Mariners Squad - 2019-2020

[midfielder]

One can but hope there is some quality in the next signings

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

I am pretty underwhelmed by the signings, but that is to be expected by the amount we are spending I guess. Thought I might try and get my head around them with some pros and cons.

Jai Ingham
Pros:
Has played over 50 games in the A-League.
Spent a season in the NPL with Hume City and fought his way back into the A-League with good performances.
Has represented New Zealand.
Good age.
Very quick and good at providing assists when he is in form.
There aren't many A-League experienced wingers available at the moment.

Cons:
Has only started five games in the past year across all competitions.
Has only scored 1 goal in 52 appearances for Victory in the A-League.
Has only ever started a total of 14 games in the A-League.
Was despised by Victory fans.
Is rumored to be a Mulvey signing.
Big gap between his best and worst.
Been out of form since 2017.

I honestly cannot understand why we signed him for two years, I hope that there are key performance indicators which would potentially allow us to terminate early without a payout, or we could be stuck in another McGlinchey situation. Surely it would have been better to give him a contract that had automatic triggers if he met certain criteria, rather than this? Maybe with starting opportunities he will improve, but I don't know if we can afford to give him that time. On his day he can certainly be a very good player, he more than proved that up against A-League sides with Hume and early in his stint with Victory. With a full pre-season and good coaching from Stajcic, maybe we can get a starting A-League level player out of him.

Abraham Majok

Pros:
Is only 20 and has made 18 appearances in the A-League, including 6 starts.
Very quick and makes good runs.
Tall, young, has "potential" just in his athletic ability.
Has represented the Olyroos and scored 2 goals in 2 games for them.
Our assistant coach, Nahuel Arrarte, knows him well from coming through Westfield Sports High,

Cons:
Only scored 2 goals in 18 appearances (though to be fair two of those games were for less than a minute)
Less goals in NPL 2 than Duncan Stewart or Charles M'Mombwa.
Very poor ball control.
Has missed open goals.

I can see why Majok has been recruited, he has the physical attributes to be a great player, and Arrarte knows him and his abilities probably better than anyone. At the same time we have had a mass exodus from our youth academy and we are struggling to beat relegation threatened sides in NPL 2. But at the same time I really don't understand it, he was honestly pretty poor in appearances for the Wanderers. Yes he managed to get in good positions, but had absolutely no idea what to do when he got there, for our sake I hope he was just overawed. I really want to be positive about him, because I can see that he does have some of the attributes that make a fantastic player, but he is someone that Stajcic, Arrarte and Monty are going to need to focus on if we are going to have him anywhere near the first team.

Samuel Silvera

Pros
Played for the Young Socceroos
Arrarte knows him through Westfield Sports High.
Outside the cap and squad.
Cheap.

Cons
Only played a couple of games for the Wanderers NPL 2 side.

I honestly know nothing about Silvera apart from the fact that some Wanderers fans I have talked to thought highly of him. Good to see we are still doing Scholarships though. These are the sort of players we should be attracting to our club, Joeys to Young Socceroos to Olyroos who need game time. Good to see that the club noticed someone like him wasn't getting game time and made a move.

Danny De Silva

Pros:
Highly rated by talent scouts.
Did well before coming back from the Olyroos for us.
Has played in the Netherlands.
Potentially motivated to save his career.
Played for the Joey, Young Socceroos and Olyroos.
Has played a fair amount of games at senior level and is only 22.

Cons:
Only started five games last season.
Was atrocious in his last game for Sydney FC.
Tried to break his contract.
Does not want to be here.

I think Danny De Silva is a prodigiously talented player, one who can win games and unlock defences, but unless his attitude is right that isn't going to happen. He was abysmal for Sydney in their last ACL game, if he is bringing that attitude to us then we are better off paying out his contract. We cannot afford him to be a passenger this season, he is most likely our highest paid player, and if we can't loan him again then we need him to contribute significantly. He doesn't even look happy in the photo for his "welcome back". Hopefully he realises that this is getting pretty close to his last chance at professional level, and if he thinks we are beneath him then he should be shown that there are further places to fall. Just ask Nick Ward, Kaz Patafta or Andrew Hoole.

 

[pjennings]

Not as unhappy as many here.

If Oar can stay injury free, we have a great winger.

If Da Silva gets his head together, we have a #10.

Both can provide Murray wit the chances he needs to be effective.

Staj rates Silvera and is of the opinion that Wanderer's loss is a gain for us.

Ingham is an improvement on both McGlinchey and Hoole.

Visa signings to come.

I still say get your money on while you can still probably ask for any odds.

