Last season’s losing grand finallists boast an experience squad, so who will break through?
With six weeks to go until season 2012/13, we’re looking at the best breakthrough talent ready to make their name in the Hyundai A-League.
Perth Glory
After a successful season 2011/12, Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson has made relatively few changes to his grand final-losing side but there are cracks in the otherwise experienced squad for some young talent to get some first-team football.
Perhaps unusually, expectations are high at Glory this season, and Ferguson can use that ambition to dive his squad and his best young players to continue Perth-s evolution.
Chris Harold: A prolific striker at youth level, Harold was another member of the exceptional Gold Coast United side that was broken up after the club-s demise and now spread across the other Hyundai A-League clubs. He scored twice in his debut season for Gold Coast and is talented if somewhat raw attacker with big potential.
Ian Ferguson says: “Chris Harold has come here and really impressed me in a lot of ways. He is very versatile and can play a number of positions, he can play as a No. 10, seven or 11, or as an out and out striker, but I-m not sure he is ready to carry the load up front by himself as yet.
“He has also shown he can score a goal and has an eye for it, he scored a cracker from the back post in one of our trials and that presence isn-t something you can really teach.”
Jess Makarounas: Has a pedigree at international level, having represented Australia as a junior and has shown himself to be a player with tremendous flair and creativity with speed to burn; expect him to push for a spot in the senior side this year.
Fergie says: “He went away with the Under 22s recently and is technically a very good footballer, he is a player who knows how to make things happen on the pitch and just needs to keep maturing.”
