There is very little time to rest, for the A-League to seek merciful solace in the post-season tranquillity. Almost immediately a new machine grinds into gear, churning and spluttering, as players spin the revolving door into a blur.
A-League clubs, some more than others, have permeable membranes in the off-season, and mass clear-outs of the playing staff occur all around the league.
It’s been only a week since Sydney FC won the title, but already there has been a flurry of movement, with clubs releasing updated rosters as they snatch eagerly for the coveted available. Here’s the scene as it stands.
Sydney have been quick to announce the retention of almost all of the key facets of their historic campaign, with Milos Ninkovic, Bobo, and Jordy Buijs having re-signed.
It looks likely that Filip Holosko will depart, as Ninkovic has assumed his marquee spot, and so he will join Bernie Ibini in leaving, with previously on-loan Ibini joining the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS.
All of these returning assets have bolstered hopes of a storming assault on the Asian Champions League next season, as well as offering compelling evidence of the growing ability of A-League teams to retain their best players.
Defeated finalists Melbourne Victory announced their out-going players last week, with Alan Baro, Fahid Ben Khalfallah and Nick Ansell the most notable, all of them joining the Jets-bound Daniel Georgievski on their way out of the club.
Significant losses, then, have been incurred at the centre-back position, and the club have addressed this by signing Rhys Williams from Perth, and Thomas Deng – a former Victory youth product – has been brought back to the club from PSV Eindhoven.
A deficit instantly made up, and now the focus for Victory turns to doing everything they can to retain James Troisi.
Speaking of Perth, Williams isn’t the only departure. Josh Risdon, Dino Djulbic and Nebojša Marinkovic are the other noteworthy players leaving, Risdon in particular, as he heads to Western Sydney.
Joel Chianese and, crucially, Diego Castro, are among the re-signed players, as well as goalkeeper Liam Reddy. Jacob Poscoliero has also been signed from Central Coast.
However, the loss of Williams – and in spite of the fact he was less utilised this season than perhaps might have been expected – leaves a gap in a Perth defence that’s already holier than the Shroud of Turin. If another season of kamikaze football is to be avoided, then recruitment in this area must start soon.
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The Newcastle Jets have been swiftly striding forth into what they hope is a future that’s significantly brighter than their dull, wooden-spooned present.
Mark Jones was sacked in late April, and Ernie Merrick – who himself was let go by Wellington Phoenix earlier in the 2016-17 season – has taken over the reigns, and along with the aforementioned Georgievski, has welcomed Kiwi keeper Glen Moss and striker Roy O’Donovan to the club.
Merrick has also ushered out a great number of players, something of a blood-letting, with Andrew Hoole – one of the Jets’ best attackers last season – and eight others let go. Hoole’s value, one must assume, was damaged by the spat he had with management towards the end of the season, and in Andrew Nabbout the Jets still have one of the league’s best offensive weapons.
The Wanderers and Tony Popovic – a manager who seems to relish the off-season overhaul – have released a huge swathe of first-teamers, with both captain Dimas and vice-captain Mitch Nichols saying their goodbyes.
Bruno Piñatares and Scott Neville, the latter seemingly bound for Perth, have also left, and Nico Martinez and Terry Antonis – both on loan at the Wanderers in 2016-17 – have returned to their parent clubs. Questions are bubbling up, like a bout of acid reflux, as they do every time the Wanderers tear down the first team, pondering exactly how effective this sort of extreme team-restructuring is.
Having said that, the sort of meandering mediocrity that lingered throughout the Wanderers’ 2016-17 campaign isn’t really something worth preserving. And, on the other hand, the trio of incoming players – Roly Bonevacia from Wellington, Risdon from Perth and Michael Thwaite from Liang Whowin in the CSL – are all excellent recruits.
AAP Image/Paul Miller
For Brisbane, the departures of Thomas Broich and Jamie Maclaren – the former confirmed just before their semi-final, the latter confirmed just yesterday – are the most traumatic losses.
Maclaren, who was joint-winner of the 2016-17 Golden Boot, has been linked with German club FC Kaiserslautern – along with, as it happens, Brisbane teammate Brandon Borrello – but nothing certain has been established as to his next destination.
Manuel Arana and a host of others are off contract, but the club is yet to release an updated squad list. Luke DeVere signed a key extension to his contract mid-season, and in youngsters Joe Caletti and Corey Brown, the Roar have a lot to build on in the coming seasons. Manager John Aloisi, who was also mooted as being set to leave at the end of this season, has also extended his stewardship.
Adelaide have signed Paul Izzo, meaning Eugene Galekovic’s time at the club is surely coming to an end.
As for the rest, well, Melbourne City are still keeping us all on tenterhooks as to who their marquee manager will be, and are therefore yet to sign any new playing staff.
Central Coast and Wellington are both yet to sign anyone either, while allowing a great number of players to leave, which will only pour more icy water on their short-term prospects. Paul Okon’s Mariners have lost O’Donovan, Poscoliero and Izzo, and the Phoenix have lost Bonevacia, Jacob Tratt and Shane Smeltz, the latter to Indonesian club Borneo FC.
The upheaval is colossal, and we’re only a week into things. Such is life in the A-League, and as clubs bicker with the FFA over the financial distribution deal, and the issue of expansion continues to ignite spot-fires around the league, this off-season looks set to be far from tranquil.
David McDaniel
Roar Pro
I think the ACL cost Roar quite a number of points so we would have been closer without it but still nowhere near Sydney. It was an impressive season for the Smurfs but it will be hard to replicate.
Arto
Guest
I don't know. Maybe that's been the reason why other Clubs got knocked back? I haven't heard of that being a specific criteria, but FFA have been glaring in their absence With an explanation as to who qualifies under the 'Cahill' marquee rule...
