After a cavernous yet poor commencement to the season, Melbourne Victory finally scored its first goal of the new campaign, taking just over five hours of play to accomplish the feat.
Archie Thompson broke the deadlock with some individual brilliance on the stroke of half-time, to ultimately lead the Victory to a 2-1 triumph against Wellington Phoenix away from home at the hostile Westpac Stadium.
Despite claiming an impressive result against an opponent deemed to be a formidable force on their home turf, it is the style of play that has got supporters, accompanied with the football community, gossiping.
Victory are depicted as the ‘glamour club’ of Australian football, not only for its glowing on-field success – two championships and three grand final appearances in the competition’s six-year history – but for its passionate, yet widespread fan base, and notable professionalism off the field, being one of the select clubs to be financially stable and consistently turning profits, or in any case, break-evens.
Over the years, football has matured vastly, and while results will always be an important conundrum, playing style has arguably taken precedence, as fans desire an attractive, fluid game-plan, implemented from the coaching hierarchy.
New Victory boss Mehmet Durakovic has been under immense scrutiny in the early stages of his Melbourne tenure. The lack of fluency, in conjunction with the team’s inability to realise its surfeit of attacking talent has got many fans offside, calling for his head after a handful of games.
Although, when we analyse the situation more thoroughly, there is really no surprise that this scenario has arisen.
Taking charge of the highest profile club in the nation not only demands colossal expectations, it also does not allow any room for failure.
Victory prides itself on being the best in all facets of the game. The acquisition of Harry Kewell – arguably the most talented footballer Australia has produced – was a perfect illustration of the club’s lofty ambitions, in company with the image portrayed on the blue and white of Melbourne.
Mediocrity isn’t a part of the formula to success, and the new board headed by chairman Anthony Di Pietro realises that its fervent fanbase are less than forgiving when the outcome doesn’t fall in their favour.
With an array of attacking talent at Durakovic’s disposal thus far in its four competitive outings, Victory has been a major disappointment.
Their complete lack of cohesion in the attacking third, has been painfully manifested for their ardent supporters. While the backline has only conceded two goals, it has the custodian Ante Covic to thank, performing outstandingly on the last line of defence.
A deficient structure is evident, with players swapping and changing positions after each fixture. Kewell has been deployed in several positions – sitting in behind the strikers, as a lone forward and out wide on the left – while players in the vein of Archie Thompson and Carlos Hernandez also follow suite.
The tactical approach possessed by Melbourne appears to be in complete contrast to Brisbane Roar’s.
Against the Phoenix last week, Victory, on occasions were almost unwatchable. The simple instructions of playing the ball out from the back, ball retention and opening up into space were not apparent.
On several occasions, when entering the attacking half, there appeared to be minimal patience. Rather than finding an avenue through to goal, several ‘miracle’ type balls were played to nil effect.
This wasn’t a team collectively working together, nor attempting to. It was palpable that individual brilliance would be the team’s only saviour, and so the ever reliable Thompson, stepped up to whip his craft and undeservingly put the visitors ahead.
In saying this, Victory did improve marginally in the second period, however not to the standards that enthusiasts have come to expect from its star-studded line-up.
In bleak contrast, Brisbane Roar exhibited why they are the most revered team in the A-League, dismantling Adelaide United 7-1 last Friday night.
Despite the hefty trouncing, the scoreline wasn’t the only basis for the Roar’s appraisal. The style utilised to exploit the opposition was well documented.
Brisbane coach Ange Postecoglou has employed a football ethos which is enhancing the landscape of Australian football. His beliefs construct a heavy reliance on defensive organisation, playing the ball out from the back, holding onto possession for extended periods – while using it in an effective manner – tiring out and frustrating the opposition when in control of the ball and working effortlessly to regain possession once it has been lost.
There is no secret that these constituents have been the key to the Roar’s success. The current 32-game unbeaten streak is an exceptional illustration of how an efficient coaching methodology, blended with a strewed crop of players willing to prosper can harvest success.
