So that's what it feels like to lose a final that isn't a Grand Final. It's a kind of weird feeling I must admit and to be brutally honest I'm not exactly sure how to react. Yes I am disappointed. But am I distraught? No. If I'm going to be totally truthful in a way I'm a little glad that this season is finally over.

If you wanted to show someone who hadn't seen a Victory game all season a game that encapsulated our season you really couldn't find a better example than Sunday's game. There was the late goal conceded - the tenth such time that an opposition team has scored in the final fifteen minutes of a match this season. There was the goal conceded from a set piece. There was the absence of a full ninety minute performance. There were injuries to key players along with key absentees. There was some perplexing managerial decision making. The only thing that was missing apart from a win was a refereeing decision to get us up in arms.

With a season that provided many talking points both on and off the field the form of one Marvin Angulo will have many fans postulating and hoping that the group stages of the ACL won't be the last we see of this talented youngster. Back in October I called for Ernie Merrick to give the Costa Rican much more game time that he was getting at that time. And lo and behold it seems my pleas were heard as more minutes were given.

Although perplexingly substituted at times much to the frustration of many fans the extra minutes allowed Angulo to blossom, so much so that it could be said that he is currently more important to the side than his fellow Costa Rican. Like the time just over two years ago I pleaded for Geoff Lord to fork out the cash for Carlos Hernandez I repeat my plea this time around for another Costa Rican.

When a player slips seamlessly into your side and you hardly notice them that has to be a good thing, especially when that player is a defender. Petar Franjic, who despite only playing five games for the season has showed more than enough to allay the fears of many of us fans had about the future of our defence. All we need now is for Ernie Merrick to do away with the idea of having to play a back three all the time.

With an ACL campaign looming in less than two weeks time there will be no rest for the wicked in what we hope will be more than just a farewell tour for our departing captain. It will be an opportunity for the club to put aside the troubles of the last season along with the prejudices of opposition fans and provide a pointer to what surely will be an interesting seventh season in the life of the Melbourne Victory Football Club.