With around 60 days remaining until Round 1 of the new A-League season, the significance of the moment should not be lost.
It will be the last edition of the league in its current form, with new teams involved when the 2019-20 season launches in just over twelve months from now. Long overdue, the excitement will be palpable, with potentially new derbies and rivalries on show, depending on the selection of the new franchise holders.
For now, we continue to play a waiting game at which supporters of the Australian domestic competition have become quite adept over the years. That is not to say that the upcoming season will be merely a blip in A-League history; the forgotten year that filled the space just prior to the reinvention of the competition.
There is still much to look forward to in 2018-19, with the championship race appearing wide open and incredibly difficult to predict at this early stage.
Sadly, there is little to speak of in terms of marquee acquisitions. Keisuke Honda is the biggest of those and welcomed the announcement was. However, apart from a rather crazy experiment with a certain Jamaican sprinter on the Central Coast, it appears unlikely that further significant and potentially transformative names will be arriving at this late stage.
Sydney FC appear the most likely to add considerable star quality to their squad in the coming weeks. There must be a few dollars in the coffers considering the talent and value they jettisoned during the off-season.
Therefore, what will unfold is still tinged with uncertainty, as teams finalise their rosters and calculate the salary cap compliant numbers. A few young men will get their chance as promising rookies; brought up from the lower tiers and with the opportunity to prove to their managers that they belong.
Rather than predicting what we will see, there are a few things I feel fairly confident we won’t when the season does get underway on October 19.
1. Home and away dominance of Sydney FC
Irrespective of your view as to the correct method of determining the champions of a domestic league, for the past two seasons Sydney FC have dominated the week to week component like no team before them.
The finals loss to Melbourne Victory in April no doubt stung, but it was an embodiment of the unpredictability and opportunism present in play-off matches.
Sydney’s record of forty wins, ten draws and four losses over two seasons of home and away play is imperious. Fortunately, for nine other clubs, it won’t be continuing in 2018/19.
The losses of Bobo, Jordy Buijs and Adrian Mierzejewski cannot be understated and with Milos Ninkovic left to shoulder the load with the ageing Alex Brosque, Sydney’s chances look severely dented.
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
Even with a late signing or two, new coach Steve Corica will struggle to have his squad performing anywhere near the level achieved in the Graham Arnold era. It looms as a significant leveller in the top six and might play out as a positive thing for the league overall.
2. Bolt scoring for the Mariners
As potentially significant, exciting and internationally news worthy as Usain Bolt scoring for the Central Coast Mariners and proving his worth as a top tier footballer would be, it appears unlikely.
Torn between the obvious commercial interest and investment that one of the world’s most recognisable athletes could bring to the Australian game and the more cynical thinking around the gimmicky nature of the experiment, I am not really sure what to think.
As a footballer and watching from afar, he doesn’t appear to have a hope in Hades, yet brilliant athletes do spend much of their lives proving the world wrong. Good luck to Bolt if he can indeed make the squad, however, I don’t think we will be seeing his trademark ‘lightning bolt’ at Central Coast Stadium this season.
3. Another season of underachievement from Melbourne City
Melbourne City will win the A-League Grand Final at AAMI Park next May. Huge call I know, especially considering its tendency to disappoint and capitulate when the moments are at their most significant.
However, this is City’s year, with Bruno Fornaroli back to full fitness and a squad possessing a depth rarely seen in the A-League. Riley McGree and Rostyn Griffiths add much starch to the midfield and with the best defender in the league, Bart Schenkeveld, at the back, the puzzle pieces at Warren Joyce’s disposal look ominous.
(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Dario Vidosic, Lachlan Wales and Scotsman Michael O’Halloran will ably support Fornaroli up front and as a unit look potentially venomous.
I’m not sure who City will beat on the big day but the toilet seat will look very nice alongside the Premier’s Plate in their trophy cabinet.
4. Roy O’Donovan (well, for ten weeks at least)
After the fairy tale run of the Jets, a botched VAR non-decision and with the heart of Newcastle well and truly won, it will be tough for the Jets to back up 2017/18.
