Spoonfuls of humility for once-mighty Mariners and Wanderers

The Wanderers and Central Coast meet today in a match cruelly dubbed the ‘Spoon Derby’.

Western Sydney Wanderers coach Marcus Babbel. Picture: AAP

A little under six years ago, the Mariners claimed their first A-League title, beating competition newcomers Western Sydney 2-0 in the grand final in front of 42,200 at Allianz Stadium.

Having missed out three times previously in the season decider, the Mariners were finally rewarded for their consistency as one of the leading clubs in the national competition.

For the Wanderers, admitted into the league for the 2012-13 season, it capped a remarkable entry into mainstream Australian sport. With a huge fan base behind them, they would go on to become the first Australian club to win the Asian Champions League and play in another two grand finals, tasting defeat in both.

But how things can change so quickly in the world of football.

With a third of the current A-League season still to play, both sides are already out of finals contention and you will likely be able to count the crowd when they play each other at Spotless Stadium today in what is being cruelly described as the “Spoon Derby”.

Eighth-placed Western Sydney (10 points) will be looking to avoid the wooden spoon for the first time in their seven-year history while the Mariners (six points) are hoping they can climb off the bottom of the ladder and avoid their third spoon in the past four seasons.

Brisbane Roar (nine points) are squeezed in between the pair, which should make for an interesting three-way battle for the rest of the season.

But first the focus is on today’s game with both sides staring at the possibility of some unwanted records.

The Wanderers have failed to win in their past 10 games, conceding 29 goals along the way, and are just three games from equalling their record for most matches in succession without a victory, a mark they set in the 2014-15 season.

Central Coast have managed just one win in 17 games this season and are in danger of becoming the first club since the ill-fated New Zealand Knights (2005-06) to register less than 10 competition points in a season.

Western Sydney’s fall from grace has had a huge effect, with their once fanatical fans walking away in droves.

While the club has been displaced in terms of a home ground for the past three seasons during construction of the new Western Sydney Stadium, and the fans have taken a great dislike to Spotless Stadium, it is only part of the reason for the fall in their attendances.

The Wanderers faithful have lost patience with the poor results, not just this season but last season as well when the team failed to make the finals under Josep Gombau, who was subsequently sacked.

There were promises of a resurgence this season under new coach, former Germany, Liverpool and Bayern Munich defender Markus Babbel. But their season simply hasn’t gotten off the ground.

Babbel has come under growing scrutiny in recent weeks. His constant criticism of the players and unwillingness to take any responsibility has raised eyebrows, not that there is any question about his job. Yet.

He will be given the funds to make an impression on the transfer market next season. There’s talk that as many as a dozen players from the current squad might be moving on. The recruitment process is under way.

Still, the pressure will be on the German to get the best out of what he has for the rest of the season because the Wanderers fans expect much more from their team. A continuation of the poor form and results could spell disaster for Babbel.

For the Mariners, the cold, hard facts of their position on the table say it all. They are there for a reason. Despite some initial positivity with some good off-season signings, they have not been good enough.

Two of those signings, Ross McCormack and Antony Golec, have since departed while their great pre-season hope, Usain Bolt, provided more publicity than substance before parting company after his trial period.

Whether the Bolt experiment had a negative effect on the squad we will never know.

Certainly, it didn’t show in the opening two games of the season with draws against Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City. But it was all downhill after that.

They eventually went 13 games without a win before beating Melbourne City 2-1 at home five games ago.

While they have been winless since, Mike Mulvey’s men have at least shown considerable improvement, drawing with the Roar before three narrow losses to the Jets, Adelaide and Melbourne Victory.

Tellingly for the Mariners, they have led in 10 games this season but only managed to win one. Twice they led 2-0, only to crack in 3-2 defeats to Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory.

Whatever happens today, a win for either side will do little to brush away the disappointment of a season that the fans from both sides can’t wait to end.