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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/a-league/aleague-preview/2009/08/01/1248977239457.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
The Sun-Herald experts rate the strengths and weaknesses of the A-League teams this season.
Melbourne Victory
STRENGTHS
Scoring goals. Reigning premiers look strong in attack, and boast the most players with attacking threat. Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp are proven, and Tom Pondeljak, Nick Ward and Carlos Hernandez can all contribute. Finishers, providers and speed on the counter thats good balance in attack.
WEAKNESSES
Can be caught on the counter-attack and lack speed in central defence. Kevin Musc**t is a warrior but no amount of will can overcome ages effects; opponents will look to attack quickly.
PREDICTION
Will be the benchmark again. 1st.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Hernandez. Took a season to adapt, came to life last year and this should be his year. It is time, however, to bag more goals.
Sydney FC
STRENGTHS
Sydney are playing an exciting brand of football, are well organised by Czech coach Vitezslav Lavicka and have a squad bursting with exciting youngsters such as Kofi Danning and a future Socceroos captain, Rhyan Grant.
WEAKNESSES
Still searching for a defensive partnership; this will upset cohesion at the back. Will there be enough goals? John Aloi$i and Alex Brosque will need double figures as the midfielders do not look prolific. Karol Kisel will need to assist the ageing Steve Corica in the supply department, but hell want to finish a stellar career on a high.
PREDICTION
Pushing for honours. 2nd.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Grant. This kid can be anything, and will benefit from Lavickas guidance.
Brisbance Roar
STRENGTHS
Craig Moores leadership driving them on and bringing through the exceptional promise of Luke DeVere. Along with Sydney, has the most exciting crop of young talent with Tommy Oar, Michael Zullo, Mitch Nichols, Isaka Cernak.
WEAKNESSES
Charlie Miller is injury prone; so too is half the squad if pre-season is a guide. Loss of young Socceroos to national team duty. Never sure if Reinaldo will deliver.
PREDICTION
Slow start leading to finals football and possible grand final. 3rd.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Nichols. Could have delivered club to grand final last year but better for experience. Exceptional goal-scoring ability. Young player of year.
Gold Coast United
STRENGTHS
Publicity, in case you hadnt noticed. Goals look a certainty with Jason Culina, Milson Ferreira Dos Santos, Shane Smeltz and Joel Porter. Tahj Minniecon has speed, it looks a good attacking potion.
WEAKNESSES
No outstanding leader in defence, very high expectations created by a club with every team salivating to beat them, or more specifically, to shut Miron Bleiberg up. A good start to the season is critical but personnel are good enough to sustain a challenge.
PREDICTION
Finals football in debut season. 4th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Culina. Australias most successful export by trophy count, with plenty left physically and the motivation to establish himself for post-football career. Anyone who can score 16 goals from midfield for Ajax can terrorise the league. Given the freedom, he craves to attack.
Adelaide United
STRENGTHS
Solid club ethos in strong football city provides a platform, despite upheaval of roster and boardroom. Coach Aurelio Vidmar gaining experience. Scott Jamieson and Daniel Mullen give excellent impetus from flanks. Midfield strong.
WEAKNESSES
Financial instability. Comedown from highs of last season. Lost seasoned professionals from last years squad. Central defence badly weakened. Can they replace Diegos creativity? Possibly weakest squad of their A-League history.
PREDICTION
Sneak into finals but a tough old year. Good learning curve for Vidmar.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Lloyd Owusu. If he doesnt score, they struggle.
Newcastle Jets
STRENGTHS
Defence and midfield look solid. If Branko Culina gets Ljubo Milicevic on board and focused, the team will benefit, with speed and experience in fullback positions complementing his reading of the game. Fabio Vignaroli is the finest passer of the football in the league, but he needs players to feed him and to be fed.
WEAKNESSES
Club unsettled off the park. Donny De Groot yet to show his quality, so very reliant on Sasho Petrovski for goals, the perfect chance for a host of youngsters to make their name in support. Vignaroli is injury prone; havent replaced Nick Carle creatively.
PREDICTION
Year of consolidation. Make finals series on last day of season. 6th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Ben Kantarovski. Another step to stardom with more responsibility this season. Will enjoy having Vignaroli next to him.
Perth Glory
STRENGTHS
New-found experience with three returning Socceroos. Eugene Dadi will get goals and should be complemented by Branko Jelic, who looks an excellent acquisition. Chris Coyne and Jamie Harnwell should be a solid defensive partnership.
