The Victory were left scratching their heads as to where it went wrong in last season’s semi-final. With a brand-new look to the club, will this be enough to secure them their fifth A-League trophy?
Last season…
A-League: 3rd
Finals: Semi-final
FFA Cup: Round of 16
They’ll win the league because…
Signings. Marco Kurz has steered his player selection to those who will strengthen the team, rather than picking marquee players. A fruitful transfer period saw several well-known faces return to the club, including Socceroos duo Robbie Kruse and Andrew Nabbout.
Kruse currently has 75 caps for the national team and appeared for the Victory 47 times between 2009-2011. He scored 16 goals during his period at the club before being signed by Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Nabbout made 46 appearances for the club between 2012-2015 and played for the Socceroos in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The two were the first signings by Kurz, selected for their strong ability to attack the ball and to replace the outgoing Kosta Barbarouses and Keisuke Honda. Given their previous time with Victory it’s expected both Kruse and Nabbout will transition comfortably into the club.
They’ll be cellar dwellers because…
There have been few changes to the Victory’s defensive structure. So whether their back line can withstand another season. James Donachie has been secured after spending the last season on loan from Korean side Jeonnam Dragons. Victory have also secured another returning Victory player Adama Traore, as well as Tim Hoogland on a one-year deal.
The Victory conceded 39 goals in the 2018/19 A-League season, positioning them fifth in the league for most conceded goals. This may have ranked them in the middle of the table but there is still much work to do be done in their search of redemption after the 6-1 deficit against Sydney FC in the semi-final last season.
The off-season brought…
A significant personnel change. Kevin Muscat parted ways with the club after spending 14 years at Victory as a player, assistant coach and then head coach. Former Adelaide United boss Kurz joins the club following two years at United where he directed them to a fifth and fourth-place finish in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 A-League seasons.
Adding to the names already mentioned, Migjen Basha, Kristijan Dobras and Jakob Poulsen are on the list of signings made my Kurz after the coach was left the difficult task of reshaping a squad left crippled from player departures.
Key player…
Ola Toivonen. The 33-year-old power-house forward scored 15 goals within his 22 appearances in the 2018/19 A-League season and recorded a debut season far from unforgettable.
In just his one season at the club, he passed the club’s previous records held by Besart Berisha and Archie Thompson to have scored 10 goals quicker than anyone else in the club’s history. With talks that he will be stepping up as captain, Toivonen has definitely left a lasting impressing in his short time at the club.
One to watch…
Migjen Basha. The experienced Albanian midfielder signed a two-year deal to complete the Victory’s international allocation for the 2019/20 A-League season after playing last season at Greek club Aris Thessaloniki.
Basha adds an exceptional amount of international experience to the squad. His professional playing history starts with hometown club Lausanne in Switzerland. Basha moved to Italian side Lucchese during 2005-2006. He made 23 appearances for Rimini, Frosinone and Atalanta in 2010-2011.
Sent to Torino as a loan player, Basha was able to help the club earn promotion from Series B, initiating a permanent switch for four seasons. Stints at Luzern in Switzerland and Como and Bari were only prior to his move to Aris in the 2018/19 season.
This extensive international playing experience will definitely make the midfielder one hard to stop this season.
INS: Jay Barnett (Brisbane Roar), Migjen Basha (Aris Thessaloniki, Greece), Benjamin Carrigan (promoted), Kristijan Dobras (Rheindorf Altach, Austria), James Donachie (Jeonnam Dragons, Korea), Tim Hoogland (VfL Bochum, Germany), Robbie Kruse (free agent), Brandon Lauton (promoted), Andrew Nabbout (Urawa Red Diamonds, Japan), Jakob Poulsen (Midtjylland, Denmark), Adama Traore (Göztepe Sports Club, Turkey).
OUTS: Rahmat Akbari, Terry Antonis, Raúl Baena, Kosta Barbarouses, Keisuke Honda, Jai Ingham, Georg Niedermeier, James Troisi, Carl Valeri
Full squad list
Goalkeepers: Matthew Acton, Matthew Sutton, Lawrence Thomas
Defenders: Corey Brown, Benjamin Carrigan, Thomas Deng, James Donachie, Tim Hoogland, Storm Roux, Adama Traore
Midfielders: Jay Barnett, Migjen Basha, Leigh Broxham, Kristijan Dobras, Joshua Hope, Elvis Kamsoba, Birkan Kirdar, Robbie Kruse, Brandon Lauton, Anthony Lesiotis, Jakob Poulsen
Forwards: Kenjok Athiu, Andrew Nabbout, Ola Toivonen
Feature Image Credit: Ngau Kai Yan
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