Victory in crowd

September 19 2014

Shepparton News

Melbourne Victory first-team mainstay Leigh Broxham enjoyed a short visit to Shepparton this week.

Broxham and several teammates, including fellow senior player Andrew Nabbout, attended McEwen Reserve for the Goulburn North East Football Association under-17 grand final and said he enjoyed the break from training and the quality on display.

‘‘We try and get out to these communities and into regional areas when we can, so it’s always good to come out,’’ Broxham said.

‘‘The (soccer has) been good too, it felt like a long game in the heat, but it’s been good to get out here.’’

Speaking ahead of Victory’s FFA Cup trouncing of Canberra side Tuggeranong United, Broxham said the A-League powerhouse club was in good shape ahead of the new season.

‘‘We’re just trying to create a winning mentality and win every game we play,’’ he said.

Victory has been doing just that.

The 6-0 triumph against Tuggeranong — in which new signing Besart Berisha netted a hat-trick — is the latest in a string of preseason victories, including wins against fellow A-League sides Adelaide United and Perth Glory.

The preseason is senior coach Kevin Muscat’s first with the side after taking over from Ange Postecoglou in October last year.

Broxham said Muscat was moulding the club in his own image.

‘‘It’s his first full preseason, so he’s been implementing some things and his own ideas and he’s brought in his own signings as well,’’ Broxham said.

‘‘I think it’s been exciting for him and so far it’s going well.

‘‘He’s been doing a good job, so I think were in a good place for the new season.’’

Broxham said it was obvious Muscat had learned a lot from his time under Postecoglou as assistant coach, despite the changes.

‘‘He’s his own person, but he’s learned from Ange and taken a bit from him,’’ he said.

‘‘He’s changed the formation a bit and bought his own players, but it’s a similar philosophy.”

The additions of Berisha, ex-Socceroo Carl Valeri, French- man Matthieu Delpierre and most recently Australian-born Mac edonian international Daniel Georgievski has excited the camp.

‘‘He’s gone and got some quality players and quality people, and I think they’re the sort of players we were missing last year,’’ Broxham said.

‘‘They’re not just good players, they’ve got proven histories and they’re winners and they’ve come here to keep winning.’’