Which players will have the biggest impact for their new clubs in season 2012/13?
As the Hyundai A-League season races ever closer, this week we-re looking at some of the key signings who could have a big impact for their clubs and on the closest title race yet. Today, we’re starting at the back…
10. Adam Griffiths, Sydney FC
Inconsistency has been an ongoing issue for Sydney FC, and in Viteslav Lavicka-s final term in charge, there were simply too many holes at the back. For a team that built their 2010 championship on defence, the Sky Blues were back to their shaky worst in the following two terms, shipping 40 in 2011 and then 42 goals last season – by far the worst record of the top six teams.
Adam Griffiths could just lend them that touch of class and stability they-ve been lacking. Something of a journey after travelling the world with football, Griffiths-s return to the Hyundai A-League offers Sydney coach Ian Crook the chance to create a rock-solid pairing with Pascal Bosschaart.
Sydney haven-t enjoyed that kind of experience and ability at centreback since Simon Colosimo and Stephan Keller helped them to their second title.
Griffiths, 33, won an A-League grand final with Newcastle Jets, before a run of transfers to Gold Coast United, Saudi club Al Shabab and Chinese Super League side Hangzhou Greentown (with a brief AFC Asian Champions League stint with Adelaide United in between.
It-s a truism that strikers win games but defences win titles and much of Crook-s first season in charge of the Sky Blues will rest upon his ability to build a competitive side around his two experienced centrebacks.
It was Sydney-s awful home record – six losses with 25 goals conceded (including finals) – that made season 2011/12 one to forget.
Adam Griffiths may not be Alessandro Del Piero but he could form part of the foundations for a much title challenge from Sydney FC.
9. Zac Anderson, Central Coast Mariners
The first of many players on this list to have come out of the Gold Coast United fire sale, Anderson is an up-and-coming central defender who would have learned a lot from spending the bulk of the last season alongside Michael Thwaite at Gold Coast.
Anderson was one of the most impressive young players at the back end of season seven and proved himself capable at both ends of the park, even earning himself a call-up to the national team for an Olympic qualifier.
At close to 1.9 metres tall Anderson brings an added aerial presence to the Mariners in both defence and attack and is known for getting his head to the ball when it matters most and is capable of putting his name on the scoresheet, which should help ease the pressure on Patrick Zwaanswijk.
With the loss of club skipper Alex Wilkinson to K-League side Jeonbuk Motors Hyundai, Graham Arnold needed a high-quality defender to fill the gap left by the outgoing skipper.
In Anderson he has a player who can not only defend well but also distribute the ball from the back, he will also help to provide aerial prowess in front of a relatively short keeper in Mat Ryan.
