Someone at Melbourne City made a huge mistake by not bringing in a replacement for Robert Koren, writes Matt Windley

THAT Melbourne City could finish the season without an international marquee player is inexplicable and might have cost the club a chance at A-League glory, writes Matt Windley.

Despondent Melbourne City players leave the field after their A-League semi final loss to Adelaide United. Picture: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

THAT Melbourne City could finish the season without an international marquee player is inexplicable.

Robert Koren and City parted ways mid-season. Picture: Nicole Garmston

And it could have cost the team its best chance of winning its first piece of A-League silverware.

Someone at City has made a monumental mistake.

Put aside your thoughts on the mid-season axing of Robert Koren.

As a marquee player, he was disappointing and the club had its reasons for cutting him loose.

But how could it not replace him? It has more than enough cash to do so.

The player didn’t have to be one of the world’s best. But with Asian leagues not starting until February-March, there would surely have been at least one suitable, high-calibre candidate running around in Japan, China or South Korea — let alone in Europe during the January transfer window.

If it was the City Football Group chiefs who opted not to make funds available for the club to bring in a replacement for Koren, then coach John van’t Schip and the club’s fans have the right to ask serious questions.

Is van’t Schip being given the best chance to succeed?

Why does New York City get players such as David Villa, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo and Melbourne is not appropriately star-studded?

But if it was van’t Schip’s decision not to bring in another big name, then the coach has made a serious miscalculation of his side’s depth.

The fact is that City, backed by its wealthy Manchester owners, is the richest sporting club in Australian sport, let alone the A-League.

All looked good when City climbed to the top of the ladder after its Round 25 win against Wellington.

And sure, van’t Schip can’t be blamed for injuries to Michael Zullo (toe), Ivan Franjic (hamstring) and Harry Novillo’s suspension.

Matt Windley wonders if John Van't Schip had every possible chance of success. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

But when the trio were sidelined, there was little left in the cupboard to call on.

In bringing in a big name midway through the campaign, there could have been a risk of unsettling the dressingroom.

But considering the amount of list turnover there was in January, there was plenty of upheaval anyway.

What position the player would have filled is an appropriate question.

Aaron Mooy had the No.10 role locked and Bruno Fornaroli is clearly an adequate striker, but another winger, even another box-to-box midfielder, would not have gone astray in the final weeks.

The fact is that City, backed by its wealthy Manchester owners, is the richest sporting club in Australian sport, let alone the A-League.

It may be unfair to say that means it has a responsibility to have a big-name marquee player.

But when lowly Central Coast was able to splash the cash to bring in a marquee player in January, albeit an ageing Luis Garcia, something is amiss when City’s quota has not been filled.