Supporting your football team as they battle through a dry run can sometimes be an experience similar to visiting the dentist and getting some major and obtrusive work done.
Not fun in the slightest.
Yet as the chill of winter fades and the hope of spring approaches, a new A-League season draws ever nearer and all fans dream of success.
The FFA Cup has already whet appetites and over the next six weeks will present its usual blend of both the astonishing and the quirky.
After gentle trials against local competition, most A-League clubs will look to hit the ground running as they move into official cup play. For many, a Round of 32 match-up with NPL competition is a potentially comfortable start to their campaign.
For others it will be more a case of all guns blazing. 2018-19 Premier’s Plate winners Perth Glory face the Wanderers in the west, the Victory host the Jets at AAMI Park and the new look, Robbie Fowler led Brisbane Roar travel to Sydney to take on the A-League champions.
Those matches take place in a bumper night of action on August 7th, with the Mariners and Melbourne City the first of the A-League clubs to make their appearance in the cup on July 31st.
As is always the case, every team will be frothing and champing, eager to show the opposition their wares. Each new season brings such hope.
For fans of those clubs out of finals’ action last April, that hope is vital.
For last season’s 10th placed cellar dwellers, things appear to be well on track. Whilst Alen Stajcic’s removal from his position as coach of the Matildas continues to reverberate through the walls of the FFA, the man himself appears to have well and truly moved on.
Tasked with rebuilding the Mariners, another clean out of playing stocks has been followed by some positive signings, with Scotsman Ziggy Gordon the most notable. Stajcic will also have Daniel De Silva back in the fold and should enjoy blending the new men into what did appear an improving side late last season.
Alen Stajcic. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
The most interesting and headline grabbing club through the off-season thus far has been the Brisbane Roar. After raiding the British Isles, Fowler has already added no less than 11 men to his squad.
Supporters of the orange needed to see change; a continuation of the downhill slide that became John Aloisi’s tenure up north could not continue.
Whether the manager is able to gel his squad quickly and show immediate improvement is unknown, however the club certainly cannot be accused of sitting on its hands during the off-season.
Last season’s eighth placed Wanderers haven’t been idle either. Farewelling 13 players and luring just five to this point in their preparations, suggests that there are still significant announcements to come.
The great hope for the red and black will be that Markus Babbel now has the team he wants and needs to return the Wanderers to the top six and beyond.
With Western Sydney Stadium playing the role of a twelfth man, supporters have every reason to feel positive about the new look Wanderers.
I sense a bit of anger in the Hunter; both after a disappointing season in 2018-19 that never really got out of first gear and the news that Andrew Nabbout has joined Melbourne Victory.
Football fans often dream of the romantic notion of a favourite son returning and doing so based on loyalty and passion for the local community that once cheered them on.
Sadly, as we all know, that is something of a fraud and Jets fans should be focusing more on their new and exciting 25-year-old Panamanian Abdiel Arroyo, as well as domestic signings Nick Fitzgerald and Matthew Millar.
All three stand to be valuable for Ernie Merrick as he looks to return the Jets to finals play after going so close to A-League glory in 2017-18.
Ernie Merrick of the Jets. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Hope is personified in expansion club Western United; the most unknown of unknown quantities.
With a dynamic and progressive Mark Rudan at the helm, the club has recruited well.
Greek Panagiotis Kone and Italian Alessandro Diamanti will no doubt make an A-League splash, Josh Risdon is a clever buy and along with Brendan Hamill, Aaron Calver and Andrew Durante, could form a formidable defensive combination.
The exciting Max Burgess could well flourish and luring Filip Kurto to western Melbourne could prove to be one of the buys of the season after his stellar 2018-19 in Wellington.
For the Mariners, Roar, Wanderers and Jets, a potential year of revival awaits and supporters of all four clubs have reason for hopeful optimism. So too our newest A-League fans, those engaging with Western United.
The cycle of football seasons brings hope and all five have it in spades right now.
On Thursday I will run the rule over last season’s top six and just how positive they should be feeling as we move closer and closer to the start of a new A-League season.
mattq
Guest
pity that app is limited to a small screen.
Newie
Guest
Thanks
Waz
Roar Rookie
But I wish you well, you deserve better
Nemesis
Guest
This is big news. It was launched last week, but not sure if everyone found out. All FFA Cup matches will be streamed LIVE & FREE to everyone in Australia via the Telstra MyFootball App. 1) Download the App 2) Create a My Football Account (FREE), no hidden fees or credit card needed 3) Go to "MORE" menu and tap "Redeem a Vocher" & enter the code voucher: FFACUP2019 https://www.theffacup.com.au/news/watch-every-ffa-cup-2019-match-live-demand
Griffo
Roar Guru
I think a bit too much was made of Nabbout promising a return to the Jets if Japan didn't work out. Some are dirty that 'loyalty' isn't what it once was. I think we weren't in a position to offer his worth and he is starting a new family so Melbourne seems ideal for the support. I think he is a handy pickup but his best play for Jets was as a striker/attacking forward (due to Vargas being out first season and Dimi taking on the 10 role, and O'Donovan's injury and suspension).
