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Opinion

Who’s leading the annual game of A-League off-season musical chairs? (Part 1)

11th August, 2021
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Expert
11th August, 2021
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Critics of the A-League will often refer to the rinse and repeat nature of the competition and the tendency for players to club-hop throughout their time in the league.

No doubt there is some substance to that, yet in a salary-capped competition the necessity to both move players on and seek value from experienced men at other clubs perhaps ensures that the A-League is and will always remain a very transient competition for many players.

With a 30 October start date still a possibility, club signings have ramped up in recent weeks, and most have been domestic moves – players leaving clubs, looking for greener pastures and arriving at others with the hope of rejuvenating careers that in many cases have stagnated.

Thus far there appears to be distinct winners and losers in the recruiting stakes, with soon-to-be-announced overseas signings set to be the cherries on top of reshaped squads.

Adelaide United
At the time of writing the Reds had set serious experience and quality free, with Michael Marrone, Ryan Strain, Jordan Elsey and Tomi Juric all departing. The acquisitions of Nick Ansell and George Blackwood are curious, with neither adding a class or polish superior to the men on the move. It suggests Adelaide will have far more to say when it comes to preseason signings.

Brisbane Roar
After the best season the men in orange have mustered for some time, a host of players have departed. Veteran keeper Jamie Young is potentially the most notable, yet Dylan Wenzel-Halls, Joe Champness, Riku Danzaki and Macaulay Gillesphey also leave considerable holes in the squad.

Warren Moon will be hoping that fleet footed Nikola Mileusnic’s return from Denmark proves a masterstroke and that former Sydney FC youth star Luke Ivanovic will flourish when finally given the minutes he craved at the Sky Blues over the last two seasons.

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Central Coast Mariners
After the most heartwarming of comebacks under former coach Alen Stajcic, Central Coast has subsequently had a considerable portion of its DNA ripped from it, with Alou Kuol and Gianni Stensness heading abroad and Jack Clisby, Stefan Nigro and Daniel De Silva also departing to explore opportunities elsewhere.

New manager Nick Montgomery appears well and truly behind the eight ball, with just Nicolai Muller and Noah Smith added to his squad, one that appeared a little threadbare in 2020-21 when injury or unavailability struck.

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Macarthur FC
After a stunning debut season, things look likely to improve further in the south-west of Sydney in 2021-22. An overseas move for Denis Genreau, the departures of Matt Derbyshire, Ivan Franjic and Loic Puyo and the retirements of Markel Susaeta, Mark Milligan and Benat Etxebarria have been offset by some shrewd acquisitions.

Mexican star Ulises Davila, ex-Mariner Daniel De Silva, Socceroo Tomi Juric and former Melbourne City foreigner Craig Noone all arrive in the Bulls camp, along with experienced defender Tomislav Uskok and Englishman Jordon Mutch.

Thus far it looks like a stellar recruitment period for Macarthur, and it should result in a squad destined to return to the finals this season.

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Melbourne City
While much quality has been lost in the form of Craig Noone, Adrian Luna and Naoki Tsubaki, City will no doubt be soon to add to the lone signing of Socceroo Mathew Leckie. In fact the club’s next moves could potentially be some of the most exciting of all those made around the league. After a championship-premiership double, the owners are unlikely to arm Patrick Kisnorbo with anything less than a squad capable of repeating the success.

cott Galloway, Stefan Colakovski and Scott Jamieson celebrate winning the A-League Premiers Plate.

(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Melbourne Victory
If Victory fans are not the most excited in the league right now, I would be very surprised. After the most diabolical of seasons in which the wooden spoon was rightfully claimed, it has been nothing but change for Australia’s second most successful A-League club.

Gone are Nick Ansell, Elvis Kamsoba, Callum McManaman, Rudy Gestede, Adama Traore and Storm Roux, to name just a few. In come the cavalry in the form of Socceroos Jason Davidson, Josh Brillante, Jason Geria, Matthew Spiranovic and Chris Ikonomidis.

Throw in Stefan Nigro and Brendan Hamill and it is fair to say that the change new manager Tony Popovic knew was necessary has most certainly arrived. Should a sharp foreigner with the attacking cutting edge that Victory so needed last season be announced in the coming weeks, opposition A-League clubs had best prepare themselves for the inevitable return to form of one of the powerhouses of the competition.

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