Hyundai A-League Rd 2 ladder vs my preseason predictions

So at the end of Rd 2 of the Hyundai A-League my preseason predictions have proven spot on for Newcastle, with Perth, Mariners, Heart & Roar all in the right areas, however Victory, Wanderers, Adelaide & Sydney have thrown up some unexpected results

A-League Season 2013/14 preview

Season 2013/14, the 9^th A-League season, is set to kick off in a week’s time, so it’s time to look ahead and see just what the season has in store for us.

Kiwi sports fans will be looking towards the Wellington Phoenix to see how the side will stack up after some disappointing times is recent seasons.  The biggest change for the men in yellow and black has been the change in coach with former Melbourne Victory mentor Ernie Merrick in the driving seat for the new season.

The biggest challenge Merrick will face in the opening few rounds is his predecessor Ricki Herbert plundering his kiwi players for All Whites duty, but after that Merrick has his work cut out to take the struggling side and make it into the winning squad it could so easily be.

There has been a raft of squad changes as well with Merrick not afraid to drop the axe on underperforming players or those who don’t fit his style of play. Those released from the squad include Tony Lochhead, Alex Smith Dani Sanchez, Jimmy Downey and Lucas Pantelis.  Custodian Mark Paston has retired while Isaka Cernak has gone to Perth Glory and Solomon Islands international Benjamin Totori has moved to the Oakleigh Cannons in the Victorian Premier league.

New members of the squad include some former and current a-league players a few other international competitions and a couple from domestic leagues.  The headline signing is livewire midfielder Carlos Hernandez who returns to the A-League from Prayag United in India to link up with his former Victory mentor.  Defender Luke Adams joins the club from English League 1 side Derby, while forward Kenny Cunningham joins the team from Club the Strongest in Bolivia.  The current a-league players joining the Phoenix are goal keeper Lewis Italiano from Perth Glory and defender Reece Caira from Western Sydney Wanderers.  Alex Rufer makes the move to the big time from Wairarapa United and Josh Brindall-South moves from the warmth of the QLD NPL at Moreton Bay United to the cold and wind of the NZ capital.

Wellington will be strong through the middle of the park with Hernandez linking with established players like Bertos, Huysegems, Brockie, Ifill, Lia, Sigmund, Muscat, Durante and Fenton and with Moss in goal this could be a very strong starting line-up, especially with the likes of Boyd on  the bench.

Other Kiwi players around the A-League include the return to the A-League of former Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix livewire and current All White Kosta Barbarouses. Barbarouses will join former Roar mentor Ange Postecoglou at Melbourne Victory.

Looking through the off-season transfer lists for all clubs, Melbourne Heart have signed some big names and should look to massively improve their showing in the competition.  Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC & Brisbane Roar have all been shrewd in their signings with the three coaches building on their form at the end of last season, with Mulvey at the Roar and Farina at Sydney marking themselves on their sides in their first off-season.  The squad I think that has been decimated the most in the off-season window and who still have to work hard to maintain their showing is undoubtedly the Central Coast Mariners who have been victims of their own success with a raft of their young talent heading offshore.  However this will be tempered slightly with the return to the club of Matt Simon.

My pre-season prediction for the end of year ladder is.

1. Melbourne Victory
2. Brisbane Roar
3. Western Sydney Wanderers
4. Wellington Phoenix
5. Sydney FC
6. Melbourne Heart
7. Central Coast Mariners
8. Perth Glory
9. Adelaide United
10. Newcastle Jets

This wasn’t an easy prediction with a lot of the mid field table looking very similar (4-7) I expect the bottom 3 teams to struggle and the top three are also interchangeable in those positions.

January transfer window round up #3

As always with my sports articles this was written for and can also be found at www.sportsfanAttic.co.nz but you get to see it here first

Well its been another busy week in the wonderful world of January transfers, especially here in Brisbane.

The Roar have bid farewell to midfielder Erik Paartalu who has been transferred to Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda.  Last week’s young signings Corey Brown and Julius Davis both made their A-League debut’s on Sunday from the bench. Brown had previous made his 1^st team debut in the Asian Champions league.  The Roar’s other signing Jade North was unavailable for selection due to match fitness.  Meanwhile it has been reported that Mike Mulvey has had a falling out with Nick Fitzgerald and has demoted him to play out his contract in the youth league.  The Mariners have asked for him early but this request has been denied.

Adelaide United have released journeyman Sergio van Dijk, and he is believed to be in Indonesia where he is coming to terms with an Indonesian squad.

