MELBOURNE VICTORY

Here's hoping Jay Barnett's a cracker, because even if you ignore the massive flux of experienced talent going on around him, more-or-less swapping Rahmay Akbari is a gamble.

Akbari was a sensational talent that could have had a breakout year under Marco Kurz, but now he's back where it all began for him.

It may be peculiar to start with a midfielder who's made three A-League appearances, but in truth there's little else going on for the Big V so far, with the losses of Barbarouses, Keisuke Honda, Carl Valeri and Georg Niedermeier yet to be replaced.

It will be most interesting to see what Kurz does with the newfound resources at his disposal. He overachieved consistently with bare bones at Adelaide, but how he fares in that most elusive coaching challenge - the transfer market - is another beast entirely.

Back in the ACL, whether Victory go all out on an Asian marquee in the hope of finally making some inroads under a more pragmatic, defensive coach will prove key. 

Either they'll give Kurz time in the role and a somewhat smaller budget to play with in the hope that he'll prove himself first, or they splash the cash big-time and expect big things on the continent in return.

What is doubtful is that Kurz will bring many with him from the City of Churches. The Reds have already lost some of their key stars and are seemingly focusing on developing the kids that remain, so there might not be much left to pick through.

Which means so far it's probably the former, but it's still early days and there are some big striking boots to fill. Victory are never an uninteresting transfer player, put it that way.

IN

Jay Barnett (Brisbane Roar)

OUT

Keisuke Honda (released) 
Carl Valeri (retired) 
Georg Niedermeier, Raul Baena, Jai Ingham (all released)
Rahmat Akbari (end of loan) 
Kosta Barbarouses