Where some criticised the Melbourne A-League derby as lacking excitement, one good thing that emerged was Melbourne Heart youngster Craig Goodwin.
Goodwin had a fantastic game on the left side of the pitch in place of Aziz Behich, who is on Olyroo duty. The 20-year-old took his chance with both hands.
I have watched Goodwin many times this season in the National Youth League (NYL) in which he plays exactly the same way. Watching the Adelaide-born wide man from his first game, you could tell this kid was going to be something.
On his A-League debut he got plenty of touches, and ran down the wing beating Petar Franjic a number of times, with his immense pace and great touch. Let’s just hope John van ‘t Schip keeps him around. With Behich out for two or three more games, Goodwin has a huge chance to impress even more and cement a spot in the line-up.
Giving a youngster a chance instead of going out and signing a replacement for five or six weeks is a much better way of going. Save funds, and let the club find out what it has on its own doorstep.
Giving the youngsters ago is an idea that Melbourne Victory should try.
This coming week against Central Coast Mariners, Victory are missing Grant Brebner, and with Billy Celeski only having played 45 minutes for the NYL side, James Jeggo could be in line for his starting A-League debut.
On Victory’s Facebook page, Victory asked who should come in for the suspended Brebner. Jimmy (he prefers Jimmy) Jeggo won the contest between Celeski, Tom Pondeljak and for Mark Milligan to move into midfield. Jeggo received 92 more votes than second placed Celeski.
Frustrated at results and performances, fans believe something different could work, but would Jim Magilton and Co. listen? Well if he has seen Jeggo’s performances recently as captain of the NYL side, he would know the 19-year-old is on form and should be given a chance.
Jeggo a modern day midfielder who can play just about anywhere, and has been playing the deep role in midfield. It’s exactly the role Brebner played in the Melbourne derby, so a straight swap? I think so.
Just look at a successful club in Europe, Borussia Dortmund. If we only compare the ages of their squad and their success then we can see that at an average age of 23 or 24 ,Dortmund were able to win their league over powerhouse Bayern Munich. Youngsters like Mario Götze were given a chance and grabbed it with both hands. Now, Götze (known as the German Messi) is a German international.
With Victory’s ageing squad, impressive youngsters like Nick Ansell (18) and Luke O’Dea (18) should be given a chance to impress. Brebner, Pondeljak, Roddy Vargas, Archie Thompson and marquee man Harry Kewell are all on the wrong side of 30. So is goalkeeper Ante Covic, but as we know, goalies tend to perform at their peak when they are 30-plus like Socceroo Mark Schwarzer.
Victory have already reportedly signed former Bayern Munich youngster Julius Davies, so just maybe they are already in the process of injecting some youth into the squad. Davies as a winger or forward could bring speed and youth into the line-up, but would Magilton throw him in the deep end?
Well, let’s hope so. But he may decide to play him in the NYL side to gain match fitness and adapt to Australian football.
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