How is your club shaping up ahead of the A-League season? Source: FoxSports
IT'S a month until the A-League season kicks off and most clubs have at least one piece or two pieces of the jigsaw missing.
Today is day one of my three-day club-by-club previews, where I will analyse Melbourne Heart, Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar.
I expect all three clubs to challenge for the finals and all have spots left on their roster, so their final signings could impact significantly.
Below I’ve put together my strongest XI for the respective sides and fans can also see which teams have spots available for foreigners, with each club allowed five internationals in the squad (the Wanderers can again have six this season).
Join me from 12pm (EST) right here for a live A-League Q & A where I'll be here to answer all your questions.
MELBOURNE HEART
Coach: John Aloisi
Ins: Orlando Engelaar (PSV, NETH), Rob Wielaert (Roda JC, NETH), Harry Kewell (free) Massimo Murdocca (Brisbane), Tando Velaphi (Victory), Iain Ramsay (Adelaide), Aziz Behich (Bursaspor, LOAN), Stefan Mauk (promoted from youth team), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leeds United)
Outs: Clint Bolton (retired), Josip Tadic (Rijeka, CRO), Eli Babalj (AZ Alkmaar, NETH), Simon Colosimo, Matt Thompson, Fred, Marcel Meeuwis, Jamie Coyne (released)
Squad size: 21
Foreign spots left: 1 (Engelaar, Gerhardt, Wielaert, Germano)
Last piece of the jigsaw: With Orlando Engelaar out for at least four months John Aloisi swooped for Kisnorbo. Now, attention will turn to another striker. Brent McGrath's name has been mentioned, however they do have an international ace up their sleeve and some room to manoeuvre in the salary cap.
Verdict: It was a changing of the guard for Heart was inaugural squad members Simon Colosimo, Matt Thompson and Clint Bolton all exiting along with captain Fred.
Harry Kewell has been the highest profile inclusion and while Aziz Behich returned in relatively low key fashion on loan from Bursaspor, he may be just as important. Massimo Murdocca and Iain Ramsay are seasoned A-League performers while Patrick Kisnorbo’s aggression and winner’s mentality is something that’s been missing.
Mate Dugandzic is as good as a new signing after missing the bulk of last season with injury and this is the strongest Heart squad that’s been put together in terms of depth.
Dutch internationals Rob Wielaert and Orlando Engelaar have good pedigree, but the latter is unlikely to play until 2014.
NB: This team was put together before Patrick Kisnorbo's signing.
SYDNEY FC
Coach: Frank Farina
Ins: Richard Garcia (Heart), Corey Gameiro (Fulham), Pedj Bojic (Mariners), Matt Jurman (Brisbane), Nick Carle (Bani Yas, UAE – loan expired), Marc Warren (Airdrie Utd, SCO)
Outs: Joel Griffiths (Qingdao Jonoon, CHI), Kruno Lovrek, Fabio, Nathan Sherlock, Adam Griffiths, Paul Reid, Trent McClenahan (all released)
Squad size: 22
Foreign spots left: 0 (Del Piero, Yau, Bosschaart, Tiago, Abbas)
Last piece of the jigsaw: Frank Farina has rejuvenated the squad beautifully with plenty of dead-wood released while Terry Antonis’s failed move to Parma could be telling with the youngster ready to take his game to another level. Nice depth in all positions but a classic no.6 is needed and someone with the experience and tactical acumen of Carl Valeri would be ideal.
Verdict: Frank Farina released plenty of dead wood and all of a sudden the squad looks far more balanced than it was last season.
Defensively they were suspect but Matt Jurman gives them another reliable body in central defence and Pedj Bojic is a fantastic addition, with his overlap to add another exciting dimension to the FC squad.
Despite the loss of Joel Griffiths the attack remains potent. Though some see it difficult for Farina to fit Nick Carle in the same side as Del Piero, I’m sure the Italian will thrive off Carle’s penetrating runs.
Corey Gameiro’s aggressive attitude and versatility are a big plus, and he’s almost a mini Griffiths.
Defensive midfield is still a huge concern. Emerton probably doesn’t have the experience to play as no.6 while Antonis is better served in the box-to-box role or even higher up the park.
BRISBANE ROAR
Coach: Mike Mulvey
Ins: Liam Miller (Perth), Dimitri Petratos (Kelantan, MAL), Diogo Ferreira (Victory), Corey Brown, George Lambadardis (promoted from youth team)
Outs: Ben Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf, GER), Steven Lustica (Hajduk Split – loan expired), Matthew Jurman (Sydney FC), Massimo Murdocca (Heart), Stefan Nijland (loan expired)
Squad size: 18
Foreign spots left: 1 (Broich, Berisha, Henrique, Miller)
Last piece of the jigsaw: Roar’s first 11 is as good as anyone’s, but it lacks depth. There’s little room left in the salary cap but a versatile midfielder, with offensive strengths, would give Mike Mulvey another inexpensive but quality option.
Verdict: Brisbane has arguably the best first 11 in the A-League but thereafter it drops away significantly.
So their fortunes rest on two things: how healthy their squad stays and their final few signings.
Most positions are pretty well covered so one or two decent versatile types would be great.
Matt McKay is a massive plus and no doubt he will fill a midfield position despite spending most of his time with the Socceroos at left back recently, and Liam Miller adds a touch of class to the attacking third along with Thomas Broich and Besart Berisha.
If Henrique’s injury troubles continue expect Ivan Franjic to push up and play on the right wing as he did for the latter part of last season.
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