Magnificent Mariners
Or that should read magnificent Tony Tannous from the Half-Time Heroes.
Was he the only football writer in the country to have any real analysis of the opening game?
He picked the Jedinak factor as being important, no surprise their but unlike any other football analyser in the mainstream media he solved the problem, or least found out the solution from the man who knew, Laurie McKinna.
And McKinna out thought Ernie Merrick, but clearly even I could have, given the dreadful Victory line-up and the same old, same old tactics for about five years from Melbourne.
Of course a Melbourne team with Grant Brebner, Leigh Broxham and surely in Evan Berger the most useless left-footed crosser in the country, although I'll wait to see Stefan Stefanutto, meant McKinna must have been laughing his head off.
No width or Berger gave them plenty but he clearly spent no time practicing crossing in the off-season. Is it possible to play left-sided with a left foot and produce that sort of cross time and time again?
And what nob let anyone other than Carlos Hernandez take the corners and free-kicks. Late on Hernandez drove one into the box but before them Broxham seemed determined to match his mate Berger.
Ped Bojic replaced Jedinak, as Tony Tannous predicted and clearly in an away game he is a solution of sorts. Still not much football from the Mariners but a win's a win and something to build on.
As for Melbourne, we've watch Carlos and Archie for years it seems. Any Coach knows how they play and who they play with. A midfield that cries out for something more, a defence not worthy of winning anything, and Kevin Muscat already showing his age as he came off early.
Time to change the style Melbourne, we've seen it all before. Even Laurie can out think you! For Melbourne it may already be too late.
