Blame the FFA for this, they went for the safer option rather than working with the Victorian govt. to get Team 11 over the line.

Completely unrealistic imo. I’ll think they’ll struggle to crack 5k imo.

what's the expectations for them next season?

I would say a pass mark would be a crowd of 10k at least 

Basically imo they are following the Gold Coast United model, no fan engagement or any consultation with fans but putting together a reasonable squad for season 1.
They are hoping that having a competitive squad will bring in the fans but it won’t.

What they desperately need is the equivalent of a Matt Windley from Team 11 bid.
He has and continues to do excellent promotion and PR for team 11 by heading to local clubs and grassroots football promoting their region and the sport in general.
Western United has done basically zero in this regard and considering junior registration nights would be on around this time of year. They are missing big opportunities to put their brand out there.

Is anyone else out there feeling a bit underwhelmed by this whole Western United bid? 
I know they appear to be getting their on-field act together but I'm very curious as to where they are getting their supporters from; and then, once they get them, how they are going to keep them?  I get that if they were opening up shop from day #1 with games at their home base in the Tarniet area it would be straightforward enough.  Market to the local (particularly ethnic origin) communities on the 'build it and they will come' strategy.  The problem is the 'build it' thingy won't happen for two or three years!  
It seem they are either going to play their games in Geelong and / or maybe even at Docklands for at least the first two seasons.  A club that is opening it's doors with no established fan base, is going to be on a two/three season road trip up to 50 km's away from where their primary fans are going to be living.  If they end up in Kardinia Park the Geelong community are unlikely to be interested because the club are effectively transient visitors, not much different to the Victory games held there. 
Wanderers spent a few seasons building up an incredibly strong supporter base but as soon as they moved to Spotless their fan base started to fall apart.  Part of that was due distance and part due to games being held in a soulless AFL stadium.  It will be the same for Western United, except of course that they won't have had the luxury of establishing a local, vocal 'home' fan base beforehand. 
The remaining question I have is, is this an area that is even hungry for a team?  Is there the same groundswell of support amongst the population out there, the same way it appeared there was for the failed South East Team 11 bid?   
My fear is that this whole thing could go horribly wrong with the FFA seemingly ignoring the lack of a solid fan base and the inevitable years of transience; they seemed rather more enticed by the supposed promise of football infrastructure (not to mention the multi-million bid fee).   
What if their games end up attracting Gold Coast United-esque crowds?   Do you think the developers will push forward with the proposed 12-15,000 boutique stadium if their first two-season 'crowds' barely are?  
I really hope that I am wrong, I'm a Vuck supporter and love the idea of a genuine away Derby, but frankly for me it's looking less like a exciting Tarniet bound train trip and more like a slo-mo train wreck!    The last thing football in this country needs is another embarrassing disaster.    

Its amazing isn't it. SA is THE football state and the Vics know it. Unfortunately most kids will jump at the chance to head to Melbs for a while too, something different, big stinking city etc.. and they take full advantage of that.
Adelaide needs to learn to retain its players and it needs greater upper tier clubs to reflect that.

Anoyher paywalled link, who've they snapped up?

Happy for anyone from the NPL coming into the A-league.

There is talent there and i hope they succeed

Apparently Bentleigh Greens winger, Valentino Yuel is going to be their next signing.

Geez Vic clubs sure love poaching SA talent...

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/local-soccer-sa/90-minutes-adelaide-comets-coach-explains-resignation-western-united-tracks-sa-talent-polonia-reserves-holy-history/news-story/feb619e82d6ce717ec3c7a723fce4744

I can't believe he's only 29. Feels like he's been around forever

someone made a good point in the wmg group they should go for alexandre pato he is now a free agent 

Linked to Dylan Pierias. Hope they give him more of a go than City did
https://dailyfootballshow.com/exclusive-western-united-set-to-nab-melbourne-city-teenager/

The WSW concession was because the club had to assemble a team in 6 weeks and the concern was there weren't enough local players available at the time. 

While this concern isn't there, I don't mind it. Gives the incoming club a bit of a boost and stops recycling to a degree.

Only if its Dino Kersinger its allowed.

They shouldn't. They're allegedly ultra rich, why don't they just bring good imports?

How the fuck is that allowed? If they do that, us (and City) need to reciprocate at our home games.

Are WU getting an extra import slot? Similar to the Wanderers first season?

Usually succeed on your attacking imports anyway.

Add in 3 more imports that are decent and they could be anywhere between 5th-8th

brad inman i always try to buy him on football manager 

If you lumped all the rumours into one team:

Well it looks like Western are going to have a great NPL side judging by their signings and rumoured signings. 

They will be playing all games out of Tarneit stadium including derbies. i have heard they will be capping the away team numbers to minimise the possibility of being outnumbered at home like what happens to City at home derbies. i don't know how that would work as Victory fans could just buy tix in other areas anyway. 


yep. whitten oval is literally about 2km from the site of the new Victory football academy. but we're only talking about 5-6 games over 2 years at most.   

....and probably will continue to be.

The whole of Victoria has been "Victory territory" until now.

Both of those are right in Victory territory.

 I'd like to see them play at Knights Stadium if they're allowed to otherwise I agree with you on Whitten Oval.
I just had a look at it and although shocking, at least it's in the area and isn't over 35k capacity like in Geelong.

No I'd still keep it at their new 15k stadium. Is rather look at examples like in England where the small clubs play at their home ground regardless of what sort of crowd they'll get at a bigger venue. 
14k WUFC fans and allocate 1k to MV fans or something similar. 

Agree on Testardi but because he's Italian Val keeps fapping over him in all of his articles. 

Opening the link again usually works.

Paywall. Testardi looks uninspiring