Now that we’ve had nine of the season’s 27 rounds, I will take an in-depth look at every side, assessing their strengths and weaknesses so far, and keys for the remainder of the season.

Adelaide United: need to find defensive control
For all the neat possession and pretty play from the likes of Isaias and Cirio, Josep Gombau’s side need to learn the art of controlling an opponent when you don’t have the ball.

You can be the best side at possessing the ball, but if you can’t control the opponent through your defensive organisation, you become easy pickings for an opponent that can basically sit and react, knowing they will trouble you in transition.

This is the rut that Adelaide are in, and need to find a way out of by addressing their defensive concentration, and fast.

Quite simply they’ve conceded too many soft goals and that has placed more pressure on their attack.

The fact they have the worst defensive record (17 against) and second best on attack (12) tells a tale.

The best tika-taka sides not only have the ability to out-possess and create opportunities, but they control opponents and build pressure by stifling the counter through a quick high press or concentration and organisation at the back.

If Gombau can find this defensive control, then that base gives Adelaide a chance to climb the ladder. Fail to find this defensive control soon and the pressure mounts on him.

Brisbane Roar: width and forward run are features
Looking at their pre-season, there was little doubt that the Roar would start the season well, but the big challenge would come if they sustained some injuries and suspensions.

The fact they have already faced that challenge and come out with flying colours augurs well for the remainder of the season.

As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, the fact that Mike Mulvey has given youngsters a chance in the absence of the experienced players, and they have stepped up, tells you that he is building the depth of the squad.

One of the most impressive features of their season to date has been the quality produced at home.

Their they stretch an opponent, utilising the width of Lang Park to pull an opponents out of shape, and then utilise the space through incisive forward passing, trusting each other’s runs and delivering balls into space.

I’ve particularly enjoyed the development of youngsters like Corey Brown, Luke Brattan, Kwame Yeboah and Dimi Petratos.

As well, Ivan Franjic has been a hit in midfield, while it’s a joy to see Thomas Broich and Besart Berisha back in the mood, and influencing.

Matt McKay has made a seamless return.

Given their quality at home, they’ll be hard to peg back, but their season will depend on whether the kids can keep producing.

Central Coast Mariners: McBreen a key player for Moss
While the loss of Graham Arnold has been the biggest story so far, from a footballing perspective the player they missed most in the early going was Danny McBreen.

With Matt Simon struggling with the increase in quality upon his return and Mitch Duke being thought of more as a wide-right attacker than a nine, it was the return of McBreen that saw one of the better performances of the season against Sydney.

While Simon has run around and proved a physical nuisance to opposition defences, it’s McBreen’s quality in and around the box the Mariners have missed.

Combine his quality with that of Michael McGlinchey and Marcos Flores, and the forward thrust of Storm Roux and Josh Rose, and there are definitely creative avenues.

One of the other challenges for Phil Moss is to find a consistent partner for Trent Sainsbury in central defence, with Marcel Seip taking time to settle in.

If he does settle, the Mariners are still in the mix, even if they’ve come back from the lofty standards of last season.

Melbourne Heart: Weilaert and Mifsud need to step up
Robbie Wielaert was meant to be the new Patrick Zwaanswijk, but so far has been anything but, looking like another Patrick Gerhardt at this stage.

Indeed, so poor has the central defender been, I’ve been surprised that John Aloisi has stuck by him so long.

To be fair, Wielaert missed his central defensive partner Patrick Kisnorbo for a few weeks and we got a glimpse on Saturday night at Wanderland that if they can string a few games together, their might be some hope for the Heart defence.

This was by far their most assured defensive effort since the opening couple of rounds.

Indeed, there were even some signs of functionality in the front third, although Aloisi needs Michael Mifsud to start hitting the back if the net and those around him to be more consistent.

I speak of the likes if Iain Ramsey, David Williams, Golgol Mebrahtu and Mate Dugandzic, who all continue to be up and down.

Little doubt Aloisi has missed Orlando Engelaar, with the midfield at times looking non-existent, despite Mass Murdocca and Andrea Migliorini trying hard.

While Harry Kewell is back, Wielaert and Mifsud, as foreigners, will need to step-up if the Heart are to climb the ladder. Aloisi might also be looking to strengthen his midfield.

Melbourne Victory: if Muscat doesn’t panic, he still holds a great hand
Ange Postecoglou might be gone and the a few results might not have gone their way, but no-one at the Victory, and especially Kevin Muscat, should panic.

That’s because some of their football, even since Postecoglou left, has been of an exceptional level.

I speak in particular of the performance at Gosford, where they came away with a 0-0 draw, but only after fluffing countless opportunities. It was some of the best football in the history of the competition, and the champions had no answer.

Even against Sydney FC, the Western Sydney Wanderers and Newcastle Jets, the Victory have dominated large parts but been let down by poor finishing.

That should come if Muscat gives them an environment where he continues to encourage them to play.

As well, he needs to give some attention to a defence in which Pablo Contreras has looked slow and sloppy.

The key now is whether Muscat panics or has the smarts to stay calm and convince his men they can navigate a sticky period.

