Adelaide United

Manager: Rini Coolen
Last Season: 3rd

Ins: Zenon Caravella (Gold Coast United), Spase Dilevski (Universitatea Craiova), Bruce Djite (Gold Coast United), Osama Malik (North Queensland Fury), Jon McKain (Al-Nasr), Dario Vidosic (Nurnberg), Evgeniy Levchenko (Willem II)

Outs: Robert Cornthwaite (Chunnam Dragons), Iain Fyfe (Busan I'Park), Travis Dodd (Perth Glory), Lucas Pantelis (Wellington), Adam Hughes (Perth Glory), Matthew Leckie (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Marcos Flores (Henan Jianye).

Can Adelaide fill the void left by Marcos Flores? That is the biggest question facing the Reds leading into the upcoming A-League season. Based on his performances at Skilled Park, Zenon Caravella might just be the man to replace the Johnny Warren Medalist. The ‘city of churches’ has also seen their skipper depart for the sunny skies of Perth with Socceroo Jon McKain taking over the armband, fresh from his return from the Middle East. A number of former A-League players have returned to Australia after spending some time in Europe including Spase Dilevski who played for the Brisbane Roar prior to his move to Romania and Dario Vidosic, another player who plied his trade at the Brisbane Roar before spending a number of years in Germany. Rini Coolen will be hoping his new-look squad fall into place quickly as they look to build on an impressive 2010/11 campaign that left many fans and pundits wanting more.

 

Brisbane Roar

Manager: Ange Postecoglou
Last Season: 1st

Ins: Sayed Adnan (Al-Khor), Besart Berisha (Arminia Bielefeld), Issey Nakajima-Farran (AC Horsens), Kofi Danning (Sydney FC), Matthew Jurman (Sydney FC), Jack Hingert (Dandenong Thunder)

Outs: Matt McKay (Rangers), Jean Carlos Solorzano (Melbourne Victory), Kosta Barbarouses (FC Alania Vladikavkaz), Luke DeVere (Gyeongnam FC).

What a season it was for Brisbane Roar, sweeping all before them on their way to an historic championship. During the offseason, they have seen four of their championship winning players leave Suncorp stadium, none more important than foundation player, Matt McKay. With the Socceroo departing for Scotland, defender Matt Smith has been awarded the Roar captaincy for the 2011/12 season. However, a lot will rest on the shoulders of experienced midfielder Thomas Broich. The German had a fantastic debut season in the A-League and his maturity could prove vital in Brisbane’s bid for back-to-back championships.On top of their already talented playing list, Brisbane have managed to sign the likes of Young Socceroo Kofi Danning, defender Matthew Jurman, Bahrain international Sayed Adnan and Albanian international Besart Berisha. Ange Postecoglou will be expecting more of the same from his side as they venture into the Asian Champions League for the very first time.

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Central Coast Mariners
Manager: Graham Arnold
Last Season: 2nd

Ins: Michael Baird (Perth Glory), Troy Hearfield (Wellington Phoenix), Stuart Musialik (Sydney FC), Justin Pasfield (North Queensland Fury), Adriano Pellegrino (Perth Glory), Brad McDonald (North Queensland Fury)

Out: Jess Vanstrattan (released), Patricio Perez (Club Atlético All Boys)

Following their agonizing defeat on penalties to Brisbane Roar in the Hyundai A-League Grand Final, Central Coast Mariners have wasted little time adding to their playing list as they look to go one step further this season. Graham Arnold has managed to entice attacking midfielder Adriano Pellegrino to the club to help fill the void left by Patricio Perez while Stuart Musialik now calls Bluetongue Stadium home after enduring a frustrating period with Sydney FC. No doubt the biggest news to come out of Gosford during the offseason has been the Mariners ability to retain the services of talented midfielder Mustafa Amini. The Young Socceroo joined Bundesliga Champions Borussia Dortmund in July and has been loaned back for the duration of the 2011/12 A-League season as well as the Mariners Asian Champions League campaign. Can Arnold deliver the Mariners faithful an elusive A-League title? Last year's form suggests a championship is not too far away.

 

Gold Coast United

Manager: Miron Bleiberg
Last Season: 4th

Ins: Peter Jungschlager (De Graafschap), Maceo Rigters (Willem II), Dylan Macallister (Wellington Phoenix), Paul Beekmans (SC Cambuur), Ante Rozic (Arka Gdynia), Dylan McGowan (Loan from Hearts), Samuel Ghebrehiwet (Western Strikers), Ambair Sium (Western Strikers).

Outs: Jason Culina (Newcastle Jets), Zenon Caravella (Adelaide United), Bruce Djite (Adelaide United), Dino Djulbic (Shaanxi Chanba), Steve Pantelidis (Bintang Medan), Bas van den Brink (Perth Glory), Shane Smeltz (Perth Glory).

