Well, I think after the festive period results for the Victory, most supporters probably saw the writing on the wall for Durakovic. In fairness, I'm sure Durakovic did too. You just can't take over a club like the Victory, with all the expectations and all the talent, and put out these results.
What results? On the year the Victory are 3-5-6. That puts them just above the bottom of the A League table. If they wanted to try and get something out of this campaign, now was the time for change.
Now as a general rule I'm not a big fan of blaming it all on the manager, especially when he's only half way through the first year. I really thought they'd give him the season. I guess not.
Kevin Muscat was appointed caretaker coach until a new head man is found. However, multiple sources are saying that the new head man has been found already. Well, I try not to engage in a lot of speculation on this blog, but if that's true, Durakovic was probably out long before it was official.
Even as a Victory supporter, I hate to see someone have to go through a sacking like that. Best of luck to Durakovic in wherever he goes next.
Showing posts with label Melbourne Victory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melbourne Victory. Show all posts
Friday, January 6, 2012
Sunday, December 18, 2011
A League Action: Melbourne Victory vs. Wellington Phoenix
YES.
I think I can speak for a lot of Melbourne Victory supporters when I say I've been waiting to see this match out of them all season. We know they're capable of finding this kind of form, and it was nice to see them get it done.
The Victory got on the board first in the 5th minute. Costa Rican Carlos Hernandez dished off to Billy Celeski, who put in a great cross for Archie Thompson. Thompson, who has been the star for the Victory all season, headed the ball into goal to put the Victory up 1-0.
Harry Kewell combined with Archie in the tenth to force a save from the Wellington 'keeper. Unfortunately for Kewell, he was yellow carded for diving, trying to secure a PK. Melbourne got their 2nd goal of the match on 22 minutes when Carlos Hernandez's shot deflected off of Wellington's Vince Lia for an own goal.
However, Melbourne wasn't done in the first half and Kewell was involved on the third. On 25 minutes he sent in a cross to Ferreira, who blasted a GOLAZO into the net to give the Victory a 3-0 half time lead.
Unfortunately it wasn't all wonderful news in the second half for the Victory. Kewell had a couple of great chances to score, but he just couldn't quite finish. Celeski was sent off in the 78th minute for his second yellow, and Archie appeared to take a knock to the ankle. Wellington scored a cosmetic goal on 85 minutes and the match ended 3-1.
The result puts the Victory up to 5th place in the table. Their next match is the Christmas derby against the Heart.
PHOTO: footballaustralia.com.au
I think I can speak for a lot of Melbourne Victory supporters when I say I've been waiting to see this match out of them all season. We know they're capable of finding this kind of form, and it was nice to see them get it done.
The Victory got on the board first in the 5th minute. Costa Rican Carlos Hernandez dished off to Billy Celeski, who put in a great cross for Archie Thompson. Thompson, who has been the star for the Victory all season, headed the ball into goal to put the Victory up 1-0.
Harry Kewell combined with Archie in the tenth to force a save from the Wellington 'keeper. Unfortunately for Kewell, he was yellow carded for diving, trying to secure a PK. Melbourne got their 2nd goal of the match on 22 minutes when Carlos Hernandez's shot deflected off of Wellington's Vince Lia for an own goal.
However, Melbourne wasn't done in the first half and Kewell was involved on the third. On 25 minutes he sent in a cross to Ferreira, who blasted a GOLAZO into the net to give the Victory a 3-0 half time lead.
Unfortunately it wasn't all wonderful news in the second half for the Victory. Kewell had a couple of great chances to score, but he just couldn't quite finish. Celeski was sent off in the 78th minute for his second yellow, and Archie appeared to take a knock to the ankle. Wellington scored a cosmetic goal on 85 minutes and the match ended 3-1.
The result puts the Victory up to 5th place in the table. Their next match is the Christmas derby against the Heart.
PHOTO: footballaustralia.com.au
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Victory Blog: Two Victory Players To Go On International Duty
The next FIFA International break will be upon us in a couple of weeks, and managers around the world are starting to announce their squads. As per Victory Blog: Melbourne Victory supporters will see two players called up.
Carlos Hernandez will head to Costa Rica for two friendlies. Harry Kewell will join Australia for two World Cup Qualifiers.
The Victory picked up their first win of the new season last weekend, beating Wellington Phoenix 2-1.
For more info, see Victory Blog's post HERE
Carlos Hernandez will head to Costa Rica for two friendlies. Harry Kewell will join Australia for two World Cup Qualifiers.
The Victory picked up their first win of the new season last weekend, beating Wellington Phoenix 2-1.
For more info, see Victory Blog's post HERE
Monday, October 17, 2011
Heart Captain and Former MLSer Fred to Miss Melbourne Derby
The Herald Sun is reporting that Melbourne Heart captain Fred will miss this weekend's Melbourne Derby due to injury. Fred injured his hamstring in the first half of last weekend's 1-2 loss to Perth Glory.
MLS fans will be interested because of Fred's MLS career with DC United and the Philadelphia Union. What they may not be aware of is the fact that before coming to MLS,he was a play maker for the Melbourne Victory, notching 4 assists in the 2007 A-League Grand Final. Needless to say, with his history with the Victory, it would have been interesting to see him on the pitch this weekend.
Melbourne Victory captain Adrian Liejer will also miss the derby after picking up a red card (via two yellows) in last week's match with Adelaide.
