Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix players in action during their round 6 match, played at the Ethihad stadium in Melbourne, Sunday, Sept 13, 2009. AAP Image/Joe Castro.
When the Wellington Phoenix announced the signing of Socceroo Jade North on Friday it prompted some fierce debate on A-League forums about just who has the strongest squad on paper going into the new campaign.
It’s a roundabout argument which reaches no conclusion. It’s purely subjective after all.
But the debate is great to hear with less than week before the new season kicks off. It seems we’ve got another even comp!
The likes of Wellington, Perth Glory, Melbourne Heart and Gold Coast United boast strong squads, while there’s the usual suspects of Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory.
But it’s all too easy to get carried away with a squad on paper. They’ve actually got to know how to deliver with results.
It’s an interesting point to ponder that four of the five A-League championships so far have been won by the two clubs from the big cities.
Sure, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory have probably had more resources at their disposal, but as clubs, they have delivered on the field where it counts.
But the current off-season hasn’t gone so swimmingly for either of last season’s Grand Finalists, which may have offered the chasing pack a chance to catch up.
Sydney FC have had to replace much of their spine from last season’s double-winning squad following the departures of Clint Bolton, Simon Colosimo and Steve Corica. Socceroo Nick Carle has arrived to replace Corica, but he’ll need time to settle into his influential role.
Meanwhile, injury means Melbourne have lost iconic striker Archie Thompson – who’s so adept to their style of play – until November, while Victory stalwart Kevin Muscat took his time to decide to continue on but he will at the ripe old age of 37-years-young.
And coincidentally both clubs have been in the market for a striker, yet both have searched fruitlessly.
Indeed, on paper the recruitment efforts of both sides has been a tad underwhelming, but under Vitezslav Lavicka and Ernie Merrick they can stick with what’s worked before.
Looking on paper elsewhere, Wellington appear stronger, especially if their All Whites contingent are feeling confident following the World Cup, while Gold Coast should be better for having a season together and will be boosted by Shane Smeltz’s surprising return from China.
Perth Glory have added international marquee Robbie Fowler, who could be the final piece of Sage’s puzzle, while newboys Melbourne Heart appear to have a nice mix of experience, youth and foreign talent in their squad, but may need some time together to really find their groove.
Following on from Lavicka’s success last term, Adelaide United and North Queensland have opted for foreign bosses to lead them towards the finals but it’s hard to make a genuine case for them.
Brisbane, Newcastle and Central Coast have all been busy making wholesale player changes in the off-season and it’s hard to know what to expect from them.
It’s also hard to know what to expect from the new A-League season as a whole.
Last season’s top two will stick with what’s worked but don’t appear stronger on paper, while their main challengers will also stick with what’s worked but they’ve added quality to that. And then there’s the Gold Coast and the Heart who could be anything if it all clicks.
So who is your pick for the A-League title?
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
People should disregard this post, I get ZERO from the first round in the tipping comp.
pompey657
Guest
My predictions for the A league this year, well I am going for a Sydney Phoenix grand final. The Phoenix for the simple reason , they will be wanting to back up from last season. To show it was no fluke and that they are a creditable club. One season does not make a team. The club has recruited well, and have added three australians into the squad, 1 Argentine and a under 20 kiwi. Sydney becuase they are the Man Utd of the A league. For you Aussies there are only four kiwis in the main line up (Bertos, Brown, Lockhead and Paston) Sigmound the other Kiwi will be a bit player this season. So it is not an ALL Whites team. There are more Aussies in the team than Kiwis. It is the leadership of Durante that has made the team a force plus the team unity and Westpac stadium (with the yellow fever) has become a virtual fortress for the Phoenix. Plus add in a coach like Rikki Herbert and the recipe is complete So this will will determine whether the phoenix are a force or a flash in the pan....Which they need to do this season. I would put some money on them winning plus on Ifill getting the golden boat.
Cassio
Guest
People are insane to be writing off Victory. It's the same team as last year, with a better keeper and a new striker on the way.
chocolatecoatedballs
Guest
i am supporting the Heart this season, they look good but will need time to gel and learn what Van't Schip's way of playing is and their roles within that. I think CCM and Roar could be the dark horses this season, but it looks to be a great competition this year, all the teams are quite even. Just have to wait and see how it all pans out.
Farqwar
Guest
Just so hard to say without having seen them play, but you would hope Sibon and Terra are quality, if Aloisi is fit I personally rate him and reports on Babalj sound promising. Throw into the mix a quality midfield and you would think they should go alright. The real challenge for them I think is being a foundation club and having to Gel as a team as a club and as a fanbase.
