Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick is keeping an open mind about whether to ‘rest’ the club’s first-choice ‘keeper Glen Moss for Saturday’s assignment at Suncorp Stadium against Brisbane Roar.
Despite the Victory’s second-placing on the A-League table, Moss has conceded more goals so far this season, 22, than any other ‘keeper in the competition, and there’s pressure from several quarters for the club’s No.2, Mitch Langerak, to be given a go.
That’s a prospect that Merrick, speaking after training at Monash University on Thursday, declined to rule out.
“There’s a consideration for all players at this stage of the season … everybody’s position,” said Merrick.
“If you look at what clubs do internationally, there’s a time that, even key players at the back, centre-backs and midfielders get dropped, and I think it’s no different for the goalkeeper.”
“I’ve never believed in rotating too much but I’ve never ruled out giving anyone a rest given that there’s 27 rounds and we’re only halfway through.”
“It’s a consideration for all players.”
Merrick said he didn’t believe the fiasco surrounding Moss’s suspension from the New Zealand national side which has jeopardised his prospects of playing at the 2010 World Cup, had any bearing on his form this season.
“We’ve played 14 games and we’re second-top in the league and Glen has been a major part of that,” Merrick said.
“We sometimes tend to forget that.”
The Victory squad’s been bolstered by the return of Nick Ward and Robbie Kruse for Saturday’s match while left-back Evan Berger will travel as a standby for Surat Sukha.
Sukha was scheduled to fly direct into Brisbane from Bangkok with his club and international team-mate Sutee Suksomkit after both were involved in Thailand’s back-to-back Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore.
Suksomkit scored in Thailand’s 3-1 win in Singapore on Saturday and played in Wednesday night’s 1-0 loss in Bangkok while Sukha was rested for the second match.
“Evan Berger will be available if Surat’s not available, he’s knocking on the door now,” said Merrick.
“We’ve got good depth and ability to rotate people around.”
Merrick said he had the greatest respect for new Brisbane coach Ange Postecoglou who will be desperate to capitalise on his team’s breakthrough 2-0 win over Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium.
“All teams initially respond well to a change, that’s fairly factual,” said Merrick.
“In the long-term it really comes down to the ability of the coach and Ange’s a good coach, I’ve worked with him in the Under-20s so I know how he coaches and he’s doing a pretty good job.”
