Football Season Guide

Won the title last season, and thoroughly deserved to. Had a few nervy moments at the start of the campaign as players got used to their roles, and Kisnorbo got used to being in charge. Soon dominated almost every game, and were ruthless finishers. Didn't lose anyone of note in pre-season. Garuccio was a good understudy full-back, and other rotation players like Georgievski, Najjarine, and Najjar have something to offer but the eleven is too strong for them to be missed. Noone was the biggest name to leave but injury problems marred his final campaign. Besides, Melbourne City signed Leckie in pre-season, who is a better and younger version of Noone. He's a brilliant acquisition. Pucciarelli is a bit of a wildcard creator but the beauty of his signing is that there's no pressure on him because of the quality in the squad. This squad has no weaknesses. There are players they'd find harder to replace than others but they've got so much talent in every area of the squad that none of them should be particularly problematic. Melbourne City are really good at just about everything. They're ruthless finishers, excellent at controlling games, good under pressure, good at pressing and sitting, have multiple match-winners, and even have a number of wonderkids like Tilio breaking through, who would be in the starting eleven of most other A-League teams. They've not changed much pre-season because they've not needed to; this is the strongest squad in the A-League. Irreplaceable players - MacLaren, Metcalfe, Jamieson.