Our series of 2015-16 A-League team previews continue with a look at the promising Melbourne City after a busy off-season.
Off-season transfers
Desperate to move into the limelight, City’s transfer activity has addressed a number of areas that have previously caused concern.
Forwards have arrived en masse this offseason in the form of Bruno Fornaroli and Corey Gameiro, while Harry Novillo has been re-signed following a highly promising 2014-15 campaign.
In addition, former Western Sydney Wanderers youth striker Steve Kuzmanovski will fight for scarce minutes with fellow youngsters, Wade Dekker and Hernan Espindola who have earned senior contracts.
In defence, and what comes long overdue for the City faithful, is that the days of makeshift full-backs are over. Van’t Schip has added huge quality in this part of the field.
Socceroos Ivan Franjic and Michael Zullo will be expected to occupy the full-back spots. The pair offer solidity in defence and an outlet going forward. Zullo’s threat is his pace and engine to overlap, whereas Franjic’s methodical approach looks to add sufficient balance between attack and defence.
Perhaps most surprisingly of all, 39-year-old Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen’s signing will provide welcome experience between the posts, while Jason Trifiro’s addition will add to City’s midfield stocks.
Former Fulham veteran Aaron Hughes will be a welcome addition next to Patrick Kisnorbo in the heart of City’s defence. Nineteen-year-old English defender Callum Richardson has been signed on a short-term contract after impressing on trial and will provide cover for the experienced duo.
Last season
A so-so season if ever there was one. City somehow managed a semi-final berth after a home and away campaign riddled with inconsistency.
Nine wins, ten losses and eight draws from 27 matches was enough for fifth spot, earning van’t Schip’s squad a meeting with Wellington Phoenix – a test passed with flying colours, leaving New Zealand with a 2-0 win.
A semi-final berth came next, a showpiece occasion that the City faithful would sooner want to forget.
The fixture outlined City’s flaws quite fittingly. After creating and duly wasting chances, Victory blasted 2-0 ahead before the break, and added another goal late to display the gulf in class between the two sides.
A disappointing end and general inconsistencies aside, the Citizens did produce solid periods of form. A run through March and April saw City unbeaten in five matches, which included three consecutive wins against the Newcastle Jets, Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar.
Manager
Van’t Schip is under pressure to produce results this season, which may have slightly abated after a promising FFA Cup run and positive results in friendly matches throughout preseason.
The Dutchman’s trusted 4-3-3 demands work rate from his front three and aims to ensure City dominate the midfield more often than not. A high defensive line was questioned by some last season, and exposed at times, but greater quality in defence should help guard against routine balls played over the top.
Strengths
In short, City’s strengths are vast. The squad is rejuvenated with the aforementioned signings set to give City a greater attacking edge and solidity in defence to compliment a midfield of extremely high quality.
Erik Paartalu, Aaron Mooy and Robert Koren represent a midfield three with all the necessary tools to win matches of football. Aaron Mooy’s hat-trick in the FFA Cup against Heidelberg United underlines his all-round ability, while Paartalu and Koren provide more specialist midfield roles.
New signing Fornaroli has started magnificently since his arrival, scoring three goals in his first two competitive matches. The Uruguayan’s ability to combine with the likes of Gameiro, Koren and Novillo will take pressure off Mooy, who was plying a seemingly lone furrow too often last term.
Without the problems in administration that have plagued the A-League of late, club stability with the City Football Group (CFG) should translate to increased attendances with improved results.
Weaknesses
On paper, this side has no obvious weaknesses when new additions to the squad are considered. However, a killer instinct and winning mentality are something that cannot be bought, and van’t Schip’s biggest challenge will be to instil these qualities and push up the table accordingly.
Fluency in attack was a huge problem in the 2014-15 campaign, as seemingly endless spells of possession and positive play through midfield was met with profligacy, or poor decision making. The addition of Fornaroli has made an instant impact, as his smart hold-up play and movement has already begun to cause nightmares for opposition defenders.
It is unclear whether this will be an issue or not, but if anything, City lack an obvious plan B in attack. If all is not going to plan and chances are at a premium, a criticism of van’t Schip in the past has been to changing the point of attack effectively and quickly enough when chasing a game.
Key Player
Mooy remains City’s best player based on last season’s form, but Fornaroli looks to be the most crucial at this early stage.
As outlined earlier, City’s prior struggles have centred around a failure to convert good play into goals, and the man dubbed El Tuna will be tasked with much of the responsibility in ensuring his side tick. After spells in Europe with Greek Super League outfit Panathinaikos and Sampdoria in Italy’s Serie A, the 28-year-old certainly will not be overawed.
Best XI
(4-3-3): Sorensen (GK); Franjic, Hughes, Kisnorbo, Zullo; Paartalu, Mooy, Koren; Gameiro, Fornaroli, Novillo.
Prediction
A top three finish, at least, will be expected before a ball is kicked and besides arch-rivals Melbourne Victory, it is difficult to gauge who else is capable of challenging.
It is hard to see this team repeating the failings of yesteryear. With an impressive preseason almost complete, the best facilities in the country and a squad to match, City are better equipped than ever before to compete for silverware.
For all the misguided hype around the beginning of the 2014-15 campaign amid David Villa’s shock signing, this squad is far more balanced and accomplished, especially through the team’s spine.
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