Defibrillator

"The Armada" or "The Fleet" or "The Flotilla". Ships and whales on the crest, you meet next to a waterway and can sail around the country kicking everyone's arse.

There are still very strong rumours circulating about Milligan heading away from the Visitors for a big pay day. I suspect the offers will be upped if he keeps form at the WC. This would mean Troisi would most likely be retained by the Visitors if this came up. I suspect Kennedy would be keen to do business now, but any other Socceroo for our squad would have to be on hold - put in a couple of good games and the price and interest from others just goes up.

Just thinking back to those games mid season where JVS played a 4-4-2 lineup with a rotating diamond midfield. Imagine if we had Kennedy and Villa together compared to the Kewell/Rambo or Willo/Rambo combination we had? So many miles ahead it beggars belief even with multiple spots yet to be filled. Let's hope the club is pushing hard for this.

I'm in the pro-Germano camp and sorry Nate, but I'd rate him well above Murdocca. I had an interesting conversation with a physio from the club a couple of years ago and the conversation turned to player injuries. A big problem is that foreign players can arrive from countries where the management of injuries has been repeatedly poor. As such these obvious problems take a while to fix. This was certainly the case with Alex Terra (and in the end unfixable) and I suspect is the problem with Germano. If we get this guy right (and I suspect with the game style JVS is implementing - holding possession and passing - will make this easier), then the upside is huge. I've watched Murdocca closely all year, and at the risk of shooting Bambi, he has some major problems. A DM should only miss one or two passes a game to a target ideally and Murdocca is well off the pace here. Too many easy turnovers. Add to this he's too easily pushed off the ball and offers very little when he goes forward, you can see why Brisbane released him (McKay and Brattan sealing his fate). Compare this to Germano: better passing, creative with the ability to provide a killer through ball, a real touch of mongrel and certainly not pushed off the ball, as well as 6 goals in 45 games (cf. Murdocca 3 goals in 189 games with Roar and Heart). He obviously enjoyed playing with Engelaar and a midfield that was creative and not static, and as we saw towards the end of the season, put quality around him and he is a far more effective player. Add to this the flexibility of playing him back, I will watch him with huge interest in the upcoming season. I hope like hell he stays fit and really gives us something as the upside will be huge if he can.

While it will be good send off Harry well, the player I'll be watching most closely tomorrow is Mooy. I'm all for looking forward and it will be really interesting to see up close what qualities he will bring to us next year. Given all of the problems with our midfield over the years, the idea of Mauk working with this guy next year is pretty exciting not to mention we'll more than likely be acquiring marquee or visa reinforcements as well. The future looks bright. He has my permission to hit the crossbar as many times as he likes without scoring - but no more.

It's starting to piss me off that we don't definitely know whether Saturday will be his last game with us or not. Whilst it would be good if we could keep him in the cap, if that's not possible then we should give him a decent send off too. The fact he stuck around after a potentially career ending injury and willed himself through all that rehab deserves respect and praise. If he's leaving it shouldn't be all about Harry. I'm worried OE's contribution will get lost in all the hype.

Just a thought, but should the eastern side of the ground be heavily targeted for the placards? This is pretty well where the Foxtel cameras will be pointed for the majority of the game and certainly behind the players at kickoff. I just looked at a recorded game and the Yarraside crew hardly shows up with a ball in the box at the Yarraside end given how high the cameras are. Placards seen at kickoff and surely the commentators will comment and open the debate - any press is better than no press!

