In all the press coverage last week about the Melbourne Victory versus Adelaide United match, one significant factor seemed to be overlooked: the Victory had one of its lowest attendance figures ever at Etihad Stadium for a blockbuster ‘arch rivalry’ match.
Several things that should have driven attendance upward were (a) the historical rivalry, (b) a Saturday night fixture, (c) Melbourne’s attacking stars – Kewell, Hernandez, Thompson, (d) a must-win game for both teams, and (e) a relatively strong advertising match by A-League standards.
The main aspect working to diminish the attendance was the promise of evening rain, but a Melbournian is familiar with Melbourne’s fickle weather and the stadium has a roof, so this shouldn’t have been a significant factor.
Melbourne Victory crowds aren’t usually fair-weather supporters like those of Sydney FC, so why only a shade over 16,000 for such an important match involving, far and away, the best attended team in the country versus their long-term arch-enemy?
The obvious initial answer is to be found in the football quality Victory serves up week after week.
Victory fans it seems are getting tired of Mehm’s, and lately Harry’s, constant pleadings that ‘things are getting better’, ‘we just need time to gel’, or ‘we were unlucky’. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time”. And after Round 10 the Victory fans are not being fooled at all.
For a team with such promise, Victory has not only failed to deliver this year, they have gone backwards from last year’s performances. The squad, bar Harry, had the longest pre-season yet but fans are still fobbed off with excuses of the players ‘needing time to gel’. Harry is clearly a consummate professional and I would have thought three, four or five rounds might have been enough to find his way in the team, but by week 10 he’s still ‘needing time’.
Victory’s new signings – Rojas, Solorzano, Cernak – have been spectacularly underperforming or often, not playing. Taking the field is a squad regularly featuring the likes of Celeski, Pondeljak, Vargas, Allsopp and Brebner, who have been great servants for the club, deserve huge plaudits for their efforts, can win a match on their day, but, really, are all two or three seasons past their best work.
As a supporter looking on, I’m left wondering if there are cliques forming between groups of players. There certainly seems to be disharmony judging by Solorzano’s recent tweet about being ‘lied to’, and Rojas looking for the world like a young man on the verge of crying.
One thing is certain – when the ‘new’ doesn’t work, and the ‘old’ doesn’t work either, something is clearly wrong and I point the finger at the management.
While the obvious answer to the question of Saturday’s poor crowd is Victory’s recent poor performances, both of these issues are simply symptoms of a greater ill that besets the club.
Mehm’s fighting words last week that, “I’m the boss” are true to a point but like any underperforming business, it is up to the board to get to grips with the issues and put in place direction and structures that allow the business to succeed.
Until Victory fans hear some fighting words from the board, and some changes in either personnel or attitude at the club, it’s the board that should be held accountable for Saturday night’s lack of interest from their otherwise loyal and vocal fans.
Roger
Guest
I think give MVFC a couple more weeks. We have seen continual improvement from week to week for the last month, even though the score lines aren't necessarily reflecting this. We've seen an improvement in passing (the players can actually string passes together!), improvement in posession, and an improvement in the understanding between Nandez, Kewell, and Thompson. People who comment otherwise either haven't been watching the games (but apprently remain experts none-the-less), or have a chip on their shoulder and take full enjoyment in being negative about MVFC at every opportunity.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
He did bring them in. 40k or so to their first 2 home games. But a lot more than Kewell hype was going to be needed to bring them back every week. Surely the Victory knew who they were getting though - a big name hasbeen.
stan of heart
Guest
Try again.As a ex m.v.f.c now heart supporter,Iknow he had some bad days,but,Kev Muscat was brilliant at readingthe game and his ball distribution to the forwards was second to none,I thik victory are sorely missings the likes of Kev
Dean
Guest
Hey I'm with you. I expected us to dazzle and play swashbuckling football and I leave the ground extremely disappointed each fortnight. But, the HAL is such even competition and, we only have to look back 2 weeks to see how quickly Brisbane gloss has been tarnished and if Phoenix win this evening - they have one of hte best home records in the HAL - then, mighty Brisbane Roar is facing the prospect of 4 consecutive losses by the end of the week-end! We've got 17 games to play and MVFC is 8 pts behind the teams that are flying high. I've watched too much football for too long to make any long-term predictions with 17 games to play. I'm sure, during these 17 next weeks, every team will, at some stage be touted as "premiership favourites" and the "coach to be sacked" will change each fortnight.
