A-League season preview [part three]

Roar Pro

By Con Stamocostas, 10 Jul 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro

Tagged:: A-League, Adelaide United, Branko Culina, Brisbane Roar, football, Gary van Egmond, Gold Coast United, Mile Jedinak, New Zealand football, Sydney FC, Tahj Minniecon, Wellington Phoenix

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The third part of this A-League season preview looks at the chances of Brisbane Roar, Newcastle Jets, Wellington, and Central Coast.

Brisbane Roar (6th)
It will be a weird year for the Brisbane Roar. They have had a change of name and a new chairman in former state MP Chris Bombolas. Some of their supporters have been changing their allegiances to the two Queensland teams by going south (Gold Coast) or north (Townsville).

The Roar has lost Tahj Minniecon to Gold Coast United and Massimo Murdocca to a long term injury.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Not too many new signings: 24 year old Brazilian Henrique came late into the campaign and showed glimpses of skill that could be exciting to watch. Michael Zullo will be hoping to benefit from the second coming of Robbie Kruse, and then there is the Indonesian Dutchman with the Brazilian name Sergio Van Dijk, who was on fire during the second half of last season. Mitch Nichols and Tommy Oar are two other exciting players to watch out for.

PREDICTION
Brisbane to make the finals and perhaps even the grand final.

FAN CULTURE
The Den is not the best supporter’s end of the A-League, but can still Roar.

Newcastle Jets (7th)
The problem child of the A-League, with chairman Con Constantine either angry at the FFA or his own fans. The Jets have lost their coach, Gary Van Egmond, on the eve of the season to a job at the FFA coaching the AIS.

But no fear, Novocastrians, ‘sexy football’ disciple Branko Culina is the new boss.

The former coach of other Australian football clubs was at one point citing his then pay masters Sydney FC as being the “Manchester United” of the A-league. After Newcastle Jets come dead last year, will Branko be calling the Jets the “Newcastle United of the A-League?

One hopes not.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Have lost most of their good ones.

PREDICTION
Somewhere in the bottom four.

FAN CULTURE
The Squadron is situated in the worst home end, which is to the side of the play rather than behind. Being an ultra does not mean you should get a good view of the game.

Wellington (8th)
Wellington has lost some key players and still holds a tenuous place in the league. New Zealand could qualify for the World Cup in South Africa next year. Seven players from Wellington Phoenix could figure in South Africa. It will be good for New Zealand football, Wellington Phoenix and the A-League if that happens.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Diego from Adelaide United will add some quality and experience in the midfield, while Leo Bertos, Brazilian Daniel and Tim Brown are capable at times. Marco Rojas won a Yellow Fever scholarship worth $5000 that allowed him to train with the Phoenix for a week, and then got signed up on a two year deal.

PREDICTION
Will miss out on the finals, just.

FAN CULTURE
Supporter group Yellow Fever will be fearless and shirtless and singing “same old Aussies always cheating” all season.

Central Coast (9th)
Just switch off the machine because the Central Coast is dead. They need the word new to spring up. New players, perhaps a new coach, and please, for the sake of football and all who love it, a new way of playing would be good as well. Mile Jedinak can’t be that good for the Central Coast to have not won a game since he left.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
None. I am bored already not talking about them. New signings are on the horizon. Adrian Caceras is good to watch, but he is always in the bench. Mat Simon barnstorming style is starting to get him goals.

PREDICTION
Long balls, boredom, can I go now?

FAN CULTURE
The Marinators. At least someone is trying.

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The Crowd Says (43) | Page 1 of Comments

Cpaaa said | July 10th 2009 @ 7:56am | Report comment

just wanted to say loved the trilogy and waiting for midfielders reply to the mariners prediction.
It is the most anticipated season since the birth of the A-League, cant wait.

i wrote Perth of early before some good signings, lets hope their back to the Glory days.

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trevor said | July 10th 2009 @ 8:41am | Report comment

how i would love to see a gcu vs roar grand final. that will be sure to go off tap

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MVDave said | July 10th 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment

Given their prospects for this season as predicted by Con, the Mariners will become my 2nd team. l hope MV only beat them by 1 goal each time we play…as against MV belting all the other teams. Sorry Mid its the best l can do!

