If anyone predicted the onslaught of footballing upsets this season, they’re either lying or have travelled through time Back to the Future style to witness something that hasn’t been seen since it was so great.
The best kind of prize is a surprise, and they kept on coming and coming this season.
In England, Leicester – of all teams – won the Premier League with Algerian international Riyard Mahrez winning the player of the year.
On top of this, Portugal won the 2016 Euro Championship, and do I need to mention the remarkable efforts of Lil ol’ Iceland that not only took the world by storm by beating England, but provided us with a chant that rivals the Hakka?
Yes, these were quite remarkable but little did the world know that we had our own set of irregular circumstances in the A-League last season.
Adelaide United claimed the title, trumping all logic after a disastrous start to the campaign.
It will certainly be exciting to see whether this trend will continue in season 2016/17 in the A-League, where as we all know, anything is possible.
Thus I have constructed my own set of ambitious predictions. They may seem near impossible reading them now but who knows what the circumstances will be come the end of the season.
A-League Premiers and Champions: Central Coast Mariners
The Mariners had a season to forget in 2015-16. The side managed to win only three games and ended dead last with only 13 points to their name, twelve points behind the Wellington Phoenix who finished in ninth position.
Since then, the Mariners have been quite active over the transfer window, signing Kwabena Appiah and Blake Powell both of whom have played for the Phoenix.
Central Coast looked good in glimpses last year, and perhaps consistency can find its way over to Gosford and restore success into the Mariners outfit. Perhaps labelling them as ‘Australia’s Leicester’ can help, and add another trophy to their impressive collection of sauce bottles.
FFA Cup Champions : Shamrock Rovers Darwin FC
The Rovers are the youngest club in the FFA Cup having only been founded in 2014 and are the sole representatives from the Northern Territory this far into the Cup.
The Rovers were only promoted to the Darwin Premier League or ‘Norzone’, after being voted in unanimously following the exit of Palmerston and Mindil Aces.
The Rovers currently sit third in their division and play the Brisbane Strikers in the Round of 32. The club was founded upon passion for football which will certainly be evident in their matches.
Could this passion lead them to unlikely glory? We could be on the verge of history with no non-A-League club having the honour of lifting the prestigious FFA Cup. If there was ever a Cinderella story in football, this would certainly be it.
Player of the Season: Bruce Kamau
The 21 year-old turned a few heads last season in his second season in the A-League bursting on to the scene, scoring three goals and exciting fans with his exhilarating runs inside the box. Kamau has made the journey across to Melbourne, joining Melbourne City for the upcoming season and will no doubt be determined to continue his impressive form from last season. If he manages to have such a break out year, he will be on par with Marco Rojas as the youngest players to win the award.
Kamau made 32 appearances for Adelaide since making his debut in 2014 and could add some serious firepower to City’s attack.
Headline you’ll see: ‘Rebecca Wilson apologises to football fans in Australia.’
In what was the most tumultuous off-field drama in the A-League’s short history, Wilson became quite infamous among Australian football fans. Her views on the world game are often so reactionary that even the local tabloids were sympathetic to the A-League.
But nonetheless, perhaps Wilson will come to her senses and acknowledge that her accusations and claims were not only offensive to the football community, but also quite inaccurate. As an optimist, I’m hopeful Wilson can take home the prize for biggest surprise of the season.
Biggest Plot Twist: Archie signs with City in January transfer window
Archie Thompson in Melbourne City colours. Now there’s a story to make headlines. Victory fans could not even imagine this in their wildest nightmares. This would certainly light the fuse and give the Melbourne Derby a whole new meaning.
Thompson has currently signed with NPL side Heidelberg FC and the 37 year-old will seek to make the most of his time in the NPL but there is no doubt that Archie would not hesitate in returning to the professional stage for one last stint.
If Archie loves to do one thing other than scoring goals, it’s proving people wrong which he has continued to do over the last few years.
Archie alongside his mate Tim Cahill could be quite the formidable partnership (well five years ago to tell the truth), but it would certainly get masses rolling into AAMI Park.
I’m just having a bit of fun with these predictions, but it certainly will be exciting to see what kind twists and turns the A-League will dish up in season 2016/17.
What surprises do you Roarers anticipate in this season A-League? Have a go!
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