I think it runs deeper than this Shahanga. I've just watched the replay and, whilst I'm far from doom and gloom re last night, the DM position is a huge area of concern. The screening of the back four, even in the first half, was appalling. We really need a DM who is strong and reliable on the ball, dictating play, cutting out any danger immediately and (like I've said above) a general of the team. DM is the perfect position to have a leader and we are miles off it and Engelaar isn't fit or quick enough at the moment to do this (and really is too creative - I think better further up the park). Germano is the closest we have to this and we all know his injury record (amazed he didn't start in front of Murdocca really). Murdocca is just not DM material:unreliable, impulsive, pushed off the ball, and certainly not physically imposing. Just look at both Adelaide goals. The only role I can see for him is working as an impact sub in tandem with a strong DM when we need to lock down a game by harrying off a strong finishing team, and even then I have my doubts. It wasn't all doom and gloom last night. Mauk was great and showed plenty and I'd hate to say it he needed to be subbed - he needs a strong preseason to learn to get the fitness to run out games. He's only young and hasn't quite got the motor, but look out when he does. Hoffman was clearly instructed to push up the park - part of his evolution I suspect in the eyes of JVS. And I think people are forgetting how far we have improved in the last 3 months. We played some very nice football last night (could you imagine a decent DM and a striker who can nail opportunities - we would have destroyed the possession based form team of the league by half time), we have a coach who is prepared to experiment with youth and structure (ok, some mistakes last night - but since finals are gone, I want to see this - better now when it doesn't matter at all - I'm not into the playing for pride attitude - I'm more into playing for next year attitude by experimenting now), and it's not a pipe dream to think if MCFC drop 4 or 5 very good players into this team it will create huge fear in the A League. I don't think we're as far off the pace as people think. With up to nine spots available in the squad and Mooy coming (my sources tell me it's a done deal), we are in for a great ride.

There's a fair bit of merit to this - a panicked frenzy at the end. But what is obvious to me and has been obvious all year is that there is no leader or general in our team and this should be a recruiting priority. I'm talking about a character supremely confident in their ability, calm in a crisis, and with the ability to drag, pull or cajole more timid people or lesser characters along for the fight. This is a contact sport where aggression and the image of not giving up or being stepped on is powerful. Sheer will can get you a long way. Characters like Roy Keane, Patrick Viera, Yaya Toure at City, Cameron Smith at Storm, even (at the risk of abuse) Muscat when he played at Victory. They all exude(d) a "don't fuck with us" demeanour and never ever gave up. If you aren't performing on their team you'd get a spray or cajoled to get better and keep pushing. Kewell has shown glimpses (sometime whiny) but isn't on the park enough. City, find us a general. There's enough ability, just no steel. We just looked rudderless when the crunch inevitably came.

Cue the Benny Hill theme. Six Heart players clumped together - did someone call a meeting?? - only to leave a winger free. Then the only guy at the top of the box had five guys drop off him. All we need is a joke about "Bristols" to make the scene complete!

Gotta disagree with some of the above. Put the studs up and skim the ball you're on your own. Simply dangerous and the potential injury risk just ridiculous. Keepers shouldn't have to put up with that shit. Victory can have him. The guy is an embarrassment.

With JVS implying he will experiment with the squad for the last three games, this could get ugly or ironically unmask some untapped tactic that reaps immediate rewards. I just hope the squad is shown Mulvey's comments post our last win over the Roar a month ago. Thought he was pretty disrespectful and dismissive despite us taking the points. Should fire the lads up.

Just home and Murf you've summed it up brilliantly above. Finals gone but I must admit I wasn't expecting them at all when we sacked JA. To dream for a while was nice but realistically coming from 12 (?) points back to finals was a huge ask, and to see the goal of the year was just brilliant - will never forget it. I just sat there for the whole day wondering what we would be like if we had someone who could finish up front?? I will disagree Murf on one point - I thought we did create some good chances - we just butchered them. We really lack a physical presence up front with a poachers instinct - the ball Garrucio rolled through the box a classic example. Willo one on one with the keeper butchering the shot, their goalkeeper making two difficult saves in the second half scrambling across goal, it just seemed the ghost of Mifsud was in the ground today. Surely a striker is a huge priority - it's just so frustrating to watch us repeatedly undo our setup play. The defence a worry too. Redders (really poor positioning x 2) and Garruccio are young and unfortunately this is the risk of playing youth - costly errors. Hoffman offers very little, Paddy K beaten 1v1 and again comparing us to other teams today we look (bar Engelaar) physically small and too easily pushed off the ball. The back four is the second priority on my shopping list - like above there is a real chance 3 or all of them require replacing. Not only for their skill, but for the slow buildup and backward passing engendering sluggish midfiled buildup that is too easily countered. At the risk of being howled down, I still think we are playing much better than rounds 1-12. It wasn't perfect today, but I think it's easy to forget how abjectly bad we were until recently. We are still developing. And despite the CCM winning, could you imagine going to watch them every week with that style of play? It may win games, but fuck I'd be asleep for 90% of games. Cue the age old debate re beautiful vs effective football..................... being greedy I want both!

