Mariners Squad - HAL 12 - 2016 - 2017

[pjennings]

I only saw the second half of the select game and he was certainly not playing as a LB when I was watching - more as a DM with a license to go forward.

I saw that Neill started the game - but he was off by the time I got there. I assume we started with Josh as a CB and Micky on the left. When I was there it looked like Josh had pushed out to LB with Monty dropping back to CB and Luke Giverin taking Monty's role.

 

[Rowdy]

Powell to join Mariners from the Phoenix:

Striker Blake Powell has agreed terms with Central Coast Mariners and will be unveiled as the club’s latest capture imminently after winning a release from his Wellington Phoenix contract last month for “personal reasons”.

Powell netted eight goals in 23 appearances for Wellington last season, including four strikes in a memorable 5-2 win over grand finalists Western Sydney Wanderers.

The former Sydney FC fringe player scored for the Mariners as a "trialist” in a thumping 9-0 win over a Central Coast select on Tuesday night and the club are expected to officially announce his capture on Thursday morning.

Irishman Roy O’Donovan, who Powell is expected to link up with next season in what promises be a damaging partnership, scored five in the same game.

Powell has inked a two-year deal in Gosford, having negotiated his exit from the Phoenix with a year to go on his deal so he could be nearer to family in Sydney.

The signing of the 25 year-old is a sign of intent from owner Mike Charlesworth and coach Tony Walmsley as last season's wooden spooners ramp up their recent rebuilding program, having already netted the former Sydney FC midfield duo of Mickael Tavares and Jacques Faty and Melbourne Victory flier Connor Pain.

 

[Rowdy]

One of the most pleasing signings for me this off season, I'm very positive about Blake wearing the Yellow & Blue.

Walmsley should have signed him 'last pre-season' when he trialled with us post banging in goals for Apiah Leichhardt & Merrick said "if you don't want him, I'll gladly!"
.... & we all know how that turned out for both Coaches.

Thank fcuk TW hasnt 'looked a gift horse in the mouth' ...... 2nd time around.

 

[Rowdy]

I only saw the second half of the select game and he was certainly not playing as a LB when I was watching - more as a DM with a license to go forward.

I saw that Neill started the game - but he was off by the time I got there. I assume we started with Josh as a CB and Micky on the left. When I was there it looked like Josh had pushed out to LB with Monty dropping back to CB and Luke Giverin taking Monty's role.

Ok, good to hear PJ.
Unable to get to the game, as I was basing my assessment on this:

He played really well yesterday, from all accounts he is waiting (agreed) until Jan/Feb for a certain ex Blades player to obtain citizenship. He started at left back and looked very comfy going forward. I believe from conversations last night that he'll be playing for the youth setup until then. fingers crossed

 

[Capt. Awesome]

Rowdy said:
"why the hell did Walmsley play him at LB the other night at Pluim ???"

Walmsley played him as a left back because that is his primary position. TransferMarkt.com list him as a Left Back who sometimes plays in the midfield.
I would say Rose is on his way out. He has started his own Football academy so he might be gone sooner than we think.
Having said that I agree we do have a lot of left sided players. Desperately need a quality CAM.

 

[Gratis]

I think the intention now must be not to - and I actually hope we don't - play a dedicated 10. We just don't look like having/getting the Perez/Amini/Rogic we need to play it so let's play to our strengths instead

 

[Luca Brasi]

Match day squad of
Nevcevski
Roux, Posco, Faty, Rose
Fabio, Tavares, Monty, Pain
Powell, O'Donovan
subs: Rose, Ascroft, Neill, Bingham/Buhagier, Izzo
looks a lot more solid and threatening than last season.
Could have been better but still has some squad depth.

 

[localpom]

I think the intention now must be not to - and I actually hope we don't - play a dedicated 10. We just don't look like having/getting the Perez/Amini/Rogic we need to play it so let's play to our strengths instead

Have to agree. Looks like the intention is for Powell and Roy to start, and they will be a handful. We will hold possession much better this season and there is a good balance of youth and experience.

 

[Gratis]

Match day squad of
Nevcevski
Roux, Posco, Faty, Rose
Fabio, Tavares, Monty, Pain
Powell, O'Donovan
subs: Rose, Ascroft, Neill, Bingham/Buhagier, Izzo
looks a lot more solid and threatening than last season.
Could have been better but still has some squad depth.

this would be my first choice line up for sure - and I like the looks of it too

 

[midfielder]

Powell is a good signing...

 

[midfielder]

Match day squad of
Nevcevski
Roux, Posco, Faty, Rose
Fabio, Tavares, Monty, Pain
Powell, O'Donovan
subs: Rose, Ascroft, Neill, Bingham/Buhagier, Izzo
looks a lot more solid and threatening than last season.
Could have been better but still has some squad depth.

I would change Rose for Neil....

Neil with Faty alongside him giving instructions and directing him around should be good for his game. Thats something we have not had for a while Bonsar was kinda OK at it... Dutchie was brilliant at guiding the backs ... also Nevcevski should [he says hopefully] be better as a keeper in guiding the backs.

 

[midfielder]

Terry Antonis for our 10... sounds like a $ 200, 000.00 dollar price for his services his Greek club seem to want less than half the wage they are paying him.

From SBS today.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/07/14/antonis-set-league-return-paok-look-loan-deal

 

[dibo]

He's a good player when fit, but as he's made out of plasticine that's not very often. Pass.

