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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