Official Melbourne Victory Thread II [R]

Melbourne Victory have just signed Tom Pondeljak to a two year deal and extended Nick Wards contract for a further year.

Well i can't see Kaz staying around now and i think if he did it'd probably be a mistake for him. Pondeljak will add a fair bit to our midfield though. We've got someone who can play central and right midfield, can score goals and i think importantly takes corners. With Caceres and possibly Kaz gone i think we might be losing a little bit of mobility though.

 

Gone:
Milicevic
Caceres

Possibly Gone:
Patafta
Love (Dead meat)

Picked Up:
Celeski
Elasi
Pondeljak

Possible inclusions:
Moore

Unlikely:
Musialik

 

Pondeljak does discount Musialik move too. Though it seems Musialik will be staying with the Jets anyway. Bridge seems to be atleast.

Can't believe actually how stacked Melbourne's midfield may once again turn out. Yeah they've lost a couple, but the late season acquisition of Ward and now Pondeljak. Combined with Brebner, Broxham, Hernandez and others, they surely need no more central midfielders.

But yeah need some mobility. I guess they might still recruit another left sided mid/att guy? Especially as both Caceras and Kaz could play that side.

 

So as i said earlier the moves are comming together.

Tommy P (I love this signing we got heim on the cheap side and is a better player than caseras, can play CM wide and pinch a few as a striker.

Ward as predicted signed (still no word on clause?)


Still to come

Morre (will be confirmed soon if betetr options do not work out), Main spot is as a striker but has been used on both wings and CM at QPR in the past

Kaz- all depends on Benfica?

 

Sad news but atleast it gives Kaz a chance.

 

Hernandez will be the big loss there. You've gotta worry about Brebner too this sort of groin injury has gotta be osteitus pubis which is really tricky to get over.

It should mean that kaz gets to start 3 ACL matches too!! The only thing that I can see stopping it would be if Pondeljak is cleared to play for whatever reason.

Anyway I think we'll look something like this for the first ACL match:

--------------------Theoklitos---------------
-----Vasilevski---Vargas----Ryall---Piorkowski--
---------------------Muscat------------------
---------Patafta---------------Caceres-------
---------------------Ward--------------------
-------------Thompson----Allsopp-------------

 

Defence doesnt look to strong.

 

Well this is pretty bad news. I hope we manage to keep him, I really fancy him to do well if he stays fit.

 

Maybe this then.

--------------------Theoklitos---------------
-------Ryall-----Vargas----Muscat---Piorkowski--
---------------------Broxham------------------
---------Patafta---------------Caceres-------
---------------------Ward--------------------
-------------Thompson----Allsopp-------------

Thats if we still have Piorkowski anyway!!

 

Heres the first news about our new youth team:

For the full article:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23326481-2883,00.html

 

Yeah it should be 1 year lower. But then, the minimum is 16 as of January 1st, so just turned 16. That's pretty low as it is.

But all the best talent tend to get their senior starts at 15. Nick Carle made his NSL debut, and score a goal I think, when he was only 15. Harry Kewell left NSWIS for Leeds United when he was 15, Christian Vieri was 14/15 when he left, and so on.

But yeah 16 is pretty good. Many of the young guys leave between 15-17 years old. This is around the age range for the Joeys squads. This is when most those players from the state institutes, Westfields Sports School etc.. leave.


BTW I'm hoping you guys don't sign Musialik. What's the point in him moving there? Look at Kaz. Broxham already plays a similar position as Musialik I think and Melbourne also have Brebner and Muscat who tend to hold down the Defensive Midfielder role/s, for the team. And when it comes to midfielders generally, I can't think of an A-League side with more depth, when it comes to midfielders. Pondeljak, Ward, Hernandez, Brebner, Celeski, maybe Kaz? It's a veritable midfield grouping of A-League All-stars and not all those lot are going to get first team football, as we saw with Kaz this season past.


He's better off, football wise, either staying at Newcastle, playing under a top A-League coach like van Egmond, or just making the move overseas.

But then, maybe the intra-squad competition at Melbourne may help his progression as a player? If he can break through and play regular first team at Melbourne, then he can certainly make it in Europe, break through for first team in a decent league there.

 

Whos pumped for the ACL tomorrow cant wait.

 

2-0 to the Victory!!! Stoked!!! Shattered i couldn't watch it live just listen on SEN. Celeski seemed to play really well!! Good pick up maybe. Disappointed tho that Kaz didn't start. Chunnam seemed to be pretty sh!t house for the most part.

 

Great start, we can only improve from here.

 

Well done Victory. Shame Kaz didn't start. Hopes aren't high for him starting in the final 2 games aswell, given the presence of Celeski, who seems to have just slot into the void left by Carlos.

 

As a keen follower of Thai football and particulary Chonburi, i'm interested to see your views on the recent game which Chonburi won 3-1.

I haven't seen any of the action, but was the result deserved?

 

^^
I didn't see the first half, so i can't comment on that. The second half i'd say Melbourne were on top. They got a goal early on & controlled (not dominated) the game until that wonder goal by Baga. (Amazing strike btw!) It was fairly even after that, Melbourne were pushing hard for the equaliser then they got found short on the break in injury time when Baga slotted home the second. Well done to Chonburi!! I'd like to see Baga, Fabiano & the Thai fella who got red carded in the A-League.

 

Highlights from last nights game for those who are interested

[youtube]8x8Eb3l4Pzg[/youtube]

Note: This was not upped by me. All credit to JayFCAK47.

 

Melbourne proved they aren't up to the next level after the crap I forced myself to witness last night. What happened to the 1000 or so of you that were supposed to be going to Bangkok?

 

At the end of the day, Chonburi won fair & square. You can't begrudge them that!