2009/10 A-League Season Preview _ Part 2

In this second part to my season preview I examine the teams that will fill positions 4th – 6th.

6th – Adelaide United
It is sometimes amazing how a team’s unofficial nickname can evolve from just a few misplaced comments. The pissants have had a low profile build up this preseason.

-------------------Galekovic-------------------
-Alemao---Cornthwaite---Fyfe---Jamieson-
---------------------Reid-----------------------
---Dodd------------------------------Cassio---
---------------------Shin-----------------------
-----------Cristiano-------Owusu-------------

The first thing that struck me when putting a team together for Adelaide is that Vidmar must play a 4-4-2. With Cristiano and Owusu on books surely Vidmar will finally move away from his favoured 4-2-3-1 and play two up front.

Adelaide look pretty set in terms of their attacking options, Cristiano and Owusu should provide a handful for all but the best defences and by all reports Shin looks like he may make quite an impact in the AM role.

However the loss of Ognenovski has really put a large dent in what last year was a very solid defence. Fyfe is nowhere near a like for like replacement and I am not convinced Cornthwaite can step up to fill the gap.

Watch out for : Adelaide will score more goals this year but they are also going to leak a lot more. Unfortunately I think they haven’t gain enough to recover from the loss of Ognenovski.


5th – Perth Glory
There is no team that has disappointed more in the first four seasons of the A-League than Perth, the once great club has really struggled with its recruiting. This year however they appear to recruited very well and should have a bit more success and see their first finals campaign.

-------------------Velaphi---------------------
---------J Coyne--C Coyne--Todd-----------
-Downing--------Burns---------Pellegrino--
-------Sterjovski-------------Sikora----------
---------------Dadi--------Jelic---------------

I know Mitchell has indicated that he would prefer Sterjovski as a striker but I think in the end he will want both Dadi and Jelic up forward and will opt for Sterjovski in the hole in front of them.

With the centre backs that he has at his disposal it makes a lot of sense for Mitchell to opt for a 3-5-2. Burns will run the midfield that would include pace in the form of Downing and Pellegrino and Class with Sterovski and Sikora.

The defence is still a worry, there has to be a question marks on how well Todd, Jamie Coyne and Chris Coyne will jell. There is also a question over whether Pellegrino and Downing could provide the defensive cover needed. The reason I have opted for the 3-5-2 is that I don’t think Glory has adequate full backs to play a back four.

Watch out for : With all of Perth’s signings this year Branko Jelic seems to have slipped under the radar a little. Watch all that change when he bangs in a few early goals.


4th – Sydney FC
My god they love a bit of media hype in Sydney. Every year they are wrapped up to be world beaters and more often than not the knives are out within a few weeks.

-------------------Necevski---------------------
-Grant---Colosimo----Jurman--Sung-Hwan
-------------------Musialik---------------------
---Kisel----------------------------Danning----
---------------------Corica---------------------
-------------Aloisi--------Brosque--------------

There is a lot of like about the Sydney lineup this year, the fact that I couldn’t fit Mark Bridge into their best 11, is a good indicator of their depth up forward.

Can John Aloisi have a poor a season as last year again, I doubt it and I would expect him to pick up at least 5-8 goals this season. This would take a huge amount of pressure off Brosque and allow him to play the second striker role.

The real danger for opposition teams however are the wide players. By all accounts Kisel has impressed in preseason and Danning is a star in waiting. If Musialik can put last years disaster behind him and provide the service these two demand, Sydney are going to score a lot of goals.

This is a very youthful side however and I am not sure they will be able to challenge the best teams in the league over a full year.

I have Corica in the best 11 but wouldn’t be surprised to see him play most of the year off the bench. Bridge is the logical second choice but Gan could play in the hole as well.

Watch out for : Kofi Danning is going to stamp his passport to Europe this year. This kid ticks all the boxes and with a year of senior development under his belt he is cherry ripe to break out and really show what a talent he is.


Next : The top 3

3 Days to Season V
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