Lia’s got Merrick on side

A change in coach always causes a degree of anxiety for players.

But Phoenix midfielder Vince Lia had more reason than most to feel a bit toey when it was announced that Ernie Merrick was coming to town.

Merrick signed Lia — then one of Australia’s rising stars — at Melbourne Victory in 2005.

Lia made 17 appearances in 2005-06 but just seven in the championship-winning 2006-07 campaign.

Merrick released him to join the Phoenix for their debut season and Lia is the only foundation player still at the club.

And his pre-season uncertainty is now a distant memory; under Merrick he has started all 11 games this season and has had more touches (734) than any other Phoenix player.

‘‘When a new coach comes there’s always that bit of ‘is he going to like me?’ regardless of whether you’ve had them before,’’ Lia said ahead of tonight’s bottomof-the-table visit to the last-placed Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park.

‘‘But we got along pretty well in Melbourne.

‘‘I think he is the right man for the job and it’s great that we finally got him a win.’’

Lia has played 117 games for the Phoenix but he is not adored by the fans in the same way fellow centurions Paul Ifill, Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund are.

He has limitations as a footballer – just two A-League goals to his name – and under Ricki Herbert his job description was midfield destroyer.

But the 28-year-old has undeniably expanded his repertoire in his second stint under Merrick.

Instead of just passing backwards or sideways he is distributing effectively to the strikers and No 10 Carlos Hernandez.

And Albert Riera’s assured work as the screening midfielder has freed him up to get forward.

‘‘I agree, I think I have improved under Ernie,’’ Lia said.