The title race looks wide open with newly-promoted FC Team A and AC Cricklewood hoping to challenge perennial under-achievers Zig Zag for a top two finish.
Owing to the departure of a large number of players to join the new FC Team side in the Middlesex County League, FC Team A take on quite a different look from last year. Last year's B team management team of Adam Newsome and Darren Freed, have been put in charge and Matt Smerin has been brought in as coach to provide touchline assistance.
FC Team's Adam Goldsmith
Three players haven been retained from last season's squad while six newcomers have joined the fray.
The mantle of managing the top side within FC Team's MSFL set-up is not taken lightly and the new management trio have "set their targets high with promotion being the baseline and the league title the ultimate goal".
AC Cricklewood have had a change of management with Elliot Chalmers taking over from Rob Wilson.
The team were dealt an early season blow when striker Richard Davis tore his cartilage. The performances of Mark Wagman, James Temple and Nigel Goldthorpe will be key.
Dynamo Hendon go going into the campaign with mixed emotions. Last season their best-laid plans suffered from poor availability of key players. Consequently, they battled against the drop and just got themselves out of jail in their last game of the campaign.
Manager Jeremy Brown has kept to his method and will be bringing in lots of new faces, most of which are new to the MSFL.
He said: "I have always believed in bringing more youngsters and newcomers to the MSFL and getting more Jews of all ages out there, playing football with friends."
"With key experienced players like Gideon Spector and Michael Patterson still playing for Dynamo, it will be a good bunch who are capable of achievement and they will certainly be pushing for promotion again."
Montana Boca United B have made some tasty additions to the management set-up and the squad. Manager Bobby Major welcomes new assistant Daniel Beresford to the backroom staff. His positive attitude and winning mentality is already rubbing off on the players," said Major.
Warren Averbuch, Blake Buckman and Josh Mizrahi have joined with Major confident that the new additions will "add strength at the back and pace and flair in midfield and up front.
"Additionally, we are currently trying to tie up a couple more signings that should be concluded before the season starts."
Having won 11 out of 12 last season, L'Equipe hope to continue where they left off. Player-manager Oliver Manson says: "Our aim is to win promotion, and if the Minor Cup happens again then we want to go at least one stage further this year after our semi-final heartache last time out."
Manson believes that a great team spirit is the reason why no players have left. Nick Stern has joined from Brady Maccabi. Paul Rubinstein, injured for most of last season, "will be like a new signing," said Manson.
The gaffer believes his team "will be the ones to watch. If we reach the levels of late last season from the offset, we could have a very good campaign.
"We don't have any stand-out players, but Jason Miller was averaging nearly a hat-trick a game towards the end of last season so hopefully he can start the season well.
"And you never know, come next May, we might see him lead the goal charts."
Gabriel John has taken over as manager from Matt Bick at Pure Orange Function Band. With three goals to his name in pre-season, he said: "We are widely tipped to finish top three, if not push for the league. New team new manager, big hopes."
South Manx B have targeted back-to-back promotions. Evergreen player-manager Simon Davidson, who led the team to the Division Five title last term, claims that "another winners' medal may be asking just too much with the new make up of the divisions.
"If it wasn't for our new signings all being at university we would walk this division but unfortunately they can't play most weeks so it is hard to predict what this season will bring."
The talismanic Richard ‘Schnitzelman' Fogelman bagged 36 goals in all competitions last year. Davidson has fought off several offers and hopes that the golden boot winner will prove his ace in the pack again.
Aron Taylor is the Paul Scholes of the team with an ability to pass, tackle and finish. Davidson said: "He is the midfield dynamo who will pull the strings along with Gabriel Saul in the middle of the park."
Catford & Bromley Maccabi hope to bounce back from a second consecutive relegation. Manager Lester Jacobs has made very few changes to the squad but he is in need of a keeper. Former RJC shot-stopper Paul Leonard, the Brad Friedel of the MSFL, has been linked with a move to the club.
Zig Zag manager Neal Cohen believes his team is well-equipped to make a push for a promotion slot. The additions of Nick Levy from the Lions, Paul Shenkin, Brett Levene, Dave Widra, Byron Watkins and Ewan Birket should make them more competitive.
FC Team B and Hendon United C complete the division.
