It has taken them 25 rounds, but Melbourne City have finally finished atop of the A-League table after a full round of fixtures for the first time this season.
Throughout the 2015-16 A-League campaign, City have dazzled spectators with their attacking play but often failed to deceive in defence. Their sparkling results have also been dotted with slip-ups, allowing their rivals to continually occupy top spot in the A-League.
Yet on Monday night, City managed to win a clutch game against Wellington Phoenix to push them into first place. It was significant for a club aiming to win its first silverware, for while City have not spent one week outside the top four since December 13, this is the first time they have a chance to defend a lead.
Too often this season City have faltered when threatening rivals Western Sydney and Brisbane Roar’s hold on first position – both opponents have led the league ten times each; 20 from 25 game weeks.
After stringing together four consecutive wins toward the backend of 2015, scoring 16 goals along the way, City proceeded to lose 3-1 to Brisbane in Round 12.
Similarly, during Round 17, they had the chance to move top with a vital clash against Western Sydney Wanderers. They lost 4-3 and followed up with a 2-1 reverse against the struggling Newcastle Jets.
Now, however, they have put together four consecutive victories, following the 3-0 defeat of Wellington. Remaining unbeaten in the league’s final rounds would represent City’s hottest streak of the season, and would bode well coming into the finals.
While City have scored ten goals in their last four wins, more impressive is that they have also conceded just once. It is a promising sign that their defence is starting to catch up with their blistering attack, and John van ‘t Schip’s return to a four-man backline has helped.
Yet the fragility and uncertainty still remains. Indeed if Roy Krishna had been match fit, Wellington may have taken an early lead after Ben Garuccio surrendered possession metres from his 18-yard line.
Bruno Fornaroli and Harry Novillo, City’s top performers outside Aaron Mooy, took advantage, combining for a sublime opener and from there the home side looked fairly comfortable. Fornaroli grabbed his first through a rebounded penalty before notching a brace with a top-class finish after great work from Nick Fitzgerald.
This was a match City had to win to confirm their trophy credentials and they emphatically delivered. They have now surpassed Brisbane Roar’s record of 58 goals in an A-League season from 2010-11, while Fornaroli has eclipsed Besart Berisha’s individual haul of 21.
If City are named premiers, however, they will also hold the title of most porous defence among previous winners, with only Melbourne Victory’s against column of 31 in 2014-15 coming close to their current tally of 39.
Most champions combine ferocious attack with a solid defence, very rarely do you see a successful team concede so many goals – only two A-League teams hold worse defensive records than Melbourne City this campaign.
Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona and Ajax teams, both as player and manager, for example, never held comparatively suspect defensive units.
Yet City are on track to ignore such rules of football, thanks to the attacking power of Fornaroli, Novillo, Mooy and company. They have been kept scoreless just once, held to one goal only six times, and scored two or more goals in their remaining 18 games.
As Osama Malik said during half-time: “We’re lucky we’ve got them, to be honest.”
City are top of the A-League on goal difference thanks to their superior attack, but they have the two toughest games out of the four teams in the running for the premiership. Perth Glory away, who have won nine of their last ten, and then Adelaide United at home.
The premiership is City’s to lose now, for the first time this season they are in complete control and do not need to worry about other teams slipping up. Attack is on track to win the regular season, and it will be tough to write-off Fornaroli, Mooy and Novillo leading City towards a double, regardless of their defence.
clayts
Guest
I think a lot of the problems came down to injury as well though. I'd been saying it for years that once he finally got a full strength side together and his marquee didn't go down for 3/4 of the season in the first game, things would come good. Well, this season he has had most of his signings together and look what has happened.. I remember going to Heart games and thinking 'Heart created enough chances today to win, but didn't.' Used to happen all the time. I never really thought it was the manager's fault, even when Aloisi was coaching (look where Brisbane is on the ladder now, which no one thought would happen)..
clayts
Guest
Maybe because Berisha had peak Broich feeding and Fornaroli has peak Mooy feeding him? I remember lots of Brisbane games were if Broich didnt play, Berisha didn't score..
