Mariners Squad - 2019-2020

[style_cafe]

You could be right ... but its the same part of the world...

Tell that to a Serbian...

 

[pjennings]

I actually think we will have a few defensive visa player signings, a CB and a RB and a DM. We just cannot afford to ship goals at the rate we have for the last 5 years. Last year we let in 70 and our 5 year average is 58 conceded. Five of the top 6 last year let in 32 or less so we are basically concede a goal a game on average and close to a goal and a half last year. We will not compete unless we can stem that flow. Adelaide finished 4th by resting goals against to 32 and only scoring 6 more goals than us.

If we sign those 3 with McGlinchey still here that only leaves one visa spot - a choice between a CAM and a striker. My vote would be for a CAM come second-striker. I think we will have to rely on this player to score a lot and create a lot for Murray.

So with those 4 and an new keeper we then have 2 or 3 extras to sign. Assuming Oar comes good that is a good option on the left. We then need to match him on the right. McGlinchey night have to be the cover for the LW, SS and RW. Simon cover for Murray. Then we probably need cover for LB and RB. If DDS goes I would sign another young CAM to cover the visa CAM/SS.

I don't think this year will be pretty - but I think with the right recruitment(no crocs and in the right areas), a better fitness regime and pre-season, better coaching and structure and improvements through fitness to players like Oar we will be a lot harder to beat. Then we have to hope that what I think will be the single offensive visa player can deliver in goals and assists.

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

I actually think we will have a few defensive visa player signings, a CB and a RB and a DM. We just cannot afford to ship goals at the rate we have for the last 5 years. Last year we let in 70 and our 5 year average is 58 conceded. Five of the top 6 last year let in 32 or less so we are basically concede a goal a game on average and close to a goal and a half last year. We will not compete unless we can stem that flow. Adelaide finished 4th by resting goals against to 32 and only scoring 6 more goals than us.

If we sign those 3 with McGlinchey still here that only leaves one visa spot - a choice between a CAM and a striker. My vote would be for a CAM come second-striker. I think we will have to rely on this player to score a lot and create a lot for Murray.

So with those 4 and an new keeper we then have 2 or 3 extras to sign. Assuming Oar comes good that is a good option on the left. We then need to match him on the right. McGlinchey night have to be the cover for the LW, SS and RW. Simon cover for Murray. Then we probably need cover for LB and RB. If DDS goes I would sign another young CAM to cover the visa CAM/SS.

I don't think this year will be pretty - but I think with the right recruitment(no crocs and in the right areas), a better fitness regime and pre-season, better coaching and structure and improvements through fitness to players like Oar we will be a lot harder to beat. Then we have to hope that what I think will be the single offensive visa player can deliver in goals and assists.

Great post Pj, for me the most important part is making a team that is hard to beat and break down. We have conceded the most goals year on year, that needs to stop.

Oar is capable of being the best Australian in the league, with the right pre-season behind him. He is already contracted and we can't afford to be getting in new players in positions where we have half decent options, especially when those options have plenty of upside.

Build a good defence plus a team capable of counter attacking and we have a chance.

 

[Wombat]

Last season was wide open.

Perth were excellent.
Sydney were Ok.
City and Victory were passable on a good day.
The other teams were basically f**king shit.
Not making the 6 last season was pretty hard to do.

 

[turbo]

I actually think we will have a few defensive visa player signings, a CB and a RB and a DM.

Where are you thinking GG will play? I do agree that we need to stop leaking goals but for a significant chunk of Okon's season we were 4th for least goals conceded, unfortunately we couldnt score in a brothel and we know how things went after that so there needs to be some balance. If we're trying to grind out games and not scoring it's going to look like the same old mariners and that's not going to get people back on board. No need to go front heavy but we really need a reliable striker or at least someone who is creating chances and grabbing a few themselves.

 

[localpom]

I’m going to have to disagree with that reasoning JP. I like Murray but it’s incredibly risky to pin our hopes on him, likewise assuming a fully fit Oar will carve up the 10 role. The left wing has opened up and that’s where he looked best for us so far. Simon should not be a starting player and would be lucky to get anything beyond a bench gig at a handful of clubs. That he’s supposedly paid very well is a display of the ineptitude of our previous recruiting. Would anyone be surprised if he ends up playing NPL after his contract expires next year?

