Central Coast Mariners Squad for 2009/10 HAL Season

[dibo]

interesting bits at the bottom.

Arab raiders plunder A-League for ACL

Michael Cockerill
January 28, 2009
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THE Middle East has emerged as the next frontier for A-League players, with super-rich clubs from Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates preparing to offer huge money for short-term deals to play in the Asian Champions League.

In the past month, clubs from South Korea and China have recruited up to 10 leading A-League players, mostly on permanent transfers. The Middle Eastern clubs are less interested in long-term arrangements and more in strengthening their squads simply for the group stage of the ACL, which kicks off in March.

Believed to be on offer are deals of about $US200,000 ($305,000) for just six games up until June - a huge attraction not only for players, but for hard-pressed A-League clubs which will have their best players back in time to kick-off next season in August. Eleven clubs from Saudi Arabia, UAE and Iran will be participating in the ACL, and the deadline for registering players is February 11.

The sudden Asia-wide interest in Australian players has been prompted by the recent 3+1 rule introduced by the Asian Football Confederation - designed to encourage each club in the ACL to recruit one player from an AFC-affiliated country. Most of the Middle Eastern qualifiers have yet to fill their "Asian" quota and, with the registration deadline fast approaching, they have switched their sights to Australia.

Dethroned A-League champions Newcastle Jets have already suffered from the Asian player raid, losing Joel Griffiths, Mark Milligan, Adam Griffiths and possibly new recruit Nikolai Topor-Stanley in the past week.

If having the having the heart ripped out of their squad wasn't bad enough, the Jets have suffered a further blow, with re-turfing work at EnergyAustralia Stadium forcing the cancellation of a crucial ACL warm-up match next month against Japanese giants Urawa Red Diamonds.

The Jets were hoping to play the 2007 ACL champions on February 22 but were told by ground staff at the end of last week that the pitch would be under repair. Newcastle open their ACL campaign away to Beijing Guoan on March 10. At this stage their only "competitive" hit-out will be a match against fellow qualifiers Central Coast Mariners behind closed doors.

The cancellation also affects Sydney FC, who were also scheduled to figure in Urawa's pre-season tour with a match on February 18, possibly at Parramatta Stadium. The Reds are now staying at home to get ready for the J-League season.

Newcastle are facing a race against time to rebuild in time for the February 11 deadline. Socceroos winger Mile Sterjovski and three Japanese players have been under consideration.

Central Coast are likely to make an offer to Wellington Phoenix today to bring back former player Adam Kwasnik in time to play in Asia and are also set to sign Australian midfielder Shane Huke,23, who has spent the past six seasons in England's lower leagues. Plans to add Northern Ireland international Keith Gillespie to their ACL squad have fallen through.

deadline's february 11, and beggars can't be choosers.

 

[Jesus]

I was thinking while reading on the sydney forum, about their idea that the salary cap needs to be drastically raised, that we will never be able to raise it enough to stop middle eastern clubs from raiding us for players. This loan situation is great though. It allows for top a-league players to gain extra experience internationally, and in asia, great for a-league roos squads, and potential future transfers to europe, as well as giving them a longer season, which helps them develope as players.

 

[Jesus]

The return of the Kwas is awesome. Banner time!

Huke could be a good pickup

 

[typool]

question, is there a time frame that we have to sign players by?

 

[dibo]

three posts up - feb 11.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Kwas, brilliant if true.

89.5 minutes of hands to head and universal shouts of "oh FFS Kwassie" followed by 30 seconds of maverick genius.

He doesnt know what the hells going to happen next so how can the opposition.

A reasonable candidate for cult hero IMHO

 

[Ted]

Those 30 seconds are the vital seconds though.

 

[dibo]

i was prett sad when he left, but could completely understand. better offer = done deal.

now i'm wondering who else is off-contract and might fancy a loan run with us for a few months:

constanzo
adrian trinidad (apparently on his way out of perth)
hyuk su seo?
robbie kruse?

 

[kevrenor]

i was prett sad when he left, but could completely understand. better offer = done deal.

now i'm wondering who else is off-contract and might fancy a loan run with us for a few months:

constanzo
adrian trinidad (apparently on his way out of perth)
hyuk su seo?
robbie kruse?

Song was trying for a contract with Perth, but then was back at Scum. Anyone know if he is in contract. Would useful depth for ACL (as long as you don't want any goals from him).

 

[Omni]

Kwas, brilliant if true.

89.5 minutes of hands to head and universal shouts of "oh FFS Kwassie" followed by 30 seconds of maverick genius.

He doesnt know what the hells going to happen next so how can the opposition.

A reasonable candidate for cult hero IMHO

I would enjoy being the sole member of the Adam Kwasnik fan club again!

 

[typool]

i was prett sad when he left, but could completely understand. better offer = done deal.

now i'm wondering who else is off-contract and might fancy a loan run with us for a few months:

constanzo
adrian trinidad (apparently on his way out of perth)
hyuk su seo?
robbie kruse?

Song was trying for a contract with Perth, but then was back at Scum. Anyone know if he is in contract. Would useful depth for ACL (as long as you don't want any goals from him).

i think i saw that song has 1 yr left on his contract...

 

[Teddy Bear]

The sudden Asia-wide interest in Australian players has been prompted by the recent 3+1 rule introduced by the Asian Football Confederation - designed to encourage each club in the ACL to recruit one player from an AFC-affiliated country. Most of the Middle Eastern qualifiers have yet to fill their "Asian" quota and, with the registration deadline fast approaching, they have switched their sights to Australia.

So where is our Asian player going to come from ??

 

[Bear]

Wellington

 

[dru]

I would enjoy being the sole member of the Adam Kwasnik fan club again!

Depends I was part of the kwassie in midfield fan club, not so much a fan of pretend to be a striker kwassie.

 

[Teddy Bear]

Wellington

Name names

 

[Bear]

Wellington

Name names

Adam Kwasnik. Actually read posts in this thread maybe

 

[Teddy Bear]

Wellington

Name names

Adam Kwasnik. Actually read posts in this thread maybe

Not sure if recruiting an Australian from an Australian club counts?

 

[dibo]

and which confederation are we in now?

 

[FFC Mariner]

Overseas import with an exotic name (well half of it), erratic ball skills, moody, unpredictable genius.

CCM can do it after all

 

[ryan]

How certain is this Kwasnik deal? I for one would love to have him back home.