Football Season Guide

After a superb 2023, last year was always going to be a tough challenge, and that's the way it turned out with off the field issues with a transfer ban and an appalling pitch. Despite all that they were able to survive quite comfortably and performed superbly in the ACLE. Lots of changes to the squad with key player Ho-yeon Jeong leaving along with their main strikers. Off the field too they have been banished from their current stadium due to the pitch to their former World Cup stadium, which is just next door and in better all round condition. They've added young players and returnee Reis coming back to the team he had his best success with. The manager staying amid heavy speculation is a big plus. Tough to judge with a younger squad but a manager capable of getting the best out of players. The early part of the season they will have to juggle the ACLE with the league as well, which is an added challenge. Ultimately I think top half or mid-table once again. Style of play and manager are two strengths that go hand-in-hand. They produced the most possession in the league last season and that led them to conceding the lowest Xg in the league with a team that is better than the sum of its part. Star Asani staying as well will be a boost and arrival of Reis is another excited creative outlet. They underperformed their Xg last year and have had a large turnover of their forwards and may need to rely on youngsters to fill some gaps. Early season schedule could be tough too.