Mariners Squad - HAL 12 - 2016 - 2017

[Rowdy]

Mariners keen for capital tests:

As the youth of the nation descend on Canberra for the Kanga Cup, Central Coast Mariners squad members are also gearing up for the season ahead as well as a dalliance with the nation's capital at GIO stadium later this year.

Josh Rose was one of the current generation of A-League players in Canberra with their children for the Kanga Cup and revealed his excitment to Fairfax Media about his side's upcoming A-League clash in the capital.

"It's fantastic," Rose said.

"To have a couple of games here it's something we look forward to and hopefully we can get a good crowd and hopefully a few wins.

"It's a fantastic stadium, so we look forward to playing there. The pitch will be fantastic and to get away from home is always good."

Central Coast will tangle with Wellington at GIO Stadium on December 12, before returning next year on February 5 to take on champions Adelaide United.

Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/mariners-keen-capital-tests#f2v1ydYvhpKu1MtE.99

 

[Big Al]

Saw Fab and Fletcher walking around Tuggerah Westfield today.

Fletcher looked nice and slim.. Here's hoping the tractor has had an engine upgrade. Certainly didn't look any where near the heavy lad plodding along last season.

Here's hoping my glasses where clean

 

[style_cafe]

To be fair to Tony ( I think most of the criticism is unjust), he inherited what he inherited. To compound this he was told by his boss to play an absolutely kamikaze style of play with a squad not capable of that. By the time we stopped the damage was done.Players either not up to it have been let go and allegedly disruptive players moved on. The guys from state league like Sim and Trifiro, who I did like but at their age were not going to add much more, have gone. Players who probably had attitude issues that were disruptive to team morale have gone, Reddy, Bosnar. Players that didn't want to remain at the club have gone, Caceres, Fitzy, Austin. The players that he has brought in have added some quality in Faty, Tavares, Pain. The young players we have now are mostly all capable of reaching greater heights and seem to have a great attitude. Of course, it could all go pear shaped during the coming season but this is really his first season when you can honestly say it is a side he has had a big input in putting together. We still need a quality 10 at least but it looks a decent squad that should challenge for the 6. If we have another bad season then Tony will have to go, and rightly so. Everyone deserves a fair go though and I for one hope he succeeds.

Of course we all want TW to succeed.
Last year was just farcical with the "Entertainment" tag just a cover for us being crap.
My concern for the coming season is that we are told TW is overseas for a scouting mission yet, there has been no positive result.
At least last year we picked up Austin.
This season our pickups are players, discarded by other clubs, that simply want to continue playing in the A League.
Of these players not one has said "I wanted to come to the Mariners to play under TW". which is of great concern.
Although I wish him well for the season, I honestly can`t see us rising too far from the bottom of the League again this season.
In saying that,if we manage to maintain all of the youngsters,we should see a rise in the ladder the following yeart as they gain the necessary experience.

 

[dibo]

Of course we all want TW to succeed.

Unfortunately I don't think that's true. Those that have vowed to not renew their memberships until he goes, for example or those who've decided to go watch the Swans instead.

There are plenty who are pretty happy to cheer on his demise, just as there were plenty who were happy to cheer on Moss's demise.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Long argued that the balance between the clear lack of squad depth/quality, disharmony and tactics were too hard to discern where one problem began and another ended, and so I still wish Tony well, but there are no acceptable excuses now. Player dissent, or we lack enough quality... it's all on him now as far as I'm concerned. He brought them in this time, he's had time, and even if he hasn't had enough dollar support, then he's going to have accept he was too naive, needed to fight harder for $ and has paid the price.

But let's hope there are some good days ahead.

Personally I feel a lot more optimistic about a starting side with Tavares and Pain coming in to bolster our mids - strongly prefer these players over, Caceres and Fitzy. And likewise with Faty for Bosnar.

Have to think players like L.Rose, Bingham, Neil and the rest will all be far better for the year now behind them... and Austin, I seem to be in a minority (outside of MVFC) that think he has ability, but he is not a "team" player or defensively minded - Pain is much better balanced. Overall, we really are in a much much stronger position than 12 months ago as I see it.

So I'm optimistic. Still like a high quality ten. But as time passes have to suspect we'll be seeing a triangle of Tavares, Monty and L.Rose... feeding Fab, Pain and Roy. There are goals and plenty of ball winning and a lot more grunt and control in that side. Bingham and Trent to sub on, with Ascroft or McGing as a utility player on the bench.

It ain't too shabby.

