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.
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.
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.
Sususkino
Guest
No doubt that the reason for Heart's resurgence is Man City buying the club you say? Excuse me, but that's just a load of bull. It *might* have been one of the factors that made Heart turn the ship around, but if you actually watched their previous 6-7 matches prior to that you would have noticed a team that played very good football already back then, but was let down by some unlucky goals against, poor finishing etc. All the players needed was a bit of confidence, and once the first win came, they changed. It has extremely little to do with Man City. Period.
Kasey
Guest
The second edition of the FFA Cup will be unencumbered by the need to keep January clear for the Asian Cup so it could see the FFA Cup schedule de-compressed leading to the FFAC Final shifting to Jan 26th-ish. Other 1%-ers (niggles) that are discovered to be will be tidied up too. We might see the preliminary games shifted from Tueday nights to Wednesday nights for instance to prevent clashes with a traditional training night...allowing more football players to get along to watch their local NPL Club battle the big boys. As for Finals: I think we'll always have a finals Series here in Australia and to be honest, that doesn't really bother me. There is no one perfect way to run a football League. The game adapts to local sensibilities across the globe(eg. many Yanks call draws Ties) . Our League has a Finals Series..So what? Its just the way we do things here.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
Regardless of where they finish. Unless it's the top two, history suggests they won't win the championship. It will take an almighty effort!
clayts
Guest
Um. The commentators mentioned both those facts numerous times throughout the coverage..
clayts
Guest
I did mention that Heart spurned a whole heap of chances against Victory, but I actually disagree. I see your point, but I think Heart created enough chances to win almost every game JA was in charge of. I don't think you could say they are wasting nearly as many chances now as they were then.
clayts
Guest
Well not so much winning all the time, but they need a few more years full stop first. And hopefully if they can not be on the bottom of the ladder the entire time, I'm sure they will grow the 7-8k rusted on support they've garnered in these first few years. Seems logical to me
Griffo
Roar Guru
Important game for the Jets and Heart this weekend to say the least. Heart are in with a shot as we have been poor at home this season. Then again we have to lift at home at some point, but coming up against an in form side in Heart is going to be a good test for both.
Bartinho
Guest
Hear hear
Adam Julian
Roar Guru
Having 6 teams retains interest for longer in the season. I know its strange but I kind of like it. I wonder though if the format will change cause of the new FA Cup style competition.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Are you suggesting Heart haven't missed any chances since JVS took over. There have been just as many misses under JVS, the difference is that we are no longer relying on 2-3 chances to get the goal to game to win.
tk
Guest
Absolutely right. Where's Misfud now?
brisvegas
Guest
I don't see the point you are making about the EPL. I don't really care what Bohun or anybody else says. The winners of each competition are given different titles, the rules are diferent, the manner of qualifying is different, that makes it a different competition in my book.
SVB
Guest
So are you saying that they need a few years of winning as opposed to going on a winning run and picking up a bandwagon in quick time?
clayts
Guest
Finishing chances is the biggest reason Heart are winning. I keep saying this. Williams and the Maltese (Anti) Messi were the biggest offenders. Williams is now taking his chances and look what's happening, Heart are winning. They aren't creating all that many more chances to score than they were under JA, they are just finishing them now. In fact, there was a 20minute spell against 10 man Victory in the 2nd half where the 'old' Heart came out again, spurning chances left and right. Williams actually finished one, then Harry scored a cracker. Take your chances and you're 3/4 of the way there in the A league. The other 1/4 is being consistent
clayts
Guest
Yeah winning and that other thing.. What was it? Oh yeah, time!!! Give it a few more years to grow and, if Heart keep playing like they are now, their crowds will grow.
Jennifer Juniper
Guest
Watching the heart beat the Victory the commentators were in awe - then I discover the Victory had been to China during the week and had a man sent off o not that surprising...The EPL has lower teams playing the top teams the week after they play in Europe so I assume the same thing happens here...
SVB
Guest
Don't really get your point. I'm just curious to see if Melbourne Heart (or City) will be able to pull large crowds once they start winning.
Rellum
Roar Guru
There you go, basically the same. Both have been key players, although all the players have stood up. The team is playing well.
Doc
Roar Rookie
Jumping straight from the WSW wagon to the MHT steam train. Pirtek looked empty on the weekend.
melbourneterrace
Guest
Surely the only team to have played “Title Winning Football” is the team that wins the title, ie, the Premiers. Not exactly, Brisbane are the only team who've stood out this year amongst a team of very average sides. Everyone else has never looked like coming close to the top. Compare that to this years EPL fight at the top where Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and City are all playing to a level that is capable of winning the league. Why bother with a finals series indeed. I wish that, like you say, the finals could be considered totally separate competition and the league winner given the respect it deserves. Unfortunately our game is riddled with AFL/NRL fan converts as well as the football illiterates in charge like de Bohun who regard the plate as irrelevant as the only trophy worth winning is a post season 2 game knockout cup.