Australian Super League new season strength positioning: expansion to 13 new army ambitious[SUCHUNFEI]

The 2024-25 season of the Australian Super League will start in the evening on October 18, Beijing time, with the opening game for last season's Australian Super League grand final opponents Central Coast Mariners at home against Melbourne Victory, in addition to the exciting Sydney Derby in the first round of the league. In addition, as the 20th season of the professional Australian Super League, coincided with the accession of the new army Auckland FC, the Australian Super League as a regular player, has been concerned by the majority of lottery players. This season, the Australian Super League continues to adopt the regular season + playoffs system, the competition for the championship group is extremely tight, and there are many teams expected to become dark horses.

Tournament interpretation: There is no promotion and relegation regular season + playoff mode

This season, there are 13 teams participating in the Australian Super League, the format continues to use the regular season + playoffs model, no promotion and relegation. A total of 29 rounds of the regular season, in addition to each team and the remaining 11 teams to play home and away, but also need to compete with 5 teams.

The top 6 teams in the regular season will advance to the playoffs, the teams in the 3rd to 6th place will play two single knockout games in the first leg, the two winning teams will advance to the semi-finals against the top two teams in the regular season, the winners of the two legs will advance to the grand final, and the 2025 playoffs will kick off on the weekend of May 9-11. The final finals will be held on the weekend of May 31 to June 1.

The first round of the playoffs is the qualifying round, 3V 6, 4V 5, a single elimination format, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals. The semifinals are two-legged and the final is a single-game decision. Last season, the Central Coast Mariners scored two goals in extra time after a 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory in the Grand Final to win 3-1.

Central coast seaman

Major acquisitions: Sainsbury (centre-back, Star League Walker), Fejiang (winger, Brazilian Procathias), Pavllesic (goalkeeper, Australian Super League Sydney FC), McCamont (midfielder, League Two Carlisle United), Maulajis (full-back, Australian Super League Newcastle Jets)

Major transfers: Nisbett (midfielder, Superliga Ross County), Farrell (centre-back, Championship side Portsmouth), Barrar (midfielder, Dutch Breda), Hall (centre-back, Australian Superliga Auckland FC), Vukovic (goalkeeper, retired), Barcelona (winger, free agent), Rees (forward, Melbourne Victory)

The Central Coast Mariners won the championship in the 2022-23 season after a stunning grand final victory over Melbourne City. In the first season of 2023-24 England coach Mark Jackson took office, under the background of many core players leaving the team, Jackson led the team to win the regular season of the Australian Super League, the Australian Super League finals and the Asian Association Cup. This has a lot to do with the training of the Central Coast Mariners youth training in recent years and Jackson's advanced tactical concept, so that Central Coast Mariners among the elite league of the Asian Champions League. However, it is worth mentioning that the Central Coast Mariners have many players to leave the team in the off-season, and the Asian Champions League elite League this season for the Swiss round system, for the Central Coast Mariners who have experienced double matches for a long time, it is a huge challenge for physical fitness and lineup impact.

Melbourne Victory

Major imports: Duncan (goalkeeper, AFL Wellington Phoenix), Pescopo (winger, AFL Newcastle Jets), Hamill (centre-back, IPL Mohenbagan), Vergos (forward, Greek Panatrimitos), Rees (forward, AFL Central Coast Seafarers)

Main transfer out: Chapman (midfielder, Kimpo FC, K2 League), Ikonomidis (striker, MacArthur FC, AFL), Brimer (midfielder, Auckland FC), Da Silva (centre-back, Clermont, French League Two), Izzo (goalkeeper, Danish Super League, Lanas), Folamy (winger, Adelaide United, AFL), Khalifi (winger, free agent), Broxham (midfielder, midfielder) Retired)

Melbourne Victory won the third place in the regular stage of the Australian Super League last season, and finally stood out in the playoffs to reach the finals, but in the finals, Melbourne Victory suffered a last-minute win in the regular time, and lost two goals after extra time. With Popovic as the head coach of the Australian national team, some of the players who had been used left the team in the off-season, but with the return of Hamill, the defensive system was retained. For the new handsome Keith Norbo, the tactical style is completely different from Popovich, lost 68 goals in a year of coaching in Troy, and now to the Australian Super League, seeking the record of coaching Melbourne City that year needs to be adjusted and changed through trial and error.

