Guardian writers’ predicted position: 5th
Last season’s position: 6th (lost in elimination final)
In the first decade of the A-League Adelaide United have worn many guises. First, there was plain, steady, but very angry Adelaide United. There weren’t too many frills to John Kosmina’s Premiership winning side, but if Kossie didn’t bite you, Ross Aloisi or Carl Veart certainly would.
Then there were experimentations with sophistication; Aurelio Vidmar’s Asian Champions League almost-conquerors, and the ‘flirtation with Dutch’ of Rini Coolen and his legion of household names, Dario Bodrusic, Evgenij Levchenko and Andwele Slory.
Inevitably, John Kosmina followed, but the second-coming ended in acrimony – the bookend to a calamitous period which included the infamous Aurelio (‘oh, really? oh …’) press conference explosion, the Coolen courthouse settlement, and “whispering in corridors”-gate, as Adelaide managers rushed to fall on their swords like Roman nobles at the first sight of Alaric.
Into the smouldering ruins of boardroom ructions, ‘politics’, and ‘small-town mentality’, rode however an unlikely saviour – and so began the third great era of Adelaide United. More Sancho Panza than Don Quixote, the animated and incomprehensible Iberian Josep Gombau brought a vision, passion, and philosophy of football that has radically challenged the game not just in South Australia, but across the country.
Adelaide may have finished sixth last season, but they were the form side for the back end of the season. They scored more than any other team, had the second best goal difference and the attacking verve with which they dismantled teams such as the Central Coast in round 10 and Wellington in round 21 saw Gombau chosen by the fans as the A-League All-Stars coach.
Now, with a full preseason under his belt, the Spaniard has shown faith in his squad, with a largely settled playing roster, and space for talented youngsters to stake their claims.
Out are Jon McKain, the on-loan Michael Zullo and the impressive Argentinian Jeronimo Neumann; the latter curiously deemed surplus to requirements, despite presenting a constant goal threat and a remarkable scoring record at Hindmarsh Stadium, netting a joint-top nine goals last season.
In are Adelaide local boys Craig Goodwin and Dylan McGowan, the underrated James Jeggo and Spanish striker Pablo Sanchez Alberto. The first three are promising young Australian players, Jeggo and Goodwin in particular perhaps misused or underutilised at their previous clubs and if fit should add real depth to United’s squad.
Asked as to what Pablo Sanchez Alberto’s qualities were, Gombau clarified, “We need a player that can play in front and also defend … We are looking for this player that can play No9, he can also play in the middle and the wing if required.”
Mmm, versatile. If Pablo Sanchez’s predominantly Spanish second tier playing record underwhelms some fans, remember that both Isaias Sanchez and Sergio Cirio’s pedigree was even shabbier. Should Sanchez the Second match Sanchez the First’s contribution, then Gombau’s wheeling and dealing could well earn him the moniker ‘Spanish Big Sam’.
In addition to these signings comes the return to fitness of long-term crowd favourite Cassio. Adelaide’s vice-captain barely featured last campaign, but will provide at least a like-for-like replacement for the returned loanee, Zullo.
The biggest signing has come however off the pitch – with the announcement that Barcelona legend Guillermo Amor has joined the club as technical director. With over 400 appearances for the blaugrana, Amor’s mandate is to imprint the club’s new footballing philosophy across all tiers, and while the effects of this may not be evident this season, it could lay the foundations for excellence in seasons to come.
With four players called up for Young Socceroos duty, Adelaide are not short of rising stars, and already in pre-season Gombau has not hesitated to give youngsters their chances. A key marker of whether this United side can improve on their results from last year will therefore be the coaching, and not just the managing, of some of these exciting players.
In Awer Mabil, Gombau has one of the most exciting young prospects in the country. In 21 appearances last season the Kenya-born refugee showed tremendous pace and skill, but on too many occasions lacked finish or a telling final ball, like CR7’s first season at Manchester United – all stepover, no cross. Should Gombau help Mabil add composure to his undoubtable ability than there will be nowhere to hide for makeshift centre-halves hiding at right back across the league.
This said, the greatest challenge to Adelaide adding a second Premiership will be their defence. When Western Sydney swept the league in their first season they conceded two or more goals in a game just three times; in Gombau’s debut season Adelaide did so on 12 occasions.
In classic Barcelona fashion, the charismatic Catalan has rebuilt his side to play an attacking 3-4-3 for the majority of preseason – this should make for some great entertainment when Wellington, the Victory or Brisbane come to town, but against cagier sides like Wanderers, Mariners or Perth, Gombau’s gameplan could be exposed.
If Adelaide prove sound in this regard, then the rest of the league should consider itself on notice.
United look set to finish in finals contention, and if in Reds-hot form don’t write off jubilant Josep getting his grubby Gombau mitts on some silverware come season’s end.