One must wonder what structure or football philosophy Durakovic is attempting to implement at the re-branded Victory?
In spite of the results thus far (five points from a possible 12), it is the unattractive, stale product on the pitch that has got devotees anxious.
When we examine the Victory squad, on paper at least, it is perhaps the most talented squad to ever grace the competition, and yet, the football on display isn’t acceptable for the players at its disposal.
Yes, it is only four matches into the season; it would be uncanny to draw conclusions at such a preliminary phase. However, this deteriorating trend could possibly have dramatic ramifications to the club’s image and football prowess if this uninspiring inclination continues.
Team chemistry is an imperative ingredient to building a fearsome outfit, and while individual flair may occasionally win on the day, it is certainly not a proposal for long-term success.
Of late, Real Madrid, while one of the most prominent and powerful clubs in world football, is notorious for its inability to reach its full potential, despite the profusion of ability engulfing the Spanish club.
If Victory doesn’t address the issue of team unity and camaraderie on the pitch, then their representation will be marred by a fruitless incapability to deliver their budding aptitude on the pitch.
In the end, the buck stops with Durakovic; if he cannot get his team to play an attractive, yet articulate brand of football, reminiscent of Brisbane’s, then it is time for the club to find a candidate who can bring Melbourne to the next level of greatness.
This week’s encounter with A-League front-runners Brisbane Roar will be an intriguing clash for a variety of reasons. The million-dollar question: how will Victory’s tactical approach measure up to the benchmark in the competition?
Melbourne aspires to be renowned as the force of Australian football on and off the pitch – being the first team to claim the Roar’s scalp in 33 attempts will take it one step closer to realising the club’s dynasty.
Courtesy of Goal Weekly. Follow Robbie on Twitter @RobertDiFabio
haidyn
Guest
your wrong melboun is going great but they just need to work on things like getting red cards they need to play like they did aganst brisban roar exept with out the red cards and im a big fan of sydney fc but i like the whole team expet henneders
jmac
Guest
cheers tom. from memory, the horrid defence was the first thing mehm fixed during the ACL. the offensive side of things will usually take a lot longer to get moving. but what's been disappointing is the lack of any consistently discernible strategy that they are trying to implement. so yeah I agree, its disappointing. almost the best we've looked was going 80's watford in the 2H against heart, given the quality of H's balls forward. it caused my heart to sink though, somewhat, as I like to think MV will play football. we may have seen some signs of something against the nix where in 2H the midfield 4 was close to one another and trying to get something going, but I think the lack of one or two great ball-players in defensive and DM areas is hurting a bit...
TomC
Guest
Agree with jmac. Mehmet should probably get some credit for the improvements in MV's back four, certainly in a defensive capacity. He resisted any urge to move Fabio after a couple of blunders in the first two games and indeed the only change in that part of the pitch was forced by Leijer's red card. I think it's a good strategy and it's already been vindicated somewhat. That said, I still think his overall performance has been disappointing.
Gate 21
Guest
Yes BrisRoar finished 2 points behind MVFC ont he table, and expectatins were high. Do you remember how they started the season? Belted by Gold Coast and a 3-3 at Etihad which they were fortunate to hold onto. Not just because of these results, but because of the MANNER of these results, the board were applying the blowtorch to Farina from the start of the season. Assurances were made pre-season that Farina had it all sorted - they were going to improve on last season.... When the truth was revealed that he was too close to his players, senior players were dictating terms to the coach & team the club started unravelling. There are lots of other points I'd like to add about the pre-Ange situtation at the Roar, but I don't want to defame anyone, so let me just say it wasn't harmonious to team spirit. *** I cannot speak conclusively for MVFC. Although I have seen highlights of their games, I have only watched the Heart game in full. MVFC were disappointing and limited in their attacking options in that game, but does everyone expect Mehmet to create a new team dynamic in a few weeks? Kewell and Solorzano are new players. They are big name players. Was he really going to maintain continuity by leaving them on the bench and playing only established players? No. So by playing Kewell (who has never played in a senior domestic comp in Aus) you are going to need time - not just for HK - but for the TEAM to adjust. With big names, expectations are high and the time frame is short.
