One positive bit of news is that the FFA has agreed to allow Melbourne to sign a replacement goalkeeper on a short-term basis. Alternatively, the club could use Mitch Langerak, with youth team keeper Mijo Marinovic warming the bench.

But news from the UK is that Everton have signed Carlo Nash as their back-up ‘keeper instead of Theoklitos.

Seems Theo isn’t going anywhere just yet.

Voting is now closed. In two of the categories, clear winners emerged, but in the third, it was a very tight race.

Without further ado, here’s who you voted the best Melbourne Victory players in 2007/08:

Best Melbourne Victory Player 2007/08: Michael Theoklitos

Percentage of votes: 22.1%
Runners-up: Sebastian Ryall (19.6%), Rodrigo Vargas (19%), Archie Thompson (16%)
Total votes: 163

While the other two categories both had clear favourites, the award for Best Player proved a much tighter affair. In the end, it was the Victory #1 who earned the most votes, narrowly outclassing Sebastian Ryall, Rodrigo Vargas and Archie Thompson.

With Adrian Leijer gone and Daniel Piorkowski injured for most of the season, Michael Theoklitos certainly didn’t enjoy as strong a defensive cover as last year. But while the team around him was struggling, Theoklitos was in fine form and unlucky not to be picked for any of Pim Verbeek’s Socceroos training camps.

Due to some technological mishaps over at the site that’s hosting the poll, the results for Best Melbourne Victory Player are currently unavailable.

Best Young Melbourne Victory Player 2007/08: Sebastian Ryall

Percentage of votes: 56%
Runner-up: Kaz Patafta (27.3%)
Total votes: 150

Melbourne signed Sebastian Ryall early on in the season to cover the loss of Adrian Leijer and Ljubo Milicevic. In his short time with the Victory, the Under 20s captain has emerged as one of the club’s most exciting young prospects – and, according to you, Melbourne’s best young player.

For a player of his age, Ryall has a remarkable ability to keep his cool in tight places. A solid defender with a capacity to push forward and boost the attack, Ryall also has valuable experience playing in Asia with the Under 20s, experience which is sure to make him better prepared for the Asian Champions League.

Click for the full results.

Best New Recruit 2007/08: Carlos Hernández

Percentage of votes: 48.1%
Runner-up: Sebastian Ryall (27.5%)
Total votes: 131

Carlos Hernández came to the Victory with a bucket-load of expectations awaiting him. He was to be the replacement for Fred, a driving influence behind the twin strike-force of Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp. But Hernández turned out to be no Fred, many fans disappointed by the Costa Rican’s lack of fitness at the start of the season.

In the latter half of the season, however, Hernández started to come into his own. Never the fastest player on the pitch, Hernández is able to engineer attacks through pin-point passes. In his most emphatic performance of the season, Hernández subbed on during Melbourne’s New Year’s Eve match against the Central Coast Mariners, promptly setting up two goals. Concerns about fitness and weight are gone now as fans look forward to Hernández dominating the Asian Champions League.

Click here for the full results.

Only A-League players were picked for the training camp, though Verbeek insists there’s no guarantee that he’ll pick exclusively A-League players for the opening World Cup qualifier against Qatar on February 6.

On his perception of the A-League, Verbeek said:

“I enjoyed every game I’ve seen, the stadiums are fantastic, the crowds are unbelievable.”

“I saw great goals, but I saw also unbelievable mistakes.”

“It’s up to me to find out if the players make that same mistake too many times because then I cannot use them.” (The World Game)

While Archie’s inclusion in the line-up is predictable, Muscat and Vargas are surprising additions. Not that they’re undeserving – quite the contrary. Muscat is the rock-solid heart of the Victory; and Vargas has been one of the few constants in an ever-changing defensive line-up.

That Michael Theoklitos didn’t make it is disappointing. Clint Bolton and Ante Covic are the senior goalkeepers to have been picked for the camp. But Graham Arnold has selected Danny Vukovic, along with fourteen other Olyroos, to train alongside the senior Socceroos. Unsurprisingly, Leigh Broxham and Nick Ward have both been picked as well.

It will be interesting to see how many A-League players will feature in the Qatar match. If he wants any of the European-based Aussies, Verbeek knows he can get them. But since they’ll only be arriving about 48 hours before the game kicks off, a squad made up entirely of the European-based players seems risky – perhaps even more risky than a squad predominantly made up of local talent.

Theoklitos started his career in the old NSL, playing for the Bulleen Zebras and Football Kingz. A stint in England with Blackbool FC was tainted by injury, leading to his fairly speedy return to play in the VPL first for South Melbourne and then returning to Bulleen. In a most memorable moment, he helped Bulleen win the VPL final in 2005 in a penalty shoot-out by saving 3 of the 4 penalties. Perhaps it was that spectacular performance that helped seal the deal when Melbourne Victory came into the picture.

He had a difficult first year in front of him though as Merrick seemingly remained undecided as to who would be better in goals. With two excellent keepers to choose from, Merrick put them on a rotational system, giving them both ample chance to prove themselves. By the end of the season it had become clear which goalkeeper was most trusted to guard Melbourne’s goal. Season 2 has only helped to solidify his position as the Victory’s no.1 .

Lets hope the sounds of “Theo, Theo” ring from the stands for a long time to come.

More on Michael Theoklitos:

• Wikipedia on Theoklitos
• Michael Theoklitos profile on Melbourne Victory’s site
• Bulleen Hero Saves Best for Last
• Victory goalkeeper makes his own history, Herald Sun, November 10, 2007