It’s been a pre-season of optimism for the Melbourne Heart after the extremely disappointing campaign they endured in 2012-13.
What happened last season?
The Heart were nothing but atrocious on the road last season, claiming just a solitary point from a possible 36 – excluding the Melbourne derbies.
A team thin on quality eventually wilted as the season entered its final months, finishing in ninth place.
Last term the side’s leaky defence conceded 40 goals and a tame attack scored just 31 times, only two shy of Perth Glory, who had the league’s lowest tally.
What was most alarming was the team’s inability to pick up points or engineer a result in losing situations, which is evident by their 16 losses from a possible 27 matches – the most in the division.
What happened in the off-season?
The signature of Harry Kewell is undoubtedly a lucrative marketing coup for the modest identity of the Melbourne Heart.
However, does the former Leeds United and Liverpool star still have that natural ability to make a significant impact on the pitch?
Competition for places at the back is at a premium with the signings of ex-Socceroo Patrick Kisnorbo and experienced Dutch centre-back Rob Wielaert
After spending a decade of his career in the UK, namely for Leicester City and Leeds United, Kisnorbo makes a welcome return home to the A-League.
The ex-South Melbourne junior, 32, has declared that he’s desperate to find his best form for the red and white.
On the other hand, 34-year-old Wielaert is another player who has a wealth of experience in the Eredivisie, playing for the likes of PSV and Ajax.
But with the new Dutch inclusion not seemingly match fit for the beginning of the season, Patrick Gerhardt will have the opportunity to partner Kisnorbo and try to forge a strong partnership.
The shock injury to new marquee signing Orlando Engelaar, which sees him out until January is a crushing blow for the side.
A short-term replacement in Andrea Migliorini comes with a pedigree in the Serie A as a junior for Udinese and has played the majority of his football in the second-tier of Italy.
The 25-year-old is a relative unknown, but Heart will be hoping he can make a significant impact from centre midfield in a more defensive-minded role alongside Jason Hoffman or the dependable Nick Kalmar.
Engelaar’s loss could be lessened by the capture of Michael Mifsud.
The diminutive forward, just 165cm tall, is the captain of Malta and has scored a 37 goals in 99 appearances for his country.
He’s an exciting playmaker and deadly finisher, with the 32-year-old famously known for his brace for Coventry City that knocked English giants Manchester United out of the 2007 League Cup.
Whether Aloisi decides to opt for a striking partnership is questionable, but if he goes for the lone forward role then David Williams will provide direct competition for that spot.
Veteran striker Dylan MacAllister and youngster Golgol Mebrahtu will most likely be confined to substitute appearances.
The arrival of the high-profile players is overshadowing the introduction of two experienced A-League players in Massimo Murdocca and Iain Ramsay from Brisbane and Adelaide respectively.
They could be the finest additions to the team.
Murdocca has over 160 games of experience in the competition and the extremely consistent 29-year-old is a welcome acquisition.
As for Ramsay, he comes with a maturity beyond his years and is capable of creating loads of chances.
Aziz Behich returns to the club on a season-long loan from Turkish outfit Bursaspor, and will provide some much needed defensive steel and width in the left-back post.
As for the departures, playmaker Fred left the club after a two-year stint, goalkeeper Clint Bolton retired after an impressive career, whereas the likes of Josip Tadic and Eli Babalj have moved to European clubs Rijeka and AZ Alkmaar.
Simon Colosimo, Matt Thompson, Marce Meeuwis and Jamie Coyne were all released by the club at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season.
Why fans should be excited about the 2013/14 season
Another key figure will be Mate Dugandzic, who returns from a year off with a severe foot injury.
The 23-year-old was a star performer in the 2011-12 campaign, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists in 21 appearances.
If the highly-rated attacking midfielder can replicate his best form it will go a long way to yielding a healthy term.
19-year-old David Vrankovic will most likely provide cover, but his star continues to rise and he will push for selection and make the more senior players like Kisnorbo and Wielaert honest.
Murdocca can provide both the guile and composure from midfield that the Heart lacked heavily last term.
Ramsay’s raw pace and technical ability has always caused opposition defences problems, and his wing play will help aid and create opportunities for the forwards.
Having four quality centre-backs will make it difficult for Aloisi to select his preferred partnership over the course of the season, which is a healthy dilemma to have.
The main man that can carry 2013/14 hopes
People will believe that if Kewell can produce close to his best possible form in his waning career, then perhaps a finals appearance is well within the club’s grasp.
With a World Cup on the horizon, and a determined Kewell indicating his desire to be part of an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup appearance, the motivation appears to be genuine.
This can only bode well for the red and white.
Verdict – Finals contender
It’s been a pre-season of optimism for the Melbourne Heart after the extremely disappointing campaign they endured in 2012-13.
An abysmal way record was a major factor behind their capitulation, with the club failing to assert themselves in the third-year of their existence.
Whether they have learned some valuable lessons under the stewardship of coach John Aloisi remains to be seen.
If the ninth placed finish represented a transitional phase for the club, then this upcoming term must be one of consolidation, and redemption.
Without a pre-season win against A-League opposition over the break, one could be forgiven for believing that the Heart face a torrid year ahead.
However, they do possess a squad that has injected some quality in the off-season, and gaining good results early in the campaign will be imperative for breeding confidence.
Much of the Heart’s aspirations will depend on whether the new look centre-half partnership can strike an immediate cohesiveness.
Strong home form is always crucial, but away from home they will be reliant on the experienced players they have drafted into the squad to lead by example and help pick up valuable results, then perhaps they can surprise a few.
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