"I think ever since [former coach Tony Popovic] left it’s been an unsettled ship," he said. "I think everybody can see that ... We never got going, we never got the rhythm and that has to change. Whatever that is, it’s out of my control."

The club's all-time leading goal-scorer scoffed at previous suggestions that the Wanderers' plight was due to the coaching upheaval at the start of the season, saying there had been plenty of time for Popovic's replacement to enforce a new playing style and that the players had the quality to have adapted to any changes.

"When you have a squad like that and you don’t make the finals, something’s not right. I mean, what a team that is, [look at] the names!" Santalab said. "If you looked at our pre-season, you would have put us up there as title contenders. There's no excuse with all the changes and everything. For me, you had an incredible group of players, great footballers and should be doing more."

We never got the rhythm and that has to change. Whatever that is, it’s out of my control. Western Sydney Wanderers' striker, Brendon Santalab, said.

Gombau has talked about it being a lengthy "process" to change the club's playing style to a more attacking and possession-based system. After inheriting an undefeated team that was sitting in fourth place after round five, the Wanderers struggled under him, losing 10 of their 22 games, winning seven and struggling for consistency.