WEAKNESSES
Nikita Rukavytsya gone. His speed to counter was invaluable in a team that doesnt dominate play. Whos playmaker?
PREDICTION
Improvement assured. Might scrape into finals series. 7th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Mile Sterjovski. He has speed, skill, technique and versatility. Could be Golden Boot, dependent on team support. Player of the year.
Central Coast Mariners
STRENGTHS
There are goals here, if Nik Mrdja can finally stay fully fit and gain some consistency. Matt Simon should continue his growth of last year; Dylan McCallister and Adam Kwasnik are always a threat.
WEAKNESSES
Lawrie McKinna fortunate to survive last seasons disastrous results. No marquee or quality foreign players. Struggling to replace Mile Jedinak in centre of park. Club wants to be Sheffield United; they appear to be succeeding.
PREDICTION
A season of quotes such as,"The boys worked hard and Im proud of them." And a lot of talk about property developments. 8th
North Queensland Fury
PLAYER TO WATCH
Matt Simon. More polish in his finishing, and a European career awaits. Quick, fearless and makes up for touch with anticipation.
STRENGTHS
Robbie Fowler can score goals and feed their young speedster of immense talent, David Williams. Zenon Caravella looks to have matured via a stint offshore and has great ability. Freddy Agius is a potential star. Temperature and humidity should work strongly in their favour against visiting teams.
WEAKNESSES
Fowler needs to play most games and avoid injury, which has dogged his past few years and the pre-season. The entire league needs him to deliver. Inexperienced defence. Inexperienced coach.
PREDICTION
Probably a good start but a rough ride once the season hits the midway point. 9th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Fowler. Their season rests with his contribution.
Wellington Phoenix
STRENGTHS
Leo Bertos and Troy Hearfield have speed to find passes from Brazilians Daniel and Diego.
WEAKNESSES
Daniel and Diego must wonder what they are doing in New Zealand. No one to replace Shane Smeltz. Interrupted season with World Cup qualifiers. Teams have worked out the trip across the Tasman.
PREDICTION
Quite possibly shocking. 10th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Daniel. Wrong player, wrong team, sack the agent, but a beautiful left foot nonetheless.
The Sun-Herald experts rate the strengths and weaknesses of the A-League teams this season.
Melbourne Victory
STRENGTHS
Scoring goals. Reigning premiers look strong in attack, and boast the most players with attacking threat. Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp are proven, and Tom Pondeljak, Nick Ward and Carlos Hernandez can all contribute. Finishers, providers and speed on the counter thats good balance in attack.
WEAKNESSES
Can be caught on the counter-attack and lack speed in central defence. Kevin Musc**t is a warrior but no amount of will can overcome ages effects; opponents will look to attack quickly.
PREDICTION
Will be the benchmark again. 1st.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Hernandez. Took a season to adapt, came to life last year and this should be his year. It is time, however, to bag more goals.
Sydney FC
STRENGTHS
Sydney are playing an exciting brand of football, are well organised by Czech coach Vitezslav Lavicka and have a squad bursting with exciting youngsters such as Kofi Danning and a future Socceroos captain, Rhyan Grant.
WEAKNESSES
Still searching for a defensive partnership; this will upset cohesion at the back. Will there be enough goals? John Aloi$i and Alex Brosque will need double figures as the midfielders do not look prolific. Karol Kisel will need to assist the ageing Steve Corica in the supply department, but hell want to finish a stellar career on a high.
PREDICTION
Pushing for honours. 2nd.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Grant. This kid can be anything, and will benefit from Lavickas guidance.
Brisbance Roar
STRENGTHS
Craig Moores leadership driving them on and bringing through the exceptional promise of Luke DeVere. Along with Sydney, has the most exciting crop of young talent with Tommy Oar, Michael Zullo, Mitch Nichols, Isaka Cernak.
WEAKNESSES
Charlie Miller is injury prone; so too is half the squad if pre-season is a guide. Loss of young Socceroos to national team duty. Never sure if Reinaldo will deliver.
PREDICTION
Slow start leading to finals football and possible grand final. 3rd.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Nichols. Could have delivered club to grand final last year but better for experience. Exceptional goal-scoring ability. Young player of year.
