What an off-season it has been for the Melbourne Victory. It began with sacking a coach that had won the club a Premiership and two championships, and ended with the signing of Australia’s most famous footballer.
It has been one of the most entertaining and productive off-seasons in A-League history. But a massive off-season from the Victory has set the scene for a big year on-field.
A side with the strike power of Kewell, Thompson, Hernandez, Allsopp, Solorzano, Cernak and Rojas is going to cause headaches for any side. The question is how do you fit them all in?
I’ve tried my best to come up with a solution. The solution is either a 3-5-2 or a 4-1-3-2. The latter option would involve a back four of Vargas, Leijer at centre back and new signing Adrian Madaschi and Matty Kemp at left and right full-back respectively.
Madaschi is an impressive signing. He is tall and adds that presence that wasn’t there last season. I would like to see Roddy also start majority of games as his career begins to wind down.
Playing as a holding midfielder would be Grant Brebner. He is a typical Scottish bulldog ball-winning midfielder, adds strength to the midfield and a necessity in this team.
On the wings, I would have new pick-ups Marco Rojas and Isaka Cernak. Both are young and extremely exciting. I can’t forget Rojas tearing the Victory apart in Wellington last season.
The young Kiwi has pace and talent; and can go a long way with the Victory. I remember watching Izzy Cernak in the Asian Champions League earlier this year. He can dribble and get out into space, also very quick.
Sitting in the hole behind the strikers in my first team would be Carlos Hernandez. He has been one of the greatest signings not only for the Victory, but for the A-League in its short history.
He’s a deadball specialist who can play the killer pass and on his day, is the most entertaining player in the League.
Having attended the Victory’s opening training session last Saturday; it was striking how much weight Carlos had lost. He has faced criticism over his weight, and it was important to ensure he was in the shape the club needed him to be.
My front two would have to be Harry Kewell and Archie Thompson. I don’t have to talk about them too much, do I? You can’t go past those two in the starting XI.
Although Harry at some stage will have to be managed, he will play in Victory’s best XI.
Also important is the partnership Harry and Archie can form. Both are goal-scorers and by the looks of the training session, are developing a good understanding.
To say that of all A-League teams Victory has recruited the best would be an understatement. The recruiting has left Durakovic, Awaretefe and Muscat with a squad with depth.
There are going to be selection headaches, that so much is certain. In my best team, I have Allsopp, Solorzano, Broxham, Celeski and Pondlejak on the bench. Not bad is it?
This depth will bring two things. One, It will increase competition for spots in the starting side and two, a side that can chop and change the way it plays.
Broxham can play in midfield and full-back, Allsopp is a tall target that can knock the ball down for Harry, Archie or Solorzano. This squad is arguably the strongest an A-League side has produced.
And now we wait for the start of the season. It has been way too long a wait to watch some A-League. I get the feeling it will all be worth it though… Enjoy your football.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
The real concern comes down to football's growing trend of big corporations taking up slices of the world game at the expense of smaller teams.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
Plenty of Aussies impressed in the final week of March, showing their talents off abroad and in their backyard. Here's the best XI of…