 

[true believer]

I gotta say im happy with what we have .if fatty plays all season without injury then we'll have a positive for and against .
Like wise with tavares .
Pain , fab and roy gives us penatration
And goals .
I believe where one player short of a very promising side .

 

[Rowdy]

At least last year we picked up Austin.
This season our pickups are players, discarded by other clubs, that simply want to continue playing in the A League.

I'm sorry to inform you Style's
..... Mitch Austin WAS a discarded player!

You couldnt be less wanted after being loaned out 4 times to 3 different clubs in a single year.

2013-15 Cambridge United
2013 Cambridge United - 9 games
2014 --> (loaned) Lincoln City - 6 games
2014 --> (loaned) Brackley Town - 5 game
2014 --> (loaned) Brackley Town - 4 game
2014 --> (loaned) Southport - 8 games

& then:
"In May 2015, Cambridge United announced, that Austin was one out of 12 players, who would leave the club in the summer 2015.

Of these players not one has said "I wanted to come to the Mariners to play under TW". which is of great concern.

Absolutely right, to be concerned. But in all honesty what player in their right mind would come out and say "I'm here to play under Tony Walmsley".

If any of them did, that would have me greatly concrrned.

 

[Gratis]

Mitch is being a bitch in the media by the looks

Also Kwabena looks a likely signing

 

[Gratis]

KWABENA Appiah-Kubi is set to return to the Central Coast Mariners for the 2016-17 A-League season.
The 24-year-old, who grew up in Parramatta, is undergoing a medical exam with the Mariners today and could sign with the club in the coming days after knocking back offers from Europe and Asia.
He played with the Mariners in the National Youth League under current Central Coast A-League coach Tony Walmsley before beginning his A-League career with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2012.
Appiah-Kubi has been on trial with the Mariners since June 28 after he finished his 18-month contract with the Wellington Phoenix.
Before joining Wellington, Appiah-Kubi was one of the first players to sign with Western Sydney Wanderers when the club entered the A-League.
He played on the wing with the Wanderers for three seasons and was in Western Sydney’s Asian Champions League final win in 2014.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...s/news-story/88d9d2b94d0752fc2fb81f8c7536cf1d

 

[nebakke]

I'm quietly hopeful about the return of Appiah-Kubi... Everyone here had very high hopes for him, before he went with the Wanderers and, as I recall it, the club was actually suggesting that he wasn't the finished product yet and should be doing another season in the NYL before looking at a senior contract... I think that was TW as well, at that... So I'm thinking he knows what he's dealing with and knows the potential... Hopeful that he'll be able to convert that into something bankable.

As for players not coming here to play under TW... You wouldn't expect that either would you? It doesn't say a whole lot about his abilities either though... He's had a rough season-and-a-half but, if we assume that there's some truth to how hamstrung he's been, I'd suggest that there's a chance he just hasn't really had the opportunity to prove himself yet.
Why would any professional player come running to play for an untried coach, who might be a wash-up?...
I doubt it very many players we targeting MV as their preferred club, when Muscat took over, simply because Muscat is the coach... Indeed I doubt it that a lot of them are going there now to play under him... There are other temptations than the coach that comes into play

 

[Big Al]

Unfortunately I don't think that's true. Those that have vowed to not renew their memberships until he goes, for example or those who've decided to go watch the Swans instead.

There are plenty who are pretty happy to cheer on his demise, just as there were plenty who were happy to cheer on Moss's demise.

I think winning will fix this for Tony as he was a victim of a club with its only direction being save as much money as possible and try to sound entertaining.
If TW where to win the the 1st 5 games attitudes would change.
Unfortunately I don't think he's any good and doesn't really know his best team. Only prob 4-5 players demand a start and 2 of those are yet to show they are here for real and not a cushy pay check by the surf

 

[FFC Mariner]

So we have replaced a player who can run very very fast in straight lines and has no end product with..........

A player who can run very very fast in straight lines etc. Etc

Powell is a quality pick up if true though.

 

[Big Al]

EXCLUSIVE: Central Coast are set to strengthen their attack with the signing of former Wellington duo Blake Powell and Kwabena Appiah.




Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/mariners-land-powell-appiah#Lcshl165wIpGOeEa.99

 

[pjennings]

Those two, without a true #10, actually might give a clue to how we will play this year.

We have 4 CM in Monty, Tavares, Rose and Berry. We have quick players that will track back on the wings in Pain, Trent, Appiah-Kubi and Bingham ( really a striker but has the work ethic and was deployed wide last year).

