Mariners Squad - HAL 11 - 2015/2016

[pjennings]

Liverpool legend Luis Garcia completes move to The Central Coast Mariners

Lee Thomas-Mason for Metro.co.ukSaturday 16 Jan 2016 9:37 am
Former Liverpool forward Luis Garcia is back playing after signing a contract with A-League side The Central Coast Mariners.

Garcia recently dusted off his boots to play in a Liverpool Legends against an Australian XI, and finding the net was clearly enough to convince him not to officially hang up his boots despite not playing competitively since leaving the Indian Premier League.

The Champions League winner, who will turn 38 at the end of the season, has signed a short-term deal to bolster Tony Walmsley’s squad until at least the end of the current campaign, a statement read.

‘I am delighted to be joining a club like the Central Coast Mariners. This is an exciting challenge for me to play in the Hyundai A-League and with such a progressive club like the Mariners,’ Garcia said.

‘I am really looking forward to being on the Coast, meeting my fellow players, meeting the fans and to entertain them with my style of play.

‘One of the things that attracted me to the Club was the opportunity to share my experience with a young playing group. I am also looking forward to playing football in one of the most beautiful places in the world,’ Garcia added.

Will Garcia be a success in Australia?

• 
  Yes
  
  92%
  
  
• 
  No
  
  8%

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2016/01/16/liverpool-legend-luis-garcia-completes-move-to-the-central-coast-mariners-5626528/#ixzz3xOrAqaDz

 

[VicMariner]

These Liverpools and Barcelonas you talk of what state league do they play for? Melbourne, Sydney, Tasmania?

Everybody knows Liverpool is in Sydney.

 

[pjennings]

Still loved at Anfield - from the Red and White Kop forum

astowell1

• Believer
• 
  
  
  
  
• 
• Posts: 7,469
• Klopp!

Re: Luis Garcia
« Reply #828 on: January 8, 2016, 01:50:11 PM »

Sign him on a six month deal Jurgen, we could do worse!

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=230622.800

 

[pjennings]

NEWS: Walmsley addresses Luis Garcia signing
image: http://www.ccmariners.com.au/di/lib...ia_s1wv0dpi97we1h96z1dupyoo1.jpg?t=1231840130

1/1
Central Coast Mariners Head Coach Tony Walmsley addresses Luis Garcia signing
Saturday, 16 January 2016 -
@CCMariners
Comments
Central Coast Mariners Head Coach Tony Walmsley spoke about the significance of Luis Garcia's arrival on the Central Coast and the impact it will have on the Yellow & Navy.
"The Central Coast Mariners are proud to officially announce the Marquee signing of Luis Garcia. Garcia, the former Liverpool and Barcelona legend will bring to this club an amazing amount of experience and talent which is in line with our core strategy to deliver entertainment to football fans across the Central Coast and the rest of Australia,” Walmsley said.

"Luis Garcia plays an integral part in the development of our young playing group that we see as the future of this club.

"This signing is currently the only globally recognisable marquee player in the Hyundai A-League for this season so far.

"The Mariners are committed to leading the way in developing the Hyundai A-League’s global exposure and ensuring an increase to broadcast figures and attendances for the remainder of this season

"We would like to formally thank all of the sponsors who helped us take this next step towards becoming the most entertaining, innovative and community minded sports brand in Australia.

"In particular, the massive support from our locally based major sponsor Masterfoods, Rebel Sport, our shorts partner Universal LED and Westfield Tuggerah.

"This kind of support shows that as we continue to gain momentum with our corporate partners we will be able to achieve some fantastic results.

"We also put the call out to all potential partners and supporters to get on board and join IN with us on what is going to be a tremendous second half of the season. Garcia’s arrival presents some huge commercial opportunities for potential sponsors out there and to ensure that his arrival grows into the success it deserves, we need more corporate support to sustain this success for the remainder of the season.

"Whilst we proudly wear the current tag of being the Hyundai A-League's smallest club we also want to confirm our commitment to the region and playing our role to significantly grow Football in Australia,” Walmsley said.

Walmsley credited Central Coast Mariners Owner, Mike Charlesworth for his commitment to the Yellow & Navy.

“The owner, Mike Charlesworth has been incredible, he saved the club and has taken it from it’s knees so without him the Mariners doesn’t exist anymore,” Walmsley said.

