Brisbane Hopes Raw at Best
July 31st 2009 08:20
Melbourne Victory were the first A - League side to hold the trophy aloft twice. The experts are telling us that they are a really really massive chance of doing it for a third time. Today we focus our attention on the Victory's chances and those of the Brisbane Roar. The Roar are currently quoted as second favourite in TAB betting markets.
I've got to admit I'm scratching my head as to why the Roar are held in such high regard. The Roar will get off to a really bogus start when they are flattened by a revved up Gold Coast who have more guns than a flotilla of American battleships. One week later they meet Melbourne Victory away from home. Another defeat. I can't see this lot doing too much. With the dour Farina in charge I'm sure we've seen them reach their peak in the 08/09 season when they finished third.
Lets take a look at the Roar. At the back you have Craig Moore and Danny Tiatto the ageing warriors. Moore has defied the odds to last this long after playing two seasons with the Roar already. The 2010 World Cup is acting as a lure for the ex Rangers and Newcastle United stopper. Unfortunately this doesn't mean he will suddenly regain the pace that he has already lost. I love 'Moorey' and all he did for Australian soccer but we will probably be saying to ourselves on more than one occasion this season . . . "Oh no Craig! Why oh why Craig"
In the midfield the Roar profitted off another old stager last season. Charlie Miller was a revelation. But guess what? He's another year older and what are the Roar going to do when he gets injured this season. Murdocca (who will be missing for the first two months) and Mackay aren't exactly the creative types. Where will the goals come from? I hope the Queenslanders don't expect Sergio Van Dijk to go on another scoring spree in A - League version 5. Sorry guys you seem a little raw to me.
The Melbourne Victory have a lot on their plate this season. Manager Ernie Merrick will be doing his best to pick up a third A - League title but the dangling carrot of the Asian Champions League which kicks off during the latter stages of the A - League will also take up a lot of space inside Ernie's thought processor. The other tiny little issue for the Victory to juggle is that of the upcoming birth of the second Melbourne A - league franchise. This year the Victory has to do everything in it's means and then some to ensure it maintains it's slice of the Melbourne football market.
Looking at the playing roster not much has changed. This is of slight concern. Sometimes after taking a title teams can go missing and lose the desire required to pull off a double. Without fresh new personnel Melbourne might fall victim to this interesting phenomonem. And after looking at their midfield roster I see that the source of creativity is Carlos Hernandez. Hernandez has signed a three year deal with Victory and when he comes to the realisation he is at best a bit part player in the Costa Rican World Cup side I can see this fellas form going south. So far south you'll probably find him floating around somewhere in Bass Strait midway through the season. Never the less I'm sure Victory are set to get off to a decent start in version 5 of the A - League.
The first two rounds will see them go past Central Coast Mariners and Brisbane. After that there will be a tough road trip to North Queensland. Their next opponents Perth will make a slow start to the season and Victory will probably still be on the march. In all Melbourne are set to look fine and dandy up until round seven when they face Adelaide. A week later it's the Sunny Boys of Gold Coast United. The month of October will see the Victory plunge back to reality.
The transfer window in January will be Melbourne's fall-back. Ernie will be looking to bolster his squad for the Asian Champions League and the player/s he attracts will decide whether Melbourne Victory make a late surge for the Minor Premiership Trophy.
I've got to admit I'm scratching my head as to why the Roar are held in such high regard. The Roar will get off to a really bogus start when they are flattened by a revved up Gold Coast who have more guns than a flotilla of American battleships. One week later they meet Melbourne Victory away from home. Another defeat. I can't see this lot doing too much. With the dour Farina in charge I'm sure we've seen them reach their peak in the 08/09 season when they finished third.
Lets take a look at the Roar. At the back you have Craig Moore and Danny Tiatto the ageing warriors. Moore has defied the odds to last this long after playing two seasons with the Roar already. The 2010 World Cup is acting as a lure for the ex Rangers and Newcastle United stopper. Unfortunately this doesn't mean he will suddenly regain the pace that he has already lost. I love 'Moorey' and all he did for Australian soccer but we will probably be saying to ourselves on more than one occasion this season . . . "Oh no Craig! Why oh why Craig"
Brisbane Roar with Farina
The Melbourne Victory have a lot on their plate this season. Manager Ernie Merrick will be doing his best to pick up a third A - League title but the dangling carrot of the Asian Champions League which kicks off during the latter stages of the A - League will also take up a lot of space inside Ernie's thought processor. The other tiny little issue for the Victory to juggle is that of the upcoming birth of the second Melbourne A - league franchise. This year the Victory has to do everything in it's means and then some to ensure it maintains it's slice of the Melbourne football market.
Looking at the playing roster not much has changed. This is of slight concern. Sometimes after taking a title teams can go missing and lose the desire required to pull off a double. Without fresh new personnel Melbourne might fall victim to this interesting phenomonem. And after looking at their midfield roster I see that the source of creativity is Carlos Hernandez. Hernandez has signed a three year deal with Victory and when he comes to the realisation he is at best a bit part player in the Costa Rican World Cup side I can see this fellas form going south. So far south you'll probably find him floating around somewhere in Bass Strait midway through the season. Never the less I'm sure Victory are set to get off to a decent start in version 5 of the A - League.
The first two rounds will see them go past Central Coast Mariners and Brisbane. After that there will be a tough road trip to North Queensland. Their next opponents Perth will make a slow start to the season and Victory will probably still be on the march. In all Melbourne are set to look fine and dandy up until round seven when they face Adelaide. A week later it's the Sunny Boys of Gold Coast United. The month of October will see the Victory plunge back to reality.
The transfer window in January will be Melbourne's fall-back. Ernie will be looking to bolster his squad for the Asian Champions League and the player/s he attracts will decide whether Melbourne Victory make a late surge for the Minor Premiership Trophy.
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