Is Besart Berisha the final piece of the Western United jigsaw? What impact will he have for the Hyundai A-League newcomers? Will he even start for Mark Rudan’s men?
There’s plenty of questions to ponder following Berisha’s signing for Western United on Saturday…
1. Will Berisha be first choice?
Despite Berisha’s legendary status in the Hyundai A-League and the respect he will immediately command in the United dressing room, there’s no guarantee he’ll be the first name on the Rudan’s team sheet.
Berisha has not played a single minute for J-League outfit Sanfrecce Hiroshima this year, and managed just six substitute appearances off the bench without scoring following his signature from Melbourne Victory in July 2018.
Former Caltex Socceroos striker Scott McDonald has looked sharp in pre-season, while Apostolos Stamatelopoulos – who signed from Adelaide United – has definitely staked a claim to start United’s Round 1 fixture against Wellington Phoenix after scoring three goals in pre-season friendlies.
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2. What will he bring to the club?
Is Berisha still the Hyundai A-League’s arch-marksman? Only time will tell if the naturalised Australian citizen can replicate the searing heights he hit with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.
But regardless of his ultimate contribution on the pitch throughout the campaign, the capture of the four-time Championship winner will give the new kids on the block an immense boost ahead of their inaugural campaign.
His mere presence in the United squad will be galvanising, and his experience of Australia’s top-tier, the players and stadiums is close to unparalleled.
Crucially, he brings 116-goals worth of scoring impetus. Western United’s front line – consisting of McDonald, Stamatelopoulos, Connor Pain, Valentino Yuel and Thiel Iradukunda – have just 17 Hyundai A-League goals between them.
3. What role will he play on the field?
Although United have utilised a 5-3-2, or a variation thereof throughout pre-season, Rudan’s men are still an unknown quantity prior to 2019/20 kick off.
But could a strike partnership between Berisha and one of McDonald or Stamatelopoulos be in the offing for the league newcomers?
That would represent something of a new role in the Hyundai A-League for the veteran forward, who customarily led the line on his own for Roar and Victory.
However, Berisha showed that he could evolve his forward play during the second half of his spell at Victory, and few would doubt his ability to gel effectively with his new teammates – no matter the composition of United’s frontline.
4. When could his first game be?
Despite landing in Melbourne two weeks shy of United’s Round 1 clash with Wellington Phoenix – and not featuring for Sanfrecce in 2019 – you would expect Berisha to be in the running for United’s inaugural match day squad to travel across the ditch.
The club face Perth Glory in Round 2, Melbourne City in Round 3 – but it is a Round 4 meeting with Victory on November 2 that fans, players and coaches around the competition will be highlighting in red pen.
FIXTURES: Where you can see Berisha in action for the Hyundai A-League’s newest club
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5. What reception will he receive against Victory?
Berisha crowned his legacy as one of, if not the greatest Hyundai A-League player of all time with Victory. He won the FFA Cup 2015, the Premiership and Championship double in 2014/15 and signed off with the 2017/18 Championship.
While Victory fans will no doubt mourn his signature with their new cross-town rivals, what kind of reception will the Navy Blue faithful have in store for Berisha when and if he arrives at Marvel Stadium in Round 4?
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