It was nice to get back on the winner’s list last night with a 4-0 thumping of Perth. But as the title suggests the opposition, to put it simply were quite ordinary. Could you imagine what the scoreline would have been if Melbourne were at full strength with Hernandez and Fabiano available, it could have been quite scary. And to be honest I got a little bored throughout the second half and spent most of it watching and listening to the Northern Terrace (shown above) in action.
The crowd of 18,000 was quite disappointing but the odd kick off (5pm on a Saturday) would have contributed to the number of people not being able to attend along with the prospect of seeing Perth in action. Thankfully we only play them once at home this year. Crowd numbers should be boosted for the next home game, which in all likelihood will be a top of the table clash against Sydney. Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend :(.
It was good also to see Danny Allsopp back on the scorer’s sheet with a double, which was also especially good for my A-League Fantasy Football team as he is my captain. It was also amusing to see Archie Thompson efforts to get on the scoresheet were more often than thwarted by his teamates much to his frustration.
Not much else to write about the game in general but after playing every team once its great to be sitting solely on top of the table with things looking promising heading into the international break. Hopefully it can continue for the rest of the season.
I was asked to comment in my previous post about the announcement last week that the FFA has become talks with a consortium to create a second Melbourne team for the 2010/11 A-League season. I provided a brief response but I thought I would elaborate.
Initially I was skeptical of the idea of a second team in Melbourne, mainly because there was probably other areas in Australia that could be better served by an A-League team rather than create a second team here in Melbourne. But after some thought I personally can’t wait for the inclusion of a second team in Melbourne. The A-League in order to continue to grow needs to great some serious rivalries. Whilst Melbourne Victory has fairly intense rivalries with Sydney and Adelaide - a city rival would be so much better. I can’t wait for the sold out crowds that will surely be the envy of all other states.
I’m not too sold on the name “Melbourne Heart” but it is my understand that this is just a consortium name and is more likely to Melbourne City or Melbourne United. And as for colours for the proposed new team - I reckon they should be red. Why red you may ask? When you think of all the city rivalries around the world, more often than there is a red half and a blue half. Think of Liverpool and Everton, Manchester United and Manchester City, AC Milan and Internazionale, Lazio and Roma and Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich just to name a few.
My only concern with a second team in Melbourne is their proposed target. With the Victory already well established as one of the best supported teams in the country it will be initially difficult for the new team to attract their own audience. Their has been talk of this team targetting or basing themselves in the ever expanding south eastern suburbs of Melbourne. For me I don’t believe this is a wise move, they should just aim to be an alternative to the Melbourne Victory.
Bring on 2010 I say - I can’t wait for the derby games. Plus it gives me the opportunity to go and watch football every weekend.
Usually when Melbourne lose I take the result pretty philosophically, but some reason on Sunday I was pretty grumpy after our 2-0 loss to Queensland. Grumpy because of the way we played and tactics used. Grumpy because of the poor refereeing. Grumpy because one of my favourite players got sent off. And grumpy because I knew I would cop a lot of crap from the number of Roar fans that I know.
I went into the game in a pretty good, especially with the news that Wellington had beaten Sydney. But as I got to the ground and took my seat, it just didn’t feel like it would be our day. Maybe it was because I wasn’t wearing my “lucky hat” from the previous two home games. Who knows.
Tactically I think we got it wrong from the start. Last night’s game clearly showed that Brebner and Lopez can’t play in the same starting line-up. Brebner looked woeful and often got the balls that we have seen Lopez distribute with such efficiency in the previous five rounds. Also the relegation of Berger to the bench seemed a bit odd has been providing plenty of drive on the left.
And then there is Ben Williams, Sydney FC’s favourite referee. Missed a blatant handball in the area and should have carded Tiatto early on for one of his numerous late challenges. It set the tone for the rest of the match. And the Carlos Hernandez send off for a second bookable offence. Player gets his run checked and gets carded for simulation. What about the numerous body checks by Craig Moore all night? For once, I agree with Eamonn’s comments, we don’t need him in the Socceroos lineup.
In my grumpiness I almost forget to mention that it was great to see the Northern Terrace back in almost full voice. They have been missed. They are part of what makes Melbourne the best supported team in the land and hopefully the FFA sees the error of their HEM ways with a show of support such as this. Instead of sitting by myself in future I might actually join them.
