City and Victory have the edge ahead of A-League season

We've actually won the treble bondy.

good post

Can't wait for the season to start. I think the football will go to another level this year. Here's my 2 cents on each side; Adelaide United - has lost too many good players, but has just recruited a few good ones in Henrique, Guardiola and Holland. They should have a good defence, and a lot will depend on how quickly their new signings adapt and perform. They should make the top 6 comfortably. But will be a stretch to win back-to-back titles, not likely. Brisbane Roar - ownership issues again threaten to ruin their campaign, but if they can remain focused, Aloisi has actually kept most of the squad from last season, which performed really well, and they've added Brett Holman. Semi finals might beckon again for the Roar. Central Coast Mariners - after a terrible few seasons on the trot, the only is up for the Mariners. With new coach Paul Okon now at the helm, and some decent signings to bolster their defence and goalkeeping positions, I think they'll be more than competitive this season, and should be better to watch. Powell should help with goals, and they should be in the running for a top 6 place. Melbourne City - 11 new signings and a whole new feel at City. Cahill will bring in the crowds, but it's a results orientated industry. Huge pressure will be on JVS to deliver. A new Danish CB has just signed, which is exactly what they needed, as their defence was their weak link. This City team will no doubt entertain, but can they win? Scoring won't be an issue, but the question marks will come at the other end. I think they might get off to a slow start but will end up challenging for the title, due to their squad depth and overall quality. Melbourne Victory - the most balanced team IMO this season. With added strength in all areas with Donachie, Baro, Troisi, Rojas and possibly even Essien, adding to FBK, Valeri and Berisha and co, they're the team to beat. The pressure will be on Muscat to deliver with this team. Newcastle Jets - the biggest unknown this season, but have made some astute signings with Hoole, Brown and Clut. But will losing their coach so close to the beginning of the A-league, and in such bad circumstances derail their season? Nordstrand up front needs to score 15 goals for them. However, regardless of the coaching situation, IMO I don't think they have enough overall quality to make the top 6. Perth Glory - the biggest movers along with City in the transfer market. Once they click as a team, they'll surely be up there and challenging for the title. Their CEO is a great football person who could run the A-league some day. After a long and very lean spell, the great times look to be back in the west. The Shed will be a great place to be this season. A serious contender. My only question mark is that without Diego Castro they look a much lesser side. He needs to stay on the park for them. Sydney FC - Arnie has gone away and corrected their faults and predictable flaws from last season, and he's bolstered in all areas. With Zullo and Wilkinson at the back, Brillante in the middle, and Bobo and Bernie Ibini up front, they'll be hard to beat. For me they're up there with Victory as one of the most well balanced squads going around and with good depth. A definite contender. Wellington Phoenix - they've recruited well in the front third with Finkler and Barbarouses, plus and Italian defender. They may be the surprise packets this season, if Ernie can manage his squad, particularly during those dreadful FIFA international windows. Their future is now secured and both the owners and their fans can now invest dollars and belief in their team once again. A semi final spot is a realistic goal. Western Sydney Wanderers - the unknown quantities of the competition this season for me, I'm just not quite sure what they will dish up. Moving to Spotless Stadium due to the construction of the new Parra stadium, anticipation will be high from their many and colourful fans. Poppa has once again rebuilt his squad, with many new faces. Kerem Bulut should add plenty in the goals department, but I'm unsure about the rest of the newbies. Their defence is usually a strong point and they'll need to be again. A semi final spot is probably their best outcome this coming season. Bring on season 12! Can't wait for Round 1, with probably 70k showing up at ANZ for the Sydney derby...

Fair enough. Not sure you'll get much support for that though The decision to play in Parra instead of the Olympic Stadium is often credited as one of the big reasons why the club has done so well. Making sure your current members are happy is much more important than chasing new fans.

I still believe the wanderers making a permanent move to the Olympic stadium would be the best move for the future.It would allow our crowds to grow and offer a more inclusive feel and attract more fans from all parts of Sydney.

The biggest question surrounding the wanderers will be how we deal with the nomadic life. On top of that the stadiums we'll call home for 3yrs will not give us the atmosphere and intimidation factor of Parra. I remember last year an opposing fan mentioned that WSW have a very poor record in front of 30k+ crowds. Our record in grand finals, derbies and at docklands is actually quite poor. We'll have at least 5 or 6 games in front of crowds over 30k. See how we go. Maybe this is our chance to improve in big games.

