Australian soccer player Harry Kewell and Melbourne Victory coach Mehmet Durakovic. AAP Image/Julian Smith
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Over the course of two hours on Sunday evening, one man will have a better idea on his destiny. Besieged Melbourne Victory manager, Mehmet Durakovic, will be put under the spotlight as his misfiring team takes on Gold Coast United at AAMI Park.
He met the press at training yesterday and gave what many in the fourth estate considered his finest media performance.
He fixed his gaze and stated with grim determination: “At the end of the day, I am the boss. The buck stops with me.”
As I was watching Durakovic, I suddenly had a flashback. I was taken back to the year 2003. I was watching the Iraqi Information Minister, Mohammed Saïd al-Sahaf, all over again.
“They are not near Baghdad, don’t believe them. They are nowhere.”
You all know the story. The closer U.S forces marched in on Baghdad, the more bullish the Minister sounded to world’s press. Well, if you’re going to go out, you might as well sound like a winner.
Mehmet is not the first manager to find himself in this position and he certainly won’t be the last. But, his situation is different. He’s become a character in Melbourne Victory’s Theatre of the Absurd.
As Michael Lynch in “The Age” reported yesterday, former Argentine striker, Abel Balbo, was offered the job of football director only weeks after Francis Awaritefe’s appointment.
“The job offer to Balbo, who is also managed by Bernie Mandic, appears to have been an initiative to allay any concerns Kewell might have had about the coaching standards at Victory. The deal had been sanctioned by Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro and board member Harry Stamoulis.”
This week Francis Awaritefe was shown the door and the spectre of Abel Balbo returned to haunt Mehmet Durakovic.
When asked about Balbo, Durakovic defiantly responded.
“As far as I know, I’m the boss and everyone takes directions from me. As for Balbo, that’s Harry Kewell prerogative. But he has nothing to do with the club whatsoever.”
With Durakovic’s position seemingly being undermined, and the board intractably split on his future at the club, this is how Melbourne Victory’s Managing Director, Richard Wilson, described Balbo’s link up with Harry Kewell and his potential role at the club.
“As for him taking over from Awaritefe a few things are being looked at but nothing decided yet.”
“Abel will not be employed by the club at this stage. It would be a matter between himself and Harry. A few things are being talked about. But a technical director’s role for Abel is certainly not being discussed.”
He finished by saying.
“We are confident we will beat Gold Coast on Sunday and rediscover our form – and if we do then heaven help the competition.”
The former Iraqi Information Minister is still kicking around somewhere in the Middle East. He would not feel out of place at Melbourne Victory.
Athas Zafiris is on Twitter @ArtSapphire
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The Crowd Says (14) | Page 1 of Comments
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- A-League, football, Gold Coast United, Mehmet Durakovic, Melbourne Victory, Socceroos
November 26th 2011 @ 8:11am
Cpaaa said | November 26th 2011 @ 8:11am | Report comment
2 games not to miss this weekend. BNE Roar V Perth and MV V GCU.
Mehts grave yard space widens with every draw or loss.
Question is, will Miron be handing Meht the shovel after the match?
A fine weekend of Football theatre coming up.
November 26th 2011 @ 2:09pm
Athas Zafiris said | November 26th 2011 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
Absolutely Cpaaa – also after the MV v GCU match we have the Olyroos in their must win game against Uzbekistan.
November 26th 2011 @ 8:53am
Qantas supports Australian Football said | November 26th 2011 @ 8:53am | Report comment
“Yes the Buck stops with me..” Ha, ha, and I thought it stopped with Clive Palmer. This is really an important game for GCU FC, we desperately need this win. Unlike Mehmet, Miron’s job is safe but Miron needs to get this one in the bag to keep the faith with us remaining few supporters left who still have faith in the club—we need a competitive football club on the Gold Coast. It’s imperative GCU climb up from the bottom to stay in touch with the front runners in the HAL. We play the Roar on Boxing Day at Skilled Park and we need to impress now for that home game at Robina against the Roar—it’s vital for the future of Gold Coast Football to start winning against the big clubs. I hope it’s going to start this Sunday. A draw will not do for us, a win for us is vital. But of course I’ll take the draw over a loss any day..
