Mariners set for bright Future

[midfielder]

Article in the SMH about the Mariners future... All good stuff ...

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/optimism-as-mariners-set-course-for-bright-future-20100817-128ic.html

Optimism as Mariners set course for bright future

Michael Cockerill

August 18, 2010

CENTRAL Coast Mariners are in the process of shaking their ''unfashionable'' tag and, when the dust settles, new chairman Peter Turnbull believes the club with a reputation for over-achieving will be one of the most successful and stable in the country.

It has been a frenetic six months for the Mariners following their worst season but, just two rounds into the new term, pessimism has been replaced by optimism as enormous progress is made on and off the park.

A revamped Central Coast side has an early share of the competition lead, there are signs the crowds are on the way back, and Turnbull is hailing new boss Graham Arnold as ''the best coach in the country'' and remains confident the club's $40 million Centre of Excellence at Tuggerah will eventuate regardless of the outcome of this weekend's federal election.

''These are exciting times for the club, no doubt about it,'' said Turnbull, a property developer who has been major stakeholder for the past four years. ''The first five years of the A-League have been a roller-coaster for the everyone, not just the Mariners, but we're confident that the programs we're now putting in place are here to stay. The foundations were started by Lyall Gorman [former Mariners shareholder and now the boss of the A-League], and we've built on them. We intend to be a strong club, a successful club, for the next 50 years. That's what it's all about.''

Arnold has rebuilt the side, which slumped to eighth last season, bringing in nine new players and focusing on an evolution of style. The early signs are encouraging - a win and a draw in the opening two rounds - and while the attacking side remains a work in progress, the impending inclusion of Argentine playmaker Patricio Perez after his fitness problems should be a catalyst. It's also likely the Mariners will sign an attacking guest player before Christmas.

Locally, the word is out that the Mariners are working to become more entertaining, and last weekend's crowd of more than 8000 for the visit of Adelaide United was a significant show of faith.

''We thought it was a good crowd for a Sunday afternoon, when a lot of local catch-up games were being played,'' Turnbull said. ''We've handed out 4000 junior memberships, and it showed us that our community initiatives are working.''

Turnbull has been impressed by Arnold's enthusiasm for his new job after a decade working with the national teams. ''We know we've got the best coach in the country - he's the perfect fit at the perfect time,'' Turnbull said. Arnie is going to prove how good he is this season.''

But perhaps the most crucial factor in securing the club's future is the Centre of Excellence. The Labor Party has pledged $10m towards the project, while the Liberal Party last weekend dipped its toes into local football by pledging $3m towards an upgrade of nearby Pluim Park.

 

[bikinigirl]

. hmm, an attacking guest player before Christmas ???

 

[Atomic]

What are the rules on guest players? How long can they play with us?

 

[pjennings]

What are the rules on guest players? How long can they play with us?

Clubs can now sign a guest player for up to 10 matches, and they can play in the finals provided they have played four matches in the regular season.

The guest player is also exempt from the salary cap.

Ideally we would get a high profile attacking player to play 2 sets of 5 matches.

Dec 22
Dec 26
Dec 31
Jan 9
Jan 12
all at home

then the final round at home on Feb 13 before a possible 4 games in the final series.

This maximises the chance that there will be an increase in home crowds and also gives us the player for the final series. Whether this is legal or able to happen logistically - who knows.

 

[midfielder]

It's also likely the Mariners will sign an attacking guest player before Christmas.

Who would you like .. Rooney.... maybe Scotty Mac ...

 

[scottmac]

Who would you like .. Rooney.... maybe Scotty Mac ...

I can confirm that the mariners have approached me as a guest player. I will more than likely be taking the role of lard arse and grass slider as my own and taking it to a level not seen before on the Australian Football scene.

 

[nero]

Love the idea of a guest before xmas. Bar season 1 and 3 the team seems to lose its way by NY and having a player come in might pick the team up. Alosi did a great job till the finals season 3. Lets hope that a guest can do the same.
very excited!!!

 

[shipwreck]

Agree, we do seem to go through the three-quarter season LUL and our position on the ladder always suffers, bringing in some fresh talent such as a marquee for only a few games could definitely prevent that and also increase crowds leading into our consistently highest attendance match, NYE

Imagine timing a farewell game to an excellent player for NYE, or even his debut?...mmmmm

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

At the risk of raining on this parade...what sort of player is going to be available for guest stints?

We're probably looking at someone who not only is no longer good enough for Europe, but is not fit enough to play a whole season in a "lesser" league. Brian Deane may be interested.

Aloisi worked out but his was an unusual situation.

Having said all of that, fingers crossed we get someone good!!!

 

[scottmac]

At the risk of raining on this parade...what sort of player is going to be available for guest stints?

We're probably looking at someone who not only is no longer good enough for Europe, but is not fit enough to play a whole season in a "lesser" league. Brian Deane may be interested.

Aloisi worked out but his was an unusual situation.

Having said all of that, fingers crossed we get someone good!!!

I,ve been trying to think who it could be and all I could come up with was 1 name.

Obviously the Mariners will want a guest to be able to play well but also draw a crowd during the peak season so that of the back of his being there we are firing as a team and playing to packed stadiums.

Theres only 1 Australian name that i can think of that will be off contract that has the chance of being able to draw crowds on the Central Coast. The O/S names I come up with would not draw people into the stadium but then this may not be the aim of the CCMFC. It might purely be skill and results based.

 

[fedelta]

Who would you like .. Rooney.... maybe Scotty Mac ...

all the best getting rooney

 

[cbowden9000]

Theres only 1 Australian name that i can think of that will be off contract that has the chance of being able to draw crowds on the Central Coast.

And that would be...?

 

[Nik Mrdjas Disco Bikkie]

Dukes? Pie in the sky would have to be informed first

 

[cbowden9000]

I hear Vukovic is un-contracted

 

[shipwreck]

Been done, what about r griffiths?

 

[bjw]

Emerton?

 

[Jazzie]

Emerton?

I wish B) You never know, stranger things have happened!

 

[Jazzie]

At the risk of raining on this parade...what sort of player is going to be available for guest stints?

We're probably looking at someone who not only is no longer good enough for Europe, but is not fit enough to play a whole season in a "lesser" league. Brian Deane may be interested.

Aloisi worked out but his was an unusual situation.

Having said all of that, fingers crossed we get someone good!!!

Henrik Larsson might like the idea of a little holiday down under ....