The Melbourne Victory currently sit second from bottom on the A-League ladder, in a season that has been defined by inconsistency on the field, as well as some bad luck with injuries and departures.
They have not looked like the confident, consistent team of recent years.
However, with the first rebuild season almost over, players will be looking to prove themselves heading into the next campaign.
Marco Rojas still has a chance to show his worth in navy blue. While he has been decent since returning to Melbourne, he disappointed in Europe after leaving the Victory.
He joined Heerenveen in 2017, but struggled in the Eredivisie, making just three appearances before moving to the Danish Superliga for 19 games but only two goals and two assists.
With Andrew Nabbout set to join Perth Glory, it’s worth remembering the club also boasts the likes of Robbie Kruse and Elvis Kamsoba, although the latter is off-contract at the end of the season.
This underlies the squad depth heading into next season.
| Position | Players available |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Lawrence Thomas*, Matt Acton*, Brendan White, Matthew Sutton |
| Left back | Adama Traore*, Leigh Broxham |
| Centre back | James Donachie, Tim Hoogland*, Giancarlo Gallifuoco*, Ben Carrigan, Leigh Broxham |
| Right back | Giancarlo Gallifuoco*, Leigh Broxham, Storm Roux*, Anthony Lesiotis* |
| Centre midfield/defensive midfield | Migjen Basha*, Anthony Lesiotis*, Jay Barnett |
| Attacking midfield | Elvis Kamsoba*, Josh Hope*, Jakob Poulsen* |
| Winger | Robbie Kruse, Marco Rojas, Andrew Nabbout* |
| Striker | Ola Toivonen*, Kenny Athiu* |
*Off contract
This table shows the planning of smart squad depth this season. Furthermore, you can see that multiple players pop up in multiple categories. Leigh Broxham, Giancarlo Gallifuoco and Anthony Lesiotis are all utility players due to their ability to play multiple positions, allowing for changes to the side regularly.
However, while this table shows a high level of squad depth, the Melbourne Victory must retain some of their players. Players like Gallifuoco and Lesiotis would be good re-signings, as they are utility players who can play multiple positions on the field, while Lawrence Thomas and Migjen Basha are key re-signings.
While it may not be optimal to have this many players off-contract, it could be exactly what Melbourne Victory need right now. Players like Kenny Athiu, who aren’t A-League standard, can be shipped out and free up space in the salary cap.
This will allow for the next head coach of Melbourne Victory, whether that is Carlos Salvachua or another coach, to rebuild the team the way they want it built.
(Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Next season, the Melbourne Victory will have space in the salary cap, plus multiple import and marquee spots to work with.
With Ola Toivonen set to leave after the expiration of his contract, a marquee spot will open up for Melbourne Victory.
As shown in the table above, the Melbourne Victory are out of options in attacking midfield and upfront, with Elvis Kamsoba’s rumoured move to Macarthur leaving only the off-contract Josh Hope and Jakob Poulsen in the playmaking position.
Despite just having one marquee position, with Robbie Kruse filling the other spot, they also will have two to four import positions open up, with Toivonen and Poulsen almost certain to leave and Tim Hoogland and Migjen Basha also off-contract.
If the Melbourne Victory can retain key members of their squad and intelligently bring in foreigners in attacking midfield and up front, then we could see a reinvigorated navy blue side next season.
But will this be enough for the Melbourne Victory to return to their winning ways this season?
Jack George
Roar Guru
I actually think Basha has been quite decent this season, although I do agree that Melbourne Victory has had some bad luck with injuries.
Admiral Ackbar
Guest
The problem for Victory this season is that Hoogland has barely been there. If he's available to play at CB then Broxham can play at DM with Lesiotis as the other number 6, meaning Victory can get rid of Basha.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
"the few supporters that can both read & write" that narrows the field somewhat :laughing: :laughing:
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
John Aliosi is to busy slagging off the A-league on Optus Sport for not being "ethnic" enough plus he is a proven failuar as a A-League level manager
Frank
Guest
Nothing to answer for, just trying to get out of a bad deal at an opportune time
Jack George
Roar Guru
I agree, about Thomas. He has not looked the same since last season's semi-final.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Fair call. Maybe an example of a good keeper playing poorly. Agree with the names you’ve mentioned all playing better than Thomas this season.
