Redders Letter Day For City

Today marks a significant day for the Melbourne City, the goalkeeping department is no longer a liability for the club.

Andrew Redmayne was a loyal servant but failed to live up to early expectation.  Redmayne originally replaced club favourite Clint Bolton as the clubs number one but like many crosses throughout his City career never firmly grasped the opportunity.  The image of Redmayne banging his gloves together as he conceded yet another soft goal was an all too familiar image City supporters were forced to endure over the past few seasons.  When Redmayne finally lost his place in the starting XI during the 2014/15 season many at the club knew his time was up, but unfortunately he had secured a contract under the former Heart management.

You could never question the commitment or attitude of Redmayne but his ability you could.  Redmayne arrived at the club with an impressive Football CV but never really commanded his area at the club.  Mistakes were far too frequent during the Redmayne years and the club were never going to achieve anything whilst he was on the pitch.  Confidence is a key component for any keeper and sadly a back four that was never quite settled couldn’t assist Redmayne at his time at City.

If ever a moment summed up his career at City it was during the FFA clash in Ballarat.  Redmayne was channelling his inner Manuel Neuer and make a costly mistake out of his area.  His ambition was far greater than his ability and the mistake would see City eliminated at the earliest stage.

Redmayne leaves the club in far better shape than he arrived with financial stability now at the club and a much superior defensive structure.

The relationship between Redmayne and Velaphi was a strong one, but ultimately cost the keeper his spot in the squad.  With City now needing to move forward Redmayne was always going to be the keeper sacrificed.  Velaphi showed sign of being a very good keeper, but never really a great keeper.  Redmayne was average at best and would struggle to hold down the number one spot at any A-League club.  City are in the enviable position of challenging for the A-League title and the pressure will now mount on John Van’t Schip to build a far superior squad to the midfield reliant one he built last season.  CFG’s demands are now far higher than any previous season and success is the only thing that will keep JVS in his cushy coaching chair at City.

Melbourne City must turn their focus to a keeper who is considered elite as A-League level if the club is to move forward and must consider Brad Jones or Nathan Coe very seriously.  If the club relies on Tando Velaphi being the number one keeper, the City faithful (not many of us) will be very disappointed and the season will most likely end in all too familiar failure.

Redders should be remembered as a loyal servant of the club and personally I wish him all the best at his new club Western Sydney.

With Redmayne, Dugandzic and Ramsay all moved on all Melbourne City fans can look towards 2015/16 with far greater hope and huge expectation.

Andrew Redmayne played 48 A-League games for Heart/City.

Image: www.adelaidenow.com

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