By AAP
November 8th 2009 @ 2:40am
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Merrick contract extension coincides with record loss
Melbourne Victory chairman Geoff Lord admits it is unfortunate timing to announce a contract extension for coach Ernie Merrick on the night of the A-League club’s biggest ever home loss.
But the Victory boss says Merrick, who has led Melbourne to two championships in the club’s four previous seasons, fully deserves another two seasons at the helm.
“The timing’s not the best Ernie, but … we’re very honoured to extend Ernie’s contract for another two years,” Lord told reporters after Melbourne were thrashed 4-0 by Central Coast Mariners at Etihad Stadium.
“Taking tonight totally out of the equation, Ernie’s been coaching now for four-and-a-half years, we think he’s done an outstanding job for the club, his record is the best win-loss ratio of any coach in the A-League.
“We’re very pleased to go forward again with Ernie, he obviously has more than deserved his opportunity.”
Lord said there had never been any serious doubt from either party that Merrick would stay at the helm.
He and Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna are the only inaugural A-League coaches still with the same clubs.
“It is a great honour to stay at what has been the most successful club and the board have been fantastic in support of the football program,” Merrick said.
“I’m really disappointed about the result tonight, but it’s about going forward from here.”
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NUFCMVFC said | November 8th 2009 @ 3:15am | Report comment
Congratulations to Merrick. I personally came to the point where I had my doubts in season 3 given the inflexibility of tactics etc, but he has bounced back well.
I think MVFC admin like Merrick because he fits into the structure so well. There doesen’t appear to be any clash with Gary Cole, which may have been the case with a Manager with a more prominent personality in the game. He isn’t controversial in his comments etc. And one has to say the structure works well for MVFC, we are able to be progressive in first Trio from Rio, then central america and now SE Asia, and more often than not get players who fit in well. Added to that, the football has slowly improved quite well over the years, and we have developed some good squad strength, and having won the treble last year, we are following up respectably at this time being in second place and we are reaping the rewards of what is a generally well focused stability (of the good kind).
Tonights loss makes it awkward, but CCM are a bit of a bogey side at TD/Etihad, and it wasn’t until late that it ballooned out slightly, due in part to some GK errors. Other than that we had some very good chances at times etc that would have been goals on other nights. So well done Ernie
Midfielder said | November 8th 2009 @ 9:54am | Report comment
A problem is no body rates the Mariners…. the value system people use to judge sides is ignored and many only see the long balls that are played when in fact we are coming Sydney only to SFC on completed passes..
Meaning when people loss to us its a bad loss. We are used to it by now and each year people say we come last or not make the finals.
I wrote a thread just before the season started that we would go close to winning the league and had the best midfield in the league only to be lampooned by everyone … still today I think if weeMac & Travis played for other clubs they would be scene as how good they are … Young Matthew Lewis had his first game and how well we have hid him … lighting fast a leftie … will also one day be a household word..
But back to my point we are not rated and when people loose to us they feel worst … all can say is Mrs Football we are not going to go away no matter how many hounds you set on us.
Pippinu said | November 8th 2009 @ 10:19am | Report comment
Mid
if you keep on relying on goal face scraps and deflections – I ain’t every going to rate you!!!!
I think the time has now come for us to put Mitch between the sticks.
Midfielder said | November 8th 2009 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Pip
What more can I say as our banner says … nobody rates us, we don’t care…
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/MrCelery/NoOne.jpg
Midfielder said | November 8th 2009 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Pip
SBS highlights clip watch Travis set up the first goal…
http://player.sbs.com.au/twg#/twg_08/ALeague/A-LeagueNews/playlist/Melbourne-v-Central-Coast/
BTW we still have weeMac, Doig, Corwell to come back in … Huke is injury free now, Elrich is injury free and is starting to look hungry again …. all we need now is another striker to support Matty. AHHHHhhh Matty Lewis (another Matty we will have to find a new name for him) had him in the youth league for over three years now (the Mariners had a youth league in Hal 2) super. composed debut; what a volley to force the save from Moss.
Chop said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment
Mid,
It’s great that noone rates us, we’ve got the best for and against +9 (maybe equal now with GCU) and the best defence. Let supporters of every team we beat whinge and wine, it makes beating them all the better….
Anyone who watched the game on Saturday night and thinks the CCM are just a long ball team have got their hands on it….
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:07am | Report comment
That 9 goal difference is an amazing number – will count for a lot at the end of the season one way or the other.
I don’t describe teams as to whether they use a long ball or not.
I’ll just say that they were four pretty @rsey goals.
Rob said | November 8th 2009 @ 12:18pm | Report comment
2 more years of Merrick…is this the first good reason for folks to start supporting Heart perhaps?
David V. said | November 8th 2009 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
No just more proof the standard of coaching in this country is among the worst of any professional league on the world.
Gibbo said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:35am | Report comment
why do CCM have this victim mentality? No body rates you? what do you want? Victory fans to suddenly pack up and head north cos you put a few cheapies passed us?
is glen moss the shortest keeper getting around? That dude looks tiny.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:41am | Report comment
Well put Gibbo!! And “cheapies” is an understatement!! It was a night when things went from the ridiculous to the sublime.
We have scored the most goals in the league (22) but have conceded the most (22) – pretty much an incredibly situation for a team sitting second.
Clearly, there’s only one option – put Mitch between the sticks.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:45am | Report comment
If we were to pack up our bags – how exactly to you get to the central coast? Where is it exactly? Are you sure it’s due North?
Gibbo said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:06am | Report comment
i believe its someway north, but it must be equal parts south… kinda in the centre… definately on the coast though…
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:43am | Report comment
It was funny towards the end of the game, and they asked Ross Aloisi whether the 4 goal margin flattered CCM.
He said: No, I don’t think so.
Ah, shadduppa ya face!!
Midfielder said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:59pm | Report comment
Gibbo & Pip
Sad sad sad…. you where owned by the better side … 6-0 in two games ….
Just for you guys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4ECe6JKMvQ
Gibbo said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:04am | Report comment
hey, you got a win, congratulations and fair play to you. my question was directed to your victim mentality as displayed through this whole ‘no body rates us’ whinging. No body rates you? Well cry me river! if you want respect try playing good football, get results and maybe win the thing a couple times out of four!!
no body rates your victim mentality!