2023/24 Melbourne Victory Thread - Goodbye Popovic

[dwwaino]

Just on the defence stuff, I thought we were leaky at the back too (not just in terms of goals but opposition ease to break it and get behind) but there have been lots of goals across the league in the first two weeks. Maybe it's just the league in general at the moment being more positive and I bet managers will start to clamp down on it in a month and we see more dour games.

 

[nobbyiscool]

No reason to boycott anymore.

Still plenty of reasons. Nothing has changed the way the A-Leagues feels about the fans, they just suffered the consequences of their actions. We as fans were still bent over after the Christmas derby. The A-Leagues will always prioritise the fans it wants over the fans it has.

And apparently I'm the last holdout, but I still can't bring myself to cheer on Fornaroli, Arzani, Chapman etc. It engrages me that we're not just a recycling plant for Victory players, but for Heart players too.

 

[Tyler Durden007]

I'm scared. I'm not used to winning like this

 

[Zidane98]

Still plenty of reasons. Nothing has changed the way the A-Leagues feels about the fans, they just suffered the consequences of their actions. We as fans were still bent over after the Christmas derby. The A-Leagues will always prioritise the fans it wants over the fans it has.

And apparently I'm the last holdout, but I still can't bring myself to cheer on Fornaroli, Arzani, Chapman etc. It engrages me that we're not just a recycling plant for Victory players, but for Heart players too.

What reasons? The GF has been scrapped and turned into a positive with the Unite round. There are no more restrictions on the club now are there after the Xmas derby? I thought that was all done and dusted.


Time to get behind the game and drive it forward.

 

[Zidane98]

Suarez is definitely finishing up with Gremio in December despite having 10 goals and 9 assists in 25 games for them.


There is Inter Miami talk but he can't join them until Season 2024. Which starts in March - and the transfer window doesn't open until the end of January.


Keeping an eye on this one as he is a player that the A League would surely fund from the league marquee fund. Even if just for the rest of this season from the end of Dec. Finishing up in May would even allow Suarez to join Miami in the middle of the MLS season if that's what he wanted to do.


Basically, the APL & Victory should be selling themselves to Suarez with help from his close mate Bruno to secure his services for half a season.

 

[Zidane98]

I'm scared. I'm not used to winning like this

I look at it like normal service being resumed.

 

[Munga]

Suarez is definitely finishing up with Gremio in December despite having 10 goals and 9 assists in 25 games for them.


There is Inter Miami talk but he can't join them until Season 2024. Which starts in March - and the transfer window doesn't open until the end of January.


Keeping an eye on this one as he is a player that the A League would surely fund from the league marquee fund. Even if just for the rest of this season from the end of Dec. Finishing up in May would even allow Suarez to join Miami in the middle of the MLS season if that's what he wanted to do.


Basically, the APL & Victory should be selling themselves to Suarez with help from his close mate Bruno to secure his services for half a season.

Would be amazing. But according to the man himself, he's cooked:

Luis Suarez says Gremio have agreed to terminate his contract a year early as he feels he cannot meet the standards of the Brazil top flight.

Suarez will now be a free agent this December, but he admitted there was doubt whether he would continue playing because of an ongoing knee problem. The forward’s deal had been set to expire in 2024.

Inter Miami’s ownership has publicly courted the 36-year-old this summer, and although confirming their interest, Suarez claimed he has had no contact with the club.

“I feel that next year I will not be able to perform due to my fitness and the high demands of the Brazilian championship, which is why the club and I have spoken about ending my contract (with Gremio) a year early,” he said. “That would in December. The club agreed and I’m grateful to them.

“I don’t know if I’ll continue to play somewhere else because I have a chronic issue with my knee that you all know about.

“I’d ask Gremio supporters to value the fact that they have a 37-year-old player who always plays despite having a lot of pain in his knee. That’s all I ask.

“I’m well aware that Inter Miami spoke with Gremio and that the club told them that I have a contract. I can say that (Inter Miami) has not spoken to me.”

On Friday, Gremio manager Renato Gaucho ruled out Suarez leaving the club this summer.

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas commented on the possibility of Suarez joining Miami last week, where he would join up with close friend Lionel Messi. He said: “I don’t know how Luis Suarez can leave Gremio. But if he does we are free to talk to Luis and bring him to Inter Miami. That possibility would be there.”