While today's signings on the face of them are so-so they were always going to be given what Shaun said yesterday. I think they are still some obvious gaps that will need to be plugged by the visa players. Ingham and DDS will be hoping that they are starting players. Silvera is a project and Majok is still young at 20 and with a good coach may improve markedly.

At Ettalong they talked of 20 or 21 players. That means 4 or 5 players to come. 1 is a keeper - probably an Aussie. So then we have 3 or 4 to come. The visa players I would target RB DM and striker. If we go for the last spot we have to go for qualiy ofr not bother. I'd love the last spot to someone that can cover RB, CB and DM - whether as the final visa player or someone like Milligan, either way they should be starting quality and push someone out of the XI.

——————New———————
New——GG———Final player/Tongiyk——-Clisby
(if signed)
-----------------New———————
Ingham------------------------------Oar
--—————DDS———————
———New——-Murray————

Pearce, Rowles, Shabow, Melling, McGlinchey, Nisbet, Majok, Silvera, Simon and possibly Tongyik

 

[midfielder]

PJ

GG can play as either a 4, 5 or 8 .... IMO one of our better pick ups

 

[midfielder]

If the final say 5 we sign are reasonable quality and DDS can get his head together .... we may be looking at a reasonable side greatly depends on the next few signings.

Rudan last years signed fewer players that he needed and used the money saved to buy quality... maybe just wishful thinking but am hoping for some decent final 4 or 5.

 

[pjennings]

PJ

GG can play as either a 4, 5 or 8 .... IMO one of our better pick ups

I realise that - but at the moment we have one specialist LB and no specialist RB. If the visa RB can also cover LB then another versatile player in the same mold like the one alluded to as the final spot will allow us to cover multiple position from the bench with a single person allowing a more attacking bench.

 

[Holy]

While today's signings on the face of them are so-so they were always going to be given what Shaun said yesterday. I think they are still some obvious gaps that will need to be plugged by the visa players. Ingham and DDS will be hoping that they are starting players. Silvera is a project and Majok is still young at 20 and with a good coach may improve markedly.

At Ettalong they talked of 20 or 21 players. That means 4 or 5 players to come. 1 is a keeper - probably an Aussie. So then we have 3 or 4 to come. The visa players I would target RB DM and striker. If we go for the last spot we have to go for qualiy ofr not bother. I'd love the last spot to someone that can cover RB, CB and DM - whether as the final visa player or someone like Milligan, either way they should be starting quality and push someone out of the XI.

——————New———————
New——GG———Final player/Tongiyk——-Clisby
(if signed)
-----------------New———————
Ingham------------------------------Oar
--—————DDS———————
———New——-Murray————

Pearce, Rowles, Shabow, Melling, McGlinchey, Nisbet, Majok, Silvera, Simon and possibly Tongyik

When you look at that, we have zero impact players on the bench, and not a whole lot of depth regardless of the final signing quality.

We get some injuries in that starting 11 and we are going to struggle.

Very, very disappointing

 

[pjennings]

When you look at that, we have zero impact players on the bench, and not a whole lot of depth regardless of the final signing quality.

We get some injuries in that starting 11 and we are going to struggle.

Very, very disappointing

I think some of that is caused by the McGlinchey and Simon hangover. The rest of players not in the starting XI have an average age of 21. If we had two better experienced attacking options that bench would look a lot better. That wasn't a luxury Staj had since unless they are released by mutual consent they go against our cap anyway.

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Ok first things first. The release of Hoole and Kennedy is massive for us. So happy.

Now we need a keeper, 2 quality visa attacking players and 2 quality defensive players.

That’s four of our 10 starting 11 outfield players.

I think Rowles is battling GG for one CB and think likely Tongyik will be cover for the visa CB we will sign.

Now do they sign a visa DM or RB? I’m not sure. Depends on the options I guess.

I tho m Nisbet has real potential to dictate games. And Melling has been improving and played a few great games in the back half of last season. So maybe PJ’s right and we’ll see a visa RB.

Once we pick up two more visa attackers - I think we’ll be in ok shape - though still not great. As others have said will take another season (and a decent one so everything doesn’t have to begin yet again) before we can truly hope for a properly balanced squad.

This season will really show what Staj can do. No hiding behind the talent at the Mariners.

