A-League season preview [part three]
Roar Guru By Con Stamocostas, 10 Jul 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
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- 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.
Recommend this story.
July 10th 2009 @ 10:40am
Koala Bear said | July 10th 2009 @ 10:40am | Report comment
Con,
the polit is under the salery cap… Captain Miron….
~~~~~~~~~
KB
July 10th 2009 @ 10:44am
Finno said | July 10th 2009 @ 10:44am | Report comment
I think the place prdictions have been pretty accurate so far, I do think that there will be an upset in the A- league I think one of the teams predicted not to make the finals will.
1. Roar
2. Syd
3. GCU
4. Reds
5. Perth
6. Wellington
7. VIC
8. New
9. Fury
10. CCM
you know it makes sense.
Think we should get a tipping comp up and running if the Roar aint running one i will set one up …
July 10th 2009 @ 11:05am
Art Sapphire said | July 10th 2009 @ 11:05am | Report comment
Finno – You say one of the teams predicted not to make the finals will make the finals and then I look at your predictions.
Then that team must be Victory! It might be a surprise to you but not to anyone else.
How you have them placed below the Nix is quite audacious to say the least.
July 10th 2009 @ 11:36am
Finno said | July 10th 2009 @ 11:36am | Report comment
yeah surprise packet the Nix this year im betting the VIC will fall apart due to injuries and I hate them, mainly Muscat. Thompson is over rated. we shall see if Fulham give them a touch up. 5-1. fulham,.
But like I said tipping comp should be created so that I an eat humble pie
July 10th 2009 @ 12:11pm
md said | July 10th 2009 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
Bit hard on the Bogans! What they have is a good grass roots football club and some decent youth. If Laurie unleashes the kids, they will play fast and fearless football, the base of which will be the ‘ardasnails Poms that Laurie is targeting. Think of them as a poor man’s Melbourne. It will not be high quality football perhaps, but they will bother a lot of teams. I have them finishing 7th or 8th.
Cheers
md
July 10th 2009 @ 12:18pm
David V. said | July 10th 2009 @ 12:18pm | Report comment
I think the Mariners’ main problem is stagnation- the squad hasn’t improved greatly while the league has. Moreover, the question over whether McKinna has taken them as far as he can has already come up.
The Phoenix will struggle even though Diego and Daniel have much to offer. And will Daniel play for NZ in the play-offs?
Jets still have some talent but not the management to make it work.
July 10th 2009 @ 2:41pm
Ben of Phnom Penh said | July 10th 2009 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
The Mariners’ Centre of Excellence will be very interesting to watch as it starts to churn out players. Now that the A-League clubs have a mandate for youth development with the dismantling of the state based institute system it will be interesting to see as to whether a common approach is adopted or if different clubs will approach thing slightly differently depending on their own football philosophy. Certainly the Mariner’s have stolen the march and this will no doubt pay dividends in the long term.
July 10th 2009 @ 3:02pm
Midfielder said | July 10th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
My songs for this year.
Teams coming to Bluetounge will be on the ….
When we play people will say ….
Of course a good song ….
Against us other teams will …
Con for writing off the Mariners is a …
To all the assumptions made about the Mariners I will leave you with the …
For all the Smurfs you will be able to go home while …
Finally we may be a working class area but their will be …
And you be be assured we will …
Struff this will take and age to get tho the mods ….
July 10th 2009 @ 3:04pm
Con Stamocostas said | July 10th 2009 @ 3:04pm | Report comment
The Mariners finished 5th in the NYL last season. I think they had mostly young players in their side so since they already have an academy it will be interesting to see how they develop those players and future ones.
At least the Centre for Excellence has an excellent name Ben of Phnom Penh.
July 10th 2009 @ 3:09pm
whiskeymac said | July 10th 2009 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
Ben i agree, its a great initiative and bodes well for the game. with so much investment into producing players you’d hope that even if they do have a bad year it won’t be long until they are challenging again.
(oh dear. just had an arsene wenger transition speech moment. is lawrie the scottish wenger? no. so maybe that’s what’s missing then, a new coach to take the reins and lead the organisation to their next developmental phase. No doubt lawrie did well to establish success with limited resources but now with the club set up etc its time to ramp things up?)