Ange Postecoglou ... looking after Victory's long-term interests. Source: News Limited
Melbourne Victory is the only A-League club with three goalkeepers. It will also have the highest-paid back-up keeper in Tando Velaphi, on roughly $120,000 a season.
This is criminal in a league where squads (23 players) and salaries ($2.5 million a team) are capped.
It is a result of Victory's philosophical and strategic short-sightedness.
With every coaching change since Ernie Merrick was dumped in March last year has come a change in philosophy.
Compare that to Melbourne Heart, where John Aloisi has slotted in seamlessly to replace John van't Schip.
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 2 | Perth | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Newcastle | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Wellington | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | Brisbane | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 6 | Central Coast | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | Heart | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 8 | Sydney | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 3 |
| 9 | Victory | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -5 | 3 |
| 10 | Western Sydney | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
That's because football director John Didulica runs the rule over every potential signing, scrutinising whether it is in the club's long-term interests.
Signings are always risky.
Heart's recruiting has been top-notch, but mechanisms such as one-year deals and/or lower salaries ensure the risks are calculated.
In Victory's case, it doesn't just affect results, it's also costly.
Danny Allsopp, Ricardinho, Mehmet Durakovic and Francis Awaritefe are the latest in a long line of players and officials who have received payouts.
In Ange Postecoglou, Victory has hired a coach who is determined to improve results short term and look after the club's long-term interests.
Velaphi was signed in a panicked frenzy at the end of Merrick's reign, as were defenders Sam Gallagher and Adama Traore in Jim Magilton's final weeks.
Velaphi showed last week he's a good keeper, just not Postecoglou's style of keeper. Nor was Ante Covic.
New Victory football director Paul Trimboli unveiled Nathan Coe on Wednesday.
If and when Postecoglou departs, it will be Trimboli's job to ensure Victory doesn't recruit with blinkers on.
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