A-League Season Four Kicks Off
Version Four of the Hyundai A-League is under way and it’s shaping up to be the closest one yet. With the opening round producing three draws and a One-Nil win for Adelaide it’s looking like it will go right down to the wire. And I cannot wait.
The usual suspects are there. Melbourne, Central Coast and Sydney are all doing their usual thing but what’s making this season incredible is the Adelaide, Newcastle, Queensland and even Wellington are matching them. In the past it has been a few points between the finals and no post-season, this season its shaping to be a few points between 1st and 7th.
Let’s look at the teams individually.
Adelaide. They could really go either way. Adelaide confuse me every single year. Monster you one week and get smashed the next. On paper, they still look great. They have lost Nathan Burns but have solidified at the back with the purchase of big man Sasa Ognenovski. A lot of hype has surrounded Cristiano and he hasn’t disappointed with a strong performance against Perth. They look as strong as any other team, whether they can be consistent enough remains to be seen.
Central Coast. They had the trophy stolen from them last year, and unfortunately, I think it was the best chance they are going to have to win it for a while now. No more Aloisi gives them the lone spark of Petrovski, who is a prolific goal scorer but whether he can carry the team is another story. Ahmad Elrich will be valuable but the defense just seems to be...dull. I don’t think they’ll win this year, but they do stunning things every year when I don’t think they should.
Melbourne. The once great Victory fell far short of expectations last year and I think they are passed they’re best. They’re back line has been solid for many seasons now and a goal against the Victory is a rare gift and the pick up of Billy Celeski is a big positive. Can Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp get back to they’re form of two years ago? Melbourne’s season hangs on it.
Newcastle. A-League Champions. And I have no idea how. Joel Griffiths and Mark Bridge just carved oppositions up and somehow they got all the way. Now, with only one of them, granted, the better one, can they repeat the same path? Reading the Newcastle player list I’m failing to see any noted Midfielders or strikers apart from Griffiths. Last year was a fluke. They can’t do it twice in a row.
Perth. Almost assured the wooden spoon. Really, what have Perth done in the offseason? Sold Simon Colosimo… lost warm up games… Yeah. The NSL was where Perth had their Glory, they aren’t getting it back with a team like that.
Queensland. Such a tricky one. Recruited well, retained well, but is it enough? The major flaw I see is the back line, if Moore is injured or, far more likely, suspended, there is a huge gap. He is the coolest, smoothest, most polished, best defender in the league, but without him the Roar defense does look a bit shaky. The midfield looks to pick up on last season with Murdocca and McKay going to run circles around the centre and distributing well. The youngsters Kruse, Zullo and Minniecon are just going to get better with years and The Re-signing of Reinaldo, who finally found form at the end of last season, and the addition of Van Dijk and Miller, they are as good as any team in the completion and could be a dark horse.
Sydney. Well if you hadn’t heard, Sydney FC are the one with the lucrative amounts of money. I really don’t know how they get these players under the salary cap. The Chelsea of the A-league. Popovic, Colosimo, Santalab, Brosque,Bridge, Corica, not to mention Aloisi. It’s a phenomenal team. Can they gel in one season? Kosmina coached really well last year and hopefully he can pull these players together. Everybody’s title favourite.
Wellington. Stunned everybody in the preseason and are definitely looking like finalists. Now with a respectable team and a bit of money hopefully the New Zealand representative can make the Australian’s think the trip across the Tasman isn’t an easy three points.
So, my prediction.
Sydney FC
Queensland Roar
Melbourne
Wellington
Central Coast
Adelaide
Newcastle
Perth
I’m not expecting to be right, it could be the complete opposite its such a close competition. Really looking forward to the addition of other teams next year, might spread the field a bit but that can be better for some cases, especially if you prefer your fingernails intact.
The usual suspects are there. Melbourne, Central Coast and Sydney are all doing their usual thing but what’s making this season incredible is the Adelaide, Newcastle, Queensland and even Wellington are matching them. In the past it has been a few points between the finals and no post-season, this season its shaping to be a few points between 1st and 7th.
Adelaide. They could really go either way. Adelaide confuse me every single year. Monster you one week and get smashed the next. On paper, they still look great. They have lost Nathan Burns but have solidified at the back with the purchase of big man Sasa Ognenovski. A lot of hype has surrounded Cristiano and he hasn’t disappointed with a strong performance against Perth. They look as strong as any other team, whether they can be consistent enough remains to be seen.
Central Coast. They had the trophy stolen from them last year, and unfortunately, I think it was the best chance they are going to have to win it for a while now. No more Aloisi gives them the lone spark of Petrovski, who is a prolific goal scorer but whether he can carry the team is another story. Ahmad Elrich will be valuable but the defense just seems to be...dull. I don’t think they’ll win this year, but they do stunning things every year when I don’t think they should.
Melbourne. The once great Victory fell far short of expectations last year and I think they are passed they’re best. They’re back line has been solid for many seasons now and a goal against the Victory is a rare gift and the pick up of Billy Celeski is a big positive. Can Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp get back to they’re form of two years ago? Melbourne’s season hangs on it.
Newcastle. A-League Champions. And I have no idea how. Joel Griffiths and Mark Bridge just carved oppositions up and somehow they got all the way. Now, with only one of them, granted, the better one, can they repeat the same path? Reading the Newcastle player list I’m failing to see any noted Midfielders or strikers apart from Griffiths. Last year was a fluke. They can’t do it twice in a row.
Perth. Almost assured the wooden spoon. Really, what have Perth done in the offseason? Sold Simon Colosimo… lost warm up games… Yeah. The NSL was where Perth had their Glory, they aren’t getting it back with a team like that.
Queensland. Such a tricky one. Recruited well, retained well, but is it enough? The major flaw I see is the back line, if Moore is injured or, far more likely, suspended, there is a huge gap. He is the coolest, smoothest, most polished, best defender in the league, but without him the Roar defense does look a bit shaky. The midfield looks to pick up on last season with Murdocca and McKay going to run circles around the centre and distributing well. The youngsters Kruse, Zullo and Minniecon are just going to get better with years and The Re-signing of Reinaldo, who finally found form at the end of last season, and the addition of Van Dijk and Miller, they are as good as any team in the completion and could be a dark horse.
Sydney. Well if you hadn’t heard, Sydney FC are the one with the lucrative amounts of money. I really don’t know how they get these players under the salary cap. The Chelsea of the A-league. Popovic, Colosimo, Santalab, Brosque,Bridge, Corica, not to mention Aloisi. It’s a phenomenal team. Can they gel in one season? Kosmina coached really well last year and hopefully he can pull these players together. Everybody’s title favourite.
Wellington. Stunned everybody in the preseason and are definitely looking like finalists. Now with a respectable team and a bit of money hopefully the New Zealand representative can make the Australian’s think the trip across the Tasman isn’t an easy three points.
So, my prediction.
Sydney FC
Queensland Roar
Melbourne
Wellington
Central Coast
Adelaide
Newcastle
Perth
I’m not expecting to be right, it could be the complete opposite its such a close competition. Really looking forward to the addition of other teams next year, might spread the field a bit but that can be better for some cases, especially if you prefer your fingernails intact.
