Outside90’s series of team previews continues with a look at reigning champions Melbourne Victory.
Offseason transfers
Melbourne Victory have done well this offseason to keep a winning squad mostly intact. The departure of club captain and Australian marquee Mark Milligan to UAE side Baniyas was a massive loss for the reigning champions and Victory believe they have filled the hole left in the midfield by Milligan with the signing of Oliver Bozanic as the club’s new Australian marquee.
Along with Bozanic, Victory have acquired experienced goalkeeper Danny Vukovic from Perth Glory as well as some great young players with the recent signing of Olyroos defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco and the offering of senior contracts to youth league players Lucas Spinella and Thomas Deng. While the club’s signings have been good, their re-signings have, arguably, been better. The club has managed to secure the services of Victory medallist Fahid Ben Khalfallah for another two seasons and extended the contract of central defender Matthieu Delpierre for one year.
Aside from losing Milligan, the club released first choice goalkeeper Nathan Coe and young guns Andrew Nabbout and Jordan Brown at the end of last season.
While the changes in personnel have been relatively few compared with other teams, the squad has been strengthened and has every chance of securing back-to-back titles. The quality and depth of this group of players is a testament to the work of Kevin Muscat and the football department.
Last season
Season 2014-15 could not have gone better for the Victory, with the team winning both the premier’s plate and the championship. The Melbourne club scored 56 goals and only conceded 31. Despite spending the majority of the season in the top four on the table, Victory peaked at the right time, spending the latter stages of the regular season in top spot. They were rewarded for their consistently good performances, finishing top of the table.
Melbourne’s intentions were clear from the outset when they opened the season with a 4-1 demolition of Western Sydney Wanderers. This was the beginning of a run of 10 games unbeaten. The team only lost four times for the entire season against Melbourne City, Wellington Phoenix, Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory, further highlighting just how consistent they were. Victory’s finals campaign was outstanding, ruthless and comprehensive with back-to-back 3-0 wins over two of their biggest rivals – Melbourne City in the semi-final and Sydney FC in the grand final.
READ MORE: Melbourne Victory break A-League membership record
Manager
This campaign is only Kevin Muscat’s second full season in charge at the Victory and with it comes an even bigger expectation of success than that which is usually placed on the biggest club in the league. This season will test Muscat’s coaching credentials and prove whether or not he has what it takes to become a great, long-serving coach. The loss of Milligan and recruitment of Bozanic signals an adaptation to the Victory’s 4-3-3 formation. Rather than play with two holding midfielders and the lone central midfielder, Muscat now has options. The midfield make-up of last season is still possible with the likes of Finkler, Valeri and Broxham, however, Bozanic adds a completely new dimension, one that Muscat will look to exploit.
Muscat is a club legend, having captained the team to its first two titles. The potential to be recognised as a successful, trophy-winning coach on top of the achievements of his playing career could well be decided this season. How he handles any adversity that may come his way will prove whether he has what it takes.
Muscat will also hope that he has the answer to Victory’s Asian Champions League troubles, with the team never having progressed past the group stages in four attempts.
Strengths
Victory’s biggest strength lies in its ability to have kept together the majority of the squad from the previous season. To have completely retained a potent attacking half, particularly with the re-signing of Khalfallah, means the champions have every chance of retaining both the premier’s plate and championship. Down the other end of the park, the importance of keeping Delpierre at the club for another season cannot be understated. His experience is invaluable for the Victory’s young back line.
Weaknesses
As highlighted last season by the fall of both Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers, a team’s time at the top is finite. Although Muscat’s side are impressive on paper and have the results from last season to justify all the praise they are receiving, they cannot rest on their laurels. Any hint of complacency from Muscat’s men will be pounced upon by opposition. The A-League is a competition of constant evolution and a team’s failure to adapt will see them suffer.
Key Player
It is difficult to pick one key player in this squad. However, Oliver Bozanic has big shoes to fill and needs to be performing well in the middle if Victory are to continue and build upon the success of last season. Although he has only featured in a handful of preseason and FFA Cup matches, there is evidence that he will fit right into the Victory midfield.
His importance stems from the fact that he can play as a box-to-box midfielder; he can play anywhere he is required in the midfield. He will be able to help Valeri with the defensive duties, sitting in front of the back four. He has already proven to be a more than capable central midfielder, controlling the centre of the park with his passing abilities and, as shown by his time in Switzerland, he is able to get forward, create chances and get on the scoresheet himself.
While Bozanic’s role is arguably the most important, the performances of Khalfallah, Berisha, Finkler, Valeri, Delpierre and Vukovic will also be crucial to the Victory this season.
Best XI
(4-3-3): Vukovic (GK); Georgievski, Delpierre, Ansell, Geria; Valeri, Bozanic, Finkler; Khalfallah, Berisha, Barbarouses.
Prediction
After a successful season in 2014-15, both the club and its supporters will expect nothing less than a top two finish and another grand final appearance. This squad has the potential to create a lasting legacy, not dissimilar to the achievements of the Brisbane Roar between 2011 and 2014. The greatest challengers to Victory’s chance of winning successive titles also happen to be their greatest rivals in City, Adelaide and Sydney – whom they will play one after the other in February. Beating these sides is essential to Victory’s title defence. Ultimately, Victory are expected to do well.
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