Expectation was instant on Robinson when he made the controversial decision to walk out on Newcastle in October last year to take up the Wanderers job after less than eight months at the Jets.

Robinson overhauled the Wanderers squad, earning something of a reputation for poaching talent from rival clubs as Bernie Ibini (Newcastle), Ziggy Gordon (Central Coast) and James Troisi (Adelaide) all came in.

Experienced British players Graham Dorrans and Jordan Mutch were also lured to Australia by the ex-Wales international.

A campaign that started strongly faded, however, and the Wanderers finished eighth with some fans questioning Robinson's position after a finals drought stretching back to 2017 was extended.

"We just missed out last year which hurt ... there was lots of positives but at the end of the day we didn't reach our target which was playoffs," Robinson told AAP.

"Sometimes you have to reflect and you have to own that and then you have to do something about it.

"My main job in the off-season was right, OK, try and rectify what I felt was wrong, what I needed to do and all be on the same page.

"Which I thought was important because there's no point half of us rowing in one direction and the other half rowing in the other direction."

The Wanderers have undergone another squad overhaul - this time focusing on talent with a western Sydney connection.

It's a philosophy Robinson feels is vital to a club which became synonymous with its community on its entry to the league in 2012, experiencing sustained success under Tony Popovic.

"Last year in the season while trying to get results, I come to the conclusion that I believed that there wasn't enough players that actually knew what the values of Western Sydney were," Robinson said.

"Which is hard work, fight, spirit, togetherness - because that's what the community is about.

"My target this year was identify all Australian players first of all that have got a connection to western Sydney, that understand the values of western Sydney people and western Sydney fans and try and get them on board."

Dorrans and Mutch were out, joining an exodus of 11 players that also included club captain Dylan McGowan and imports Nicolai Muller and Patrick Ziegler.

As promised local products were in - with Dimi Petratos, Ramy Najjarine, Terry Antonis and Steven Ugarkovic among the new faces.

Robinson also turned to the experience of ex-Socceroos defender Rhys Williams and Israeli forward Tomer Hemed, with the club's 10th campaign looming as vital to the reputation of both the Wanderers and their 45-year-old coach.

"It was my first year in Australia. I'm new to it. I'm an international coach and everyone knows that," Robinson said.

"International coaches usually go and sign international players because apparently they are the best players by all accounts but if you look at my team at the moment we still have two international spots left.

"Now I've had time to reflect I've got the values in players which I think this football club needs to add to the talented youngsters that we've got."

Australian Associated Press