Melbourne Victory manager Kevin Muscat had confirmed Archie Thompson has a very real chance of featuring in his first league match of the season during tomorrow night’s Melbourne Derby at AAMI Park.
Speaking to assembled media on Friday morning, Muscat claimed that although Thompson is not ready for a starting berth, there is every chance the veteran could make an impact off the bench.
”No, if we’re realistic (he wont start the game) but he is travelling really really well and he will be in the match day squad so we have options,” he said.
Following a disappointing performance in the 1-0 loss away against Perth, there have been questions being asked of both the defence and up forward with the Victory not having scored in their last three matches.
With his side so accustomed to finding the back of the net over the past few seasons, Muscat believes the current dry spell is more attributed to players becoming too comfortable to sit back and not take the risks required to win matches.
”We need to get better at finishing games in the final third and that’s a group effort because what we sense at the moment is that were taking the easy option and trying to be safe which is simply not the makeup of the team we want to be,” he said.
”Its a clear message, we need to go out there and take more risks because that’s where we reap the most benefits in terms of performance.”
With Melbourne City possessing arguably the player of the season so far in Aaron Mooy, Muscat noted that although the Socceroos play-maker makes City tick, the Victory will be worrying about their own performance more so than stopping opposition players.
”Yeh there is no doubt that he (Mooy) is going well and we will after training have a look at how we will address the game but it goes without saying that the majority of our concentration will go into us rather than focusing on one player.”
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