They have the talent yet will do the initial hard work without Irishman Roy O’Donovan who will serve his ten match suspension to start the season. Nobody enjoys seeing likeable players suspended yet people also take no pleasure in the sight of Lawrence Thomas’ face being imprinted with moulded studs.
O’Donovan will sit out in excess of a third of the season, hoping his return is back into a winning team and one ready to challenge for the title for the second year running.
It should be another compelling season of football, with a competition so close that it might be a little easier to predict what will not happen, as opposed to what will.
Arto
Guest
@ Aelthelbert: I agree alot with your comments. Kogarah might even turn out to be a godsend in attracting more fans as the atmosphere of a near full stadium becomes more attractive. I also think it won't be so much a dip in SFC's performances, but rather the rest of the League catching up - you can already sense that PG & MC will be stronger propositions this season and neither BR nor NJ have take backward steps either, IMO, so already the Top 6 is likely to a tough nut to break for those teams who missed out last season. Whilst it's true SFC have lost a lot of their goal-scoring ability in Adrian in Bobo leaving, they still have a very good core midfield in Ninikovic, O'Neill & Brillante - then add DdS. Plus, Wilkinson & Warland, as well as Zullo & Grant mean the defence is still strong even before Jordy Mk II comes in to contention. So whilst there's admittedly some concern in trying to replace 2 of our biggest stars from last season,there's still plenty of time to find some more offensive firepower & a lot of the core components from the last 2 seasons still remain including the club philosophy & culture so we should be there or thereabouts come the last rounds of the League & Finals time, I reckon.
Aethelbert
Guest
Kogarah is very close to me and I've been a member for 5 years. Kogarah also looks very full around the 12k-14k Mark so that will suit Sydney massively. There won't be so much of a slip of Sydney's performance more rather an improvement in other teams performances, people won't want to admit it but we've forced teams to up their game and that will result in a tighter top 6.
The Doc
Roar Guru
some good ones there. I would love to see bolt out there. Heart ruling my head here and even if he isnt quite up to scratch it would bring fans (perhaps the ones people on this forum wont be keen on having come anyway), provide great likely international coverage. Yep - perhaps may create issues in the squad not to mention the wider integrity of the a-league if he gets a game and is woefully substandard but who cares Also, MV allowing free standing in the north terrace - will the NTC return, avoid flares and bring their energy to MV home games? time will tell but good to have them back (if they choose to return)
Arto
Guest
A few big calls there, Stuart. Biggest for me is MC as GF AND League winners! I can't see that happening, but who knows, maybe you're right. What I tend to experience With A-League is that almost every pre-season there seems to be an air of all the teams being just about equal & that any team looks like a Top 2 candidate. Then the season proper kicks in and the wheat gets separated from the chaff. Right now it's still planting season so it's too early to say how things will og for any team. The other thing I think happens is that there's always (at least ) 2 teams that surprise everybody - 1 positively & 1 negatively. Last season it was Newcastle (+) & Western Sydney (-), the season before it was Sydney (+) & Adelaide (-) and the year before that it was Brisbane (+) & Sydney (-) - if one looks at each club's results the season before. So who will be the 2018-19 surprises? Well obviously SFC is the prime candidate for the negative surprise & the 'smokey' team could well be Perth (especially with their off-season recruitment looking on paper to be good). However, these suggestions prior to Rnd 1 are based upon how the off-season is panning out & therefore aren't really surprises are they? No, the real surprises would be if Wellington did The Double & either of SFC or Mv picked up the wooden spoon - none of us really think that's much of a chance of happening, but who knows! ;-)
jbinnie
Guest
Ago - It may interest you to know that when "summer soccer" was first advocated it was suggested that ALL games be played in early evening, under floodlights if possible, thereby allowing "fans" to participate in their usual summer practices and still take in a football match. It was the "floodlight issue" that shelved the idea for at the tIme of suggestion very few of the NSL clubs had lights at the grounds they used and even if they had, the lights were not of sufficient quality to play a game under. So what did the leaders of the day decide? Easy ,Just ignore that part of the suggestion and play in the heat of the day..Typical of the time.Cheers jb.