Newcastle Jets: reverting to a combative midfield three has worked a treat
As I wrote after their Round 3 draw in Napier, Gary van Egmond has moved to stiffen up the side by sacrificing his number 10 in a 4-2-3-1 and going with a more combative three-man midfield.

With Ben Kantarovski coming in at the base and Josh Brillante partnering Ruben Zadkovich a touch higher, it is a highly physical and mobile midfield, able to disrupt opponents by pressing high and remaining compact.

With Kew Jaliens proving a wonderful addition behind them, the Jets are now a far more competitive team defensively, and this has provided a base for the front three to flourish.

While Emile Heskey is feeling his way back from a pre-season injury, the front three of Nathan Burns, Adam Taggart and Andrew Hoole have all been looking sharp, using their pace and mobility to trouble most opponents.

I’ve especially enjoyed Burns’s return to the A-League and even though he’s missed a few goals, you could see even from his first game at the SFS that he looked a touch sharper than your average A-League player.

The Jets now have defensive steel to go with enough forward quality to trouble most teams, and always look competitive.

Perth Glory: good start, and should find more stability from here
The fact that the Glory are thereabouts despite not really having Shane Smeltz available tells you that Alistair Edwards is developing his squad just nicely.

While Sidnei Sciola has undoubtedly been one of the stand-out players in the competition so far, I like the fact Edwards has been doing it by building youngsters like Matthew Davies, Jamie Maclaren and his sons Ryan and Cameron into the picture.

Others to get a sniff and are likely to feature further into the campaign are Ndumba Makeche, Jack Clisby and Riley Woodcock.

Edwards is undoubtedly keen to not only chase results and proactive football, but develop this team and squad, and give youngsters game-time.

If he gets William Gallas and Smeltz on the pitch and contributing in a similar manner to the other veterans (Michael Thwaite, Jacob Burns and Steve McGarry), then the Glory will have a nice blend of young and old, and keep evolving.

Sydney FC: finding some stability and consistent beyond Del Piero, can they keep it?
Perhaps by accident given the number of players unavailable, Frank Farina stumbled across a functional 11 that saw Sydney FC string a succession of victories.

It featured the most unconventional of holding midfields in Nick Carle and Brett Emerton, with Ali Abbas used effectively as an overlapping left back and Chris Naumouff given an extended run up front.

It proved very effective as Sydney put together four straight wins, even getting return out of front-men like Richard Garcia and Joel Chianese that had previously struggled.

Now, as players like Pedj Bojic and Alessandro Del Piero return from injury, the trick is whether Farina and Rado Vidosic can continue to find the right mix.

There’s little doubt that Nikola Petkovic has been a good addition, giving Sydney stability at the back. The consistency found by Vedran Janjetovic has been another plus.

Throw Sebastian Ryall, Bojic and Abbas into the mix and Sydney finally look to have a back five worth respecting.

The trick now for Farina is to get the pieces of the puzzle up front and in midfield in place, and with recent efforts from Naumoff, Chianese, Emerton, Carle, Garcia and Ranko Despotovic, there have at least been some signs the can contribute consistently.

Wellington Phoenix: could do with more depth in midfield
Given the disruption of New Zealand’s World Cup qualifiers, the Nix have done well to remain competitive, but they are still a little light on for quality in midfield and looking for the right blend up front.

While Vince Lia and Manny Muscat are ever present as anchors, and Carlos Hernandez has been making a contribution ahead of them, there is little depth behind them, with Ernie Merrick relying on Jason Hicks and Albert Riera.

Up front he also has a conundrum in trying to fit five into four, and is certainly looking for some more consistency from the likes of Stein Huysegems, Paul Ifill, Kenny Cunnigham and Jeremy Brockie.

If this quartet and Hernandez start to hit their straps, the Nix will create opportunities, but there remains much work for Merrick to do across all parts of the pitch.

Western Sydney Wanderers: tougher second time around, but pacing themselves early

Given the Asian Champions League commitments, there’s no doubt Tony Popovic seems content in rotating his men, keeping them fresh and utilising his entire squad.

But he’s also had a succession of injuries to key men in Shinji Ono, Tomi Juric, Youssouf Hersi and Kwabena Appiah, so will be satisfied with where they sit, even if not entirely happy with the manner of play.

The fact these injuries have come early has given Popovic a chance to test his squad, and while the quality up front hasn’t been of the standard produced by Hersi and Ono, Popovic is intent on evolving the squad.

One of its real features has been the deeper integration of Aaron Mooy, in outstanding form, and Matt Spiranovic, as I wrote here.

Mooy continues to excel as both a 10 or anchor, and this should take some of the creative burden off Ono as the season unfolds.

After struggling last season, Mooy’s job is to produce the form of the past few weeks consistently  for the remainder of the campaign before contemplating any expressions of interest.

His is one of the few high points of the Wanderers’ second season so far, and there are question marks about the form of Adam D’Apuzzo and Mateo Poljak, the success of signings Brendan Santalab and Dean Heffernan, while skipper Michael Beauchamp has been less in-vogue of late.

This is a resolute and competitive squad which will be in the mix, but on the evidence of the opening nine rounds, the success of their season could depend on how much football the likes of Hersi, Ono and Juric get.