 

[priorpeter]

Wonder if dds got his brother to put his stuff back in his locker... spineless c**t

 

[Michael]

To be fair to Jai Ingham, Pain arrived here with only 3 goals in 53 games for victory. And from memory was 90% used as an impact player. Like Ingham.
I see Ingham as a more technical player than pain, probably a yard slower but that’s not a bad thing. Being a regular, in the end, made pain grow expenentially. Making even me, one of his biggest criticiser’s (still don’t know what his natural foot is), like him.
So out of the 4 signings I think Ingham deserves the wait and see approach from all fans. Who’s to say he won’t flourish with regular starts/90mins like Pain.
Whereas Majok needs a metric f**k tonne of work and DDS needs an all time attitude adjustment.

 

[Ozhammer]

I don’t see GG as being deployed in the backline, he is the Karajan/Hiariej replacement in my opinion. I thought he played well in that role in the Wanderers midfield, so am keen to see him deployed there for us. This means we clearly need a quality/visa CB to be added to the roster.

I agree with PJ that we need a starting quality RB and another DM, plus I would like to see JVS spring a quality starting keeper on us all. BUT the glaring elephant in the room is the lack of true quality in our striker stocks, which is likely to really hurt us unless it gets sorted.

I really do have mixed feelings about DDS returning, as I had hoped to see Oar play as our #10 given my belief that he will struggle to have the necessary pace/engine to be truly effective on the wing.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

I seem to remember that there was talk a fair while ago of a Korean DM who got in strife with a DUI charge as a possibility. Any news?

 

[marinermick]

I seem to remember that there was talk a fair while ago of a Korean DM who got in strife with a DUI charge as a possibility. Any news?

He is one of them.

From what I understand there will be two Koreans and one Croatian coming.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

I think what we are seeing is what is to be expected as a way of rebuilding the club without an oil rich billionaire owner.

The team is having to be built from the ground up with the emphasis on having a good eye picking up developing or overlooked quality.

The dead wood has been cleared, both in coaching and players.

Add in some quality visa players and there is the possibility of a team punching above its weight, which has always been this Club's method.

This season I expect a mid table finish, close to or just into the 6. There are no quick fixes.

At the end of the year sort out those who have progressed and replace those who have not with more up and comers. There will also be two more major positions open then (Simon and Wee Mac).

On DDS leaving. The culture at the time was very toxic and the Club was a shambles. I can understand him wanting out. He should have handled it in a more mature way. Hopefully he is now older and wiser and Staj can bring out the talent he obviously has.

For the last 2 seasons we kept hearing from players how the dressing room was positive, hopefully when we hear it this year it will be true.

I also hope to see more of Nisbet this season.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

He is one of them.

From what I understand there will be two Koreans and one Croatian coming.

Croatian or Serb? Some here do not seem to understand the difference.

 

[style_cafe]

Just looking at some released players that could be of use and maybe cheap too.
La Rocca- always a tough opponent but visa player DM or CB av price but looking to stay here
Golec- we know he loved it here until he got pushed out by MM LB cover . cheap
Nathan Burns - could Staj resurrect his career. Proven goal scorer, Ex Socceroo maybe worth an incentive type contract
starter or good impact player
Vidosic- experienced midfielder,can score goals, has a aerial presence ex Socceroo av wage

 

[Antlion]

When you look at that, we have zero impact players on the bench, and not a whole lot of depth regardless of the final signing quality.

We get some injuries in that starting 11 and we are going to struggle.

Very, very disappointing

This, no depth combined with the many 'ifs' we have to bank on.
IF Oar stays injury free and plays to his potential,

IF the weak-minded DDS finds his backbone and eats his sour words and deeds, then weathers the inevitable fan lashing at early games, IF he plays to his potential, consistently, and steps up,

IF Murray gets the service and translates that into goals,

IF Ingham can show more consistency than he has to date,

IF our relatively inexperienced backs can get it together in preseason,

IF we remain disciplined and all season and remain relatively injury free...

If if if...and then we may be competitive.
I think Staj has the knowledge and skill to get the best out of players, and to formulate effective game plans.

IF Staj lives up to this and IF the visa signings are the right quality and balance then we might get have a shot at being a mid-table team.

I'm hopeful but definitely not optimistic.

 

[turbo]

Hopefully he realises that this is getting pretty close to his last chance at professional level, and if he thinks we are beneath him then he should be shown that there are further places to fall. Just ask Nick Ward, Kaz Patafta or Andrew Hoole.

I would hope some very blunt conversations have been had between the club, his agent and himself. The way I see things he’s either opted to come back recognising his lack of game time is an issue or no one has wanted to loan or sign him from us. Probably the latter and that should tell him something about his position in the market right now and what he needs to do.
Like you I see some parallels with Hoole and while DDS isn’t as far down the path as he was any future offers will be at a greatly reduced rate and he’ll become that fringe player with potential if he doesn’t turn things around. Eventually people will stop taking a punt on him all together.