Fowler earned the nickname ‘God’ while at Liverpool, and remains the seventh all-time leading goalscorer in the English Premier League. His achievements at North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory need no further explanation.

Babbel, meanwhile, was a four-time German Bundesliga champion and a two-time UEFA Cup winner in his playing career, as well as being part of the Germany squad that won the European Championships in 1996.

Both have since transitioned into management and coaching, and at this moment in time, both are struggling to make any inroads to success in their respective roles.

‘Robbie Fowler‘ by Camw (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Fowler’s Brisbane Roar are in a battle to avoid the A-League wooden spoon in the early going, with a series of insipid performances suggesting the Liverpool man has an almighty job on his hands.

Meanwhile, Western Sydney lost five games on the spin prior to a 1-1 draw with Western United, and so Babbel’s outfit – who were fancied to go well this term – already have a tough task in chasing down early leaders Sydney FC.

So can this legendary duo turn their respective seasons around?

Fowl Play

When your team fails to record a single shot on goal, you know you’ve had a tough day at the office.

That was the case in Brisbane Roar’s 0-2 loss at home to Western United, and that was the fourth time in nine games this term that they had failed to trouble the scorers. Seething after the game, Fowler refused to shake the hand of United counterpart Mark Rudan and even failed to respond to a request from Fox Sports for an interview. 

From a manager renowned for his penchant for putting the ball in the net, these are worrying times. You wonder if Fowler himself has considered getting his boots out of the garage to solve his side’s shyness in front of goal.

If you’re not scoring goals, you need to be solid defensively to have any chance of accumulating points. And having shipped 15 times in those nine outings, the Brisbane outfit are clearly failing in both aspects of the beautiful game.

At least frontman Roy O’Donovan is showing some form with six goals this term, but he needs more support from those around him including creative midfielder Jay O’Shea.

Priced at odds of +2500 in the outright A-League Grand Final betting odds, even the bookmakers have lost faith in the abilities of ‘God’ to turn Brisbane Roar’s season around.

Taking the Bus

Two teams continue to find the way to goal paved with obstacles: the Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers.

A lack of creativity is the Roar’s problem, while for the Wanderers – who have failed to find the net in 30% of outings this term – Babbel believes that the issue lies elsewhere.

‘Markus Babbel‘ by Frank Schwichtenberg (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The German has claimed that his team commands so much respect that their opponents “park the bus” against them, noting that “if you give them [Sydney] space, then they can be very dangerous.”

There may be an element of truth in that, but lest we forget that the Wanderers have conceded two or more goals in five of their last six games – hardly a recipe for success.

Both Fowler and Babbel find themselves staring into the managerial abyss at the moment, and the jury is out as to whether they have the resources to turn their woes around.

The 32-year old established himself as a regular goalscorer in the lower leagues of English football, representing clubs such as Bolton, Reading, Rotherham, and Cardiff. There were a number of English clubs keen on signing the striker before his move Down Under, but Le Fondre took the decision to move himself and his family to Australia for a new adventure. And it’s fair to say it couldn’t have gone much better, reaching two finals, winning the big one, with the striker ending the season as the club’s top scorer. 

It’s no surprise Sydney are being tipped by many as the favourites to defend their crown this season. Priced at around 4/1 with the latest A-League betting odds, Sydney and Perth are the early frontrunners from a betting point of view, although both Melbourne clubs will have something to say about that when the campaign gets underway. As we’ve seen in recent years, though, it’s never wise to assume anything in this league.

In Sydney’s favour is a goalscorer capable of scoring 20+ goals this year – and Le Fondre will be key to the Sky Blues hopes. To add to their firepower this season, Sydney have also brought in New Zealand international Kosta Barbarouses, who has proven himself to be one of the most consistent goalscorers in the A-League since returning to from an unsuccessful stint in Europe. 

Coming off his most productive season in front of goal, scoring 13 league goals for Melbourne Victory last year, Barbarouses will now be tasked with ensuring Le Fondre isn’t left with the sole responsibility of scoring every week. The Kiwi is one of a number of smart signings made by the Sky Blues, with a number of players leaving during a busy offseason. 

As well as Barbarouses, Sydney have added experienced Socceroo Ryan McGowan and midfielder Luke Brattan. While their rivals may have brought in higher-profile players, Sydney have been very smart in their recruitment during the offseason, although there will be some concern should the squad be hit by injuries. A lot can happen over the course of a season and Sydney won’t want to be left light at any point due to a lack of signings.

