I'm calling it now.

[Septic Bladder]

McKay gone, Broich with a short history of injuries now. Nichols injured. Paartalu possibly gone. We're losing a lot of skill and experience in the midfield. I'd be pondering a seasoned replacement to ease the transition of the young talent.

Based on the above and:

1. Novice coach
2. Novice assistant
3. Back room changes
4. Aging defense
5. Insecure no.1 Keeper
6. Too many young & inexperienced players coming through at the same time
7. Doubtful or unknown level of commitment from a foreign owner with other clubs to manage
8. 2 successive titles
9. Improvements at other clubs
10. Poor Results against local lower division teams

I am now predicting no threepeat, a mid table finish, with an early knock out in the finals.

[Zac]

4. Aging defense
7. Doubtful or unknown level of commitment from a foreign owner with other clubs to manage
10. Poor Results against local lower division teams

4. Jurman is 22, Franjic is 24, Corey Brown is being brought through for Stef which leaves Smith at 29. 

7. How is the Bakries commitment doubtful? They've nominated a budget for the club for a number of years with a view of the club becomming self sustaining. I don't see the problem?

10. Opposed to Perth losing to a minor South African team and Victory losing to VPL teams?

[Roarofthesouth]

...
I am now predicting no threepeat, a mid table finish, with an early knock out in the finals.

And a rip roaring triumph in Asia, to be followed by a more modest early exit from the Club World Cup.

Agree we run the risk of tanking big time this season ... not a guarantee but will not be surprised.

Long as we finish ahead of the Tards I don't really care TBH.

[TenaciousAC]

I'm not sure if I'm feeling that "Mayan Apocalypse" yet Septic, but I do agree that I see a great opportunity for all the other HAL sides to knock the Roar and Mariners down a few pegs. The Mariners just aren't filling me with "we're in the Top 1-2 sides and we're staying there".

The question though is, if we both fall, which teams will rise ? I see a league with no real singular weak side and no real singular dominant side. Victory is talking big game, but whether the MV players will rise to Ange's system and whether the league will rise over Ange's system anyway makes for an interesting season ahead.

[Zac]

The question though is, if we both fall, which teams will rise ? I see a league with no real singular weak side and no real singular dominant side. Victory is talking big game, but whether the MV players will rise to Ange's system and whether the league will rise over Ange's system anyway makes for an interesting season ahead.

Thats the biggest thing, which team will step up. The Mariners never recovered from losing Griffiths and Simon and now Wilkinson and Amini with the possibility of Ryan also going. I don't expect much from them.
Victory are the big talkers. If they can step up they have the best team on paper and should be title contenders. It's all up to how they perform.

[Murk]

I'm not sure if I'm feeling that "Mayan Apocalypse" yet Septic, but I do agree that I see a great opportunity for all the other HAL sides to knock the Roar and Mariners down a few pegs. The Mariners just aren't filling me with "we're in the Top 1-2 sides and we're staying there".

The question though is, if we both fall, which teams will rise ? I see a league with no real singular weak side and no real singular dominant side. Victory is talking big game, but whether the MV players will rise to Ange's system and whether the league will rise over Ange's system anyway makes for an interesting season ahead.

There's almost a rota system for silverware in the league. Clearly it's Perth's turn this coming season.

[roarsome]

McKay gone, Broich with a short history of injuries now. Nichols injured. Paartalu possibly gone. We're losing a lot of skill and experience in the midfield. I'd be pondering a seasoned replacement to ease the transition of the young talent.

Based on the above and:

1. Novice coach
2. Novice assistant
3. Back room changes
4. Aging defense
5. Insecure no.1 Keeper
6. Too many young & inexperienced players coming through at the same time
7. Doubtful or unknown level of commitment from a foreign owner with other clubs to manage
8. 2 successive titles
9. Improvements at other clubs
10. Poor Results against local lower division teams

I am now predicting no threepeat, a mid table finish, with an early knock out in the finals.

Lol, didn't you say this last season too? also feel free to correct me, but what are these poor results against lower division sides that you are talking about?

