I know it's still a long way until the season starts, but why not pass the time by predicting what will happen? Not necessarily league ladder predictions, but pick certain aspects of the league that you think will occur.
For example, my prediction:
Wellington will finish higher than Adelaide United. With the losses to Pablo Sanchez, Kamau and Goodwin and our gain of Kosta and Gui, they will spiral and we will finish higher than 9th.
Only way any of us are going to get a home semi is if we watch...
or unless we get in some better defenders and faster DM.
Damien de Bohun's replacement will be no more effective than he was
Damien de Bohun's replacement will be no more effective than he was
There will be more flares during the derbies. This will result in the FFA coming down hard on the clubs by issuing more warnings.
Only way any of us are going to get a home semi: is if we watch...
or unless we get in some better defenders and faster DM.
Fixed:
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Mainland FC, any chance of parking that semi on the goal line next year? Poor Mossy can't kill himself for us eevery game..
Perth to be Premiers. Castro or not, they've signed well, shoring up at the back and they still have Keogh. Sydney, Roar and Nix to fill out top four (not in that order). Victory, Jets, CCM and Adelaide to miss playoffs. (Again, not in that order).
Perth to be Premiers. Castro or not, they've signed well, shoring up at the back and they still have Keogh. Sydney, Roar and Nix to fill out top four (not in that order). Victory, Jets, CCM and Adelaide to miss playoffs. (Again, not in that order).
A lot of injury risk in those new signings. Could backfire spectacularly.
Big call putting Sydney in top 4. Still seem quite toothless. Defensively, yeah, bit better, but past that... nah.
Perth to be Premiers. Castro or not, they've signed well, shoring up at the back and they still have Keogh. Sydney, Roar and Nix to fill out top four (not in that order). Victory, Jets, CCM and Adelaide to miss playoffs. (Again, not in that order).
A lot of injury risk in those new signings. Could backfire spectacularly.
Big call putting Sydney in top 4. Still seem quite toothless. Defensively, yeah, bit better, but past that... nah.
Fair points.
Think of it this way. What if Vardy, Mahrez or Kante were injured. Would Leicester still win the BPL? It would damage their hopes significantly. Same could be said of Schmeical, Huth or (Harry Redknapps ideal England centre-back) Wes Morgan. Injuries make or break a season, but just as you can be unlucky (see Nix, 2015/16) you can be lucky, too.
As for Sydney, they really need to make more signings, up front in particular. I'm not convinced by Simon or Brosque, and Holosko was bang-average. All we need to do to show how comical their finishing can be is point to the nil-nil draw with us, where Holosko(?) couldn't score to save his life. The only way Arnold is keeping his job is if Sydney challenge, and the only way they challenge is if they make more signings. But I think they will. If the Nix can bag Kosta and Finkler in the same window, then who knows who could be wearing sky blue come spring.
Adelaide to miss the playoffs is also a pretty big call.
As is the Nix making the top 4 :/
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
I think Brisbane will really struggle. With already having their off-season thrown into disarray, they will need to sort stuff out ASAP - failure to do so will see them lose momentum and players.
Can't see Newcastle or CCM improving much more from this season. While some of their recruits seem OK, there are just waaay to many factors against them.
Teams like Vic and WSW will be an enigma for a few more months - they still have a LOT of VISA spots to fill
City will probably look to bring in a decent marquee, esp. since they will lose Mooy and could lose Fornaroli (perhaps Brattan, an older name from Europe and a City youth striker like David Faupala or Thomas Agyepong)
Perth - if their recruits can stay fit, they will pose a real challenge. If not, they will still make the six.
Adelaide - not much will change, may have a player/coach poached by the end of next year
Phoenix - Undefeated season is totally on the cards #powerofpositivethinking
Picking either JVS or Walmsley as first coach down
Adelaide to miss the playoffs is also a pretty big call.
As is the Nix making the top 4 :/
Kamau, Sanchez and Goodwin are all huge losses and I can't help but feel they are done losing players.
Also, keep in mind how having a salary cap and tight restrictions on visa players can make this league unpredictable. This time last year you would have been branded a nutter for suggesting Sydney would miss the playoffs, or the Victory to finish as low as sixth.
Perth to be Premiers. Castro or not, they've signed well, shoring up at the back and they still have Keogh. Sydney, Roar and Nix to fill out top four (not in that order). Victory, Jets, CCM and Adelaide to miss playoffs. (Again, not in that order).
A lot of injury risk in those new signings. Could backfire spectacularly.
Big call putting Sydney in top 4. Still seem quite toothless. Defensively, yeah, bit better, but past that... nah.
Fair points.
