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Saturday night’s pulsating 0-0 draw at Etihad Stadium between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC has left A-League fans with plenty to ponder in the leadup to the second week of action. Here is what I learnt
Melbourne Victory
1. Victory will only get better
It is a different looking Melbourne side this season under Mehmet Durakovic and new staff, and they employed an interesting 4-2-3-1 with Thompson and Rojas on the wings and Kewell in behind Allsopp.
It will take time to adjust to the new system. I enjoyed watching Victory try to pass their way through in midfield and build up from the back, albeit slowly at times.
Can’t wait to see how it progresses throughout the season.
2. Harry has still got it
Harry looked in great touch on Saturday. Had a great touch and passed well. He was very unlucky not to score at least twice due to some great work by Liam Reddy.
3. Danny Allsopp and Billy Celeski aren’t first team players
With this season’s Victory squad full of attacking talent, there is competition for spots in the starting XI. Danny Allsopp is a hard working centre-forward who partners well with Archie Thompson.
However, he was poor on Saturday. Unlucky for him, Jean Carlo Solorzano is also keen on a starting spot.
When Solorzano came on, he looked likely to score. I would start him ahead of Allsopp this weekend.
Billy Celeski hasn’t been the same player he was since his knee injury. He was another who didn’t exactly set Etihad Stadium alight on the weekend.
Carlos Hernandez returns this week from international duty, he may replace Celeski.
4. Marco Rojas will be a star
The young New Zealander has pace to burn and loves to fly down the wing. He is a very exciting prospect, and watching him cause Scott Jamison headaches on the wing was great to watch.
However, his final pass needs work. He also looked shaky when going at goal, skimming the side netting after dribbling his way into the penalty box. Nonetheless, he will improve and will be a star.
5. Ante Covic is a new Melbourne hero
The 36-year old shot stopper had an outstanding match for his new club. Stopping a Brett Emerton set the crowd into frenzy and he pulled off many great saves. Tando Velaphi will have a fight on his hands to take the no.1 spot when he returns.
My final thought: interesting times at the Victory. They will probably change the side next week. I think they will go with a 4-4-1-1, with Kewell in behind Solorzano, Brebner and Hernandez in midfield, and Thompson and Rojas again on the wings.
Sydney FC
1. Sydney FC will be hard to beat this season
It is a different Sydney side this season. The defence looks tight with Bosschart and Beauchamp as centre backs, Coyne and Jamison at full-back and Terry McFlynn holding.
While the Victory had most of the play, the defence held firm and along with keeper Liam Reddy, managed to keep a clean sheet. They look like they are going to be hard to break down.
2. Carle is set for a big season
In the first game of the season, Carle looked like the very good player that he is. He looked like he was moving well and was at the centre of nearly all Sydney’s attacking forays.
Like Kewell, he will get better as the season goes on.
3. Brett Emerton will rebound
Emerton is a professional and would have been furious with himself at his saved penalty. He copped quite a bit from the crowd and looked nervous. He was solid, but didn’t stand out.
I’ll back him to rebound. His best position is right midfield and I think Lavicka will keep him there.
4. Why didn’t Bruno Cazarine start?
If I were Lavicka, I would be starting Cazarine. He was one of their better performers last season. He is tall, mobile and scores goals.
He should start him this week (mainly due to Bridge’s suspension), either with Makela in 4-4-2 diamond or the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1.
5. The line-up is settled…for now
I can’t see Sydney making too many changes to their best side at this early point in the season. It is predictable, boring even, and that is a credit to Lavicka and his coaching staff.
Either a 4-2-3-1 or a diamond 4-4-2 will be the line-up for Sydney. Reddy, Coyne, Bosschart, Beauchamp, Jamison, McFlynn, Antonis, Cole, Carle, Emerton and Cazarine in a 4-2-3-1 will be the likely line-up for their clash with Brisbane.
My final thought: Sydney will be up there this season and I expect them to make finals. A balanced and settled line-up should see them improve hugely from last season.
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