Toilet Breaks, Beers, 3-1 and a Home Final

Bound for Glory!!!!!!! Yes we are......bound.... for...glory!!!
Yep ok, that's a tad over the top (or OTT for the modern folk). But Sunday's 3-1 thumping over CCM, means we are at least bound for the finals.
And Tuesdays 2-1 loss for Newcastle, suggests maybe even the top 4 and a home final. And trust me, a home final will prove crucial for us. We SUCK away from home.

Beaten Up By The Thugs At Hypocrite United

I was looking forward to this top of the table clash, it looked to be an interesting affair with Archie missing but what unfolded was a disgrace.
I'm still seething.
A team accuses there opponents of 'thuggery' then the next week they are dishing it out. Hypocrites.

Gold Coast United: 1 (Caravella 76)
Melbourne Victory: 0
Crowd: 7249 at Skilled Park
I'm not going to write a review of the game play, it was a free flowing encounter for opening 15 minutes before Robbie Kruse went out.
What I am going to do is vent my angry over the hacks called Gold Coast United and the stupidity of our captain.

Six Points In Four Days

The Melbourne side that was fielded on Tuesday had a few fresh faces in the line-up giving some key players a rest. The goal however was the same and was accomplished with the boys ripping apart Wellington.

Melbourne Victory: 4 (Brown 16og, Thompson 50, Hernandez 66, Kemp 87)
Wellington Phoenix: 0
Crowd: 18,819 at Etihad Stadium
Melbourne hit the lead 16 minutes in when Archie was brought down just outside the box and a free kick was given. Hernandez stood up to the free kick as always and whipped a shot in, which took a wicked deflection off Tim Brown and beat the keeper. Both teams had some good chances to score but failed to make the other pay.

Adelaide: The Definition Of 'You Couldn't Even Score In A Brothel!'

Poor Adelaide!
Last year they were Grand Finalist, this year they are stuck to the bottom of the table and struggling to get onto the score sheet. They have only managed 20 goals this season, that 20 goals in 24 matches. On the night they produced 17 shots, 5 on target, none troubled the keeper.

Melbourne Victory: 2 (Pondeljak 1, Muscat 90)
Adelaide United: 0
Crowd: 20,361 at Etihad Stadium

Sux Points From Sux

Friday night's 2-0 win over the Kiwis boys from Willington Fenix (sik, Kiwi style) means Glory have claimed 6 pts from 6 and are on our way to the finals....hopefully.

We've still got a game with CCM, who are 6 pts behind us, and that game should secure our top six ...

Adelaide Pre-Match

Over the next six days Melbourne have three games, the first one being against our South Australian rivals Adelaide United. Adelaide's final's hopes are gone and they are only playing for pride, Melbourne are continuing there push to the top of the table and are looking to secure a ninth straight win over the Reds.

For this clash both teams will be wearing there 'Come Play!' kits in support of Australia's 2018 or 2022 World Cup bids. There for a good cause as they will be auctioned off with proceeds going to Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation, but lets not beat around the bush...they look terrible.

ACL Squad Announced

Melbourne has named a 25-man squad for its upcoming AFC Champions League 2010 campaign, promoting six players from its NYL side and including injured midfielder Billy Celeski, who tore his ACL earlier this year.

Melbourne Victory AFC Champions League 2010 squad:

Melbourne Kruse To Glory

An important match for both clubs, with Melbourne trying to end there three game winless streak and revive there hopes of a top of the table finish. For Perth it was a must win in order to keep there finals hopes alive.

Melbourne Victory: 6 (Thompson 4, Kruse 12, 26, 39, Muscat 81p, Hernandez 82)
Perth Glory: 2 (Vargas 19og, Sterjovski 52)
Crowd: 20,448 at Etihad Stadium
Perth started the game playing high up the pitch which left them vulnerable to counter attacks. It only took Hernandez 4 minutes to punish the Glory as Melbourne started a counter. He received the ball in midfield and played a brilliant through ball down to Archie who was able to evade the Perth defence and put the ball past Velaphi with his first touch.

Perth Whipped By Melbourne

Geez, it is tough being a Perth Glory fan. We got hammered 6-2 by Melbourne Victory on Saturday and it could've been more.
I'm not sure what the rationale behind it was, but Glory played into Melbourne's hands by employing a high-defensive line against a team who (for their whole entire existence) love space to run in behind defences.
Indeed, Robbie Kruse and Archie Thompson ran riot and a couple of howlers by Glory defenders (the Coyne brothers) didn't help.
In my new position working for 442 on the weekends, I listened into the coach's post-game interviews and Mitchell claimed he thought Glory should play a high-line because Melbourne had lost their last two and might be vulnerable.
"F%$k!" I whispered to myself. "What the hell was he thinking! Play into their hands!" Remarkable coaching from an inept 'coach'.

Melbourne Continue There Downward Spiral In Newcastle

Another match, another disappointing display from Melbourne.

Newcastle Jets: 3 (M.Thompson 25', Bridges 44', Haliti 55')
Melbourne Victory: 2 (Muscat (P) 44', Hernandez 90')
It only took Newcastle 26 minutes to find a whole in the Melbourne defence. Topor Stanley started an attack which created space for Matt Thompson to find himself some space in a dangerous position. Thompson slotted the ball past Langerak to give the Jets a 1-0 lead.
Melbourne got an equaliser from the spot on 33 minutes, as an undisciplined Ben Kanatrovski earned his second yellow card and gave away a penalty. Muscat converted the penalty calmly to put Melbourne into the box seat against the 10 man Jets.