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Midfielder said | July 10th 2009 @ 9:14am | Report comment

Thanks Con you have as most failed in your research and analysis of the Mighty Mariners.. but it’s not your fault many do…

Everybody takes we don’t care
Nobody rates us we don’t care

Yoooooth the ball up field all day you blokes don’t know how to to a passing game … Ya Ya … heard it all before while I will admit sometimes that does happen .. I maintain not much more than any other side.. our problem last year was not scoring goals it was stopping them in fact for much of the year we played three up front…

I can recall last season when we played MV .. all night they played long balls to Archie … our two goals came off a series of passing and pushing movements .. we lost 3-2 .. next day the reporting was the complete opposite of how the match was played ..

However that is not to overly defend us because we have only produced Danny V, Jedi, Matty Simon, Heff from park or state team to Socceroo …, Meggy’s & Mrdja to national selection having never represented before their Mariner time. Made 2 grand finals in 4, only missed out on the finals once .. all on the smallest budget of any other club…

But I will consed we had a poor year and after Jedi left we fell totally apart … not that different to MV in Hal 3 after Fred left actually and we played similar …

Fozzie & Les love us and will say nice things cough cough and will give us plenty of support this year…

Remember the Center of Excellence as well .. construction starts soon … in time this is going to provide heaps of juniors…

Watch this Travis kid this year BTW …
our Midfield will be …Elrich … Travis…Huke … Caceras … Hutch …. Kwassie …. not bad BTW

Con on the new signings see below.

Singed for sure

Attacking Mid :Travis … could be the surprise packet of the years fast, excellent passing game.
Defensive Mid : Huke … IMO this guy will be a Halroo
Central Defender: Doig … we need him badly + some more
Left Mid: Kwassie … solid bench player

On Trial Strikers: Wales, McGlinchley, with the assumption these are A-League quality or higher. Note McGlinchley was in the Scootish Under 20 side and was signed by Celtic… has had a bad run with injuries and at only 22 and wanting to prove to all he is back ….could be the signing of the year..if he is and remains fit.

Others on trial not sure of their positions; Lim Dong Sup and Milos Lujic + next week we’ve got three more coming in from overseas. Link http://www.theworldgame.com.au/a-league/mariners-seek-capital-gain-202842

Youth League players Signed
Left Back: Sherlock
Centre Mid: Lewis

Returning from Injury:
Right Mid : Elrich … IMO only behind Culnna as a singing …
Striker: Mrdja … if he can remain fit a very creative player

Summary

8 new or returning from injury players, plus another 7 players on trial.

Off to work for heaps long today … tax time to much to do …. Fire Up Midfielder … Fire Up … no time to check or edit…

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Pippinu said | July 10th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment

Is there still one more team to be reviewed??

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MVDave said | July 10th 2009 @ 9:45am | Report comment

After Midfielders analysis/preview post above l reneg on having CCM as my second team…now l dislike them just as much as the rest and hope we belt them also!!

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whiskeymac said | July 10th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment

every season the mariners are written off, every year they stick it up the detractors. with 6 finalists they have a very good chance of making it through to the finals -again. McGlinchley cld be a great signing -played for Celtic at 19….

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Con Stamocostas said | July 10th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment

Midfielder,

I can’t fit jokes, mocking. research and analysis when writing about the coast, it’s takes to much space.

But cheers for your research. none of those players mean anything.

Central Coast seem to be targeting players from the lower leagues of England, perfect for the Central Coast.

Cheers for the kind words Cpaaa. I will look forward to watching Perth this season.

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Koala Bear said | July 10th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment

As a newly found supporter of the GCU FC, I thought Fulham were ever so lucky not to go down to us “new kids on the block” by more… It could have been 3-1 only for a miraculous save by Socceroo’s Schwarzer … all credit to him tho … that would have been very embarrassing for the EPL tourists who finished somewhere in the top 7 of the EPL season…

Of course Melbourne Victory will have to show something special on Saturday night to emulate what “the new kids on the block” have achieved in their first major outing… Quite frankly tho, I don’t think MV has it in them to scale to the same heights as us “the new kids on the block” have demonstrated…

Yes from MV we’ll have the usual excuses in the post media interview, as they always do, after a heavy defeat … like not having any quality preparation or the usual conspiracy theory that Messrs Frank Lowy, Ben Buckley, FFA and the referee’s association are trying to undermine their 2009/10 campaign and kick’em out of the HAL in favour of the newly proposed Hearts FC franchise…

But quiet frankly they really are a poor excuse for a Footballing team that could never be considered playing attractive football or the Joga Bonito beautiful game that we “the new kids on the block” show at “Fortress Miron” ….

~~~~~~~
KB

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Con Stamocostas said | July 10th 2009 @ 10:36am | Report comment

The Gold Coast could make everyone look silly this season KB.

I think the Jet planes and their confidence should all go under the Salary Cap.

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