MLS fans will be interested because of Fred's MLS career with DC United and the Philadelphia Union. What they may not be aware of is the fact that before coming to MLS,he was a play maker for the Melbourne Victory, notching 4 assists in the 2007 A-League Grand Final. Needless to say, with his history with the Victory, it would have been interesting to see him on the pitch this weekend.
Melbourne Victory captain Adrian Liejer will also miss the derby after picking up a red card (via two yellows) in last week's match with Adelaide.
Monday, October 10, 2011
A League Action: Melbourne Victory vs. Sydney FC
About this time last year I was looking for any and all live soccer to watch on TV. One Saturday night I stumbled across the Australian A League on Fox Soccer. I gave it a shot. Sure it's not EPL or Serie A, but it's a good league that is gaining strength and skill every season. Sort or like MLS, only younger.
After watching a few matches I decided to support Melbourne Victory. Every year their fixtures with Sydney FC are called "The Big Blue." This was the first Big Blue of the season on it's very first day.
The crowd in Melbourne was electric as these two teams, arguably the most successful in the A League's short history, kicked off. Both sides were bolstered by Australians returning from Europe to play in the A League. The Victory had Harry Kewell and Sydney had Bret Emerton. Both would figure in the match.
Things got off to a torrid start as both sides had chances in the early minutes. In the 4th minute Victory man Danny Allsopp had a close up shot that Reddy managed to save by taking it in the stomach. On the Sydney counter, Mark Bridge rifled a shot at the Victory goal, but Covic was able to stop that as well. Then in minute 29 Sydney had a free kick right outside the 18. The kick itself took a ricochet and Bridge made his presence felt by firing it back on goal, but again Covic was up to the task.
Sydney looked to be gifted the lead in the 33rd minute as Leijer committed a foul in the box. Former Blackburn man Emerton stepped up to take the spot kick, but his pedestrian effort was easily saved by Covic and we went to the half tied at 0-0.
Even though there were no goals in the second half, there was still a big story to talk about. As the Victory set up for a free kick just outside the Sydney 18 in the 74th, a scrum erupted in the wall. Mark Bridge elbowed a Victory player in the throat and earned himself a straight red card for his trouble.
Unfortunately for us Victory supporters, Melbourne was not able to take advantage of being a man up. They had some nice chances down the final 15 from Allsopp, Broxham, and Rojas, but Reddy was just as good in the Sydney goal as Covic was for the Victory and the match ended in a 0-0 draw. There were quite a few good chances though.
All in all it was an energetic start to the new A League season.
After watching a few matches I decided to support Melbourne Victory. Every year their fixtures with Sydney FC are called "The Big Blue." This was the first Big Blue of the season on it's very first day.
The crowd in Melbourne was electric as these two teams, arguably the most successful in the A League's short history, kicked off. Both sides were bolstered by Australians returning from Europe to play in the A League. The Victory had Harry Kewell and Sydney had Bret Emerton. Both would figure in the match.
Things got off to a torrid start as both sides had chances in the early minutes. In the 4th minute Victory man Danny Allsopp had a close up shot that Reddy managed to save by taking it in the stomach. On the Sydney counter, Mark Bridge rifled a shot at the Victory goal, but Covic was able to stop that as well. Then in minute 29 Sydney had a free kick right outside the 18. The kick itself took a ricochet and Bridge made his presence felt by firing it back on goal, but again Covic was up to the task.
Sydney looked to be gifted the lead in the 33rd minute as Leijer committed a foul in the box. Former Blackburn man Emerton stepped up to take the spot kick, but his pedestrian effort was easily saved by Covic and we went to the half tied at 0-0.
Even though there were no goals in the second half, there was still a big story to talk about. As the Victory set up for a free kick just outside the Sydney 18 in the 74th, a scrum erupted in the wall. Mark Bridge elbowed a Victory player in the throat and earned himself a straight red card for his trouble.
Unfortunately for us Victory supporters, Melbourne was not able to take advantage of being a man up. They had some nice chances down the final 15 from Allsopp, Broxham, and Rojas, but Reddy was just as good in the Sydney goal as Covic was for the Victory and the match ended in a 0-0 draw. There were quite a few good chances though.
All in all it was an energetic start to the new A League season.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Great Run for the Victory,
Melbourne Victory's run in the AFC Champions League ended last night with a 1-1 draw with Gamba Osaka. Had they won, they might have gone through, but it was not to be. A great performance by the guys.
The match also marked the end of the career of Victory Captain Kevin Muscat, who is now officially retired. He's a legend in Aussie soccer.
The match also marked the end of the career of Victory Captain Kevin Muscat, who is now officially retired. He's a legend in Aussie soccer.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Shout out to my Melbourne Victory!
With everything that's been going on in my footy world today: Chelsea win and big result for RSL, I would be remiss to not mention that Melbourne Victory, the team I support in Australia's Hyundai A-League won 2-1 over Tianjin Teda today to keep their hopes alive of advancing out of the group stage of the AFC Champions League.
The Victory fell short of defending their A League title this year, but they had a great season and have enjoyed a nice run in the AFC Champions League. Keep it up guys!
The Victory fell short of defending their A League title this year, but they had a great season and have enjoyed a nice run in the AFC Champions League. Keep it up guys!
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