A-League Week 17 news: Why the Wanderers must win over Brisbane if they want to play finals | On the Attack

If the Western Sydney Wanderers are serious about playing finals football in 2025 they have to lift against Brisbane this week. See the latest A-League news in On The Attack with ROBBIE SLATER and MARCO MONTEVERDE.

Socceroos great ROBBIE SLATER and MARCO MONTEVERDE discuss the Western Sydney Wanderers finals credentials and why Melbourne Victory cant afford to waste their golden opportunity. All that and more in On the Attack.

WANDERERS MUST LIFT

If Western Sydney Wanderers believe they are a team good enough to play finals football this season, nothing less than a win over A-League cellar dwellers Brisbane Roar on Friday night.

Yes, the Roar were good enough to beat Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium a couple of weeks ago, but that was their first win of the season, and the reality is that every A-League team should be regarding their games against Brisbane as an ideal opportunity to secure three points.

Plenty was expected of the Wanderers at the start of the season under Alen Stajcic, but they have failed to deliver.

The Western Sydney Wanderers must lift if they want to play finals football. Picture: Getty Images

A record of 18 points from 14 matches isn’t good enough for a team of the Wanderers’ stature.

Their home record of two wins, a draw and five losses is even more unacceptable.

If anything, the Wanderers will be relieved that they are playing away from home on Friday night., particularly against a Roar team that hasn’t won at Suncorp Stadium since March last year.

That’s not much consolation for long-suffering Western Sydney fans, who are desperate to see their team win at home.

However, they’ll take a win anywhere at the moment.

Hopefully for the Wanderers’ sake, Spanish star Juan Mata is given another chance to have a strong influence on the contest.

Western Sydney really need Mata’s midfield quality.

Stajcic’s team also needs attacking weapon Nicolas Milanovic to rediscover the form he was in earlier this season, particularly if Socceroo Brandon Borrello is still hampered by a hamstring problem.

There are still plenty of points on offer this season, but the Wanderers really need to start showing that they’re a team good enough to contest the finals series, because at the moment, they aren’t.

For the Wanderers sake Juan Mata should be given another chance. Picture: Getty Images

ONE WIN NOT ENOUGH FOR VICTORY

Melbourne Victory must not waste their win over Sydney FC in last week’s ‘Big Blue’ by coming unstuck on Saturday night against the Glory in Perth.

Beating Sydney should have provided the spark that the Victory had been desperately searching for to reignite their season under interim coach Arthur Diles after not having won any of their previous six matches.

Now the Victory must keep going, otherwise the win over Sydney will mean nothing.

The Glory seem better than what they were earlier in the season, but not that much better that the Victory should not consider this as a great opportunity to secure back-to-back wins and gather some much-needed momentum.

Another win would also strengthen Diles’ hopes of keeping the coaching job beyond this season.

He has handled himself with great dignity since taking over from Patrick Kisnorbo last month in difficult circumstances.

It was good to see him rewarded with a win last week.

However, with the likes of John Aloisi and Nick Montgomery both being linked to the Victory job next season, Diles knows he needs a lot more than just one good night to stake a solid claim to being appointed on a permanent basis.

GRUMPY GLORY

The expected off-season move of talented Perth youngster Jaylan Pearman to English club Queens Park Rangers has left Glory officials angry and extremely reluctant to have any future dealings with agent Mich d’Avray.

Pearman’s Glory contract expires at the end of the season, with the Glory having been keen to sign the 18-year-old midfielder on a long-term deal and make him a key member of the club’s A-League team.

However, d’Avray, who as a coach led the Glory to NSL success, has secured Pearman – who has made just five A-League appearances – a deal with QPR.

Jaylan Pearman’s expected move to the Queens Park Rangers has left Perth Glory officials angry. Picture: Getty Images

The Glory won’t get a transfer fee for Pearman because his contract is expiring. However, the club will receive training compensation dollars.

But it’s not the way the Perth club wants to conduct its business, and is wary of d’Avray becoming a representative for too many more of the club’s younger players.

On The Attack was told that meetings were held this week at Glory headquarters due to some club officials allegedly not wanting Pearman in the squad for this weekend’s match against Melbourne Victory.

However, the Glory were adamant they would not “punish” Pearman ­– who will next month represent Australia at the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup ­– by leaving him out of Perth’s team for Saturday night’s home games against Perth Glory.

And that’s obviously the correct decision. Pearman should not be the fall guy because of issues that exist between the Glory and his agent.

Originally published as A-League Week 17 news: Why the Wanderers must win over Brisbane if they want to play finals | On the Attack