Mariners Squad - HAL 12 - 2016 - 2017

[Ancient Mariner]

Roy makes great runs. He MUST have the best service we can buy him if he's going to have the season we all suspect he can.

This more than anything else.

 

[dibo]

I'm wondering if Fab isn't also on his way out.

 

[FFC Mariner]

I'm wondering if Fab isn't also on his way out.

There were a lot of rumours about his agent trying to get him a move to Europe. That seems to have died down.

Fraudsleys comments about work rate imply that he has decided that flair is out.

 

[dibo]

Maybe he's worked out that having a 7 who doesn't defend is a luxury we can't afford (see - irony!) and he might have to get him to, y'know, do some work.

If I could work out what we're actually trying to do on the park then that'd help in understanding what the plan with Fab might be.

 

[Rowdy]

If I could work out what we're actually trying to do on the park then that'd help in understanding what the plan with Fab might be.

If you or anyone does figure it out, Tony asked if he could be cc'd. asap.

 

[FFC Mariner]

#DiboIn

 

[Rowdy]

Dodd doesn't regard Mariners as 'losers' after Victory player swap deal:

Former Australia midfielder Travis Dodd said while he would prefer the services of Mitch Austin ahead of Connor Pain, he doesn’t regard Central Coast Mariners as “losers” in the player swap deal with Melbourne Victory.

“I like the way Austin played last year,” Dodd toldThe World Game.

“He and Pain are very similar players, but Mitch Austin was, I think, more productive in his output and he’s certainly an exciting player.

“I think playing under Kevin Muscat at Melbourne Victory will certainly help him progress to new levels.

“I don’t know what the ins and outs of the deal were, whether Austin was going regardless, and it was a take it or leave it proposition for Central Coast or they had to negotiate hard for Connor Pain, but they do get something in return.

“If Central Coast didn’t see that as a benefit, I can’t imagine they would have accepted that. No club is going to take a player just for the sake of it and no club in the league is in a position to give players away as handouts.

“Central Coast clearly see benefit in getting Connor Pain. He didn’t get a lot of game-time last year, and has the potential to go forward with his career again now.

“Victory are going to see it as a win for them, but I don’t regard Central Coast as ‘losers’ over it. I think Victory have had the bigger win, but I believe there is some degree of potential there for both parties involved in the swap.

“I’m sure that if Central Coast had their way they would have kept Austin, but they got something out of it in the end that they can work with.”

Austin and Pain are both wingers - Austin is bigger and more physical, while the smaller Pain probably has the better control when he runs the ball.

Austin played enough games for the Mariners last season to trigger a second year in his contract.

Central Coast could have refused to release him, but presumably reached the stage in their thinking where they didn’t see any value in keeping a player who didn’t want to be there.

But the club obviously made sure they negotiated with the Victory to get a like-for-like player in Pain, who hadn’t started many games for Kevin Muscat's side in recent years due to the presence of stars such as Kosta Barbarouses, Fahid Ben Khalfallah and Archie Thompson in the front-line.

Barbarouses and Thompson have now left the club, but the Victory clearly preferred Austin to Pain when it came to filling the vacancy.

“Austin was one of the few shining lights for a struggling Central Coast team, so I can certainly understand why they wouldn’t have wanted to let him go,” Dodd said.

“But if a club like Melbourne Victory comes knocking and you’re at an under-performing club, it’s a hard one to knock back.

“They’re always a chance of winning the championship and playing Asian Champions League, so for Austin it’s a step up and an opportunity for him to advance his career.

“I don’t know what the conversations there were between Pain and the coaching staff at Victory about what sort of future he had there, but Central Coast probably presents an opportunity where he’s going to get regular game-time again.

“Sometimes you’ve got to look at your options and figure out what’s best for you, and for Pain it may work out that he gets more game-time and it improves the future for him.

“Central Coast may have finished bottom of the table, but that creates opportunities for new players to go there and do something.”

 

[Rowdy]

Agree with most of what Dodd say's except he hasnt taken into consideration or isnt aware of Austin's shite overall attitude.

And because of that, we got the smooth end of the stick.

CCM .......... Winning!
(Coming soon to a cinema near you)

 

[FFC Mariner]

If you want to play 433 which actually becomes 451 when you don't have the ball you need people who work hard and track back.

Bye Austin and Fab unless it's at 10

 

[Big Al]

You can get away with one useless defender (fab) especially with his attacking ability. At the end of the day you have to score to win and only Fab and O Donovan look like scoring.

With Austin gone Fab is a must keep.

With a more solid midfield of Tavares and Monty we could have got away with both but with just one we can definitely afford to carry that lack of defending. Especially due to the want of TW to counter via the wings.
Fab also works quite well with Roux, Austin didn't have that connection or ability to use the fullback.

Fab must be retained IMO

 

[pjennings]

You can get away with one useless defender (fab) especially with his attacking ability. At the end of the day you have to score to win and only Fab and O Donovan look like scoring.

With Austin gone Fab is a must keep.

With a more solid midfield of Tavares and Monty we could have got away with both but with just one we can definitely afford to carry that lack of defending. Especially due to the want of TW to counter via the wings.
Fab also works quite well with Roux, Austin didn't have that connection or ability to use the fullback.

Fab must be retained IMO

Agree with the bolded bit but disagree that Fab must be retained. If you get a choice of someone comparable in attack, even a slight step down, that also harasses the defenders like Roy then Fab pales in terms of value to the team.

