The False 9: Round 6 - Heat on everyone at Melbourne City

What happens at Melbourne City if they don't perform against Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night?

Van 't Schip

John van 't Schip's side will not be taking Melbourne Victory lightly ahead of the Melbourne derby on Saturday Source: Getty Images

Coach John van't Schip bravely - or foolishly, depending on which way you want to look at it - put the blame at his own feet first after City underlined their frustrating inconsistency with a 3-0 home loss to Western Sydney Wanderers.

"It was a poor performance and, yeah, look, we all have to be responsible for that and I'm the first one, so I'm not happy at all and (I'll) analyse what we did wrong getting ready for this game," van't Schip said.

"We were clearly not ready and not on our front feet and we were late in our forward defending and couldn't keep the ball, we were out-played in the midfield. Yeah, I can continue, but it's my responsibility so it was a poor performance from our side and a poor performance from me."

Star playmaker Aaron Mooy was missing due to Socceroo duty and the scenario was put to van't Schip that the result supported those who theorised that "no Aaron Mooy, no Melbourne City".

Asked if that theory was fair comment, van't Schip replied: "Well, if you look today then I think you are not far from the truth, but that's an easy one after a game like this because it was our worst performance, I think, since I'm coach here, at a home game at least.

"You can all come up with why, and one of that could be what you're saying, but, again, that's not an excuse."

Mooy will return to the squad against Brisbane, although it remains to be seen whether van't Schip starts him or plays him off the bench three days after a Socceroo match overseas.

But the bigger picture is that, when it comes to his own role and the roles of individual players and the team, van't Schip has put it all out there on the line now.

If the team don't respond with at least a much better performance in what will be a tough game against Brisbane, you've got to think his position as coach will begin to come under threat.



Man of the hour (and a half)

Besart Berisha is the A-League's ultimate big-game player and he delivered yet again in the "Big Blue", scoring the first and last of Melbourne Victory's goals in their 4-2 win over Sydney FC.

And, again typically, he was talking up his teammates rather than himself after the game.

"I'm very happy, unbelievable performance from the boys," Berisha said. " So proud of the boys, we came twice back and then to win, away. I mean, Sydney is a great team and you have to try to come here and beat them and, my God, I'm so proud.

"I can't help but say how proud I am of the boys, fantastic performance. This is Sydney, it was like a final for them and a rematch for the last final and, I mean, they played fantastic and we have to hold on.

"It wasn't easy, especially with the conditions, but unbelievable spirit from the boys the way we came back every time and in the end deserved to win."

If they made a movie about Berisha, there is only one man who could play him.

They look similar and the actor in question also specialises in playing a role in which his character always gets the job done, although admittedly with a few more car chases, special effects and beautiful women than you see in a Big Blue.

His name is Bond, James Bond. Or Daniel Craig, if you want to be exact.
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How did that feel?

Not very good to Newcastle Jets coach Scott Miller, who, refreshingly, was prepared to publicly detail his disappointment regarding his team's performance against Central Coast Mariners rather than water down his comments and keep the real stuff in-house.

Newcastle, at home, were outplayed by a 10-man Mariners side in a 1-1 draw and Miller was clear in his intention to make his players accountable for that.

"Appalled, appalled," Miller said. "That isn't us, it isn't what we believe in. Individual performances need to be reflective of our structure and intensity throughout the weekend and we're very concerned at this point to the extent that other teams are getting better.

"Our mindset is that we need to be able to continue our development as a team as well and that performance at home isn't up to our standard whatsoever."

Tweet, tweet #1

Winners are grinners and Melbourne Victory types clearly haven't gotten sick of doing that yet.
Tweet, tweet #2

Well, not exactly a tweet, but it should be noted that not even the 10th anniversary of the Socceroos qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 32 years has flushed former captain Lucas Neill back out on Twitter.

His last post was in April, 2014. He was dumped from the squad for the World Cup soon after and hasn't surfaced on social media since. Has anyone seen the invisible man? #whereslucas

Tweet, tweet #3

One to ponder. If Ange Postecoglou's parents had not chosen Australia as the land of opportunity for their children, who would be coaching the Socceroos right now?
Happy anniversary

Since it is a week in which everyone who loves football in this country is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Socceroos making it back to the World Cup after such a long drought, False 9 would like to dedicate this week's musical interlude to that cause.

So here is one of the biggest hits of 2005, from The Black Eyed Peas. They know what it's like to have your heart broken, like Socceroo fans did for so long.
Hot topic for discussion

John Kosmina had two stints coaching Adelaide United, so he has a much better idea of the inner workings of the club than most.

Kosmina, in his column in the city's newspaper, The Advertiser, said there was no point blaming coach Guillermo Amor for the team's current woes and that the club's board had to take the blame.

"The club has stumbled from one stuff-up to the next without building any real solid foundation and stability," Kosmina wrote. "Maybe, to bring about change the powers that be need to put their hand up and admit things could have been done better.

"Last week I suggested the players take responsibility for their performance, this week I suggest the board do the same."

Can't wait for . . .

The last time Newcastle went to Adelaide to play, they were smashed 7-0 on January 24. It was the catalyst for a tumultuous period at the club which finally ended with both owner Nathan Tinkler and coach Phil Stubbins departing and FFA taking control.

Now the two teams meet again at Coopers Stadium on Sunday, with the Jets having made an encouraging start to the season which has them in fifth place after six rounds and eight points ahead of last-placed United, which is still the only team without a win.

It seems the tables have turned . . .

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Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Dakar Rally, World Athletics / ISU Championships (and more) via SBS On Demand – your free live streaming and catch-up service.
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7 min read
Published 17 November 2015 4:36pm
Updated 17 November 2015 4:39pm
By Greg Prichard


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