The Anthony Di Pietro-led Melbourne Victory board put everything on the line in its ultimately successful pursuit of Harry Kewell.
From initially compromising their ‘search’ for a new coach, to further risking their credibility as each of Kewell’s signing deadlines came and went.
Yet, the Victory finally did get their man, pulling off the greatest signing in Australian sports history.
Not only will Australia’s most vaunted Socceroo be playing in the A-League for the rest of his footballing days, but the Victory board will also have comprehensively exonerated themselves from a potential PR disaster.
That the board have done an exemplarary job in pulling off the Kewell-deal is unquestionable. Yet, the pressure will now be placed firmly on the shoulders of Mehmet Durakovic, who’ll have his work cut out to accommodate Kewell amid the plethora of scoring options he has inherited.
Durakovic won the Victory job because he was in the right place at precisely the right time. He promised to work cheap and importantly had Kevin Muscat on his ticket – a factor somehow regarded as essential for the future of the club’s brand.
Whether right or wrong, it’ll be with Durakovic where the buck stops regarding the Victory’s performance, with intense scrutiny expected all season upon what’s certainly now one of Asia’s biggest clubs.
To begin with Durakovic will need to demonstrate how he intends to utilise Kewell in a squad blessed with attacking options.
He’ll need to make harsh game-to-game decisions on the likes of Archie Thomson and Danny Allsop as well as recent Roar-signing Jean Carlos Solórzano.
Durakovic will also have to resolve the increasingly problematic Carlos Hernandez situation, which continually finds the precociously-talented Costa Rican in substandard physical shape.
Durakovic simply can’t afford to have his club’s second largest asset, wasted away in the Victory doghouse and will need to make his mind up quickly about what role, if any, Hernandez has with the club.
Most importantly, however, Durakovic will need to reconcile a significant imbalance in the Victory squad. While their attacking prowess is without question, Melbourne lags behind their fiercest A-League rivals where defensive depth and midfield grit are concerned.
While Kewell’s capture indeed provides the impression of a slick Ferrari, the reality is that the Victory host an engine underneath which is suspect at best, derelict at worst.
Brisbane launched their rampant season last year not on the back of dynamic strike options, but by an industrious and highly-skilled midfield, driven by the likes of Eric Paartalu and Matt McKay, complemented by the polish of Thomas Broich Mitch Nichols and Henrique.
The Central Coast’s biggest off-season recruit Stuart Musialik speaks volumes for Graham Arnold’s commitment to the centre of the park, while Adelaide and Sydney have both focused their player recruitment drives, around further developing their respective midfields.
Meanwhile, the Victory runs the risk of serious exposure to far more robust, faster and diligent A-League outfits, especially if they’re to rely upon the ageing Grant Brebner and consistently maligned Leigh Broxham.
Billy Celeski is a contender to pick up some of the midfield slack, though his reconstructed knee remains a query. Diogo Ferreira has shown promise, but may still be a bit raw where the rigours of midfield combat are concerned.
The Victory is crying out for a midfield enforcer and help for Roddy Vargas and Adrian Leijer in the centre of defence, if they are to justify their recent elevation to competition favoritism.
As it stands, they have forward options which are the envy of any team, but a midfield which simply does not look likely to propel them to the top of the table and a potential return to Champions League football.
Melbourne’s pursuit of Kewell was long and drawn-out, however, with the start of the A-League just six weeks away, they’ll have to work much quicker to secure areas of the park which really must be addressed.
As comprehensively brilliant as the Kewell capture was, his arrival in Melbourne won’t have the same lustre without a winning team to complement the celebration.
Johnno
Guest
Still missing the old NSL being one of those old NSL types that i am lol
David Heidelberg
Guest
As a Sydney fan I am stoked with both signings, but I still can't see the top 3 changing from Adelaide, CCM and Brisbane. Last year was the best domestic football season, including the NSL era, this year promises to be better.
Jose
Guest
Yes. Some dodgy ref decisions cost us a place in the second round.
