Newcastle Jets have recruited well in the off-season and now have a squad capable of pushing for a title.
Ruben Zadkovich, Kasey Wehrman, Jeremy Brockie and Marcello Fiorentini have all been added to Branko Culina's squad and there is now plenty of attacking depth which the Jets have lacked previously.
They snuck into the finals last term and I can see a similar result this season, taking into account their poor defensive record where they conceded the second most amount of goals last term.
If Culina can get that right and use his attackers to assert more authority on the game, the Jets could cause many problems for the opposition but I fear last season's habit of surrendering soft goals could come back to haunt a side who will dearly miss inspirational skipper Matt Thompson.
Last season: 6th tribalfootball's Prediction: 7th
Arrivals: Ruben Zadkovich (Derby), Kasey Wehrman (Lyn Oslo), Jeremy Brockie (North Queensland Fury), Zhang Shuo (Persik Kediri), Marcello Fiorentini (Palazzolo), Taylor Regan (Jets NYC)
Departures: Matt Thompson (Melbourne Heart), Jason Hoffman (Melbourne Heart), Song Jin Hyung (Tours FC), Angelo Costanzo(released), Shaun Ontong(released), Jason Naidovski(released), Fabio Vignaroli(released), Donny De Groot (released)
Biggest signing: Marcello Fiorentini
Biggest loss: Matt Thompson
Key men:Michael Bridges, Ljubo Milicevic, Labinot Haliti
Team list
Goalkeepers
Ben Kennedy Neil Young
Defenders
Adam D'Apuzzo Tarek Elrich Ljubo Milicevic Taylor Regan Nikolai Topor-Stanley
Midfielders
Ali Abbas Marcello Fiorentini Ben Kantarovski Kaz Patafta Kasey Wehrman Jobe Wheelhouse Ruben Zadkovich
Forwards
Michael BridgesJeremy Brockie Labinot Haliti Marko Jesic Brodie Mooy Sasho Petrovski Sean Rooney
Coach
Branko Culina