The young club is establishing itself as the A-League’s entertainer and is capable of winning over A-League non-fans.
“The A-League is nowhere as good as the average European league. It is boring, too slow,” say the critics. Yep, true. No one is denying that first bit. But part two of that statement could not be further from the truth.
Really, that viewpoint has become even older and more repetitive than Channel Nine’s reruns of the Big Bang Theory.
Plenty of those hecklers are never likely to embrace the A-League for whatever reason. Maybe they aren’t impressed by the quality. Maybe they just hate football.
Likewise, there are those football fans dubbed ‘Eurosnobs’ who are seemingly too enthralled by the quality of Europe’s big leagues to embrace the growth of the local competition.
And there is little doubt the quality of the league has skyrocketed after 10 and a half seasons. As this campaign continues, A-League fans have been treated to possibly the most entertaining team the league has ever had – so entertaining it might have the shine to win over the toughest of markers.
Melbourne City’s start to the 2015-16 season was nothing special, marked by their home defeat against Newcastle Jets in which they led 2-0 at half time. A 4-2 thrashing of Adelaide United the next week seemed to give them a kick-start though.
Since then, two 5-1 wins, one 4-0, a derby triumph and a win against the league leaders. The results see City nestled in a comfy third spot on the table, three behind Western Sydney and Brisbane Roar (pending the latter’s clash with Wellington on 10 January).
The results have been impressive, but more eye-catching have been the performances that heralded those results.
City’s win over the Wanderers on Saturday evening goes down as season 11’s best game to date. Everything you can hope for in a football match was packed into those 90 minutes; twists, turns, quality, controversy.
City had a major part to play in that showcase as victors, led by two of the A-League’s best foreigners and their incredible goals – all three would have made the highlight reels of any league in the world. They were quick, slick and clinical, punishing their opposition for wastefulness.
Yet again, Aaron Mooy was influential in midfield, demanding possession and making things happen with his usual yet still awe-inspiring passing range.
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As well as wooing the masses, City’s fixtures – and in most cases, wins – have followed a similar storyline: absorb periods of domination, then sucker punch with efficient football.
Who could forget the nail-biting 2015 Christmas Derby? Or the 2-2 draw with Sydney FC in the New Year? In both clashes, City made the opportunities count having withstood attacking onslaughts.
Even in defeat, City have contributed their share of viewing pleasure. Their 3-1 away loss at the hands of high-flying Brisbane was another game from the top drawer. They pressed until Henrique’s late stunner, and another masterful goal from Bruno Fornaroli was the highlight.
In case you needed more convincing of City’s attacking prowess, their attacking three-piece of Mooy, Harry Novillo and Fornaroli has netted 24 goals this season, more than any other A-League club.
At the front of the queue is El Tuna, who has netted 12 times in just 14 matches. The Uruguayan goal machine is quickly mounting his case to challenge the likes of Besart Berisha, Thomas Broich and Marc Janko as the best foreigners the Australian league has ever seen.
Fornaroli is a barometer for City and is quite clearly bursting with confidence. The 28-year-old had the belief and poise to attempt an overhead kick when the whips were cracking, making clean contact with perfect height but lacking accuracy.
He is an invaluable asset to the league who has brought with him a full bag of tricks acquired in stints at Sampdoria, Panathinaikos, Nacional and Danubio among others.
When the club was still to be born and trying to forge its future identity, CEO Scott Munn said Melbourne Heart, as they were then known, would be a club for “football purists”. It has taken six years, but maybe this is what he was getting at?
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The Melbourne arm of the City Football Group is showing exactly what A-League football is capable of producing. Maybe not to the level of the Premier League or La Liga – the day will come for that. Only the most pessimistic of pessimists would not be captivated watching this team strut its stuff.
If you are trying to sell the A-League to a potential customer, the team you are showing them is Melbourne City. They are a joy to watch.
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