Balls Out - 2015/16 Predictions

This could be the closest season for awhile, no one stand out and some good recruitment by a number of teams. But this is my stab at putting them in order.

1) Melbourne Victory - Added some quality all over the park. Biggest question mark is the move away from Ange's false 9 formation.

2) Adelaide United - Settled squad, added Goodwin and replaced Jeronimo with someone who should fit the system much better. Have had some good results in pre-season. Should be there or abouts all season.

3) Sydney FC - Stacked up front with new signings. Questions maybe could be asked about their midfield and fullbacks. Will benefit from having a good coach now.

4) Brisbane Roar - Lost a lot of quality in Berisha and Franjic. Questions over who can replace Berisha's goals, pinning their hopes on Kuritsi living up to his CV. Franjic will be a bigger loss as he hasnt been adequately replaced.

5) Western Sydney Wanderers - Signed a bucket load of defenders, so expect another season of defend and counter. Worked in the ACL but not sure it will work here.

6) Wellington Phoenix - Beefed up the midfield but massive questions over where the goals are coming from. Need Burns and McGlinchey to start finding the back of the net but history says that won't happen.

7) Melbourne City - Strengthened the midfield with some quality additions and put on an expensive band aid in Villa up front. Still look really dodgy at the back and need Williams to score for them after Villa leaves.

8) Perth Glory - Added some quality players but re-signed Lowe to coach them. Picking Keogh to feature in the golden boot race but will be the only bright spot in the season for the Shed.

9) Central Coast Mariners - Every year are picked to struggle but find a way to get results. This might be the year the lil club that could doesnt. Mane and Vernes have hardly featured in pre-season, huge question marks over them going into the season.

10) Newcastle Jets - Cleared out their midfield only to find it hard to find replacements. Replaced Taggart with Jeronimo, so haven't lost too much up front but might not have the midfield to get him the ball.


Golden Boot: Berisha
Johnny Warren: Finkler
First Manager Sacked: Lowe

Phoenix 5th.

Fuck the rest.

I think we will do well this year.  The boys will take each game at a time and it won't be over until the final whistle.  They will take positives out of each game and seek to build upon them for the next game.

I am confident that while football is a funny game and it will depend on the day as to who wants it the most, we will come away with a result.

the refs will control every game

Phoenix 2nd or 3rd for me.

:)

Really have paid zero attention to any other sides during pre-season so not going to attempt any real predictions...

4th

I'll put my balls on us making the finals this year, but can't see us going further in them.

Think Victory are going to be dangerous this year, City might score a few, but agree there back line would be a worry. Honest don't know much about other teams. Very interested in how a Roar are going to do this year without Berisha, love him or hate him he produced results.

1) WSW
2) Victory

3) Adelaide

4) Brisbane

5) Sydney

6) Nix
7) city

8) CCM

9) glory 

10) jets

My balls my word, we will come 1st. Or 10th. Or somewhere in between.

4th for my money. So we will finish 8th. Anyone know what the Indian bookies are offering?

1) Sydney FC I think their squad is really underrated. They have mountains of attacking options - Janko is apparently quality, Brosque is back, Smeltz will probably be on the bench, Ibini is there and Gamiero has been banging them in pre season. I think their attack will be more balanced with out del Piero. Their only loss in pre season is to Newcastle United. Gersbach at left back would be a weakness but their defence looks solid aside from that and they have lots of depth in central midfield if no stand outs. They also have two visa spots left which could be crucial in January. They also have a great coach now. 

2) Adelaide They were on fire for the second half of last season. Jeggo, Goodwin and McGowan should all be good signings but I'm not sure about Sanchez. Neumann is the only real loss. I like what Gombau has been doing.

3) Brisbane Two big losses in Berisha and Franjic.Berisha they can deal with because Broich gives excellent supply and they survived without Berisha last year. Franjic is a massive loss. Given how dominant they were last year, they should still be up there.

4) WSW More of the same from them this year. Defence is just as strong as ever but can Saba and Castelen replace their losses in attack? Lots of pressure on Juric to score and they have lost a tonne of depth. This will get to them with the Champions League commitments.

5) Melbourne Victory I feel that their defence is a bit suspect and I'm not sure about their depth in a few positions. Not convinced by Muscat either. 

