Melbourne Victory into Asia, but not for long!

Group G
Melbourne Victory
Chonburi FC (Thailand
Gamba Osaka (Japan)
Chunnam Dragons (Korea Rep)

Group E
Changchun Yatai (China)
Adelaide United
Pohang Steelers (Korea Rep)
Binh Duong (Vietnam)

My December picks: Adelaide could progress, Melbourne to get heaps of frequent flyer points but not much else on current form.


A tough group for the Champions of Australia. One which sees the Japanese side Gamba Osaka come to Melbourne, along with South Koreans Chunnam Dragons and Thai side Chonburi FC.

Victory will have to improve a lot if they are to have any chance of progressing. In the three years of the A-League Victory have had two dismal seasons and one which relied heavily on away form and the pace of Fred and Archie Thompson.

Not much tactical strategy has been in evidence in previous years and as a result Melbourne fans won't be expecting too much in their first foray into Asia.

Adelaide on the other hand, have done it all before. Most importantly there Coach Aurelio Vidmar has tested the waters in Asia.

With the pace and craft of Bruce Djite and Nathan Burns already tested in Asia through the Asian Champions League and Olyroo experiences I would expect Adelaide to have serious hopes about being the first Australian side to progress to the group stage.

One draw back maybe the reliance to give ageing forward Paul Agostino significant game time. International football is a young man's game while Agostino has done well in Australia, it is noticeable that Adelaide's best performance come when the zestful Djite leads the line.

Will Vidmar be strong enough to pick the right side for Asia?

Ernie Merrick? Well what is his best side? Does he know? And if he does can it get a result?

Unlikely.