The A-League off-season was dominated by the signings of Kewell and Emerton to Sydney FC and Melbourne victory respectively but there’s a good argument that it was Adelaide who did more to upgrade their roster than either of the two glamour clubs.
The extended lay-off began ominously for Adelaide when Matthew Leckie packed his bags for Germany, and got worse after reigning player of the year Marcos Flores left to take up a lucrative offer in Asia.
As deflating as both losses were, coach Rini Coolen wasted no time feeling sorry for himself and instead embarked on a dramatic and comprehensive revitalisation of the club.
The first major change took place in the brains department, with Coolen bringing in former Wellington tactical chief Luciano Trani as his right hand man at the expense of Phil Stubbins.
Coolen’s lack of sentiment was extended to captain Travis Dodd, who wasn’t offered a new deal as well as Lucas Pantelis, who was released to Wellington.
Paul Reid’s public desire to join Sydney’s Asian Champions League campaign resulted in his exit from the club while Adam Hughes was also shown the door, joining Dodd in Perth.
In a little over twelve months Coolen’s imprint on Adelaide has been as overwhelming as any manager in the league, with the Reds doubtlessly better for it.
Adelaide enters the new season with a midfield now predicated around Uruguayan Francisco Usucar and recent Ukrainian import Evgeniy Levchenko.
Former Gold Coast player Zeno Caravella will assist Ususcar and Levchenko as well as operating as an excellent conduit between the midfield and strikers.
It’s however up-front where the bulk of Coolen’s renovation is most apparent and which the Adelaide top brass have invested so heavily in.
Bruce Djite and Dario Vidosic represent significant inclusions into an Adelaide team already boasting the pedigree of last season’s Golden Boot winner, Sergio van Dijk.
Both Djite and Vidosic started their careers in the A-League before taking their talents aboard.
Though neither exactly lit up their teams in Turkey and Germany respectively, both remain strong Socceroo candidates who importantly are capable of operating as both strikers and creators.
The Reds defence also had a make-over of sorts with fringe Socceroo Jon McKain returning to Australia and has been made captain of his new club, and will slot into the centre of defence alongside the promising Daniel Mullen.
Adelaide shapes as a serious contender this season after falling away quite drastically last campaign, and it’s worth remembering that before Brisbane took all before them it was Adelaide who set the league alight in the initial stages.
The Reds went undefeated in their first 11 games last season, netting 20 times in the process before their campaign ran out of steam and ended with a premature semi-final exit at the hands of the Gold Coast.
Coolen will be demanding and expecting a more protracted period of excellence this time around.
Prediction
Internally Adelaide will be hoping for a top two position to both challenge for silverware and to be in prime position to return to Champions League football.
They boast one of the deepest and most versatile squads in the competition along, with some exciting young talent coming through.
With that in mind there’s no reason to think the Reds will be anything but one of the league’s strongest outfits this campaign.
Kasey
Guest
TomC you might have been listening to the AU fans song too much, but we are not homicidal maniacs in this city - nor do we all come from Snowtown; so we think we're a much better chance to get one up on this Batman:) In Rini we trust.
TomC
Guest
Yep. MV need Adelaide just like Batman needs the Joker. Ever notice how rarely the Joker gets the better of Batman?
Kasey
Guest
Nathan: you have Fergie(and not the good one!) as manager. I hope you enjoy the dross served up this year at nib.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
"We find it difficult to hate them even if they are Victorian" Don't understand this. Nothing should be getting in the way of the hate, nothing!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
6:0 *walks away into sunshine*
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss You got a big spoon today ... but loved that last clip.... must have been those what a waste of money calls got to ya...