For the Mariners golden boy Tom Rojic will not return this season having signed with Celtic, rejecting the offer from QPR.  Bernie Ibini is expected return from Belgium for Friday’s match against Adelaide, I have not heard anything on the grapevine about him landing a contract with Club Brugge.

The Victory are bringing home local product Francesco Stella signing him from Rangers.

The Jets have signed Andrew Hoole from their youth league squad, and have let Tiago Calvano head down the highway to Sydney FC.

Sydney FC had a cracking weekend with signing Joel Griffith scoring on debut, and as mentioned about Calvano also played an important role in the 7-1 thrashing of the Nix.

The Nix did not play new signing Hogg, neither did the Wanderers with Visconte.

There are several overseas based Aussie and Kiwis looking out on the market with Tommy Oar being courted by several clubs, while rumours abound today that former Roar skipper Matt McKay is being transferred to an unnamed Chinese team by his Korean side.

Time will tell if these rumours come to a head or if any other players transfer in the European or American markets, and who else will be signed to the A-League with a few clubs still looking out for players to fill holes in their rosters, with the Roar still looking for a striker to compliment Berisha and with a visa spot up for grabs.

Hyundai A-League round 17 preview

As always with my sports articles this was written for and can also be found at www.sportsfanAttic.co.nz but you get to see it here first

The round kicks off in Melbourne on Friday night as the Heart host Adelaide.  The hosts sit just outside the top 6 while the visitors are in second place and will be looking for the three points to try and claw their way back into top spot.  I don’t expect any fireworks in this match which should go the way of the visitors.

The first game of the Saturday triple header sees Sydney hosting the Phoenix in a bottom of the table clash.  The Phoenix will look to recover from their lapses of concentration this season as 3 points in this match will see them off the bottom of the table, while Sydney are looking for some form.  Both sides have the squads to perform better than they have this season but neither side has been able to click.  For Sydney, Del Piero (when he has been fit) just hasn’t had the impact they would’ve liked, although this may be because he hasn’t had the ball supplied to him often enough.  Although in the last few weeks their other big name player Brett Emerton has started to show promising signs having scored a couple of good goals.  I’m tipping this one to end in a boring draw.

Saturday’s middle game see’s the table topping Mariners hosting the Newcastle Jets In the F3 derby.  Newcastle are mid table but have faulted a little lately and will be looking for a win to maintain their place in the top 6.  The Mariners are happily sitting top of the table and will look to grow their advantage over second placed Adelaide.  However the Mariners are now without Tom Rojic who is remaining in Scotland to agree personal terms for his transfer, and I believe Bernie Ibini is still on his 10 day trial in Belgium, however Graham Arnold will look to his experienced players to bring this one home.  The Jets come into this one on the back of a 1-0 win over the struggling Roar and will look to build momentum as they seek out a guaranteed top 6 spot.  I’m tipping a comfortable Mariner’s win.

The final game of Saturday sees the Glory hosting the Victory at NiB stadium.  The Glory will look to the continued resurgence of Shane Smeltz to help them win this one, with the Kiwi striker coming off the back of a drought breaking brace a fortnight ago and a penalty last week.  The Victory will travel to the west full of confidence as they sit in third place and look strong under the tutelage of Postecoglou.  I’m tipping this one to be tight with a draw a likely outcome

The final game of the round and Sunday’s only game, sees the struggling Brisbane Roar hosting the Western Sydney Wanderers.  The Wanderers will come into this one full of confidence as they have already tasted victory over the Roar this season, and their continued consistent performance has firmly cemented them as the best ever expansion club.  The Roar are wounded and some of the changes in players may make an impact on them in this game.  They will be boosted by the inclusion of new signing Jade North, but will be without the services of Erik Paartalu who is off to China.  One thing to watch out for, is if the Wanderers play Rocky Visconte who transferred from the Roar in the last two weeks.  This game shapes as a tight match with the Wanderers flying high and the Roar desperate for a win.  If the Roar can show some dominance inside the area and actually learn how to shoot, then I can see them winning this.

January transfer window round up #2

Here is my look at the second week of the 2013 January Transfer window as it affects Australian & New Zealand players and A-League squads, as always this is article was written for and can be found over at sportsfanAttic.co.nz

While the January transfer window is in full flight around the globe it has only fully begun today here in the Hyundai A-League.  So we can expect a flurry of activity over the next couple of weeks, but even so, there has been some movement on the transfer front for A-League Clubs.  I have included a list of transfers as I’m aware to time of writing below for reference. 

