Melbourne Victory’s Kevin Muscat, right, is tackled by Sydney FC’s Ruben Zadkovich during their round 7 A-League match in Sydney on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007. AAP Image/Paul Miller
It wouldn’t quite have the ramifications of Luis Figo’s move from Barcelona to Real Madrid. But if Kevin Muscat leaves Melbourne Victory to sign with a rival A-League club, one thing cannot be debated. It would be the juiciest internal transfer story to have hit the A-league in its short history.
Sure, there have been a handful of moves that stick in the minds of the various club supporters long after the particular players have said their goodbyes (insert all of Sydney FC’s signings pre-2008/09 here).
But none would have the gravity of Muscat’s move, should it occur.
Talking to the Townsville Bulletin on Tuesday, North Queensland coach Ian Ferguson stated he’d be keen to talk to the 51-cap Socceroo should his ongoing talks with Victory break down.
Just as intriguingly, Ferguson said that he’d expect to have as competition as many as four clubs for the prickly defender’s signature.
Such an admission would create uproar and allegations of “tapping up” if the scenario was to be repeated in the major European leagues.
But as Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell naively found out earlier this year when quizzed on his desire to sign Birmingham City’s Kevin Phillips, the way they do things and the way we do are completely different.
The silence from Melbourne in response to the Fury’s pursuit has been deafening.
Of course, the Victory has never been a club that has offered much to the media. Melbourne rarely buys into speculation of any sort and – outside a press conference – journalists would have more luck getting a quote out of Nelson’s Column than Ernie Merrick.
The party line has been that the club is continuing negotiations with its captain and is keen to keep the former Rangers man.
But it is a line that has not changed since Victory took out the title in February.
And with the A-League club’s pre-season in full swing and a league start date in August on the horizon, questions need to be asked about the delay.
Muscat is 35, but has had a largely unblemished injury run since his return to Australia for Version 1.
His form suffered somewhat in the middle of the 2008/09, but he recovered to lead the team well at the stage when it mattered.
Much-despised by rival fans, even they would appreciate the impact he has made at Melbourne.
Victory fans know the shadow Muscat casts at the club. Forget Archie Thompson; Muscat is Melbourne’s public face, the example for the players and a larger-than-life standard-bearer for the supporters.
You only need to consider the short-lived stint the outspoken Ljubo Milicevic had at Melbourne. The club was simply too small a place for two vocal leaders, and Muscat was the one left standing.
Visualising a Muscat-less Melbourne is something all A-League fans would struggle to do.
Seeing him in the colours of another club is even harder. But the longer the two parties fail to reach an agreement, the more likely it will become.
Stephen Cooper
Guest
It’s about time Muscat was moved on, his influence is not a good example for A league football.
MVDave
Guest
Muscat wont be going anywhere and he will be looked after in terms of a future coaching role...he is the heart and soul of this MV team. His roots are in Melbourne and there is no way MV want to lose him.
Coach
Guest
Here is a thought provoker for you. In a year or so's time........ Kevin Muscat is Mark Viduka's coach??????
Coach
Guest
The Bear, No quotes from Muscat is expected, getting anything out of the Melbourne Victory is like getting blood from a stone, especially when its something speculative! ha ha
The Bear
Guest
Paddy, no quotes from Muscat, is more specifically what I meant. The title of this article well may be "Fury: will they contact Muscat in a bid to lure him North?".
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Paddy good article - good calls all round - it's impossible to imagine Melbourne without Muskie (when he finally hangs up the boots), let alone imagining him in the colours of a rival club. Ernie and him go so far back, it's also impossible to imagine that partnership broken up (and people should have no doubt that it's a true partnership and one of the key factors behind the Victory's success - very few teams have the equivalent of their manager out there on the pitch!!) Towser if people were to ask me: who was the most consistent performer for the Victory last season; or contributed the most to their season - I would not hesitate in saying Muskie - by a country mile - there's day light thereafter. It sounds like an extreme comment, but when you go through the squad, see how many games each played, see who was amongst the top three players more often, see who was in amongst the more important wins of the season (at times when it was about to go off track) - Muskie stands out head and shoulders above the rest.
Paddy Higgs
Guest
No quotes Bear? FYI http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/05/18/53825_hpsport.html
jimbo
Guest
Bit of a turn around from Muskie almost announcing retirement after the Grand Final to being courted by the A-League. He won't go - just a ploy from the Devil to get what he wants from the Lord [Geoff Lord].
eh
Guest
The contracts of 68 Premier League players expire this summer. Here we pick 10 who will provoke plenty of interest from other clubs (Central Coast and MV should apply) Sol Campbell Portsmouth Darron Gibson Man Utd Hermann Hreidarsson Portsmouth Mido Middlesbrough Michael Owen Newcastle Jermaine Pennant Liverpool Daniel Sturridge Man City Carlos Tevez Man Utd Diego Tristán West Ham Mark Viduka Newcastle
The Bear
Guest
Won't happen. Crazy news story. No quotes, pure speculation.
Wug
Guest
It would be dreadful to see him leave as I am all for loyalty but I do realize he needs to look after his future.
BIGfootBALLS
Guest
They'd have more Victory if they took to the field with actual muskets. Imagine that!
Coach
Guest
Taking Muscat away from Melbourne Victory is like taking Shearer away from Newcastle! Muscat would know how important he is to Melbourne Victory and, like Tom said earlier, will be just out to look after his career once his finishes playing. Could anyone on here see him coaching anywhere else apart from MV?
Millster
Guest
For the overall good of the league I hope he doesn't go anywhere as each major club needs a couple of key faces upon which to build their brand, their image and their heritage. Much as he'd be handy at my preferred club Sydney, for the good of football I hope he stays as 'the one we love to hate' when he travels up with Melbourne. I realise though that part of this view might be my general feeling that there are FAR too many transfers in this early phase of the A-League and that an unmet part of the recipe for success of clubs ion their communities is the building of some legacy and some heritage. As part of this view, I think the salary cap should be developed further to provide incentive for longevity. So as I said that strongly held general view may cloud my judgement in the specific case of Muscat.
Jim of Altona East
Guest
I think we love Muscat because he is on our side in the trenches. Let's hope he doesn't jump ship.
Towser
Guest
As a Roar fan who sat through the first 9 out of 35 home victories, I remember one match in particular against MV at Suncorp where Muscat stood out & indicated to me in one area at least, where the Roar were grossly deficient on the park. (In the second season MV won 2-0.) That area was somebody dictating terms from the middle of the park like Muscat was doing for MV. For a thug his vision & ball distribution were second to none MV will sorely miss him if he goes. Perhaps belatedly he can fulfill my wish & go to the Roar to replace Tiatto a dud in my book & unlike Muscat lived up to his reputation More importantly however, unlike Muscat he has not delivered on the park.
mahony
Guest
Yep - he is mid-FIFA A Lic (or whatever it is called now in the AFC set-up).
Cpaaa
Guest
Whiskeymac i agree, it would have to be SFC. If once voted the most hated man in English Football, it would only be an honour, and much to the delight of SFC fans, and the HAL, if this tag was carried on through Victoria.
whiskeymac
Guest
i doubt he is going anywhere either but i agree with Paddy that as a hypothetical premise it would make for an interesting developement if he signed for adelaide or sydney... but as a coach, and as an aside, do you know if has he done any of the pro courses or had any meaningful experience etc?
whiskeymac
Guest
SFC need an experienced defender. now that would make the MCG clash (more) interesting.