The 2016-17 A-League campaign finished only last month but anticipation for next season is already building. Over the years, the Australian top flight has become very competitive and fans will expect next season to remain competitive. Since 2005, no fewer than six different teams have become the champions of Australia. Could there be a new name on the trophy in 2017-18?
Sydney FC won the A-League last season. It was the Sky Blues’ third championship success, levelling them with the Melbourne Victory and the Brisbane Roar. Graham Arnold’s side were the best team in the league and won the championship title quite easily. Sydney FC picked up as many 66 points from 27 matches in the ‘regular’ league season and were 17 points clear of the Melbourne Victory, who ended up second in the standings.
In the Finals series, Sydney FC got the better of Perth Glory 3-0 with ease in the semi-finals, before winning 4-2 on penalties against the Melbourne Victory in the final after it finished 1-1 after extra time. In the 29 total matches Sydney FC featured in in the A-League last season, they lost just once and had a winning percentage of 74.1. It was as dominating as it could get.
Can Sydney FC repeat their heroics of the 2016-17 campaign and clinch the A-League title for the second season in a row? Of course they can. After all, Brisbane Roar claimed the title in two successive years in 2011 and 2012. Sydney FC had the best and strongest team in Australia last season, and that is likely to remain the case in 2017-18. With Aussie bookmakers offering bonus bets and other incentives too.
Three Key Players
Much will depend on Milos Ninkovic and how well he can play. The 32-year-old midfielder was the best player in the A-League last season; his performances were key to driving Sydney FC to the A-League title. The Serbian midfielder was remarkably consistent and performed week in and week out. Ninkovic scored nine goals, provided 11 assists and created 47 chances in the league for Sydney FC. The Johnny Warren Medal winner worked hard as well, helping his teammates out in defence and dropping deep in midfield when needed to.
While Sydney FC played as a team in which all players had important roles, the displays of Bobo and Brandon O’Neill cannot be undermined. While 32-year-old striker Bobo was the top scorer in the league for the Sky Blues with 15 goals, 23-year-old midfielder O’Neill stepped up his game last season and started as many as 24 matches. O’Neill will be expected to take his game to another level in 2017-18 campaign; the Australia Under-23 international is the engine in the Sydney FC midfield, and given his set-piece skills, he will be a key figure in the team’s title challenge next season.
Sydney FC have the strongest team in the A-League, and it is hard to point out a weakness in the team. Maybe their main striker should score more goals but, even then, they were the top scoring side in the regular season in 2016-17. There is hardly any need for Sydney FC to make any new signings. Filip Holosko needs to be replaced though. The 33-year-old, who can operate as a forward or as an attacking midfielder, has left for Slovan Bratislava.
Main Competitors
Sydney FC, though, are not going to find it easy next season; the bookmakers indicate that Graham Arnold’s side are unlikely to walk over their rivals like they did in 2016-17, so a free bet or other bonus might be the way forward for punters wagering on the team in the A-League outrights. The Sky Blues’ main competitors for the title next season are going to be Melbourne Victory. Victory have won the title three times and have finished runners-up on two occasions. The Big V are one of the biggest clubs in Australia, and one can rest assured that they will do everything possible to have a stronger team next season.
The fact that the Melbourne Victory have the top scorer in the league in their team must be encouraging. Besart Berisha scored 19 A-League goals last season, and the 31-year-old striker will be a key threat for them in 2017-18. Moreover, Kevin Muscat’s side made it hard for Sydney FC in the Grand Final; Graham Arnold’s side could only win the match on penalties. That game showed that the Melbourne Victory have the potential to challenge Sydney FC, at least in knockout games.
Brisbane Roar will also be tough competitors for Sydney FC next season. The Roar finished third in the regular 2016-17 A-League campaign with 42 points from 27 games and reached the semi-finals of the Finals Series. John Aloisi’s side lost by the narrowest margin possible in the semi-finals - 1-0 to the Melbourne Victory - which shows that in a one-off game they can match their main rivals. The loss of Jamie Maclaren though needs to be addressed. The 23-year-old striker was the joint top-scorer in the A-League last season with 19 goals, but he has since left for Darmstadt 98 in the second division in Germany.
No Room for Complacency
Although Sydney FC should be optimistic about yet another successful season, they must not rest on their laurels. The Sky Blues need to be smart in the transfer window and must not allow complacency to creep into the dressing room. It could be easy for the players to get overconfident but they must be consistent throughout the campaign and be extra careful in knockout games. After all, the rest of the nine teams in the A-League will be determined to beat them at every possible opportunity.