Think of it this way. What if Vardy, Mahrez or Kante were injured. Would Leicester still win the BPL? It would damage their hopes significantly. Same could be said of Schmeical, Huth or (Harry Redknapps ideal England centre-back) Wes Morgan. Injuries make or break a season, but just as you can be unlucky (see Nix, 2015/16) you can be lucky, too.
Leicester had the by far and away the best injury record over the past EPL season; as you point out the difference in our performance and injury record over the past 2 seasons.
Adelaide to miss the playoffs is also a pretty big call.
As is the Nix making the top 4 :/
Kamau, Sanchez and Goodwin are all huge losses and I can't help but feel they are done losing players.
Also, keep in mind how having a salary cap and tight restrictions on visa players can make this league unpredictable. This time last year you would have been branded a nutter for suggesting Sydney would miss the playoffs, or the Victory to finish as low as sixth.
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
Adelaide to miss the playoffs is also a pretty big call.
As is the Nix making the top 4 :/
Kamau, Sanchez and Goodwin are all huge losses and I can't help but feel they are done losing players.
Also, keep in mind how having a salary cap and tight restrictions on visa players can make this league unpredictable. This time last year you would have been branded a nutter for suggesting Sydney would miss the playoffs, or the Victory to finish as low as sixth.
Remember how poor they were in the beginning of the season though. People (rightly) calling for Amor's head. Sure, there were factors to those results, such as no Galekovic, and the performances weren't all horrible. They might succeed, I'm not trying to suggest I am the ultimate authority on the 2016/17 A-League, but I don't think they will be that great. Just my thoughts.
Adelaide to miss the playoffs is also a pretty big call.
As is the Nix making the top 4 :/
Kamau, Sanchez and Goodwin are all huge losses and I can't help but feel they are done losing players.
Also, keep in mind how having a salary cap and tight restrictions on visa players can make this league unpredictable. This time last year you would have been branded a nutter for suggesting Sydney would miss the playoffs, or the Victory to finish as low as sixth.
Remember how poor they were in the beginning of the season though. People (rightly) calling for Amor's head. Sure, there were factors to those results, such as no Galekovic, and the performances weren't all horrible. They might succeed, I'm not trying to suggest I am the ultimate authority on the 2016/17 A-League, but I don't think they will be that great. Just my thoughts.
Not saying you're wrong, it's predictions after all, just saying why I disagree
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
Adelaide to miss the playoffs is also a pretty big call.
As is the Nix making the top 4 :/
Kamau, Sanchez and Goodwin are all huge losses and I can't help but feel they are done losing players.
Also, keep in mind how having a salary cap and tight restrictions on visa players can make this league unpredictable. This time last year you would have been branded a nutter for suggesting Sydney would miss the playoffs, or the Victory to finish as low as sixth.
Remember how poor they were in the beginning of the season though. People (rightly) calling for Amor's head. Sure, there were factors to those results, such as no Galekovic, and the performances weren't all horrible. They might succeed, I'm not trying to suggest I am the ultimate authority on the 2016/17 A-League, but I don't think they will be that great. Just my thoughts.
Not saying you're wrong, it's predictions after all, just saying why I disagree
Fair enough. Where do you think they'll finish, then?
(See? I'm not all argumentative lol)
Adelaide to miss the playoffs is also a pretty big call.
As is the Nix making the top 4 :/
Kamau, Sanchez and Goodwin are all huge losses and I can't help but feel they are done losing players.
Also, keep in mind how having a salary cap and tight restrictions on visa players can make this league unpredictable. This time last year you would have been branded a nutter for suggesting Sydney would miss the playoffs, or the Victory to finish as low as sixth.
Remember how poor they were in the beginning of the season though. People (rightly) calling for Amor's head. Sure, there were factors to those results, such as no Galekovic, and the performances weren't all horrible. They might succeed, I'm not trying to suggest I am the ultimate authority on the 2016/17 A-League, but I don't think they will be that great. Just my thoughts.
Not saying you're wrong, it's predictions after all, just saying why I disagree
Fair enough. Where do you think they'll finish, then?
(See? I'm not all argumentative lol)
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
Adelaide to miss the playoffs is also a pretty big call.
As is the Nix making the top 4 :/
Kamau, Sanchez and Goodwin are all huge losses and I can't help but feel they are done losing players.
Also, keep in mind how having a salary cap and tight restrictions on visa players can make this league unpredictable. This time last year you would have been branded a nutter for suggesting Sydney would miss the playoffs, or the Victory to finish as low as sixth.
Is there a pattern of teams in ACL struggling? WSW, MV and SFC over recent seasons have done well in Asia but struggled relative to expectation in the HAL.
Adelaide to miss the playoffs is also a pretty big call.
As is the Nix making the top 4 :/
Kamau, Sanchez and Goodwin are all huge losses and I can't help but feel they are done losing players.
