Recchia cemented at Melbourne Victory

After a lightning start to the 2005/06 season, Melbourne Victory central midfielder Carl Recchia has cemented his spot in the starting XI. James Willoughby caught up last week with the man who put in ‘that cross’.

James Willoughby: G’day Carl, firstly it must be a great feeling to be feeling to be playing in the new Hyundai A-League.

Carl Recchia: It’s a big time in Australian Football, it’s just amazing playing professional football in your home town. It’s been a big step up from South Melbourne and playing with big name players such as Kevin Muscat and Archie Thompson and imports from overseas is just great. We can only learn from them and it’s very positive for us young boys.

JW: What was it like playing in front of 25,218 patrons at Aussie Stadium for the Round One clash between Sydney and Melbourne? Was that the biggest crowd you’ve played in front of?

CR: Yes, it was the biggest crowd I’ve ever played in front of. It was a huge crowd, there was great support for Sydney, and to be honest it was like playing against 25,000 people! But on behalf of the players, our thanks goes to the 100 or so Union supporters who came up and for that we are very grateful. It was a great crowd and a great game to play in, and in the end we were unlucky not to get a win.

JW: At the moment, we haven’t had the success we would have liked on the field, but off the field, things have been going great.

CR: Your right, things are going great off the field. We have got nearly 6,000 members and we hope to get a lot more on board, due to days like that (SEN Membership Day) and great marketing.

JW: Now before you moved across to the Victory, you were with South Melbourne, a club who had great support.

CR: South Melbourne have been one of the biggest clubs across Australia and I was lucky enough to play for them. After the start of the A-League I was fortunate to move across to the Victory and, hopefully we can replicate their support, plus some.

JW: You have started the first four games of the season, and ones of the reasons Ernie Merrick keeps picking you apart from your great form, is your versatility. You seemed to be able to play in lots of different positions.

CR: I was pretty surprised to be in first 11 from the first game against Sydney playing at right-back, and I guess I’ve got to keep doing what I’m doing and keep working hard to maintain my position in the starting side. I’m not really fussed, whether I play as a midfielder or defender, so I suppose Ernie uses me as a utility.

JW: Tell us about that cross ... I’ll set the scene. The Victory, down by a goal to pre-season title favourites Sydney FC, are becoming increasingly frustrated as prolific striker Archie Thompson goes close to the Sydney goal time and time again. Somebody needed to stand up and do something special. Recchia sprints down the right side of midfield and whips in a tantalizing cross, which beats two defenders and Archie is there to head home the Victory’s first league goal. Brilliant.

What was going through your head when you hit that cross?

CR: Well I tried to hit that cross about three or four times, and in the end I got one over the defence and Archie did the rest.

JW: When did you start playing football?

CR: I always wanted to follow in my brothers’ footsteps, because they were playing before I was born, so I got into it and then I started playing at seven. It’s fair to say I have loved it ever since.

JW: Out of all the current squad, who is your favourite player to play with?

CR: It’s a hard one, but I’d have to say Archie Thompson, because he is so exciting and you never know what he is going to do with the ball. A guy like Kevin Muscat is also great to play with, he is a great leader, and always full of encouragement.

JW: What’s the manager Ernie Merrick like?

CR: I had Ernie when I was at the VIS, and he has always been a very attacking coach and he always seems to get the best out of me. I like attacking play, and that’s what Ernie wants, so I suppose we gel pretty well.

JW: This weekend is our second home game for the year, what was the first home match like?

CR: Playing in front of 18,000 Melbourne fans was just awesome, and to for Kev (Muscat) to get the equalizer in the last minute and unlucky not to win, makes the Perth Glory game the greatest I’ve ever played in.

JW: It’s a big game against the Newcastle Jets this Sunday, obviously your hoping that we can chalk up our first win.

CR: It will be a big game, they just came off a 4-0 win against New Zealand, and obviously we are looking for our first win, so it should be an attacking game, and hopefully a big crowd comes out to watch the game.

JW: Thanks very much Carl, and good luck for the rest of the season.

CR: No worries.

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