NoMates
Guest
Dont expect much from this Victory side at all this season, even with the restart they will prob finish with the spoon. Rojas the only worthy player they have to mention about.
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
@Waz. I don't rate Thomas anymore. I think he's in the mid to bottom half of keepers in the league. His distribution is poor, and he is struggling in decision making. I rate Redmayne, Young, Kurto, Lopar all above Thomas. When I saw your comment, I wondered if I was being too harsh, so I checked the stats on the A League website. I took the time to put in the keepers I thought were playing better than him, and the stats seem to back up my observations. Have a look at the saves, clearances, catches, punches.
Jack George
Roar Guru
I agree that the list of players may not be great. However, that's good because Melbourne Victory have the freedom to not resign the players, and can build a squad almost from scratch.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
...and he wasn't the only one.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
That list looks terrible. Just for starters, you have Leigh Broxham's name appearing across the whole defensive line, and in each case, it's not actually his best role. He is a fill in, and not really a very good one at that (in those positions).
Waz
Roar Rookie
Traore was awful this season. Not sure how he makes “the basis of a great squad” list??
Jack George
Roar Guru
Football isn’t just about scoring goals, though. They do need a creative midfielder and one or two strikers (maybe a young Australian backup and a foreign starting striker), and with that, they may be able to contend. The problem then becomes resigning the contracts of the players they want to keep.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Melbourne Victory have the basis of a great squad - Thomas, Traore, Donachie, Galifuoca, Kruse and Rojas but they need a creative midfielder another defender and some goal scorers. Who put this year's squad together? Losing Nabout and Kamsoba won't hurt too much because one of them scores goals occasionally and the other doesn't score. They're great bench players in a strong squad. Losing Toivenan is a huge hole. A coach - What about your old understudy Dr Marigney - he seems to add passion and fight to a squad. The Wanderers have improved with him in charge. Whatever they do I hope they can really improve next year because as a Sydney FC supporter I want to enjoy disliking them even more! Victories against them aren't as sweet when they're struggling
Jack George
Roar Guru
In my opinion, Donachie has been consistently good in a below-average Melbourne Victory side, which is hard to do. He definitely isn't one of the league's top centre-backs, but his consistency should be valued heading into next season.
Jack George
Roar Guru
Kevin Muscat seems happy in his job in Belgium, although to be honest, I'm not completely sure what he was doing as there seemed to be a few visa issues with his move. I also don't think that Victory's board would go after Kevin Muscat again, as it would outline their decision to let him go as poor. While I agree that part of Melbourne Victory's revival will be whether SFC, City, Glory etc fall back, they need to be a challenger for the finals positions, and they will have to get there themselves.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Donachie - didn’t have a preseason, looked unfit, and had generally been poor. Kruse - has looked poor with few influential games. Rojas - too early to say but you could build a team around him. Thomas - the only stand out performer in the side who would stand a chance of entering the starting XI of dudes in the top 5.
Jack George
Roar Guru
I think your observations of Marco Rojas are unfair; he's only played in five games for Melbourne Victory. I also didn't give Kamsoba too much 'love', I simply stated that he could play on both wings and in the playmaking position if needed. In my opinion, next season will be crucial for recruitment for Melbourne Victory, as they have only really had one poor season of foreign signings. We'll have to see what next season brings...
Le Hack
Guest
I think when your looking at the health of a list that you need to look at who other top teams would look to slot into their own lists. Of that list I think the only ones who really stand out are Thomas, Kruse, Nabbout, Rojas (mainly on the basis of capturing their form on past performances) and Toivonen and Donachie. Nabbout already gone, Toivonen going, Kruse you're likely to get half the season until he breaks down again, Rojas has been a bit disappointing, and Donachie is probably overshadowed as a CB by most of the CBs in the other top 4 or 5 teams. I don't understand your Kamsoba love either, pretty much a poor man's winger, I think MV would be reasonably happy to see him go to Macarthur. MV seems to have got into the City habit of picking up poor Visas outside of their marquee, the flotsam from other A-league clubs, and made some unusual calls on deficient NPL players. I really can't see them doing much unless they have a wholesale change of players and then it's going to take probably a year to get them playing together. JA is not the coach to do that.