GOLD COAST UNITED 2011/12 Season Preview

Gold Coast United have made a big impact since their inception, finishing third and fourth in their opening two seasons. But their upcoming campaign will offer the biggest test of character for Miron Bleiberg’s team so far, as they prepare to face Wellington in round one with a very different and youthful squad.

Last Season...
4th

They'll Win The League Because...
... their solid defence will provide the foundation for success. Last season they had the third least conceded goals in the league and despite numerous squad personnel changes their defence has stayed strong.

Glen Moss, Michael Thwaite, Adama Traore and Kristian Rees have remained at the club while Dylan McGowan will be a welcome addition for the Gold Coast’s back four.

They'll Be Cellar Dwellers Because...
... eighteen players have left the club and nine have been recruited. While Adelaide and Perth have more new players, the mass changes in the squad could cause disruptions and the youthful team may struggle to adjust to these changes. The two most experienced midfielders - Daniel Severino (29) and Peter Jungschlager (27) - are both new to the club and will need to do their own settling.

Not only has the front line has lost its punch after these changes with Shane Smeltz and Bruce Djite moving on, but Jason Culina and Anderson are also gone. Gold Coast will need Dylan Macallister and Joel Porter to step up and take responsibility to cover these losses.

Talk Around The Watercooler... Look smart in front of your colleagues with this valuable piece of information.
The Gold Coast club entering its third season could well have been a very different outfit. The cashed-up Clive Palmer would not have been involved in the A-League if their rival bid – the Gold Coast Galaxy – had have been successful.

The Extended Off-Season Brought...
... uncertainty. While the mass player movement would suggest it will take time to find consistency and form, Miron Bleiberg having to assert his tactics and system on a vastly different looking squad, United have proved good value during this preseason. Most notably their 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory shows their defensive strengths, backed up by the 0-0 with Adelaide United. A couple of other resounding wins over state league sides have showed that maybe the squad shuffling won’t disrupt the Gold Coast too much.

Key Player...
Glen Moss - The resilient rock in between the sticks kept twelve clean sheets last season and his form this season will be vital to any success. The Gold Coast first choice ‘keeper signed from Melbourne Victory and instantly proved his worth with six clean sheets in his first three months at the club.

With the already outlined departures of Gold Coast attacking players, the form of Moss will be very important for Gold Coast as they will look to build their game from the back, concentrating on grinding wins to ensure they make it a trifecta of finals appearances.

One To Watch...
James Brown - The Olyroo came of age last season, starting nine matches and making three more cameos off the bench. The 21-year-old found the net twice and looks likely to add significantly to that tally with even more game time a high possibility.

His preseason form has been solid and he scored the lone goal against Melbourne Victory. He’ll be looking to transfer this success to the Hyundai A-League come October and light up Australian football.

Full Squad List
1. Glen MOSS, 2. Joshua BRILLANTE, 3. Michael THWAITE, 4. Zachary ANDERSON, 5. Kristian REES, 6. Paul BEEKMANS, 7. Golgol MEBRAHTU, 8. ROBSON, 9. Joel PORTER, 10. Tahj MINNIECON, 11. Jake BARKER-DAISH, 12. Dylan MACALLISTER, 13. Ante ROZIC, 14. Ben HALLORAN, 15. Adama TRAORE, 16. Maceo RIGTERS, 17. Chris HAROLD, 18. James BROWN, 19. Chris BROADFOOT, 20. Jerrad TYSON, 21. Daniel SEVERINO, 22. Peter JUNGSCHLAGER, 23. Dylan MCGOWAN, 26. Samuel TESFAGABR, 27. Ambesager YOSIEF