Chewing The Fat: David Davutovic and Matt Windley discuss what went wrong with Melbourne City

GOALS galore, class across the board and the ‘keeper of the season. City looked set to claim its maiden title, yet couldn’t surpass last season’s semi-final effort. Why?

A mid-season squad upheaval unsettled Melborune City. Picture: George Salpigtidis

GOALS galore, class across the board and the ‘keeper of the season. Melbourne City looked set to claim its maiden title until they fell apart in the semi-finals.

DAVID DAVUTOVIC: Melbourne City deserves credit for recruiting a record-breaking goalscorer and the keeper of the season, yet they still couldn’t surpass last season’s semi-final effort. Why?

MATT WINDLEY: I said it at the start of the season, last year’s semi-final effort was a bit of false positioning considering the Perth expulsion and the win over an out-of-form Wellington in the playoffs. I think then there was an increased expectation that they had to go one step further this season when in actual fact they really have improved. That said, to not win in a season where Bruno Fornaroli and Aaron Mooy tore the competition to shreds is an opportunity lost.

A mid-season squad upheaval unsettled Melborune City. Picture: George Salpigtidis

DD: Agree, and missing out on the Asian Champions League was a huge blow. Too much chopping and changing, the team couldn’t settle.

MW: The mid-season squad upheaval unsettled them for a while. Then the team came good. Then there was a few injuries again. It’s hard to get a read on whether or not the squad was actually improved or not.

DD: Squad better than a year ago, not sure it’s better than mid-season. Releasing Erik Paartalu was a mistake - the midfield was starting to gel while he was a constant threat (four goals) with Aaron Mooy’s delivery. Osama Malik was a good acquisition but trading Stefan Mauk? Disappointing on many fronts, especially for a club trying to build a fan base, at times City’s squad feels like a transit lounge with City using 32 players this season (equal record with Central Coast). It also underlines City Football Group’s commitment to Melbourne, as they’re splashing the cash.

MW: I also can’t believe this club, of all clubs, finished the season without an international marquee.

DD: Looking at City’s team in the semi-final collapse, I’m still to be convinced Robert Koren wasn’t good enough to be among the subs. But once he was axed, John van’t Schip clearly felt his squad was good enough to challenge.

MW: The FFA Cup semi-final was also disastrous. An opportunity to get in to the final of a competition for the first time and a below-full-strength line-up is sent to Perth. Not good enough. So, overall, are we giving the season a pass mark?

Releasing Erik Paartalu was a huge mistake.

DD: It’s fair to say CFG officials raised eyebrows when they saw the teamsheet for that FFA Cup semi-final. This season’s definitely a pass mark, they have improved each year since the takeover, but make no mistake, expectations will be sky high in 2016-17.

MW: The merry-go-round has already begun. Alex Wilkinson out, Manny Muscat in. Assistant coaches Ivan Jolic and Luciano Trani also depart. What else is to come?

DD: They’re discussing as we speak but Adelaide’s Bruce Kamau, who tore them up last week, could be on his way.

MW: Next season, no excuses. Absolutely none. Grand final and Asian Champions League qualification an absolute minimum requirement. Van’t Schip in the last year of his contract too so the heat is on everyone at the club.

Originally published as Chewing The Fat: David Davutovic and Matt Windley discuss what went wrong with Melbourne City