Harry Ngata: Muscat sees red...again

Kevin Muscat has received five red cards since the 2005/06 season. Photo / Getty Images

Losing your best players either to injury or suspension can have a devastating impact your season. Ask any coach and they'll tell you the same thing more or less.

Rewind back to the Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory clash at Westpac Stadium earlier this month.

The Nix were convincing in their 2-0 victory and I posed the question to Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick in a post match interview if leaving influential captain Kevin Muscat at home had an impact on their performance especially at a critical stage of the season.

He clearly thought it did but emphasized that a player of Muscat's age needs a lot more recovery and down time with a busy upcoming schedule.

Personally I think it had a dramatic affect on how they played. They clearly lacked his experience and leadership qualities and the Phoenix were able to exploit this tactical error. The rest is history.

If you saw the Melbourne derby last weekend you would have witnessed a moment of inexcusable madness form the former Rangers defender. He had already been booked earlier - his fifth of the season and 33rd of his A-League career when young Heart winger Adrian Zahra skipped past him.

Muscat flew in (he was literally airborne) knee high and chopped the unfortunate youngster to the ground. Within a matter of seconds Zahras' season was over and Muscat received his marching orders for the second consecutive game. The minutes following this incident were just as unbelievable. Muscat proceeded to rant and rave his innocence at the referee with no consideration for Zahra who is reported to likely be out of action for 12 months.

Watch the tackle below:

Kevin Muscat has had a dreadful and ugly history of ill discipline that has plagued what has been a very successful career. It was his fifth red card since the 2005/06 season. In his six year A-League stint he has seen red in every season bar two.

Earlier in his career a law suit was filed against him in 2004 by then Charlton Athletic player Matty Holmes. Muscat broke his leg in a horrific tackle in which Holmes required four operations. A settlement in excess of $600,000 was the end result.

Then there was his side line joust with then Adelaide coach John Kosmina in 2006 that saw both player and coach receive suspensions.

There's no doubting his quality as a player both at club and international levels. Every coach would want a player like Muscat in their team minus the Jekyll and Hyde personality. He has since made a public apology to Adrian Zahra and by all reports may even be considering retirement.

However I can't help but feel that the saddest thing to come from all this is the following.

My seven year old son Caleb is football mad. Loves the All Whites and loves the Phoenix. He watches football religiously - EPL, A-League, La Liga you name it. I overheard him jokingly say to his mate at training on Monday night that they were going to practice their slide tackles like Kevin Muscat.

I quickly stomped that notion and gave a lecture on incidents like Muscat's. These guys are role models to the next generation and if I am being honest I wouldn't want the memory of Kevin Muscat in my boy's eyes to be one of sheer cruelty.

He is a quality player. Pity this vivid memory in the mind of a seven year old is one of disgust.

- Herald online