As news emerged last week that Melbourne Victory captain Carl Valeri was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an inflammatory condition affecting his brain, one would have forgiven Kevin Muscat for hitting the panic button. The former Socceroo is not only the inspirational and vocal figurehead of the dressing room, but also the side’s midfield heartbeat whose presence has been dearly missed throughout the season.
The defending champions were top of the table eight rounds into the season but have fallen six points behind Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar after losing four of their last 10 games and picking up only half the points on offer. This slump in form has coincided with Valeri’s prolonged absence – Victory’s midfield has been second best in a number of recent contests. The team’s midfield deficiency was particularly evident last Saturday night when the Wanderers dictated the majority of play, controlling possession throughout the 90 minutes and restricting the number of chances created for Victory’s front three.
While Muscat went on record to declare that the club was not looking to replace the void left by Valeri, the signs are looking ominous for the three-time A-League Champions as they head into the final third of the regular season, along with a gruelling Asian Champions League campaign. Already depleted by the departure of previous captain and midfield enforcer Mark Milligan, Victory’s stocks do not look capable of stepping up ahead of the side’s most pivotal period of the season.
Oliver Bozanic was recruited as the club’s Australian marquee in place of the departing Socceroo Milligan when first choice candidate James Holland elected to stay in Europe, and has not replicated the form of his predecessor. Bozanic is not the same type of player as Milligan and struggles to dictate proceedings in the centre of the park without Valeri. Furthermore, the former Central Coast Mariners midfielder could be moved into a more advanced role if Gui Finkler’s shoulder injury from Saturday night is worse than first thought.
Rashid Mahazi has made strides this season but is not yet the finished product. Leigh Broxham is the most suitable candidate, but with Matthieu Delpierre potentially one of the foreign players to be omitted from Victory’s ACL squad, the vice-captain could be forced to deputise in defence in Asia. Despite his tireless work rate, the 200-gamer does not impose the same influence on matches as his skipper and also needs the latter on the pitch to get to his best level.
With all the visa spots filled and the suitable Australian candidates in the market unavailable, Kevin Muscat and his coaching staff have their hands tied in trying to secure a replacement. However, could there be a ready-made alternative right under their noses.
Current Avondale and former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City midfielder Massimo Murdocca could be the answer to Victory’s Valeri conundrum. With over 200 A-League games to his belt, two championships with the Roar under Muscat’s mentor Ange Postecoglou and still aged 31, Murdocca may have plenty to offer the navy blues in the short term.
An astute passer of the ball, the Fawkner junior’s high work rate, pressing of the opposition and stamina made him a coach’s favourite. Experienced at this level and based in Melbourne, he could well prove to be the perfect fit for Muscat’s men, who would be able to sign him as an injury-replacement player until the end of the season.
The Carlton-born midfielder made the shock move to Avondale last May and featured in the club’s last 11 fixtures of the season, scoring two goals and delivering numerous standout performances as Anthony Barbieri’s men finished in a comfortable mid-table position. While the move was meant to be temporary at first, with Murdocca on the lookout to further his professional career, it became permanent once the club finalised his signature for the 2016 NPL season.
Murdocca has been joined at Doyle Street by former City teammate Jonatan Germano, who has overcome recent injury problems and is on the verge of becoming an Australian citizen. The Argentine is another possible candidate for the role, but persistent issues with his body among other factors make Murdocca the more suitable replacement. While Avondale would be hesitant to let either go, the club’s own midfield depth also extends to former Melbourne Victory man Spase Dilevski and the evergreen Jeff Fleming.
Speaking to TCF in September of last year, the 206 A-League veteran stated his desire to extend his A-League career under the right conditions: “Obviously it’s a goal of mine, but the circumstances have to be right as well, and it’s very difficult for all those factors to match when clubs might have one thought and I have other thoughts as I’ve got to take into contemplation my family and kids”. With his young family based back in Melbourne, the timing may just be right for Murdocca to return and grace the midfield at AAMI Park once more.
While Victory will no doubt be in the race for the toilet seat come season’s end, their success in the finals series and in Asia might well depend on how strong their midfield is in the absence of Valeri. At the moment, it’s proving to be the club’s biggest achilles heel, and unless these shortcomings are rectified, the club may struggle to defend their A-League crown or progress past the group stages of the ACL.
With limited alternatives, Murdocca may just be worthy of another crack in the A-League given his experience, success and attributes he brings to any side, particular one badly in need of some stability and penetration in the middle of the park.