Gold Coast United
STRENGTHS
Publicity, in case you hadnt noticed. Goals look a certainty with Jason Culina, Milson Ferreira Dos Santos, Shane Smeltz and Joel Porter. Tahj Minniecon has speed, it looks a good attacking potion.
WEAKNESSES
No outstanding leader in defence, very high expectations created by a club with every team salivating to beat them, or more specifically, to shut Miron Bleiberg up. A good start to the season is critical but personnel are good enough to sustain a challenge.
PREDICTION
Finals football in debut season. 4th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Culina. Australias most successful export by trophy count, with plenty left physically and the motivation to establish himself for post-football career. Anyone who can score 16 goals from midfield for Ajax can terrorise the league. Given the freedom, he craves to attack.
Adelaide United
STRENGTHS
Solid club ethos in strong football city provides a platform, despite upheaval of roster and boardroom. Coach Aurelio Vidmar gaining experience. Scott Jamieson and Daniel Mullen give excellent impetus from flanks. Midfield strong.
WEAKNESSES
Financial instability. Comedown from highs of last season. Lost seasoned professionals from last years squad. Central defence badly weakened. Can they replace Diegos creativity? Possibly weakest squad of their A-League history.
PREDICTION
Sneak into finals but a tough old year. Good learning curve for Vidmar.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Lloyd Owusu. If he doesnt score, they struggle.
Newcastle Jets
STRENGTHS
Defence and midfield look solid. If Branko Culina gets Ljubo Milicevic on board and focused, the team will benefit, with speed and experience in fullback positions complementing his reading of the game. Fabio Vignaroli is the finest passer of the football in the league, but he needs players to feed him and to be fed.
WEAKNESSES
Club unsettled off the park. Donny De Groot yet to show his quality, so very reliant on Sasho Petrovski for goals, the perfect chance for a host of youngsters to make their name in support. Vignaroli is injury prone; havent replaced Nick Carle creatively.
PREDICTION
Year of consolidation. Make finals series on last day of season. 6th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Ben Kantarovski. Another step to stardom with more responsibility this season. Will enjoy having Vignaroli next to him.
Perth Glory
STRENGTHS
New-found experience with three returning Socceroos. Eugene Dadi will get goals and should be complemented by Branko Jelic, who looks an excellent acquisition. Chris Coyne and Jamie Harnwell should be a solid defensive partnership.
WEAKNESSES
Nikita Rukavytsya gone. His speed to counter was invaluable in a team that doesnt dominate play. Whos playmaker?
PREDICTION
Improvement assured. Might scrape into finals series. 7th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Mile Sterjovski. He has speed, skill, technique and versatility. Could be Golden Boot, dependent on team support. Player of the year.
Central Coast Mariners
STRENGTHS
There are goals here, if Nik Mrdja can finally stay fully fit and gain some consistency. Matt Simon should continue his growth of last year; Dylan McCallister and Adam Kwasnik are always a threat.
WEAKNESSES
Lawrie McKinna fortunate to survive last seasons disastrous results. No marquee or quality foreign players. Struggling to replace Mile Jedinak in centre of park. Club wants to be Sheffield United; they appear to be succeeding.
PREDICTION
A season of quotes such as,"The boys worked hard and Im proud of them." And a lot of talk about property developments. 8th
North Queensland Fury
PLAYER TO WATCH
Matt Simon. More polish in his finishing, and a European career awaits. Quick, fearless and makes up for touch with anticipation.
STRENGTHS
Robbie Fowler can score goals and feed their young speedster of immense talent, David Williams. Zenon Caravella looks to have matured via a stint offshore and has great ability. Freddy Agius is a potential star. Temperature and humidity should work strongly in their favour against visiting teams.
WEAKNESSES
Fowler needs to play most games and avoid injury, which has dogged his past few years and the pre-season. The entire league needs him to deliver. Inexperienced defence. Inexperienced coach.
PREDICTION
Probably a good start but a rough ride once the season hits the midway point. 9th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Fowler. Their season rests with his contribution.
Wellington Phoenix
STRENGTHS
Leo Bertos and Troy Hearfield have speed to find passes from Brazilians Daniel and Diego.
WEAKNESSES
Daniel and Diego must wonder what they are doing in New Zealand. No one to replace Shane Smeltz. Interrupted season with World Cup qualifiers. Teams have worked out the trip across the Tasman.
PREDICTION
Quite possibly shocking. 10th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Daniel. Wrong player, wrong team, sack the agent, but a beautiful left foot nonetheless.