I’m not really blaming the ref for the loss (just asking for the removal of the double standards) as in reality we didn’t deserve to win and some credit must go to Queensland for their efforts. I am thinking maybe we should start the game next week with ten men and save the referee the trouble of picking someone to send off because no one likes a grumpy Neil.
So Ney Fabiano gets nine weeks for spitting at Robert Cornthwaite, whilst Dino Djulbic only gets five for spitting in the direction of a referee. Obviously the decision by Matthew Breeze cannot be questioned, as the referees never get it wrong do they. It also seems a little odd that the decision seems to be have been made without the input of the Adelaide players involved, namely Cornthwaite and Travis Dodd, who noted in the media earlier this week that he didn’t notice Fabiano deliberately spit at his teammate. Watch out for the appeal and a possible trip to the Court of Arbitration. The FFA needs to take a good hard look at its tribunal - its slowly becoming a bit of a farce.
Leading up to this match I realised I hadn’t seen Melbourne play Adelaide in Melbourne since the 6-0 whitewash of the 2006/07 Grand Final. For last year’s one and only home match against Adelaide I had to rely on text updates as I had other commitments. Also I realised during the game that I still have an intense dislike of Adelaide United - probably a little unhealthy I know but I was extremely happy when that final whistle had blown and we had won 1-0.
The talking point of the match was obviously the sending off on Ney Fabiano for allegedly spitting at Adelaide’s Robert Cornthwaite. I say allegedly because I was sitting at the opposite end of the ground to the incident plus the replays I have seen are pretty inconclusive. Its not like you see a big lurgy fly from the mouth of Fabiano in the direction of Cornthwaite. Fabiano was pretty fired up over the incident and it may just have been a case of him forgetting that old adage of “say it, don’t spray it”. I also think its a harsh call by John over at A seat at the A-League calling for Melbourne to dump him over the incident. Also I do tend to agree with him on the Cristiano “diving” call.
Friday night also saw the end of an era. It was the end of “Kevin Muscat never missing a penalty” era. Fortunately for him it rebounded nicely and he was able to tap home for the only goal of the game. And I must say what a difference a year makes. This time last year every time Matthew Kemp touched the ball he was greeted with jeers of derision. On Friday night every time he took a corner close to where I was sitting he was applauded and cheered.
Good performance by the team to maintain their style of play whilst being down to ten men. It was reminiscent of that Central Coast game back in our championship season. Lopez, still coming back from international duty was certainly missed in the midfield, but Celeski showed that he is capable of playing a different role in the midfield.
Also good to see we got almost 25,000 people to a game that clashed with an AFL final, that in itself only had 47,000 spectators. First time in our history that a Victory game has gone up against an AFL final and the result was extremely pleasing.
Things are certainly looking good - especially from the top of the table after the completion of the round. Hopefully it continues as we travel north to play the Central Coast Mariners and I hopefully find a decent place to watch the match.
As I said in my previous post, I was a little excited about Friday night’s game - first home game of the season and against Newcastle, a team for some reason I despise. Probably something to do with Joel Griffiths I’m sure. The afternoon pre-game was put also to good use, baiting members of my work’s Newcastle office.
Maybe, it was the first game of the season, or the fact there was no way I was going to wear my MV shirt from last year with “Patafta” on the back or most probably the effects of the beer drunk at after work drinks but I decided to dress up for the occasion - tie, vest, jacket, nice shirt, pants and shoes - you know the deal. Only problem, I don’t know how to tie a tie (don’t have to wear one for work) so I quickly learnt.
Anyway I was well rewarded for my dress sense with a 5-0 thumping of Newcastle and some excellent play from the Melbourne boys. The match started off slowly and I thought for a while it was going to be one of those nights where we dominate and then Joel Griffiths pops up in the 80th minute and bangs in the only goal of the game. But with a bit of tactical genius by Ernest Merrick (something you don’t hear me say to often), substituting an injured Thwaite for Archie Thompson, the flood of goals started as the Newcastle defence was made to look very ordinary. The main culprits being North and Covic.
