Season Preview – Perth Glory
Following yet another season defined by below-par on-field performances (with an added player mutiny thrown in for fun), Perth Glory will start the season amongst the favourites for the Wooden Spoon.
With a coach who wasn’t exactly the supporter’s choice for the job and crowds dwindling, from the outside looking in it appears doom and gloom. However, some quality new signings in the transfer window has gone some way to patching up the problems which caused their downfall last year.
Head Coach
Kenny Lowe was handed the temporary reigns following the player revolt against Alistair Edwards. Unfortunately, he failed to spark the team into action, winning just 4 of 17 games. Despite the objections of fans, Lowe was given the full-time job. His off-season recruitment must certainly be applauded, as he bought in numerous proven performers and added depth. Lowe favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation last year, but some reports have noticed the Glory playing a 4-4-2 diamond formation in pre-season.
Season 2013/14
A season that promised so much (a phrase Glory fans have grown used to hearing since the beginning of the A-League) ended in spectacular failure (in a way which the Glory somehow managed to outdo themselves). Edwards promised the start of a youth revolution, borne from the finest young players Western Australia had to offer. Despite a respectable start to the season, he was sacked after falling out with the senior players at the club, most notably over perceived favouritism towards his two sons Ryan and Cameron. Despite Lowe’s arrival quelling locker room friction, the Glory slipped to finish in 8th spot, an alarming 8 points off a finals berth.
Arrivals
The signings of Hersi and Nichols were a coup for the Glory. Last season they desperately lacked creativity in the midfield, but had as much luck finding it as Fernando Torres has finding the back of the net. Both men should supply some much-needed quality going forward and have the potential to leave defences quaking in their boots. Elsewhere, ex-Jets skipper Zadkovich and Ferreira add some steel in the middle of the park and are good replacements for the now-retired Burns and McGarry, but perhaps the most intriguing signing is that of ex-Ireland striker Keogh. The veteran has bags of experience in the top two flights of football and England and if he is given the right service, he should contend for the Golden Boot.
Mitch Nichols (loan, Cerezo Osaka), Youssouf Hersi (Western Sydney Wanderers), Jordan Thurtell (AIS), Dino Djulbic (Al Wahda), Ruben Zadkovich (Newcastle Jets), Diogo Ferreira (Brisbane Roar), Andy Keogh (Millwall), Richard Garcia (Minnesota United)
Departures
In all honesty, none of the departures hurt the Glory too much. Burns, Dodd and McGarry, despite providing experience, lacked the ability to dictate matches in their last days with the club. Smeltz suffered from injuries and a lack of support last season and was a shadow of his former self, no longer the penalty-box predator of yesteryear. Gallas’ time at the Glory was plagued by injury concerns, whilst Ryan Edwards showed glimpses of promise but he was only on a one-year loan deal from Reading.
Jacob Burns, Travis Dodd, Steven McGarry (Retirement), Shane Smeltz (Sydney FC), Darvydas Sernas (Gaziantepspor), William Gallas (Released), Ryan Edwards (Reading), Adrian Zahra (Valetta)
Key Player
Mitch Nichols – Whilst the likes of Dino Djulbic and Michael Thwaite can be relied upon to keep shape at the back, Nichols holds the key to Glory’s season. As alluded to before, the Glory sorely missed a creative midfielder last season and Nichols fills that need perfectly. Prior to his move to Japan last season, Nichols’ form with Melbourne Victory caught many an eye. His motivation and effort have been questioned in the past, and complaints about his consistency were raised during his time in Brisbane. However, if he’s firing on all cylinders, the Glory could be very dangerous indeed.
What’s he still doing here?
Daniel Da Silva – No, seriously. He’s a 17 year-old prodigy good enough to be signed by Roma, but apparently not good enough for more than 10-15 minute cameos off the bench for Perth. Following a year where he struggled for game-time, the boy wonder signed a deal with the Italian giants, who loaned him back to the Glory for this season. If he once again continues to find himself on the bench with little in the way of game time, it might be in the country’s best interests he packs his bags early for Italy and continues the development of his undoubted talent abroad.
Extra Time
Given Lowe’s uninspiring first spell in charge, many have already written the Glory off. But the truth is they have a much stronger squad than they did last year, and less of an age-difference. The 13/14 incarnation of the team featured a lot of young players and a lot of old players, but only a few in the peak of their careers. Lowe has remedied that in the off-season and put together a strong squad more than capable of challenging for the finals. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to Lowe. He’s earned a pass mark for the off-season, but the question is, can he learn from the mistakes he made as interim coach, or will it be another case of “same old, same old” for the one-time powerhouse?
We sat down with Aaron Innis and discussed the chances of Perth Glory. Follow him on @monoboxmusic
Last season was a pretty disappointing season for Perth fans, how can the club turn this around?
The only way they can turn this around is to perform on the pitch. We have been waiting for success since the A-League started and each year we are promised things will be different, but inevitably it ends the same way. The biggest issue that is the club does not listen to its fans and continually appoints managers that are just not up to scratch. Let’s not forget that Kenny Lowe was a result of a “worldwide search” for a new manager. So he and the club have a lot to prove to the fans.
Richard Garcia returns home to Perth, Do you expect him to be an instant crowd favourite?
This is a tough one to answer. The Glory crowd always loves a local boy but this comes with the flipside of this local boy fitting the mould of the signings that we have been accustomed too. Too many times we have signed a 30 plus year old player on his last legs, who is only interested in a nice retirement package. I think it could be as simple as if he performs well and leaves nothing on the pitch then he will be definitely become a crowd favourite.
Perth are in the middle of a very impressive FFA Cup run, what does that mean to the fans?
It’s hopefully a sign of what’s to come this season. They have made it to the quarters but the true test will be against the Victory on the 29th. Any trophy would be a welcomed addition to the Glory cabinet though. The FFA Cup is a fantastic concept and seems to have been received well, so it would be very nice to win the inaugural cup
What do you expect from Perth this season?
I honestly think the most realistic answer would be that they will finish mid table. I think maybe 5th or 6th. We have a very strong squad this season but so do half a dozen other teams. The biggest test will be to see if Kenny Lowe can get his tactics right. He was an overwhelmingly disappointing selection according to most supporters and after his efforts last season it is a fair response in my opinion. If they can get through the season without sacking a coach and Lowe gets it right, then we might be in with a chance of a top three finish.
Andy Keogh has started the season off well, is he any chance for the Golden Boot? And what does he mean to the team’s chances?
Most certainly he is a chance for the Golden Boot this season. He is a fantastic pick up for Glory and the A-League. Whilst not a big name when compared to Del Piero, Shinji Ono or William Gallas, he is a proven goal scorer in some of the toughest leagues in the world and at 28 years old, a good age to do some serious damage.
Will ‘The Shed’ have cause for some celebrations this season?
The Shed will always sing loudly and passionately and get behind the boys. Hopefully the Shed is singing loudly while the boys are picking up points this time around. We can also hopefully see some top free kicks from Marinkovic and local lad Danny De Silva gets a few games before departing for Italy.
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