jmac
Guest
it's a great defensive record, and SFC won in season 5 by doing it that way. I think the defending itself has been quite good, especially against what was happening at the tail end of last year. set pieces - 1000% improvement! we have also been lucky at times, and very lucky to have ante in goal. but I think where the back half is falling down is with the ball - too many panicked or aimless long balls, or losing the ball in midfield or mis-directing the passes. I think this is what I mean when I pass my armchair criticism of the back half. mehm will sort it out to a degree lets hope, but we shouldn't be expecting overnight miracles, as I think we need a couple of new players..
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
We've conceded 2 goals in 4 matches. I guess we're the only team who manages to "get lucky" in defence for 360 consecutive minutes? If we keep a clean sheet on Saturday night, I guess, that will be 450 minutes of "lucky defending". Fair enough - I'll be overjoyed if we can make it 27 consecutive matches of "lucky defending" in the HAL!
jmac
Guest
ok I've had enough of this. since when was the attacking half of a squad the measure by which you assess the potential quality of the first XI? Victory's recruitment in midfield and defence was appalling, they are short of even average A-League standard players in this part of the pitch, so how people expect brisbane-roar-esque performances right away, or even at all with this list, is completely beyond me. if anything, the success of the Roar should highlight to the so-called expert analysts out there that football is a game with 11 players each performing a role as crucial as any other of their teammates. MV's back half can hold their own on a good day, but that's about it. If MV finish top 4 that will be an achievement, and it has always been thus for season 7, even with their array of attacking options..
TomC
Guest
I agree with most of what Robbie has written, but it strikes me as a big change in a short time where fans could refer to the MVFC, even in quotation marks, as a 'glamour club'. For the first six seasons, that wasn't my perception at all. Under Merrick, Cole and Lord, the club practiced a pretty hard nosed pragmatism. There was a notable absence of big name marquees and managers. The Victory's biggest names became big names largely through their performances in the A-league, more so than anything they'd done before. I don't know if I like the direction we're going in now. One more small peeve: although Covic has been excellent, I think it's a mistake to give him all the credit for the Victory's defensive record. I thought the back four struggled against the Phoenix (Foschini in particular) but prior to that I thought they'd been very good. I feel like I've said this a hundred times in the past month, but the Victory's problem is that the wastefulness of the midfield is putting the defenders under pressure. The defence is actually holding up pretty well.
TomC
Guest
'Currently, I feel there’s too much of a “love-in” across the fans in the HAL – particularly towards BNR – and, for me, that’s not how fans normally behave and it’s becoming quite nauseating.' Agree 100%, Fuss.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
JohnL - I think bias and inter-club fan banter is essential if we want the HAL to evolve a true football club culture in the HAL. Currently, I feel there's too much of a "love-in" across the fans in the HAL - particularly towards BNR - and, for me, that's not how fans normally behave and it's becoming quite nauseating. For me, all the other 9 clubs and fans are rivals in this league. Do you think for a single second in the last 20 years Liverpool supporters would have been applauding the feats of SAF and Man United? Would any Real Madrid fans be fawning over the beauty of Barcelona's football? Would Milan fans be feeling sympathy for their cross town rivals languishing near the bottom of Serie A? But, in the HAL all fans want to be friends with everyone else... ok apart from MVFC - not one likes us (... but we don't care) :-) Having said that, when I put my National Team shirt on, my MVFC colours fade away and we are all HAL fans - of FCs United in Victory ... think I've covered all the club names!!
