Robbie Slater rates the chances of every A-League team
With the kick-off to the new A-League season fast approaching, Robbie Slater runs his eye over each team, gives his top six and rates the players whom he believes will make a difference.
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After a five-month off-season, the A-League is back - and it’s bigger and better than ever.
Ahead of the new, which kicks off in Adelaide on Friday night, Robbie Slater’s runs the rule over the teams as well as players who are set to make the biggest impact.
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SYDNEY FC
Coach: Steve Corica
Captain: Alex Wilkinson
Key signing: Kosta Barbarouses. Scored 15 goals for Victory last season and becomes even more important up front after Alex Brosque’s retirement.
Rising star: Trent Buhagiar. Turned it on last pre-season before a cruel ACL rupture. Now the league’s fastest player finally has his chance.
There were doubters in Corica’s first season. And who could blame them after the record-breaking Graham Arnold era? But, one year and a championship later, the apprentice is already the master.
Predicted placing: 1st
MELBOURNE VICTORY
Coach: Marco Kurz
Captain: Ola Toivonen
Key signing: Andrew Nabbout. Returns from his stint in Japan with Urawa Reds with the Socceroos front of mind and motivated to repeat his Newcastle Jets exploits.
Rising star: Elvis Kamsoba. Should be better for a full pre-season in a professional environment. The Burundi-born flyer is an excitement machine.
Kevin Muscat was synonymous with Victory, but this is the Marco Kurz era. The German ex-Adelaide coach brings a new playing style but the country’s biggest club will still be right up there.
Predicted placing: 2nd.
MELBOURNE CITY
Coach: Erick Mombaerts
Captain: Scott Jamieson
Key signing: Craig Noone. A quality import with English Premier League experience. Already has four FFA Cup goals and should be potent alongside striker Jamie Maclaren.
Rising star: Ramy Najjarine. Rough around the edges, but the 19-year-old scored for fun in pre-season and could well come into his own.
The richest club in the land still has only one trophy — the 2016 FFA Cup — but with an experienced coach and high-calibre signings should be challenging.
Predicted placing: 3rd
PERTH GLORY
Coach: Tony Popovic
Captain: Diego Castro
Key signing: Bruno Fornaroli. After a year off, can the league’s former No.1 striker recapture his goal-scoring prowess and fill Andy Keogh’s boots?
Rising star: Kristian Popovic. It’s tough when your dad is your coach, but Popa’s 17-year-old son made two substitute appearances last season and even got game time against Manchester United in July.
The reigning premiers were only beaten in the grand final on penalties and, despite losing some of that squad, it’s difficult to overlook a Popovic team.
Predicted placing: 4th
BRISBANE ROAR
Coach: Robbie Fowler
Captain: Tom Aldred
Key signing: Roy O’Donovan. If Brisbane are to challenge they’ll need their Irish marksman to fire.
Rising star: Aiden O’Neill. Named the Mariners’ player of last season, the holding midfielder, on loan from Burnley, has a penchant for long-range goals.
Fowler brings the star power and has overseen a massive roster revamp that makes the Roar a relative unknown quantity.
Predicted placing: 5th
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
Coach: Markus Babbel
Captain: Mitchell Duke
Key signing: Alexander Meier. The former Bundesliga top-scorer brings plenty of expertise. But, at 36, he’s no spring chicken and Babbel will have to manage the German giant if he wants him on the pitch when it counts.
Rising star: Keanu Baccus. Already well and truly on the scene with 22 starts last season. Question now is, can Kearyn’s little brother take his game to the next level?
Finals are a must in Babbel’s second season, and the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich defender knows it. The key will be filling the creative void left by injured Pole Radoslaw Majewski.
Predicted placing: 6th
WESTERN UNITED
Coach: Mark Rudan
Captain: TBA
Key signing: Alessandro Diamanti. In the ex-Italy international we have a true marquee signing. The 36-year-old Serie A veteran and former Brescia and Bologna teammate Panagiotis Kone are key to United’s top-six hopes.
Rising star: Sebastian Pasquali. The former Victory teen is back after struggling to break in at Ajax and could get the chance he’s after.
Can Mark Rudan emulate what Popovic did at the Wanderers with the A-League’s latest new boys? On paper this squad is solid with vast A-League experience. Let’s see how that translates.
Predicted placing: 7th
ADELAIDE UNITED
Coach: Gertjan Verbeek
Captain: Michael Jakobsen
Key signing: Riley McGree. We all know the Scorpion King’s potential, now he’s back home it’s time to fulfil it. Will be out to reclaim a Socceroos spot.
Rising star: Al Hassan Toure. The 19-year-old sensation has turned heads since his elevation from United’s youth team. Four FFA Cup goals will do that.
Even after losing Isaias and Craig Goodwin, the Reds are in another Cup final and still mean business under new coach Verbeek.
Predicted placing: 8th
NEWCASTLE JETS
Coach: Ernie Merrick
Captain: Nigel Boogaard
Key signing: Wes Hoolahan. Injury has already sidelined the silky-skilled Irish recruit until the new year, but his EPL and Championship pedigree make him one of the Jets’ most important in a while.
Rising star: Pat Langlois. The 19-year-old midfielder scored an FFA Cup extra-time winner against Victory. Not bad for a maiden professional goal.
It’s a difficult time for the Jets with budget cuts and the club up for sale. Let’s hope Merrick’s vast experience can guide a threadbare squad through.
Predicted placing: 9th
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Coach: Alen Stajcic
Captain: Matt Simon
Key signing: Danny De Silva. Enough talk of potential, it’s now been six years since Roma signed him as a 16-year-old and it’s time he stamped his authority.
Rising star: Samuel Silvera. A revelation in the Mariners’ FFA Cup semi-final run. Only 18 but is an excellent dribbler and can put in a cross.
The only way is surely up after back-to-back wooden spoons. With Stajcic has come hope, but anything better than last is the aim.
Predicted placing: 10th
WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Coach: Ufuk Talay
Captain: Steven Taylor
Key signing: Stefan Marinovic. The All Whites goalkeeper is here to resurrect his club career. Replacing reigning goalkeeper of the year Filip Kurto makes his form even more consequential.
Rising star: Liberato Cacace. The 18-year-old left-back was New Zealand’s best player at the Under-20 World Cup and could be hankering for a move abroad in the last year of his contract.
Roy Krishna and Sarpreet Singh headline the departures, and rookie coach Talay will have his work cut out replicating Mark Rudan’s unexpected success.
Predicted placing: 11th
Originally published as Robbie Slater rates the chances of every A-League team