Cowbells and new blood suddenly make the A-League look a whole lot better A Set the default text size A Set large text size
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Despite only an unfulfilling two A-League matches being played over the course of the weekend, there were continued signs that the 2020-21 season could well be something of a resurgence for the competition.
There is something new, different and fresh about things, even though the actual amount of football being played thanks to border restrictions and half the competition being based in New South Wales, is disappointing.
Western Sydney captain Dylan McGowan believes the hostile reception awaiting the Wanderers and new coach Carl Robinson in Newcastle will be the first of many.
Carl Robinson is prepared for a spicy reception when he returns to face former club Newcastle on Friday evening, after departing the Jets in a blaze of acrimony 11 weeks ago.
Western Sydney Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer has swatted assertions his club have become habitual poachers responsible for coaxing contracted players away from A-League rivals.
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Amid uncertainty over their future ownership, Newcastle lost coach Carl Robinson, and later forward Bernie Ibini, to Western Sydney.
With no replacement appointed, Craig Deans will take the reins at Central Coast Stadium on New Year s Eve. They ve still got the squad they had last year - they re missing Dimi Petratos who s obviously been a key player for them for two or three years but I m always wary of the wounded bull, Stajcic said.
Read More They ve taken a few hits to their pride but when you ve got players like (Nigel) Boogaard and (Nikolai) Topor-Stanley and (Roy) O Donovan and (Steven) Ugarkovic and Jack Duncan in goals now, (Jason) Hoffman - it s just a team filled with so much experience.