Like Adelaide and Brisbane, Gold Coast United have undergone significant change to their playing personnel with half of Miron Bleiberg’s starting XI opting for the exit door. Having seen Socceroo Jason Culina join his father at the Newcastle Jets and leading marksman Shane Smeltz cross over to Perth Glory, the United squad now has a Dutch flavour following the arrivals of Peter Jungschlager, Paul Beekmans and former Blackburn striker Maceo Rigters. Bleiberg has also carried out the loan signing of Dylan McGowan from Hearts who will be hoping for regular football after failing to make a first team appearance for the Scottish club. All eyes however will be on Eritrean duo Samuel Ghebrehiwet and Ambair Sium in the wake of clubs decision to move two full-time players back on youth contracts to make way for the pair. Is the ‘Glamour’ club capable of making the finals without the so prowess of Culina, enthusiasm of Caravella and predator instincts of Smeltz? Time will tell.

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Melbourne Heart

Manager: John van’t Schip
Last Season: 8th

Ins: Maycon (Nova Iguacu), Fred (DC United), Mate Dugandzic (Melbourne Victory), David Williams (North Queensland Fury), Jonathan Germano (Sportivo Luqueno)

Outs: John Aloisi (retired), Dean Heffernan (Liaoning Whowin), Josip Skoko (retired), Gerald Sibon (Heerenveen), Michael Beauchamp (Sydney FC).

Melbourne Heart drew many admirers with their style of play in the club's inaugural A-League season and recent signings indicated they are looking to do more of the same. John van’t Schip has managed to not only sign former Victory hero, Fred but he also managed to persuade Mate Dugandzic to join the red of Melbourne after spending two seasons with the blue of Melbourne. The signing of Fred ensures fans that Melbourne Heart will continue to play with the same patience and flair that graced the league last season. Heart has further boosted their stocks with the capture of talented forward David Williams from the now defunct North Queensland Fury. The club has lost a number of experienced players but is confident their range of young talent can take the club forward. Brisbane has proved that a certain style of football can win titles but can  Melbourne Heart follow in Roar’s footsteps?

 
Melbourne Victory

Manager: Mehmet Durakovic
Last Season: 5th

Ins: Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Isaka Cernak (North Queensland Fury), Jean-Carlos Solórzano (loan Alajuelense via Brisbane Roar), Marco Rojas (Wellington Phoenix), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Fabio Alves Macedo (Volta Redonda), Lawrence Thomas (Sheffield United).

Outs: Ricardinho (Loan to Parana), Mate Dugandzic (Melbourne Heart), Surat Sukha (Buriram), Marvin Angulo (CS Herediano), Sebastian Mattei (Released), Geoff Kellaway (Released), Evan Berger (Perth Glory), Robbie Kruse (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Kevin Muscat (Retired), Michael Petkovic (Retired).

Melbourne have arguably pulled of the greatest signing in A-League history, signing Socceroo Harry Kewell. The former Galatasaray attacker returns to Australia hoping to regain his place in Holger Osieck’s Socceroo’s side. It has been a frantic few months for Melbourne Victory. Not only were Victory able to secure the much-Kewell, they have also been able to capture the likes of young gun Marco Rojas and championship winning striker, Jean-Carlos Solorzano from Brisbane Roar. Victory head into the new campaign without two-time championship winning coach, Ernie Merrick. Former National Youth League boss Mehmet Durakovic was appointed manager after Victory’s Asian Champions League campaign and the initial signs indicate he will have no trouble handling the step up to senior management. Melbourne Victory are blessed with an array of attacking talent but accommodating these players looks set to be Mehmet’s toughest job.

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Newcastle Jets

Manager: Branko Culina
Last Season: 7th

Ins: Tiago Calvano (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Byun Sung-Hwan (Sydney FC), Chris Payne (North Queensland Fury), Jason Culina (Gold Coast United).

Outs: Adam D’Apuzzo (APIA Leichhardt), Zhang Shuo (Shenzhen Phoenix), Sasho Petrovski (South Coast Wolves), Sean Rooney (Released), Michael Bridges (Retired), Marcello Fiorentini (Released), Neil Young (Perth Glory), Brodie Mooy (Parramatta FC), Kaz Patafta (Released). 

Before a ball has been kicked in the 2011/12 season, Branko Culina and Newcastle Jets have been dealt a huge blow with marquee signing Jason Culina ruled out of the entire campaign with a knee injury. The club will be hoping new signing Chris Payne and Ryan Griffiths strike a formidable partnership after losing a number of strikers including Sasho Petrovski.
Toward the end of last season, Newcastle proved they could play football and compete with the best, and Culina will be hopeful his side can deliver even without Socceroo Jason Culina.
Off the pitch, things could not be brighter for the club with the Jets heading into the new season on the back of record high membership numbers and their future secured thanks to Nathan Tinkler. The question is: can Newcastle Jets deal with the absence of Culina?