This squad will have learned a lot from last season and knows what it takes to not only get through a campaign but to also finish strong. With the addition of even more experience over the offseason, this is a Sydney team that ticks every box except, possibly, squad depth.

Brisbane Roar are currently regarded as 16/1 outsiders in the football betting to triumph outright in the A-League next season under the guidance of their legendary head coach.

They will face a very tough task of achieving such a massive feat next term, with the top clubs in the division like Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC also boosting their ranks over the summer and looking ready to challenge for silverware once again. Fowler has a big job on his hands, too, with Brisbane Roar hoping to overturn their form and fortunes under their esteemed new coach next term. Last season was simply disastrous for them, dropping points too regularly and coming up short too often. This lack of form saw them ultimately finish in a dreadful ninth position in Australia’s top-flight table for 2018/19, well below the standards previously set by the club’s hierarchy and fans that pay to see them each and every week.

Robbie Fowler-Fury by Camw (CC BY-SA 3.0)

They also set a league record for the most goals conceded, a nightmare stat which has seen Fowler acquire several new faces for his defence next season in the transfer window. In fact, the former Anfield legend has overseen the arrival of over ten new signings already and there could well be even more before the campaign kicks off in October.
“We’ve worked hard in the off-season, brought in a lot of players and you have probably seen the fruits of the rewards when you see everyone on the training pitch,” outlined Fowler as he recently took charge of his first training session with his new club.
The Roar’s backline will have a completely new look next term after so many promising signings. One in particular that looks to be a worthwhile move is that of Scott Neville. He was snapped up from Perth Glory after being released and the Premiership winning full back follows other defenders, Tom Aldred and Macaulay Gillesphey.

Fowler has a mountain to climb next season but there have been plenty of promising signs so far this summer since his arrival on the scene.

What remains to be seen is whether Aaron Mooy will be returning to the Terriers when they ply their trade in England’s second tier. The Australian playmaker is one of only a very few players at Huddersfield that have come away with any sort of respectability this season and it’s already been suggested that Mooy has too much talent for the Championship.

8 – @htafcdotcom‘s @AaronMooy has made eight successful crosses (inc. corners) in #BOUHUD today; the last time any player made more away from home in a @PremierLeague game was April 2011 (Ashley Young, 10). Trajectory. pic.twitter.com/W6X7neE1Lv

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) December 4, 2018

Looking back on the past eight months, the 28-year-old has made 25 Premier League appearances, registering one assist and scoring three goals. It’s easy to look at those numbers with a raised eyebrow but even during Huddersfield’s promotion-winning 2016/2017 season, in which he was voted Town’s Player of the Year, Mooy only scored four goals and chipped in with seven assists in 45 games.

As a number ten, the argument could be that he should score more but in truth, the Australian is a traditional box-to-box midfielder that does as much in the opposition’s box as his own, which is why the Terriers will have to fight off any interest in him over the summer. It’s quite easy to see how Mooy would be the perfect fit for a team that has just been promoted to the Premier League given that he won’t cost an arm and a leg, but will have that invaluable experience needed for newcomers in the top flight.

What could be particularly interesting is if Huddersfield’s neighbours Leeds United go up, which is a likelihood given their odds of promotion are 4/6 in the football betting. If that were to happen, and Leeds return to the Premier League and show the slightest bit of interest in Mooy, you could see a move being good business for both parties.

3 times in a row! Congrats @AaronMooy #PFA25Years #PFAPlayersAwards pic.twitter.com/9FJcqxnqXX

— The PFA (@thepfa) July 3, 2018

Leeds would benefit from a financial point of view, given that the Australian only has one year left on his deal at Huddersfield, and Mooy would benefit when you consider Leeds and Huddersfield are only separated by just over 20 miles; there would be no need to up sticks.

Either way, it’s hard to imagine after having played in the best league in the world, that Aaron Mooy wouldn’t jump at the chance of staying at that level instead of being resigned to another 46 grueling games in the Championship.

There’s no guarantee that Huddersfield will go straight back up in any case, and Mooy’s best chance of finding a new club may well be in the summer of 2019, whilst his abilities are still fresh in the minds of potential suitors. The 28-year-old has done all he can to keep the sinking ship that is Huddersfield Town up and now that relegation has been confirmed, Mooy will be looking to salvage his own career.