JohnL
Guest
Fussball, so in other words, you don't want to compare like for like scenarios? And as in your words "The football ladder only records W, D, L, F & A.", you original post should read: Game 1: Draw 0 goals for 0 goals against Game 2: Loss 0 goals for 1 goal against Game 3: Draw 0 goals for 0 goals against Game 4: Win 2 goals for 1 goal against As there is no "comments" section to explain the game. Fussball, sometimes on here you do write some rather insightful comments which are enlightening and a pleasure to read, but there are other times when you write comments which are so far biased that they become frustrating. Keep those MV rose coloured glasses off please as I do enjoy those unbiased comments you make. P.S. I do like the little taunts you make in fun just before and after the games. :)
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Sorry, JohnL The football ladder only records W, D, L, F & A. But, for sure, we could start including a "comments" column to explain the injuries - physical & emotional, the weather conditions, the state of the pitch and all other variables to explain the season's results for each team. The season before Ange took over, BNR finished just 2 points and 2 goal difference behind MBV in top spot, so Ange inherited one of the best teams in Australia.
JohnL
Guest
Fussball, can you provide the stats of Ange's first 17 games AFTER he had a full preseason with the Roar please? I didn't see Mehmet come into the coaching role at the Victory half-way through an a-league season. Also, the first 17 games that you are referring to are with a squad that contained a lot of players that were unhappy at the sacking of Frank Farina and the appointment of Ange. Remember even Craig Moore gave the club an "it's me or him" ultimatium, so it would be safe to say that Ange was fighting an uphill battle for those first 17 games. If Mehmet and Melb Victory have been working under those same conditions for their first 17 A-League games then you can draw a comparison, but let's not compare apples to oranges here. Try to keep like for like comparisons please
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
A fair overview of the situation, Robbie. But, we've played 4 games, so let's review these matches briefly. Game 1: Well, this was the opening match of the season. Huge crowd of 40k and, I did not hear a single person complain about the MBV style of play that night. Everyone - including the harshest football critic, Craig Foster, lauded the game for it's European-type intensity and world-class goal-keeping that turned a potential 4-6 goal game into a 0-0 draw. Yet, now, people are re-writing history and claiming MBV's performance that night, too, was haphazard. Game 2: was a shocker - away from home. That happens in football - even the might Man United played a shocker recently! Chelsea's millionaires played a shocker on Saturday night Game 3: A derby match is rarely a "beautiful affair" - either it's a slog or one team dominates. This derby was a slog between two teams that are out of form. Game 4: We finally started playing football in the 2nd half and scored 3 goals ... what more do people want? Even the staunchest MBV fan will agree that we are not playing at our best. The fickle nature of "form" in football means it's very likely that a lot of football fans and analysts are going to be wiping egg off their face if MBV wins on Saturday night. As far as I recall, Ange took 17 matches to get BNR to play to his style. BNR were rubbish - I mean really rubbish - during Ange's opening season and finished 1 point above the bottom. During Ange's first 17 games in charge of BNR his record was: W: 5 D: 3 L: 9 F: 14 A: 23 - a pretty resounding failure on the park. But, he's turned it all around and his team is now flying. For sure, Mehm has much much better players in his squad so we expect him to create a championship team much quicker than Ange. I'm going to give it longer than 4 weeks, that's for sure.
Rusty0256
Guest
It may all miraculously change tomorrow night, but up until now Melbourne Victory seem to have been trying to deal with a three dimensional problem with one dimensional thinking. Before last Sunday Mehmet kept reassurring us that "once we get 'da ball in 'da backuda net everyfink will be OK" Well based on that prophecy, we should now see everything fall into place and we start playing to our true capabilities. Look, I know it is a bit of a cheap shot to have a go at Mehmet's somewhat limited media skills. I'm sure behind the scenes he must be trying to implement positive game strategies, but it has been quite hard to see exactly what those might be. And even presuming that there are detailed strategies occurring, how are those possibly going to be followed through when the team sheet and formation keeps changing? At times the team seems to have been randomly selected by a form of chooklotto. Make no mistake; Brisbane Roar are beatable, but the reality is that the 'orange juggernaut' will not be stopped by a team of great players, it will only be halted by a great team, led by a coach capable of outwitting (at least for one night) Ange Postecoglou. I certainly hope Mehmet and the boys are up to the task, but I have serious doubts.