IF THERE was ever a game that demonstrated to Geoff Lord and the powers-that-be at Melbourne Victory that they should fork out the reported $650,000 to keep Carlos Hernandez at our club, then Friday night's was surely it.

With both midfields looking equally impotent, the introduction of Hernandez turned the game on its head. It was hardly a coincidence that Melbourne looked a completely different team once the Costa Rican midfielder was on the pitch, playing a role in both of the opening goals.

Andy Harper, in his infinite wisdom describes Melbourne's first goal as being all about the pace of Archie Thompson with only a small amount of credit being given to Hernandez.

But for me, the control that Hernandez showed to maintain possession under pressure by John Hutchinson and then threading a pinpoint pass to Thompson is what made that goal.

For almost two seasons, Melbourne fans have been waiting for Hernandez to score from a set piece and on Friday night he finally delivered with a brilliantly taken free kick. The wait was certainly worth it.

As you may or may not have guessed I have more than a little affection for the Central American playmaker, and some may call it an obsession. In fact, I may even go as far as naming my first-born son, Carlos. Carlos Zimmerman, that does have a certain ring to it.

Why this affection, you may ask? It's because I enjoy the way he plays the game and in part, he reminds of one of my other favourite players, Juan Román Riquelme.

In these EPL-obsessed days, where a lot of fans want their players to be able to run helter skelter for 90 minutes, these two players are a reminder of a different era.

But back to my affection for Carlos Hernandez. During that first season whilst those around me in the stands called for him to lay off the KFC and shoot from distance every time he got the ball anywhere near our attacking half, I appreciated him for the little things.

Despite knowing he was a little overweight and probably wouldn't run out a full 90 minutes, I was still impressed by his ability to maintain possession whilst under pressure; I was besotted by those lobbed passes laden with back spin that the ball would land in just the right spot for Allsopp and Thompson as they ran onto them; I would despair when a neat flick wasn't read by a team mate or yet another free kick would go wide of the mark; and I would forgive him if he went missing in a game.

My admiration for the Costa Rican maestro has not suffered any second season syndrome, and although injury and suspension has played its part, my fellow supporters are also beginning to appreciate his efforts more and more.

The calls to shoot from distance have diminished and the appreciation of his influence on the game through other aspects has increased. The roar when Hernandez came onto the field of play on Friday night was surely a sign to Victory officials that they want him to stay – and that was before he had done anything.

In turn, he showed his appreciation for the crowd response by throwing his shirt into the crowd at the conclusion of the game and whilst I would have liked him to send it in my direction, those in the Northern Terrace were the ones who definitely chanted his name the loudest.

So, Geoff Lord, it's time for you to dip into those Melbourne Victory coffers and make the signing of Hernandez a priority, so that my little obsession may continue for a few years more and make at least 20,000 other Melburnians extremely happy.

Neil would like to make it known that despite his obsession with Carlos Hernandez, he is yet to put his name on the back of a Victory shirt of his very own as the last two players to suffer that fate left the club after only season.