“He has done an amazing job and for him to give everybody in our organisation the opportunity to embrace this and work with this is fantastic.

“We get battered from pillar to post as the little Club that couldn’t but we’re getting there and this is a testament to Mike's vision and I’m really proud to be here. This time last year I wasn’t expecting to be Head Coach of the Mariners and certainly wasn’t thinking about leading this team with Luis Garcia in it.

“This is a watershed moment for the organisation and I’m proud of Mike Charlesworth for what he’s done for the Club to keep us going the way he has and this is something for the whole league.

“We’ve got marquee players in the competition and some of them are playing really well but a true marquee for me is Luis Garcia and he’s playing for the Central Coast Mariners,” Walmsley said.

Luis Garcia's first match in Yellow & Navy
Saturday 23 January 2016
Match: Central Coast Mariners vs. Western Sydney Wanderers
Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEDT)
TICKETS: http://bit.ly/1UiW3AI
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505
Radio Broadcast: 96.3 Coast FM
Twitter: Join the match conversation using #CCMvWSW, #CCMFC & #GarciaIN


Read more at http://www.ccmariners.com.au/articl...mdifmr8o5fqe10focnxemgxek#SLPDlkOd8XlfUrQ8.99

 

[Big Al]

Hey Tony

Change of game plan.

What ever Luis wants we do

 

[sydmariner]

we could do worse!

They signed Balottelli didn't they

 

[pjennings]

Tony certainly keeps on message

Central Coast Mariners Head Coach Tony Walmsley spoke about the significance of Luis Garcia's arrival on the Central Coast and the impact it will have on the Yellow & Navy.
"The Central Coast Mariners are proud to officially announce the Marquee signing of Luis Garcia. Garcia, the former Liverpool and Barcelona legend will bring to this club an amazing amount of experience and talent which is in line with our core strategy to deliver entertainment to football fans across the Central Coast and the rest of Australia,” Walmsley said.

"Luis Garcia plays an integral part in the development of our young playing group that we see as the future of this club.

"This signing is currently the only globally recognisable marquee player in the Hyundai A-League for this season so far.

"The Mariners are committed to leading the way in developing the Hyundai A-League’s global exposure and ensuring an increase to broadcast figures and attendances for the remainder of this season

"We would like to formally thank all of the sponsors who helped us take this next step towards becoming the most entertaining, innovative and community minded sports brand in Australia.

"In particular, the massive support from our locally based major sponsor Masterfoods, Rebel Sport, our shorts partner Universal LED and Westfield Tuggerah.

...

"We also put the call out to all potential partners and supporters to get on board and join IN with us on what is going to be a tremendous second half of the season. Garcia’s arrival presents some huge commercial opportunities for potential sponsors out there and to ensure that his arrival grows into the success it deserves, we need more corporate support to sustain this success for the remainder of the season.

 

[Wombat]

It's a bit funny......that we are going to teach the HAL about Marquee players and how to promote the HAL.
Still Mikey has pulled his head out of his arse.....and I'm very grateful.
I'm expecting us to sell those extra 4 season tickets this week as all the hub cap steelers hear about Garcia.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Still Mikey has pulled his head out of his arse.....and I'm very grateful..

Yeah. Feel the same. MC has really stepped up.

Which is exciting, and also relieving as it really does demonstrate his genuine intent.

Huge well done to Shaun and all the others who would have worked very hard to make this happen.



Now to sort our football out

 

[Rowdy]

I'd say some big money from Masterfoods has been contributed.

Maybe they'll capatilize on Luis playing and do a 'sauce line' for him.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

 

[pjennings]

Things are moving quickly so another summary

Outs

Gone
Fitzgerald
Caceres

Going Jan ??
Sim - Malaysia ??
Kalik - Hajduk Split ??

Going betwen now and end of season
Heffernan

Ins

Signed
Bray
Stella
Buhagiar
McDonald
Garcia

likely
Fletcher
Hersi

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Shaun confirmed today that Hersi is coming for a medical and fitness tests, and if it goes well we should be signing him. So it is beginning to take shape. Pity Roy is suspended.

 

[scoober]

You can't underestimate the amount of exposure the Luis Garcia signing has for the Mariners. The news is on all the main feeds and tabloids in England, every single Liverpool Supporters club in every single country will have it on their feed.

