It’s been well-documented that the pattern of the A-League in its first four years has been one of alternating fortunes for the Victory and the Mariners. When the Victory are up, the Mariners are down. And vice versa.
This helps explain my sense of déjà vu in watching the opening game of the A-League. There was much about last night’s game that reminded me of our title defence from two years ago: Hernandez struggling to get into the game, and given his normal high standards, displaying quite a few poor touches.
Crosses from good positions that went nowhere; amateurish first touches and passes completely missing the mark.
And to top it all off, the Mariners getting some early points on the board, despite a dour game plan with very little to recommend it.
Indeed, when the Mariners walked out on the pitch, I thought they were wearing their training shirts. The match certainly possessed the quality of a pre-season training run.
The ungainly Simon, despite possessing poor ball skills, was on the spot to score the first goal of the new season. A harmless set piece landed in a nest of Victory defenders, none of whom were capable of providing what should have been a regulation header to safety.
The ball trickled out to a thankful Simon, who actually failed to drill it, but rather applied a shank of such lollipop proportions that it dipped under the bar.
The second goal was even more comical. The less said the better.
I have previous expressed the concern that one injury to either Muscat or Vargas will send the Victory reeling, and my worst fears have materialized after only the first match (once again, parallels with Milicevic injuring himself in the first game two years ago).
So early in the season, and the parallels with two years ago are quite eerie.
A meager 18,000 attended, and that may well be the most disappointing aspect of the opening night.
I would have expected close to double that under the circumstances.
It’s a bit of a concern, because that quality of game will not get the football aficionados parting with their money. Equally, apart from Richmond supporters, I can’t imagine too many AFL fans being attracted either.
I then had a sudden, terrible thought: what if the Mariners make it to the grand final again, playing like that?
It just doesn’t bear thinking about.
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August 7th 2009 @ 9:03am
AndyRoo said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment
I think this season will be a tale of two halves this year because of the small squads. Melbourne are going to have a slow first half now with Muscatt gone but will stil make the 6 easily by the end of it and who want’s to play against them in the finals.
Mariners should get worse as the season goes on as the other teams get into their grove and stop beating themselves. But I am glad they won this one as it should spark some good form early.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Perth are slow to start too but finish strongly.
There is much less difference beween the teams this year I feel. Nix and Fury are the worst and Nix are good enough to finish 5th. Fury keep upgrading, Williams and now Steffanuto are good gets.
I like the idea of mid week football but 8 pm seesm to late. Put it at seven and people can have a couple fo drinks after work and then go. Anyway bring on the new stadium it looks fantastic.
But please someone sign Bosnich, I want too see him play in the A league again.
August 7th 2009 @ 10:17am
Gaz said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Bozza is on his way to Gold Coast as we speak, should be on the bench tomorrow.
August 7th 2009 @ 9:17am
Redb said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Pip,
Agree the crowd was poor. I would have thought about 25,000 given they’re the reigning premiers and it was the first game of the season.
Contrary to what MVDave has said the build up has been bigger this year than last years in the press. The Herald Sun and of the course their sponsor The Age gave them good coverage including two liftouts.
Radio SEN have featured interviews with Melb Victory and A League folk all week and part of last week – I’ve heard Simon Hill, Ernie Merrick, Archie Fraser and the new kid who won the ‘Foxtel Football’ star thingy?
Also seen reports on Ch 9 news, Foxtel,etc.
On balance, Thursday nights are not great, but a one off with the hype of the first game is usually enough. eg: Carlton V Richmond start of 2009 – crowd of 76,000 on a Thursday night.
Comparing to Bulldogs is illogical, that is 1 club out of 10. Melb Victory ARE futbol in this town.
New stadium at 31K is starting to look about right afterall and will enable Melb Victory to fixture games head to head with the AFL on a Friday night instead of Thursday. That has a sting in the tail though as cross AFL support will be reduced.
The other factor for me is the FFA have got it wrong fixturing a nothing side from the Central Coast of NSW who hardly inspire any rivalry. Roar v GC – definitely has some spice, but Melb v Central Coast – yawn, should have been Adelaide or Sydney, but probably Adelaide given the FFA would want to start strongly in Sydney this year.
Now Melb Victory have lost their first game some momentum from bandwagon support will be lost. Pip your right to be feeling a little flat and not just becuase MV lost.
Redb
August 7th 2009 @ 12:43pm
Brickowski said | August 7th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
I don’t understand this part:
“should have been Adelaide or Sydney, but probably Adelaide given the FFA would want to start strongly in Sydney this year.”
Are you talking about Sydney getting a good start with crowds or points? Either way it makes no sense as we are away this weekend in NQ, and had we been at etitard last night it would have been an absolute embarrassment for ‘victory’.
August 7th 2009 @ 1:04pm
Redb said | August 7th 2009 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
I wasnt aware Sydney were playing away from home first round – but that just backs up my belief the FFA stuffed up the opening round. (apart from Bris v GC).
For the opening round you would want a good matchup first up in Sydney and Melbourne.
Redb
August 7th 2009 @ 1:21pm
AndyRoo said | August 7th 2009 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
Sydney playing away is ok since it’s at Fury (for their first game)
August 7th 2009 @ 1:23pm
Redb said | August 7th 2009 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
Why not give the Gold Coast hosting rights for their first game?
