The draw for the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season will be released at 11am on Wednesday – what games are you already looking forward to?
The draw for the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season will be released at 11am on Wednesday – what games are you already looking forward to?
We can-t reveal the big fixtures until then but how do you think the season should start?
Sydney derby
Western Sydney Wanderers begin their second season as reigning premiers, while Sydney FC are in the midst of a rebuilding phase under Frank Farina.
It was honours even last season, as the Sky Blues drew first blood with a 1-0 win in Parramatta, while the Red and Black got their revenge, winning 2-0 at Allianz Stadium in December.
The final derby of the season ended 1-1 and set the stage for bragging rights to be claimed in season 2013/14. Can the Wanderers maintain their winning ways or will Sydney rise again under Farina?
Grand Final rematch
Central Coast Mariners got over the hurt of losing the premiership to Western Sydney by dominating Tony Popovic-s side in the Grand Final.
Graham Arnold-s champions could be a very different team by the time the season starts up again, with some of his best young players tipped to head overseas. Can Arnie rebuild the Mariners again or will the Wanderers get some measure of revenge when last season-s two best sides meet again?
Melbourne derby
The big fixture from last season-s opening weekend saw the Heart grab a famous Victory against Ange Postecoglou-s much-fancied Victory.
Heart couldn-t keep the pressure up throughout the season, however, and all eyes will be on John Aloisi to see if the former Socceroo has learned from his mistakes and shaped Heart into a team capable of standing up for themselves.
And after a full season in charge, what can we expect from Postecoglou? Has thrilling as his team were in attack last season, they were equally as fragile in defence. How will the record-breaking coach strength his backline and replace Player of the Year Marco Rojas?
The Big Blue
Neither team achieved what they set out to last season. Even superstar Alessandro Del Piero couldn-t mask Sydney-s inadequacies and lack of a consistent football philosophy. In what will all likelihood be the Italian-s final season, he will surely want to go out on a high.
And third place – a clear 13 points off the top – will only rankle Ange Postecoglou to push Victory back where they think they belong.
These are the two big-pressure jobs in the A-League, with two sets of fans who demand success. The next stage of their intercity rivalry will provide some big brownie points for the victor.
Which other games are you most looking forward to? Which do you think should kick off season 2013/14? Have you say below…