Griffo
Roar Guru
I thought O'Donovan was dropping off a little last season - which probably equates to contract negotiation discussions - but we weren't exactly scoring freely compared to the previous season. A fresh club should help him. Ninth is harsh but sixth could be a stretch.
Griffo
Roar Guru
I suppose this might highlight the perceptions of experience in a (pro) football environment vs part-time (NPL) or a short league system (NYL). I also think 'youth' gets a little mixed up with NPL players, who given enough time can transition and progress in a professional environment. While this might mean some youth 'academies' need to evaluate how players can transition seamlessly to the first team, it also means that a professional league between NPL/NYL and A-League is needed, without the high costs.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Fair point
Waz
Roar Rookie
I don’t disagree but will point out you said the same this time last year ;)
Waz
Roar Rookie
Keogh is one of those players who you don’t appreciate exactly what they do, until they’re gone. But he scored 25 goals last season, had 2 assists and a high 23 “shot assists” ... any side would miss that. I’m not sure he and Fornorolli would partner well, and certainly Castro/Fornirolli looks a better combo - so it may not all be bad. But with a mass of changes in the defence and Keogh gone this will be a very different Glory this year.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Its been a while, but for the first time in quite a while my gut tells me the Mariners will have a reasonable season. Not mentioned or talked about much is the Seoul Brothers, two K-League players, who have been training with us with paper work being completed with one hopefully finalised this week and the other within two weeks, and we are looking to add another visa player... most think a striker...
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
It's a bummer isn't it, but I suppose it works for us too. We picked up Zac Duncan as a 15yr old I think, from Vic (most likely his family moved or some such). Maybe, when the League becomes independent, squad size limits will change and youth contracts will extend beyond the short-term contracts at present, and transfer fees will be introduced. I read that two Aussies, Lucas Neill's lad and one other both age 11-12, were signed to contracts at Liverpool. Didn't say for how long but implied long term.
chris
Guest
No big loss. For me he is overrated. Not very technical nor mobile. There are lots of this type of forward in the local game here.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Franko Too much change = Change of ownership. Change of coach. Change of captain. Change of key players. That’s what I see. Change. Also they weren’t that good last year but a coach and key players got them in to 4th place. Take those elements out and will they be better or worse? My (way too early but just for fun) assessment is they’ll be worse off.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Keogh gone, to Saudi Arabia by the looks of things.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Roar will get a fee for Duncan, $90k but shared with the other clubs in his development.
BrizzyBoy
Roar Rookie
Oar's only weakness will be his health, if he can stay injury free, he should have a good season. Like the Roar, they need a good start. Tongyik in my opinion could be one of the best defenders in the league. But to me, he lacks mongrel, aggression. Da Silva needs to prove himself too, lots of question marks there. But I think they can do well and I hope they do. Wellington is another team who I think could fight for the six again, their defence will be lacking, it's a question of whether Luke Devere can stay 100% healthy, it's a shame it didn't work out for him at Brisbane, great player in my opinion, just unlucky. But they too will score lots and concede just as much
Nemesis
Guest
Agree. We know nothing about Robbie Fowler's ability to manage professional footballers. Maybe, he'll be great. But, it's comical to hear people dismiss Gertjan Verbeek who has been managing professional clubs for the past 15 years. And, they've probably never watched any of Verbeek's teams playing. Adelaide certainly have good scouting for foreign coaches. Before they came to A-League, no one knew anything about Amor, or Kurtz, or Gombau. But, they all won trophies in professional football in Australia, playing entertaining football.
BrizzyBoy
Roar Rookie
I agree, Zach Duncan was a big loss indeed, especially in the sense he was able to move for free. But does it work the same in Europe? If not, how do we fix this issue? From a Brisbane fans perspective, we always seem to get a crap deal when our youngsters leave. Is that simply poor business on our behalf? Cheers
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Zac Duncan was a big loss in my view. Although he only played a couple of games at the end of last season, he looked all class. He signed with a Danish club, straight from Roar's academy, for no fee, which is a shame I think. It's a bit like skipping on your HECs, but admittedly the Roar academy is far from mature so not quite the same.