Melbourne Victory trialled a modified midfield system in their behind-closed-doors friendly against Central Coast with new signing Oliver Bozanic playing a more advanced role.
With Socceroo coach Ange Postecoglou watching on, Victory deployed Bozanic in a more advanced role as a second attacking midfielder alongside Gui Finkler in Monday’s hitout.
It left Carl Valeri in the holding role as the third midfielder in Monday’s 3-0 win over the Mariners at AAMI Park.
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It mirrors the current Socceroo formation with Jedinak or Milligan at the base behind two more forward 8s (such as Rogic, Mooy or Luongo) in a 4-3-3 formation.
Victory coach Kevin Muscat was reportedly happy with the experiment and his new signing.
“He [Bozanic] gives us a different dimension without doubt, and we’re still working him through some fitness stuff to get him up to speed as quick as we can,’’ Muscat told the Herald Sun.
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“He [Bozanic] likes to get forward… but it does give us another option depending on how the game’s going, what the score is at a particular time. He’s a fit boy and he gives us a different dimension because he wants to get into that final third.
“It actually created a lot more space for Gui.”
Bozanic played for 62 minutes. Besart Berisha scored twice and Daniel Giorgievski grabbed a third in a 10-minute second half blitz.
Victory face Adelaide United next week in the Westfield FFA Cup quarter final at AAMI Park.