[Septic Bladder]

4-1 against a Ipswich selection & 2-0 against Redcliffe - total domination!

[Zac]

4-1 against a Ipswich selection & 2-0 against Redcliffe - total domination!

Hardly full fledged teams on either side. And remember these games arent usually about results. You notice that a lot of the time the players don't go for the goal scoring opportunities but bring the ball back to practice possession and structure.

[Septic Bladder]

4. Aging defense
7. Doubtful or unknown level of commitment from a foreign owner with other clubs to manage
10. Poor Results against local lower division teams

4. Jurman is 22, Franjic is 24, Corey Brown is being brought through for Stef which leaves Smith at 29. 

7. How is the Bakries commitment doubtful? They've nominated a budget for the club for a number of years with a view of the club becomming self sustaining. I don't see the problem?

10. Opposed to Perth losing to a minor South African team and Victory losing to VPL teams?

4. Aging defense
7. Doubtful or unknown level of commitment from a foreign owner with other clubs to manage
10. Poor Results against local lower division teams

4. Jurman is 22, Franjic is 24, Corey Brown is being brought through for Stef which leaves Smith at 29. 

7. How is the Bakries commitment doubtful? They've nominated a budget for the club for a number of years with a view of the club becomming self sustaining. I don't see the problem?

10. Opposed to Perth losing to a minor South African team and Victory losing to VPL teams?

4. Refer to point 6 and how old is Steff?
7. Transferring Danning for no fee and where is the marquee player?
10. VPL>>BPL

[Septic Bladder]

I note that most of my points have been  accepted without challenge - so we are all generally in agreement on a poor season to come.

[jimmy]

What's that English saying, 'Keep Calm And Carry On' isn't it, i really don't see this season being so different from the previous two, we replace what we lose and add more young players to the roster, let's not begin the doom and gloom until halfway through the season and we are in the bottom half, give optimism a chance sep.

[Septic Bladder]

What's that English saying, 'Keep Calm And Carry On' isn't it, i really don't see this season being so different from the previous two, we replace what we lose and add more young players to the roster, let's not begin the doom and gloom until halfway through the season and we are in the bottom half, give optimism a chance sep.

What's that English saying, 'Keep Calm And Carry On' isn't it, i really don't see this season being so different from the previous two, we replace what we lose and add more young players to the roster, let's not begin the doom and gloom until halfway through the season and we are in the bottom half, give optimism a chance sep.

Let's not begin the doom and gloom until halfway through the season and we are in the bottom half, give optimism a chance sep.

Why waste half a season?

[jimmy]

Who knows if it's a waste yet, let's just wait and see. None of those problems you listed are really a sign of imminent failure.

[Raychen]

I note that most of my points have been  accepted without challenge - so we are all generally in agreement on a poor season to come.

aww, no bites sepy?

[Zac]

You can't challenge that we have new staff, doesn't mean we will have a bad season.

Your point about too many inexperienced defenders, we have one in Brown who is coming through, the others have played numerous a-league seasons.

I don't know how you've stayed a commited troll all these years, surely creating the same thread every season must get tedious?

[noodles]

I note that most of my points have been  accepted without challenge - so we are all generally in agreement on a poor season to come.

My favourite saying is "Never argue with an idiot, he'll only drag you down to his level and then beat you with his experience (at being a idiot)"

[Septic Bladder]

I note that most of my points have been  accepted without challenge - so we are all generally in agreement on a poor season to come.

aww, no bites sepy?

I note that most of my points have been  accepted without challenge - so we are all generally in agreement on a poor season to come.

aww, no bites sepy?

Too soon

[Benny]

I note that most of my points have been  accepted without challenge - so we are all generally in agreement on a poor season to come.

aww, no bites sepy?

I note that most of my points have been  accepted without challenge - so we are all generally in agreement on a poor season to come.

aww, no bites sepy?

Too soon

Gees I woke from my afternoon nap and thought it was 2005.  What is your prediction for the Strikers this G F . Choke again or not?

[Boozey]

ah Sep that's better your stepping up your trolling with a much better effort with this thread.