Who Are Ya?
As the Melbourne City squad take the pitch for the second half against cross-town rivals (and defending champions) the pro Victory crowd begin to chant “Who are ya, who are ya, who are ya” City supporters turn to their mate beside them and simply shrug their shoulders as they don’t have no definitive answer for such a basic question.
Whilst is was rumored late in the regular season most City fans were left stunned as their captain was shown the door during the week after forty-one appearances for the club. Plagued by injury late in the season Jakobsen was forced to watch on during the meager finals campaign where City’s players seemed disinterested and lacked drive during the most important time of the season.
Adelaide United announced they had secured Jakobsen on a two-year deal shortly after City discarded the Danish veteran.
Injuries plagued Jakobsen when it mattered this season but he was still a required player if City are to genuinely challenge for silverware next season. Yes, this does free up a visa spot but remember kids, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
The continual player turnover is a concern for supporters of the club, although City aren’t the only club in the A-League who imply the turnstile (or A-League player recycle program) policy but the constant squad rebuild does play its part in why the other turnstile, the one at AAMI Park doesn’t tick over as regularly as management would like. There is very limited continuity in the dressing room and there is unlikely to be at the start of the 2018/19 season with multiple squad changes already announced.
At the end of every season this club inherently presses the reset button and this has a long-term effect on building on supporter base. At the last home game of the season it’s a thank-you combined with a farewell for our playing squad and this simply has to change. We don’t have a mainstay in the squad, a player that represents the ideals of the team or who is the heart and soul of what this club stands for. When you think of Melbourne Victory you think Archie Thompson, John Hutchinson payed his heart out for Central Coast Mariners. The closest City has to this is current assistant coach Patrick Kisnorbo who made 76 appearances for the club and showed more passion than some players from the sidelines over the last two seasons. To a certain extent Michael Jakobsen represented that type of player but didn’t fit into the current squad requirements.
The ever-changing nature of the playing list at Melbourne City perfectly sums up this club as a whole, we don’t know who we are, what we represent or what we want to achieve. This club has no identity. Whilst I detest to use the term franchise when describing a sporting club, Melbourne City is just that.
When City Football Group (CFG) announced it would complete a takeover of Melbourne Heart it was an exciting and yet hesitant time for the club and its supporters. Melbourne Heart was a community club, at least it portrayed that image but unfortunately the club was hemorrhaging money and were operating on the smell of an oily rag when the takeover was announced. Without the City Football Group, Melbourne Heart would’ve either ceased to exist or be travelling on a similar to path to the current Central Coast Mariners squad, existing without competing.
As football fans we must acknowledge CFG has done some great for football in this country, you only have to look at what the women’s team at Melbourne City has achieved in its short history. They have continued to invest money into the current football program whilst reaping the rewards off players such as Aaron Mooy and his significant transfer fee. Melbourne City fans cannot expect CFG to throw money away, and whilst they don’t see eye to eye with the current administration at the FFA I don’t expect we will see any significant investment in the near future. It would be bad business given the current state of football in Australia.
What CFG need to invest in is creating a culture and identity for the Melbourne club. Recently we have seen an increase in rewards for members in the form of trips to Manchester to see current Premier League champions Manchester City play with some Etihad flights thrown in. A trip overseas would be a fantastic experience for any prize winner and is heads and shoulders above any prize any rival A-League club is offering but it doesn’t address creating an identity for the club. This only continues to muddy the water when those at CFG are trying to convince that “it’s not about creating fans of City Football Group, it’s New York, Melbourne and Manchester City fans”. Well you could’ve fooled me guys. Even before the club formally changed its name from Heart to City we’ve had Manchester City shoved down our throats ad nauseum.
It’s time to cut the apron strings, Melbourne City needs to move away from both Manchester City and Melbourne Heart and look to finally create an identify that is something other that “we aren’t Victory”. In virtually every aspect Victory have outperformed City since their inception, it’s time to change this philosophy. You cannot help but think once @WeAreTeam11 gets accepted to the A-League (whether this expansion or in the future) City will lose a majority of supporters in the South-Eastern corridor of Melbourne.
Let’s rid ourselves of the red and white away strip, CFG should’ve done this from day one. It wasn’t a merger between two identities, it was a business transaction and a good one at that. Let’s acknowledge Manchester City, but only to a point. Yes, we share the same owners but that is the extent of the relationship. Keep Manchester mentions to a minimum, similar to how New York City gets little or no acknowledgement during our home games. Don’t play Oasis at the end of a home game, Oasis is a Manchester thing.
Establish our own traditions; this is our club, let’s make it so.
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