A-League 2017/18 Team-By-Team Preview

Adelaide United

2016/17 finish: 9th

Predicted 2017/18 top scorer: Diawara (15)

Predicted 2017/18 top assister: Garuccio (5)

Key player: Isaias

Predicted line-up: 

4-2-3-1

Izzo (GK)

Marrone (RB) Gulum (CB) Regan (CB) Garuccio (LB)

Lia (CDM) Isaias (CDM)

Matmour (RW) Adlung (CAM) Absalonsen (LW)

Diawara (ST)

Predicted 2017/18 finish: 4th. A solid overall squad with a strong core of players. 

Brisbane Roar

2016/17 finish: 3rd

Predicted 2017/18 top scorer: Maccarone (8)

Predicted 2017/18 top assister: Bautheac (8)

Key player: Bautheac

Predicted line-up:

4-3-3

Theo (GK)

Hingert (RB) Devere (CB) North (CB) Brown (LB)

McKay (CM) Kristensen (CDM) Holman (CM)

Bautheac (RW) Maccarone (ST) Khalfallah (LW)

Predicted 2017/18 finish: 8th. A defence and midfield that is experienced and strong. However, they have lost a lot of attacking quality from last season, and goals will be hard to come by.

Central Coast Mariners

2016/17 finish: 9th

Predicted 2017/18 top scorer: Asdrubal (13)

Predicted 2017/18 top assister: Hoole (9)

Key player: Baro

Predicted line-up:

4-2-3-1
Kennedy (GK)
Roux (RB) Baro (CB) Golec (CB) J.Rose (LB)
Hiariej (CDM) Brama (CDM)
Appiah (RW) Hoole (CAM) Pain (LW)
Asdrubal (ST)

Predicted 2017/18 finish: 9th. This team is an extremely exciting prospect. However, it is practically and entirely new squad, so a lack of cohesion may hurt them.

Melbourne City

2016/17 finish: 4th

Predicted 2017/18 top scorer: McCormack (12)

Predicted 2017/18 top assister: Kamau (8)

Key player: Kilkenny

Predicted line-up:

5-3-2
Galekovic (GK)
Schenkeveld (RWB) Jakobsen (CB) La Rocca (CB) Malik (CB) Jamieson (LWB) 
 Mauk (CM) Kilkenny (CM) Budzinski (CM) 
McCormack (ST) Kamau (ST)

Predicted 2017/18 finish: 2nd. One of the best City/Heart squads in the club's history. Expect them to push for the title.

Melbourne Victory

2016/17 finish: 2nd

Predicted 2017/18 top scorer: Berisha (22)

Predicted 2017/18 top assister: Barbarouses (11)

Key player: Milligan

Predicted line-up:

4-2-3-1
Thomas (GK)
Geria (RB) Milligan (CB) R.Williams (CB) Broxham (LB)
Valeri (CDM) Sanchez (CDM)
Barbarouses (RW) Troisi (CAM) Austin (LW)
Berisha (ST)

Predicted 2017/18 finish: 3rd. A similar squad to last season, in addition to some excellent new signings. They'll go head-to-head with Sydney and Melbourne City, but fall short of both those teams.

Newcastle Jets

2016/17 finish: 10th

Predicted 2017/18 top scorer: O'Donovan (14)

Predicted 2017/18 top assister: Brown (8)

Key player: Petratos

Predicted line-up:

4-3-3
Moss (GK)
Georgievski (LB) Boogaard (CB) Topor-Stanley (CB) Hoffman (RB)
Brown (CM) Ugarkovic (CDM) D.Petratos (CM)
Nabbout (LW) O'Donovan (ST) Vargas (RW)

Predicted 2017/18 finish: 10th. The squad is not bad. However, with the strength of the other teams, the Jets may struggle again this season.

Perth Glory

2016/17 finish: 5th

Predicted 2017/18 top scorer: Taggart (16)

Predicted 2017/18 top assister: Nichols (11)

Key player: A.Grant

Predicted line-up:

4-2-2-2
Reddy (GK)
Neville (RB) A.Grant (CB) S.Lowry (CB) Mills (LB)
Andreu (CDM) Torres (CDM)
Nichols (RAM) Castro (LAM)
Taggart (ST) Keogh (ST)

Predicted 2017/18 finish: 7th. A great attack and solid defense. However, inconsistency could be their downfall.

Sydney FC

2016/17 finish: 1st

Predicted 2017/18 top scorer: Bobo (21)

Predicted 2017/18 top assister: Mierzejewski (14)

Key player: Wilkinson

Predicted line-up:

4-2-3-1
Redmayne (GK)
Wilkshere (RB) Wilkinson (CB) Buijs (CB) Zullo (LB)
O'Neill (CDM) Brillante (CDM)
Mierzejewski (RAM) Brosque (CAM) Ninkovic (LAM)
Bobo (ST)

Predicted 2017/18 finish: 1st. It's hard to believe, but the best team in A-League history has gotten better this season. Will win the Premiers Plate, then go on to win the grand final...again.

Wellington Phoenix

2016/17 finish: 7th

Predicted 2017/18 top scorer: Krishna (15)

Predicted 2017/18 top assister: Finkler (9)

Key player: Rossi

Predicted line-up:

4-1-2-1-2

Italiano (GK)
Galloway (RB) Rossi (CB) Durante (CB) Abbas (LB)
Paracki (CDM)
McGlinchey (RCM) Vidosic (LCM)
Finkler (CAM)
Kaluderovic (ST) Krishna (ST)

Predicted 2017/18 finish: 6th. Their attack is one of the best. Their defence is shaping up okay for the season ahead. They'll probably still leak goals, but score many more, and that could see them sneak into the finals. 

Western Sydney Wanderers

2016/17 finish: 6th

Predicted 2017/18 top scorer: Riera (14)

Predicted 2017/18 top assister: Cejudo (8)

Key player: Bonevacia

Predicted line-up:

4-2-3-1
Janjetovic (GK)
Risdon (RB) Thwaite (CB) Cornthwaite (CB) Llorente (LB)
Herd (CDM) Baccus (CDM)
Cejudo (RW) Bonevacia (CAM) Kusukami (LW)
Riera (ST)

Predicted 2017/18 finish: 5th. The Wanderers have many solid attackers, and a strong defense. This should see them make the finals. 

Do your thoughts differ to ours? Comment below and share them.

Also, feel free to play Fantasy A-League with us. Details on how to enter are at the bottom of our Fantasy A-League season preview: http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2017/10/fantasy-league-201718-season-preview.html

Enjoy the upcoming A-League season.

By Worldwide Fantasy Club | Seb Candido