Kasey
Guest
Well, without seeing it, I have to say if you're referring to the incident I think you are...like African Americans and the N-word, we have taken ownership of that now. its truly NBD. Our supporters team in the SAASL is called P*ssant Town FC, logo very similar to AUFC with a big ant urinating on himself :) One of our fanzines is called Because of a... I am sure that being the gentleman he is, when we do win a dunny seat (and we will, hell even the most pathetic VFL team in history has one flag, In fact we'll win a dunny seat before they win a second! that Aurelio will be one of the first to offer his congratulations. 2nd will be MV fans, because just like Batman 'needs' he Joker, the tards need us. God knows there really is nobody else to compete with them on an even keel. Sydney..pathetic indifference describes their support. Heart, founded on being NOT-MV...their high point is winning tardby#1. We find it difficult to hate them even if they are Victorian :)
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@ Kasey Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. But, I'll set the scene ... post-match debrief with Coach Vidmar after 2nd leg of Semi-Final at Docklands, 14 February 2009 - aka The St Valentine's Day Massacre. ;-)
Kasey
Guest
See Fuss, winding up the Semen can be fun;) By the way, I'm at work and an't see the video below. I hope its not just the Stratco advert recycled. I'd be super appreciative if someone could describe it for me. cheers!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
MVFC has done it. Melbourne Heart has done it. Now, apparently, AUFC has released it's HAL promotional video clip. ;-)
Midfielder
Guest
I will choose the higher ground and refuse to enter into these mindles games pretaining to Bambi ... I will be avenged at the joy I will experience at seeing the wailing AU & MV fans ... the sheer joy at seeing the pain and suffering of others will make this day pass without even a through ...
Kasey
Guest
Bambi plays boring one-dimensional football and THEN loses in the HAL GF after being 2-0 up in extra time?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
But, Kasey ... where's the joy and value in annoying the CCM fan base - it would be like going hunting for Bambi!
Kasey
Guest
Fuss, how many Grand Finals have we lost again? I think the label of biggest chokers has to go to our Coastie friends. Go on, you read my spiel on hate yesterday in response to Johnno, you know you want to just type 6-0 and walk away. its as predictable as the sun rising ;)
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Yes, very good squad. Yes, very accomplished coach. Yes, very good fan base providing consistent support. BUT ... It's AUFC - the biggest chokers in the short history of the HAL. :-)
TomC
Guest
It's a very, very formidable line-up. The signing of Golec and more importantly Milan Susak gives them perhaps the one thing their squad was lacking- defensive depth. The only real question mark is whether Vidosic and Caravella can provide good enough supply to Van Dijk, Djite and Slory. Another big season from Cassio down the left would certainly help their potency. For mine, they start this season as favourites ahead of the Roar.
Kasey
Guest
Matt, I just hope Slory stays fit. Lacking the flair of Flores, I think our only hope to regularly unlock opposition defences is to use pace and accurate passing in the midfield to get the shots on goal. Slory and Vidosic are both pacey players, Djite is a proven goal poacher and van Dijk is the reigning golden Boot, but the loss of Flores hasn't been covered IMHO, based purely on my viewing of the Reds in 2 pre-season games (GCU + MV)can pace replace creativity and magic? I guess we'll have top find out. Preseason games are great for the players. but for fans watching a rusty line up knocking the cobwebs out can be a bit deflating. Never the less, I remain positive we can have a good season. I don't see us fighting for the Dunny seat though. Add Flores to the team and I reckon we'd walk the league. Pity, because I'd dearly love to see my team lift the dunny seat before Alzheimers sets in ;) I'm not particularly woried by our backline(which was our achiles heel last season. McKain is a great pickup and you can see on the back of 2 pre-season games how he nabbed the captains armband even as an incoming player. Combined with Boogard, Mullen and adding new signings Susak and Golec, I think the depth in our defence is pretty good.
Mattay
Guest
Good preview, but special mention must go to Andy Slory. While Kewell got all the press in Friday's friendly, Slory arguably had the better game. His time last season was littered with injury and poor fitness, but by all accounts that is behind him and he is ready to show what he can do.
Midfielder
Guest
On paper the strongest squad in the league will be very hard to beat and have a decent coach...
nordozzz
Roar Guru
my pick for another league Premiership ... not getting into picking cup/GF winners lol! Across the whole season though... Solid squad which - while not seeing any pre-season games - look to have the players to be very tough in the middle. I think having such good finishers they can overcome the loss of Flores. Who wouldn't want van Dijk, legend. Plus with Caravella coming in ... really liked that guy at GC last year.