We can’t afford to be thinking best case scenarios for players, we need to be realistic and that means a new lead striker and attacking mid/playmaker.

Roy? Possible.

 

[pjennings]

Where are you thinking GG will play? I do agree that we need to stop leaking goals but for a significant chunk of Okon's season we were 4th for least goals conceded, unfortunately we couldnt score in a brothel and we know how things went after that so there needs to be some balance. If we're trying to grind out games and not scoring it's going to look like the same old mariners and that's not going to get people back on board. No need to go front heavy but we really need a reliable striker or at least someone who is creating chances and grabbing a few themselves.

I was thinking of GG as a CB next to a visa CB. As for scoring we need to score maybe 10 or 15 more goals. As I said I am relying on "Assuming Oar comes good that is a good option on the left. We then need to match him on the right" and " my vote would be for a CAM come second-striker. I think we will have to rely on this player to score a lot and create a lot for Murray".

I think Murray will be better in his second season, a proper professional pre-season under his belt and better service and am relying heavily on the CAM come second striker.

The following season with Simon and McGlinchey off contract we will have more room to move.

 

[turbo]

By extension then I'm assuming you're thinking to push Rowles left and benching Clisby? Or benching Rowles depending on how much you want your backs getting forward.

Another possibility is they both carry over from their spots last year, add a visa CB to organise them and you have GG playing RB with the ability to slide in to CB or DM if form, injury or suspension requires shuffling players. Would need a backup RB possibly from our NPL trialists, but with a focus on the defensive stuff not the attacking stuff Millar did well.

We had supposedly signed Ingham which would probably be our RW if true. Majok if confirmed could be another striker backup or RW option.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Majok is not the striker you are looking for....

I'd back Simon over him, he is rubbish

 

[turbo]

I'd back Simon over him, he is rubbish

He would definitely be at the bottom of the list, if we've gone after him then I'd imagine it would be primarily for cover on the wing. Even then I question if its money well spent. With talk of recruiting less players not just filling out with squaddies for the sake of it there seems to be some emphasis on players who can fill multiple roles like I've mentioned with GG and Rowles above. Cheaper to give someone like Majok 80k than to pay 50 and 65 for two squad players. In theory it makes better use of limited bench space too.

 

[pjennings]

By extension then I'm assuming you're thinking to push Rowles left and benching Clisby? Or benching Rowles depending on how much you want your backs getting forward.

Another possibility is they both carry over from their spots last year, add a visa CB to organise them and you have GG playing RB with the ability to slide in to CB or DM if form, injury or suspension requires shuffling players. Would need a backup RB possibly from our NPL trialists, but with a focus on the defensive stuff not the attacking stuff Millar did well.

We had supposedly signed Ingham which would probably be our RW if true. Majok if confirmed could be another striker backup or RW option.

I am thinking that Clisby will start with Rowles as a cover CB. I am hoping that as least one if not both of the bolded rumours are not true - just agent talk. Given 21 players, that Staj talked about, with 13 signed we can only sign 8 (9 if DDS is not here).

That is the 4 visa players I identified earlier, a keeper, back up LB and RB, a backup RW and a backup CAM/SS.

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

Roy? Possible.

Roy has gone to Brisbane.

 

[turbo]

Fair enough, I think between Rowles and Clisby left back is sufficiently covered and if a major injury was to occur we'd be able to bring someone in for depth. Lack of signing news is frustrating, it seemed like we had a few that were done deals ready to be announced based on what was said at the forum. With memberships open, preseason starting soon and FFA cup 6-8 weeks away you'd hope we get some news sooner rather than later.

 

[localpom]

Roy has gone to Brisbane.

Guess the Fowler factor was a biggie.

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

I am thinking that Clisby will start with Rowles as a cover CB. I am hoping that as least one if not both of the bolded rumours are not true - just agent talk. Given 21 players, that Staj talked about, with 13 signed we can only sign 8 (9 if DDS is not here).

That is the 4 visa players I identified earlier, a keeper, back up LB and RB, a backup RW and a backup CAM/SS.