However, there was little time to celebrate their achievements as the focus would then switch on how to do it all over again the following season, something that is turning out to be much harder the second time around for the club that plays its football at John Smith’s Stadium.

“Galpharm 2″  ahisgett via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Going into the 17th week of the Premier League season, the Yorkshire outfit find themselves in the bottom three and are being tipped by many to be relegated and succumb to the deadly footballing disease otherwise known as ‘Second Season Syndrome’.

A look at the latest football betting market sees Huddersfield as dead certs to go down next May; Bet365 currently have them priced as short as 8/15 on, a price that suggests the club are going to have their work cut out in the second half of the campaign if they are to avoid the drop.

At the same time though, it only takes a couple of wins to change a club’s outlook, something that Huddersfield will be all too aware off after waiting until November to pick up their first win of this Premier League season.

That win did, however, create the momentum needed for a decent run of form, one that then saw them pick up seven points from a possible nine on offer. Since then though, it has been a tough spell for Huddersfield as they have lost their last three league outings.

One criticism that Huddersfield have to deal with on a recurring basis is the fact that they don’t score enough goals, and this is where the likes of Australian international Aaron Mooy will need to pick up the slack if they are to keep their heads above water.

“137/365 Huddersfield Town” byJoeLodgevia Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

The former Melbourne Heart midfielder has scored just twice in the league this season, a statistic that is perhaps even more damming when you consider that he is the club’s joint top goalscorer alongside defender Mathias Jorgensen.

But unfortunately for both the Australian international and Huddersfield, he won’t be able to add to that tally until February at the earliest after picking up a knee injury in their recent 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates.

This is a desperate blow for Huddersfield, especially as they are so light in terms of attacking options, and this injury could well be something that pushes the club into the transfer market when the window re-opens in January.

If they decide not to, then the only hope will be that they are not cast adrift in their battle to stay up. Should they still be in with a fighting chance then the return of the 28-year-old Mooy could well prove to be the shot in the arm that they require.

At the same time though, if performances, and more importantly results, go against them in the next couple of months, by the time their midfield wizard returns the damage to Huddersfield’s survival hopes may have already been done.

The curtain goes up with a mouth-watering clash between Adelaide United and Sydney FC and there’s nothing between the sides on paper.

Five matches take place over the course of the opening weekend with Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City going head-to-head on Saturday before the bulk of the fixture list takes place on Sunday, pairing Wellington Phoenix and Newcastle Jets, Brisbane Roar and Central SC, Perth Glory and Western Sydney Warriors.

Source: Sydney FC via Twitter

The outright market is as competitive as followers have seen in many years with half a point between the top two in the charts. The latest football odds coming out of bet365 has Sydney FC 4/1 favourite ahead of 9/2 Melbourne City. Melbourne Victory share a price with their rivals, Newcastle Jets next in at 5/1.

Lovers of the stats will be delighted to find Victory a bit further down the list than many expected as they rate as the division’s most successful team with three regular-season premiers and a couple of runners-up medals.

That effort is matched by Sydney FC who also boast 3-2, getting their hands on the title in 2010, 2017 and 2018. Taking The Sky Blues to go three-in-a-row is sure to be a popular choice with fans despite carrying the shortest odds of the list.

Taking a look at the trends from the Final Series Championships and Victory also lead the way on that front with four gongs, having finished best of the rest on two occasions. 2007, 2009, 2015 and 2018 trophies sit on the cabinet at AAMI Park. Sydney are again nipping away at their heels having come out on top in 2006, 2010 and 2017.

The reason traders are in such a rush to throw the weight of their support behind Steve Corica’s side is the transfer kitty available and the head coach hasn’t been slow in splashing the cash either. It was announced in August that Sydney added another big name to their squad in Siem de Jong.

Source: BBC Sport via Twitter

The former English Premier League player – Newcastle United 2014-2017 – moved to Australia on a year-long loan and the attacking midfielder, capped six times for Holland, is expected to hit the ground running when the season gets underway.

Speaking to the press when unveiling his marquee signing, Corica promised followers the club had their hands on a technically gifted player who can both score and create goals, a man the boss expects to be instrumental in any success the team enjoys this term.