City of Melbourne

Major acquisitions: Kohan (forward, Maccabi Tel Aviv), Kuhn (midfielder, Atromitos, Greek Super League), Atkinson (full-back, Hearts of the SU Super League), Ferea (centre-back, Yenisei of the Russian Federation), Trewin (centre-back, Lion Roar, Brisbane Super League)

Main transfer out: Maclaren (forward, Indian Super League Mohenbagan), Goode (centre back, Thai Super League Burinam United), Arslan (midfielder, J-League Hiroshima Three Arrows), Reis (centre back, Indian Super League Mohenbagan), Antonis (midfielder, Thai Super League Utethani Forest), Galloway (full-back, Australian Super League Auckland FC), Yakolis (winger, Australian Super League MacArthur FC), Natta Jorge (winger, Sepuja Paphos), Jorge Fernandez (full-back, Higgins)

Melbourne City barely made the playoffs last season, but were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs. In the middle of last season, the coach Vidmar in the Thai super harvest good effect, but to the more competitive Australian Super exposed the lack of field command. The new season City Army still let Vidmar continue to coach, but the new season Melbourne City main force framework has changed greatly. Including the absolute main force in the past McLaren, Goode, Reis, Arslan and so on have left the team, the off-season to introduce Israel international Kohen, returned overseas Atkinson and many other strength players. At present, Melbourne City's defensive hidden dangers are larger, the average height of the defensive line is insufficient, and under the tactical method of insisting on opening and closing, Melbourne City relies more on the offensive end.

Sydney FC

Main imports: Costa (winger, Fluminense of La Liga), Senna (midfielder, Holy Water of Barcelona Dindiadima), Kramara (forward, Polish Super Slasko), Vashim (midfielder, Sheriff of Morgia Tiraspol), Popovic (centre-back, Gwangju FC)

Major transfers: Bratan (midfielder, ASL MacArthur FC), Mark (winger, Slo Chiao Bratislava), Gomez (forward, Bolivar Bolivar), Ryke (midfielder, SAN Luis City of MLS), Lacerda (full-back, Brazil Ethiara), Rodwell (centre-back, free agent)

Sydney FC coach Rafael Correa has been sacked after the club suffered their worst ever start to last season's Australian Super League. Talai, who played for Sydney FC during his playing days, took over as coach and led the team to its best record in nearly three years despite losing all four sides last season. After all, Taraj's past coaching experience with Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC shows that he is very good at finding young players, and his tactics focus on attack. The off-season introduction of Kramara, Vashim, Senna and other people are quite young with impact. In addition, the veteran Costa to join the Sydney offensive side of the rich tactics to help. However, Sydney FC and Melbourne City are similar, defensive instability has become a potential variable for the title.

Western Sydney Wanderers

Major acquisitions: Krajev (midfielder, Australian Super League Wellington Phoenix), Mata (midfielder, J-League Kobe Victory Boat), Jeong Tae-wook (centre-back, K-League Chonbuk Hyundai), Garucho (full-back, Australian Super League Perth Glory)

Major transfers: Hendricks (midfielder, Prussia de Minster), Russell (full-back, AFL West), Brook (forward, Real Salt Lake of AFL), Pirias (winger, Adelaide United of AFL), Marcelo (centre-back, free agent), Ninkovic (midfielder, retired)

Western Sydney Wanderers and city rivals Sydney FC is the opposite, last season Western Sydney started extremely strong, but in the final sprint stage of the regular stage suddenly no form, resulting in even playoff qualification failed to get, which is very much related to coach Rudan lost control of the dressing room. Therefore, the club's top management believes that the strength of the lineup is not bad, for the coach to make targeted adjustments, thus hiring Australian handsome Stajicic, with the new season Western Sydney main body framework retention + new aid supplement, Western Sydney is expected to impact higher rankings in the new season, in the playoffs have a greater role.

Second bracket: Wellington Phoenix, Auckland FC, Western United, Adelaide United

Wellington Phoenix

Major imports: Leitri (midfielder, Indian Super FC Goa), Rojas (winger, Australian Super League Brisbane Lion Roar), Oluwayemi (goalkeeper, Finnish Super League Lahti), Hideki Ishimawa (midfielder, J-League Osaka Steel Bar), Kazuki Nagasawa (midfielder, J2 League Sendai Tanabata)

Major transfers: Paulsen (goalkeeper, Auckland FC), Zavada (striker, Joerg Walwik), Krajev (midfielder, Australian Super League Western Sydney Wanderers), Orde (winger, French Super League St Etienne), Pennington (winger, Australian Super League Perth Glory), Sulman (central defender, MLS Portland Lodgers)

Wellington Phoenix got the second highest ranking in the regular season of the Australian Super League last season, rewriting the best record in the history of the team, which is greatly related to the tacit contribution of young players and veterans, and of course, there is more fit with the coach Italy who emphasizes the technical wind. Wellington Phoenix's success last season mirrors the success of the Central Coast Mariners' youth system. However, the offseason main striker Zawada returned to Europe, another front veteran Barbaros has increased by 1 year, veteran Bauer, fallen leaves Rojas play terminator difficulty can be imagined, the new season Wellington Phoenix ceiling depends on the offensive end.

