Ancient Mariner
Well-Known Member
Wombat you have hit the nail on the head. The team has an absence of quality players.
Yesterday, we played a physical game, bustled Newcastle so that they could not settle and play their normal game. However with the ball we were ordinary. Playing that kind of football is exhausting and just about impossible to do, unless, when you have the ball yourself you keep it and let the opposition chase. We could not do that and hence the 2nd half fade.
The players cannot be blamed, they try but are just not good enough.
If you look at the squad, we have only 5 players of A-League standard, McCormack, Oar, Tommy, O'Neil and Paine. Of those only O'Neil and Paine are getting on the pitch and I suspect O'Neil will be out for a while.
Of the rest their are 2 or 3 who may in the future may come up to scratch.
The rest of the squad is either past it, long term injured or are just simply not good enough.
The top sides in this comp have 4 or 5 players of above A-League standard and probably 10 or 11 players up to standard.
This squad would have to be the weakest that the Club has ever fielded and is clearly the weakest in the League by a long shot. Abusing players for their lack of skill is pointless, they are probably as gutted as the rest of us.
Also, there is no use crying over injuries most of those injured had them when they signed.
If we get a win this year I will be amazed.
Who is to blame?
1) The coaching and management staff?
In terms of getting the players playing well enough to win, I think for the above reasons, that would be beyond the most skilful of staffs. So that would be a tough call.
In terms of recruitment. Most definitely. The recruitment showed a couple of things. MM has been out of touch with the quality of the A-League and the players for too long and he also saw players abilities as they were "back when". Signing players from the past, who are past it, to bring back the CCM spirit was wrong. You sign players that can play and who you can instill that spirit.
Long term injured players, eg Gamiero are a long shot gamble as are NPL players. Unfortunately these make up a lot of the squad.
The only excuse that can be made s that they had to sign a lot of players in a short period of time and many players would not want to come here.
2) The owner?
Clearly all problems over the last few years have come from the lack of investment and MC is to blame.
Is it because MC cannot afford it?
Is it because he would not spend more than the bare minimum to keep the Club afloat until the A-League became independent and he would then invest?
Is it because he is investing the minimum until he finds a buyer and can recover his initial investment?
Only he can answer these questions.
How do we see him?
If he walks away and the Club collapses. I guess we see him as someone who spent a lot of money and tried to save us and failed. "Thanks for trying."
If he sells the licence and a new owner comes in and revitalises the Club. We see him as the saviour who kept us on life support when we needed it. "Thanks, a lot of pain, but we both walk away smiling."
If he sells the licence to say South Melbourne and the FFA allows this. "Thanks for nothing, don't dare show your face on the Coast again, your safety cannot be guaranteed."
If, when the A-League is independent he invests what it takes to have a team that is truly competitive and in with a chance and continues this way. "Welcome aboard, what are you drinking."
How will he jump? Remember he is a businessman.
Whatever happens it must happen soon. Very interesting times.
my apologies to both of you.