Also, keep in mind how having a salary cap and tight restrictions on visa players can make this league unpredictable. This time last year you would have been branded a nutter for suggesting Sydney would miss the playoffs, or the Victory to finish as low as sixth.
Is there a pattern of teams in ACL struggling? WSW, MV and SFC over recent seasons have done well in Asia but struggled relative to expectation in the HAL.
MV and the Smurfs have struggled. Keeping in mind the ACL kicks off the season after you qualify and ends when you start the season after that. Wanderers were fine in the back end of 2013/14 when they kicked off their winning campaign, but they won it in November, the start of 2014/15, when they were almost spooners.
In pre-fixture-release releases, Adelaide United to can games at Adelaide Oval; Sydney derby to be held at 83,500 capacity ANZ stadium to "make a statement" according to Wanderers.
Kotahitanga. We are one.
Adelaide
Predicted line up: Galekovic - Elrich McGowan La Rocca Garuccio - Holland Isaias Carrusca - Cirio Guardiola Henrique
Quality starting line up for the defending Champions but there are huge questions about their about their depth. Last season they were relatively injury free but have already lost Elsey to a season ending ACL injury & Carrusca for the first couple months during the pre-season. Marrone is also recovering from an achilles tear in the Grand Final.
Goodwin, Mauk & Djite were all big off season losses. Most of their signings have been younger squad filler guys.
Brisbane Roar
Predicted line up: Theo - Hingert North DeVere Brown - Broich McKay Holman Kristensen Oar - Maclaren
Another season of off field turmoil for the Roar, with wages not being paid & a failed ownership change. They still have a high quality squad, even if there is another year in the legs of the core group. The addition of Holman gives them a proper #10 for the first time in many years, whilst they have lost the impressive Corona after the Spaniard decided to go home in the off season.
Donachie & Corona the only real losses from last season. The additions of Holman & new Spanish winger Arana the main gains.
Central Coast Mariners
Predicted line up: Necevski - Roux Faty Poscoliero Neill - Pain Montgomery Powell Tavares Ferreira - O’Donovan
After an upset loss to Green Gully in the FFA Cup, the axe finally fell on Walmsley late into the preseason. This has left the new gaffer Paul Okon with little room to move on the recruitment front. Travares & Faty were added early into preseason, Pain added after a player swap with the Victory and swooped for Powell after his release. These signings are a slight improvement over the wooden spoon winning squad they had last season.
Austin is the only real loss but it should be negated by the capture of Pain in return.
Melbourne City
Predicted line up: Sorensen - Muscat Malik Jakobsen Rose - Brandan Kilkenny Brattan Colazo - Cahill Fornaroli
How do you replace 21 goals and 25 assists? That is the dilemma Van't Schip faced in the off season with Mooy & Novillo departing. The FFA have eased the burden a little with the rule change allowing them to sign a 3rd marquee, the relatively unknown Tim Cahill. How he meshes up front with last seasons golden boot winner will be a major talking point this season. Last seasons dodgy defence has been shown the door and a bunch of experienced players brought in as replacements.
Novillo and Mooy have left some big shoes for new signings Brandan, Colazo and Cahill to fill.
Melbourne Victory
Predicted line up: Thomas - Geria Donachie Baro Georgievski - Rojas Bozanic Troisi Valeri Ben Khalfallah - Berisha
The Victory welcome back Johnny Warren Medalist Marco Rojas, Socceroo James Troisi and swapped for the impressive Austin from CCM, which has provided them a very potent looking attack for the upcoming season. There may be some questions asked about their defence, with the retirement of Delpierre at the end of last season and their depth in the fullback positions.
The loss of Finkler & Barbarouses in the offseason would have hurt most clubs but not the Victory.
Newcastle Jets
Predicted line up: Duncan - Hoffman Mullen Boogaard Cowburn - Nabbout Ugarkovic Brown Hoole - Nordstrand Kokko
Jets were having their best off season for years, with the FFA finally finding a new owner to take over the licence & some exciting young signings in Clut and Vujica. Then they had that fateful trip to China which resulted in the coaching team being shown the door. New coach Mark Jones has a solid squad to build on but is hamstrung by the need to find a Chinese player for the final visa addition to his squad.
Birighitti is a major loss, other than him there isnt many huge gains or losses talent wise
Perth Glory
Predicted line up: Reddy - Risdon R Williams Lowry Mills - Griffiths Marinkovic Smiljanic - Keogh Taggart Castro
Glory finished last season strongly, after making some smart moves in the January transfer window. They have added former Socceroo Rhys Williams & Rostyn Griffiths, along with Adam Taggart finally being available to play after his January move. The attacking combo of Taggart, Castro and Keogh could rate as one the best front lines in the league, if their midfield is able to provide them some quality ball.
