Thompson happy to share glory
Melbourne Victory and Qantas Socceroo striker Archie Thompson says he will be happy to score no goals in tonight’s Hyundai A-League 2009 Grand Final, as long as his team still wins.
Thompson will be forever remembered in Australian football circles, for his scoring feats both for club and country; none more so than his five-goal haul in Melbourne-s 6-0 destruction of Adelaide in this very game two years ago.
It was a performance that is not likely to repeated, with Thompson, who is not short on confidence, conceding it-s highly unlikely that will happen again.
“Obviously things like that (5 goals in a match) happen very rarely,” Thompson told www.footballaustralia.com.au. “I would like to think I am going to score a couple of goals and lift a trophy.
“But if it doesn-t happen and one of the other boys scores and we win, I-ll be even more excited and happy.”
With Adelaide anticipated to place a sea of players behind the ball, Thompson knows and believes an early goal will be crucial for his team, to place the onus back on the visitors.
“I think it-s crucial to get an early goal, to obviously put pressure on the other team. We know if we score early, its going to put a lot of pressure on Adelaide and it-s going to open up and it-s going to be exciting.
“We also know if we do go a goal down early that we are capable of coming back. We-ve done it before and I think that-s a big improvement from the first couple of seasons, especially this year when we-ve found ourselves in positions where we are down and we-ve come back.
“I think if we do go down a goal early, we know we have the players to come back.”
He admits to being highly excited about tonight-s clash and expects the opening stages of the match to be highly charged.
“Very excited. The last two weeks we have been preparing well and we are just waiting for tomorrow. We know who were are playing now and we just have to be fully focused.
“I think it-s going to be fierce the first 5-10 minutes. I am sure it-s going to be very cagey.
“And if they do park a double-decker bus in front of the goals, then I will be buying my concession to get on it.”
The Telstra Dome is proving a fortress for Victory in recent times and the former Belgian-based striker believes that can prove a big difference in the match.
“We-ve had good result this year in the Telstra Dome. I think we-ve won eight-nine matches and only lost two; it-s become quite a fortress for us.
“With a full stadium and a sea of blue around the place, it-s going to be very intimidating for Adelaide. Hopefully the younger boys and the boys that haven-t been in this position before can handle this pressure and I am sure they can.
“All year Ernie has been talking enjoying the pressure and we-ve done that and we-re just happy that we have a home final.”
Thompson also has no doubt-s that Carlos Hernandez will have a big say in the outcome. The Costa Rican has been in sensational form and it was his display in the 2nd Leg of the Major Semi Final that basically ensured Victory of hosting the big one.
“At the start of the year he (Hernandez) was up and down, but now he is fully fit and I-ve always said once we see Carlos full fit, we will definitely know what he is about.
“He-s proven week in, week out in the last few months that he is a quality player and one that we would love to keep around and hopefully we can keep him.
“Obviously he is a link between us, but I think we have got great players who have been good all year. Tommy (Pondeljak), Billy (Celeski), Nicky Ward has come in and had a tremendous season so far.
“One player doesn-t make a team, but it would be good to have him on the ball and setting up the play, because that-s what he does well, although I feel we have match winners all over the park.”
As for a prediction?
“Predictions always get me in trouble,” he said with a wry smile. “Obviously I am going to predict that we want to win. If it comes, it comes; if it doesn-t it's not the be all and end all.
“Obviously I am very confident, but I don-t want to sound arrogant at the same time. Adelaide boys know me; Melbourne Victory boys know me; I put it out there.
“I am confident in the players that we have got; the season that we-ve had; the way we have prepared and we-ve ticked all the right boxes.
“Now it-s a matter of putting it out there and I am sure we are going to do that.”