I don't think Clisby is starting A-League quality, he's a versatile back up but that's about it. We need a specialist left back from the NPL or to go after Dylan Murnane. Clisby is an alright back up in a pinch but there are far better Australian left backs available in the NPL or NYL.

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

Guess the Fowler factor was a biggie.

Apparently getting a big pay check too.

 

[Antlion]

I don't think Clisby is starting A-League quality, he's a versatile back up but that's about it. We need a specialist left back from the NPL or to go after Dylan Murnane. Clisby is an alright back up in a pinch but there are far better Australian left backs available in the NPL or NYL.

I basically agree but think Clisby is serviceable as a starting player in a quality side. A risk in a low quality side.
aaaaand I think we all know which camp our side will probably fall into.

 

[Antlion]

Roy has gone to Brisbane.

Thank God

(see what I did there?)

 

[turbo]

I basically agree but think Clisby is serviceable as a starting player in a quality side. A risk in a low quality side.
aaaaand I think we all know which camp our side will probably fall into.

I think with the way we re-signed Rowles and Clisby early we’ve shown our hand on who we expect to play on the left side of a back four if that’s the formation we run. That said if one of them has a patch of terrible form we would start looking at sliding Rowles over/dropping him and seeing how GG or Tongyik looks in the middle. But if Staj can get us back to preseason Clisby and he gets some confidence he could prove some doubters wrong.
Given our limited funds I can’t see us doubling down on that part of the pitch.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

By extension then I'm assuming you're thinking to push Rowles left and benching Clisby? Or benching Rowles depending on how much you want your backs getting forward.

Another possibility is they both carry over from their spots last year, add a visa CB to organise them and you have GG playing RB with the ability to slide in to CB or DM if form, injury or suspension requires shuffling players. Would need a backup RB possibly from our NPL trialists, but with a focus on the defensive stuff not the attacking stuff Millar did well.

We had supposedly signed Ingham which would probably be our RW if true. Majok if confirmed could be another striker backup or RW option.

I think the above defensively is fairly likely.

My money would be on a visa CB, DM, CAM, CF or RM.

I think with a quality visa CB, better keeper, GG, The Clisby of the later games, an ever improving Rowles who now has proper guidance and Staj’s obviously better organisation - we’ll be a lot stronger at the back. But we need more depth still.

So where do we get PJ’s 15 extra goals from.

Well I guess we have to breakdown where most of our goals did come from...

Simon 7
Pain 5
O’Neil 4
Hoole 4
Murray 3
Anyone else 1

I like Murray but I’m not as confident as most seem that he will become a 10 plus a year striker next season. Nothing I’d like to be more wrong about. And I’d give him better odds than Matty doing it. If he can, it’ll more likely be season 20/21 than 19/20.

But let’s say he at lest gets very close, and Murray replaces Matty as our starting striker and then betters Matty’s 7 goals scoring 9 and tripling his tally of 3 in 22 last season. As long as Matty or back up striker scores at least 3 to cover Murray’s previous contribution, We now have a +2 on balance. So 13 goals left to get.

When you look at our goal scorers, the glaring deficit there which I’ve been banging on about for years is the absence of a quality goal scoring CAM. A player you would hope would score 5-8 (and a bunch of assists that helped swell Murray’s tally to 9)

8 goals from a talented CAM would go a fair way to getting PJ’s extra 15. But I think O’Neil has done well for a DM and we cannot expect that contribution from his replacement and Hoole arguably scored 2 while playing as a 10.

So I’m going to say we’re now at +8 goals.

7 to score.

Let’s say Oar can not just match Connors 5 goals but have a stellar season and better him by st least 2 as well. (Or Maybe the other LM scores a couple and he even just matches Pain)

5 extra to score.

Hoole scored 2 as an RM technically. So for the sake of this exercise, unless we’re getting in a goal scoring CB like Patty Z, (unlikely) or DM (possibly) we need 7 goals from our RM’s.

So for mine we either need a European player/ RM with the technical edge to cut through this league and score 7. Or a visa striker who is a serious step up on Murray and could score at least 12. Making our requirements from RM to be back to 4.

It’s a pity we have weemac. A visa RM and a visa Striker seems wise.

But as it stands, given we already have 3 strikers on our books, and the extra cost of strikers, a visa RM probably makes more sense.