The Impossible Dream – Heart finals campaign
When John Van’t Schip began his second stint at Melbourne Heart fans weren’t sure where the next win was coming from let alone an unlikely finals appearance. Now some are even whispering Premiership after our demolition job of the inform Wellington Phoenix.
Over the last month the form of Heart has been outstanding, collecting 13 of a possible 15 points since JVS took over from John Aloisi. In those games players like Kewell, Kisnorbo, Dugandzic and Williams have stepped up their performance and have been the cornerstone for the form reversal. The inclusion of Orlando Engelaar and Jonaton Germano has not only added there skill and composure to the midfield, but a wealth of experience to the squad; If both players didn’t spend the first half of the season sitting next to the physio the you can’t but help think the season could’ve been so much different.
Fans are finally seeing the true potential of the squad but have the players left their run too late? A favourable fixture over the last month highlights the fact that apart from Brisbane and maybe Western Sydney the A-League is an incredibly closely contested league. Form and confidence is everything for a league controlled by international visa restrictions and a salary cap.
Four wins in five matches is impressive in anyone’s books but when you take a closer look at the fixture you find this less impressive. Wins against 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th on the table has given fans a renewed sense of belief and whispers of finals have even crept into the terraces. Sure the 5-0 win across the ditch was superb and the 10 man come from behind win against Sydney showed guts and determination but the bigger picture is a little slanted. Newcastle’s win against Brisbane only 2 hours after Hearts euphoric win over the Phoenix highlights just how hard a finals berth is in reality. The club isn’t competing against one club for that sixth spot, but four others.
The last two months of the Heart campaign is possibly the toughest in the league. Two games against league leaders Brisbane, a Melbourne derby; an away trip to Adelaide and finishing a visit from Western Sydney highlights the fact that Heart has the job in front of them. No remaining games against struggling Sydney or Perth represent no easy points for the club and a relentless challenge ahead of them.
The task is not impossible, but close to it. Relying on results from other matches is never ideal, but will ensure Heart fans keep a close eye on every A-League fixture over the next few weeks. Realistically the season comes down to the next fortnight as they host Brisbane and Victory, to continue the unlikely finals dream six points is a minimum requirement.
Whatever the results are over the next fortnight it is far better to dare to dream than watching the game through your head in your hands like earlier in the season. The impossible dream may not come to fruition but the form reversal will have a positive impact in the future of the club, whatever that may be.
Remaining matches
Brisbane (H), Victory (H), Newcastle (A), Wellington (H), Central Coast (H), Brisbane (A), Adelaide (A), Western Sydney (H).
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