The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Heart will be made to earn their finals spot

Promotion and relegation would have seen Heart down a league this season (AAP Image/David Crosling)
Roar Pro
2nd March, 2014
45

Melbourne Heart on fire. After going nineteen matches without a win, the Heart have now gone seven matches unbeaten with six wins and a draw rising off the foot of the table for the first time since Round 5.

The Manchester City-owned club annihilated Melbourne Victory in the derby 4-0 on Saturday night, claiming bragging rights that Victory fans might have to get used to should Sheikh Mansour decide to throw some cash around next season.

The Melbourne derby win has unbelievably put the Heart within four points of the top six, and even less believably, six points off third-placed Adelaide United, with six regular season games remaining before the finals series gets underway.

There are a number of factors that have contributed to Heart’s resurgence. The first is the sacking of John Aloisi and the reinstatement of inaugural coach John van’t Schip.

There’s also marquee player Orlando Engelaar finally playing for the club after recovering from a broken leg suffered in preseason, now bossing the midfield and chipping in with vital goals. Then there’s the hot form of David Williams, Mate Dugandzic and Iain Ramsey, players who divide opinion so much among the footballing public.

But without doubt the biggest reason for Melbourne Heart’s change of form has to be the change of ownership.

The current playing squad and staff for that matter are on notice every single week, as the new owners scour the team to see who they need to dominate the league next season and who is surplus to requirements.

The players have found new life and are all playing to be in the squad next season, when the unlimited resources of Manchester City will be available to the club.

Advertisement

The new owners will certainly be impressed with what they’ve seen over the last seven weeks, particularly without Harry Kewell, one player who seemed at the start of the season to be vital to any success that the Heart might achieve.

Heart’s fairytale will be partially complete if they are able to grab one of the six finals spots come the end of Round 27 on April 13.

If they do happen to make the finals they are going to be in such form that no team will be looking forward to facing the red and white of Melbourne in a one-off match.

The approach for Melbourne Heart is hardly a stroll in the park, and if they do happen to make the top six no one can doubt that they deserve to be there.

The Heart will be challenged with the task of facing the current top four in their last four games leading up to the finals, following next week’s trip to trip to Hunter Stadium to take on the Jets, then Wellington Phoenix’s visit to AAMI Park in Round 23.

A combination of 12 points will see the Heart make the finals, so four wins or three wins and three draws will be enough. This means of course that if Heart can take six points from their next two games they’ll be full of confidence to take on the top four in the last month of the regular season.

The Heart must look at their tough run in a positive light. Wins against Newcastle and Wellington in the coming weeks will see them cast those teams aside.

Advertisement

Then what better way to prepare yourself for the finals by playing against the teams that have been the most consistent over season 2013/14, when each game is effectively a six pointer.

Also to the benefit of Melbourne Heart is that two of their opponents are competing in the Asian Champions League. Heart are fortunate enough to play the Mariners after their midweek trip to China to take on Beijing Guoan, and the Wanderers after they take on Ulsan Hyundai in Korea.

Over the weekend Heart caught Victory after their trip back from China for their midweek ACL match.

A fourth-place finish is possible for the Melbourne Heart if they have a dream run, but considering that they have tough away trips to Brisbane and Adelaide, fifth or sixth is more realistic, which could potentially set up a mouth-watering clash with crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory in week one of the finals.

No matter the final position of the Melbourne Heart, whether it be in or out of the top six, the new owners will be pleased with the fight that their new team has shown in the back end of this season.

One thing is for sure though: for all the right reasons, beyond this season things will never be the same at Melbourne Heart.

close