For all that Fab and Mitch offered in attack last year - they also offered a cheap passage back to put the team under constant pressure. You can probably get away with one as you said, with two pressing, but our attack last year was also a major problem in our defence.

 

[Wombat]

I think Fab must be retained.
The only Midfielder we have left that can score goals.
Probably the only decent penalty taker we have as well.
We lack quality and Fab is our most polished player.

 

[Gratis]

I'm for Ferriera remaining. He doesn't have the stamina of some but in a more polished machine he can be very effective and I believe he would defend better due to greater economy of effort.

Hope there's nothing to this rumour.

 

[Gratis]

Nothing in this really - but had a reassuring conversation with a guy I know in Melbourne who is in sports management and scouting who congratulated us on signing Pain. Says he sees him as one of the most underrated players in the league - fast, technically skilled and a good reader of the game. Given a chance to play regularly he thinks he will go to another level and thinks we well and truly won out in this deal.

Little more than an opinion I know but still enjoyed hearing it

 

[dibo]

Let's see if he steps up.

 

[yorkshireman]

I was told a few months ago that Fab wanted out to go back to Portugal as he was homesick?!? It was brought up along side Austin wanting out. There must be some substance to the rumours BUT as of yet no official grumblings and you'd have thought something would have been reported somewhere by the Mariners "loving" press.

Hopefully all just a misheard comment by someone and we are all worrying over nothing.

 

[Rowdy]

The following article (highlighted) shows that CCM could have easily had an AFC Champions League 'Player of the Tournament' as our GK this coming season instead of a guy who hasn't played a competive game in more than a year.

Glory leading Mark Schwarzer chase:

Perth Glory and Sydney FC have emerged as the two front runners for the services of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who is set to return to Australia in the A-League next season.

Both clubs are in desperate need for goalkeepers, with Ivan Necevski departing the Sky Blues after almost a decade of service and Jerrad Tyson leaving Perth to join the Western Sydney Wanderers, while Ante Covic was released and is still looking for a new club.

Sydney FC board member Phil Wolanski has been trying to talk Schwarzer into joining him at the Sky Blues but it’s understood Perth are prepared to offer first-team football, with Sydney already having that role filled by Vedran Janjetovic.

Wolanksi has a close relationship with Schwarzer, having acted as the Socceroos’ head of delegation until the arrival of Ange Postecoglou.

Both clubs are hoping to exploit the revitalisation of the “guest player” rule, which may be extended to an entire year - something the FFA has looked into in a bid to bring Tim Cahill to the A-League next season.

Incredibly, Schwarzer has been part of the past two English Premier League-winning clubs, Chelsea and then Leicester, but did not play a single league minute for either club in each of the years they won the title.

Schwarzer did play in three League Cup matches this season but could not repeat his famous penalty heroics of 2005 in the fourth round, where the Foxes bowed out to Hull City 5-4 on penalties after the match was tied at 1-1.

Age still appears no barrier to Schwarzer, who will turn 44 in October, making him by far the oldest player in A-League history should he happen to continue his staggering 26-year professional career, which began way back in 1990 with the Marconi in the National Soccer League.

The record is previously held by Brazilian legend Romário, who was 40 years and 320 days old when he took to the field for the final time as part of his four-game guest stint with Adelaide United in 2006.

Although Schwarzer was the understudy to Leicester City’s first-choice Kasper Schmeichel during his two years at the King Power Stadium and the Danish international afforded his back-up the highest praise possible.

“He’s a phenomenal professional,” Schmeichel said. “You look at him, he’s 43 now, and the physical shape he’s in is incredible for someone that age. The way he trains every single day is an example to everybody.”

He was also given similarly high praise when he left Chelsea by then-boss Jose Mourinho.

“As a goalkeeper, when we needed (Schwarzer), he was there for us,” Mourinho said.

“And as a person and a professional he was an amazing guy in our group.”

 

[Rowdy]

That's all great, but what if Covic doesn't want to play for us or is otherwise unavailable?

No surprise there with Covic released especially with his repeated statements regarding his need to find another NSW club to reunite with wife & kids who he's been seperated from for over a year.

We could've had him for cheap too.

Covic is a known, whereas Necesvki, who 'hasn't played a single minute in over a year' ..... is quite CLEARLY an unknown.

Still think Ivan's a dumb, naive signing.

 

[dibo]

Doesn't mean he wanted to sign for us. We can't conscript him.

 

[Rowdy]

Doesn't mean he wanted to sign for us.

Lets look at his options then,

WSW: Poppa's not going to do a turnaround & resign him after cutting him acrimoniously.

SYDFC: Have Janjetovic as there #1after a solid season last, talk now chasing Schwarzer as well. Can't see Arnie signing someone like Covic, more so Danny Vukovic if Perth fail to land Schwarzer.

NEWC: Have a quality Keeper in Mark Birighitti & talk of former Perth Glory jnr Jack Duncan returning from overeseas club Randers.

Covic started off his HAL career at the Jets, would they resign him as a No.2 to finish off his career? With a new owner & Lawrie now at the helm, Vuka would stand a better chance of a gig there with LM 's influence/past link.

That leaves the MARINERS or
............. UNEMPLOYMENT!

Covic's said he still wants to play & believes he has 2 maybe 3 seasons left in him.

CCM desperately needs experience & most importantly stability between the sticks for the next 2 years.

Not naive speculation.