It is a big deal for us and a very positive one too, hopefully commercially Shaun can make it really work so in time when luis has left a lasting legacy MC decides who's our next big marquee! (The exact reasoning MC said on the podcast was if a marquee was commercially viable he would get one).

 

[Gratis]

This is awesome. We have some very capable players and talented youth but have been missing the experience to coordinate it on the park, to make key plays and decisions at key moments. All of a sudden...

Think how much more space Fab and Austin are going to have with Garcia pulling strings and drawing defenders in the middle. Stella appears to be well worth his contract and I'm looking forward to more. Then Hersi coming on against a tiring defence. It may take a few games to come together but the 2nd half of this season should prove a dammsite better than the first half!

 

[Spacks]

Hopefully the younger everton players take notice and like what they see!

 

[Big Al]

Well Wombat I hope you have read Tony's sales pitch. We need sponsors to pay for him.

Might be a few stalkers who follow him for a massage. My wife included. She thinks he might take Fab's title but wants a look in person of course.

Hope we can capitalise.

 

[Big Al]

Time to go to harbour bridge climb and get a set of those harnesses and clip Kalik and Stella to Garcia. You don't unclip yourselves until his contract expires.

Time to tell Kalik ok you threw a tanty. Stop hanging out with the anti CCM crowd, come back home and work hard and we bought you a new homework tool. Learn everything you can and hit the gym

 

[rbakersmith]

Major props to Andrew Nealon:

Luis Garcia joins Mariners: How cash-strapped Central Coast landed former Liverpool star
January 17, 2016 6:00pm
CARLY ADNO The Daily Telegraph

JUST how did the cash-strapped, bottom-of-the-table Mariners pull off the A-League coup of the season by luring former Barcelona, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid star Luis Garcia to Gosford?

A glowing character reference from none other than Steven Gerrard sealed the deal, but the ball was set rolling by the club’s physio Andrew Nealon, who spent two seasons from 2010 working at Liverpool.

Asked to get hold of Garcia through his Liverpool network, Nealon, who worked with the Australian Legendroos during their exhibition match against Liverpool Legends, was suddenly given a direct line to Garcia.

“I got in touch with a good mate of mine, the head physio over there (at Liverpool), and asked how we could go about trying to make contact with Luis,” Nealon said.

“He just texted me back his number.

“Last Monday night, I literally cold-called Luis in Madrid and explained who I was, said we had a few mutual friends at Liverpool from his and my time there and explained a bit about our club and what makes it such a great place to be.

“I said we had a bunch of young players and we could do with his guidance on and off the pitch.

“He didn’t say no, which was quite surprising.”

Garcia, 37, then gave Nealon his agent’s details and Nealon passed those on to Central Coast coach Tony Walmsley, chief executive Shaun Mielekamp and owner Mike Charlesworth.

They worked tirelessly to sort out the details but, understandably given Garcia’s age of 37, and the fact he’s been retired for two years, they requested one more favour from Nealon — a character reference.

“I got in touch with Steven (Gerrard) and asked him his thoughts,” Nealon said.

“He couldn’t speak highly enough of Luis as a guy on and off the field and emphasised that once we make the point to Luis that part of his role is to be a mentor to what is a very young squad and provide that guidance, he thought that would really make him far more likely to join us.

“I asked Steve for a few lines and he sent me a text speaking of Luis’s character.

“The message described Luis as a top professional, a great lad and everyone will love him. He couldn’t think of anyone better to be a mentor.

“I forwarded it on with the words, ‘Will this do?’ And it came back, ‘Yeah, it should do’. That just gave them (Charlesworth, Mielekamp and Walmsley) the confidence to take what was really a pie-in-the-sky idea and make it reality in a really short space of time.”

Less than a week later, and with the financial help of the Mariners’ major sponsors Masterfoods, Rebel Sport, Universal LED and Westfield Tuggerah, Garcia is on his way to Australia and may even feature for the club against the Wanderers this weekend.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#load-story-comments

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Pretty amazing story. Love how down to earth and connected our club is feeling. TW's skypes, MC going on the Podcasts etc. There's a lot to like about what they're doing. Love Luis to work out. If he's a great guy, then one way or another, I'm sure it will.

Austin looked pretty pissed heading straight down the tunnel the other night... Garcia as a mentor is one of the best possible things you could imagine happening for him right now. The youngsters in particular must all be wrapped.