Entries Tagged 'Players' ↓

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.

The Melbourne Victory decided yesterday not to appeal Michael Theoklitos’ red card, but today have to decide whether to appeal the 2-match suspension given to their #1.

One positive bit of news is that the FFA has agreed to allow Melbourne to sign a replacement goalkeeper on a short-term basis. Alternatively, the club could use Mitch Langerak, with youth team keeper Mijo Marinovic warming the bench.

We’re four rounds into the A-League, and Kaz Patafta is yet to appear for his new club, the Newcastle Jets. All this after the youngster left Melbourne in search of regular game time.

So has Gary van Egmond’s decision to keep Patafta out of the squad vindicated Ernie Merrick’s decisions regarding Patafta last year?

Archie Thompson has re-signed with the Melbourne Victory for another two years.

Archie has been the club marquee since its inaugural campaign and with him re-signing today, it seems he may continue to be the marquee for the next two years.

As with most things, some fans are happy with the news, while others aren’t quite so pleased. Many don’t consider Archie to be worthy of the marquee role, preferring to use the money to attract a bigger name. But it’s worth remembering that Archie remains the league’s top scorer. And he’s impressive off-the-bench performance against the Newcastle Jets last week was another reminder that Archie, on a good day, is a powerful asset to have on your team.

The rumours started yesterday, and the Herald Sun and Age were both reporting today that Michael Theoklitos may be moving to Everton.

But news from the UK is that Everton have signed Carlo Nash as their back-up ‘keeper instead of Theoklitos.

Seems Theo isn’t going anywhere just yet.

Grant Brebner may be fit and ready by the third round of the new A-League season. The Scotsman struggled with a groin injury all of last season, and hasn’t played for the Victory since December.

A report in the Herald Sun today says that Brebner is focused on being back in action for Melbourne as soon as possible.

“Last year was personally one of the worst I’ve had in terms of how I felt,” he said.

“There was probably only two games where I felt 100 per cent and we . . . were hoping and praying it was going to get better through work off the park. But it got to the stage where it was obvious I needed to take an enforced break.

“I just couldn’t give my best (so) how long do you want to go on with it? Do you want to get it right or spend the rest of your career an 80 per cent player?”

Source: The Herald Sun

Brebner’s return would certainly give Ernie Merrick an interesting selection headache, with José Luis López, Leigh Broxham and Brebner all playing a similar defensive midfield role. And those aren’t even the only options available: Steve Pantelidis, Steven Pace and Kevin Muscat have all slotted into that position.

It’s an exciting prospect, really. Especially when you consider the plethora of attacking options around. Me thinks we’re in with a pretty good chance this year.

The Melbourne Victory has officially announced what the Costa Rican press and many Victory fans have known for months: José Luis López has signed a 2-year loan deal with Melbourne.

Joe Keenan makes way for the Costa Rican international, ensuring Melbourne doesn’t spill over its quota of 4 visa players. Keenan is yet to sign a deal elsewhere, but trialled with the Newcastle Jets in May and has been passing around his resumé in the UK.

“Pupy” López, a holding midfielder, has been a regular starter in Costa Rica’s leading club, Deportivo Saprissa. He was also the captain of Costa Rica’s Olympic squad in 2004.

Ernie Merrick on the signing:

“We were always aiming to add another creative, holding midfielder and the job description really meant that we wanted someone with good experience.”

The Sydney Morning Herald

Signing a holding midfielder has been on Merrick’s to-do list for a while now, and López certainly seems like good value. At 27, he adds experience to a midfield stuffed with Olyroos. And if Carlos Hernández is anything to go by, a talented Costa Rican certainly has the potential to create headaches for A-League opposition.

But there’s something ominous about Merrick’s insistence on the need for another holding midfielder. This is a coach who, if you’ll remember, played three defensive midfielders for half of last season. Talk all you like about delivering attacking football, but when you stick Leigh Broxham, Kevin Muscat and Grant Brebner in the centre of the park, you have to wonder where that attacking spirit is going to come from.

Of course, that threesome was eventually dismantled, as Grant Brebner dropped out injured and Kevin Muscat was pulled back into defence.

With López, Merrick once again has the luxury of stacking his midfield with defensive players. Especially if Grant Brebner ever recovers from his groin injury.

Two holding midfielders is bearable. But please Ernie, please don’t put on three! I beg you.

My apologies for the lack of posting lately. It is off-season though.

Here’s some news items you may have missed during the week:

• Kaz Patafta: Released by Benfica, under-utilised by the Melbourne Victory, young Kaz runs to the wide open arms of Gary Van Egmond.
• Mark Byrnes: The former Victory player has signed a short-term deal with Apia Leichardt in the NSW Premier League. He’s hoping to make his way back into the A-League.
• A-League expansion: There are plenty of people jostling for a piece of the pie, with no less than three Melbourne teams hoping to become the second Melbourne club. Meanwhile, billionaire Clive Palmer has thwarted the Gold Coast Galaxy franchise, wooing the FFA with his own – more lucrative – club, Gold Coast United, which he hopes will become the new Bling FC.
• Carlos Hernández: The injury he picked up against Juventus has forced him to forego a spot in the Costa Rican World Cup qualifying squad.

For all the latest news, you can follow two other feeds I’m updating simultaneously throughout the week. If you’re on Twitter, follow my profile. Otherwise, this page is updating regularly and has an RSS feed.

The Newcastle Jets have turned their eyes to Melbourne in search of new players to add to their title-defending squad.

Joe Keenan is on a three-day trial with the Newcastle Jets, according to The Herald:

The 25-year-old has a season to run on a two-year deal in the Victorian capital, but coach Ernie Merrick has opened the way for him to move on.

Keenan’s departure will pave the way for Melbourne to sign another foreign player, likely to be Costa Rican defender José Luis López.

Antun Kovacic is also on trial with the Jets. Some Victory fans may remember the Richmond defender for his brief addition to the squad in season 1 as an injury replacement.

Newcastle have also been touted as a possible destination for Kaz Patafta, who has severed ties with Benfica FC.

And just to round things off, another former Victory player has been talking with Jets coach Gary Van Egmond. Ljubo Milicevic, it appears, has not been able to find a new club since he parted ways with the Victory in February.

Hey Gary, you want to check out Leandro Love as well?

This news came out before the weekend, but I never got time to post about it. Nick Ward has been named as Melbourne Victory’s Youth Marquee.

Under the youth marquee system, every A-League club is allowed to pay one local player under the age of 24 up to $150,000 outside the salary cap. 23-year old Ward, who came to Melbourne on a six-month contract back in December, extended his contract to run till the end of April 2009.