A-League Season Preview - Part 2
The A-League returns tomorrow with 10 teams vying for the illustrious title. Check out 7sport.com.au's season preview and predictions for the top six.
Melbourne Victory
Coach: Kevin Muscat
Captain: Carl Valeri
Ins: Danny Vukovic, Oliver Bozanic
Outs: Nathan Coe, Andrew Nabbout, Jordan Brown, Mark Milligan
Positives: The reigning champions have barely missed a beat since winning the A-League title last season, reaching the FFA Cup semi-final with relative ease. Maintaining the majority of the squad will also help them on their way to defending their Premier's Plate. The signings of Danny Vukovic and Oliver Bozanic definitely cover for the losses of Nathan Coe and Mark Milligan.
Negatives: Not many things that may halt Victory, apart form the AFC Champions League from February onwards.
Predicted finish – 1st
A-League Season Preview - Part 1
Sydney FC
Coach: Graham Arnold
Captain: Alex Brosque
Ins: Milos Ninkovic, Riley Woodcock, Brandon O’Neill, Andrew Hoole, Mickael Tavares, Jacques Faty, Zac Anderson, Filip Holosko, Milos Dimitrijevic, Matt Simon, Alex Mullen, Ivan Necevski, Jacob Tratt
Outs: Sasa Ognenovski, Nick Carle, Hagi Gligor, Peter Triantis, Ivan Necevski, Bernie Ibini, Corey Gameiro, Marc Janko, Nikola Petkovic, Terry Antonis
Positives: Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold told 7sport.com.au his side’s depth has increased with the aim of competing in both the A-League and AFC Asian Champions League this season. “When you add the experienced players around (youngsters) I think it creates a very good mix,” Arnold said.
“Filip Holosko has been in outstanding at training… fortunately he can play anywhere across the front line. He can play the number 9, 10, 7 or 11 so it gives me a lot of good headaches of where to fit everyone in.
“We’ve got Andrew Hoole - the player of the year from Newcastle - who has come down, Kiki Naumoff, who did exceptionally well at the back end of last season, as well as Alex Brosque and Shane Smeltz, and Milos Ninkovic who is an outstanding player, I think he will be one that excites the A-League enormously.
“I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t want to become premiers, champions, win the ACL and win every trophy.”
Negatives: Will the squad be strong enough to compete in both the A-League and AFC Asian Champions League? Arnold has admitted he will rely on the youngsters to play from February onwards.
“They will be called upon to add energy, enthusiasm but also they recover much quicker than the older players so we will lean on them a lot in the back end of the season and I am very confident that they are the ones that will do well for us,” Arnold said.
Predicted finish – 2nd
Melbourne City
Coach: John van’t Schip
Captain: Patrick Kisnorbo
Ins: Steve Kuzmanovski, Ivan Franjic, Corey Gameiro, Harry Novillo, Aaron Hughes, Michael Zullo, Bruno Fornaroli, Thomas Sorensen, Jason Trifiro
Outs: Andrew Redmayne, Josh Kennedy, Mate Dugandzic, Kew Jaliens, Damien Duff, Iain Ramsay, Robbie Wielaert, Massimo Murdocca, Jason Hoffman
Positives: The clear, in-form team in the pre-season, Melbourne City are playing the attacking style of football that can lead them to greatness this season. Midfielder Aaron Mooy has progressed in leaps and bounds and is now leading the team around the park. Impressive off-season signings will also help.
Negatives: Expectations are high since the club was bought by English Premier League side Manchester City, and that could cause a problem. A good start to the season is vital.
Predicted finish – 3rd
Adelaide United
Coach: Guillermo Amor
Captain: Eugene Galekovic
Ins: Iacopo La Rocca, Bruce Kamau, George Mells, Eli Babalj, Mate Dugandzic
Outs: Nigel Boogaard, Miguel Palanca, Cam Watson, Paul Izzo, Awer Mabil
Positives: Adelaide have largely kept their side in tact whilst adding experience and style in Mate Dugandzic, Eli Babalj and Iacopo La Rocca. Midfielder Marcelo Carrusca will continue to be the chief architect out of midfield supported by the likes of Isaías and Cirio.
Negatives: A new coach and change of style. Adelaide perplexed their opposition with their fast-moving, possession-based football and if this is to change it will made a big difference.
Predicted finish – 4th
Perth Glory
Coach: Kenny Lowe
Captain: Richard Garcia
Ins: Ante Covic, Antony Golec, Jerrad Tyson, Alex Grant, Hagi Gligor György Sándor , Diego Castro, Marc Warren, Guyon Fernandez
Outs: Danny Vukovic, Scott Jamieson, Brandon O’Neill, Daniel De Silva, Youssouf Hersi, Jack Duncan, Rostyn Griffiths, Riley Woodcock, Dragan Paljic, Jamie Maclaren, Andy Keogh
Positives: Foreign players Nebojsa Marinkovic and Diego Castro are set to lead from the front for Glory. The Serbian has a great way of dictating play and despite not scoring many goals, those he does put away are screamers.
Negatives: A major loss of personnel after their salary cap scandal. Despite bringing in players the squad might still be a little thin.
Predicted finish – 5th
Western Sydney Wanderers
Coach: Tony Popovic
Captain: Nikolai Topor-Stanley
Ins: Andrew Redmayne, Scott Jamieson, Scott Neville, Jacob Pepper, Andreu Guerao Mayoral, Mitch Nichols, Federico Piovaccari, Dimas Delgado, Alberto Aguilar, Dario Vidosic
Outs: Matthew Spiranovic, Ante Covic, Yusuke Tanaka, Jason Trifiro, Nick Ward, Adrian Madaschi, Yianni Perkatis, Nikita Rukavytsya, Kerem Bulut, Tomi Juric, Nick Kalmar, Antony Golec, Steve Kuzmanovski, Yojiro Takahagi, Iacopo La Rocca, Mateo Poljak, Labinot Haliti.
Positives: A change of style may be on the way for the Wanderers. New assistant coach Andres Carrasco is sure to have put his stamp on the side’s attacking game after making a name for themselves with their defending capacity. Couple that with attacking threats, including Fererico Piovaccari and midfielders Dario Vidosic and Mitch Nichols, and the goals could fly this year.
Negatives: A near complete change in personnel may take time to gel. Ante Covic would also be difficult to replace, with Andrew Redmayne and Dean Bouzanis fairly inexperienced at the top level.