Agree, defence is their Achilles heel. That's why they are involved in such entertaining high-scoring games. Probably their best signing is the Argentinian winger Nicolas Colazo from Boca Juniors. He will be the provider of scoring chances and provider for Cahill's aerial dominance.

It'll only last a season thin for if they set the A-League alight, I struggle to see how they would be able retain the same squad. Though, I'm sure some of those players would love to stick around for ACL. That's if Victory can put the best team ever assembled to the task.

I'm predicting the victory to be strong with a little helping hand from the FFA and with the glory to be a dark horse.The wanderers should come close to winning with combination of Latin flair,old school working class grit that runs through the veins off any player that wears the wanderers shirt and the atmosphere created by the fans that's akin to another marquee. The bling boys are so submerged in the high life that it makes them incapable of showing any fight. I'm predicting Tim Ca$hill to have an ordinary season just because a western Sydney boy playing for a Melbourne team is not likely to have his heart in it.Maybe the betrayal of his people might become a burden for him. Newcastle ? Well what can you expect from a city that never kicked a football up until 10 years ago.

MV IMO have arguably the best squad ever assembled in Hal... and aside from the Melbourne Knights side that had Dukes maybe the best side ever. .... City have a front six in the wow wowo wow wow, I think 1 & 2.

Agree with your last sentence; but with City I can't get over their lack of defence especially with Franjic out for an extended period.

Yup, they look like they need to gel based on the 3 games I've seen. There's no reason to panic just yet out west but it'll be an epic fail if the gelling doesn't happen hey.

The 'Nix appear to be having a solid pre-season and have recruited well. Their perennial challenge is less about the playing stocks and more about travel management as all too often they struggle on the road in a way that the other traveling sides don't.

I thought that last season, especially Victory back-to-back. But . . . running dead last after 3 rounds and Wooden Spoon Favourites, Adelaide United won the Toilet Seat and Dinner Plate Double. I do fancy Melb City with a Timmy inspired heady rush though. Every year we give them no chance, so write off the Mariners at your peril!

I expect City and Victory to finish 1 - 2 maybe decided on goal difference. If they don't they should consider their season a failure. Its good that no one is rating the 'smaller' cities in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide and they may make up the rest of the top 4/5. I'll really enjoy one of the 'lesser' cities winning it again. The pressure and spotlights are on the two Melbourne sides which may work against them if the drop 'silly' points, as is likely to happen on occasions. Both Sydney clubs haven't recruited well, at this time, and i wouldn't be surprised if they finish outside of the 6.

Like AU last year mate, they need some time to gel. Much like AU also, they will be driven by local lads; Lowry, Taggart, WilliamsX2, Risdon, Garcia...

I heard Arnie on a podcast yesterday. Some points Total squad is filled with some of their winning NPL2 side getting U21 contracts. Only had a bigger squad (26) because of Asian Champions League Bobo is not here on a holiday. For a laugh Bobo "competing" with Matt Simon and George Blackwood for the striker role (Watched the U19 Game Last night with Blackwood as Striker. Scored a penalty after being taken down in the box which the Laos GK nearly saved and got into the Lao GK face. Idiotic behaviour!) Plus is Ninkovic happy about having to stay at Moore Park? Squad depth will be a problem with injuries for the Easterners Game tonight will not have Ibini, not sure how Brosque will go on an artificial pitch considering his injury last season. Blacktown may well win. If they do, Simon Hill's prediction goes up in smoke. Also, New Zealand All Whites picking 5 Nix players plus Rojas will cause havoc during FIFA windows. City will be with the vi$ion!

Keep us under the radar Waz, that's our preferred spot, but a nice scoreline for sure.

Simon Hill always rates Sydney, every year, and the rest of them (bar Rudan) rate the Melbourne teams. Fools proven over and over.

Melbourne's a big city, sure, but Sydney's bigger and Brisbane's 3mil when you include the greater area, so I think there's more to it. There's the cap too, so I would say that they have probably spent wisely, rather than big. But it's pre-season, way too soon to be calling winners just yet.