As I wrote in my earlier thread it was poor coaching from JVS. It was patently obvious to me sitting on the wing the only plan Merrick had was to try and expose our inexperienced LB and totally isolate him one vs one with a speedy winger. The Nix dropped very deep to lure us down the park but left Krishna high and very wide with The Gooch. The rest is history but if a mug like me can see it, I was surprised we fell into the trap so easily. They were trying to unlock the door multple times and we shouldnt have allowed it to happen. Really poor stuff.

Just home and frustrated but not overly despondent. Finals to me were always a long shot given where we were coming from and now pretty well beyond us. It was good to live in hope, but stark reality will always win out. Will always wonder if we'd flicked JA four weeks earlier what may be, but Santa arrived a bit late. A bit unsure what you meant above Bela, but both goals came down our left hand side. The first a quick turnover, and the second Garruccio caught out of position and allowing them in behind. Garruccio is clearly not a natural LB yet, very young and learning. But what pissed me off about their second goal was the plan from Merrick was obvious. Sit back and absorb pressure with a 4-4-1 and leave Krishna(?) one on one with our rookie LB on their right side. JVS should have been all over this and tightened it up and also told the kid to be a bit more circumspect pushing forward. It was their only plan and we fell into it like it was a gaping hole in the ground. I thought we'd become better than that. The whole stadium felt flat - not sure whether the game on the pitch was the chicken or the egg. It was also the worst condition I'd seen Aami Park in after the rugby and league matches on wet ground over the previous 24 hours. The ball bobbled around everywhere and certainly didn't race into space when through balls were passed. The ability for quick controlled play and using the pace of our wingers blunted somewhat and you could sense the frustration. Not sure of about the Kisnorbo criticism - thought he was pretty solid and didn't miss one header for the game and surprisingly pushed forward for the last 6-7 minutes with a back three. But Weilardt going to ground again in the second goal was really average. CB 101 says he should keep his feet. Kalmar very good when he came on dictating play, Redders with some quality saves yet still beaten near post (like Garruccio, young players do slip up) and Ben Williams hilarious - many decisions left me perplexed and just fortunate some went our way. It didn't fall for us and we were overall very poor in the final third (Rambo with Mifsud syndrome at the end!!) Finals a dream now - really need to make up 7 points in four games - surely time to promote some of the kids for full games. Start Mauk, give O'Dea a run, try the Gooch in his preferred position? Nothing really to lose.

Just watched the replay after being away for the weekend and the thing that struck me was complacency from Heart - sheer complacency. Gone was the manic desire to win the ball like the derby, gone the enthusiasm and some of the efforts seen were really poor. Although it's poor I'm not overly surprised. The hype of the biggest ever derby win, the press all this week saying we are a shoe in for finals, it just looked like they thought it would just happen and reverted to old bad habits. One thing football teaches you is you take nothing for granted and anything can happen. You just don't show up and get a result - look at MCFC last night for example. Hopefully we can recover from this very quickly. The glory dash for finals is still possible (highly unlikely I admit), but there can't be any missteps now. The next two home games crucial but more importantly to me than finals, I just don't want us to revert to the long ball shit like we did on Saturday. We were progressing, and yes Saturday was a setback, but I hope JVS can again turn the ship around and have us playing football worth watching. The thought of more Aloisi style viewing makes me feel sick.

Murf, I wrote in my view of the game that I have fears for Kalmar's future and I still do. I'll preface my comments by saying I think he's been a serviceable player and has has the occasional blinder of a game. I will cheer him like every other Heart player. But he can't really be judged on the weekend. As the article above says, he had plenty of room with very little pressure, so he should automatically have been serviceable. But you also missed the two runs he didn't track as a DM due to lack of awareness and pace that put the back four under real pressure. And looking forward to next year with Mooy coming, I wonder whether he'll be pushing hard for a starting spot? He is very slow with poor closing speed (unlike Germano) and, whilst skillful with the ball, is slow in distribution and sits on the ball far too long. I'm always trying to see where he will value add or create competition for spots, and I'm left wondering. After four years with us and at his age he should be a regular starter after the opportunities he's had. Instead he is a bit part player and this worries me with such small squads in the A-league. His inconsistency is very very concerning. If we can't find anyone better well and good - keep him. But I think we should be looking hard for greater midfield depth who will push for a midfield spot and perform consistently.

