We continue our season previews for the 2015-16 A-League season with a side that promised so much last season, but failed to go the distance. Here’s our look at how Adelaide United will fare this season.
Last Season
Winners of the inaugural FFA Cup, Adelaide United looked to be heading towards the back end of the season in style before injuries and the Asian Cup stymied their season.
Unbeaten after seven matches and topping the table, the Reds were playing a style so pleasing to the eye with Manager Josep Gombau’s Tiki-Taka possession based philosophy looking to finally reap some rewards.
All their Christmases came early with a 1-0 victory over Perth Glory in the FFA Cup final capping off their calendar year in style, Cirio the goal scorer in front of a Coopers Stadium home crowd.
There appeared to be an FFA Cup hangover (literally) as Adelaide United returned to A-League action just three days later for a loss to eventual wooden spooners Newcastle Jets. The loss probably could have been put down to fatigue but United then had some internal issues with veteran defender Cassio leaving the club, followed by Fabio Ferreira after the club could not guarantee he would be there next year. There was confusion in regards to the amount of VISA spots the FFA were going to grant for the 2015-16 season which led to this departure.
Following a three week break for the Asian Cup, Adelaide United put seven goals past a Newcastle Jets side engulfed in crisis, but from that point on inconsistency set in and they found it hard to string wins together (just once did they win two in a row for the second half of the season leading into the finals).
A first up win over Brisbane Roar in an Elimination Final was followed up by a 4-1 shellacking by Sydney FC in week two which brought about an abrupt end to their season. The club and manager Josep Gombau parted ways at the end of the season with Guillermo Amor to switch across to the vacant manager role after serving as the clubs technical director.
Also departing the club at season’s end were Nigel Boogaard (Newcastle Jets), Miguel Palanca (released), Cam Watson (Jets), Paul Izzo (Central Coast Mariners), Awer Mabil (FC Midtjylland) and Michael Zullo (FC Utrecht – loan ended).
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New Additions
Adelaide United have moved to fill the gaps left with the end of season departures with a number of key signings for the 2015-16 season.
In comes Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Iacopo La Rocca, who will add a bit of steel (and hopefully not too many cards) to the Adelaide midfield, something they need to compliment their Spanish contingent.
Eli Babalj comes in on loan from AZ Alkmaar after an unsuccessful spell in Europe, he has had previous experience of the A-League during his time at Melbourne Heart and has a point to prove. At 23 years of age, the striker could be one of the pickups of the season with plenty to offer.
Mate Dugandzic has moved from Melbourne City looking for a chance to impress and he should get that here. He’ll add much needed depth to Adelaide’s midfield and with the Asian Champions League to get underway later in the season he could be a key component.
Adelaide have also brought through a couple of youth players in Bruce Kamau and Nathan Konstandopoulos, while George Mells has been picked up after he left our shores as a 12 year old to try his hand in England. At 18 years of age he returns and it will be interesting to see if the attacking midfielder gets much game time this season.
Key Players
The Spanish trio – Isaias, Pablo Sanchez and Sergio Cirio bring the possession based game to Adelaide United and it’s easy on the eye. Adelaide need all three to continue where they left off last season if they are to again challenge the Victory and Sydney FC come the back end of the season.
Eugene Galekovic – Galekovic has been a rock in goals for Adelaide and will need to continue to be if Adelaide are going to go further this season. With Nigel Boogaard leaving the Reds have lost experience at the back and Galekovic will need to take control of his younger back four.
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Marcelo Carrusca – The Argentinian suffered his fair share of injuries last season, missing six A-League matches as a result. His forward movement and combination with Cirio are keys to the Reds season and they’ll need him fit and firing for the whole campaign.
How They’ll Fare
Depth was an issue for Adelaide last season with injuries and an extra competition (FFA Cup) bringing them unstuck. With the addition of the Asian Champions League later in the season, the Reds could find themselves in a similar position and will need to hope for an injury free run if they are to challenge again.
If Eli Babalj can get back to the form that made European clubs sit up and take notice, then Adelaide should have no troubles in the goal scoring department. It’s at the other end they are weaker and they’ll need Galekovic at the top of his game this season once again.
New manager Guillermo Amor won’t stray too far from the platform left by Gombau, and if injuries are kind to them, they should find themselves in a battle for a place in the top 2 this season.
#BANTER
Will Eli Babalj take this opportunity with both hands and show us what he is made of?
Will new manager Guillermo Amor endear himself to the Adelaide public like his predecessor?
Where do you think Adelaide United will finish this season?
Full Squad (as at 7th October 2015)
Goalkeepers
1. Eugene Galekovic
20. John Hall
Defenders
2. Michael Marrone
3. Iacopo La Rocca
4. Dylan McGowan
5. Osama Malik
12. Mark Ochieng
15. Ben Warland
21. Tarek Elrich
23. Jordan Elsey
Midfielders
8. Isaías
10. Marcelo Carrusca
13. Dylan Smith
14. George Mells
18. James Jeggo
32. Nathan Konstandopoulos
Forwards
7. Pablo Sánchez
9. Sergio Cirio
11. Bruce Djite
16. Craig Goodwin
17. Mate Dugandzic
19. Eli Babalj
24. Bruce Kamau