Viduka’s return would be a shot in the arm for A-League
Roar Guru By Paddy Higgs, 17 Mar 2009 Paddy Higgs is a Roar Guru
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Even in the glamorous realm of football, getting a stand named after you barely out of your teens is some honour.
It’s a reminder for Melbourne Knights fans of a time when their side was considered a leader of Australia’s domestic game, and when a strapping young lad named Mark Viduka terrorised opposition defences.
Now, if reports from the English press are anything to go by, he could be heading home to where it all began: Melbourne.
Said to be in talks with the Victory, Viduka’s signing would be one to rival any that the A-League has ever seen.
Viduka has often spoke about his desire to finish his career back in his home town.
That swansong may be coming sooner than he expected, with his horrible run with injury showing no sign of abating and club side Newcastle United hardly likely to extend his $170,000-a-week contract as a consequence.
The 43-cap Socceroo has featured just six times in the black and white this season, and has yet to score amid a battle with a troublesome Achilles injury.
Like Fowler‘s move to Australia, money will not be an issue: Viduka has made big bucks in stints with Celtic, Leeds, Boro and Newcastle.
Still, how Viduka would sneak under the Victory salary cap, which must already be fit to burst, is a big question.
He would certainly fit the Merrick’s playing style with his ability to bring other players into play in a tight situation.
In chairman Geoff Lord, Melbourne have one of the shrewdest wheeler and dealers in Australian sport. If anyone can find a way to fit Viduka in, it is he.
Lord and coach Ernie Merrick will also be conscious that this is probably the best chance to get Viduka in the navy blue.
Fresh from a championship year and with an Asian Champions League campaign in 2010, Viduka would join an A-League club bursting with confidence.
It would also prove far harder to lure Viduka in 2010, should he elect to stay in Europe one more season.
The Victory would then have keen competition from the new Melbourne franchise, led by businessman Peter Sidwell.
Another sharp operator, Sidwell would have noted the excitement and media coverage generated by 2009/10 newboys Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury.
For Viduka himself, the benefits of returning to Australia are evident.
For one, the shorter season would suit his increasingly failing body.
It has helped former Newcastle teammate Craig Moore, who battled with regular injury on Tyneside but has hardly been hampered at Queensland.
As yet, Viduka has given no sign as to a decision into his playing future. Intensely media shy and softly spoken, he has rarely conformed to the expectations of the football world as evidenced by his lateral move to Middlesborough from Leeds United when big clubs on the continent were also interested.
His vaunted return to the national team has also been put on hold due to his injury problems, so a fit-again Viduka – even playing in Pim Verbeek’s much put-down A-League – would be a welcome sight.
Verbeek’s views on returning Socceroos is well known, and it led to Scott Chipperfield snubbing overtures from the A-League this week to sign an extension at Swiss club FC Basel.
But Viduka’s is a different case.
He would be a welcome return to the Socceroo fold, especially given the situation of a number of our leading forwards.
Josh Kennedy cannot make the substitutes bench at Bundesliga outfit Karlsruhe, Bruce Djite is still very raw and the diminutive Scott McDonald cannot be asked to play a lone striker’s role.
Thus, the return of the prodigal son to his home town wouldn’t just benefit Melbourne Victory and the A-League.
It could also prove a shot in the arm for Australia ahead of South Africa in 2010.
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March 17th 2009 @ 2:40am
jaymz said | March 17th 2009 @ 2:40am | Report comment
There is talk of Archie heading to Europe to save his world cup ambitions, so maybe if he leaves then Dukes would be the marquee
March 17th 2009 @ 6:40am
Robbos said | March 17th 2009 @ 6:40am | Report comment
A Viduka signing would be as big as Yorke & Fowler, if no bigger as he was the socceroos captain during the WC06.
The same doubt over him with injuries as it would be with Fowler, but what a coup for the A-League & Melbourne.
Nth Queensland Fowler
Gold Coast Cullina
Melbourne Viduka???
Newcastle Chipperfield???
Sydney a fit again Alosi???
Perth Sterovski???
Queensland Moore
We just need CCM, Wellington & Adelaide to all get a marquee player & the A-League will not miss those exodus to Asia.
March 17th 2009 @ 8:01am
Jim of Altona East said | March 17th 2009 @ 8:01am | Report comment
Surely Viduka can see the writing on the wall. A return home would be a fitting swan-song.
But the question is which Melbourne Victory premiership player is going to make way for him…? And surely Archie will stay on??
March 17th 2009 @ 8:16am
jimbo said | March 17th 2009 @ 8:16am | Report comment
Viduka has also been approached by Melb Heart and Melb Croatia and isn’t likely to go to Victory.
His preference is Melb Croatia where he started his career and has a lot of family and friends involved.
March 17th 2009 @ 8:19am
Rusty0256 said | March 17th 2009 @ 8:19am | Report comment
How appropriate’ the ‘V-Bomber’ wearing a big white ‘V’.
Going to be hard to find a spot for Danny A in the same side though?
March 17th 2009 @ 8:23am
Rusty0256 said | March 17th 2009 @ 8:23am | Report comment
If he goes to Melbourne Knights (AKA Croatia) he can forget about any further Socceroo duty.
I’d heard he might do a 1 match guest game for MK against MV though. Hopefully Kevin M will go easy on him.
March 17th 2009 @ 8:31am
Pippinu said | March 17th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
The longer Dukes leaves it, the less likely he is going to be of any value to anyone.
March 17th 2009 @ 8:32am
BIGfootBALLS said | March 17th 2009 @ 8:32am | Report comment
Come home Mark!
March 17th 2009 @ 8:39am
Jesse_Wray said | March 17th 2009 @ 8:39am | Report comment
While I would absolutely love to see the big V Bomber don the big Victory V across his chest, I do have some reservations.
The first of which is his recent history of injuries. There’s no doubt Viduka isn’t as good as what he once was, but even at his current skill level he would be a massive thorn in the side of A-League defenders. Although, he has only made six appearances for Newcastle this season and I do worry Melbourne could make a similar expensive mistake.
Another concern I have is that the Thick White Duke only has, at the most, two seasons left in him. He’s now 33 and I don’t think he will actually feature in any of the World Cup qualifying matches, and I seriously don’t think he will be picked for South Africa if we get there. He’s just too old.
But the biggest concern is that Melbourne are on to a winning formula with the current squad and I can’t see too many personnel changes for 09/10. But, there would have to be big changes to the team to accommodate for Viduka. He would undoubtedly be taken on as the marquee player, which raises questions about the future of Melbourne’s incumbent marquee man, Archie Thompson. I worry that both players could not fit within the salary cap and the talk of Archie heading back to Europe could come to fruition. I think this would be a massive blow for Melbourne, simply because Archie is the club’s talisman, and I don’t think Viduka has the charisma or type of character to fill Archie’s place in Victory fans’ hearts. Melbourne has a wealth of strikers/out-and-out attackers in the form of Archie, Danny Allsopp, Ney Fabiano and Carlos Hernandez, and I would hate to see any of those blokes leave. We need Archie and Allsopp because they have formed the most dangerous understanding in the league; Hernandez is needed for his now blossoming creativity; and Fabiano is needed because each club needs a striker that is content with spending a bit of time on the bench.
Although, having said all of that, my heart is prevailing over my head and I would love to see Viduka back in Melbourne next season.
March 17th 2009 @ 9:01am
metalboxhead said | March 17th 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Why would Viduka go from the EPL to the Victorian Premier League? That’s just wishful thinking. I think a guest appearance or a one-off exhibition match for the Knights is more likely. Victory has a very good chance here to sign him, especially if they can unload Archie.