City Views – The Captain
Patrick Kisnorbo is a natural choice of captain and is the best appointment for the future of Melbourne City. Kisnorbo is your classic central defender; he plays for the shirt, resinates well with fans, and leaves nothing on the pitch. The experienced football professional quickly became a fan favourite with Heart last season, and the presence of the arm band will no doubt win over newer fans too.
Kisnorbo is the best choice for the club since our inaugural captain, Simon Colosimo. In a way both are very similar players, showing vast amounts of potential in Australia before setting off for Europe. A cruel injury quelled the Colosimo career, but Kisnorbo managed to have significant stints at Leicester City and Leeds United. Kisnorbo managed to play 21 of the 27 games last season for Heart, and finding the back of the net twice.
Kisnorbo is the fourth captain of the club, and the first under the ‘City’ name. He assumes the role after former Socceroos great Harry Kewell retired. The reason Kisnorbo is the best choice of captain since Colosimo is that he not only appeals to the fans of the club, he is also someone who sits very comfortable as a leader of the talented group. Fred and Kewell were both former Victory players, and whilst the league has a rather nomadic nature about it, fans have long memories. Injury hindered both former captains during their stints as captain, but both choices were poor from the beginning. It appeared Fred was handed the armband merely because he was the best player in the squad, and Kewell whilst being in the top echelon of players this country has produced would’ve offered the same professional knowledge and experience without the armband.
Central defenders command an automatic sense of leadership regardless of stature at the club. On the pitch this position has the ability to control the game from the back, along with the keeper. The way John Van’t Schip structures his tactics; the majority of City plays starts from either one of the central defenders. Kisnorbo dictates much of the ball supply from defence, and alongside Massimo Murdocca was the engine room of Heart last season.
Rob Wielaert was given the armband a few times last season in the absence of Kewell and managed to assert his presence, and did a fine job. Kisnorbo gives the impression he is a natural leader with the total respect of the playing group. The armband won’t change the playing style of Kisnorbo; the aggressive defended never leaves opposition players wondering about what’s on his mind or won’t go in half hearted for a challenge. City need this type of player to lay down a marker at the beginning of the season, to show the remainder of the league they won’t be easy beats unlike 2013/14.
When Melbourne City walkout for the first time next week in Sydney they will do so behind Patrick Kisnorbo and will be a better team for this. You don’t want to mess with Captain Kisnorbo.
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