A-League: Wanderers coach Carl Robinson slams ‘nonsense’ surrounding his departure from Jets

Western Sydney coach Carl Robinson seems happier than ever with his decision to leave the Jets for the Wanderers.

Western Sydney Wanderers coach Carl Robinson hopes to complete a double over his former club Newcastle. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Western Sydney Wanderers coach Carl Robinson is grateful the “nonsense” is over as he prepares to face his former club Newcastle for the second time in three weeks on Friday night at Bankwest Stadium.

Robinson’s off-season defection from the Jets to the Wanderers, and the subsequent decision of attacker Bernie Ibini to follow in his coach’s footsteps, left a sour taste in the mouths of many Newcastle fans.

It led to a fiery encounter at McDonald Jones Stadium on January 8 when Robinson made his return to Newcastle and guided the Wanderers to a 2-1 win over the Jets.

“There was lot of nonsense that was being spoke about because from the first game to where we are now, things have come out in the wash,” Robinson said.

“It is clear now. The nonsense that I spoke about prior to that game everyone can see now.

“I don’t air my dirty laundry in public but it’s in public now and everyone can see part of the reason I left.

“It’s very clear and it’s the right decision.”

Ladder positions also suggest that, with the Wanderers third on the A-League table with seven points from four matches, compared to Jets’ record of just three points from five games.

.@SCoxy31Real on continuing our good form against the Jets tomorrow night #WSW #WSWvNEW pic.twitter.com/xqaLQhq0jH

— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) January 28, 2021

But under interim coach Craig Deans, the Jets ended a depressing run of four straight defeats with a 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix at WIN Stadium last Sunday.

That result, as well as other upsets this season, including the Central Coast Mariners’ shock 2-0 defeat of reigning champions Sydney FC last week, will have Robinson and the Wanderers on high alert on Friday night.

“This year, it’s shown in the first four rounds that any team can beat any (other) team on their day,” the Wanderers coach said.

“It shows the mentality of the players and it shows that if you don’t turn up one day, and you think you’re just going to turn up and win a game of football, you’re mistaken because the league is so close.

“It’s very hard to predict who’s going to win each weekend.”

Robinson expects Western Sydney’s Ireland international striker Simon Cox – who is yet to score this season – to lift now he has made the decision to stay in Australia rather than return to England for the birth of his first child next month.

“I’m sure he’s had a lot on his mind over the first month of the season, which is normal. Now he’ll get back to playing football, which is what he’s paid to do,” Robinson said.

The Jets have added former Western United striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos to their squad, be he won’t play for his new team until next month.