Melbourne Victory 2012/13 Season Preview

Ange is in, Flores is in, any other season that would be the most notable inclusions in the League. This season the hype isn't there but the belief is. 


Last Season...
8th

They'll Win The League Because...
...every year after Melbourne Victory has missed the finals they have won the league. They are certainties. Ange Postecoglou will bring his passing game which means Marcos Flores will be in his absolute element. Mark Milligan was one of the few shining lights in Melbourne's poor season and he is in for the long haul this year. The squad has more depth and the injection of youth can only flourish in the surroundings that Ange presents. 

They'll Be Cellar Dwellers Because...
Last season was just a disaster; the goalkeeper won the clubs player of the season which is indicative of the year Melbourne had. Ange worked wonders in Brisbane but had to put up with short term pain for long term gain. Now Ante Covic is gone leaving Tando Velaphi between the sticks. Funnily enough the lack of scoring power looks to be the area where Melbourne lacks with no Kewell or Hernandez and Archie and Allsopp another year older. On paper it looks like most teams have improved but Victory are coming from a long way back.

Talk Around The Watercooler... Look smart in front of your colleagues with this valuable piece of information.
Melbourne Victory hold six of the top nine attendance figures; the other three are Grand Finals. Unsurprisingly Kevin Muscat has received the most cards in the history of the Hyundai A-League with 38 yellows and five reds. Victory have had three home grounds, Olympic park, Etihad Stadium and AAMI Park. Ange Postecolglou becomes Melbourne's fifth coach and most mentioned person in this article.


The Extended Off-Season Brought...
The end of the Kewell saga, the end of the reign of King Carlos, the departure of player of the year Anté Covic, the moving on of the old guard in Brebner and Varags. On a brighter note it bought the arrival of Johnny Warren Medalist Marcos Flores and super coach Ange Postecoglou. 

Key Player...
Tando Velaphi. Postecoglou has looked to cover all positions and has added to the squad well with more depth than previous seasons. The position that still looks the shakiest is in between the sticks. Tando was on fire pre-season last year before a season ending injury put him back behind the eight ball. Now with Covic gone and youngster Lawrence Thomas as the back up, Tando needs to step up big time.


One To Watch...
Marco Rojas. I said it last year with no result so I'm going to the well again with this one. Once he hits his straps under the new manager, WATCH OUT.

Full Squad List
1. VELAPHI, Tando 2. Foschini, Matthew 3. TRAORE, Adama 4. FRANJIC, Petar 5. MILLIGAN, Mark 6. BROXHAM, Leigh 7. FINKLER, Giulherme 8. BRU Jonathan 9. FLORES, Marcos 10. THOMPSON, Archie 11. ROJAS, Marco 13. FERREIRA, Diogo 14. CELESKI, Billy 15. GALLAGHER, Sam 16. MARKELIS, Theo 17. JEGGO, James 18. ALLSOPP, Danny 19. CERNAK, Isaka 20. THOMAS, Lawrence 21. DILEVSKI, Spase 22. DAVIES, Julius 23. LEIJER, Adrian (C)