Yep. Everyone though brox  was gone under ange but he flourished.  Brox will probably force say roux out

Kosta had better lube up: https://twitter.com/gomvfc/status/1172390958035390464?s=19

What the fuck is up with Robbie Kruse? Hasn't played a single game nor has he been sighted (even Poulsen and Traore were there today).

We'll be seeing him on milk cartons if it keeps going like this.

DFS saying you will be going fora guy called migjen basha

I'm frustrated too, but the talk is that the club is taking a conservative approach to ensure he is ready for R1. will be playing in the last preseason game. 

Good CV on him.

If true I can see why he would be worth a try. His passing to MV forwards could be lethal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tms4kC5GYgA

https://www.goal.com/en/news/live/transfer-news-and-rumours-live/2ni6upe4bgl319oz319y21fv8

Seems like the final piece of the puzzle - must admit, on paper, Kurz has assembled an excellent squad.

squad is starting to look very impressive now. but I still have concerns about not having the time to gel. we've lost any chance of challenging for the premier’s plate in recent years due to slow starts. i can see it happening again. 

Victory secure midfielder Migjen Basha

Melbourne Victory has today bolstered its midfield with the signing of experienced Albanian international Migjen Basha on a two-year deal.

Basha, who has 33 caps for his country, joins the club after spending last season with Greek outfit, Aris Thessaloniki.

His signing completes Victory's international allocation for the 2019/20 season.

Head Coach Marco Kurz was delighted to welcome another experienced player in Basha, noting the squad was almost now complete.

"I'm very pleased to add another international with such experience to our squad," Kurz said.

"Given he has played at the highest level domestically I believe he will be a strong leader amongst the group."

"With midfielders Jakob (Poulsen) and Kristijan (Dobras) having also arrived, we're really pleased with the talent we've managed to add ahead of round one."

Born in Switzerland, Basha started his professional career with hometown club Lausanne before moving to Italian side Lucchese during 2005-06.

After a spell with Viareggio, he played for Rimini, Frosinone and Atalanta, making 23 appearances as the latter won Serie B in 2010-11.

Sent on loan to Torino, Basha helped them earn promotion from Serie B the following season, later making that switch permanent.

He spent four seasons at the club before returning to Switzerland with Luzern, only to make the move back to Italy with stints at Como and Bari prior to joining Aris ahead of the 2018-19 season.

Basha most recently played for Albania during Euro 2020 qualifying in June, having made his international debut in 2013.

He will join the squad next week and begin training pending a medical clearance.

What position does he usually play?

-PB

DM

He's our Valeri replacement, in CV terms.

This so much. As a club we get pretty much everything right,  until its time to assemble the squad

Besart Berisha is rumored to be linked to the Nix, Do you guys think he will do ok for us as a main striker not a bunch warmer?.

FVS FB posted a pic of Kruse training apart from the group today. So may be getting him ready for rd 1 following whatever latest injury / niggle he has

He's definitely been training by himself for a couple of weeks. We might just be easing him in and not wanting to risk him in friendlies.

Just avoiding some hack park footballer from kicking him too hard perhaps - still, I would've liked to see him get some minutes on the park.

That said, Elvis is in such excellent form that I'm okay with him starting the season as one of the wingers (with Nabbout on the other wing and Toivonen up top), bringing Kruse on for the last 20 or so to run at tired defences.

i am obviously a city fan but i hope kruse tears the league up this season and silences the critics 

Did I miss something lol?

Archie shilling for WU?



-PB

(Cries in Melbourne Victory)

Victory players will have a say on captain, as new coach Marco Kurz looks to fill the Carl Valeri void

Melbourne Victory players will have input as they draw closer to appointing their fifth ever captain, who has the task of filling the gaping leadership hole left by Carl Valeri.

Victory’s captains are perhaps the A-League’s most revered, with since Kevin Muscat became the club’s inspirational inaugural skipper in 2005, followed by fellow Socceroos-capped trio Adrian Leijer, Mark Milligan and Valeri.

New Victory coach Marco Kurz, who has rotated the armband in pre-season, revealed that the players will select the leadership group before he and assistants Filip Tapalovic and Carlos Perez Salvachua anoint the new skipper.

Veteran Leigh Broxham, who wore the armband in the FFA Cup, and star Swedish striker Ola Toivonen loom as favourites, while Socceroos duo Andrew Nabbout and Thomas Deng and talented German import Tim Hoogland have also led the side in pre-season.

“I will give the players the time to vote (in) the leadership group. Out of this group I will decide which one is captain,’’ Kurz told the Herald-Sun.

“The leadership group (will be) four experienced players and one young boy. This group will represent the players’ thoughts in front of the club and coaches, and to be close to the coaches."

“Now in the pre-season games we have changed the armband. We’ve had Broxy, Ola, Deng, Hoogland (and Nabbout).”

Victory has rounded out its off-season recruiting, adding visa midfielders, Austrian-Croatian Kristijan Dobras, 26, and Migjen Basha, 32, who’s been capped 29 times by the Albanian national team, while left-back and 2013-14 Victory medal winner Adama Traore, 29, returns.

Dobras is sharp, creative attack-minded midfielder with an eye for goal, while Basha is a classic aggressive defensive midfielder, and straight swap for Valeri.

Hmm interesting. Not a clear and obvious choice there, IMO. Broxy is good in terms of being around the club for so long, but not a guaranteed first 11 player. Ola could be good, would be a big change in terms of historically being Aussie midfielders/defenders.

I think Ola would make a great captain. No nonsense, good with the media and inspirational to the team.

Yep agree. Certainly no shrinking violet.

DFS says you guys have two major announcements tomorrow. i am guessing one is announcing your captain 

Would love to see brox get the armband.  He has shown loyalty and longevity.  To those who say he isn't an automatic starter.  He has proven everyone wrong

He's been an automatic starter in the past, but only when other players have been out injured for extended periods. Credit to him, he always grabs the opportunity with everything he's got and does what is asked of him, but as soon as there is competition for his preferred spots he loses out. Not saying he won't start any games this season, but he's definitely not a guaranteed starter. I'd be very surprised if he is captain this season.