Kevin Muscat’s baptism of fire continues this week as Melbourne Victory take on Western Sydney Wanderers.
Taking over a club like the Victory was never going to be an easy undertaking and Muscat has had stiff opposition in his first two games.
In his first match in sole charge he took on his former mentor Ernie Merrick, a coach who had guided him as player twice in his life, giving him his first start in the old NSL and then recruiting him as his captain in the first season of the A-League.
Muscat took the points when Victory beat the Phoenix but was subjected to a stern test in a game that was at one point looking like a walkover.
The Phoenix defence were all over the place as the Victory raced to a 3-0 lead inside thirty minutes. The Phoenix seemed to rally though and got one back before the break and then played the better football of the second half, with the only goal of the half.
It was a Victory despite the former mentor seeming to have the upper hand over the course of the match despite his team doing their best to undermine this.
Next up was an away trip to play Sydney FC coached by Frank Farina, another of his former coaches.
The two combined in 2001 to beat Uruguay at the MCG and put Australia on the verge of qualifying for Japan 2002.
It was not to be, and for Muscat there was to be disappointment as he faced his old gaffer.
Melbourne were slow out of the blocks in Sydney and were down 2-0 before they were able to get a goal back.
The game then changed completely when Sydney lost a defender. Victory converted another chance to level the scores. They were then undone by the Italian Alessandro Del Piero who won and scored a spot kick just before halftime.
The score was to stay the same for the rest of the match. Victory seemed to lose their composure in the second half and resorted to panicky desperation passes. It was here that Muscat failed his first real test.
His ten men were unable to muster the requisite mental strength to close out a game they had a massive advantage in. A red card in football is a gilt-edged opportunity for any side with numerical superiority to take advantage of.
Victory seemed to struggle for continuity and composure against the ten men and as time dragged on their play became more and more haphazard.
Instead of keeping the ball on the deck and running the Sydney team ragged, they began to fizz speculative long balls about and inadvertently let the Sydney side rest more than they should have allowed.
The final whistle blew and Muscat suffered his first defeat as a coach.
Farina’s men had stuck resolutely to their coaches instructions and in the end had managed to hold onto the the three points and subject Melbourne to a morale sapping defeat.
This week it does not get any easier as Muscat takes on his former national teammateTony Popovic’s Western Sydney Wanderers.
Popovic was last year’s coach of the year and can in some ways be credited with revitalising the A-League with his tenure at Western Sydney so far.
His side are well organised, play football that pleases their fans and neutrals alike, and so far undefeated in this seasons competition.
The match presents Muscat with a another stern test of his coaching credentials.
It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire for Muscat and his Victory side as they take on the other Sydney team in what could be chance for Muscat to redeem himself.
The loss to Sydney FC might not have just cost his side points though.
The confidence draining nature of it is what will have more effect come Saturday.
Can Muscat stir his players to bounce back from the loss and get their season back on track?
Another one of Muscats old footballing allies will be hoping he can stop that happening.
Muzz
Guest
AZ, I have to say that you do yourself,your club and the code proud.I had someone reply to one of my question "to the football illiterate' I could of easily have been Mark Viduka for all he new . AZ did you feel that SFC made little to no effort to attract supporters from the West?
AZ_RBB
Guest
No the club is very firm on staying at Parra Stadium and only taking games to ANZ in extreme circumstances like a Sydney Derby finals game. Membership would not have gone as quickly but still confident it would've hit 15k. For a game like MVFC it could draw 30k but average low to mid 20k. I'm one of the few WSW fans who strongly feel that the club should consider playing a derby and finals at ANZ. in a salary cap dictated competition who knows what tomorrow might bring so the club should be cashing in on the current success. But the home ground should never ever be moved from Parra.
Muzz
Guest
AZ, Have the Wonderers considered playing at ANZ Stadium? And if they were playing there then what would you estimate the membership to be and home crowd average?
