Melbourne Heart 2013/2014 Season Preview

Without trying to sound sensationalist, this could well be a make or break year for Melbourne Heart. Their fourth go round in the A-League needs to be a successful one or they risk the prospect of being 'that mediocre expansion team'. Signs are promising that Heart can build on their previous season results of eighth, sixth and ninth but have they done enough to win over the sporting public of Melbourne?

The return of Harry Kewell will dominate headlines for the first week in Melbourne as the city sparks up for the Round One derby which is tipped to break record crowd numbers. The announcement of Kewell as captain was a smart marketing move on and off the pitch. Kewell now divides the city but no-one can question his ability and at 35, deserves the opportunity to lead the side.

Last Season: 9th

They’ll win the league because…

…Someone has to win it. Its very hard to put a case forward for Melbourne Heart winning the competition this season, but no-one will be blown away if they do. They have added quality players (with loads of experience) in defence, midfield and attack but have the really added enough to take them from ninth to first? Maybe they have but in this day and age of responsible gambling we just can't justify pressuring you to put your hard earned money on Heart even at the very juicy odds of $11.00

The positives are that the recruitment over the winter has been precise. Socceroo superstar Harry Kewell and Maltese great Michael Mifsud will add plenty up front, throw in Mate Dugandzic back from injury with Dylan Macallister in reserve and there is potential for goals.

The midfield will be as good as any with Mass Murdocca and Iain Ramsay with Marquee signing Orlando Engelaar perhaps still to come back. The defence will be rock solid, Aziz Behich can go forward with more certainty having Patrick Kisnorbo and Rob Wielart providing cover.

They’ll be cellar dwellers because…

…Someone has to finish last. Its also very hard to put a case forward for Melbourne Heart having a disastrous season, what they have got this season is more depth.

In saying that, most teams have recruited very well so injuries to start the season could be costly - and they've already lost Engelaar. If Heart find themselves behind the eight ball early on the pressure will be right on John Aloisi and Kewell.

Talk around the watercooler… Look smart in front of your colleagues with this valuable piece of information.

New Heart striker Michale Mifsud is Malta's highest ever goal scorer with 37 goals from 96 matches, The latest Census in 2011 recorded 41,274 Maltese-born people in Australia; a fall of 5.6% from the 2006 Census. Of those, 19,730 were recorded in Victoria (47.8%) which is more than double Hearts average crowd figures.

The off season brought…

...Much of the same from Melbourne Heart really. The hype of the arrival of Harry Kewell for his second A-League stint wasn’t in the same ball park as the first time around and the signings have been well picked but have hardly captured the imagination of the Melbourne football public.

Key Player…

...Andrew Redmayne becomes a key to Melbourne Heart climbing the ladder now that Clint Bolton has moved on. Bolton was the Hearts 'Player of the Season' season before last but allowed Redmayne to get his chance late in the 12/13 season. Redmayne has Tando Velaphi behind him in the pecking order which doesn’t really send a reassurance out to fans.

One to watch…

...Mate Dugandzic. On the brink of Socceroos selection before his injury last season, Mate is a mate of The Football Sack. His injury last season was one of the main reasons Heart missed the finals. Turning 24 early in the season Dugandzic is ready to take the next step to A-League star but might require a little time to get back into the swing of things after such a long layoff.

Full Squad List

1. Tando VELAPHI 2. Jeremy WALKER (y) 3. Rob WIELAERT 4. Orlando ENGELAAR 5. Sam MITCHINSON (y) 6. Patrick GERHARDT 7. Iain RAMSAY 8. Massimo MURDOCCA 9. Dylan MACALLISTER 10. Harold KEWELL 11. Michael MIFSUD 13. Jonatan GERMANO 14. Golgol MEBRAHTU 15. David WILLIAMS 16. Aziz BEHICH 17. Jason HOFFMAN 18. David VRANKOVIC (y) 19. Ben GARUCCIO (y) 20. Andrew REDMAYNE 21. Stefan MAUK (y) 22. Nick KALMAR 23. Mate DUGANDZIC 24. Patrick KISNORBO 25. Andrea MIGLIORINI