aleagues.com.au analyses every Isuzu UTE A-League team’s biggest challenge ahead of kick off in season 2023-24 this Friday.
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Adelaide United: Replacing Goodwin
How will the Reds fare without their captain and talisman Craig Goodwin?
The Johnny Warren Medallist recently left Coopers Stadium for a reunion with Al Wehda in Saudi Arabia and the local boy leaves a significant void.
He scored 60 goals – 53 of those in the A-League Men – in 168 matches across four spells, no player has scored more goals for Adelaide. Last season alone he bagged 15 goals and supplied 10 assists en route to the Semi Finals.
But if there is one thing the Reds have shown, it is that they have a successful production line of local young talent ready to come through and provide excitement.
After scoring five goals as a substitute, teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda is tipped to take the next step in his development this term and the same goes with Luka Jovanovic, Jonny Yull, Panashe Madanha, Bernardo Oliveira and Musa Toure.
Carl Veart’s Adelaide have also brought in former Manchester United midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe, who adds experience and leadership in the middle of the park.
Brisbane Roar: Progressing under Aloisi
The off-season has been encouraging for the Roar, both on and off the field.
With a new board – CEO Kaz Patafta and COO Zac Anderson, and a new head coach in Ross Aloisi, Brisbane earned plaudits during their run to the Australia Cup Final.
Former Yokohama F.Marinos assistant Aloisi has implemented a fresh approach, playing an attacking brand of football that proved successful in the cup. But it’s not just the football, it is the fact young players being given an opportunity at senior level.
From teen striker Thomas Waddingham and 15-year-old sensation Quinn MacNicol both impressed on the national stage and look set for breakout seasons in the league.
The question is: Can Aloisi’s Roar translate their Australia Cup form into the Isuzu UTE A-League and return to the Finals Series for the first time since 2020-21?
Central Coast Mariners: The post-Monty era
They are no longer the hunters… they are the hunted, but this is a very different team to the one that ended a decade-long Championship drought in 2022-23.
The Mariners, with their youthful philosophy and shrewd recruitment, took the league by storm last season but so much has changed from top to bottom.
Nick Montgomery – the architect behind Central Coast’s sensational rise – is no longer at the helm after swapping Gosford for Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership and he was joined by trusted right-hand man Sergio Reimundo. Former Leeds United Under-23 and MK Dons boss Mark Jackson has filled the void.
On the pitch, the Mariners have also lost their cult hero Jason Cummings (Mohun Bagan), Sammy Silvera (Middlesbrough), Beni Nkololo (Al-Orobah), Nectar Triantis (Sunderland), James McGarry (Aberdeen) and Moresche (Naft Al-Basra) and Anthony Pavlesic (Bayern Munich).
It means a new-look team, especially up front and a new coach as the Mariners also juggle AFC Cup commitments.
Macarthur FC: Grabbing the Bulls by the born
The only way is up if you’re Macarthur but how much higher can they climb in 2023-24?
Last season had promised so much after winning their first piece of silverware – the Australia Cup. However, the Bulls ended the league with the wooden spoon.
There were encouraging signs under Socceroos great Mile Sterjovski and that has only grown during the club’s AFC Cup campaign heading into the A-League Men season.
Central to Macarthur’s hopes this season is inspirational captain Ulises Davila, whose 2022-23 campaign was cut short due to injury.
Midfielder Jake Hollman has been touted as a future Socceroo and he is looming as a player to watch in Campbelltown this term. Then throw into the mix the signing of former Monaco star Valere Germain, who provides goals and creativity in the forward area.
Melbourne City: The rebuild
Can this new-look City team go all the way in 2023-24?
They have won a record three consecutive Isuzu UTE A-League Premierships, however, the Melbourne club have lost two successive Grand Finals following last season’s 6-1 loss to Central Coast. A lot has changed since that night at CommBank Stadium in June.
City recouped record fees for Socceroos pair Jordy Bos (Westerlo) and Marco Tilio (Celtic), while Aiden O’Neill (Standard Liege), Tom Glover (Middlesbrough), Valon Berisha (end of loan), Richard van der Venne, Thomas Lam, Florin Berenguer (Brisbane Roar) and Scott Jamieson (retired) departed.
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With Bos, Tilio, O’Neill and Glover gone, that is a significant part of City’s spine no longer at AAMI Park.
Through their City Football Group (CFG) networks, the club have wasted no time rebuilding following the arrival of 12 new players, headlined by Socceroo Aziz Behich, Tolgay Arslan from Serie A outfit Udinese, French defender Samuel Souprayen, Croatian forward Marin Jakolis, Moroccan Hamza Sakhi, veteran goalkeeper Jamie Young and Steven Ugarkovic.
Melbourne Victory: Bounce-back season?
It has been a topsy-turvy ride for Melbourne Victory fans over the past three seasons.
After finishing bottom for the first time in their history, they bounced straight back under Tony Popovic in 2021-22, winning the Australia Cup and reaching the A-League Men Semi Finals, only to miss out on the top six altogether last term.
Heading into the new campaign, expectations are high amid a wave of fresh faces.
Daniel Arzani is back in Melbourne trying to recapture the form that saw him earn a spot with the Socceroos at the 2018 FIFA Men’s World Cup, while talented Olyroos star Ryan Teague and ex-Napoli midfielder Zinedine Machach are also donning the big V in 2023-24.
