2018/19 Melbourne Victory Thread - The Four Time Honda Driven Champions!!!!

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Victory hunting Honda replacement as star heads for exit door | The World Game

The 32-year-old attacking midfielder - currently living out his double life plotting the Olyroos’ downfall as coach of Cambodia’s Under-23s in Phenom Penh - hasn’t quite delivered, Victory believe, on their sizable investment.
There have been no discussions over extending his stay, with both parties - it would seem - heading for a mutual, if amicable, separation.
It’s understood the club paid well in excess of the reported $1.3 million to secure the former Nagoya Grampus, CSKA Moscow and AC Milan star on a one-year deal.
It was mooted that FFA, through Fox Sports’ marquee fund, chipped in a further $1.6 million to secure the A-League’s most high-profile face for 2018-2019.
However, Victory appear to have paid Honda around $2 million out of their own pockets, without any discernible uptick in off-field metrics or attendances, whether playing at home or away.
And, as Honda puts Cambodia through their paces in preparation to face Graham Arnold’s Olyroos in Friday’s AFC Championship qualifier, Victory already have their eye on a potential replacement in the foreign marquee spot.
Sidelined with a mysterious hamstring injury for five weeks after Christmas, Honda, who retired from international football after the 2018 FIFA World Cup, has made a decent impression on the field, with six goals and five assists from his 13 A-League appearances.
He’s also made two AFC Champions League appearances to date, scoring one goal.
That said, he has also been peripheral at times, flitting around the edges of the action, without influencing the outcome of matches as much as Muscat might have hoped.
Turning 33 in June, Honda is likely to continue his playing career elsewhere whilst also possibly looking to step up his coaching aspirations.


https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/victory-hunting-honda-replacement-as-star-heads-for-exit-door

Honda was always only going to stay for one seasonso not surprised with that news, good to see the club will be looking to invest in another high class marquee.
 
giggler99 said:
Victory hunting Honda replacement as star heads for exit door | The World Game

The 32-year-old attacking midfielder - currently living out his double life plotting the Olyroos’ downfall as coach of Cambodia’s Under-23s in Phenom Penh - hasn’t quite delivered, Victory believe, on their sizable investment.
There have been no discussions over extending his stay, with both parties - it would seem - heading for a mutual, if amicable, separation.
It’s understood the club paid well in excess of the reported $1.3 million to secure the former Nagoya Grampus, CSKA Moscow and AC Milan star on a one-year deal.
It was mooted that FFA, through Fox Sports’ marquee fund, chipped in a further $1.6 million to secure the A-League’s most high-profile face for 2018-2019.
However, Victory appear to have paid Honda around $2 million out of their own pockets, without any discernible uptick in off-field metrics or attendances, whether playing at home or away.
And, as Honda puts Cambodia through their paces in preparation to face Graham Arnold’s Olyroos in Friday’s AFC Championship qualifier, Victory already have their eye on a potential replacement in the foreign marquee spot.
Sidelined with a mysterious hamstring injury for five weeks after Christmas, Honda, who retired from international football after the 2018 FIFA World Cup, has made a decent impression on the field, with six goals and five assists from his 13 A-League appearances.
He’s also made two AFC Champions League appearances to date, scoring one goal.
That said, he has also been peripheral at times, flitting around the edges of the action, without influencing the outcome of matches as much as Muscat might have hoped.
Turning 33 in June, Honda is likely to continue his playing career elsewhere whilst also possibly looking to step up his coaching aspirations.


https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/victory-hunting-honda-replacement-as-star-heads-for-exit-door

Honda was always only going to stay for one seasonso not surprised with that news, good to see the club will be looking to invest in another high class marquee.
Click to expand...
Article makes him sound like a spud lol
 
dwwaino said:
Feels like the whole thing has been a waste imo.

Anyone else think that Ola has looked pretty disinterested for a while?
Click to expand...
They've probably been sold on images of AAMI Park pumping, packed house and crowds chanting their names. Only to be left playing at an oval stadium, with crowds that behave like they're at a piano recital alongside "professional" players who can't control the simplest of passes.
 
tryitout said:
They've probably been sold on images of AAMI Park pumping, packed house and crowds chanting their names. Only to be left playing at an oval stadium, with crowds that behave like they're at a piano recital alongside "professional" players who can't control the simplest of passes.
Click to expand...

This is EXACTLY what I have been thinking for a while. Not to mention a local media that doesn't even acknowledge the game.
 
Does that really come into a players thoughts though? It's not something I've given thought to before, but if I was getting paid what I was promised and playing good football to either advance my career further or add to my paycheque I couldn't care less if I was playing in someone's backyard.
 
I doubt whether a guy like Ola, who could've earned more in the 2nd tier in England, was sold on video of crowds - the only advantage we have is lifestyle, and that's what we'll continue to promote.

I suspect Ola is in a different boat to Honda anyway though, cos Honda is on a LOT... but let's read that article for what it is ie. Bullshit. It discusses Honda like he's been a failure. I have to imagine that the "journalist" that wrote it didn't watch any A-League before Christmas, where he was rivalling Ninkovic a couple of years ago as the best, most influential player we've ever had in the A-League.
 
nobbyiscool said:
I doubt whether a guy like Ola, who could've earned more in the 2nd tier in England, was sold on video of crowds - the only advantage we have is lifestyle, and that's what we'll continue to promote.

I suspect Ola is in a different boat to Honda anyway though, cos Honda is on a LOT... but let's read that article for what it is ie. Bullshit. It discusses Honda like he's been a failure. I have to imagine that the "journalist" that wrote it didn't watch any A-League before Christmas, where he was rivalling Ninkovic a couple of years ago as the best, most influential player we've ever had in the A-League.
Click to expand...
Funnily enough Honda was still coming 4th (I think) in the Player of the Year award after missing all that football. No question he would have won it if he didn't get injured.
 

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I've only had one eye on this game, with the other eye on the Eagles - the goal was a cracker, but seemed very much against the run of play.

I'd love us to keep a clean sheet tonight, not just cos it ensures a win, but because our defence has looked shaky most of this season.
 
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