Just watched the replay and seeing a few things I missed last night. The obvious thing that stood out like dogs balls was desire and effort. Heart were clearly more energetic and pushed much harder. Not sure if this was Victory's midweek exertions, but looking at the body language of them they looked like Heart in the first 12 weeks - a bunch of blokes not enjoying themselves. Coe looked pissed off on the bench, Finkler didn't travel midweek and was appalling, Milligan unhappy and Thompson looked totally disinterested and offered nothing when he should have been pumped playing against a rookie. They didnt want it and cudos to our boys who clearly did. There's also a blossoming steel and camaraderie to out team - highlighted perfectly by the number of players who confronted Traore when he kicked out at Willo. They just look like they have each others back. I must admit I was full of trepidation when I arrived at the ground to see Hoff and Garrucio in the back four. Wow was I wrong. The Hoff was solid and stuck to the task the whole game and has learnt to take a yellow for the team (but, as mentioned above, offered little going forward), but the Gooch was fantastic. I can't believe his closing speed - it is electric. For the kid to have the confidence to push up, create and take on one-on-ones was incredibly impressive for a debut at left back. Long may it continue. Engelaar was pure silk and creative, but on second viewing Germano had a very good game which largely went unnoticed last night. He does those sort of things which don't get on the stats sheet like close pressure leading to an errant pass, a clearance from danger due to his sense of positioning, strength on the ball (unlike Murdocca) and a nastiness and grit in midfield which just makes it so much harder for our opponent. Milligan didn't bring that last night. Four-nil is an amazing result laced with some good fortune. The Dugandzic goal attributed post match to Bruce Springsteen made me laugh, and Harry's finish all class. The red was harsh but we've been on the reverse side of that before. (5th red in 12 derbies cementing the reputation as a real grudge match). Weilardt and Paddy K seem to be forging a good understanding too. But there are areas for improvement. Ramsay butchered so many opportunities, two especially with two or three guys at the top of the six yard box who would have tapped in. And Willo's first touch needs a lot of work - too heavy and often poor. I really wonder how good he could be if he really worked on this. He's not too old to keep improving. I also really worry for Nick Kalmar's future - again pedestrian when he came on bar the nice long ball to Duga. Tactically JVS back to a standard 4-3-3 and the Garrucio call inspired as opposed to the Victory keepers debut. Couldn't believe Muscat conceded the midfield - for all of the changing of forwards, they were slaughtered in midfield bar the occasional class of Rogic, so the supply forward really ordinary. Not sure what options he had with his bench and ten men, but pretty static coaching. Well done to Yarraside and last night was by far the most red and white I've seen in the outer of a derby crowd. The turning of the tide is slow, but it's coming. And could someone kick out the muppets in the crowd with the refs whistle?? Bloody annoying and confusing.

Get a feeling tonight has just rocketed up the charts. Just home and still pumped. All went our way - ref, loved Mate thanking The Boss for his goal, and the way we swarmed all over them for the last 30 minutes it should have been 6 or 7 - nil but for more class up front. A night that will sit in the memory for a very very long time.

This is the central premise of this article and this is where I disagree and where the author doesn't understand. Heart wasn't undermined by being the second Melbourne club, it was undermined by the poverty and mediocrity mindset of the founding owners. They were happy being exactly where they were. I reckon it's a good, insightful read. The words "genetically limited prospects" refers to the DNA that Sidwell et al brought to the club from day one. We know that our first owners seemed merely happy for the club to exist rather than thrive and burn with large ambition. The DNA that MCFC bring to our club is lightyears ahead. That's what I think Gerrard is on about IMO. We aren't changing our genotype, we are changing our phenotype. Actually Bella we are changing both. We are changing the core makeup and building blocks of the club and subtlely changing the core values of the club - our DNA essentially. One of the core values of the previous administration (whether we liked it or not) was financial profit which, to me, came at the expense of ambition and achievement. It was obvious results were not a high priority - again this sounds harsh but a club keen on results wouldn't have let the JA "experiment" (being kind here!) run so long. Not so now. It sounds like the youth focus will stay with the academy but I will be interested to see if we continue with the community engagement philosophy or concentrate only on promulgating football excellence over mass participation. We're also cashed up changing the environment we're working within - thus we will look different to the football world - a change of phenotype.

At this rate Man U will be poaching JVS soon to turn things around.