There was a lot to be pleased about on Friday night - especially the way we played, but for me the standout players would have to be Hernandez, Lopez and Berger. An honourable mention goes to Ney Fabiano, who was unlucky not to get amongst the goals despite tireless running all night. I probably noticed his running more than mainly because of his running style. Make sure you have a look next time - its a bit odd. I am really enjoying our style of play at the moment and it makes for much more enjoyable viewing than what we were seeing same last season.
Was a bit disappointed with the crowd of only 22,000 - thought there would have been a few more with it being the first game of the season and all, but I guess everyone wasn’t as excited as I was. Hopefully in a couple of weeks time there will be a crowd of 30,000+ as we take on fellow league leaders, Adelaide.
And finally if you want to see me all dressed up for the game, visit here because it probably won’t happen again.
First home game of the season. A giant team poster in The Age. Hopefully a big crowd - I’m guessing around 26,000. A chance to boo Joel Griffiths. What more could you ask for? I’m a little excited!
Its always good to be on top of the league, even its only two weeks into the season. But what is far more pleasing is the style in which yesterday’s win was achieved in what was atrocious conditions. It was also good to see we tried to stick with our passing game (as did Wellington with theirs) on a pitch that had more water than most of our state’s dams and didn’t resort to the long ball that was prevalent throughout last season.
Standout player for the Victory was Danny Allsopp, who after a pretty poor game last week made two classy finishes (and could have almost had a third with a sublime chip that was cleared off the line - he must have been watching the Olympic mens final) and then turned provider for Ney Fabiano’s first goal in a Victory shirt. Nice to see him also get on the scoresheet after going so close last week.
After many weeks away from home it will be great to see the Victory back in Melbourne next Friday night against Newcastle, a team we have struggled against since Gary van Egmond took charge. The five day turnaround is not ideal, especially with injury concerns for Vargas. Also with the possible returns of Thompson and Ward, only strengthens our line-up. I can’t wait for Friday!
Thought I would head off to the local on Saturday night to watch the Sydney vs Melbourne match particularly as I was rushing back from watching the Green Gully vs Melbourne Knights top of the table clash in the VPL (you can read my report here) and didn’t have time to go anywhere else. I don’t usually go there to watch Victory games and a Saturday night I doubt I will be returning. I shall not be naming names as I have done that on other forums.
First up, when enquiring to the possibility of putting the game on a big screen (they have five of them), the young lady behind the bar responded with a “not a hope in hell” because people wanted to watch the AFL match that was on that night along with the Olympics. I then kindly pointed out that the aforementioned game was being shown on four screens already and surely they could spare one for the football. Reluctantly she changed one of the channels so we (I was there with the girlfriend) didn’t have have to squint at the minute screen at the bar.
Secondly, we ordered some food to eat whilst watching the game. Nothing too fancy, just standard pub food and they couldn’t even get that right. It was downright ordinary. Thirdly, some of the patrons thought it must have been odd that we were watching football and asked what country we were from. Anyway, rant over and onto the game itself.
It was disappointing that Melbourne didn’t take away all three points from the game after completely dominating the first half and most of the second. A positive to come out of it was the style of play which was reminiscent of some of the form of late last season but disappointment that we didn’t make the most of our opportunities and we also found Clint Bolton in fine form.
All the new signings, played well and I was extremely pleased with the performance of Jose Luis Lopez and his command of the midfield and his combinations with fellow Costa Rican, Hernandez. Honourable mentions go to Ney Fabiano and Thwaite as well for their efforts. The injection of Celeski late on was another positive as he carried on the form that he showed in our failed Olympics campaign. Couldn’t have really expected to play more than he did, considering that he only got off the plane 24 hours earlier.
Plenty to pleased about, but overall it was probably two points lost than a point gained. Hopefully the result doesn’t come back to bite us in the arse later on in the season. Luckily there were two other draws so we are not that far off the pace. As long as don’t rack up five in a row like we did last year and I’ll be a happy man. And next time I will be off to a pub that gives a shit about football.
I don’t particularly like the Australian propensity to give people nicknames or shorten their names. Therefore I was particularly non-plussed when reading this article, to note that Melbourne Victory players had nicknamed new signing Jose Luis Lopez, J-Lo. Not very original boys. In the unlikely chance that I would choose a nickname for our new central midfielder, I would have called him George, but that’s just me.
