It’s the third and final instalment of our A-League season preview - AKA the if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it edition. There’s no prizes for guessing which teams we reckon should be challenging for the championship and premiership during the 2017-18 campaign, with another Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory ding-dong on the horizon.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Ins: Oriol Riera (Deportivo La Coruña), Álvaro Cejudo (Betis), Roly Bonevacia (Phoenix), Josh Risdon (Glory), Michael Thwaite (Liaoning Whowin), John Hall (Adelaide), Marc Tokich (Centre of Excellence), Chris Herd (Gillingham), Mark Bridge (Chiangrai United), Raul Llorente (Platanias).
Outs: Ryan Griffiths (Lambton Jaffas), Shannon Cole (released), Mario Shabow (Jets), Scott Neville (Glory), Mitch Nichols (Glory), Dimas (Bengaluru), Bruno Piñatares (River Plate), Terry Antonis (PAOK - end of loan), Nicolas Martinez (Olympiacos - end of loan), Aritz Borda (Burgos).
Full disclosure: I pencilled the Wanderers into third place long before Tony Popovic accepted a job in the Turkish Süper Lig. Does it harm their chances of success this season? Definitely. Is there another team that provides a compelling case to finish third? Probably not. As you were then.
Last season did not go according to plan in Western Sydney. Below-par foreign recruits and a reliance on Brendon Santalab for goals culminated in a sluggish campaign. It prompted Popovic to act decisively in the offseason, ditching four of the club’s visa signings.
Alongside the proven Roly Bonevacia in come a trio of 30-something Spaniards. Two of those, forwards Oriol Riera and Alvaro Cejudo, arrive with recent La Liga experience. That quartet has been joined by A-League stalwarts Josh Risdon, Michael Thwaite and Mark Bridge, while the versatile Chris Herd finally gets to compete in Australia’s top flight after a career in England that included a Premier League goal at Anfield. The 28-year old has promised much throughout his career but a lack of exposure at senior level has hampered his progress.
Before Popovic’s untimely departure, preseason was progressing well without reaching any dizzying heights. Two NPL outfits and Wellington Phoenix have been dismissed on route to the FFA Cup semis with defeat to Melbourne City the only blemish among a string of friendly victories.
Such a matter of fact appraisal now has an almighty asterisk next to it as the Wanderers figure out what life after Popa looks like. He’s the only coach the club has ever known and replacing him and the philosophy he has embedded from the ground up won’t be easy. The appointment of Hayden Foxe, assisted by Ian Crook, is a smart short-term solution. The pair is already employed by the club and both are veterans of A-League coaching structures, so there’s no reason it shouldn’t be business as usual.
Strengths: Popovic has bequeathed Foxe a deep and versatile squad. There is experience in defence, solidity and variety in midfield and a range of options in attack, lessening the reliance on the ageing Santalab.
Weaknesses: The upheaval of the club’s foundation coach walking out the weekend before the season begins vaults to the top of this list, but for the sake of variety, Western Sydney will again be forced to take home games away from Pirtek Stadium while the venue is rebuilt from the foundations. Last year the Wanderers won only four A-League home fixtures in total, and just two at their main temporary home of Spotless Stadium. It’s imperative they adjust to performing at the AFL oval if they are to rebound in 2017-18.
Who to watch: Kearyn Baccus is coming off the back of an outstanding season during which he dovetailed superbly with Terry Antonis. Now Antonis, and former skipper Dimas, have departed, it will be up to the 26-year old to run the Wanderers midfield, presumably alongside Chris Herd. If Baccus steps up to the task, his game management and range of passing could throw him into the mix as a Socceroo World Cup bolter.
Predicted finish: third. With Popovic in charge this felt like a third looking up towards the top two. Now, it feels like a tag of ‘best of the rest’ along with City, Glory and Roar.
Melbourne Victory
Ins: Rhys Williams (Glory), Thomas Deng (PSV - loan), Kosta Barbarouses (Phoenix), Mark Milligan (Baniyas), Matias Sanchez (Atletico Temperley), Leroy George (Adana Dermispor).