Lovers of the English game will be familiar with another recruit in former Reading striker Adam le Fondre who aims to fill the gap left by free-scoring Brazilian Bobo. That’s a big ask but the 31-year-old from Stockport has scored important goals for every club he has represented so far, including Reading, Cardiff, B

Key Figures Must Step Up to the Plate

On paper, Graham Arnold’s side are a class above their rivals and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Sydney FC run riot next season. Club captain Alex Brosque is very influential, both on and off the pitch. Capped 21 times by Australia, Brosque is approaching 200 games for Sydney in two separate stints and he can inspire the club to push on and challenge for supremacy in the playoffs in 2018/19.

Sydney goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne is another key figure for the Sky Blues. One of the most decorated players at the club, Redmayne is a three-time A-League Premiership winner and three-time A-League Championship winner. He is calm and composed and his relaxed attitude should help a few of the younger players to settle. Fantasy gamers, consider a move for the Sydney goalkeeper ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Fast Start Necessary In Improving A-League

The Sky Blues will feature in the opening match of the 2018/19 A-League season; an away trip to Adelaide United offers the ideal opportunity to send out a statement of intent. Three points against the defending champions on their own patch will raise a few eyebrows and plenty of punters will be expecting big things from Sydney in that fixture. A dominant effort will sit well with supporters.

Currently valued at 4/1 to win the title in A-League betting odds, Sydney are well-fancied to continue their excellent run in this competition. The Sky Blues fell short in the playoffs last year but it would be foolish to write Arnold’s side off ahead of the new season. Sydney will be looking to use that disappointment as fuel for success this term. Write the 2017/18 regular season champions off at your peril…

Sydney to Get Over Agonising 2017/18 Playoff Defeat

Melbourne Victory will head into the campaign as the “team to beat” though after winning the title last season. That 3-2 defeat in extra-time still haunts Sky Blues fans and the club will be determined to make amends in the coming months. Without a shadow of a doubt, the A-League is getting better and all signs point towards a competitive season at the top of the table.

Sydney FC will not have everything their own way next season but Graham Arnold’s men are well placed to win the Australian title. The Sky Blues finished 14 points clear of nearest challengers Newcastle Jets in 2017/18 but the playoff title eluded their grasp. More success looks likely this campaign but postseason glory is an absolute must. Watch this space, Sydney could win everything on offer.

But will the talented 26-year-old be able to hold his ground and be one of a select few stars to double-up on the award, or will we see a new name fight to the front of the queue? The betting makes for interesting reading, giving punters a chance to second-guess how the tally will go this year.

Source: Super Footy (AFL) via Twitter

Such was Dustin Martin’s victory last year it was to be expected that he’d feature near the head of the betting to defend his honour. Dusty remains one of the game’s biggest stars and he won’t be far from the top step come the final tally, that’s for sure, but winning the Charlie twice requires a level of consistency that has eluded better players than him over the years.

A man used to making and breaking efforts, fans of the sport watched on in amazement as Martin recorded a personal best earlier this year when scoring six goals on a day his side demolished poor old Brisbane 16.14 (110) – 2.5 (17) at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick was obviously pleased with the performance of his ace when speaking to the open-mouthed media at the conclusion of a pulsating match, but he was careful not to make it all about one man, placing emphasis on the importance of team effort and structure.

Hardwick credited his boys’ shape for both the mauling and goal-fest from Martin, picking out the likes of Dion Prestia and Reece Conca, believing both gave the balance in midfield needed to allow the goal hero to surge forward with confidence. Winning matches is a group effort, of course, and we’re beginning to see that Brownlow Medal champions are only as good as the men around them too.

Source: Super Footy (AFL) via Twitter

Fans, fellow professionals and the media were all impressed and they are not alone as bookmakers fell over themselves to throw their weight behind a Dusty double this year. The Charles Brownlow Trophy betting now has Martin a nailed-on favourite and there’s no more than $4.00 available in the latest AFL odds for him to go all the way. A few more efforts like we saw against Brisbane and we’re certain the price will be cut further still.

Despite what the market would have you believe it’s by no means a foregone conclusion that Martin will do it again as he’s certainly not without his share of competition for the bauble. Tom Mitchell leads the chasing pack and after finishing third last year he’s now a better player. 7/2 has the Hawthorn number three as second-favourite with Patrick Dangerfield completing the medal positions back at 7/1.