 

Perth Glory

Manager: Ian Ferguson
Last Season: 10th

Ins: Travis Dodd (Adelaide United), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United), Liam Miller (Hibernian), Bas Van Den Brink (Gold Coast United), Danny Vukovic (Wellington Phoenix), Evan Berger (Melbourne Victory), Adam Hughes (Adelaide United), Neil Young (Newcastle Jets), Billy Mehmet (Samsunspor), Andrezinho (Consadole Sapporo), Jesse Makarounas (Australian Institute of Sport).

Outs: Tando Velaphi (Melbourne Victory), Jamie Coyne (Sydney FC), Adriano Pellegrino (Central Coast Mariners), Robbie Fowler (Muangthong United), Andy Todd (Oldham), Andrija Jukic (Bogar Raya), Brent Griffiths (Stirling Lions), Branko Jelic (Released), Howard Fondyke (Released), Alex Pearson (Released), Naum Sekulovski (Released), Dean Heffernan (Liaoning), Anthony Skorich (Released).

The ‘Shed’ are eager to see the return of the glory days and Tony Sage has again spared little expense trying to deliver the fans silverware. On paper, the signs are promising for Glory and Ian Ferguson will be under no illusions he needs to at least deliver a finals appearance if he wishes to remain at the helm. The former Fury boss definitely has the players at his disposal with the Scotsman overseeing the signings of ex-Manchester United midfielder Liam Miller, sharpshooter Shane Smeltz and previous Adelaide captain Travis Dodd, just to name a few from an almost completely new potential first XI. The club has been subject to a vigorous period of rebuilding in the offseason and it remains to be seen whether their potential on paper can be transferred onto the pitch.

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Sydney FC

Manager: Vitezslav Lavicka
Last Season: 9th

Ins: Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers), Jamie Coyne (Perth Glory), Pascal Bosschaart (ADO Den Haag), Michael Beauchamp (Melbourne Heart), Karol Kisel (Slavia Prague).

Outs: Stephan Keller (Released), Hayden Foxe (Retired), Brendan Gan (Released), Stuart Musialik (Central Coast Mariners), Kofi Danning (Brisbane Roar), Matt Jurman (Brisbane Roar), Byun Sung-Hwan (Newcastle Jets), Anthony Golec (Released). 

Brett Emerton has returned to Australia and Sydney FC is confident his homecoming will see a renewed interest in the club and based on early signs, the signing is proving an instant success. His liveliness and dynamism has the fans expecting Sydney to return to the lofty heights of Australian football and challenging for silverware. Championship winning player Karol Kisel is bound to delight fans, The Slovakian midfielder returns to the club after spending a season with Slavia Prague. After a disappointing season, Sydney decided to release defender Stephan Keller and replace the giant Swiss with Socceroo Michael Beauchamp who will look to partner either Jamie Coyne or Pascal Bosschaart in the heart of defence. The key to Sydney’s success however is Nicky Carle. If the gifted midfielder can stay injury-free, their disastrous 2010/11 campaign may soon be a distant memory.

 

Wellington Phoenix

Manager: Ricki Herbert
Last Season: 6th

Ins: Nik Tsattalios (Sutherland), Jimmy Downey (Sparta Rotterdam), Dani Sanchez (Inverness CT), Tony Warner (Tranmere), Lucas Pantelis (Adelaide United),

Outs: Nick Ward (Released), Diego Walsh (Charleston Battery), Oscar Cornejo (Santa Rosa), James Musa (Released), Troy Hearfield (Central Coast Mariners), Jade North (FC Tokyo), Danny Vukovic (Perth Glory), Reece Crowther (Released), Dylan MacAllister (Gold Coast United), Marco Rojas (Melbourne Victory). 

Wellington Phoenix have appeared in two consecutive finals series and will be looking to continue their good form with the return of their talisman, Paul Ifill. The Barbados forward had an injury interrupted 2010/11 season and Ricki Herbert will be hoping his star man can stay injury free. In an exciting coup for the club, they have managed to recruit the league's first Spanish player, Dani Sanchez. The Spaniard underwent a successful trial with Wellington in July. Fans will also be undoubtedly pleased with the signing of former Adelaide speedster, Lucas Pantelis. With Marcos Rojas heading to Melbourne, Pantelis will offer some much needed pace and width.
With the club wracked by uncertainty off the field and still more signings to make to complete even a minimum roster, Phoenix have so far failed to add to the list of two current strikers and with a lack of depth in that department, an injury might prove costly for the New Zealand based club.