6) Melbourne City They will need to get off to a fantastic start when Villa is playing. Koren and Paartalu are both good signings, not so sure about Duff. There are still lots of players at the club who haven't been great in the past.

7) Wellington An improvement on last season but I'm still not convinced by the defence and we still lack a quality striker.

8) CCM One of the most consistent clubs in the league but their squad looks thin this year especially with Champs League commitments. 

9) Perth Have probably strengthened their squad a bit but not enough. Keogh is good player but doesn't have a great goal scoring record.

10) Newcastle Jets They made some good signings but have injuries and off field issues to content with. Defensive midifeld and defence looks like real issues.

So I think we will miss the playoffs because I can't see one the 6 ahead of us missing out. Other people have predicted Melbourne City to miss out on the top 6 but if Villa goes crazy at the start that seems unlikely. I'm not ruling us out mind you. I think we have the potential to be anywhere between 4th and 8th.

You're a real Uri Geller.

People seem to forget our run last season while we had Riera, our best team was worth being top four last year and our team has strengthened. 

I don't know if the league as a whole has strengthened as much as people think, the better teams have all weakened and the weaker teams have strengthened. It's going to be tight but I reckon we will be fourth.

Also I don't think we will miss Stein's goals as much as people assume. Remember in his first season at the club he only scored five or so, someone else will step up to the plate and score a dozen goals.

We also have a good run at the end of the season.

So us top four, with Perth and Newcastle outside the top six,  no idea where the other teams will end up.

True but our attack has been blunted with the loss of Carlos' creativity and Steins ball holding/scoring ability.  Really don't see Jeremy regaining his old form.  

Hope the likes of Cunningham and Krishna start putting pressure on him with goals.

'Perth are rubbish'  How do you know?

No he's more like Uri Geller's spoon!

1. Victory

2. Brisbane

3. WSW

4. Phoenix

5. Adelaide

6. Sydney FC

7. CCM

8. Melbourne City

9. Perth Glory

10. Newcastle Jets

Fixed.

Everyone seems to be writing off Perth. I reckon they've got a decent squad this season. Recruited a lot of good a-league players (Garcia, Nichols, Dulbic...) and brought in a few good foreigners in Keogh and Hersi. They always seem to be hovering around 6th place even with the shit team they used to have, hell they even made the grand final once. I reckon they'll go alright this season.

Perth had the worst attack in the competition last year. They have replaced Smeltz with Keogh who only scored 17 times in 70 league matches for Milwall. Similarly Nichols and Hersi aren't really goal scorers

6th..goals a problem.  SFC to win it from Adelaide and Melbourne City.

I think the focus on a lack of a goal scorer is over rated. We have one of the best midfields (well IMO) in the league so goals will come. Defence is still a slight worry.....4th

Nix to lose to Adelaide in the GF (away)

Wanna bet?

5th or 6th

With the following Perth opener modifiers

If we loose to Perth this weekend - 10th

Draw with Perth - 7th-9th

If we beat Perth >= 4-0 - 3rd or 4th

If we beat Perth >= 7-0 - 1st or 2nd

Hilarious. When do you go on tour?

Phoenix 4th

Sydney to win it. Perth wooden spoon. Melbourne Villa to get off to a reasonable start then fade after the hype dies down.

#IsDavidHereYet

1) Victory

2) Adelaide

3) Sydney

4) WSW

5) Brisbane

6) Nix

7) City

8) CCM

9) Jets

10) Glory

It's kind of funny that the NZ TAB has Melbourne City favourites and most of us have them outside of the top 6. If you are a betting man, there must be money to be made somewhere.

Anyhow, here's my pick:  

1) Adelaide

2) WSW

3) Roar

4) Sydney

5) Nix

6) MV

7) City

8) CCM

9) Newcastle

10) Perth

Bloody hard season to call though...

They are equal favourites in Aus too.

1. Victory

2. Sydney FC
3. Roar
4. WSW
5. Adelaide Utd
6. Phoenix
7. Moneybags City
8. CCM
9. Perth Glory
10. Newcastle Jets

So far everyone bar one person has picked the same 4 to miss the playoffs.

And that person put the Nix in there instead! Treason. Time to wield the banstick?

are none of you loyal ? phoenix 1st !!!!!