August 7th 2009 @ 1:37pm
AndyRoo said | August 7th 2009 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
rolls on floor laughing
Well the thinking is that they can fit more at Suncorp, which does suit me and I am going….but..
The whole Palmer Boycotting (then not boycotting), tellingthe fans to stay at home, Miren refusing to promote the game and Frank talking to the cardboard Miren is all part of the drama that eventuated from the FFA deciding not to let Gold Coast start with a home game
It has been an ongoing point of debate for 3 weeks in Football circles. You lucky AFL fans got to miss out on the circus.
August 7th 2009 @ 9:35am
whiskeymac said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
i wondered who wld blog first on the game =)
well maybe the crowds were also low because it wasnt a so claled publicity friendly glamour tie? if it had been Sydney or Adelaide first up maybe there would have been the crowds. as it is having the oft-maligned central cost play the first game (and take all three points… and break their ’09 “duck”). Am hoping, like others, that MV’s fans will turn up in numbers for the rest of the season. am also hoping that CCM continue to shock the comp. as they do every year.
August 7th 2009 @ 9:35am
Art Sapphire said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Oh Pip – its all doom and gloom for you after one game.
Here is some analysis from last night I have posted some of these comments on other posts this morning but it needs to be said again.
Merrick is the worst manager to ever win 2 championships. If Merrick persists with Brebner and Broxham in midfield again I will personally take my 5 year membership card and make him swallow it whole.
The Melbourne public deserve better. I wish to congatulate the people who did not turn up to last night’s game. They had better things to do like washing the dishes and taking out the garbage.
The worrying sign is that most squads have improved and we have remained static. We have no defensive cover and it will be interesting to see how the team plays without Muscat for the next month.
Merrick better pull his finger out because a repeat of season 3 will be the best thing that can happen to the 2nd melbourne team in regards to attracting fans who want to see good football.
Anyway, its only one game, lets see what happens against the Roar next Saturday.
August 7th 2009 @ 9:45am
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:45am | Report comment
Art
you know I’ve been harping on about our lack of defensive cover for weeks now – but who would have thought we’d feel it barely an hour into the season!!
Kemp to partner Vargas!!
C’mon mate – you must know this is looking every bit like the disaster of two years ago.
We can write off the season now – and look forward to the bubble dome.
August 7th 2009 @ 9:39am
MVDave said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:39am | Report comment
BTW Just on the crowd…the current HAL average gate for 2009-2010 season is 18,900…yes a whopping 50% increase on last season
August 7th 2009 @ 9:46am
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Every cloud has a silver lining!!
August 7th 2009 @ 9:47am
AndyRoo said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:47am | Report comment
First game of the season should be one of your best crowds though.
They did an A league preview on OneHD Thursday Night Live… only counted about 10 mistakes in the 6 or 7 minutes. They really needed to get someone in like they do for the Rugby League segment.
August 7th 2009 @ 9:41am
AndrewM said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:41am | Report comment
Melb don’t have a chance this year. They have one of the worst sides IMO.. I watched the game last night and apart from Hernandez and Muscat it looks quite thin..
Kemp is a poor player. They have no other decent midfielders.. I think this is Merricks last season and the Victory should employ a european coach.
August 7th 2009 @ 9:49am
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Victory fans have never quite taken to Kemp – but he did have a better season last year.
However – who in their wildest dreams would have imagined that he would have to cover for Muskie in the middle of defence for a month??!!
Ernie – get onto the blower to Leijer or Kisnorbo – NOW!!!
Pay whatever it takes – just get one of them here now – or the season is dead before it has begun.
August 7th 2009 @ 9:59am
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
AndyRoo
once again – I would have expected a much bigger crowd for the opening game – considering it’s coming off the back of two doubles in three seasons.
To end up with the 2nd lowest attendance figure ever at the Dome is a massive worry.
It basically means that the Victory has failed to consolidate the massive support we know it has.
Put it this way – if you can’t consolidate your support after winning all the silverware of offer – you aren’t ever going to consolidate that support – that’s reality.
August 7th 2009 @ 10:03am
Art Sapphire said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
The big problem is perception. Victory might have 20k as rusted on support but if they want to see larger attendances at their games they need to put out on the park attractive football teams.
No one will want to watch a team with Brebner and Broxham in the middle of the park. They don’t offer anything.
Next week I hope to see Celeski, Ward and Sukha starting the game.
Actually, Ward did very well when he came on last night. He supplied the best 2 crosses of the night.
August 7th 2009 @ 10:10am
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:10am | Report comment
Art
you’re right about Ward – two excellent crosses in the space of 10 minutes or less.
I don’t want to bag Berger too much, he did well to get into good positions – but it’s no use getting into good positions 10 times – and delivering 10 woeful crosses (which is what he did).
Kemp delievered half a dozen terrible crosses as well.
Really it was just ugly all round.
And let us all be honest – CCM were just as ugly – maybe uglier!!
Consider these facts:
1. Possession was 64-36 in favour of MV.
2. CCM only had two real incursions into the MV box all night – resulting in two lucky goals!!
3. They had more trouble holding onto the ball than us – which is saying something!!
Tony has described CCM’s game plan on another thread, so no need to labour it here – but it’s a very ugly game plan and it does zero credit to the league as a whole.