Surprise, it’s the A-League
Another A-League season begins tonight when Adelaide United take on Sydney FC. With half the 10 teams bringing in new managers, and a host of big-name import signings, Stuff football writer Liam Hyslop expects surprises aplenty this season.
ADELAIDE UNITED
Key ins: Michael Jakobsen (Melbourne City FC), Craig Goodwin (Sparta Rotterdam), Ken Ilso (unattached), Mirko Boland (Eintracht Braunschweig)
Key outs: Johan Absalonsen, Ben Garuccio, Daniel Adlung, Ersan Gulum
Last season: Fifth (regular season), lost elimination final
What to expect: Marco Kurz looks primed to build on a promising first season in charge of the Reds. He did lose three of his imports, but has replaced them well. The acquisition of Socceroo Craig Goodwin appears a good one.
Prediction: Fifth
BRISBANE ROAR
Key ins: Adam Taggart (Perth Glory), Stefan Mauk (NEC Nijmegen), Tobias Mikkelsen (Nordsjaelland), Alex Lopez (Sporting Gijon)
Key outs: Massimo Maccarone, Corey Brown (Victory), Fahid Ben Khalfallah, Michael Theo, Ivan Franjic (Glory)
Last season: Sixth, lost elimination final
What to expect: Another season rolls in for John Aloisi. The off-field issues which have previously plagued them seem to be a thing of the past. Their onfield recruitment has been solid.
Prediction: Ninth
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Key ins: Michael McGlinchey (Wellington Phoenix), Kalifa Cisse (BEC Tero Sasana), Ross McCormack (Aston Villa – loan), Tommy Oar (unattached)
Key outs: Storm Roux (Victory), Wout Brama, Alan Baro, Daniel De Silva (Sydney FC – loan)
Last season: 10th
What to expect: They could be this season’s Newcastle Jets, rocketing up the table from last year’s wooden spoon. Or they could be the Mariners. The additions of Ross McCormack and Tommy Oar up front add much-needed firepower, but their defence might let them down again.
Prediction: 10th
MELBOURNE CITY
Key ins: Michael O’Halloran (Rangers), Riley McGree (Club Brugge, loan), Florin Berenguer (FC Sochaux), Richie De Laet (Aston Villa – loan)
Key outs: Stefan Mauk (Roar), Michael Jakobsen (Adelaide), Daniel Arzani (Manchester City), Dean Bouzanis (PEC Zwolle – loan)
Last season: Third, lost semifinal
What to expect: Another year into the City Football Group’s Australian project, and this one looks their strongest offering yet. O’Halloran adds firepower to a squad already containing Bruno Fornaroli, while Riley McGree – the scorer of that wondergoal for Newcastle last year – brings a spark to their midfield.
Prediction: Second
MELBOURNE VICTORY
Key ins: Georg Niedermeier (SC Freiburg), Keisuke Honda (unattached), Ola Toivonen (Toulouse), Raul Baena (Granada – loan)
Key outs: James Donachie, Besart Berisha, Rhys Williams, Leroy George
Last season: Fourth, champions
What to expect: The losses of Berisha and George looked to be huge for the defending champions. Then they brought Ola Toivonen and Keisuke Honda, who scored for Sweden and Japan respectively at the World Cup this year. Storm Roux and Corey Brown increase their solidity at the back alongside Niedermeier. The team to beat.
Prediction: First
NEWCASTLE JETS
Key ins: Matthew Ridenton (Wellington Phoenix), Jair Eduardo Britto da Silva (Yanbian Funde), Mitch Austin (Melbourne Victory)
Key outs: Riley McGree (loan ends), Pato Rodriguez
Last season: Second, lost final
What to expect: The most stable squad of the league, but will that count against them? Teams will know what to expect from the Jets and should know how to counteract that. It might seem odd to tip the beaten finalists not to make the playoffs the following season, but regression could be coming.
Prediction: Eighth
PERTH GLORY
Key ins: Tomislav Mrcela (unattached), Matthew Spiranovic (unattached), Juan de Dios Prados Lopez (unattached), Chris Ikonomidis (Lazio)
Key outs: Adam Taggart (Roar), Xavi Torres, Andreu Last season: Eighth
What to expect: Former Wanderers coach Tony Popovic takes over from Kenny Lowe after a season to forget. He’s lured a host of Socceroos past and present to Western Australia to complement the already talented lineup of Diego Castro and Andy Keogh.
Prediction: Fourth
SYDNEY FC
Key ins: Daniel De Silva (Central Coast Mariners – loan), Jop van der Linden (AZ Alkmaar), Adam Le Fondre (Bolton), Siem de Jong (Ajax – loan)
Key outs: Jordy Buijs, Luke Wilkshire, Bobo, Adrian Mierzejewski
Last season: First, lost semifinal
What to expect: Coach Graham Arnold has moved on to the Socceroos gig, with his deputy Steve Corica stepping into the breach. It’s a difficult act to follow, but one which the likes of Le Fondre and de Jong should help him navigate.
Prediction: Third
WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Key ins: Steven Taylor (Peterborough United), Filip Kurto (Roda JC), Mitch Nichols (unattached), Mandi (Almeria)
Key outs: Michael McGlinchey (Mariners), Matthew Ridenton (Jets), Marco Rossi, Andrija Kaludjerovic Last season: Ninth
What to expect: New coach Mark Rudan will attempt to return the Phoenix to their good old days, when it was tough to play at Westpac Stadium. Taylor helps with defensive stability, but the real question remains around who will be scoring all the goals with the club lacking a starting-quality No 9.
Prediction: Sixth
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
Key ins: Bruce Kamau (Melbourne City), Danijel Nizic (unattached), Patrick Ziegler (Kaiserslautern), Alexander Baumjohann (EC Vitoria)
Key outs: Jack Clisby (Mariners), Michael Thwaite (released), Chris Ikonomidis (loan ends), Brendon Santalab (Perth Glory)
Last season: Seventh
What to expect: Markus Babbel takes over arguably the most difficult job in the A-League. They did make it to the FFA Cup semifinals though, so the signs are positive enough, but they shape as a similar team to last year.
Prediction: Seventh