Vadocz was a huge part of their success at the end of last season but Griffiths should fill his shoes.
Sydney FC
Predicted line up: Vukovic - Grant Wilkinson Jurman Zullo - Holosko Brillante Ninkovic O’Neill Ibini - Bobo
After a disappointing campaign last season, Arnold has shown the door to the bulk of his squad over the off season. He has then gone on a spending spree, bringing in 4 former Socceroos along with Danny Vukovic to bolster his squad for the new season. Their central midfield could be their biggest worry, with their squad lacking depth in the middle of the park.
Sydney haven't lost any players that they will miss, whilst bringing in a lot of quality.
Wellington Phoenix
Predicted line up: Moss - Tratt Durante Rossi Doyle - McGlinchey Lia Bonevacia - Barbarouses Finkler Krishna
After signing the Victory duo of Finkler & Barbarouses late last season, Ernie has spent the off season trying to strengthen his defence. Former Italian youth international Rossi will try to fill the gap left by the retiring Ben Sigmund. The search for fullbacks however has lead to Ernie having to gamble on some NPL players, hoping they are able to step up to the mark.
Rossi should be replace Sigmund but Riera still hasn't been replaced.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Predicted line up: Redmayne - Neville Topor-Stanley Borda Clisby - Jumpei Dimas Nichols Piñatares Martinez - Bulut
Another off season full of personal changes for the Wanderers but it doesn't ever seem to effect them. Popovic always seems to have 2 players in each position, so depth shouldn't be an issue for them. Their season will depend on how well the 4 new visa players are able to adapt to the A-League. So they will be hoping they turn out more like Ono than Piovaccari.
Jamieson could be the biggest loss out of all the departed players, Clisby is a big step down.
Ladder Prediction:
Victory
Sydney
Glory
WSW
City
Brisbane
Phoenix
Adelaide
Jets
CCM
Johnny Warren: Rojas
Young Player: O’Neill
Keeper of the Year: Thomas
Goldent Boot: Bobo
Coach of the Year: Muscat
Ref of the Year: Green
Fair Play Award: Roar
Alex Tobin: Cahill
Thanks RR - haven't really followed the off-season comings and goings elsewhere.
Focusing on the Phoenix, I'm trying to temper the usual new season optimism. I love us to make the playoffs, but based on last season, am setting a low bar: Come mid-January, I don't want to be talking about 'building towards next season'
Victory
Sydney
WSW
Brisbane
City
Adelaide
Perth
Nix
Jets
CCM
Geez no blind faith in the Nix?
My prediction:
1st: Nix
2nd: Doesn't matter as the Nix beat them in the finals anyway.
Sorry guys, the Nix are gonna be top four. I don't care about the rest.
Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet
I believe the children are our future...
...oh and th Nix to make the Top 6!
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/oct/04/a...
The Guardian Season Preview
So if we are to qualify for the play-offs we have to do better than four other teams. I see the Jets and CCM as the only teams we SHOULD finish above. I think Brisbane's off the field troubles will eventually come back to bite them, and we might be able to pip them to the playoffs. Realistically, if we are to finish in the Top 6, either Perth or Adelaide will have to miss out. I think we could finish 5th or 6th.
For me, finishing in the play-offs is par. any better is a bonus, any worse is a failure.
With a front 5 like we have, we surely have to be aiming higher than just the top 6. Its our denfence that lets us down, and that is why we wont be top 2.
@ALeague #Predictions time:
1 MCY
2 SYD
3 MVC
4 PER
5 BRI
6 ADL
7 WSW
8 WPH
9 NEW
10 CCM
Golden Boot-@jamie_maclaren
JW Medal-Holman— Jon Turner (@Jon_Turner13) October 5, 2016
I recon we'll have a home semi final and Krishna will be right up there in the golden boot race.
We have a better team than most people seem to think, my picks:
Victory
Perth
Us
WSW
City
Adelaide
Brisbane
Sydney
Jets
CCM
It's going to be bloody close from Sydney on up though.
Lets avoid another 'also ran' season and ammunition for the 'why are they even in our competition' crew.
Based not on our attack, but our defense, top four would be nice but a 5th or 6th is more likely.
If we have injuries, the season will be spent avoiding the spoon
Liam Hyslop chimes in with:
City
Glory
Roar
Victory
Phoenix
Sydney
Adelaide
WSW
Jets
CCM
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/850...
So the City love amuses me, they haven't replaced Mooy at all (Cahill? :P), and their defence is still a massive steaming pile, also I get Adelaide is not as good as they were, but SEVENTH in most seems a bit outrageous to me, they won the title last year and have not regressed that much..