Manager Jose Mourinho is not just having problems on the pitch, he has been sent off from the touchline twice already in the campaign and is set for another spell in the stands.
Here are five players who can help rescue United’s season once the transfer window opens in January:

Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid

Frenchman Antoine Griezmann has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for a number of transfer windows now. The Atletico forward has scored 66 goals in the last three seasons for his club and has been one of the key reasons why the Spanish club have been able to compete with the likes of local rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga and the Champions League.

“Grizzi” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by xavnal
 
Griezmann was named as the player of the tournament at Euro 2016 last summer where he was also the top goalscorer with nine goals as the hosts reached the final but were beaten by Portugal in extra time. If Mourinho was able to persuade the French international to join his fellow compatriot Paul Pogba at United, it would be a huge coup for the Reds boss.

Leonardo Bonucci – Juventus

One of the priorities Mourinho will be keen to address as early as possible in his team in his back four. They have leaked goals all season and the injury to Eric Bailly has left them short of real quality in the defensive line.

Bonucci is regarded as one of the best defenders on the planet. He has excelled with Juventus in recent seasons and also caught the eye of many at Euro 2016 where he was very solid for Italy.

“Euro 2016, Bonucci a L’Equipe: ”Sì, fac” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by NazionaleCalcio

The 29-year-old may cost up to £50 million, but Mourinho may see that as a small price to pay to secure the services of the Italian in January.

Ivan Rakitic – Barcelona

via GIPHY

Croatia international Ivan Rakitic has been linked with a move away from Barcelona in the near future and that is likely to prompt the interested of a flurry of clubs who will be keen to secure his signature.

Rakitic joined the Spanish giants in 2014 from Sevilla. In that time he has gone on to win La Liga twice, the Copa del Ray and the Champions League. The busy midfielder can add a real touch of quality to any side in the world. He is exactly the player Mourinho would love to have in the heart of his team. The 28-year-old is not a prolific goalscorer himself but he offers much more than goals and would help transform this struggling United side.

Heading into the tournament, the state of the game in Australia was the topic of much discussion among fans, commentators and players but the overriding reaction was largely positive. In fact, after witnessing the passionate fans and impressive performances, Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic praised the development of the game.

“Australian soccer is progressing and improving every year, we know it’s not the favourite sport here, but nevertheless it’s growing,” said the Bosnian pro.

This positive review was quickly buoyed by a stunning performance by Melbourne Victory in the final game of the International Champions Cup. Despite the Aussie side lining up against last season’s Champions League runners-up, Nick Ansell shocked the crowd with a powerful header in the 44th minute.

Although against the run of play, Melbourne’s solitary goal was enough to clinch the game and a memorable victory for Kevin Muscat’s players.

Aussie Soccer Reaching Fever Pitch

“Yellow galore, Australia supporters, Asi” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by  Doug Beckers 

Of course, a few compliments and a pre-season win over a European side aren’t enough to cause a soccer revolution across Australia, but they are certainly signs that the sport is gaining some traction. In fact, when you look around the industry, a number of markers suggest that Australia is now becoming a soccer nation.

According to Topend Sports, soccer currently ranks as the seventh most searched for sport among Australians while it doesn’t even make it into the top ten list for the most participants. While this would suggest a certain amount of apathy towards the sport, a report by Football Federation Australia has found that participation rates have increased by 7% over the last two years.

Owing to the success of the national side in the Asian Cup and the World Cup, more Aussies are now playing soccer and that’s leading to growth across the industry. Indeed, as well as fans tuning in to watch the game, punters are now looking to soccer as a legitimate betting activity.

The Growth of an Industry

“Puma” (CC BY 2.0) by  Dawn Huczek 

While betting on horses, cricket and AFL have always been popular, soccer hasn’t captured the imagination of the masses in the same way. In contrast to European betting markets where soccer betting is hugely popular, Aussies aren’t as enthused about speculating on the Hyundai A-League.

However, as the popularity of the sport grows, soccer betting platforms offering news, results and expert insights should all start to welcome more visitors. Indeed, inside bet365’s soccer betting portal, the casual punters can not only get daily insights into the Premier League and Champions League, but all the latest updates from Australia’s top teams.

While soccer might not ever become the leading sport in Australia, there is certainly evidence to suggest that its popularity is on the up. Thanks to improved performances on the pitch, greater access to information and betting options and more people playing the game, soccer is enjoying a revival across the country and that’s great news for Aussie sport as a whole.