The Melbourne City Gazette
Squad12 Sep 2033
Marley Leuluai damages knee ligaments — 49 days out
The words a physio says slowly. 49 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.
Market12 Sep 2033
Kane Wood puts it in writing
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Melbourne City, and it is not being withdrawn.
Market12 Sep 2033
The Central Coast Mariners deal is off
Everything was agreed until it was not, and Ussumane Djabi reports back to Melbourne City with a summer to forget. Neither club is saying who walked away from the table.
Squad12 Sep 2033
A falling-out at Melbourne City
Eyong Ofem and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Market12 Sep 2033
Alex Thomas steps up from the Melbourne City academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Alex Thomas has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
Market12 Sep 2033
One of our own: Jesse Cummings joins the Melbourne City first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Jesse Cummings is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Squad12 Sep 2033
Liberato Nelson signs a new deal
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Liberato Nelson commits to Melbourne City for another 5 years.
Squad12 Sep 2033
The formation has left Eyong Ofem behind
Every shape has positions in it and this one does not have his. Melbourne City will either change the shape, change his job, or change his club, and he is waiting to hear which.
The dugout12 Sep 2033
Anthony Pantazopoulos is still being punished for one mistake
Nobody will confirm it and the team sheets confirm it every week. One error has bought him a spell as second choice that is already longer than the error deserved.
In brief
- The dugout Patrick Patterson gets it from the manager
- The dugout Ussumane Djabi has become a man the manager trusts
- The dugout Lucas Scott asks for a word with the manager