AGO74
Guest
Yeah I'm ok with that. I know he's still performing ok for Turkey last season (7 goals) but he's 37 and age catches up with you very quickly as we saw with ADP's second season in Sydney and Timmy Cahill over the last 12 months. I'd rather if we can jag a big name marquee that they be in the age range/last league of Honda age 32/Mexico.or Torres 34/Spain. Otherwise, no thanks.
Midfielder
Guest
lol apa
Nick Symonds
Guest
"A few things you will not see in the A-League this season" No Samuel Eto’o - Eto'o Qatar move ends hopes of A-League marquee coup "The three-time UEFA Champions League winner is expected to be unveiled by the Qatar Stars League club on Tuesday and joins the likes of Xavi, Wesley Sneijder, Nigel de Jong and Gabi plying their trade in the burgeoning competition." https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/eto-o-qatar-move-ends-hopes-of-a-league-marquee-coup
AGO74
Guest
could be three as I reckon the FFA have one of Reddy's former clubs (Phoenix) in the firing line a la Gold Coast United....
Nick Symonds
Guest
MASSIVE NEWS: IT'S OFFICIAL, FIFA NO LONGER CORRUPT! "FIFA has officially eradicated corruption. All it took was pressing the delete key." http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-14/fifa-removes-the-word-corruption-from-code-of-ethics/10117958
JIMMY B
Guest
MY LADDER PREDICTION 1 GLORY 2 VICTORY 3 SYDNEY 4 CITY 5 JETS 6 WSW 7 ROAR 8 UNITED 9 CCM 10 PHOENIX
apaway
Roar Guru
Is there any truth to the rumour that the A league is expanding to 12 teams to give Liam Reddy two new clubs to play for?
Buddy
Guest
Worst thing about the A League is having to wait until October for the start. We had the world cup, a few weeks holiday and then all the pre season friendlies were on for most leagues and now Europe is back into it, MLS is coming to the business end of the season and all we get is FFA Cup and hearing the same old same old ..."this is a good hit out for the team as they are only just in pre season whereas the NPL side is coming towards the end of theirs". It may well be a leveler but that isn't my interest, it is simply a lament! If you want to attract new fans, waiting for 2 months after many leagues have kicked off their new season won't help the cause. I don't need a lesson in logistics or stadium availability......I understand all the whys and wherefores, but it doesn't make it any easier to stomach.
MQ
Guest
A degree of collusion will need to occur to fix up the governance issues.
AGO74
Guest
Definitely happy with more 5.30 games this year. Great in the summer time. Just hope there's no rain.... Kogarah more convenient for me but will still trek out to Leichhardt.
At work
Roar Rookie
The two Leichhardt Oval matches are on a Sunday afternoon too, how good are those going to be on the hill! Plus standing on the hill at Kogarah, good times, except for the travel to get down south.
At work
Roar Rookie
Definitely looking forward to seeing Fornaroli back at his best, another 20 goal season on the way perhaps. Calling then out as Champions though, sure why not based on current squads. But knowing their inconsistency over the years with good squad I wouldn't pick them as Premiers. Perth should finish top 6 this season off the back of Poppa being Poppa. And I think the Honda signing is quite big, certainly bigger than anything last year, I don't think we need any more 'marquee' signings. In reality these days with Chinese and American money, we won't be seeing the kind of marquee that the public knows anyway, it is what it is. I just hope Sydney can finalise our squad soon.
midfielder
Guest
Had a chat to a mate last night and he kinda said what I feel in summary 1] Looking forward to to A-League and watching. 2] Not looking forward to the never ending negativity on social media. 3] Not looking forward to constant collusion code invasion telling us how great they are and pointing out every single aspect in their opinion regardless of whether it is an issue or not. 4] Not looking forward from the lecturing on high by many Football journalist of how they with their wisdom think things should be done. 5] Just wish Lowy would go so we could fix up the governance issues..
Franko
Guest
Melbourne Victory Perth Glory Adelaide United Melbourne City All contenders this year based on their signings.
AGO74
Guest
Best players I’ve seen in our league were not marquees when they came here - berisha, broich, Ninkovic, Mierzejewski. They may have moved to marquee contracts afterward on the back of exceptional form but you are right the best players don’t have to be marquee players. That said I think if you are get the opportunity to get a big name marquee - Honda is the type a club should aim for who is still at or near the peak of his powers.