Without a doubt there would have been a great sigh of relief from everyone involved with the club as the Phoenix climbed back from the jaws of defeat to grab a deserved draw against Melbourne Victory today.

In the three Brazilians, Ross Aloisi and in flashes Smeltz and Old there seems to be almost enough talent to make the side competitive this time around. In particular, if the luck that saw Smeltz's late header take a wicked deflection into the Melbourne Victory net for the equalizing goal continues. But doubts still remain about the quality of several of the players and in particular Ferrante and Christie in midfield who both consistently gave the ball away too easily and on many occasions showed a real lack of composure and surety on the ball. Maybe in time as they settle into their roles this will come and they will add some guile and thought into a workmanlike and uninspired middle of the park where the players starting today looked just too similar for my liking.

Despite the good result today I am left with this question - Will this team improve as the season goes on or when the energy and effort that comes from it being the first day of the new season subsides will be wondering how Riki Herbert ever thought he could be successful with a team that has a midfield full of battlers.

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