After a poor start to the season, we can breathe easy again. Two wins on the trot has put Melbourne a point from first place, though the A-League is so tight this season that we’re still only in sixth place. But it’s good to see the team hit some form at last.
With a third of the season almost done, I thought I’d pop in to share my thoughts on how the mighty Victory are faring this year.
The Equilibrium Shattered: Danny Allsopp leaves, Billy Celeski injured
Melbourne came into this season with a stable squad, with just one new face. For a side that normally signs at least 3 or 4 a season, this was quite remarkable. Keeping a stable lineup has its advantages of course, but it can also make a team predictable. Whether that was part of the reason for Melbourne’s sluggish start to the season, I’m not sure. What’s clear is that Kevin Muscat’s injury earlier this season, Danny Allsopp’s departure and the season-ending injury to Billy Celeski has shattered that stability and forced the club to turn to the players market.
So far, the signings have paid off. Bringing back Adrian Leijer was a brilliant and timely coup. The purchase of Robbie Kruse had me buzzing for days, though last weekend was the most we’ve seen of the youngster so far — and even then he seemed to be struggling with the dust quite a bit. Mate Dugandzic impressed against the Gold Coast with a remarkably self-assured performance. With Costa Rican international Marvin Angulo set to join the club this week, and Thai international Sutee Suksomkit also due to arrive soon, Ernie Merrick looks to have plenty of talent at his disposal. Finding a structure that works cohesively will be his biggest challenge in the coming weeks.
The Return of Kevin Muscat
It has surprised me how much Kevin Muscat’s return has impacted the team. I for one thought Muscat had a poor season last year and expected him to hang up the boots, but it was painfully clear in his absence how leaderless and frail Melbourne looked. Granted, we’d also just lost Allsopp and Celeski, so everything was a bit topsy-turvy anyway, but Muscat’s return played no small part in our wins against Adelaide and Gold Coast. How we cope when he does decide to retire is going to be a very big challenge.
Carlos Hernández: Our greatest import ever?
Do you think he’s the best player we’ve ever had? If it came down to it, who would you rather field: Carlos Hernández or Fred?
With the way Hernández is playing right now, I think he’s the best player we’ve ever seen in Victory colours. Four goals in eight matches, every one of them a beauty. If he gets through this season un-injured, I have no doubt that we’ll finish in the top 3.
2 comments ↓
The Gold Coast game was the best of the year to watch by far and I am glad I made the journey to see it live. Fast paced and likely to be a score at either end at any minute. I was concerned when we had Brebs and Broxham in the starting line up but Fab’s, Archie and Carlos combined pretty well to keep the Coast nervous at the back.
I have mentioned Fab’s play acting when injured before and I wish he would take a look at the replay of the hits that Broxham took. Pantelidis ran through him like a train and Broxham just shook it off compared to Fab’s laying like a dead man in the Coast goal square after a bit of a bump from Van Den Brink (I think). (The only time Brox stayed down was after the tackle from Simmons which was frightening to watch and to hear the thud. I thought Brox had broken his leg.)
It is a concern that we seem much more alive and aggressive with Muscat in the team and we have no one else who can fill his leadership role on the park. Where is our next captain??
Even with Muscat though we still look frail at the back. Porter’s goal was painful to watch. Unmarked on the 6 yard line with a defender on each post, a defender in front of him (Muscat) and one behind him and yet he has the opportunity to crouch for a headed goal! Two or three other times we were caught on the break often the result of poor passing out of defense or in midfield.
It was certainly our best 90 minute performance of the year and it was great to beat the Coast and now sit 1 point off the lead but we managed the win with the following in our favour (1) Smeltz out, (2) GCU playing with 10 men, (3) Carlos’ scoring one of the goals of the year and (4) a retaken penalty in the 85 minute. We can’t always assume the football gods will smile on us so favorably.
I don’t think we are quite there yet. We seem to have a few shakey moments each game, especially when you look at how easily we have conceded some goals this year. But there has been quite a few changes to our line up and I don’t think we have put the same side out 2 weeks in a row yet have we??.
I am still sitting on the fence about Glen Moss, he looked good at Wellington last year, but I am not totally convinced yet. I hear he has had issues re his suspension from the NZ national team, so maybe that is it.
I must admit, I think I would rather have Carlos than Fred, maybe because I have seen more of him. Mind you I wouldn’t say no to Fred at MV if he came along. Last season I caught a couple of DC United games on Fox, he didn’t seem the player there like he was here.
At times I get really frustrated with Fabiano too, when is on fire he looks good, but he goes down way too easily and then stays there.
I hope our two new internationals can make an impact.
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