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Another A-League season, another new franchise. Can the Melbourne Heart give this year’s competition a shake? Well, everything looks good on paper. Now all they need is a crowd to fill their gleaming new stadium.
After the diabolical debut of the Fury and the tumultuous opening of Gold Coast FC, we’re hesitant when it comes to new franchises. But the Melbourne Heart seems to have done everything right. With Westpac signing on as major sponsor, the club rests on a solid financial base. With John van ’t Schip signing on as manager, it has a sharp mind schooled in the Dutch system. And with John Aloisi, Josip Skoko, Michael Beauchamp et al, it has a highly experienced core of local talent. Add the goal-scoring potential of the lo y Dutchman Gerald Sibon up front and it’s tough to see this club stumbling. If there is a concern, it’s the home crowd. We suspect the turnout of 19,261 for its clash with Everton at Etihad Stadium disappointed the suits in head office. Can the Heart find Melbournians who aren’t allied to the Scottish-styled kick-and-rush football of Ernie Merrick’s Victory? If it loses early games and the new stadium empties out, the atmosphere could turn poisonous for the fledgling club. Just ask the Gold Coast ...
The keen-eyed among you will recall that last year we nominated Sydney as our “brush”. We applauded the club’s move of bringing in marquee coach Vitezslav Lavicka, we praised Lavicka’s pedigree, we waxed lyrical about his Eastern European ethos of respect and discipline. But we thought a culture shi would take longer than a season. Well, Lavicka proved us wrong. He swept away the profligacy, he dismantled the infamous player power, he established himself as the leading figure within the club. And Sydney marched to a deserving championship. If Lavicka can continue to mould the club in his own image, then the success should continue to flow. Besides, there’s much to like about the squad this year. Keeper Liam Reddy, defender Scott Jamieson, midfielder Nicky Carle and 16-year-old prodigy Terry Antonis are all pivotal additions. Most importantly, all are Sydney boys and should bring a home-town atmosphere to the club. Hell, at this rate, the club may be on its way to ditching the moniker Bling FC. The only problem? History - no club has won repeat A-League titles.
Soccer’s sitting at the crest of a tall wave in New Zealand at the moment. The Phoenix’s drive into last year’s finals series was the appetiser, the All Whites’ unbeaten run in South Africa the main course. The coffers are full, enthusiasm is soaring. And if this season’s incarnation of the Phoenix can hold that momentum, then they could achieve remarkable things. If they face a problem, however, it’s their lack of a youth league fostering local talent. This was thrown into sharp relief over the off -season when 20-year-old Costa Barbarouses – an impressive forward who’d captained New Zealand at under-20 and 23s level and was beginning to get top-grade exposure – fled Wellington and signed a two-year contract with the Roar. The Phoenix can’t aff ord to lose talent like this – Barbarouses’ departure could well hurt them down the track. But that’s all in the future, bro. For the moment, things are sweet as.
Perth Glory surged forward last year. They turned Perth Oval into a fortress, losing just one game there all year. They dragged the crowds back to their home games, averaging a turnout just shy of 10,000. And they finished a bee’s dick short of the finals, with the Phoenix edging them by a single point. In all, it presaged another golden era out west. Franchise owner Tony Sage certainly thought so, stating that anything short of a top-two finish this season will be unacceptable. So why spoil all this good feeling by purchasing a washed-up egotist like Robbie Fowler? Sure, he might drag an extra thousand through the gates for the first game, but what’s he going to off er beyond that? His nine goals from 26 starts for the Fury was a paltry return. And his decision to sit out the round 24 match rather than take his place on the bench was a disgraceful show of hubris. Look, we may be setting ourselves up for a fall, but we reckon “God” will do more harm than good out west this season.
SYDNEY $3.75
MELBOURNE VICTORY $4.50
MELBOURNE HEART $7
PERTH $8
GOLD COAST $8.50
WELLINGTON $13
ADELAIDE $13
NEWCASTLE $13
CENTRAL COAST $17
BRISBANE $21
NORTH QUEENSLAND $51
(Prices courtesy of Sportingbet. Prices subject to change.) |
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