Young and local talent is the way to describe Adelaide United this season, with the majority of their players either coming from South Australia or coming through the Adelaide United youth team.
The Reds have had a history of producing great young players, with both current Socceroo Awer Mabil and emerging Olyroo Riley McGree coming through the Reds system, to name just two. But the question remains whether this group of young Reds can lift United back into the finals and make a name for themselves.
Goalkeepers
With currently four goalkeepers on their books, the Reds have a huge hole to fill after being saved on numerous occasions over the last three seasons by departing goalkeeper Paul Izzo. They’ve retained young goalkeepers Dakota Ochsenham and Ethan Cox, with Ochsenham hoping to potentially make a senior start for the club after being named on the bench several times last season.
Adelaide boy Joe Gauci joined the club along with former Australian under-20s goalkeeper James Delianov. Ochsenham has started both preseason games for the club, but it is still yet to be known who the No. 1 goalkeeper will be. But with Eugene Galekovic as their goalkeeping coach, the young goalies have a fantastic mentor and will no doubt develop into good goalies for the Reds.
Defenders
The defence is arguably the Reds’ most experienced area, with Ryan Strain, Jordan Elsey, Ryan Kitto, Michael Jakobsen and Michael Marrone all returning, with four out of five of them having over 100 games experience in Australia’s top flight. However, Reds fans would be concerned with the leaky defence just prior to the COVID-19 break after conceding five twice and three.
While the defensive record improved under Carl Veart after Gertjan Verbeek left the club, fans will still be hoping that these experienced five will improve this. The Reds have young left-back Noah Smith rising through the ranks. He’ll be putting pressure on Ryan Kitto to fill the left-back spot.
After having experience playing for Schalke in Germany, George Timotheou will be looking to make a name for himself in the Australian leagues and will be one of the defenders to watch this upcoming season.
(Photo by James Elsby/Getty Images)
Midfielders
After losing reigning club champion Riley McGree this will be a big season for Stefan Mauk, with the Reds No. 8 announcing he wants to be the midfield general of the team. He will be looking to recreate the form he had in the 2015-16 championship-winning team, when he was pivotal for the Reds in the latter half of that season.
Louis D’Arrigo will be looking to continue his form from last season after the young midfielder made a name for himself last year, having done a good job to fill the void left by club legend Isaias Sanchez.
Experienced Socceroo James Troisi will be looking for a better second season at the club after an injury-riddled campaign prevented the Reds from getting the most out him, but at his best he looked very good and was pivotal to many of the Reds wins. Keeping him fit could allow the Reds to get the most out of Troisi, which could be the difference between making finals or not.
Young Red Nathan Konstandopoulos will be looking to regain the form he had prior to his ACL injury once he recovers. Former Brisbane Roar midfield Joe Caletti joins the Reds, the small, composed hardworking midfielder hoping to break into the team and perhaps make an appearance in the Olyroos squad.
Attackers
This is arguably the youngest part of the Reds squad. With Ben Halloran being the most experienced of this group, he will be hoping to continue his fantastic form from last year after scoring nine goals. While the Toure brothers will be hoping to continue to bring a spark into the team, with Al Hassan Toure looking to be the striker of the squad after the departure of Norwegian Kristian Opseth.
Pacifique Niyongabire looked promising after the season restart and Reds fans will be hoping to see him doing backflips every week. Young Kusini Yengi will be hoping to break onto the scene after missing out on his opportunities last year largely due to injury, and he’s started well by scoring one in the preseason.
The Reds have also brought in young Domenic Costanzo, who scored 14 goals in 18 games for Croydon Kings in the NPL and will be wanting to become the next Reds legend after his father, Angelo Costanzo. Exciting prospect Yaya Dukuly also joins the side and will be wanting to break into the squad.
Al Hassan Toure. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Verdict
Though they have an experienced defence, the Reds have a very young attack. The question remains, though, whether the voids of Riley McGree and even the big Norwegian Kristian Opseth, who became a fan favourite after scoring four goals at the season restart, can be filled.
There is big pressure on the young attackers to score these goals, having combined for only 19 goals in Australia’s top flight. But all signs are that the players are loving working under Carl Veart, and the Reds legend may be the man to lead his young squad back into finals.
Fans would be expecting the side to push for finals, with the team likely pushing for those final fifth and sixth spots if their key players remain fit and healthy.
Paul Andrews
Guest
EJ nice work. Are you doing previews on all the other teams?