Jose
Guest
Tando Foschini, Leijer, Franjic, Kemp Rojas, Carlos, Harry, Cernak Arch, Solor
TomC
Guest
I agree with the sentiment, Fuss, but at the same time I look forward to a day when we don't have to worry about the impact on the HAL and can just mindlessly barrack for our teams.
Melange
Guest
JMac, Fuss, thanks for the comments
TomC
Guest
I'd be disappointed if Broxham spent much time at full-back this season. I've never been impressed by him there. His best performances have come as a holding midfielder, I think. Particularly in the last ACL campaign. Have never been convinced by Pondlejak in that position either. Very fragile defensively. One of the frustrating things about Merrick was his apparent belief that we could just plug anyone into a fullback role and it didn't matter. (Pantelidis, Byrnes, Broxham, Berger, Pondlejak, are the ones that come to mind) We've never gotten the most out of that position. Worryingly it looks like we might be relying on stopgaps again in 11/12.
Football United
Guest
pondlejak should never be in the match squad again unless we are desperate. he is so wasteful with the ball.
Eddie
Guest
fair enough with your statement in regards to victory's defensive stocks but I think your being kind of harsh when it comes to the midfield
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
It's odd, as an MVFC fan I'm rejoicing about the Emerton signing for SFC yet, so many SFC fans are always negative about anything to do with MVFC. Can't we all just be positive about the impact on the HAL for once?
Futbanous
Guest
MV are taking in risk with Mehmet,no doubt at all. Totally unproven in reality given the number of matches in control so far.. But havent seen hardly any matches with him in charge so difficult to make an informed personal judgement. Will have to trust MV fans on here until I do. Then again given the Harry signing can we trust them to make a rational appraisal?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Absolutely - I was at all the ACL matches and was very impressed by the simple changes to the system ... i.e. playing the FULL width of the park with Cernak parked permanently on the wing (left mainly). If Archie and Danny had been a bit sharper we would have got the requisite points at home to go through to the knockout stage. But, yes, there were still defensive weaknesses but, the biggest "defensive weakness" has thankfully retired as has the GK who was also a major contributor to many goals from set pieces. ;-)
jmac
Guest
"MV followers, did you see enough improvement from your team in the ACL to make you believe Mehmet has the potential to revive the clubs fortunes?" an emphatic yes (although coming admitedly off a pretty low base). so let's wait and see .. :)
Melange
Guest
It certainly is a time for Mehmet to prove his worth, other then defensive concerns he has the cattle to get MV up the top half of the table. How long will the patience of MVs fans and board last if he can't get this team ticking in the first half dozen rounds? A few losses and uninspiring draws could see all the good recruiting work come undone and the axes sharpened for Mehmet. I would actually rate him, and the obvious Ferguson, as the 2 most likely to be sacked half way into the season. MV followers, did you see enough improvement from your team in the ACL to make you believe Mehmet has the potential to revive the clubs fortunes? And I can't resist - "what’s certainly now one of Asia’s biggest clubs" - let's see you actually achieve something in the ACL before making such ridiculous statements. In the ALeague yes. In Asia, way short and at many times embarrassing.
jmac
Guest
that's excellent news! although mehmet sees harry's best position behind the striker, I would love to see carlos playing behind harry. leading the line, holding the ball up etc is a bit of a strength of harry's now, as we've seen in NT matches. a combination with carlos could be lethal..
Nelson
Guest
Carlos is looking good. Will be firing this season...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Ok ... I get it. My mistake. My sub-editor is not working this morning ;-)
jmac
Guest
perhaps the cattery means that you put (LB) after both Foschini and Kemp/Broxham. playing two left backs and no-one on the right has a bit of ernie merrick about it.. I think in naming celeski, fussball meant he is a defensive midfield option. probably more in your deep-lying creative way, than hard-man way.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Generally the "/" is taken to mean "or" rather than "and". Apologies, I should have inserted a footnote. And, yes, since his return from injury I'd be asking Celeski to move to a defensive midfield role - e.g. Culina played more of a DM role for the National Team under Verbeek, but is an AM for GCU. I could have also included Pondeljak - I was very impressed when he was a fill-in at RB several times over the past 2 years.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
You have two left backs? Celeski a defensive player??