2017/18 Melbourne Victory Thread. We Are The Champions!!!!

[craigos]

Berisha off to J-League

Announcement expected today.

Joining up with Ange at Yokohama.

No news on Leroy George as of yet but I assume we would have gone hard at him. Fingers crossed it is not too late.

 

[Milanista28]

Thanks for everything Bes, You're a club and A league legend, Will go down in history as one of the best ever players this league has seen.

Forever adored.

 

[giggler99]

looks like Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Berisha leaves Victory bound for Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima


By Anthony Colangelo
29 June 2018 — 10:12am
One of Melbourne Victory and the A-League's greatest ever players, Besart Berisha, has left the Australian champions to take up a new posting in Japan.

It is understood that Berisha, 32, is close to signing with Sanfrecce Hiroshima and not Yokohama F Marinos as had been previously rumoured, according to sources at Victory.

Yokahama is the team Ange Postecoglou joined as manager in late 2017 after sensationally quitting as Socceroos coach but Berisha will not be re-united with his former Victory and Brisbane Roar boss.

Rather, Berisha is currently in Japan working through the deal with Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who are nine points clear on top of the J-League table after 15 games. Sanfrecce Hiroshima have won the J-League three times (2012, 2013 and 2015) and finished third in the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup.

The Albanian-Kosovan striker made 110 appearances for the Victory between 2014 and 2018, scoring 68 goals. Victory, with Postecoglou at the helm, signed Berisha from Brisbane Roar where he had made 76 appearances and scored 48 goals.

Berisha won two A-League championships with Brisbane (2011-12 and 2013-14) and two with Victory (2014-15 and 2017-18). He also won the A-League golden boot twice.

As well as being one of the deadliest goal poachers Australian domestic football has seen, Berisha was also highly combustible on the field. This made him a constant target for opposition fans but his passion and heart-on-sleeve attitude endeared him to his clubs' own supporters.

He had a formidable record in finals and grand finals, scoring 10 goals in 14 A-League finals, while he scored four goals in five grand finals.

The 2018 J-League season resumes in mid-July, as does Japan's domestic cup competiton. Berisha was contracted to Victory until mid-2019.

Berisha hinted his time in Australia would come to an end after Victory's 2017-18 grand final win over the Newcastle Jets in May.

"I'm going to ask you guys this question now. What else is (there) to win in the A-League for me?" a smirking Berisha said.

"When I came to Brisbane, I conquered Brisbane. When I came to Melbourne, I conquered Australia."

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soc...an-s-sanfrecce-hiroshima-20180629-p4zogq.html

Dam I'm gonna miss him
hopefully a handy transfer fee for us.

 

[craigos]

I have a feeling we would have released him for no fee. No doubt he'll be bombing in goals like he has everywhere else he has played.

 

[giggler99]

I have a feeling we would have released him for no fee. No doubt he'll be bombing in goals like he has everywhere else he has played.

how so? He's contracted, unless we deliberately sacked him which I doubt it.

 

[craigos]

how so? He's contracted, unless we deliberately sacked him which I doubt it.

I have a feeling the club thought his time was coming to an end and wanted to free up that space for Leroy or another player. He's a club legend and if he wanted to leave the club probably felt that a transfer fee would stand in the way of that.

 

[Jeffy38!]

Most likely we will get a transfer fee, a $million ain't much to j-league clubs. A refresh would be good. Maybe Keisuke Honda can come play for the V.

 

[aFiimOnz]

My renewal "letter" made a pretty big deal about prices being frozen from last year. Have another look and let me know whether yours says that - that'd be outrageous if they've frozen some (and promoted it pretty hard) but increased others.

Can confirm slight price increase. They're asking $163 for mine when I paid $160 last year, my old mans has gone up as well to $254 from $249 which he paid last year.

The letter does state 'Price Freeze - No price increases across all categories in 2018/19.' Might give the club a ring.

 

[dwwaino]

Actually looking forward to a new look team next season. Can’t wait to see some new faces.

Inb4 Mitch Nichols.

 

[Steven Gerrard]

Very sad to see Besh go. He made us relevant again, gave all the opposition another reason to hate us, had the fire in the belly and kicked important goals for us time and time again. Annoyed that Postecoglou would go for him but don't begrudge him for leaving. He's a club legend.

 

[giggler99]

Very sad to see Besh go. He made us relevant again, gave all the opposition another reason to hate us, had the fire in the belly and kicked important goals for us time and time again. Annoyed that Postecoglou would go for him but don't begrudge him for leaving. He's a club legend.

He's off to Sanfrecce not Ange's club and according to this site he went as a free transfer.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/transfers/letztetransfers/statistik/plus/0?land_id=77

 

[GreyBudgie]

Wishing Besart Berisha all the best, great service to MV and also to the A-League

186 games 116 Goals

 

[craigos]

The club and Bes himself have handled this brilliantly. A lot of mutual respect there. Regardless of what some people though of his antics on the field Bes seems like an absolute stand up guy off it. Hope to see him back in the future.

Any rumours on Leroy yet? I noticed Rhys was over a lot of membership stuff, wonder if he might be staying. Surely we wouldn't make him a marquee to keep him.

 

[MelbourneCrow]

I've heard a whisper about Mierzejewski heading our way.

 

[dwwaino]

The club and Bes himself have handled this brilliantly. A lot of mutual respect there. Regardless of what some people though of his antics on the field Bes seems like an absolute stand up guy off it. Hope to see him back in the future.

Any rumours on Leroy yet? I noticed Rhys was over a lot of membership stuff, wonder if he might be staying. Surely we wouldn't make him a marquee to keep him.

Williams could be an Aus marquee though couldn't he? Far more deserving than Troisi I would think. Williams when fit is one of the best Aussie players in the HAL.

 

[nobbyiscool]

Williams could be an Aus marquee though couldn't he? Far more deserving than Troisi I would think. Williams when fit is one of the best Aussie players in the HAL.

We haven't had "Australian marquees" for at least 5 years now - it's just 2 marquee players, regardless of nationality.

 

[dwwaino]

We haven't had "Australian marquees" for at least 5 years now - it's just 2 marquee players, regardless of nationality.

Really? haha, talk about behind the times. *shakes fist*

 

[darko]

I've heard a whisper about Mierzejewski heading our way.

I'm all for it. He's a gun.

 

[giggler99]

I've heard a whisper about Mierzejewski heading our way.

come on spill the beans and reveal your sources, no use just teasing.

 

[craigos]

Imagine how many goals Kenny would score with Leroy and Mierzejewski feeding balls into him.

 

[Quivorir]

Milligans contract terminated. Wonder if he comes crawling back to the a league again...

 

[MrPremiership]

Milligans contract terminated. Wonder if he comes crawling back to the a league again...

Has to come back to Aus....no other suitors

 

[Big_Luch]

Would you want Milligan? Before he left us he was bog ordinary and i wouldn't waste marquee money on him.

 

[giggler99]

Would you want Milligan? Before he left us he was bog ordinary and i wouldn't waste marquee money on him.

As a marquee no way! under the cap yeah I'll still take him back.

 

[giggler99]

Rumors on facebook going around that we have offered Jamie MacLaren a marquee contract.