The opening game of the 20th A-League Men’s season had everything: torrential rain, a red card, a missed penalty, and Patrick Kisnorbo being accidentally two-footed by an opposition player. Kisnorbo may have felt sore the following day, but he will have more significant things on his mind following his side's 0-0 draw in the eventful Grand Final rematch.
Bruno Fornaroli sees his first-half penalty against the Central Coast Mariners rebound off the post. (Image: Harley Appezzato)
In the first half, Melbourne Victory comfortably controlled the game, amassing 58% possession and taking eight shots, putting young Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen under much pressure on his debut. But Bruno Fornaroli could not convert a penalty just before half-time, and ultimately, Victory did not capitalise on the 1.32 xG (expected goals) they created over the 90 minutes.
Fornaroli's selection raised questions about who will be the long-term starting number nine for Melbourne Victory this season after being primarily used as a substitute during the club's run to the Australia Cup Final. But Fornaroli is coming off the back of a fantastic season where he provided 18 goals and three assists, helping carry his team to a Grand Final berth, which fell agonisingly short when they conceded three goals in injury time.
However, Kisnorbo being handed the reins this season means that fresh ideas will be brought to the team, and even though Fornaroli had success last year, he is now 37 years of age. He may struggle to keep up with the intense physical demands Kisnorbo asks of his front three over an entire season, evident by his time at Troyes and Melbourne City, where he demanded his attackers to press aggressively to win possession high up the pitch to create goal-scoring opportunities.
That may be why Victory decided to sign a foreign striker in Nikos Vergos to help ensure they had a striker more adept for a different style of play. So far, the decision has paid dividends. Vergos scored three goals in the Australia Cup, the second most for Melbourne Victory this season, only behind Nishan Velupillay, who netted five and secured the Golden Boot for the knockout competition. It will be a difficult task for Kisnorbo to manage the two profiles of Vergos and Fornaroli; being a foreign signing, Vergos is going to expect to be a crucial part of the team and will no doubt feel that he can bring success to Melbourne Victory this season.
But at this stage of his career, Fornaroli is a certified A-Leagues legend who would feel he has enough credit in the bank to retain his starting spot despite his age. The competitor he is would not willingly give up his place for anyone in the competition. This is a problem that Kisnorbo has never really had to face in his relatively short managerial career. Throughout his tenure at Melbourne City, he had the advantage of having the league's all-time leading goal scorer, Jamie Maclaren, who would be the first name on the team sheet weekly with little competition. As the cliche goes, though, it may be a good problem.
Perhaps the apparent solution for Melbourne Victory would be to play the duo in a partnership, but with both poachers who like the ball to be played into their feet, it may be challenging to play the two strikers together, given their similar profiles. Playing two strikers may also limit the freedom French number 10 Zinedine Machach would have in possession.
In the 0-0 draw against Central Coast, Kisnorbo looked to have let Machach roam between the lines with nearly complete freedom to assist with build-up play and attacks in the final third. Having two number 9s may mean that Machach operates deeper, which does not suit his skill set.
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Zinedine Machach shoots on goal for Melbourne Victory against the Central Coast Mariners on Friday night. (Image: Harley Appezzato)
Ultimately, the best course of action for Kisnorbo is to make a decision early in the season so both strikers are aware of their expectations as the season goes on. Of course, changes can be made depending on different circumstances: injury, form, etc. But if the duo is on the same page, as with all players in the squad, Kisnorbo should be able to manage the egos and expectations of everyone in the team.
Looking ahead to Melbourne Victory’s next fixture, they will face cross-town rivals Melbourne City in what will surely be yet another fiery Melbourne Derby. With that in mind, Kisnorbo may stick with Fornaroli, who has immense experience in this fixture throughout his A-Leagues career. He can provide another point of leadership on the pitch in an intense game requiring massive concentration to ensure a positive result.
A positive result for Victory has also become more imperative now. Kisnorbo will not want to start his tenure winless from his first two league games after losing the Australia Cup Final. Who he selects as the starting striker could significantly impact this outcome.
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