While it was Miron Bleiberg who brought the Victorian to the A-League, he believes that Bleiberg’s approach to football was exposed in the A-League.

“I think Miron was probably trying to be professional where I think Frank Farina is naturally professional because he has played professionally and been in charge of the Socceroos,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“Miron was sort of trying a lot harder to be professional but because he’d only coached at an amateur level that probably hindered him.”

After missing four games toward the end of the 2006/07 A-League season, Ognenovski underwent surgery during the off-season.

“I’ve had it operated on,” he says. “But it’s back to 100 per cent now and the operation went really well. They cleaned out a bit of cartilage and there was a bit of a bone spur but it healed quickly... it actually got better ahead of schedule.”

Ognenovski believes the arrivals of Danny Tiatto and Craig Moore will bring the team success, after the disappointments of the past two seasons.

“With Moorey and Tiatto we’re probably looking at being much more consistent this year," he said.

"Last year I felt that if one or two players went missing from the team, we didn’t have consistency or the depth.

“If Danny Tiatto can play in the centre of midfield he’ll be able to organise it better. We’ve got good midfielders in there but I feel we were always just worried about going forward all the time.

"I think he’ll be a calming influence and the aggressor in midfield. Massimo Murdocca and Matt McKay do hold their own weight but it’s different with Tiatto in the midfield.

"It’ll be like what Muscy does for Melbourne.”