Arto
Guest
That's the same questin I've been putting out there too... I can actually see FFA using Kruse as a poster-boy for the season and hailing his return as a Socceroo still in his prime - hence why I wouldn't be surprised that they accepted him as a 'Cahill' marquee whereas Eduardo, Diamanti, & co were knocked back. FFA's primary focus seems to be in bringing in 'new' fans so Socceroo players have (in FFAs eyes anyway) a better chance of bringing in those 'new' to the game...
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
It's been a while since the reigning champ has retained the bulk of its squad.
BES
Roar Rookie
I thought the MC rule specified it had to be an Australian??
BES
Roar Rookie
I wonder whether Kruse (a Brisbane boy now free on the market) would be approved under the MC rule.....?
BES
Roar Rookie
The truly sad/scary fact tho Waz - yes we have 4 visa slots open, but by default, we are only going to be able to sign up players of lesser quality than Oar and Holman (our Marque players and therefor highest paid) for at least the next year. Them's a frightening reality......
BES
Roar Rookie
Pretty funny/sad when you compare to the squad size of SV Darmstadt which now includes Jamie Mclaren - no less than 32 registered players.....
Arto
Guest
That's been true for previous seasons, however given Arnold used, on the whole, fewer players than the normal, I would argue that he's likely to use fewer NYL players next season too. Again, I refer to this season's bench: Ryall, Dimitrijevic, Carney, Ibini's replacement, Simon will all get more minutes next season, plus Calver and Blackwood (if both get re-signed) would also be ahead of the NYL players apart from Lokolingoy perhaps. So I think your argument that SFC will suffer because they need to use more NYL players is more in hope than actually backed up by the reality of the situation...
Lionheart
Guest
I'll be ordering a FCK shirt if the rumors are true, for those neutral days, and adding it to my destinations visit list, but as I said before, I'll wait for the fat lady first. She's still warming up.
Footoverhand
Guest
Huddersfield are in the playoff final, which is remarkable given last season they were close to relegation. He would be their first signing if they go up, along with Brown you would think, Wagner is a good coach and it would be great to carry the story on with the terriers.
Footoverhand
Guest
It's going to be interesting following Kaiserslautern next season with their Aussie players and I can see Borello going far. I'm surprised no one has jumped on Tratt, sure he had a few mediocre games but that's what you get with youth, but overall I thought he was quite impressive.
Waz
Guest
In the ACL seasons you have to play your youth players - either in the HAL or in the ACL
Lionheart
Guest
this whole contract period is all a bit wishy washy, in fairness to Evan. For example, I don't think Borrello appears on the Roar list you reference, but reports have him going to Germany FCK, I'm waiting for the fat lady.
Arto
Guest
Ok. Well off the top of my head, we had Lokolingoy (striker), Kuleski (AM), Anthoniou & Flottman (both DEF) as NYL players in the Squad, but I'm not sure if any of them got game-time during the League season. The NYL team is doing it tough in NPL1 this season (2-1-7 win-draw-loss record) after winning NPL2 last season so maybe the step up is a bit of an eye-opener for them, but then again results might be misleading if they are NOT the focus of the coaching staff (as should be the case in youth development), rather they are trying to develop players for the 1st team squad...
Lionheart
Guest
no no, we're talking about the first team youth. Every club must include three players under age 20 in their squad, minimum of 20 players (or maybe 21, max 26 I think). They can also include three other players on youth contracts (so that's your NYL player) which helps save money within the salary cap. The first three must receive the minimum salary while the extra (optional) three can be on youth wages. Otherwise, age isn't a consideration in the rules for squad make-up. Arnie had a great bench, frightening, and didn't have to play his youth. But with the extra commitments of ACL, and the travel, next year will be more of a challenge.
Lionheart
Guest
no, I doubt that they tried that
Arto
Guest
Agree. Kruse would be a good replacement if Holosko also decides to leave - especially if he comes in as a 'Cahill' marquee!
Arto
Guest
Holosko has been great, although not sure whether one could say 'marquee' great. 17 goals in 52 games as a winger is awesome, but he could have increased the amount of assists he makes (4 each season). His main benefit though is in how he fits into the team - workrate is phenomenal and his passion on the field keeps the players' fires stoked. Reduced impact this past season, but getting subbed after 60-65min most games will do that - particularly seeing as we scored so many goals in the 2nd half - but I hope he re-signs as this squad could do something special again this coming season.
Arto
Guest
I think you need to follow SFC a bit moore before you come with such definitive statements about them... If you're referring to youth players as in those coming from the NYL, then yes, SFC hardly played any of them - they had Ryall, Dimitrijevic, Carney & Simon on the bench so that was a pretty hard gig to get. If you're alking about the age of the starting XI then in Grant, Buijs, Zullo, O'Neill, & Brillante they have players under 30, plus Vukovic, Ninkovic & Bobo are all only 32 and 32 for a goalkeeper is arguably still in their prime. Underlining all this is Andrew Clarke's proven ability to get and keep players in top shape so really the only questionmarks surrounding age of contracted players for next season are Wilkinson & Brosque (assuming he keeps his previously stated word that he'll play on for whatever money is left to offer). Also, you may have noticed that Arnold kept a pretty consistent starting XI so I don't think the ACL will require as much of a Reliance on NYL players as you make out - more gametime to players on the bench like Ryall and Simon, as well as Dimitrejvic & Carney (if they re-sign) will also be a factor... What I'm hoping for in the off-season is the re-signing of said players in addition to Calver and a back-up for Zullo. Hearing of Kruse's departure from his Chienese club makes me wish for Arnold to make a bid for him (maybe he will Count as a 'Cahill' marquee?)...