Official Melbourne Victory Thread II [R]

The game is for everyone, we played within the rules. Take this defeat on the chin and show us that in Melbourne the result will be different.

The result more than anything makes for an interesting finish and opens it up. Chunnma can still turn it around, but i hope not for match day 3 and 4.

 

Eight days till the Gamba Osaka game. Can't wait to see how good we are against J-league opposition.

 

Hopefully we can make a comeback and win both the matches that we have.

 

I was hoping that Harry Kewell would be picked up by our great team.

 

Well that's the word going round in the Central American forum, right RSM

 

An attacking game eh When have I heard that one from Merrick before!!!

Just from reading the game reports it sounds like our starting line up will look something like this:

------------------Allsopp--------------
--------Caceres-----------Celeski------
------------------Ward----------------
-------------Pace-------Broxham-------
----Kemp----Vargas----Muscat----Ryall-
----------------------------------------
----------------Theoklitos--------------

If its true it doesn't look all that attacking and I'm not sure it'll be good enough for Gamba but we'll see I guess.

Anyone have any idea how good this Costa Rican bloke we're looking at signing is?? El Cuscatleco??

 

Personally i've never seen the guy play so i'm no help there, sorry

You can always ask in the Central American forum, where there are many Costa Rican's who might be able to give you some info.

Try this link:

https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=14276016

I'm sure someone will be able to help you out.

 

Quicky, why Pace at DM . Where is Pondeljak? He'd be for that position, is he injured?

Apparently, according to Merrick, Caceras may be pushed up front. Hopefully Kaz will get a start, he can play in Caceras' position.

I have to be honest though, without Brebner, Carlos and Archie your side looks alot weaker , no wonder your side struggled for most of this past A-League season. You're SOO reliant on your #10's, which is good and bad I guess.

Here's his Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windell_Gabriels


He's only 23 and has spent his whole career so far in Costa Rica. He's in the NT squad, but apparently he hasn't been capped yet, which I don't see as a great sign. Carlos Hernandez was a NT player and played in the 2006 World Cup, despite only being 24. Carlos made his NT debut at age 21/22. I guess it can be different for different players, different positions etc...

He seems an impressive unit though, going by that pic and those stats (6'2 and a half, solid frame, powerful legs). And you're not looking for a leading striker, just a striker to compliment your 2 main ones. So I guess he seems like what you might be looking for? His price range should be reasonable too.

 

Yeah i had a look at his wikipedia profile when his name was mentioned as a possible signing, but it's rather vague so i didn't take it into consideration. I mean apart from his age, height etc. There is nothing else to learn about the guy. Add to that the fact that Wikipedia is based on user added information, you can't take everything it says as being 100% correct.

Wiki states that he started at LD Alajuense (one of the 2 big teams in Costa Rica, and one of the more well respected teams in the CONCACAF region), and then move on to Perez Zeldon (A decent team, who regulary makes the final series, but rarely makes it past the first quarters). Then he returned to LDA last year, before going back to PZ this year.

As for his national team experiance, he was part of the Costa Rican perliminary 2002 WC squad (when he was only 17), but i don't know if he got any game time. More recently he took part in the 2007 Gold Cup. Now adays i think he has been left out of the Costa Rican squads, not because he is not good enough but because there current coach seems to rather select players from his old club side Saprissa.

Thats pretty much all i've got.

Like i said, if you guys want more info, ask in the CA forums through the link i gave in my earlier post and i'm sure you'll get the answers you need.

 

I like the look of Windell Gabriels.

 

I don't know mate you'd be better asking Merrick I based that team on news reports etc that i've read about the game - it's not how i think they should line up but how they look like they will line up. Pace has been training in defensive midfield. Although I guess that might be as a precaution if Broxham who has a knock doesn't get up. Merricks said he'd play Caceres and Ward in a three prong attack with Allsopp. I havn't heard any news about Pondeljak. If Pondeljak is fit this would be a better line up for my mind:

------------------Allsopp--------------
------Caceres--------------Pondeljak------
-------------Celeski---Ward----------------
-----------------Broxham-----------------
----Kemp----Vargas----Muscat----Ryall-
----------------------------------------
----------------Theoklitos--------------

Thanks for the wiki btw!!!

 

Here's an interview with Windell Gabriels from awhile back.

[youtube]DFusKhfvN2o[/youtube]

 

Looks like Defensive Midfielder Jose Luis " El Puppy" Lopez of Saprissa will be joining Melbourne Victory in June on loan. Here's a link...

http://everardoherrera.com/2007b.php?deta=2007_leer_titulares.php?not=3624&id=3624

 

For anyone who can't read it, it says he is expected to join the Victory in the first week of June on a one year loan, with an option to buy.

It also says he is being brought in to help out with the Champions league, but by June the group stage will be over so i doubt thats gonna happen.

Either way, we'll have to wait and see what happens.

Here's his Wiki page: José Luis López Ramírez

 

Bit of a strange signing? A defensive mid-feilder. We alrady have Broxham and Brebner, could it mean the end for Grant? Pesonally, i hope so. He offers the team nothing.

However, our midfeild now is really stacked,
Ward, Hernandez, Broxham, Celeski, Patafta and now Ramirez.

Are we still looking at signing Gabriels?

Was the Adelaide match today or is that next week? If it was today, any news on the game?

One thing is for sure, Carlos is going to have plenty of friends this season! LOL.

 

Adelaide United FC has drawn 0-0 with Melbourne Victory at Olympic Park in Melbourne, in the teams’ final trial match as they prepare for their next match in the AFC Champions League 2008 Group Stage.......

Link: 'Friendly; Between Adelaide And Melbourne Ends Goalless

 

Here are the opinions on Windell Gabriels from the Costa Rican forum.

I read that Moore has given up on signing for Victory as well and is now trying to get back in the Walsall squad.

 

Whats going on with Carlos? originally it was suppose to be four weeks with him possibly back for the second game against Chonburi!

Its been about ten weeks now, his not named again for tommorow night, any news on his injury?

 

He's still in his cast, apparently?

BTW Any news on possible recruits? I'm guessing news on Windell Gabriel has died down. There was that 'Lopez' or what have ever his name was, Defensive Midfielder, from Costa Rico, aswell.

There was a rumour about some Dutch based Brazilian, I'm hoping it's true he'll join the A-League, whether it's Melbourne, Newcastle or Perth even:

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/73806,dutch-samba-star-considers-aleague-move.aspx

 

Looks like an awesome prospect gotta say, a bit out of our league maybe. Would probably have to bench Allsopp to accomadate him tho and a I can't seriously see Merrick doing that. Interesting that he's from Willem II, thats where Keenan came from. Maybe thats where the connection comes from. We'd be looking pretty formidable next season of we manage to recruit this guy.