Cameron
Roar Guru
Well when you think about it, Berisha never lit the world up prior to coming. Sometimes the right structure playing football wise and lifestyle can make a world of difference.
Lionheart
Guest
I wonder about that? Is that true? Has he suddenly struck a rich vein? Or is our A league defense not as good as where he's played before?
AZ_RBB
Guest
Not much to talk about is there?? Not many talking points after last week's win. Tonight will be more telling. I'm sure there'll be a live blog
Onside
Guest
Hi Janek, Australia play Jordan tonight in a world cup qualifier, but you wouldn't know it from todays Roar articles.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
What about Sydney FC and jinking Ninkovic - pure joy to watch. Without Mooy and Firnaroli next season City will be amongst the also rans - once again.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
City doing very well, but hot cold Nix are not the A-League benchmark. Melb CIty have crashed in finals games and they still have something to prove to the doubters. If they do, they will surely consolidate their position with A-League followers, but I think their fans still have long memories of their previous failures.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I don't think recruitment has been a strong aspect of the club since well before CFG took over. Like signing David WIlliams for another 2 years just after he had a good run in the team that included the impressive Orlando Engelaar. Willo lacked touch on the ball but was a reasonable speedster. A 1 year contract would have been sufficient but JvS saw it differently. He's taken a long time to get the mix right.
Uncle Junior
Guest
Midfielder, I agree with that list. I find Perth probably the most complete and attractive team to watch - good goalkeeper, tight defence (especially like watching young Risdon) and then you have the genius of Castro and the clinical finishing of Keogh. City have been much better to watch in the past few months. Before that they were extremely erratic and their defending was very poor standard. I found WSW have dropped in the entertaining stakes lately. Brisbane very good to watch at home; less impressive away.
Waz
Guest
I don't know if they were but if they were thinking of giving him the chop they've probably missed their chance no matter what happens. The first half of the season they were hampered by poor recruitment (done by CFG mainly) and the second half he's done much better with better recruitment. You can only imagine what he would do with this squad over a full season right.
Midfielder
Guest
U I follow the Mariners however that does not stop me enjoying the way the leading teams are playing and in order of enjoyment this is my list. City Roar WS AU Perth MV In this lisit I especially enjoy watching the top four in that list. Does not mean I have stopped following the Mariners more I think they are playing well.... and TBH this is maybe the first time I can say I enjoy watching 6 teams play ... IMO City especially and then Roar are a joy to watch for the neutral...
Realfootball
Guest
Life is simply to short too for me to be bothered replying, Fussball. To reference that memorable line in Good Morning Vietnam, never have I seen a man in such need of a blo job.
Uncle Junior
Guest
This is MelbHeart/City's 6th season in A-League. So you'd follow them now. What about the previous 5 seasons? And, if they lose Mooy & Fornaroli and can't replace them with equally entertaining players, does that mean you'd stop watching?
Realfootball
Guest
I am simply loving watching City play. If I lived in Melbourne I would support the team, no question. When the Man City group took over, the potential was there to revolutionise football in this country, and we may well be seeing that beginning to happen. Best team in the A League to watch, no question. They must make Fornaroli a marquee next season. What a luxury to have a player of his quality alongside Mooy in the A league.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Depends what his contract says, of course. I'll have a stab and say that at the start of the season he was told that the side needed to have a top 4 finish, preferably top 2, and get to a semifinal or preferably grand final. The team would have to have played proactive football so our goals tally would count in his favour (but conceding is a problem that has been substantially rectified since Jan). He has a strong chance of being at the helm next season.
Midfielder
Guest
Interesting City n Roar both attacking teams in positions 1 n 2.
Fadida
Guest
Agree Cameron. It's like an alternate reality. A top quality striker, and he wants to stay. City will be mad not throw any money he wants at him.
Bob
Guest
Does JvS get the sack if they don't win it from here?
pete4
Guest
Some big games to come for City yet. They play Perth away this weekend then Adelaide at home in the final round Win those 2 and they deservingly take the Premiers Plate!