With less then a week until the new season here is the third part of my A-league preview. I have predicated that Perth Glory will finish first at the end of the normal season and win the premiership. My reasons why are at the end of the post.
Melbourne
Major signing- Surat Sukha, is a versatile player who can play in defence or the midfield. The most significant thing about Melbourne signing Sukha however is if he's successful is it could lead to more south east Asian players playing in the A-league.
Major loss- M. Theokilitos, after winning two championships in four years, fans favourite Theokilitos has joined English league one club Norwich City.
Star player- Carlos Hernandez, has been signed permanently by Melbourne after two year loan. After a slow start to his A-league career Hernandez demonstrated his quality and become one of the competitions best players in his second season.
Strengths- Best forward partnership in A-league history and good forward depth. Good quality and depth in the cam and cdm positions. Good goalkeeping depth.
Weakness- Lack of depth for the centre-back position. Lack of wide midfielders in the squad.
Predication- 2nd
Perth
Major signing- Chris Coyne, after spending most of his career in the lower leagues of English football, Coyne joined Perth to play alongside his brother and increase his chances of going to the World Cup.
Major loss- Nikita Rukavytsya, the speedy striker left Perth to join FC Twente and continue his footballing education.
Star player- Mile Sterjovski, although Sterjovski usually plays in the midfield for the national team it appears he will play as a striker for Perth. Before he began playing in Europe Sterjovski played as a striker in the old NSL.
Strengths- Good forward depth. Quality midfield and quality centre-backs.
Weakness- Lack of quality for the left-back position. Lack of quality depth for the centre-midfield positions.
Predication- 1st
Gold Coast Untied
Major signing- Shane Smeltz, after two goal laden seasons in the A-league Smeltz is arguable the leagues best striker. After a season of being provided high quality service from Jason Culina the argument could be over.
Star player- Jason Culina, a consistent first team member for the Soceroos, Culina has come back to the A-league at the peak of his powers. Has the potential to totally dominate the A-league this season.
Strengths- Good depth and quality for the cdm and cam positions. Good forward depth. Quality goalkeeper.
Weakness- Lack of left midfielders in the squad. Teammates lack of familiarity with each other.
Predication- 3rd
During an football season many themes can run through out it, some can begin before the season and go all the way till the end, whilst other just suddenly appear and then disappear a few rounds later. This is also the case for an A-league season. One of the main themes of the 2009/10 A-league season will be the return of the empire. In the old NSL Perth Glory where the strongest team on the field and the strongest club off the field. During the off season the have already been signs from Perth that they are trying to return to the powerhouses they once were. Firstly by hosting friendlies against EPL clubs Fulham and Wolverhampton and then by signing three current socceroos. On the field i believe they also make progress by finishing as premiers. Compared to their main rivals Perth have a group of midfielders and forwards equal to those at Melbourne and Gold Coast Untied and sightly better then Sydney's. However Melbourne's, Gold Coast Untied's and Sydney FC's main weakness on the field is in defence, Perth have a better defence then the teams that will be their main rivals for the premiership in the 2009/10 A-league season and that's why they will finish first.
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