Drew
Guest
anyone else think that Heart look a bit lean up front?
Tom
Guest
I suspect MV will announce at least one more signing, probably after the season has started. Its hard to imagine them missing the finals if Hernandez plays as well as he did last season. I think people are talking down Gold Coast a bit. They have a lot of young players who are improving, plus there's no real reason why Smeltz and Culina won't have big seasons. But Wellington and Sydney would be the favourites for me.
GeneralAshnak
Roar Pro
It is too hard to predict, the HAL is a very close comp (other than when AUFC cantered to the Premiership and when MV did their initial double) so to try and call the team to beat now is pretty difficult. Having said that WP are looking the business. Though all the teams have done some good work (other than MV who are looking in a shocking state) in the lead up to this season.
Luke W
Guest
Not a lot of love for me Jets in here... I think we will surprise people this season. I would be very disappointed if we didn't make the finals with the squad we have, and top four is a real possibility. The only thing that could hold us back is the lack of a player with that real X-factor. Song Jin-Hyung left in the offseason, and we haven't replaced him as far as I can see. Zadkovich, Wehrmann are solid players, but they don't have the explosiveness of Song. Still, if Branko can get Sean Rooney and Michael Bridges firing up front, we will give this season a real good shake.
Adelaide Roar
Guest
Some interesting and well presented arguments/predictions here. I had been watching The Roar for the last 4 seasons and have recently returned to Adelaide. Roar have had an excellent pre-season by all accounts and I reckon Ange has put together a surprisingly (potentially) good squad after losing so many of last seasons first team starters. Brissie crowds are a bit fickle but if the results come at suncorp and crowds pick up they could do well. I will still be supporting Roar and heading up to as many games as I can but have made my way to Hindmarsh for some ACL games and the recent friendly against Glory. Flores is a bloody good footballer and once the players in front of him get on the same wavelength he could make a big impact. GCU ? I'll be there next week but agree it might be crash through or crash out. Smeltz staying will be a major coup but I'm wondering why Minniecon hasn't produced much. He was terrific (in patches) at The Roar but has had very little time on the field so far and seems to have gone backwards. And Kruse at MV scored one of the goals of the season but spends too much time missing in action for mine. I still think he has talent but someone needs to get his head right ! Bring on the new season...
jupiter53
Guest
I'm a Sydney season ticket holder. I'm prepared to give Lavicka the benefit of the doubt; but it is worrying to lose Bolton, Colosimo and Corica. Aloisi came good by the end of last season but was less vital. There has not been as much mention but Kisel leaves big boots to fill. The fact that we have no back up for Bridge and Brosque is a worry, as is the fact that Carle is only playing parts of games as he recovers from injury. So; proven coach a big plus, but the changes in the team make it hard to predict. If I have that much trouble with Sydney's prospects it would be foolish to try to make sense of any other team's chances. However I will hazard a guess that without Archie and without renewal in the team more generally Victory will have a poor season by their high standards........We'll see on Saturday! Some good signs overall........it seems that more teams are looking for coaching quality as a prerequisite for success and are prepared to look overseas. That should do more to lift standards than bringing in aging unfit former stars [Romario anyone?]. Also there seems to be more realistic overseas player recruiting; I'm looking forward to seeing Perez for the Mariners and Flores for Adelaide, Solorazano for the Roar etc.
AA
Guest
If the Kiwi's level of ambition post-World Cup is to dominate the A-League then they need to ask themselves some serious questions.
roarsome
Guest
I am completely convinced that Brisbane will finish minor premiers and take the grand final out as well. They have had a great pre-season, have got rid of alot of old legs and have recruited very well. The match against Everton was very impressive, I have watched the Roar play many times and haven't seen them play with that sort of energy and conviction ever...Wellington are also near the top of the list...can't wait for the new season...bring on thursday already!
Chris
Guest
The Wellington Phoenix are fresh from being the World Cup's only undefeated team - the A-League should be a cakewalk after that!
Joe FC
Guest
Nice work Ben.