Probably one of the biggest names so far in the transfer window is Socceroos defender and new Roar defender Jade North who has signed with the Roar after a stint in Japan.  North brings with him experience but his signing has created some huge ripple throughout the fan groups with some welcoming him but a lot questioning his signing calling him washed up.  The Roar have also signed up their youth league captain Corey Brown to a two year deal in the first team, and picked up youngster Julius Davies from the Victory.

The Mariners “nursery” continues to churn out talent with Tom Rojic heading to Spain for 10 days to link with Scottish side Celtic for their midseason training camp, while Bernie Ibini has headed to Belgium for a 10 day training stint with Club Brugge.  Both players will return to the A-League but for how long is the question, with English Premier League side QPR having already tabled a firm offer for Rojic believed to be £700,000.  The Mariners other up and coming youngster Matt Ryan cancelled his training stint with Rangers due to the unknown nature of their position in the Scottish leagues next season.

The other big news for Kiwi football fans which was mentioned last week, has now been confirmed, All Whites defender and captain Ryan Nelsen has been signed as Manager (Coach) of MLS squad Toronto FC.  This has caused widespread concern from MLS commentators and Toronto fans as the side that has been struggling have not only signed a rookie manager with no managerial experience, they’ve signed one who is contracted as a player with QPR until 3 months into the upcoming MLS season.  Last I had heard Nelsen had yet to get in contact with Ricki Herbert about his future with the All Whites, but I suspect his time in the National squad is over.

A-League transfers announced so far:

Brisbane Roar In: North (Consadole Sapporo), Davies (Victory), Brown (youth squad)
Out: Visconte (WSW), Fitzerald (Mariners at end of season)

Central Coast Mariners In: Fitzgerald (at end of season)
Out:
Training: Rojic (Celtic) – QPR have also put a firm £700K offer on the table, Ibini (Club Brugge)

Melbourne Heart In:
Out: Marrone (Shanghai)

Melbourne Victory In:
Out: Franjic (Released), Davies (Roar)

Perth Glory In:
Out: Memhet (Bangkok Glass)

Sydney FC In: Griffith (Shanghai Shenhua)
Out:

Wellington Phoenix In: Hogg (Portland Timbers)
Out:

Western Sydney Wanderers In: Visconte (Roar)
Out:

January transfer window round up #1

Here is my look at the first 7 days on the 2013 January Transfer window as it effects Australian & New Zealand players and A-League squads, as always this is article was written for and can be found over at sportsfanAttic.co.nz

We are now exactly one week into the new year, with today being January 7^th, which is also 7 days into the fabled January transfer window, so lets take a look how the first week of transfers have affected the A-League and Australian & Kiwi players.

Wellington Phoenix have announced the signing of Kiwi International defender Ian Hogg from Portland Timbers.  Hogg will fill the place vacated by Mirjin Pavlovic who left the club in November.  Hogg will look to challenge Tony Lochhead for the left back role, and will also look to thrive under his national coach, after failing to break into the first team in Portland.

Over in Perth the Glory have released striker Billy Mehmet who moves to Thailand to play for Bangkok Glass, which frees up not only a spot on the squad, but also much needed salary cap space for the purported tilt at securing the services of former England and Liverpool striker Michael Owen.  Owen’s current side Stoke have hit out at the reports claiming Owen will stay with them until the end of his one season contract.

Central Coast were set to see inform keeper Matt Ryan link up with Scottish side Glasgow Rangers today on a 10 day trial, but this was delayed due to the shoulder injury he sustained in the match against Western Sydney yesterday.  This isn’t the first time that Ryan has headed overseas for a trial, having spent time in 2012 trialling with Tottenham Hotspurs.  The Mariners also look set to lose Tom Rogic with Reading shaping as favourite to secure his signature from a number of English and other European clubs.

In the English Premier League the only confirmed move so far is New Zealand striker Chris Wood who has transferred to Leicester City from West Bromwich Albion.  He initially went on loan so he could be registered in time for Leicester’s New Years Day match against Huddersfield Town, in which he debuted and scored a brace.

From the EPL rumour mill, there is talk Harry Redknapp is looking to sign Aussie midfielder Tim Cahill as one of six new faces at QPR in a bid to stave off relegation from England’s top flight.  Staying with QPR Redknapp is looking to keep Kiwi defender Ryan Nelsen, who is linked with a move to the US MLS competition, despite DC United (one of the clubs he is linked to) denying the rumours.  The other club he is linked with is Toronto FC.  It is thought that Nelsen will be able to step into a player/manager role with the intention of becoming Manger of one of the sides after his playing career ends.