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Optimism within football in Melbourne has been significantly skewed to one side of the city this season; for the the last four A-League seasons, in fact.
While Melbourne Victory have thrived as one of the league’s top guns, with major signings and results to boot, their little brother has sat quietly in the corner in a place where no press is good press.
An early injury to marquee man Orlando Engelaar and the sacking of coach John Aloisi, as a result of the mind boggling winless run, compounded Melbourne Heart’s woes this season.
But for once, there is a buzz in the red and white towers after it was announced English Premier League side Manchester City have acquired an 80% stake in the struggling club.
While the news has been greeted with great shock, it comes as no surprise that City’s Australian partners have bought into the A-League after their mooted interest in a takeover of the Wanderers last year.
Although Heart will be seen as the greatest beneficiaries of this move, City are equally buoyed, now holding teams in Manchester, New York and Melbourne.
The ownership of New York City FC, which will enter the Major League Soccer competition in 2015, means City are truly on their way to becoming a global force in football and it is a ride that Melbourne Heart would have been more than happy to jump on.
Even the most cynical of followers will have difficulty finding a flaw in this deal. A club that has infamously struggled for identity has now had one forced upon them, and that ain’t such a bad thing.
Heart may already be an “established” club, but City essentially have a clean slate similar to the New York franchise.
Aloisi’s side hit rock bottom on the pitch this month, which could have potentially been a blessing in disguise. It was the most evident sign that a total overhaul is required and City are best placed to take Heart in a new direction which they so desperately crave.
Perhaps the most important aspect of the takeover is the financial stability Heart now possess.
For too long there have been doubts over the future of the club. Will there be adequate support from the owners? Are top shelf marquees a possibility?
With the 2011/12 English champions – who increased their revenues by $78 million according to the latest Deloitte Football Money League report – now on board, Heart’s financial problems take a much needed pump.
More worrying than the off-field dramas at AAMI Park this summer has been Heart’s state of play. Aloisi suffered much conjecture during his tenure for failing to instil a rigid structure in what appears to be a talented squad on paper.
In a promising sign for the embattled club and its fans, it appears football is firmly on the minds of City’s consortium – not always a guarantee in 21st century football.
New York’s inaugural coach, Jason Kreis, left his six-year stint at MLS outfit Real Salt Lake for the opportunity to head City’s newest project, purely because he was enthralled by the style and tactics he was encouraged to integrate into his new side. While it is a tad extreme to expect New York and Melbourne Heart to replicate Manchester City’s efforts, it is apparent that the employers will do their best to create a uniform playing style.
“The philosophies that they have implemented fall right in line with the way I see things,” Kreis said, according to the New York Times, adding: “I wouldn’t have come here had it been any other way. It’s a perfect fit.”
Any sort of input from Manchester City Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain – the former Barcelona player and director – could hardly be harmful.
Winning in a “special style” is his key objective, with Heart’s football philosophy in dire need of an overhaul.
Further encouragement can be sourced from City’s state of the art football academy currently under construction in Manchester. Complete with a 7000-seater stadium for youth matches, 12 pitches dedicated for players aged eight to 21 and an injury and rehab centre, it is testament to the focus of City’s operations.
Although Heart youngsters by no means have a free ride into English football, they will have some intelligent football minds watching over them and a path that promises quality career development.
A key talking point following the announcement was the ability of Heart to attract international quality. Heart are yet to make a statement on the marquee front. Although Fred was a great addition on the pitch, fans still yearn for a player of Del Piero’s stature, which was certainly not delivered by the signing of Orlando Engelaar.
No, Heart will not be signing Sergio Aguero; Patrick Vieira won’t be making a comeback. But there is suddenly something much more alluring about Melbourne Heart, with the cash now more likely available to back lofty ambitions in the transfer market.
Couple this with the prospect of Manchester City touring Australia in the future and there is plenty of reason to keep an eye on things at the Heart. The arrivals of Liverpool and Manchester United on our shores last July provided a platform for exhibition matches and we could do much worse than have City’s stars in Australia.
Melbourne Heart are far from rescued, but they have been handed a significant lifeline that could revive the fortunes of a struggling club and maintain the force of Australian football.
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