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.

Credit: The Maracana via Facebook

Jump forward to more recent memory, and the World Cup knockout stages have been dominated by mainly European teams, with the obvious exception of Brazil and Argentina. So what about the Oceanian nations? So far, only Australia and New Zealand have managed to qualify for the group stages and the furthest either of these teams have got in 2006 when Australia reached the last 16, a feat they look unlikely to achieve again next year if you believe the bookies, with the latest football odds putting them at group outsiders at 3/1 to qualify, behind World Cup newcomers Peru.

In a country dominated by both rugby and cricket, it comes as no surprise that the national team is suffering slightly, although if they can emulate their success on these fronts anytime soon, the Socceroos could certainly dominate for years to come. There are signs of improvement within the national team set-up with ‘soccer’ gaining popularity across Australia as a whole host of stars are now plying their trade across the top leagues in Europe: most notably Aaron Mooy at Huddersfield, Matthew Ryan at Brighton and Matthew Leckie at Hertha Berlin.

Despite history being against them, World Cup glory isn’t too farfetched for the Socceroos, they will be relatively happy with the draw that they have been given, particularly the order in which their games come. Australia theoretically play best to worst, France, Denmark and then Peru. Provided that Australia have left themselves within touching distance of qualifying, the Peru match could prove to be an enthralling fixture.
As if things weren’t tough enough, the shock departure of hugely popular first-team coach Ange Postecoglou has added to Australian woes. Postecoglou seemed to have become disillusioned with the FFA short-sightedness and failure to show ambition. Whoever is chosen to succeed Postecoglou will inherit a well-drilled team in an excellent position with apparently little to no World Cup expectations from the FFA – or basically a win-win job!

Credit: Ange Postecoglou via Facebook

If the Socceroos harbour any ambition, they might want to take inspiration from FIFA’s sister tournament, the UEFA European Championships. The Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece and recently Portugal have all won against the odds, albeit not quite as drastically.
There is a lot to be said for attractive attacking football; however, it’s a solid defence where games, and tournaments, are won. ‘Lesser’ teams know they will have to outwit the footballing elite tactically if they wish to progress. In 2016, Portugal only progressed to the knockout rounds via goal difference having drawn all of their three group matches; in fact, they only won one match within 90 minutes en-route to lifting the trophy, which came in a 2-0 win against equally overachieving Wales.
If Australia have any hopes of creating the biggest upset in world football they will not only have to play well, but they will have to play smart. 

Today, we find out more about the A-League’s ‘fab four’ of newcomers. Starting with a major signing for last season’s 4th placed team, a scintillating Scot is the first player up…

Ross McCormack – Melbourne City (loan)
For many years, the club formerly known as Melbourne Heart have been overshadowed by its local rivals, but that could be about to change. Just two days before the transfer window shut, it was City’s turn to brag as they turned on the style and claimed a third win in four away derbies. The 31-year old Aston Villa striker has credentials to burn, and opened his goal scoring account for City the following week in a 1-0 win over Wellington Phoenix.

After transferring from Motherwell to Cardiff nearly a decade ago, McCormack became one of the most consistent strikers in English football. In successive spells with Cardiff, Leeds United and Fulham, he never once slipped below a rate of 1 goal in every 3 games. After being linked to a number of Premier League clubs, his big chance never came, but the £12m sum that moved him to Aston Villa in August 2016 was a reflection of the faith in his talent that still exists.

It is still early days, but the English game in which McCormack is so experienced is without equal when it comes to toughness and resilience. McCormack is no stranger to playing 50+ games a season, and his stamina could be the scourge of the A-League in the coming months. This is reflected in the latest Oddschecker soccer markets, which price McCormack at 10/1 to be the top goal scorer of the 2017/18 A-League.

Massimo Maccarone – Brisbane Roar
After finishing third last season, most Brisbane Roar fans would have expected the club to press on and invest in the attacking department. With Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory in their sights, the free signing of 38-year old Massimo Maccarone raised a few eyebrows in Brisbane.

Though well past his playing prime, Maccarone still knows where the goal is. In two spells with Italian club Empoli he was a true talisman in testing times. As a youngster, his contributions helped Empoli reach the Promised Land of Serie A in 2002, before transferring to Middlesbrough. On his return to Empoli in 2014, he was a key figure in keeping the club in the Italian top flight for two years.

His time at Middlesbrough in the mid 2000s saw him emerge as a cult hero on Teeside, and he was a vital cog in a side that reached the 2006 UEFA Cup final. With Jamie Maclaren now gone from the Roar, a man with unrivalled experience is needed. Encouragingly, Maccarone has already netted his first A-League goal, doing so in a 2-1 home defeat for the Roar to Adelaide United.

Matias Sanchez – Melbourne Victory
As a versatile midfielder and a former Argentina U20 starlet, Sanchez has already captured the imaginations of a fanbase with high expectations after a championship near-miss in 2016/17. Since making his senior debut in 2006 with Argentine club Racing Club de Avellaneda, he has become a seasoned journeyman across the top flight of his native Argentina.

Standing 1.73m tall, Sanchez offers a good turn of pace, much of which can be attributed to his low centre of gravity. In turn, he also offers the mobility necessary to act as a ‘midfield’ engine and make the most of his technical ability on the ball. If nothing else, the mere fact that Sanchez once shared a youth dressing room with Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria gives him a degree of menace, regardless of whether or not he is in form.

Adrian Mierzejewski – Sydney FC
Breaking in to a title-winning squad is no mean feat, especially given the margin by which Sydney became A-League premiers in 2016/17. Yet, with 40 caps for Poland, Sydney’s brand new hitman Adrian Mierzejewski already looks the part next to Milos Ninkovic in a partnership that blends strength and skill. Arguably his greatest weapon is the ability to finish calmly in one-on-one situations.

Unlike most other A-League players, Mierzejewski has playing experience in European club competitions, having made multiple appearances in the UEFA Europa League with Trabzonspor earlier this decade. Having already played against some of Europe’s finest players, Mierzejewski also comes into the A-League after three years of playing in Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, this could be crucial for Sydney, with the club preparing to embark on a continental odyssey of its own in 2018. It is, arguably, this last point which distinguishes him from the marquee signings of the other three clubs.

Although the 2017/18 season is in its infancy, Sydney FC are already climbing the table with the haste of true champions, and Mierzejewski has every chance of being the next cult icon in Australian football.

Author bio
Tamhas Woods is a sports and betting writer with many years of experience in producing articles based around soccer analysis.