No Fred hole for Victory
Melbourne Victory centre-forward Danny Allsopp is adamant that the Hyundai A-League champions can cover the loss of Fred in the upcoming season.
The mercurial Brazilian walked out of the club to take up a contract with Major League Soccer club DC United, leaving the Victory without one of their most influential players in their stunning and successful 2006-07 season.
But while coach Ernie Merrick is yet to find a replacement for Fred, Allsopp is confident that the Victory will get the right type of player to the club to fill the void.
"Fred was fantastic for us last year. But life moves on and people change jobs. We're gonna miss him, but Ernie found him last year, and he might find someone else," he said. "With the guys that we have got, we've got Ljubo (Milecivic), and Joe Kennan, and they look really good at training now."
Allsopp has every confidence that in their quest to top of the list, Merrick and co will find the right type of players to suit the structure of the club.
"We've got a few additions we've got to make to the squad, that's up to Ernie and those guys. But the boys that are there at the moment are looking really good. We're in better shape than we were this time last year," he said.
"We've got to get the new players into the team to finish off the squad, but we're looking good with the new players who have come in. With the attitude of the team, I think everyone is ready to give it a good shot again."
Meanwhile, skipper Kevin Muscat has recovered from ankle surgery and while he is probably three weeks behind his team-mates in his fitness schedule, he is right on track for the start of the Pre-Season Cup.
"The ankle is superb. All it was was just a tidy up to give me a bit more range and a bit more movement and that has happened." he said.
Retirement is the furthest thing from the 34-year-old's mind at the moment, with the excitement building in him ahead of the third Hyundai A-League season.
"I'm feeling really good. If I felt this good at the start of every season I had overseas, I would have enjoyed that alot more. It's a credit to the staff and everyone down here," he said.
"I just want to feel as good as I did at the start of last season, and when that stops happening, I'll know my body is giving way. But at the moment I feel great."