EJ
Roar Pro
For those who don’t know fixture is out, all 26 rounds which is awesome
EJ
Roar Pro
Would like to know myself mate lol, I think they’re trying to keep it as close to start date as possible especially with restrictions happening in different states and uncertainty with the COVID situation, would imagine it would be a bit of a floating fixture AFL style where it was announced every few weeks, only my thoughts and from what I’ve read but might be wrong
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
any one can tell me when a leauge fixtures come out 20/21?
EJ
Roar Pro
As a reds fan maybe I’m the optimist, I think it will be a challenge for them but I think if the youngsters rise they could make finals, unfortunately hasn’t been too many pre season games between a-league teams to get a major indication but still thinking city, Sydney will be a class above most of the competition but who knows, maybe without Le fondre Sydney might struggle to find goals, was a Sydney fan on Thursday night while watching them in the ACL (gotta support the aussies even if they’re the rivals) and did my head in how many they missed but looked very good, I guess time will tell, hopefully for myself you’re wrong and reds play finals again :)
NoMates
Guest
I think AUFC will be chasing the spoon along with Roar this season. Both have poor squads and will really drag the HAL down to its lowest point.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Agreed Coasty. Too many naysayers and pessimists out there.
Coastyboi
Guest
A top article too. I know football fans might not show it, but we are very, very grateful to read-up on the A-League. :happy: :football:
Coastyboi
Guest
Andy, you’re a passionate A-League fan who knows the game well - by all means, you too should write articles for The Roar. None of us here are the next Shakespeare, & we’re willing to read practically every article online. Give it a go, & you might be surprised at the positive feedback. And yes, that means I’d eventually have to write one too!
EJ
Roar Pro
Thanks mate first article in a while :), I think we got something capable to do something special and looking forward to analysing the other teams together, still think City and Sydney may be the two top dogs again. But all I’m thinking as a reds fan is if we can win it all after being bottom after round 8, club can do anything
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
A good analysis and accurate. The optimist in me says we can go a lot further than anyone imagines, but the realist also tells me that we will have to have the 'rub of the green' to finish top 2. I have a lot of faith in the coaching staff and the backroom 'boys' and girls. We are a family, the original "Peoples Club" and whole city gets behind us once we start to gather momentum so don't be at all surprised to see us host the Grand-Final once again.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
5 of that 6 should be first team regulars this year! here's my issue though, and its a much broader issue. We have a small african australian population compared to melbourne/sydney etc. Yet we have so many more players. Why is that? are other teams not making any effort to check the local leagues?
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
JT's a great player when fit and his concentration is on point (rare for him to have both things in sync) always been a fan of his and should've had a far more succesful european career. He's the wrong side of 30 now and his contract has close to $400k left, id be looking to cash in on him. A middle eastern/indian/asian club will pay high 6 figures for him. We could then fully develope dukuly into the team as an attacking midfielder rather than a winger
Nick Symonds
Guest
Plenty of talent coming out of the African-Australian community with players like Alou Kuol at Mariners and Idrus Abdullahi at Melbourne City, but Adelaide seem to be leading the pack. Al Hassan Toure Mohamed Toure Musa Toure Pacifique Niyongabire Kusini Yengi Yaya Dukuly
EJ
Roar Pro
That’s is what I’ve heard as well, but SA cover lockdown might impact a move and he has started both pre-season games good signs for reds fans but did hear that from SBS world game earlier in the month (if I’m correct). Be interested to see who is the starting centre backs with Timotheou coming in. Finals achievable but unfortunately no cup for the specialists due to Covid, injury and suspension will mean a lot of pressure on the younger lads
Franko
Guest
Looks like Troisi will leave, so there's a lot on the shoulders of Mauk. Agree that finals (and a strong cup run) should be achievable. First IX is strong enough but any injury or suspension and it's paper thin.
EJ
Roar Pro
We’ve always some of the best talent coming through our ranks and this year the attack looks exciting, I think always anything less than finals is a failure for Reds fans, last year was disappointing and when we were going we looked good but when we weren’t we looked horrible like v western United. Veart bought a bit more consistency in the back half It will be interesting to see how other clubs turn out, some have gone youth - with glory playing a few teenagers in their loss v Shanghai shenua which I thought was a very good effort from some of those young glory kids while Sydney have retained a large bulk of their experience. Will be interesting to see if the club and Bruce sign any more players and foreigners
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
finally an article on Adelaide!!! best youth in the country (especially african australian youth) ive been able to watch the 2 trial games so far and we look super exciting, however like any team with kids the consistency/concentration won't be there. If everything clicks we could finish as high as third but i would be expecting around the 5th-6th spot. Anything less than finals qualification will be a failure in my eyes. Dukuly is the one to watch, best african australian talent in his age group