A-League Round Table: Which coach is under the most pressure?

Is Wanderers boss Markus Babbel the A-League boss under the most pressure?
Is Wanderers boss Markus Babbel the A-League boss under the most pressure?Source: News Corp Australia
Jake Rosengarten from Fox Sports@jakeros95

HEADING into a new A-League season, the form line resets.

But even on the eve of a fresh campaign, certain coaches are already facing harsher expectations, and therefore more pressure, than others.

Ahead of the season kick-off, Fox Sports experts Simon Hill, Andy Harper, Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater convened for an hour-long Round Table special to discuss the big issues set to define another year in Australia’s top tier.

Japanese football player Keisuke Honda (L) poses for a photo with Melbourne Victory's manager Kevin MuscatSource: AFP

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Host Adam Peacock began by asking the panel which boss they felt is feeling the pinch the most as they take the helm for Round One.

The answers varied.

There was a consensus between two experts – commentary tag team Hill and Harper – who agreed that new Western Sydney Wanderers coach Markus Babbel was feeling the most heat.

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“Whatever is going on around the Wanderers this year is pressure,” Harper said.

“They can’t afford another season like last season, they’re not at home again this season, well that will change next year with the new stadium etc. and he’s going to be under a lot of pressure to stabilise that club and get it back competing where we need them to be.”

Hill added: “The reason for that, apart from what Harps said, they’ve had - including caretakers - four coaches in 12 months, there’s obviously a lot of things to resolve at the Wanderers.

“But they’re a big club and there’s a lot of expectation on them. They’ve still got this issue of not being able to play in their own stadium for the next 12 months, so I think it’s a difficult one for him and he’s new to the country as well.

“So it only takes three, four losses in a row and all of a sudden people get a bit restless, don’t they?”

Babbel has assumed the top job at Wanderland as the club look to rebuild, but according to Slater there’s another coach who should also be feeling the heat – for very different reasons.

“I think Warren Joyce as well, with Melbourne City,” Slater stated.

“They’re the richest club in the land. I think he’s done a decent job but I think this season it might be time to lift some silverware.

“It certainly appears that way (that he’s comfortable) but I think there might be pressure on him from outside, I’m talking the fans. You’re right I think he’s very comfortable in terms of the City Football Group, but I think the fans will want him to go and lift the title this year.”

While the aforementioned trio had fairly clear cut opinions on the matter, Bosnich was far broader with his assessment of the fortune of the league’s coaches.

“I think all of them [are under pressure], I really do — for different reasons,” Bosnich said.

“Some for expectation, some for other reasons, but if you go through, probably the one that’s least under pressure is Ernie Merrick. Because of the outstanding success that he enjoyed last season — because of the stability that Lawrie McKinna inspires and the way that club is set up right now.”

“There’s other ones as well. Mike Mulvey coming back to Central Coast Mariners, the whole situation with Usain Bolt and that as well. Mark Rudan in his debut season, Warren Joyce you’re right about that as well, even Kevin Muscat.

“This is the first time really that you could say that they’ve really got the cheque book out for him.

“During last season a lot of people in the midway point were calling for his head — and he goes on and wins the Championship.

“Now after those signings and you’re talking about the biggest club in the land, they’re going to be expecting more success.”