This match has me more nervous than probably any derby previously. It's very easy to write off the Victory in our minds but they do have a lot of quality on the park with Rogic rested and Milligan, whether you like him or not, solid in midfield. Yet they can be flaky as shown by 5-0 drubbings, they were appalling really in the ACL game in Geelong and hopefully Qantas have trouble getting them back on Thursday with a delayed red eye flight. I'm nervous now because we are finally starting to appear in the spotlight after the recent dark days. Suddenly we're regaining respect and the press are looking at us as a bit of a fairytale story re finals given how far back we were. To blow this will set us back in many people's minds. And for all the talk about stern tests with Brisbane and in Wellington, the bookies had us pretty distant underdogs so the element of playing with nothing to lose was rife. Now suddenly we're under the spotlight and under pressure going in with a form bubble. I think we will win and I like the formations above with a back three. Given the quality of the Victory's midfield, to strangle them would be great, and I don't think we have a ready made starter to replace Aziz. But, unlike the last derby where we were playing like shit and let's be honest, we were hoping for a flukey win with a dud coach in spite of our shit play, this time we bring in form and expectation. Fuck I hope we live up to it.

Just home and stoked. Really impressed with the win and think we fully deserved our win - more chances, more damaging attempts and generally more intent. A fair result. Just saw Mulvey briefly on Fox Sports news and not overly complimentary - called us a "one trick pony" in the first half and said "we were bottom for a reason". He normally comes across as a decent bloke so will reserve judgement until I dig out the full presser, but smacked of sour grapes. As Barcelona found out last night, possession domination doesn't always equal success, and sometimes pragmatism and a plan can nullify this. The first fifteen minutes were pretty strong and I thought we reverted to the JA long ball game for the next 30. Last year we had Brisbane's measure with the quick break - so I wonder if JVS had looked at the old tapes, but today it clearly wasn't working. The change in the second half was fantastic and we were much stronger - good coaching to get Engelaar to present and well done by the players to respond. Obvious cudos to the two Paddy's at the back - both played brilliantly and snuffed out pretty well everything. Impressed Aziz looked quick today - something not seen for a while. And enjoyed Broich and Stefanuto trying together to unlock Hoff's side of the park for the whole of the first half and most of the second. Definitely a few nervy moments - but again like Mass he is clearly fitter than pretty well everyone in the squad. Still don't think he's a solution going forward and will be interesting to see who steps up for Aziz next week. I felt really nervous when two DMs were substituted for two AMs - I think we lost a bit of defensive focus and Kalmar just didn't impress for his cameo. I like the talk above about the structure. Fwiw I think it's generally a 4-4-2 defensively and in transition with a rotating diamond (occasionally flatter if we're pressed) and so suddenly Engelaar can be at the back of the diamond as the anchoring DM and a minute later at the top of the diamond as the AM. This way someone is always presenting in possession, or closing rapidly if pressing. Ramsay rarely pressured with Brisbane coming out (Willo and Duga did this) but transitioning forward he is given free licence to push up the park and Mass or Germano would drop in behind him to give support. (I think Rambo was lazy under JA - this move has made him more accountable and I get the feeling JVS won't put up with lack of effort or intensity. He's a different player.). It's pragmatic, always moving creating difficulty to match up, and still gives licence for the quick break if available. I just love how JVS has changed this team and got them thinking and working for each other. He just strikes me as very clever what he's done with this team. So to Victory with two socceroos in the midfield. Now tactically this will be a ripper. Can't wait.

To add to this Murf, I've heard (and mentioned in another thread) the marquee budget from MCFC will be in the order of AUD $2.5 million for the two or three marquees (the number of marquees depending on squad costs). It was a very good source. I'm not sure how this would fit with your list but, for example, Rosicky would probably earn more than this alone in the MLS if he chose to (my Gooner bias??). I like your list but am curious to know who you think would fit this budget?

Really surprised by the squad above - given the great job Gerhardt did last week I thought he might have been given a crack at Broich with Vrankovich or another CB promoted. I do wonder what will happen if one of our back four go down? Will Germano start on the bench and plug a hole if needed? If he starts the game in the midfield and we get an injury down back, it does possibly condemn him to playing the full game and given his injury history this is a risk. Unless of course we drop to a back 3 - but (for example if Kisnorbo comes off) a back three of Hoff, Aziz and Gerhardt is not overly inspiring. Surely Mifsud to drop out - would love to see the new kid O'Dea get a run instead.