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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