WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS

It's also been an impressive halfway mark from Western Sydney.

Granted, it could have been more exciting: they seem to have missed out on the star power of a Franck Ribery and will be dying to clinch a big-name marquee to put bums on seats (or feet on terraces!) at Bankwest Stadium.

But from a purist's perspective, Markus Babbel has searched far and wide for top-drawer central European drawcards, with a particular emphasis on defensive maestros.

Daniel Georgievski is a solid signing, who was one of the top-three fullbacks in the competition for the last two seasons, while Dylan McGowan - after a decent spell overseas - mixes A-League experience with top quality.

But the Europeans deserve the most attention and in Pirmin Schwegler they have picked up a fit, reliable powerhouse of a defender who's been a regular in the Bundesliga (and captain) for well over a decade. He's also only 32. Yes, we're gushing a little.

In Majewski they've picked up a nine cap Polish international who can score cracking goals and Daniel Lopar - a very accomplished, experienced pair of hands - will provide excellent competition for the number one role.

Credit Filip Kurto for that one, he's shown just how vital a quality foreign goalkeeper can prove between the sticks (especially when home-grown talent like Vedran Janjetovic is prone to the howlers he had last season...)

IN

Daniel Georgievski (Newcastle Jets) 
Pirmin Schwegler (Hannover 96, Germany) 
Daniel Lopar (St. Gallen, Switzerland) 
Radoslaw Majewski (Pogon Szczecin) 
Dylan McGowan (Vendsyssel) 

OUT

Brendan Hamill (Western United) 
Giancarlo Gallifuoco (Central Coast Mariners) 
Josh Risdon (Western United) 
Oriol Riera, Roly Bonevacia, Raul Llorente, Alexander Baumjohann, Jaushua Sotirio, Abraham Majok, Marc Tokich, Rashid Mahazi, John Roberts, Nick Fitzgerald (all released)