November 26th 2011 @ 9:15am
Myself said | November 26th 2011 @ 9:15am | Report comment
Quote; We are confident we will beat Gold Coast on Sunday and rediscover our form – and if we do then heaven help the competition.”
So this is how the Victory think. Nothing to do with the team being unfit, nothing to do with the team playing without structure, nothing to do with not having a midfield capable of keeping possession, nothing to do with a coach who can’t lead or organize a team. Just win this game against the gold coast and we are champions. Hahaha what a joke.
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November 26th 2011 @ 10:13am
The Bear said | November 26th 2011 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Fast becoming a laughing stock.
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November 26th 2011 @ 1:42pm
Melange said | November 26th 2011 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
I really believe that Bleiberg would’ve been a great choice as MV coach. His teams have always played good football and last couple of years with a better roster he was a game away from a GF. I think he’s greatly under rated purely because some of his comments are over the top, on the whole though his commentary is gold.
November 26th 2011 @ 2:07pm
Athas Zafiris said | November 26th 2011 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
Melange – yes, imagine if Miron was managing MV right now and he offered a bit of his customary commentary
November 26th 2011 @ 2:32pm
Midfielder said | November 26th 2011 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
Athas
Its not only MV that have concerns … giving we need the media deal next year we need MV to fire … me thinks even FFA maybe applying some pressure…
The news is so good so far and a non firing MV is the last thing we need…
Athas & others some very interesting facts in a smh article today… I will copy part of a much larger article below to highlight my point…
Let’s talk facts. Television ratings – up 80 per cent. Crowds – up 49 per cent. Membership – up 17 per cent. Website traffic – up 30 per cent. Early days, perhaps, but they’re still good numbers. It’s great timing, given negotiations for the next TV deal are due to start early next year. ”Our partners have never been more satisfied with the work we’re doing to bring the TV deal to life,” Gorman says.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/clever-strategies-help-turn-aleague-around-20111125-1nz0r.html#ixzz1emJ7Bs5p
November 26th 2011 @ 2:53pm
Athas Zafiris said | November 26th 2011 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Thanks for the link Midfielder. Yes, ALeague is doing well on many measurable factors.
Ironic thing is their troubles are creating more news space than if they were playing well. Especially in Melbourne.
Yes, the A-League needs a firing MV to a degree. But, they have to fire on merit.
MV board are learning some very hard lessons.
November 26th 2011 @ 3:00pm
Midfielder said | November 26th 2011 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
Athas
More news from Bossia in the TerrOr today… agian part of a much larger article.. fire on merit agree however a firing MV on merit could lifr those rating even higher..
“”"”"The round five game between Melbourne Victory and Brisbane was the top-rating pay TV show for that week. In fact, A-League games filled five of the top-10 ranking programs
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/a-roar-to-rival-world-cup-joy/story-e6frey4r-1226206533649 “”"”"
November 26th 2011 @ 3:05pm
Athas Zafiris said | November 26th 2011 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
Yes Middie, I tweeted about those Pay TV ratings when they came out. That match got 155k viewers. The equal of some AFL matches on Fox.
November 26th 2011 @ 2:36pm
Midfielder said | November 26th 2011 @ 2:36pm | Report comment
Hope Fuss comes back soon…
November 26th 2011 @ 2:42pm
Johnno said | November 26th 2011 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
Where is Fuss.
November 26th 2011 @ 3:00pm
Athas Zafiris said | November 26th 2011 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
According to unconfirmed reports Fuss has gone to a remote snow swept temple in Tibet and taken a vow of silence. Can’t see him lasting too long. He’ll break his vow when trying to convert the monks into Victory supporters.