Thrilling finishes, goalie heroics and a Sky Blue derby: The A-League players who were the difference in Round 24
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
Stability is often underrated.
In an era when we are in perpetual pursuit of the flashy new bling, stability can feel like we’re prioritising style over substance. The colour of a footballer’s hair is more important than what he can do on the pitch. Can he link play in midfield? Who cares, mate – he’s got a sick blond undercut!
Perhaps that’s where the rumours swirling around Melbourne Victory come from. Judging from headlines alone, the club seems to lurch from one crisis to another, thus the board’s temptation to slash and burn, to tear down all that has come before, abandoning traditional excellence for the unproven swag of a foreign big name.
Is Victory really that poor, though? Champions of football Down Under just a season ago, they have had a poor end to the 2018-19 season. Yet before the wheels fell off they had some scintillating moments of magic – the 5-0 destruction of Roar in November last year, anyone?
Victory need a steady hand in this scenario. Someone who gets the club, who bleeds dark Victory blue; not a selfish mercenary looking for a last payday with a gullible board blinded by star power giving in to his every demand. European pedigree means next to nothing in the cutthroat environment of the A-League. Darije Kalezic’s hasty retreat at Wellington Pheonix has proven as much. Can Victory afford a costly mistake like that?
Therefore, instead of wasting time and resources scouting for a burnt out European coach, Victory should instead take the radical step of promoting from within. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and Victory’s very own saviour comes in the form of UEFA Pro licensed trainer Carlos Perez Salvachua. Having had a full 2018-19 season to get to grips with the intricacies of Aussie football, he is the perfect candidate to take over.
Is it risky? Yes. Is it a masterstroke, though? Of course.
Anyone who disagrees can call up Steve Corica over at Sydney. He might be too busy with his title celebrations, though.
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Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
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