Auckland FC

Main introduction: Paulsen (goalkeeper, Premier League Bournemouth), Pinaker (centre back, Super Sligo Rovers), Hall (centre back, Super Coast Searers), De Vries (centre back, New Western United Auckland Eastern Suburbs), Sakai Hirsuki (full-back, J-League Urawa Reds), Galloway (full-back, Super League Melbourne City), Elliott (full-back, Super League Wellington Phoenix) ), Westrat (midfielder, Beveren B), Brimmer (midfielder, Melbourne Victory, Australian Super League), Gallegos (midfielder, Greek Super League Adana Sports), Champnes (winger, League One Adana Sports), Mata (forward, League One Shesbury), Rogerson (winger, AFL Noa FC), Guillermo (forward, Newell Old Boys, Agna)

Hiroki Sakai has joined Australian Super League upstart Auckland FC

Auckland FC, which became the 13th team to compete in the Australian Premier League this season, is backed by Black Knight Sports & Entertainment, an American professional sports club operating company, which also owns the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL and Bournemouth of the English Premier League. The first coach of Auckland FC is the Australian famous handsome Corica, which shows that the club treats the new season of the Australian Super League is strong, and this new team fully has the potential to play the role of the dark horse in the new season of the Australian Super League.

Western Union

Major acquisitions: Suyoshi (striker, Australian Super League Adelaide United), Russell (full-back, Australian Super League Western Sydney Wanderers)

Major transfers: Wells (winger, K2 League Kyungnam FC), Risden (full-back, Australian Super League Perth Glory), Pernia (midfielder, Portuguese League Madeira National), Trat (centre-back, Australian Super League Oclere Cannon), Lustica (midfielder, free agent), Lukakecchia (forward, free agent)

Last season, the financial situation of the Western League was strained due to the club's reconstruction of the stadium, and the players in the team suffered greatly due to the problem of unpaid wages. Fortunately, with the club finding new sponsors and moving into a new stadium, playing a wave of rebound in the final stage of the regular stage, the offseason coach Aloisi retained his position, the new signings only referred to Suyang history and Russell, some players with limited contributions to the high salary were cleaned and left the team, and a large number of youth team players were promoted. The focus of the new season of the Western League is on the development of young players and the improvement of the club's financial situation.

Adelaide United

Major acquisitions: Junior Goodwin (winger, Newcastle Jets), Vorami (winger, Melbourne Victory), Pirias (winger, Sydney Wanderers), Frienz (centre-back, Sparta Rotterdam), Elsie (centre-back, Perth Glory)

Major transfers: Ilan Kunda (winger, Bayern Munich, Bundesliga), Shisuyoshi (centre, AFL West), Halloran (winger, AFL Brisbane Roar), Wallander (Centre back, AFL Brisbane Roar), Van der Sager (centre back, AFL Brisbane Roar), Ansel (centre back, Thai Super Nakhon Chasima)

Adelaide United lost the number one star Goodwin last season, the record can be described as a slump, coach Wilter coach Adelaide for the fourth season for the first time out of the playoffs. In the off-season Wilte crazy supplement winger, new aid Folamy, Pirias breakthrough ability is excellent but mediocre shooting ability, little Goodwin experience is still shallow, so the performance of the new season Adelaide United there is a great X factor, can not rule out the possibility of continuing to miss the playoffs.

Third tier: MacArthur FC, Perth Glory, Brisbane Lion Roar, Newcastle Jets

MacArthur FC

Major acquisitions: Iacolish (winger, Melbourne City), Economidis (forward, Melbourne Victory), Bratan (midfielder, Sydney FC), Liam. Ross (midfielder, El Paso Locomotives), Asranajic (centre-back, Saudi United Riyadh Sports)

Major transfers: Miral (full-back, Taggi United Dushanbe Independent), Smith (centre-back, Australian Super League Auckland FC), Ratcharan. Ross (winger, AFL Newcastle Jets), Rodriguez (winger, Championship side Coventry), Bakus (midfielder, free agent), Ogula (winger, IRA United Oil Sports), Mbowa (midfielder, free agent), Davila (midfielder, free agent), McGinn (centre-back, retired)

McArthur FC also faced a multi-line battle with the Central Coast Mariners last season, and eventually the subsequent weak McArthur multi-line record collapsed. In the off-season, McArthur streamlined the personnel, and most of the players who left the team were rotation roles, coupled with the factor of winning the Australian FA Cup before the new season, so that McArthur's run-in degree in the early season was much better than other Australian Super teams. Coupled with a return to single-line play this season, McArthur FC has more room to maneuver for a playoff berth.

Perth Glory

Main introduction: Kumulka (midfielder, Brisbane Lion Roar), Milusniki (midfielder, Brisbane Lion Roar), Pennington (winger, Wellington Phoenix), Risden (full-back, West League), Hamsawi (full-back, free agent), Caisedo (forward, Goran B Orso Marso), Kangeya (centre back, Ecuadorian Okas)

Major transfers: Benny (winger, Queens Park Rangers, Championship), Susnia