While the ham, turkey, and wine is being passed around in households all across Victoria on this Christmas Day, the Melbourne City supporters have festivities of a different kind to enjoy.
On the back of consecutive victories for the first time all season, City received their early present in the form of returning marquee Robi Koren. But much like that spoilt rich friend from your childhood, the gifts don’t end there as Socceroo Josh Kennedy also links up with the squad come the New Year.
But that begs the question, how does City accommodate the pair? Especially given the sides decent form of late, they’d be hard pressed to drop any of the starting XI at the moment, especially with the confidence – Christmas spirit if you will – of the squad peaking.
The depth in midfield that City possess is a real strength of the squad. Beyond the four that have played the majority of the season in the engine room – Erik Paartalu, Jacob Melling, Aaron Mooy and Mass Murdocca – there’s of course the aforementioned Koren, the equally experienced Liam Miller, youngsters Paulo Retre and Stefan Mauk, with the pair of James Brown and Jonatan Germano also capable of doing a job centrally if required. That’s enough of a midfield contingent for three whole teams.
The 4-3-3 that City has used this season has allowed Aaron Mooy to flourish in the A-League, with Erik Paartalu assuming the role as water boy, screening the defence and dropping deeper as the full-back’s push up the ground.
But it could be argued the real lynchpin of the midfield has been the unheralded youngster Jacob Melling, who’s tenacious performances have allowed Mooy the freedom to push up and down the park at his own free will. Not quite a defensive mid in the mould of Paaralu, but not in the box-to-box mould of Mooy, Melling has revelled when drifting further up the park, whilst showing bite in his defensive duties.
Yet it seems as if it’s a foregone conclusion from a fans perspective that it’ll be the youngster that makes way in the starting XI for a fit again Koren. Whilst it would be extremely harsh on the performing fledgling, it may just have to happen for the balance of the team.
A midfield trio of Melling, Koren and Mooy – given the underwhelming Paartalu is the man to make way – would most likely see Melling assume the role of holding midfielder, with Mooy more likely to sit back with more discipline than has been offered so far this season. That would allow Koren the freedom his reputation entitles him to, so basically the team would shift to fit their marquee.
Asking an entire midfield to change roles would be strongly detrimental to the system in place, so expect the trio of Paartalu, Mooy and Koren to start against Perth tomorrow afternoon. Koren, while more attacking minded, is also a hard worker and could play a deeper playmaker role to allow Mooy to continue his roaming role.
The accommodation of Kennedy is more of a straightforward case for a City forward line that’s yet to click. Whether that can be entirely put down to a certain Spaniard coming in and disrupting the forward flow for a month remains to be seen, but irrespective, the arrival of Kennedy appears to have come at just the right time.
City have lacked tall timber in advanced areas this season, and with the delivery offered by Mooy and Duff from set pieces, Kennedy will enjoy the same fruits that the 6’4” Paartalu has feasted on this year. For example, look at the impact Berisha has made on cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory this year, who went all of last season without a recognised centre forward.
The presence of a proper target man could also see a shift in positions across the wing, with Irishman Damien Duff a possibility to shift onto the left wing in order to favour his stronger left foot. This would mean one of Dugandzic or Williams – both right footers – would be consigned to the bench, with the latter the most likely of the pair given Dugandzic is the more recognised winger.
This also means City have a proper potent threat off the bench in Williams, with no offence intended to James Brown who has been the go to sub in the front third. NYL striker Marc Marino has also been used sparingly in that role, contributing his first senior goal against Brisbane.
So for the Sky Blues and their long suffering supporters, could the festive period be signalling the long awaited turn of fortunes for the club? Like most regimes, City have eased their way into life under their new owners and have finally found a defensive solidarity to match the consistent performances the midfield have offered. With a proper target to aim for now, it could just prove to be the difference between mid-table obscurity and properly challenging for the championship.
The real test will come on Boxing Day as they host top of the table Perth Glory, with the home side perhaps surprisingly offered favouritism by the bookies. If they can knock over the Glory and claim a second big scalp in as many weeks, then it may just be the happiest holidays so far for City.