We have a striker who has proved he can score with service in Roy with backups of Fletcher and Powell. .... and then we have Fabio. Fabio has played as a CF 8 times in the A League for 3 goals. He does not track back well - but in a team with Roy, Bingham and Pain would he need to?

We may be better suited to a 4-4-2 (albeit with speedy wide midfielders) and line up as.

---------------------------------------Ivan/Izzo/THB------------------------------------

Roux/Adelson--------Posco/Ascroft---------Faty/McGing----------Neil/Josh/McDonald

------Bingham/Appiah-Kubu-----Monty/Berry----Tavares/Rose----Pain/Trent

---------------------------Fabio/Fletcher----------Roy/Powell----------------------

 

[Rowdy]

Seriously Bitch Austin?

Article proves "he's nothing but an ego -with a clean pair of heels"

Cares more about that there's 20,000 people in a Stadium watching, but doesn't care enough that what they're watching is rubbish.

As to 'trying to fill the shoes' that Kosta Barbarouses left ???

Austin ain't even a shoelace when it comes to what Kosta can produce on an average day at work.

 

[true believer]

Wow i rated powell after last season .
Appiah has always looked like , with a touch footwork . Could be a very good player . Certainly his pace would at the top10% in the a-league.

 

[Rowdy]

Absolutely CAN'T BELIEVE Walmsley would pass on a 33yo CB with the experience former Australian Youth international Shane Cansdell-Sherriff has, gained at clubs like Leeds United, Rochedale Rovers, Tranmere Rovers, Shrewsbury Town, Preston North End and more recently was part of the recent promotion of English League one side Burton Albion who made the jump from two.

We're in need of another experiened CB, as Ascroft & McGing had periods of 'sketchy-ness' about them at numerous times last season & both still have the training wheels on imo.

You can't tell me that Sherriff will be earning more than $60-$70k at Manly Untd ???

TW could've given him a run in the CC Select game next week !

What a wasted opportunity

 

[Luca Brasi]

Most views here were that we needed a #10 firstly, then another CB to balance the squad. Another striker would have been next priority so I understand the signing of Powell who appears to have come up at short notice after being released for personal reasons from WP. 40 A League appearances for SFC and WP with 11 goals, 25 years old.

Kwabi is left field though, similar age and experience to Powell but no goals (unless you count the one against Izzo in the FFA Cup last year) - we already have 4 or 5 guys in the squad that can play wing. He did play in all but one of WSW ACL matches when they won the final and probably the telling factor is that he played under TW in the NYL championship team of 11/12. Perhaps TW believes he can bring something out in Kwabi that Poppa and Merrick couldnt. Would have been able to get a contract in Asia with his CV and was not signed but made to trial for 2 weeks at CCM first. Apparently right footed but prefers to play on the left.

I dont mind him as a signing as such but my concerns are more with the back four. Happy with Faty and Posco in the centre and the flexible options across the back but last season did not prove Ascroft, McGing or Rose could handle the middle. If Faty gets injured then we are left with the same combinations as last season, hopefully Ascroft and McGing have developed as players. If not, then failing to sign Sherriff or Gallifuoco (both Australian, both off contract) will be a big mistake. Can Tavares play #10? What other options other than Rose jnr do we have there?

http://www.theffacup.com.au/matchcentre/Central-Coast-Mariners-v-Wellington-Phoenix/812681

 

[Luca Brasi]

Article proves "he's nothing but an ego -with a clean pair of heels"

but Austin can play a variety of roles on either side of the attacking midfield or centrally.
Really? All left foot and fast in a straight line, never a #10 with his limited technical ability.

Also
It's probably the intensity in training that I've found [different to the Mariners]," Austin told reporters on Friday.
It's a lot more quicker and sharper and everyone demands a lot more than what I was used to last year.
Cheap shot at Hutch & TW.

At 25, he remains convinced he's not "too old" to have another crack at playing overseas.
The 6th tier of English football is still waiting Mitch.
- See more at: http://www.a-league.com.au/

Comment from Victory supporter
Mitch Austin's interview this morning reminded me too much of Mitch Nichols. Throws a jab at former club and already talking about Europe. Then makes a comment about the weather.

 

[Big Al]

Agree Apia is unnecessary.

Definitely need another experienced back.

I like that Ashcroft and Mcging are looking like not being seen and are in there best spots as injury and suspension cover. Hopefully TW sees this as well.

Massive whole at #10, limits formation flexibility. Need a NPL specialist here just as an option.

Weak at backup LB and RB

Surely must employee a 90min press with this speed upfront but it can't be a one man effort. Needs to work as a team. TW and Hutch worry me here