I'm not sure how you figure that when we've had nothing more than hot air from the franchise. When they start displaying proper plans and permits, then I'll believe.

The major question about this franchise is quite simple;

WHO CARES?

Displaying them where, in your PM box?

Or, if you don't care, don't worry about it.

An announcement on their website and/or socials will suffice :)

Imagine if WSW had been playing in Wollongong until BankWest was built... that’s basically the Sydney equivalent of what Western Melbourne will be doing.

Considering how turbulent it was whilst WSW were playing at Homebush (which is only 20 mins down the road from Parra), I have no idea how WM are going to make this work.

7,000+ people following them on FB seem to care. 

The kids at Geelong Grammar School seemed to care. 

The kids at Northern Bay P-12 College too. 

And Corpus Christi Primary School. 

And North Geelong Secondary College. 

And Korinda International College. 

And St Joseph’s College. 

So ......?

Think their squad is incredibly unbalanced and lacking a hell of a lot of quality. They've got what 6 CBs signed now? All of them at the same level. 
Amazing they still don't have any quality attackers. They're going to try to bore teams to sleep with such a defensive outlook. 

how do you know the kids care? afl clubs can go to schools in china as well do they care? 

How do we know anyone cares about Melbourne City?

If you don't care that's fine, just maybe try and find something more productive to do with your time than bitching about WMU before they have even kicked a ball.

nobody does care about melbourne city atm that's why i am even more worried that western united will be a failure.

I am not being negative for the sake of it i really want them to work and be a success 

Given what Mark Rudan was able to achieve at WP last season, I think people are far too quick to judge about the squad. 

There are still 3 spots for visa players to fill, and a dood mix of youth and experience already signed, so I tend to think their squad is actually better balanced than most give them credit for. 

I agree. 

Assuming Rudan is sticking with the same formation, all they need need is a Visa striker, Visa mid and a left wing back to compete with Pain.

The only bad signing they have made imo is McDonald.

I think the starting XI will look like this:

Kurto
Calver Durante Gulum
Risdon Chapman Visa New
Kone
Stamatelopoulos Visa

And the second XI to look like this:
Delianov
Aspro Hamill -
Pierias Pasquali Cavallo Pain
Burgess
Yuel Mcdonald

The starting XI is quiet good imo while the second XI will provide plenty of depth.

I didn’t mind the McDonald signing, especially if he doesn’t mind being an impact player and transitions to another role at the club at the end of the season. 

The reality is though that I would hope that players like Pasquali and Pierias can make the starting XI fairly quickly. They have the potential to do it, and I think Rudan’s style lends itself to be the manager to give them that chance. 

Will be interesting to see how he manages the expectations of the defenders though, given the amount of similar players he has signed in that area. Gulum may not mind not playing each week given that he had effectively retired, but the rest will be interesting to see.

In the bloody local press or a social media release.  I live in the area and we have heard nothing from wu . All I see is them going to geelong schools.  Nothing in the area they supposed to represent.  

Personally I think McDonald was a ridiculous signing but let’s agree to disagree.

I also want the likes of Pasquali and Pierias starting soon. I can see a visa mod being signed for a season or two before Pasquali is promoted to the starting XI. I can’t see Pierias starting though with Risdon at the club.

Agree with you on the CB’s but I think Dura will be in the same boat as Gulum.

They also represent Geelong, and will play there for at least 2 years, so it makes sense they are trying to focus there first.

On FNR the other night, it was stated that WU have signed a 2 year deal to train at the new City Vista sporting complex in Fraser Rise (Caroline Springs George Cross’ new home base). This will provide them with ample opportunity to engage with the Western Suburbs of Melbourne also.

They do need to lift their overall game though as the strategy does seem a bit too ad hoc for my liking. Horvat goes on numerous interviews on radio and podcast shows and seems to say the same things over and over about engagement, yet I see very little of it in action.

It takes time to facitate the design, provide preliminary cost estimates and schedule the construction (which may affect cost) and have it ready for submission for the Approvals and Permits. It doesn’t come that quick.

The only reason I saw McDonald as a decent optio is because of his experience, and the fact he will feel like he has something to prove in this country before he retires. He will likely be hungry to see success.

The downside though is that a younger player will likely miss out on an opportunity.

I agree with you about Durante. Another one that may well see less minutes, whether he expects it or not. 

 They should he doing a lot more in bloody the Wyndham area considering they have local council support. Yes engange geelong but what about tarneit secondary? It hoppers crossing? Werribee et al . 

They promised theyll have the first excavators digging when they got the licence. Nope. Nothing from them or Wyndham council updates.  Since they got the bid. Our local member hasnt updated us .There is a quietness from planning down here in the council as the planning area is at loggerheads .I know  this as my neighbour works for Wyndham council planning 

Maybe their communications is lacking but it is impossible to commence “digging” immediately they received the license. It’s against the building regulations / act and is illegal. Notwithstanding you need a design and detail construction drawings.

Agree on that, however I still think there’s a significant role they need Geelong to take in making this work for the first few years. 

The interesting thing is that they won’t even be training in Wyndham for the first couple of years (City Vista is in the City of Melton). 

Given that Rudan has apparently stated the club want the players to live in the Western Region to connect with the area, will be interesting to see where they end up. If they had been training in Geelong for a couple of years, I’m sure many would have preferred to be living along the coast :)

You're right and I think a lot of the problems have been caused by the short timeframe. They have so much to do in very little time, meaning their resources are stretched. It should of been Macarthur in this coming season and WU in the year after.

Agree, but WSW self interest put a stop to that. 

We needed a new team in the competition for the upcoming season and WU and Team 11 both had to overcome many hurdles, even though the latter likely had less of those to face.

I tend to think the statements by WU representatives were fairly naive though given the complexity of getting projects of that scale over the line. 

Again they promised to have digging done right away when they got the licence. A lot of people are pissed because of that promise. Which they shouldn't  of made . Yes planning and design takes a while. But the lesson is never ever say you'll have construction  started right away . 

Did they say they’d start “digging straight away” though. 

Any fully grown adult knows what planning permission is. 

From Fox Sports article the day after being announced as the 11th club in the A-League:-

The clubs first agenda item though, is to act upon the land agreement with Wyndham Council and get the various permits approved - which, they have been assured, will be fast-tracked.

Horvat says they will be turning dirt “at the very first opportunity."

Yes they did. Pretty naive from them to say it and people believed it. 

That opportunity has long gone - 20/21 looking godd if the FFA don;t have to bankroll.