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.”
Dean
Guest
I prefer the Fozzy face when he was at the Football Forum last year and had to eat humble pie and admit his analysis of Ange Postecoglou as a coach was wrong - way way wrong. Fozz is good to have in our corner to annoy the football haters. But, when it comes to intelligent football analysis, give me Ned Zelic or Mark Bosnich any day. Unlike Fozz, Ned & Bozza were world-class footballers, so their analysis has more weight with me. Also, unlike Fozz, both Ned & Bozza have a great sense of humour and don't take themselves too seriously.
Stevo
Guest
Yeah I'm a Heart fan but the look on Fozzy's face - you could just about hear the cogs ticking in his head and him thinking "I'd like to blast this guy but hey wait, for the kids watching out there I'll put on my dignified and composed look" Just funny I'm saying.
Dean
Guest
Stevo you're a Heart fan? Did you know Jon van't Schipp & Jim Magilton have produced exactly the same results in the last 2 games? The only difference - both van't Schipp's matches were at home and he didn't win either. And, what's the fascination with Foz? What's his claim to fame that makes him any more qualified than Slater? Foster's record as a pro-footballer is relatively mediocre; and he has no record as a football coach. At least Slater has an EPL medal and was good enough to play on the Continent.
Stevo
Guest
No AU/Kosmina type bounce back by MVFC. What's that about? Based on TWG last night Fozzy still doesn't rate "Big" Jim - a great, "restrained" performance by Foz :)
Clayts
Guest
Yeah and Heart were EXTREMELY unlucky not to get all three against CCM, and at the very least deserved their draw against the champions. My point is that I don't think Heart are doing all that bad. Losing Fred is pretty big for them and they have played some really good football. Victory have not.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Nathan Funnily enough, I once had an FM game where Broxham and Berger went on to become socceroos worth millions of dollars and highly sought after by big clubs.
Roger
Guest
He had moments of brilliance. Pity really.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Wow - Axel was serious about the lawyer bit, I thought he was kidding, I honestly didn't know that, he sort of just disappeared.
Roger
Guest
I disagree Dean, I think both Kemp and Broxham are now the worst players in MV.
Roger
Guest
You would be one of the few Realfootball.
Roger
Guest
Good point Dean.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
From the Wiki: "Patafta retired from professional football in 2010 in order to pursue a career as a lawyer and is currently midway through a Bachelor of Laws at Bond University. He is currently in a relationship with Gold Coast dentist, Dr. Rachel Pino and it is rumoured that the couple are opening a chain of dental clinics." Had a Football Manager game where he went on to be a starting 11 Socceroo worth millions. Funny ol' world.
Dean
Guest
In the past 5 games, MVFC and Heart have played four of the same opponents (Bri, CCM, Ade, Per). The 5th opponent for Heart was GCU; for MVFC it was NUJ. MVFC beat NUJ. But, even van't Schip agreed Heart was very lucky to even get a point against GCU. So, what's your point?
Axelv
Guest
Retired from football and became a lawyer :)
Dean
Guest
Why would you say that? I think Foschini is one of the worst footballers I've ever seen in the HAL. He first touch is awful, his passing is wayward, his tackles are crude and his positioning is all wrong. Broxham is the same - no football technique at all; just "good tickers" and "good engines". I watched Mate for 3 years at MVFC and he was inconsistent and very poor decision-maker with the ball. I watched Heart v Bri & nothing in Mate's game makes me alter my assessment. But, Mate knows where & when to run into the 6 yard box &, if someone delivers the ball there, he will tuck it away.
Clayts
Guest
er.. Have a look at who Heart have played in the last three games. CCM, Brisbane and Perth...Without their best player
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Actually - where did Kaz end up???
Dean
Guest
His whole game was impressive. I held high hopes for him (seems Cole & Merrick also felt the same) that one day he'd become the superstar. I also felt the same about a bloke called Kaz Patafta & Kristian Sarkies when they were at MVFC. They'd play some great football - we're talking minutes not games - and then they'd fade away. In Season 1, a mate of mine was so impressed with Kristian Sarkies he wrote to his contacts at FC Koln (Bundesliga) telling them to have a look at Sarkies. Hiddink, invited Sarkies to train with the WC2006 squad. Talent alone does not equate to long-term success as a professional footballer.
Axelv
Guest
Haha, Victory fans have a traveling culture and many of them regularly organize themselves for away games. I think the main reason for the lack of away supporters in Perth is not just the distance, but the airfare costs. It's far cheaper to fly along the East Coast and to Adelaide (or drive) than it is to fly west. I'm yet to go on an away trip but I would more than love to go to one sometime soon! ;) Exploring Australia via football, I can't think of a better way!
Stevo
Guest
You must prefer Foschini, Broxham and Rojas to Mate? I think I know who has contributed more this year and scored goals to boot.