Melbourne City suffered their second defeat of the A-League Men's season against the Western Sydney Wanderers despite having more possession and shots on goal. With a few of City's key attackers sidelined due to injuries, their young players are now getting the chance to prove themselves in the competition. However, Aurelio Vidmar's side may run into some challenges as a result, relying on the inexperience of this youthful depth as they wait for their star players to return.
Aurelio Vidmar's Melbourne City side currently sit fifth on the A-League Men table. (Image: Harley Appezzato)
Melbourne City nearly scored within minutes of their Round 6 clash against the Western Sydney Wanderers, starting with a chaotic goalmouth scramble that saw players diving everywhere to force the ball over the goal line. But after that initial excitement, City struggled to create meaningful chances or retain possession for the rest of the first half. This lack of offensive output is likely due to the injuries that key players such as Andrew Nabbout, Marco Tilio, and Max Caputo sustained. Additionally, Mathew Leckie has been dealing with a recurring injury that has limited his playing time.
Caputo is expected to be Jamie Maclaren’s long-term replacement, taking on more responsibility this season. But he tragically suffered a long-term leg injury during pre-season training, which has sidelined him for the start of the campaign. As a result, Nabbout was moved to the striker position, despite being his less preferred role, to fill the gap. Unfortunately, the situation worsened when Nabbout suffered a freak ACL injury after his studs got caught in the turf during the Round 3 match against Western United. The injuries have led Melbourne City head coach Aurelio Vidmar to give a debut and two subsequent starts to young striker Medin Memeti.
The 17-year-old Memeti has shown some promising signs but still seems a bit raw for consistent A-Leagues football. His slight frame made it difficult for him against the Western Sydney defenders, and he snatched at his opportunities on the weekend. As a result, he missed four big chances.
Leckie’s absence has perhaps been Melbourne City’s most significant loss this season, and he would have been a vital player in the match against Western Sydney. Leckie’s technical quality would have been crucial in helping Melbourne City keep the ball more effectively. His physicality and strength also would have benefited the side out of possession, as City’s press was not very successful in the first half. Someone with Leckie’s experience also helps manage the pressing responsibilities of the inexperienced players around him.
Due to Marco Tilio’s absence, Vidmar opted to use Nathaniel Atkinson as a left winger. Despite being a natural right-back, Vidmar felt that Atkinson’s technical qualities would allow him to do a job on the wing.
“He's a guy that is naturally suited to right-back, but he can play left-back, which he has already; he has played as an eight in midfield for us," Vidmar said post-match.
“Today, we thought, with his creativity, he's a good dribbler. He's a good passer. We thought putting him up there, he would be able to help in the final third.”
Atkinson didn't perform poorly as a left winger but struggled to affect the game and create scoring opportunities. Out of the eight crosses he attempted, he only completed one. However, Atkinson was more successful with passes into the final third and long balls.
This output may indicate he is more suited to a deeper position, such as his usual full-back role or a defensive midfielder.
Aurelio Vidmar has already utilised Nathaniel Atkinson in many different roles this season. (Image: Aleksandar Jason/Melbourne City)
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Before the international break, Melbourne City scored five goals against Perth Glory, but that performance may be misleading given David Zdrilic's side's current struggles. As it stands, City has yet to win against any team outside the bottom four on the table. With key players absent, securing victories against top-quality opponents could be challenging, as we already saw against rivals Melbourne Victory in the Melbourne Derby.
While City has faced some challenges this season, it's not all negative. The young players who have stepped into the spotlight have shown promise and, with more experience, are likely to develop into top A-Leagues players—they need time to grow.
Additionally, Kai Trewin's arrival has been a bright spot for the team; he has consistently been their best performer in every match this season. With Samuel Souprayen at 35 years old, Trewin appears to be poised to become the future leader of City's defence.
Next, Melbourne City will travel to Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, aiming to bounce back against a struggling Brisbane Roar side. Facing another team of lesser quality will allow them to regain their form and give more playing time to emerging young players. Ideally, they will avoid dropping unnecessary points and get back on track while star players recover for the second half of the season.
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