Wanderers face Adelaide in grand final rematch, with both teams featuring host of new faces

WHEN last season’s grand finalists come together, you’d expect there’d be scores to be settled. But when almost half the players on the pitch weren’t even there, why should revenge be an issue?

WHEN last season’s grand finalists come together again, you’d expect there would be some scores to be settled, a measure of retribution to be taken. But when almost half the players on the pitch weren’t even there, why should revenge be an issue?

That will be the case at Coopers Stadium on Friday night, when Western Sydney Wanderers take on Adelaide United, two teams so extensively remodelled it barely classifies as a rematch.

Nine players from the two starting XIs of last season’s grand final are no longer with their respective clubs.

And that total could rise if Wanderers defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley secures his move to UAE club Hattas. The centreback won’t be playing on Friday regardless, as the club allow him to pursue a move overseas.

TOPOR-STANLEY SET FOR UAE MOVE

Both Romeo Castelen and Craig Goodwin have moved on. Pic: Sarah Reed

Coach Tony Popovic must pull his side up for the trip to the champions, with a defence that was so ruthlessly exposed in the derby thrashing now looking even more makeshift. But after renovating his squad yet again, the Wanderers boss isn’t overly concerned about a slow start to the A-League season.

“Three of the back four were different from last year,” Popovic said on Thursday.

“We had a new back four last season which took time to gel. But they’re good footballers so in time fluency and understanding will build.

“It’s a good group of players. We know it will take time to gel and it doesn’t make the defeat any easier to take. But we know week by week we’ll get better and after six or eight rounds you’ll see a different side.”

Despite the derby loss, there were bright points for Popovic, particularly the creativity of Japanese star Jumpei and a brief but eye-catching cameo from Argentine midfielder Nicolás Martinez, both of whom were short of full fitness.

ANOTHER FOOTBALL PODCAST:Tom Smithies and Dave Hall pick over the bones of the Sydney derby and Herald Sun football writers Matt Windley and David Davutovic join the pod to discuss the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifiers and Melbourne’s own looming derby day.

Adelaide coach Guillermo Amor has done a similar reno job on his title-winning squad, and like the Wanderers, has some quality players who may take time to find their feet in the A-League. But the Spaniard believes the talk of history has little relevance to this weekend’s fixture.

“Western [Sydney] change a lot of players in their squad but it is always a difficult game,” he said. “They lost the last game against Sydney and for them this was a difficult week but I know the coaches and they are very professional and prepared. The grand final is past. The coaches are there but the players are different.”

Jumpei’s performance in the derby suggests good thing to come. Pic: Mark Evans

Former Wanderers and Reds striker Dario Vidosic says while it’s understandable that both teams might be a bit slow out of the blocks, expect last year’s finalists to be determined to put a disappointing opening weekend behind them.

“The plus side to the long off-season in Australia is the time it gives you to get to know your teammates, to work together and get used to the style of play the coach wants,” Vidosic told The Daily Telegraph.

“In the A-League there’s lots of friendly games and even competitive ones thanks to the FFA Cup, so maybe a coach can turn over a lot of players and have time to bed the changes in.

“If anything the focus will be more on kickstarting this season, not reliving last year — obviously the Red and Black boys lost the derby, and Adelaide only got a draw first up and are at home for the first time.”

It’s all change for both teams.

Originally published as Wanderers face Adelaide in grand final rematch, with both teams featuring host of new faces