Mariners Squad 2022/2023

[LG__]

Love some insight into the dressing room right now. And people to tell me talk me off the ledge and give me their thoughts on how we're going to make it happen this year. (Beyond expecting 8 youth players to have a break out season.)

Max as our 21 year old captain is a pretty massive call. He's made me a fan, but it still scares me in what it says about the lack of other leaders in our side. 1200 odd minutes at A league level is around 13 full games worth of experience... Unless he speaks like a young Julius Cesar I can't think of another side Max would get a look in at this stage of his career. In all honesty he'd be fighting just to get a start at most clubs.

From what I've seen so far, Ruys, Beni, Cum Dog and Kuol are our best players... (though happily Silvera impressed against Canberra and I'm a big believer in Dan Hall) But in central midfield, I think we're in trouble both creatively and in physicality... And our backline - how can you know? Feels like it really could go either way right now...

So much change, so much youth, not the squad expenditure at all expected...

Massive wraps to Monty if we look the goods this year. Certainly a man of his own convictions.

Strongly agree with this, I’ll always be behind the team but I feel like there are too many unknowns at the moment, hope Monty and Serge can keep working their magic

 

[Big Al]

Did you miss Burgess running riot in the cup game, I would love an O'Shea, Burenguer, Piscopo, O'Neil, Ninkovic, Isaisa just to mention a few tried and tested midfielders in the A league.

Whilst I rate Niz his attack and scoring ability is not in the same realm as most of the group mentioned above. Balard and Steele haven't shown enough in their short A League careers as yet. Bozanic was a scoring option for us last year, not replaced.

Cup game was very early in the preseason with a make shift CB pairing and a midfield that wasn’t the usual fluidness. Also we will have games we get torn apart but not every week.

some of those you have named are quality but are getting old and some of them are not pure mids but more Attacking mids or wings.

No one will rip us apart on a regular basis.

Remember we kicked on after Bozanic even though I wasn’t a fan of him not playing and think someone of his experience is required to make us title contender.

Can’t believe i am sticking up for a midfield I didn’t trust last year

 

[Corsair]

There is a hell of a lot riding on Kelechi John, if he's not where we need him to be or gets injured we're going to be in big trouble. The mids are young but improving, what will save them is our extremely potent attack. 5 or 6 players that can score at any time, sides will need to be cautious against us. We'll be very dangerous on the break which is difficult to play against.

 

[Allreet?]

Let’s see who the captain is once the season starts. Danny would/should take that role.

Depends on what sort of captain as well. Is he a game captain as he is the best thinker in the side and then there is more a club captain like a Matt Simon who has the pull when they are off the field or at the pub etc.

I (for one) don't like keepers as captain - too far from the action and can't lead by example (to other on-field players).

I expect all keepers to do plenty of talking (like a secondary captain) but they can't talk in the final third. Someone else from the spine ought to be captain.

 

[Allreet?]

There is a hell of a lot riding on Kelechi John, if he's not where we need him to be or gets injured we're going to be in big trouble. The mids are young but improving, what will save them is our extremely potent attack. 5 or 6 players that can score at any time, sides will need to be cautious against us. We'll be very dangerous on the break which is difficult to play against.

Pretty much my view. If we get the ball into the final third we'll score goals, but I would like us to be resilient at the back and able to hold the ball in midfield.

If we achieve that we'll win a lot more than we lose. I am fairly confident of a good season - mostly because of my faith in Monty.

 

[true believer]

lots of speculation about the new season .
i think ,outside of nizzy being fit .
the season swings on Kelechi being fit and the enforcer we lacked with the loss to stens .
as well the return of moresche ,who before he got hurt . was well on the way to giving us an up front presence with jc .that was tittle winning .

 

[FFC Mariner]

I think by the end of the season we will see that Kuveski is a step up from Miller in the RB position.
Big call, but you heard it here first.

Absolutely. Miller can't defend. Kuveski can

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Given our club has pretty much turned into a shop front, is the elevation of Max as captain an attempt to increase his value? No basis for this comment. Just a thought.

Had also wondered. My dark side fears it may be as much about Monty's own comfortability as it is Max's leadership inside the group. But also baseless supposition that may be very unfair on Monty. But it's an appointment that can't help but make me nervous.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

The thing with natural leaders, is they dont need an armband to lead

sometimes giving the armband to a player that it will boost can be as effective as giving it to a general type player (hutcho) who will bring the best out in those around him

i see Ballard as the captain of the young boys, the leader for the kids to aspire to and follow, and the older guys in the squad will all lead as a group to help the younger guys on, Monty obviously sees leadership in Ballard and just maybe, he thinks the captaincy will bring Ballard to another level

Interesting take. That's why I opened my post with wishing In could have some insight into the dressing room right now... would like to know if this is true. Unfortunately I don't see a lot of natural leaders in our squad. But I do know we lost 4.

 

[FFC Mariner]

I think we have a settled and professional squad full of hard working footballers who are a very tight group. We will be fine

The kids coming through will go 3 ways - up, out or stay. As they stay we begin to build 100/150 game players who are CCM through and through.

The ones who are sold fund the club for the next crop.

 

[Wombat]

^^^^^^
PJ

With the lost of both Rowles & Miller, our backs seem weaker time will tell...

Biri V Danny given Danny's age .... ????

We have two senior players in Cummings and Danny... somehow I don't see Cummings as a team leader... hhhmmm to harsh.... not in the same way as say Urena...

I think we will do well and not expecting a return to the wooden spoon days... however that other squads have strengthen is reasonably clear...

I only saw a 20 min Cameo from John against weak opposition but I was impressed. If he is the player I suspect he might be, then he will be a better player than Kye. Let me judge again on Sat.

Also I have a feeling Aqualina is going to be a far better player than some people on this forum think.

 

[Coastalraider]

Another visa player on the way!!!

 

[Michael]

Another visa player on the way!!!

???

 

[Coastalraider]

Peil broke it on the pod. Just waiting in visa approval.

no word on what it was but it was lightly hinted you need to future proof for players you expect to leave - so maybe a replacement for Faz or Garang?

 

[shipwreck]

Yeh he kind of spilled the beans that it's because someone is leaving right? That's how I interpreted it anyway.

Have we already announced Kaltak? It's not him is it?

 

[Allreet?]

Would hate Garang to leave right now - expecting great things from him this season.

The Euro transfer window closes in 17 minutes and he'd be great business for someone.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Not all have closed just yet

 

[Michael]

Some euro countries window closes around the 3-4th of September

 

[Corsair]

Yeh he kind of spilled the beans that it's because someone is leaving right? That's how I interpreted it anyway.

Have we already announced Kaltak? It's not him is it?

I don't think he has been announced formally so maybe that's it.

 

[shipwreck]

I don't think he has been announced formally so maybe that's it.

Wouldn't surprised me because Peil is evidently obsessed with physical specimens, if you're strong in the gym, you have his respect.... So yeh, I feel if Kaltak hasn't been announced it will be him. ?