Tadpohle
Roar Rookie
What a lottery this season is going to be. Unfortunately, I feel that a few teams are going to do it tough if they pick up any serious injuries to their favoured starting lineup. Depth is OK, but I feel that it is a disadvantage against a full strength opponent. So the teams with thin squads I am going to count out. There goes Fury (saddly) , and Heart. "Age shall not weary them" .... alas they are not talking about footballers. There is a lot of speed about this season and the old kick and chase which suites a pair of tired legs because they have time to get in position, a passing game will expose those not up there athletically, goodbye Victory. A lot of travel has always been worth a couple of goals against you. Although it will work in favour of Wellington, Fury and Glory when they are at home, against such even opposition they will have trouble amassing enough points to get a good finals position or enough to top the table. Au revoir Nux, and Glory. Then it is time to look at the coaches that are left and where they have positioned themselves, Arnold ?? .... I just can't get into step with him at all. I so want him to fail, but I want the people in his nightmare to succeed, well they are my home team of sorts. He has had the squad training so hard to hit the ground running, and he probably will, but burnout is a major problem and I don't see him as a great motivator. When the summer heat hits I think the players will be feeling it, Mairiners are not for me. Blieburg has actually gone under the radar, strengthened the defense, got Smeltz back and has some great juniors stepping up, but they have such huge expectations on their shoulders and then there's Palmer and all the off field turmoil. Not this year for me, they will struggle against well organised teams this year as they won't be focused. Culina, maybe the teams inconsistency is a by product of coaching, I'm not sure that all the team are on the same page all the time, a bit of roarstyle oldboys syndrome, although he is capable of excellent results, at times, particularly when the chips are down the team puts its nose to the grindstone, but once again, I think the owner puts a lot of stress in the picture and I can see them winning when you don't expect it and losing somehow when they shouldn't. Nobody ever speaks of Culina's style, last year he seemed to get his best results when the team understood what they were trying to do on the day. Jets are grounded. Postecoglou, looks like he has done his homework and his team will perform. He has a nice mix of youth and capable team leaders. He is up against some good teams and coaches which weren't there last season. He seems to have picked the players he wanted and if the new guy is the #10 that he wanted the roar will surge into the final series. Adelaide have only just started and will need the year to learn their new status, kick and chase withdrawal symptoms for the first half of the season will be enough. That leaves, of course, Sydney FC, well who else would you tip after seeing them starting to play the game a la Laviska ......... against the likes of Everton and Co. Program has gone to the next level ..... all aboard !!!!
Farqwar
Guest
Who cares about AFL by world standards? PS as a Sydney fan, I think Sydney have a very good chance of going back to back. But some very strong teams across the board makes it really hard to pick, all makes for an exciting season!
rovers2011
Guest
Perth, Heart and the Mariners are probably the teams i'm looking forward to watching this season based on recruitment. Probably Glory the best bet for Premiers of those, but Sydney have looked good in pre-season. Really rate Lavicka he's been great for our league. Agree that Glory should switch coaches, Gage can surely only give Mitchell the first third of the season. If it ain't happening bring in another experienced European or South American, its a great model for bringing through coaching talent. As well as getting the best out of what already is a strong squad.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I expect Sydney to win it. The squad doesn't look that much better on paper but I expect the players to improve thanks to more time under LV & Co. I also think Carle and Jameison are top quality additions and think it's time their kids stepped up. I wouldn't write of MV though. I remember this time last year their defence looked in big trouble and after the first game they lost Celeski for the season. Moss was in goals and Muscatt got either suspended or injured and they looked gone for all money. A couple of game later they got Leijer back from Europe and they never looked back.
Jaq (GCU Water Boy)
Guest
1st - Perth Glory (gained many good players and will be the team to beat this season) 2nd - Gold Coast United (gained the likes of All Whites goalkeeper Glen Moss and former Man Utd defender) 3rd - Melbourne Heart (a team of champions or a champion team, we will see?) 4th - Melbourne Victory (a good team but with Kevin Muscat's old age and losing Archie Thompson to injury they will struggle) 5th - Wellington Phoenix (All Whites squad with some good international talent) 6th - Brisbane Roar (young squad, but look at the Roar v Everton game, they diserved to win it and that's coming from a GC United supporter 7th - Sydney F.C. ( lost too many players including the likes of Clint Bolton, Steve Corica, Simon Colosimo, John Aloisi and havn't really gained anyone at the same level. 8th - Central Coast Mariners (Graham Arnold will help them with the title race and they will be no easy beat) 9th - Adelaide United (signed some good players however will take time to settle) 10 - Newcastle Jets (one word - INCONSISTENT) 11 - North Queensland Fury (lost too many players and the club as a whole will not function properly) The race for the title will be close however Fury and the Jets are two inconsistent teams.