CITY VIEWS | Another Wasted Season
The 2018/19 season was a tumultuous one for the leagues richest club. As the Beatles say “Money can’t buy me love” and this was once again the case for a Melbourne City club still to find its niche in the overcrowded Melbourne sporting market.
The continuing development of Daniel Arzani and Nathaniel Atkinson was a rare positive moment for the club as fans look to another busy off season as we build a squad capable of turning a profit for the City Football Group and one who will challenge for silverware. There will be no stability in the squad, changes will be plentiful and loyalty ignored.
Two moments over the last ten days sum up this club at present, the first being the woeful attendance for a home final, the second Osama Malik’s brain explosion that handed Jason Hoffman and the Newcastle Jets a place in next weeks Grand Final. To be fair to Malik he was close to City’s best player before this moment but similar moments from this defender happen far too often and his decision making is dreadful and not fit for a professional footballer. Malik will be an easy target for City fans to direct their anger over the next few days and this will only be appeased by the A-League veteran cleaning out his locker.
City can consider themselves unlucky to point against Newcastle but only have the players and coaching staff to blame for refusing to take the game to Newcastle. The non-decision made by the VAR left many dumbfounded when Arzani was clearly fouled inside the penalty area. This would’ve potentially gifted City an undeserved 2-0 lead and from then on who knows. It took the goal of the season from Riley McGree to equalise and a horrendous defensive error to see off City’s chances but Newcastle deserved their win and all except City fans were happy with the end result.
Newcastle represent what a football club should be, community engagement, a rich history and everyone on the same page in regards to club values. From Lawrie McKinna down this club shows how great football can be if you actually do get it right; you cannot create the atmosphere that encapsulated the stadium last night with open cheque books, a splintered club and a dressing room that comes with it’s very own turnstile.
Melbourne City once again have some tough decisions to make over the offseason in regards to what type of direction this club wants to take. Big names might attract fans through the gates but when players are simply playing for the City Football Group paycheque and not the shirt they are wearing you cannot build a fan base.
Last night the players walked off this pitch once again falling short, but the lack of effort and want was extremely noticeable. No senior player stood up and took control of the most important game of the season and this speaks volumes about the character of Melbourne City.
Image: Fox Sports
Google+