Johan
Guest
I suspect I may have given you the wrong idea. Not interested in the world wars, class structure, Downtown Abbey nonsense. I was looking for data about the incomes of a league fans in comparison to other codes as I go to all codes and notice a difference in the type of person who attends different codes in Oz. Although I agree with you that many If not most of the a league fans are first or second generation migrants. In my view the lack of migrants in Townsville was a factor in the derisory crowds.
illya mclellan
Roar Rookie
He'll need a bit of luck this week I think. Could be a torrid time for them.
illya mclellan
Roar Rookie
I have been noticing that too. Quite disturbing in terms of what they have been capable of in the past. Its like the concentration has dipped at times and the killer mentality is just not there. They really need to get some of that back, luckily for the Victory and Muscat the season does have a long way to go. I really have seen them put in a convincing full 90 this season yet though.
illya mclellan
Roar Rookie
A large amount of A-league fans come from immigrant backgrounds but football in Australia and NZ has developed well in the sense that it is a fairly classless sport in comparison to the divisions that exist in Europe. The class structure does not really exist in Australia as there is a greater sense of equality and commonality due to the way the two World Wars were actually participated in by members of every social group. he decreased stratification of the military due to the lack of a class system also played a part in this as well, meaning that there was a far higher possibility that military officers were put in place because they deserved to be there, as opposed to the British army where you had a lot of the gentry in the top brass because of their social "standing". It is very similar in the sporting world here as well. This sort of historical pattern transfers over easily to things like sport and does influence the pattern of support as well. In terms of a "working class", there was never such a pronounced difference as what existed/exists in Europe. It is more related to personal preference really. Football is growing at a steady rate in Australia still, thanks in a lot of ways to the popularity of the EPL and La Liga, but also because it is still the easiest game in the world to set up and play. You need four jumpers and a ball and some people and its game on. Some of the other codes can't match the simplicity and never will.
illya mclellan
Roar Rookie
If the Victory can start to gel a bit more they could pose a threat. It is looking more and more like the form of Rojas last season was what papered over some issues. The midfield has looked very good in patches this year but the solidity and concentration over the 90 seems to be lacking. Muscat has a difficult job taking over from such a good coach, but his experience and self belief are things that do get managers through on occasion. WSW are a cut above all of the other teams they have played this season though, besides maybe Brisbane, but even then Brisbane have been unconvincing at times in comparison with the Wanderers. If the Victory can get a result it will be a huge boost, not just for the team, but for Muscat, he must be worried. I think they could be the ones in for a tough time though.
illya mclellan
Roar Rookie
Realistically a team with a man advantage should be able to transfer it into at least 1 goal over 65 minutes. Watching the second half it seemed as if there was a lack of a clear game plan in place. Just because the Victory did start to panic as the 90th minute drew closer. I felt as though Muscat could have done more to instruct his team from the sideline, particularly when they started playing silly long passes that on too many occasions went out for throw ins and goal kicks. Popovic has the advantage as his side are riding high in terms of morale. Even missing key players, you would still think they have the quality to beat the Victory on current form. The Victory have looked unconvincing overall this season so far and losing Postecoglou was a disruption they did not need. Transitions are always tricky, but the players have to step up and make it easier for Muscat as well. They seem to have been lacking direction during key moments in the last two weeks. They were very lucky the Phoenix didn't get a late equaliser in the Etihad game and frankly looked lost for idea's in the Sydney match.
1860melbourne
Guest
I am bitterly annoyed at some of the second half fade outs the last couple of weeks. Victory usually finish all over teams. This has not been the case the last few weeks.
Johan
Guest
Can someone provide some info on the background of a league fans if any exists? Has the FFA collected any data on their majority market? In Europe football was traditionally a working class mens game but price increases led to many working class men ( tradies etc) not being able to go. Should the FFA try and target the working man, families or should it try and wean the wealthy Private school boys away from their diet of rugby union and cricket. If they seek to capture those with coin in Sydney a team on the northern beaches is needed. Northern beaches folk will generally not identify with the mariners and view the central coast negatively.
AZ_RBB
Guest
it was pretty much an instant sell out over a week ago. usually they put extra seats on sale when away fans don't buy enough but that didn't happen. the people who bought cheap memberships to guarantee attendance at major matches should really turn up for this one. if we get something in the 16s again tomorrow night i will be very annoyed. 18 700 is the aim for obvious reasons.
Midfielder
Guest
Is it a sell out...
mahonjt
Guest
Good luck Supa Kev. #LEGEND
AZ_RBB
Guest
Will be an incredible atmosphere on Saturday night. I think they've allocated around 1500 tickets to MVFC fans which is much much more than usual. On the field it might be a tough night for WSW. No Juric No hersi. really need bridge to step up. Wouldn't mind seeing Mooy playing in a more advanced role.
whiskeymac
Guest
Beating ten men is not a fait accompli. I am hoping km can impart his mental strength, not his thuggery, into his team. It would be a good thing for the Hal. A lot of interest in the new coaches this season. Last season was the marquee, this year the gaffer. Better than when Clive and Nathan was the focus...