Melbourne's Many Firsts

In 3 weeks time, Melbourne Victory will kick-off their 6th season in a Grand Final replay against arch rival Sydney FC in Sydney. The August 7th clash will mark the third time the arch rivals have faced off in the first round, the previous two season openers also coming at the Sydney football Stadium. Both of those games, including both clubs first ever A-League match, ended in draws.

For Melbourne Victory this will be the first time they will commence a season without either of their goal scoring talisman Danny Allsopp or Archie Thompson. Melbourne Victory are the league’s highest goal scorers, amassing 182 regular season goals over the leagues first 5 seasons, 82 of those goals have come off the boot of either Thompson or Allsopp. Danny Allsopp left for Qatari club Al-Rayyan Sports Clubjust 5 games into the 2009/2010 season and currently plies his trade in the MLS, while Archie Thompson is sidelined until January with anterior cruciate ligament damage.

With just one recognised striker currently on their books, Victory fans could be forgiven for wondering where the goals are going to come from. Coach Ernie Merrick has stated that the search for a replacement striker continues, but isn’t promising anything, hoping that his midfield can do the job for now and help in the goal scoring department.

Key midfielders, Carlos Hernandez, Nick Ward and Tom Pondeljak are all fine attacking players, but don’t really have goal scoring records that will put the frighteners into opposing teams, whilst Costa Rican Marvin Angulo has yet to prove he can match it in the A-League. Angulo showed glimpses of what he can offer Melbourne Victory in the attacking third late last season and Merrick will surly be hoping that having had some time to settle, Angulo could yet prove to be a shrewd signing, although questions mark still remain over his ability to handle the physicality of the A-League.

Off the field, season 6 of the Hyundai A-League will prove to be a just as important for Melbourne Victory. New rivals Melbourne Heart will announce their arrival, opening the league with a clash against Graeme Arnold’s Central Coast Mariners on August 5.

This match will signal the first A-League match at the recently opened AAMI Park in Melbourne, a new football specific stadium with a capacity of 30,050 which will surly excite football fans in the Victorian capital.