Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar: A-League season opener – live!

Lucky 13? The latest season of the A-League begins tonight with Australian football on the brink of crisis. The enigmatic Socceroos are in very real danger of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, while the brawl between Football Federation Australia and other stakeholders (A-League clubs among them) shows no sign of detente. Amid the gloom, will the domestic league emerge as a ray of hope?
Player recruitment has been sensible, if not splashy, and administrators have revamped the competition’s marketing. The likes of Xavi Torres (Perth Glory) or Tom Hiariej (Central Coast Mariners) might not improve gate receipts, but they do bring European quality to the pitch. With little to separate the top six or seven sides, fans could be in for a riveting season. As the off-field drama inevitably continues, perhaps some actual football could do everyone a world of good.
Tonight’s visitors Brisbane Roar face big question marks following a tumultuous off-season of arrivals and departures. Marquee signing Massimo Maccarone had a storied career in Italy (just don’t ask him about his age), while Éric Bauthéac brings some French attacking flair to Ballymore. But club icon Thomas Broich’s retirement and the loss of attacking trio Tommy Oar, Jamie Maclaren and Brandon Borrello leaves an unfamiliar front-line for coach John Aloisi.
The Roar’s opponents at AAMI Park are Melbourne City, who finished fourth last season. Despite the petro-dollars of their owners, the club continued a subtle approach to player acquisition, preferring Poland’s Marcin Budziński and a host of A-League regulars over any star signings. City also installed former Manchester United reserves boss Warren Joyce in the dug-out, and the Englishman will be hoping for a better start to the season than at his last job with Wigan, where he managed just six wins in 24 games. Recently-arrived loan signing Ross McCormack is expected to be in the starting XI tonight, given Tim Cahill’s absence through international duty and a long-term injury to fan favourite Bruno Fornaroli.
Will Maccarone be the next Marc Janko or Mario Jardel? Is City’s Dylan Pierias going to live up to his place on our latest Next Generation list? Who is your tip for the 2017/18 toilet seat? And - the elephant in the room during the opening weekend of the A-League - will the Socceroos beat Syria on Tuesday?

Do get in touch throughout the match with your thoughts and queries, via email, Twitter or carrier pigeon.


SOURCE : GUARDIAN SPORTS
posted by CAMPUS94