Since the end of the A-League season the Melbourne Victory have seen a total of seven players leave the club – some key names in the lineup and others simply squad fillers.
Both Kosta Barbarouses and Gui Finkler have moved across the ditch to the Wellington Phoenix, while Frenchmen Matthieu Delpierre elected to end his club career following the Victory’s exit from the Asian Champions League.
The decision was also made not to offer new contracts to club legend Archie Thompson, midfielder Jesse Makarounas, defender Dylan Murnane and former Swansea City under-21’s captain Giancarlo Gallifuco.
While many Victory supporters were sad to see the likes of Thompson and Finkler leave the club, it presents the former A-League champions with a new challenge, one that is not all that bad.
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Kevin Muscat’s men currently remain the only side in the league not to have made any new signings during the offseason, their only move promoting young fullback Stefan Nigro to the senior squad, who produced a man of the match performance against Brisbane Roar.
In reality the Victory took a back step in the past campaign by failing to defend their A-League crown, with their hopes ending at the hands of Brisbane Roar and a 2-1 defeat in the elimination final.
The chance to bring in new players gives the Victory an opportunity to once again build a team that can challenge for the title.
The losses of Delpierre and Finkler open up two more Visa spots, and if the Asian Champions League is anything to go by there is a variety of players that could fill the gap left by the two members of the championship winning side.
The club only have to look in their own youth setup for names to make the next step to the professional level.
Young striker George Howard is one player who may see more game time next season, although his sitting behind Besart Berisha in the pecking order, a change of tactics could see more exposure for the 19-year-old.
Former players Marco Rojas and Mark Milligan have been linked with possible returns to the club, an indication of the quality Kevin Muscat wishes to add to his team.
The loss of Barbarouses may be difficult to fill, but Jai Ingham is one who could step up and fill the void left by the Kiwi international.
Ingham as shown he has the ability to play at the top level, with a number of encouraging performances during his side’s Asian Champions League campaign.
The most difficult thing for management to do is find players who fill the gaps left by the names which became fan favourites during their time in the navy blue.
However, be assured the Victory should have no trouble in luring players to the club with a winning mentality.
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