ADELAIDE UNITED

Sight unseen, exactly what the Reds are going to look like under Gertjan Verbeek, nobody knows.

It's worrying enough for Reds fans that they're yet to make a signing after the hugely significant loss of maestro skipper Isaias and burgeoning superstar Scott Galloway.

But perhaps more concerning is the record of their new coach Verbeek: don't get us wrong, he's an astute football tactician, has an impressive pedigree and a fantastic record of youth development, but his coaching stats are all over the place.

His last gig at FC Twente was a complete debacle and he has a track record of getting the boot early in appointments, not to mention bust-ups with players and weird personality clashes. 

We actually think he's a very interesting appointment and expect big things from him at Adelaide, but the fact remains that with no signings and rumours of a new low-budget, youth academy focus, it doesn't make for inspiring reading for last campaign's semi-finalists.

In a glimmer of hope, Verbeek has talked up his European scouting connections, so there is clearly some work going on behind the scenes, there always is. But ranked on their progress so far, the Reds sit stone dead last.

OUT

Isaias (released) 
Scott Galloway (Melbourne City) 
Baba Diawara (released)