Philip Coates
Roar Guru
Point taken. Maybe I'm just super p_ssed off that after 10 rounds Victory have a massive 2 wins, a negative goal difference and they sit 8 out of 10 on the ladder with a squad that was feted as possibly the best attacking squad in the league.
Philip Coates
Roar Guru
If the Board think everything is alright because the membership money is in the bank that would be very narrow vision thinking. Hopefully the improvement will come because I'd rather the fans turn up than stay at home.
Dean
Guest
I actually went to the effort of providing the stats from last year that showed MVFC v AUFC last year produced a lower crowd at Docklands! I'm sure our current form has had an impact on the crowds, but lets not get hysterical about the magnitude of the impact.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
18K of members. wow! thats a huge effort. Victorians really know how to get behind teams. i dont think any sydney team can boost those nubmers.
Philip Coates
Roar Guru
It was still one of its lowest attendances (possible THE lowest for a big game - I don't have all the stats) so the underlying premise is sound. And if you look at the crowds Victory started with this year and look at the trends it is worrying. I don't think that raising the point and pointing the finger at the woes of the club is 'hysterical'.
Dean
Guest
Roger has already provided my answer - casual fans, who wanted to see Harry Kewell attended either or both of the opening 2 games. We will now see the regular MVFC fans turn up. MVFC has sold 18k season tickets this year, which means 18k seats have been underwritten - that's money in the bank for MVFC, so it doesn't matter if no one turns up to any of the next 7 games, MVFC has banked revenue for 18k people for the next 7 games at AAMI Park. When you factor in ticket allocations for promotions, corporates & sponsors (2-5k) and AAMI Park's total capacity of 30k, it means there will only be 7-10k seats available for casual fans for MVFC's next 7 home games. And, the majority of these seats available for casual fans will be the more expensive reserved seats on the wings. MVFC just need to improve on the park - for sure, the stands are getting restless, but they've already paid their money for attending this year and it's up to them to turn up or stay home.
stabpass
Guest
Dare i quote the great Allan Jeans, but i think plenty of people had forseen this .......... "plenty of sizzle but not much sausage."
Shane
Guest
Spot on 16,000 is a very low attendance considering the attendances so far this season have been 40351, 39309, 24820 and 18,404. Those figures show that crowd is falling away. There are 24,000 people missing there. Maybe the Galaxy match did affect the crowd but the attendance figures show the crowd has been falling away anyway. This does come down to what is being offered on the pitch and the uncertainty over the manager who has not been a unifying figure since the removal of Ernie Merrick. Melbourne have got a great hardcore crowd who will always turn up with a good portion of them behind each goal making a lot of noise every game, but the club has to perform to keep others coming back. The board and the manager are ultimately responsible for the football club and it is up to them to unite everyone going forward. There is no point telling us every week that its getting better they have to start showing it.
stan of heart
Guest
As an ex m.v.f.c five year member and now a heart member,might I just throw this into the equation.For all of his falts,they are missing Kevin muscot.he was brilliant at reading the game and his distribution one could not fault
HardcorePrawn
Guest
Did you mean to write Etihad? If so, I agree: terrible for any sport that doesn't involve an oval pitch, the crowd is just too far away from the action. AAMI is so much better.
Roger
Guest
Qantas, Dean is right. In response to your point, the Kewell factor only lasted 3 games. It's a non issue now.
Roger
Guest
.
Roger
Guest
Ummm, yea. I wouldn't be boasting about anything if I were you. At least when Victory lose, they don't completely capitulate.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
But it should also be remembered that last year there was no Harry Kewell. Harry should have at least brought in an extra 5k. However, we also must factor in the midweek Galaxy match that took place. Money for some seems to be a bit tight for entertainment atm---understandable we are in a GFC
Roger
Guest
As a MVFC member, I am tired of Etihad. I decided not to go to the game because it wasn't at AAMI. My bet would be many others did too. I think everyone is over analysing this.
AVB
Guest
Given the shambles your club is in I wouldn't admit to being an adelaide fan.