Arguably the A-League’s most glamorous and hated club enters the season excited, rejuvenated and evolved. After securing Australia’s own “special one” Ange Postecoglou in the off-season and former Adelaide favourite son and trequartista Marcos Flores, the club has been the subject of the “favourites” tag from some in the off-season. Expectations seem to follow the club, which looks much better placed to have a big effect on the season ahead.

THE COACH

Hardly needs any introduction, but Ange Postecoglou comes to Melbourne having changed the A-League after going back-to-back with Brisbane Roar. His ambition for Victory to be successful has been made clear in his pre-season comments and judging from that, Ange has a genuine belief that Victory can be champions this season. He brings along with him a culture, record of success and an attacking philosophy, a great start for the club that was so desperately in need of it.

His support staff will include Paul Trimboli, Steve Mautone and club legend Kevin Muscat, and they’ll be just as instrumental as to what Victory does this season. One area in which Victory failed last season was inadequate support for rookie coach Mehmet Durakovic from the top down; which resulted in his then-director of Football Francis Awaritefe’s scapegoating and sacking. Ange is a different beast I hear you say? Correct. But take a look at Ange’s staff with Rado Vidosic and Ken Stead and their roles in the Roar’s success. Support from all levels will be essential at Victory this season.

THE CAPTAIN

Adrian Leijer enters the season under an injury cloud, having a six-month lay-off and only starting match practice with half an hour against Victorian Premier League side Moreland Zebras on September 4. Very much having to learn on the job last season, the skipper had one he would like to forget form-wise and it was one that only got worse with injury. He would have plenty to learn from and that is important. Not expecting too much early on, but will be very important for his team as a leader and with Mark Milligan at the heart of defence.

THE SQUAD

The squad was finalised pretty quickly, with the final signing being Mark Milligan to complete the numbers of the squad. Harry Kewell’s departure presented a problem, as Ange “thought he had it figured out” with Harry being there. It was figured back out pretty quickly with the signing of Marcos Flores weeks later. The squad, as via the club‘s website, is as follows: 

Lawrence Thomas, Tando Velaphi, Mark Milligan, Spase Dilevski, Matt Foschini, Petar Franjic, Sam Gallagher, Adrian Leijer, Adama Traore, Jonathan Bru, Guilherme Finkler, Marcos Flores, Isaka Cernak, Diogo Ferreira, Marco Rojas, Leigh Broxham, Billy Celeski, Jimmy Jeggo, Julius Davies, Theo Markelis, Danny Allsopp, Archie Thompson. 

A key difference from last season to this one is the balance and flexibility in it. There is now the midfield talent to back up the front half which was, in hindsight, what was lacking last season. Bru and Finkler add steel and class touch to the midfield and attacking third respectively. Dilevski, Gallagher, Traore add to the defence, while young attacking tyros Julius Davies and Theo Markelis add to the long in tooth Victory legendary pairing in Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp.

THE DEPARTURES

Thought I’d take some space to mention this, as an end of an era came at the club when Victory legends Roddy Vargas, Grant Brebner, Tommy Pondlejak, Matt Kemp and Carlos Hernandez all departed. Harry Kewell, Jean-Carlo Solorzano, Fabio and Ante Covic joined that list in the off-season. I’ve written about Harry in some length here before. Solorzano never really got the chance to fit into the team and wasn’t given opportunities. Ante Covic’s call was contentious, as he saved Victory’s hide repeatedly over the season and was a deserving Victory Medal winner, but I agreed with the call. Keeping three custodians on the squad wasn’t feasible, and the oldest player was always going to be the first call made. 

I’ll always be thankful for watching Carlos Hernandez, a magic player that could turn a game on his own. Players like Roddy, ‘Brebs’, ‘Pondles’ and Kempy I’ll remember as always giving their all to the club and being the first I watched in the Victory blue. The transition/retirement of these players never really sat comfortably with me as a fan, there should been an easing out of these players over a year or so and a chance to say thanks in one last game. That is the romantic in me, and I understand that those players needed to go.

THE ISSUES

A worrying area is the defence and particularly its depth. With Adrian Leijer to be underdone at the beginning of the season, there isn’t much to fall back on. Dilevski and Traore will be depended upon throughout the season at fullbacks, as with Mark Milligan at centre-half. But if injury strikes, there isn’t much you could comfortably call upon. Matt Foschini and Petar Franjic haven’t quite stepped up, and here's hoping both can grow under Ange, but it is an issue in the short-term.

The no.1 jersey will be a contest throughout the season, and who knows which of Velaphi and Thomas can hold it down for the season. Both are young, and Thomas lacks A-League experience and could be exposed as the season goes on. But then again, I thought the same of Matty Ryan…

THE SYSTEM

We will only know as the season goes on, but judging from Ange’s comments, this isn’t going to be Brisbane Roar-lite. There has been a trialing of a false nine system during the pre-season kickarounds, with Marcos Flores and Guilherme Finkler rotating as the false nine. Archie Thompson and Marco Rojas have been operating as the wingers. If Ange decides on this system, it will give a good look into his philosophy and ability to adapt to trends in international football - see Spain’s system at the Euros this season.

Thompson wasn’t so effective when deployed wide last season, but it will be a different system so how he adapts will be interesting. Rojas is an exciting prospect and working under Ange can only do wonders for him, there is so much potential there.

Broxham, Bru, Jeggo and Celeski are vying for the two holding midfield spots, if pre-season is any indicator. I would lean toward Bru and Jeggo to start against Heart this week. Bru has been a regular in the warm-up fixtures, so it seems clear he’ll be preferred there. Jimmy Jeggo is another who can only grow with Ange there. When brought into the senior side from the youth team by Jim Magilton, Jeggo was one of the few who could pass and hold the ball in midfield, he should see much more game time this season.

THE EXPECTATION

Success and a brand of attacking football to go with it. Oh yeah, and the 2012/13 A-League double. Melbourne Victory have one of the biggest and loudest fanbases in the league. And it is a base that knows football and knows what football it wants, hence the mass frustration that was seen on the AAMI Park/Etihad Stadium terraces last season. There has been talk of Victory returning to where they feel they belong, on top and with the Championship in hand. But I have a different look on that.

THE VERDICT

I’m expecting a fourth to fifth place finish this season and whatever comes next in the finals. I’ve taken the view that it is a steadying year for Victory, where there is some stability and a system to take the club to a championship in 2013/14. There are teams with set, proven systems that are far ahead of Victory’s at the moment. Clubs like Roar, Mariners, Glory are my favourites for the crown precisely for that reason.

It has been far too long a wait, and this week we head back to the terraces. Enjoy your football.