Football Season Guide

Unlike the previous season after securing the premiership (regular season champs) this time City went all the way and also lifted their 5th title with a win vs Wellington Phoenix in the Grand Final. For 2nd year running McNamara won the Golden Boot (12 goals). The always reliable captain and star CB Rebekah Stott was the Player of the Season. Stott remains at the club but McNamara and a large group of other regulars are gone. Sold 5 of their starters to English clubs this off-season so a major rebuilt had to take place. The 2 new RBs Medwin and Nash will fight for the starting role vacated by Apostolakis. Up front Ayres and McGroarty were signed to try and compensate for the departure of the very reliable and lethal McNamara. Winger Keane should play much larger role this season too. She had a breakthrough campaign last term. Scored 6 league goals. Expected to play a lot more and possibly operate as a false 9 in some matches. Lost 3 solid and important CMs also. They were replaced by Hayashi, Ray and young Prakash (19). The new arrivals are of lesser quality than the departures so City might have much more problems dominating in midfield this season. Shelby McMahon, only 18, was impressive on the left side of the midfield all of last season. She is expected to improve even more this term. Overall City seem to have gotten a bit weaker. That said if the few promising young players develop as fast as they are expected the defending champions should still be in the mix for a shot at the title.