- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
New Melbourne Victory coach Jim Magilton has questioned the mentality of the playing group he inherited, revealing he will try to bring in some new faces during the current transfer period in an attempt to revive the A-League club’s flagging fortunes.
The tough task confronting Magilton was made glaringly obvious on Sunday during Victory’s demoralising 4-1 defeat to Perth Glory at nib Stadium.
The loss left Melbourne a worrying four points adrift of sixth-placed Sydney FC ahead of Thursday’s crucial clash with the Sky Blues at AAMI Park.
A forthright Magilton said he was shocked by the lacklustre performance of his troops against Perth, and signalled his intent to make changes to the squad while the transfer window was still open.
“I think what’s happened here is they’ve gone into a run and a rut, and I think the sooner we can change personnel, the better,” Magilton said.
“I think we need new faces.
“To change the mentality within the football club, you need to change that mentality within the four walls of the dressing room – the most important place in the club.
“There are a group of players there that have probably underachieved this year.
“But you have to stick together.
“We have a game on Thursday, so it’s a quick turnover.
“And the wonderful thing about this game is they all get a second chance, or some of them get a second chance.”
Magilton, who has produced just one point from his two games in charge since taking over from the sacked Mehmet Durakovic, said he was unsure how many moves he could make during the transfer period.
But the Northern Irishman said it was time for people within the club to be brutally honest after the team’s mediocre season to date.
In contrast to the Victory’s woes, Perth Glory are suddenly one of the form teams of the competition following their sixth unbeaten game on the trot.
Just one month ago, coach Ian Ferguson was battling to keep the wolves at bay after the Glory slumped near the foot of the table following a three-game losing streak.
But after posting three wins and three draws from their past six games, Perth are now just one point adrift of fourth-placed Heart.
However, Ferguson said the fickle nature of the game meant he could take nothing for granted.
“I don’t feel as though I’ve vindicated myself,” Ferguson said.
“If we reach the top six then I’ll say we’ve achieved what we want to achieve.
“But there’s still a long way to go.
“I’ve been in football too long to see things turn.
“Sometimes you get kicked between the legs.”
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.