The Uruguay international joined Gremio in 2022 following a highly-publicized return to his boyhood club, Club Nacional de Uruguay.

Gremio agree to end Suarez contract early, claims no Inter Miami talks

Luis Suarez says Gremio have agreed to terminate his contract a year early as he feels he cannot meet the standards of the Brazil top flight. Suarez will now be a free agent this December, but he admitted there was doubt whether he would continue playing because of an ongoing knee problem. The...

theathletic.com

 

[Zidane98]

Would be amazing. But according to the man himself, he's cooked:

Yes, true but he has played regularly since that. 10 goals and 9 assists for Gremio this season in 25 games.


6 months in the A League may be just perfect for his body. Playing with his good childhood mate last dance style must be attractive to him!

 

[dwwaino]

I'm too jaded after Honda and Nani for any more of these types.

 

[Zidane98]

I'm too jaded after Honda and Nani for any more of these types.

If it were to happen Im ok with a short term deal. No long term commitments though.

 

[Zidane98]

Haven't been this frothing over a game for quite some time.


I reckon we'll crack 20k on Sat night.

 

[Zidane98]

I'm too jaded after Honda and Nani for any more of these types.

Honda had a pretty good season with us. 7 goals in 18, plenty of assists. Plenty of eye catching play.



Nani I agree with. Was pretty poor pre ACL. We did well to terminate his deal in the off season.

 

[Zidane98]

What could this be?

 

[dwwaino]

Doesn't 10 news finish at 6?

Edit: no it finishes at 630. Since when?

 

[Zidane98]

Nishan Skyline GTR resigns until 2026!

 

[Zidane98]

 

[Zidane98]

Victory rewind cup weekend special:





I was at that game. Absolutely incredible. 27k crowd @ Telstra Dome. Danny scores an equaliser with us down to 9. Absolute scenes. Those sorts of crowds were the norm that season.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Its funny watching Merrick stoic face after tying goal.

 

[giggler99]

Victory rewind cup weekend special:





I was at that game. Absolutely incredible. 27k crowd @ Telstra Dome. Danny scores an equaliser with us down to 9. Absolute scenes. Those sorts of crowds were the norm that season.

What a time! That whole season post the 06 World Cup was such a boom. All the old troubles the game had in the past we all thought was left behind us and forgotten. I never wanted that season to end it was a magic time not only to be a Victory fan but a football fan in Australia. The crowds, the media hype, the players, Fred, Romario, Rodriguez.. etc the South American flair was amazing something this league currently lacks (apart from Fornaroli). We all thought it would just keep getting bigger and bigger.. unfortunately the old way always finds a way to creep in.

 

[Zidane98]

What a time! That whole season post the 06 World Cup was such a boom. All the old troubles the game had in the past we all thought was left behind us and forgotten. I never wanted that season to end it was a magic time not only to be a Victory fan but a football fan in Australia. The crowds, the media hype, the players, Fred, Romario, Rodriguez.. etc the South American flair was amazing something this league currently lacks (apart from Fornaroli). We all thought it would just keep getting bigger and bigger.. unfortunately the old way always finds a way to creep in.

I reckon we'll see another boom off if we have a successful Asian Cup campaign. It'll just be more diversified. NSD in 25/26 stronger NPL comps. Olyroos & Matildas Olympics campaigns to look forward to.

What we didn't have back then was the amount of quality young talent coming through the ranks. Having no national comp for a year and a half certainly didn't help. It's been awhile since Australia has had so many young promising talents coming through the national competition. Perhaps not since the 90s when many of the 2006 Socceroos came through youth systems.

 

[Zidane98]

Who's coming down to watch the pissants tonight?

 

[tigs2010]

Can’t tonight. Missus is out and stuck with the little one. Shit time slot to take a kid, she’s a member and haven’t been able to take her once

 

[dwwaino]

Will probably flick back and forth between cricket

 

[dwwaino]

Can’t tonight. Missus is out and stuck with the little one. s**t time slot to take a kid, she’s a member and haven’t been able to take her once

Just leave them in the car. Make sure to keep the window down a bit though.

 

[dwwaino]

Geria missing and I don't know how I feel about Monge (???) for Marchan.