A League Season Review Part 2

By: Kieran | May 3rd, 2009

Well it’s here….finally…after a very long time…but let just forget about that, and read this…

So this is the second part, featuring the top four teams, but if you want to read the first part, you can do so here

Melbourne Victory

Well what can I say, they finished the regular season at the top of the table, and they won against a stubborn Adelaide United team in the Grand Final. So yer, they did pretty good eh?

Now, looking towards the next season. MVFC have lost two defenders in Thwaite (to Gold Coast) and Ryall (to Sydney FC) and they’ve also lost Steve Pantelidis to Gold Coast United. They’ve brought in keeper Glen Moss from Wellington, and it is rumoured they have signed loanee Carlos Hernandez on a permanent deal. So my fearless prediction is a big name signing before the start of the season, but apart from that, they’re looking pretty good.

Adelaide United

Well I know Marcus is going to hate me for saying this, but at the end of the day I think team of the season has to go to Adelaide. Sorry Melbourne Victory fans, but really, ACL runners up, 5th in FIFA Club World Cup, A League runners up, so congrats Vidmar and Co (ohh and I forgot to mention 2nd best rant of the season, behind only Rafa’s fact speech.) So all in all quality season for Adelaide.

But that’s were the good news stops for United. At the end of the season Adelaide United released Angelo Costanzo, Jonas Salley, Isyan Erdogan and Jason Spagnuolo. Diego Walsh has moved to the Wellington Phoenix and Saša Ognenovski has moved to Seongnam Ilhwa. In addition Michael Valkanis, Daniel Beltrame and Paul Agostino have all retired. And to add even more pain, Robert Younis has been allowed to leave to return home to Sydney. And so far, United have brought in Iain Fyfe and Adam Hughes. This mass exodus leaves a squad of 17, and while the off season has a while to go, they better get a move on, especially considering they have told five players they may negotiate with other clubs.

Queensland Roar (aka Brisbane Roar)

Prior to a few weeks ago, this piece on the Roar would have been a glowing paragraph or two about a team that had a quality season. Now while I definitely can’t take that away from them, there future is starting to looking shaky, with FFA taking a 51% share in the club to help it financially. But nevertheless, we can’t take away their 3rd place in normal season, and their 3rd place in the play offs. So good work guys.

But apart from their financial instability (check out my latest weekly wrap if you don’t know whats going on), they have lost young star Tahj Minniecon (to Gold Coast United) and Seo Hyuk-Su. In response they have signed Brazilian Henrique and promoted Matt Mundy and Adam Sarota but I have a feeling they’ll be needed a bit more than that to make an assault on the top 2, so FFA, if your reading this (ok unlikely but whatever) give the Roar some money so they can be up at the top next season.

Central Coast Mariners

A half decent season for the Mariners, but they would have wanted a little better considering the season prior. While 4th place looks quite respectable, you have to take into consideration that they were 2 points away from 6th place. So that kinda explains it.

Anyway, moving on to the upcoming season. Now they haven’t had the greatest start in the ACL, so I doubt they’ll be winning the next two games and making it into second place in their group. But they’ve made a few signings, notably Nick Rizzo, Adam Kwasnik and former Dag and Red player Shane Huke. And while you’ll have to wait until my season preview for my tip, I think they’ll be once again up in the top four.

So what do you reckon, disagree? Well don’t just sit there, comment and let me know!