Outs: Daniel Georgievski (Jets), Rashid Mahazi (retired), Fahid Ben Khalfallah (Roar), Nick Ansell (CD Tondela), Alan Baro (Mariners), Alastair Bray (released), George Howard (released), Lucas Spinella (released), Marco Rojas (Heerenveen).
Perennial powerhouse Melbourne Victory again look poised for a successful season. In recent years Kevin Muscat has settled on a lean first team squad with an unfussy 4-2-3-1 approach, and he shows no signs of deviating from that strategy.
The departure of the decisive Marco Rojas will hurt but Kosta Barbarouses is as good a replacement as could be expected. Otherwise the recruitment ledger is overwhelmingly positive. Mark Milligan has been missed since he stormed to the 2015 Joe Marston Medal, and his leadership and drive in midfield alongside Carl Valeri creates an intimidating unit. Rhys Williams and Thomas Deng add class and depth in defence while Leroy George’s inclusion should mean Fahid Ben Khalfallah is not missed.
The question, as ever, is what does Muscat have in the way of a plan B? For example, if Besart Berisha gets injured, suspended or goes through a dry spell, what can Victory do to reshape their XI without their spearhead?
Strengths: Victory’s starting XI could arguably be the strongest in the competition with internationals all over the park and proven A-League stars in the likes of Besart Berisha, James Troisi and Mark Milligan.
Weaknesses: The counter to that is Victory do not bat deep and with the Asian Champions League on their plate they’ll be relying on the form and fitness of their core group to steer them through the season. Muscat hasn’t put a lot of faith in youth during his time as head coach but may find himself calling on some less well known names as the season goes on.
Who to watch: James Troisi is a fascinating player to follow. Victory’s number ten is prodigiously talented and a proven matchwinner but he can frustrate. When he’s off the boil Victory can become disjointed in transition, and his shots to goals ratio leaves a lot to be desired. But now 29 with (hopefully) the incentive of a World Cup squad place to play for, this could be a landmark season for one of Australia’s few game-changing forwards.
Predicted finish: second. The pain of losing a grand final so narrowly will provide added motivation.
Sydney FC
Ins: Paulo Retre (City), Alex Cisak (Leyton Orient), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Adrian Mierzejewski (Al-Sharjah), Anthony Kalik (Hadjuk Split – loan).
Outs: Riley Woodcock (Sydney United), Bernie Ibini (Vancouver Whitecaps), Filip Holosko (Slovan Bratislava), George Blackwood (Adelaide), George Timotheou (Sydney Olympic), Danny Vukovic (Genk), Milos Dimitrijevic (released).
The easiest decision of the ten was to ink Sydney FC into top spot. Last season bordered on perfection for the Sky Blues and a stable offseason indicates there’s no reason we shouldn’t be in for more of the same this time around.
If anything, the arrival of Polish forward Adrian Mierzejewski means Graham Arnold’s best XI may be even more formidable. Mierzejewski’s performance in the FFA Cup against Melbourne City was one of the better competitive debuts for an overseas player and his relationship with fellow schemer Milos Ninkovic promises to be one of the highlights of the year.
Danny Vukovic leaves big gloves to fill – literally and metaphorically – and the long-term injury to Rhyan Grant robs Sydney of one of their greatest weapons from last season, but Alex Cisak and Luke Wilkshire are more than handy replacements.
It’s hard to pick fault with the Sky Blues at this stage of the season, but as with other Asian Champions League qualifiers, that tournament could divert attention from the A-League at a critical juncture and stretch Arnie’s squad juggling skills.
Strengths: Everything? Sydney boast a settled squad, a robust defence, a solid midfield, an imposing forward line and a savvy coach. Catch them if you can.
Weaknesses: While everything on-field is flying, there’s still room for improvement off-field. Promo photoshoots feature last season’s double winners without a front of shirt sponsor and for all their excellence last campaign they only drew crowds in excess of 16,000 for three home and away season matches.
Who to watch: Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold is favourite to take over from Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou when the incumbent decides to step down (or is pushed). The big question is whether this will be sooner rather than later. Should the Socceroos fail to reach Russia 2018 the Sky Blues could be looking for a new boss before Christmas.
Predicted finish: first. Plus ça change plus c’est la même chose.
