Ins: Braedyn Crowley (Northcote City), Nicolás Colazo (Boca Juniors), Michael Jakobsen (Esbjerg), Tim Cahill (unattached), Joshua Rose (Central Coast Mariners) Fernando Brandán, Neil Kilkenny (Preston North End), Daniel Arzani (AIS), Luke Brattan (loan - Manchester City), Bruce Kamau (Adelaide United), Manny Muscat (Wellington Phoenix), Ruon Tongyik (Adelaide United youth team)
Outs: Jack Clisby (Western Sydney Wanderers), Jacob Melling (Western Sydney Wanderers), James Brown (released), Wade Dekker (released), Ben Garuccio (Adelaide United), Aaron Hughes (released), Patrick Kisnorbo (captain - retired), Marc Marino (Adelaide United), Aaron Mooy (Manchester City - loaned to Huddersfield Town), Harry Novillo (Manisaspor - Turkey), James Trifiro (released), Alex Wilkinson (Sydney FC), Michael Zullo (Sydney FC)
Last season:
City scored the most goals of any club during the regular season and were led by Golden Boot winner Bruno Fornaroli, although City's fourth placed finish couldn't translate into post-season silverware.
Melbourne won their elimination final against Perth before being blown out 4-1 at Coopers Stadium to the eventual Champions Adelaide in the semi-final.
It was City's best season since joining the league in 2010 which includes the Melbourne Heart days, so while it's taken the squad some time to grow, their window is now open and they're ready to win.
Key player: Tim Cahill
There are a few City players that fit under this category, but it's hard to go past the most prolific scorer in Socceroos history.
The 36-year-old returns home after a fruitful overseas career that spanned 19 seasons, and in coming back Cahill becomes the first player signed under the new guest marquee rule.
Cahill will lead the line alongside Golden Boot winner Bruno Fornaroli in what may be the deadliest strike force in A-League history, but Cahill needs to live up to his hype if that's to be the case.
There's no doubt the service will be there for the pair up front, and if Cahill can have a similar influence that Fornaroli did in his first season, he'll be almost impossible to stop.
Why they'll win:
This squad could be the greatest team assembled in Hyundai A-League history.
It's a massive statement to make, but when you see names like Tim Cahill, Bruno Fornaroli, Luke Brattan, Neil Kilkenny, Ivan Franjic and Thomas Sorensen in the same starting XI it begins to make sense.
If this team can gel quickly, then there's no doubting they'll be the team to beat.
They've got quality all over the park and their depth is as good as any other squad, so if City can get a roll on come finals time, they may just be able to win their first trophy.
Why they won't:
If everything goes right for City this is their title to lose, but one area of the pitch that isn't too impressive is the defence.
Josh Rose and Ivan Franjic give them more than enough on the flanks, but it's their centre back pairing that could be the downfall of John van't Schip's men.
Despite being quite experienced Michael Jakobsen hasn't played in the A-League before, while his likely partner in Osama Malik is better suited to playing in the middle of midfield.
City also have Connor Chapman in reserve, but the young defender may not have the expertise to match it with some of the league's best attacking units.
Only Wellington and Central Coast conceded more goals than City during last year's campaign, so they'll need to rectify that first and foremost if they're to think about winning it all.
Starting XI: (All starting XI's are default 4-4-2)
Goalkeeper: Thomas Sorensen
Defenders: Joshua Rose, Osama Malik, Michael Jakobsen, Ivan Franjic
Midfielders: Fernando Brandan, Neil Kilkenny, Luke Brattan, Nicholas Colazo
Attackers: Tim Cahill, Bruno Fornaroli
Championship odds (courtesy of TopSport)
Predictions: 1st
On paper this team is a clear front-runner for first position, but that must translate onto the field.
Cahill's needs to work with Fornaroli and not diminish the role of the Uruguayan, while a completely new look midfield needs to gel sooner rather than later.
If they're to do both of those things plus sure up their defence (all of which we think they will), then silverware likely awaits Melbourne City.
