Gombau of Thrones: King of Coaches, Saviour of Pissants?

Josep Gombau’s first season in charge of Adelaide has been a tale of controversy throughout. Despite being voted in as A-League All-Stars coach (and thus, arguably, the most popular manager in the A-League), questions continue to be asked by rival fans and the media as to whether he’s a genius or a farce.

As I wrote previously, given Adelaide’s history of turmoil and upheavals, it was surprising that the Reds faithful backed in their unheralded manager after the longest winless run in the club’s existence.

They were then immediately rewarded with a 4-0 annihilation of the Mariners, and the Reds would go on to win many admirers with their often excellent passing game. Meanwhile, Gombau’s sideline eruptions put paid to the notion that foreign coaches don’t give a toss about Australian clubs, players and fans.

Gombau became ‘the king of coaches’ and after #ShitGoalkeeperGate Adelaide-based football reporter Val Migliaccio started comparing Josep to Jose.

Gombau also found time to run a free coaching course for local coaches, while his influence could also been seen in Adelaide United’s youth team. The ‘Baby Reds’ finished 4^th in the National Youth League, playing some fantastic possession football along the way – as this goals compilation shows.

Through Gombau’s contacts, United were also able to send a youth team to compete in the prestigious MIC Tournament in Barcelona and, incredibly, have since signed former FC Barcelona legend Guillermo Amor as technical director, a major coup for an A-League club.

However, not everyone is ready to proclaim Gombau the messiah of Pissant town just yet. Adelaide’s decision to extend Gombau’s contract by a further two years saw the name of Sith Lord Rini Coolen invoked. United certainly cannot afford another Coolen situation, where they won just 2 from the first 11 games (having finished 3^rd the previous campaign) playing atrocious football. But it seems unlikely the Reds will collapse in a similar manner this season.

Unlike Coolen, who lost or moved on regulars Marcos Flores, Travis Dodd, Robert Cornthwaite, Iain Fyfe, Lucas Pantelis, Adam Hughes, Mathew Leckie and Paul Reid, Gombau will have the majority of his key squad members returning. Nor has Gombau brought in any disinterested imports.

Furthermore, Gombau seems to be genuinely loved by both the players and the supporters, so another slow start may not be met with an open revolt in the stands like Coolen’s ill-fated sophomore effort, regardless of what is printed in the papers or said on TV by pundits.

As pointed out by football journalist Vince Rugari, chairman Greg Griffin was barely heard from this season; as good a sign as any that progress is being made off the park as well as on it.

Unlike at the end of the 2012/13 campaign, where club captain Eugene Galekovic threatened to walk out of the club, there’s a positive feeling at Hindmarsh despite the earlier than expected exit from the finals and lower ladder position.

Ex-Reds manager John Kosmina, who often critques his former side through the media, claimed that Gombau’s tactical tweaks were to blame for the Reds’ disappointing exit from the finals in Gosford. This theory was debunked by tactical wunderkind Tim Palmer in his detailed analysis of the game.

As Palmer noted: “Although the Cirio as false nine experiment backfired, it’s somewhat difficult to suggest what Gombau could have done differently… There’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to approach [the Mariners’ game-plan]: it’s simply very difficult to beat.”

That said, there’s no doubt that there are some lessons to be learned for Gombau from Adelaide’s late season struggles, where the Reds were fortunate to beat Wellington, then stole a last minute draw at home to the Heart before flat losses against the Jets and the Mariners.

And Gombau clearly knows this, claiming the Reds will prepare to switch from their usual 4-3-3 to a 3-4-3 when teams sit deep against them.

The Reds rolled out their new 3-4-3 formation to great success against Brisbane in last week’s 2-0 FFA Cup win, completely dominating an admittedly understrength Roar side with a high pressing game plan in a match that could (and perhaps should) have been over at half time.

Michael Zullo’s return to Holland and the disappointing exit of Jon McKain have seen Adelaide bring Dylan McGowan and Craig Goodwin home as direct replacements; however, the pair lack the experience of their predecessors and will also have to quickly acclimatise to Gombau’s game plan.

Exciting but erratic forward Jeronimo has been let go, with Spanish import Pablo Sanchez taking his place in the squad. Sanchez, however, seems a more dynamic player than Jeronimo, as evidenced by successfully playing on the right of the midfield quartet against the Roar. Therefore the Reds are likely still in the hunt for a direct back-up for striker Bruce Djite, with Bayswater City’s Gustavo Giron Marulanda currently on trial. Reds stalwart Cassio, who missed most of last season with injury and will turn 35 during the this campaign, is an ongoing concern regarding his long-term prospects.

A major issue facing United is whether it can afford to stay at Coopers Stadium. Though considered home by most Reds fans and recently given a face-lift, there’s obviously no point sticking around if the rent would send the club into bankruptcy.

The upcoming season looms as a massive one for Gombau’s men. There is an expectation that the Reds will go on after laying the foundation this season and win it all. This, of course, is easier said than done, especially for a club like Adelaide United.

No doubt many are waiting for any sign of a stumble from Gombau, while meetings between the Reds and former Adelaide assistant Phil Stubbins’ Jets will be closely scrutinised and potentially provide further ammunition.

Of course, that is not to say that Gombau’s stewardship of the Reds shouldn’t be closely examined. Any criticism should, however, be impartial and balanced.

Though once again left without silverware or even ACL qualification, Reds fans will be hoping that the 2013/14 season was a turning point in the club’s history rather than yet another false dawn – and that pieces like Kosmina’s unfortunately timed ‘Annual Implosion’ article stay in the nether realms of the internet, to where it has since been banished by News Ltd.

Shoot Farken wishes to thank Jeff Vatuvei @AardigOranje for the sensational illustration of Josep Gombau.