MVFC Blog

One midfielder in, another one out.

But is Billy Celeski a same-for-same replacement of Adrian Caceres? It would appear not. Celeski is an attacking midfielder, but one who is best played in the centre of the park. It seems the wide position played by Caceres will still need filling.

After the Perth Glory’s 4-2 win over Sydney FC in December, in which Celeski scored a hat-trick, Glory coach Dave Mitchell said:

“Billy Celeski is technically a very good player.

“It’s very hard to play him in the line up sometimes and where you want to play him is in behind the front two because that’s probably his best position.”

Source: FourFourTwo

If Mitchell had problems fitting him into the Perth line-up, Celeski is going to have an even harder time securing a regular spot in the starting line-up at the Melbourne Victory. Nick Ward, Kaz Patafta and Carlos Hernández are three other attacking midfielders Ernie Merrick could use behind the strikers.

Celeski has had valuable experience playing alongside several other Melbourne players. Not only is he an Olyroo, playing alongside Leigh Broxham and Nick Ward, but he was also at Perth with Ward and Daniel Vasilevski in the A-League’s inaugural season. When Ward joined Melbourne in December, we saw how effectively he was able to combine with Broxham in the midfield. Could Celeski prove equally effective alongside his Olyroos team mates?

(As a side note, it’s interesting to note that Melbourne is also pursuing another Olryoo: Stuart Musialik. Anyone else sensing a pattern?)

While Celeski’s three-goal feast at the expense of Sydney FC shows that he is capable of getting goals, he is by no means a prolific goal-scorer. The Sydney game was one of only two A-League matches (out of a total of 32) in which Celeski has scored. Perhaps more of a concern is his record of goal assists: just one in his entire time at Perth.

Then again, he was playing for Perth, a side that struggled for goals most of this season. It’s encouraging to note that Celeski’s most impressive performances for Perth came late in the season, coinciding with the Glory’s improved form.

How will Celeski do in a Melbourne Victory side performing well?

Read more about Billy Celeski

• Billy Celeski on Wikipedia
• Celeski profile on Perth Glory website
• Celeski returns to Victory, Herald Sun, Feb 7, 2008
• Billy Celeski joins Melbourne Victory, MVFC Blog, Feb 7, 2008