A-League Predictions for 2016-17

So rather than just ripping on everyone else, I guess I should give my predictions:

1. Victory (I can't really find a weakness)
2. Glory (Pretty good squad, hope they are under the cap)
3. Sydney (Solid across the park)
4. Adelaide (Have some losses in offseason, but defending champs, not that bad)
5. City (Haven't replaced Mooy, and Defense is still a steaming pile)
6. Nix (Nice improvements, question is our defense)
7. Roar (Off field issues, think team looks good, but off field takes it's toll)
8. WSW (Another turnover, new squad = teething issues, and I can't see them catching up)
9. Jets (Do I have to give a reason?)
10. CCM (This team is actually the worst, would rank behind ACFC, Canberra, Nth Qld, Gold Coast, South Sydney and more if expansion happened)

I would kill for City's defence. They have two actual real life full-backs; Rose and Franjic (both two of the best performing over a number of A-League seasons). Question marks over Chapman, but early opinions on Jakobsen have been positive.

1 Perth    (perhaps Reddy in goal the closest thing they have to a weakness)
2 City      (great attack but questions over midfield and defence)
3 Phoenix        (More heart than head? This relies on Wellington becoming a fortress again and defence being solid)
4 Victory        (Weaker than last season)
5 Brisbane    
6 West Sydney
7 Sydney
8 Newcastle
9 Adelaide
10 CCM

Franjic is injured indefinitely, and Rose is getting old for a fullback ...

Victory

Adelaide
City
Jets

Glory

WSW
Brisbane
Phoenix..we wont suddenly concede 27 goals less to get into a positive goal difference.
Sydney
CCM

JvS: @Franjic5 has been cleared to train fully again. He will have his own personal pre-season to get back but that's great news.

— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) October 5, 2016

So maybe a couple months away? My issues with City isnt really the defence, it is they have lost Mooy and not replaced him. 

I want to see Mooy actually play in the EPL and see how he goes. I wojld have loved the Nix to have signed him. He can play any position.

Why they should be confident: The New Zealanders boast one of the most dynamic attacking quartets in the competition after adding Kosta Barbarouses and Gui Finkler with Roy Krishna and Michael McGlinchey.

Where it could come undone: Depth remains an issue for the Phoenix, particularly in defence and already this pre-season they've shown signs of frailty. A few injuries could see a promising season end with a whimper.

Key man: Marco Rossi

All eyes will be on their scintillating attack but the former Serie A central defender could be the difference between this Phoenix side being remembered as hapless entertainers, or champions.

Predicted finish: 8th. This entertaining side will likely win hearts and minds but not enough games with such a top-heavy squad."

So says the Melbourne Age.

Ssssh don't tell them about Roly!

What frailty have we shown in preseason? Barely conceeded a goal and scored plenty.

We lost the FFA cup game 3-2 after being up 0-2, most probably what they are commenting on.

Franjic has resumed full training. I'd rather have an old fullback than a not-a-fullback.

That game was missing two starting defenders though.

Victory

Glory

Roar

City

Sydney

Phoenix

Adelaide

WSW

Jets

CCM

Golden Boot: 

Johnny Warren: Rojas

Young Player: Kamau

Keeper of the Year: Thomas

Goldent Boot: Keogh

Coach of the Year: Muscat

JayFC previews CCM's season, featuring Patrick

Most of the team was sick with a virus, hence the fade in the second half. We know this but whoever made the prediction may not have or just didn't care

Hmm reply doesn't automatically quote what you are replying to.

Ladder Prediction:

City
Glory
Brisbane

Victory

Sydney
Adelaide
WSW
Phoenix
Jets
CCM

I think Victory lack the holding midfielders to take the regular season out. City I can't find a weakness with.

Valeri is the best holding mid in the comp.

My 100% Accurate Table Prediction:

1) City 

2) Sydney 

3) Victory 

4) Glory

5) Phoenix

6) WSW

7) Adelaide

8) Brisbane

9) Jets

10) CCM

No one had Sydney for the Premiers plate.

Loved the one that we would be in the top 4.

Your predictions were spot on

I only put as at 6 because I couldn't bring myself to predict otherwise - looking back, this poor season isn't much of a surprise, is it?

I didn't expect our attack to be this disjointed tho, signing Finkler was meant to free up space for Bonevacia but it just added another passenger in midfield.

It certainly surprised me, I was expecting top four. And we've had some very good results this year and played some very good football it's just there was no consistancy, Buckingham said we've only put the same team out four or five times this season (I can't remember which) and it shows.

If you remember the start of the season we were very unfortunate.

Round one we were without our AWs and lost to City at home by one goal.

Round two our AW players flew in at the last minute, only arriving in Perth the day before after flying most of the way around the world from the US, we lost 2-0

Round three we pushed Sydney (who ended up being one of the best teams in the history of the competition) hard and it was only a 90th minute goal which was the difference.

We were last after three rounds and the team was demoralised and then thrashed 6-1 by Victory.

Whenever the team looked motivated we got good results though, putting 3 goals past the Victory, 5 goals past Newcastle, winning away in Brisbane.

I think the team needs some tweaks for balance, but more than that they need to get their heads in the right place and need someone more hard nosed than Ernie or our current coaching team.

There is some truth in what you say but there are too many if's and buts.

Reality is that we have been going for 10 years and  for me have never looked like being good enough to win the league or the final.

We don't have enough players that have the football nous or the leadership/mental toughness to really compete. I bet you were one of many that thought we would do well this season. Looking at the players we signed plus what we had, all looked rosy. 

We played well at times but teams that are successful don't play badly as many times as we did.

For me the most important thing is that we have a team in the A league---- win lose or draw. Of course it is always better to win but we have so called fans on here that keep threatening not to go to games as we are playing poorly. Not true fans in my book. 

Unfortunately, many have unrealistic expectations of how good we really are. This season I could have happily thrown my remote at the screen many times  but fortunately I am too mean.

I'm still going strong... For now.

Yes even so called crap sides can produce good football and win matches playing well. But they don't do enough and when they have a bad day they get thrashed. Whether the Nix have the players to make top 4 or not, they certainly haven't played like a top 4 team for most of this season and that's reflected in the position they find themselves in. if we are honest, that's been the same for 7 out of the 10 seasons they've been in the a league

Adelaide and Sydney really fudged me

Cosimo - 16
Ryan - 28
Liam Hyslop - 22
JonoNewton - 22
Bevan - 24
Boro4eva - 30
TopLeft07 - 26
valeo - 16
Ryan54 - 20
Jaickin - 18

It surprised me that Melbourne City did not do better. Their defence was a massive let down - I thought they had recruited well in regards to defenders and defensive midfielders.

Agreed, they were really good early. Still living up to their overhyped tag now though, that can be a hard one to shake off, just ask Sydney until this season!