League fan base, are ‘unwanted’. They were deemed surplus to requirements – a downgrade on the other possibilities for expansion.
And yet, they came in, found their feet, and won a Championship.
But now, two seasons later, they have seen no further success, questions over the coaching, and low attendance figures despite owning their own ground.
So, where to next for these outsiders? A return to form? Or more of the same and a continuation of subpar performances?
Unfortunately, it would appear to be the latter.
The Manager: John Aloisi
It is hard to get a consensus on Aloisi the coach, though social media would suggest there is a plethora of negativity.
Let’s not forget that Aloisi was the one at the helm when Western triumphed in 2022, overhauling the club’s culture and bringing success to a side that only the season prior had finished 10th.
Now, though, he finds himself the architect of the very sort of stagnant, uninspired performances that he came to fix.
There is no denying the club benefited from the talents of the likes of Alessandro Diamanti and Aleksandar Prijovic in their Championship triumph, but Aloisi also had the team playing efficient, incisive and effective football.
That has certainly dropped off, and there have been complaints from Western fans that he has not been able to adapt to the situation that the club (and others in the league) has found itself in.
Aloisi himself signed a two-year extension in May of 2023, seeing him hold his role until the end of the coming season.
It really is likely to be a case of do or die for him. If he shows solid improvement and a base for the squad to build upon, then he will probably be back. But if he falters again and takes the spoon, then serious questions will surely be asked.
It is definitely fair to say that Aloisi finds himself on the hottest of hot seats in the league this season. And it is unlikely that things will get much better for him, especially if he can not get off to a hot start with the squad he has amassed.
The Squad
It would not be too unfair to say that Western had a bad season last time around, and have looked to improve their squad – albeit the extent to which improvement is visible varies.
For instance, many rued the missed chances last season. With a partnership of Micahel Ruhs and Noah Botic, these sorts of issues can be expected.
But now there should be no real excuses. Western pulled off an absolute coup by signing Hiroshi Ibusuki from Adelaide.
Ibusuki joins the side off the back of a career year – 15 goals in the league – which saw him finish fourth in the league’s golden boot race.
He is a classic target man striker, with an excellent aerial ability that was often used to great effect off the deliveries of Goodwin and co.
He was also an extremely underrated player in build up. With his tall, physical presence, he was used in Carl Veart’s systems as a hold up player, able to turn his man easily into space and unlock the wingers making direct runs at goal.
Hiroshi joins a group of other Japanese players in the squad, including Tomoki Imai and Riku Danzaki. It is often mentioned that A-League clubs need to do more to tap into the Asian player markets – and Western seem to be leading the way in that regard.
They also appear to be leaders in youth. Abel Walatee, Khoder Kaddour, Luke Vickery and Charbel Shamoon have all been handed their first professional contracts by the club.
Now, of course, to lead youth development they also have to play the youth, so let’s reserve judgement there for now, but it appears that Western are at least in tune with current trends that suggest clubs are skewing younger and younger this season.
Sebastian Pasquali and Rhys Bozinovski have also both been handed extensions. The pair will look to pencil themselves in alongside Angus Thurgate and Matt Grimaldi as midfield starters this season.
Aside from up front, Western United also struggled defensively, and have released both Jacob Tratt and Connor O’Toole.
Tratt was always a strange signing for the club. He was below par with Adelaide, and continued that form at Western. O’Toole offered nothing more than depth, routinely sitting behind Ben Garuccio on the depth chart.
Both of them were logical players to release in the grand scheme of things.
In a combination of both defending and youth, the club also signed 15-year-old Besian Kutleshi in the off season, nicking him from Melbourne City’s youth setup.
Kutleshi is widely lauded as one of the country’s best young defensive talents, having already represented the Joeys at the ASEAN U-16 Boys’ Championship.
Also keep an eye on Matt Grimaldi this season in the midfield. He showed real signs of quality late last season, and alongside what appears to be a strong midfield unit, should be able to push on from there and continue his good performances. It could be a real breakout season for him.
Walatee is another promising youngster who we should expect to see get solid minutes, and a chance to show his talents at the professional level. He had limited minutes last season, but scored a goal and looked a real threat.
Of course, the side will be reliant on the expected figures – Garuccio defensively will have a lot of responsibility in a young, inexperienced unit, and Ibusuki will be expected to bang in the goals.
There is just simply not enough on paper, though, to suggest that this squad is any level stronger than what we saw in 2023/24.
The Off-Field
Of course, the big talking point surrounding Western United is the club’s first full season at its new home in Tarneit.
What was once a promise – one which got them their spot in the league – that then turned into a nightmare with timeline blowouts and no real certainty it would happen, is now a reality.
Ironbark Fields is everything people cry out for in A-League stadium terms: small, intimate, adequate.
It is the unfortunate reality that Western United simply don’t have a big fan base. But at least that fan base have an appropriately-sized stadium to watch their matches from.
The hope is of course that the fan base will grow now that there is a geographical identity. No longer the transients, the nomads. Western United – despite the ongoing ambiguity in their name, but let’s ignore that for the moment – have a home and will be looking to set their roots in the ever-expanding western suburbs of Melbourne.
Expectations
Avoid the spoon?
They managed it last season. And at least this time around they have a proved striker and some youngsters ready to make an impact.
It would be a surprise if there are any Western United fans out there that seriously back themselves to make finals.
It is obviously not a foregone conclusion – after all, six of the 13 sides in the league make finals.
And there are certainly pieces there that could take them to that level: Garuccio, Ibusuki and Grimaldi among them.
But there is just not enough… quality?
Quality might not be the right word but there is definitely something lacking, even with the addition of a 15-goal striker.
There is certainly a feeling that, despite the positives off-field, the club is in a bit of no man’s land. Not possessing the quality or depth for a deep finals run, but also not having completely blown up the squad for a rebuild.
Add to that the fact that Aloisi struggled last season, and whose tactical adjustments were not up to par, and it just seems inevitable that there will be another season of disappointing results.
But, at least if you are expecting the worst then you can not be too disappointed. You would be right, after all.
It is a win-win: play poorly and you are correct. Play well and, well, you would be wrong – but the team would be good.
And certainly it seems Western fans might have to take all the silver linings they get can this season.
Stadium? Check. Quality striker? Check. Promising youngsters? Check.
The only thing which seems like it will be missing is the results, which is the most crucial part of any season.