With the likes of Manchester United great Nani and former captain Josh Brillante moving on, there appears to have been an effort to make the squad younger and more dynamic as the four-time champions look to return to the top of the mountain.
Newcastle Jets: Ending their finals drought
Is this the season the Jets return to the finals?
Not since 2017-18, when they lost to Melbourne Victory in the Grand Final, have Newcastle finished in the top six.
There have been some false dawns, but with Rob Stanton now at the helm in his first senior managerial role, there is a wave of optimism in the Hunter region.
Under former boss Arthur Papas, the Jets showed glimpses, playing an attractive brand of football.
With a track record of developing youngsters following his time at Sydney FC, Stanton has spoken about his excitement around Newcastle’s young core – from local favourite Archie Goodwin to Phillip Cancar, Lachlan Bayliss and Daniel Wilmering, but also the mix of experience he is able to call upon through Brandon O’Neill, ex-Arsenal full-back Carl Jenkinson and new French recruit Jason Berthomier.
Despite the exits of Beka Mikeltadze, Jaushua Sotirio and Angus Thurgate, this team still has match winners in the likes of Reno Piscopo, Trent Buhagiar, returning striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Goodwin.
Perth Glory: Can Staj work his magic?
Perth come into the new season buoyed by new owners and a new coach.
A Primeland Group-led consortium is the new owner of the Glory, who appointed Alen Stajcic during the off-season.
Stajcic worked wonders during his time in charge of the Philippines women’s national team, where he guided the minnows to the 2022 AFC Asian Cup semi-finals and their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Perth will be hoping the former Central Coast boss can sprinkle some of that magic on the Glory amid their Finals Series drought.
The Glory have not qualified for the finals since a Semi Final berth in 2019-20, having finished ninth last season but their recruitment shows they mean business.
They have New Zealand international goalkeeper Oli Sail between the sticks, while Socceroo Oliver Bozanic, Bruce Kamau, Jarrod Carluccio and Aleksandar Susnjar have also moved to Western Australia.
Sydney FC: Translating Cup success into the league
Can Sydney do the league and cup double this season? That is the big question.
The Sky Blues could not have asked for a better run into the Isuzu UTE A-League season, having claimed their second Australia Cup crown.
Now attention turns to league matters and whether they can add to the club’s record Championship haul of five trophies.
They have not conquered the A-League Men since 2020, but based on the Australia Cup and further signings, last season’s Semi Finalists are looming as legitimate title contenders.
Two Brazilians – Fabio Gomes and Gabriel Lacerda – have moved to the Harbour City, however it is some of the other arrivals that provide an insight into Sydney’s changing philosophy.
Joeys star Nathan Amanatidis was lured from Adelaide, while Olyroos defender Jordan Courtney-Perkins returned from Europe after Joel King completed his Sky Blues comeback. That is on top of the five contracts handed out to youth-team players.
Wellington Phoenix: Life after Talay
There is a new chief in town and it is Giancarlo Italiano, who has replaced Ufuk Talay on the touchline.
Talay’s trusted right-hand man has filled the void left in Wellington and ‘Chiefy’ has vowed to excite fans – from the Phoenix and beyond.
The Phoenix were somewhat of a Finals Series staple during Talay’s four-year tenure, however, they never progressed beyond the Elimination Final.
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Much has been made of that hurdle as Italiano not only tries to build on Talay’s brilliant work but end the drought – the Phoenix have not featured in a Semi Final since 2011-12.
Italiano – in his first senior coaching role – is putting his own mark on this team. He has already signed teenage striker Luke Supyk to a three-year deal with the senior team.
Reserve team captain Isaac Hughes has also been promoted, while the Phoenix handed out the longest contract in their history to teenage sensation Lukas Kelly-Heald.
Western Sydney Wanderers: Title contenders?
Western Sydney ended their Finals drought last season on the back of a squad rebuild. Throughout 2022-23, 19 players came through Wanderland.
That team led the Wanderers to the Finals Series for the first time since 2016-17 as they fell in the Elimination Final.
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Marko Rudan, though, has overseen another rebuild with Morgan Schneiderlin, Romain Amalfitano, Kusini Yengi, Calem Nieuwenhof, Amor Layouni, Yeni Ngbakoto and Tomislav Mrcela among the key departures.
The Wanderers have turned to Olyroos star Lachlan Brook, ex-Victory skipper Brillante, former Wolves youngster Dylan Scicluna and ex-Leeds United forward Marcus Antonsson to help inspire another finals charge.
Could this be the season the three-time runners-up finally go all the way, domestically?
Western United: A one-off blip?
Based on last season, Western United needed to go younger and revamp their squad after their title defence ended with them missing the top six.
They have done that thanks to a mix of youth and experience.
Matthew Grimaldi and Oliver Lavale have been promoted to the senior squad, while Kane Vidmar and Angus Thurgate have also linked up with John Aloisi’s side after Aleksandar Prijovic, Leo Lacroix and Jamie Young left.
Then throw Brazilian star Daniel Penha into the mix, with 21-time Socceroos forward Nikita Rukavytsya to complement Olyroos sensation Noah Botic, and Japanese attacker Riku Danzaki and this an impressive team on paper.
Can Western return to their Championship best by showing last season was a one-off?
