Kevin Muscat set to make changes at Melbourne Victory

KEVIN Muscat has given a strong indication he is prepared to shake his Melbourne Victory team and the vibe from fans is such action will be well received, writes DAVID DAVUTOVIC.

Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat is set to make changes to the team. Picture: Getty Images

KEVIN Muscat has given a strong indication he is prepared to shake his Melbourne Victory team up after a third-straight loss on Friday night.

Victory’s three substitutes turned the game after a pedestrian first half was punished by Brisbane’s Massimo Maccarone and Brett Holman.

Fans are often a barometer, and the halftime jeers and second-half cheers were telling.

The biggest cheers were for NPL striker Kenny Athiu’s first two actions after coming on, and teen Josh Hope’s entrance.

That they replaced greats Besart Berisha and Carl Valeri was coincidental but symbolic.

Both appear to have lost a yard of pace, but they can be just as effective as in recent seasons if the team is balanced.

Valeri is suffering from the lack of dynamism around him, while Berisha is isolated and forcing the issue in attack.

Besart Berisha was subbed in the second half. Picture: Getty Images

Athiu and Hope bring some­thing different, as does Christ­ian Theoharous, who was omit­t­ed after his starting debut last week, and their explosiveness should be used more often.

“If you’re not at your best or not performing anywhere near your capabilities, someone will take your place,” Muscat said.

“Go have a good look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we are giving everything we can.

“I thought all the subs that came on had an impact — more than that, they showed a real urgency and purpose.”

James Troisi was the other sub and had a point to prove, unleashing a rocket into the top right-hand corner which in many ways justified the move.

The profile of players does not always lend itself to Mus­cat’s favoured 4-2-3-1.

Under that structure, there is little chance of Athiu and Berisha playing together in a front two, but why not try it?

They are different players, but both are predators.

A 4-4-2 formation would catch the opposition off guard, as would two attacking midfielders ins­tead of two holders.

Victory needs to focus on its strengths and exploit its potential depth, rather than showing blind faith in the structure and favoured XI, if it is to challenge for glory in the A-League or the Asian Champions League.