 

[Rowdy]

Despite offloading Taveres, even SydFC would be struggling to take him back under that deal of paying half his wages for 2 years (they still have Dimitrijevic & Nink'n'poomp as well as Brandon O'Neil & just signed Josh Brillante)
........ then PAOK have a $500k asking price to sell him after that.

Greeks are dreaming.

 

[Capt. Awesome]

With the imminent signing of Powell we are going to have a very settled squad for preseason. Lots of other squads have got quite a few signings to make. We should be able hit the ground running really well with all of the squad having a solid preseason and may also see us go quite well in the Cup.

Time will tell if we have enough quality to make the finals.

 

[Rowdy]

Despite offloading Taveres, even SydFC would be struggling to take him back under that deal of paying half his wages for 2 years (they still have Dimitrijevic & Nink'n'poomp as well as Brandon O'Neil & just signed Josh Brillante)
........ then PAOK have a $500k asking price to sell him after that.

Greeks are dreaming.

Edit:
HAL rules actually state that any 'loan' deals must incorporate the parent clubs (PAOK's) 'full wage' within/under the salary cap.

So with that, Antonis is shit out of luck for coming back to the A-League via a 'a loan deal' unless the Greeks cut their losses & just release him. Especially if they're unable to find another European Club to take Terry on under the 1/2 wage deal.

A released Antonis would be best served going to an A-League club that will pretty much guarantee him a starting XI spot.

Most others couldn't.
Us & the Scum however.

 

[Capt. Awesome]

It's offical.

MEMBER FIRST: Mariners sign Blake Powell

The Central Coast Mariners can today confirm the signing of exciting attacker, Blake Powell who has put pen to paper on a two-year-deal with the Yellow & Navy.

Following his departure from Wellington Phoenix due to personal reasons that required Powell to return to NSW to be closer to his family, the 25-year-old has joined what will be his third Hyundai A-League Club that also includes Sydney FC.

During his time at Wellington Phoenix, Powell found the back of the net on eight occasions from 23 Hyundai A-League appearances with the New Zealand based outfit.

Australian football fans will fondly remember Powell’s four-goal haul against Western Sydney Wanderers at Parramatta last season where he had a hat trick to his name after just 33 minutes in round 19 of the Hyundai A-League. Powell added a fourth to his tally in a day that saw the striker record the second fastest hat trick in Hyundai A-League history.

Blake Powell has arrived on the Central Coast and commenced training with his new teammates, where he is looking to build on his Hyundai A-League goal tally from last season.

Identified as a versatile player who can feature anywhere in the attacking stocks, Powell is a coup for Tony Walmsley’s new-look squad and will be eying off the FFA Cup Round of 32 fixture against Green Gully.

“I’m a goalscorer, I want to score more goals than I did last season and be competitive with the team to push for a finals shot,” Powell said.

“At the moment Tony has been playing me as a number 10 in a play maker’s role and I’m liking the amount of freedom and getting a lot more touches on the ball.

“As a striker the ball might not come to you as much so it’s been good, we played on Tuesday night so I am looking to building on the combination play between Roy & Fabio.

“That was the first game I’ve played with Roy and in time I think that combination will work really well,” Powell said.

Powell thanked Wellington Phoenix for his time at the club and their understanding of his situation.

“I’ve been dealing with some family issues at the moment and Wellington were very respectful and supported my decision to come back home and be closer to my family.

Head Coach Tony Walmsley is excited at the recruitment of his newest attacking weapon. “Blake Powell has proved himself to be a goal scorer at both Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix and gives us a point of difference as a second striker or number 10,” Walmsley said.

“Blake is a hard worker; has great pace and makes smart forward runs.

“When we heard he had returned to NSW for family reasons and had been released by Wellington it made sense to make an approach and I'm delighted to be able to add him to our attacking options for the next two seasons,” Walmsley said.

 

[Capt. Awesome]

Says Walmsley wants to play him a number 10. Interesting. Seems to fit with the 442 formation theory.

 

[localpom]

With the imminent signing of Powell we are going to have a very settled squad for preseason. Lots of other squads have got quite a few signings to make. We should be able hit the ground running really well with all of the squad having a solid preseason and may also see us go quite well in the Cup.

Time will tell if we have enough quality to make the finals.

We look a pretty settled squad. Maybe Appiah and one other to come. Sydney in particular are very light for this stage of the season with maybe 16 players signed on. I'm sure they will sign well ( Arnie is under massive pressure to improve) but the new players will need to gel and get a pre-season under their belts.

 

[rbakersmith]

Appiah's confirmed as well:

MEMBER FIRST: Kwabena Appiah returns to the Central Coast

The Central Coast Mariners have welcomed back Kwabena Appiah who returns to the Yellow & Navy, a club where he had his first taste of professional football as a part of the Foxtel National Youth League set up in 2011.

Identified and recruited by Tony Walmsley in 2011 as a 19-year-old, Appiah won the 2011/12 Foxtel National Youth League Championship alongside the likes of Anthony Caceres, Mitch Duke, Bernie Ibini and Tom Rogic to name a few.

Appiah then attracted the attention of the newly formed Western Sydney Wanderers where he made his Hyundai A-League debut against the Mariners in their first ever-competitive match. Appiah also featured for Western Sydney in the 2013 Hyundai A-League Grand Final when the Mariners were crowned Champions.

Since making his Hyundai A-League debut, Appiah played a crucial role in the Wanderers’ 2014 AFC Champions League campaign that saw the now 24-year-old speedster take home the Club’s ACL Player of the Year award..

Whilst on trial with the Yellow & Navy this pre-season, Appiah has impressed the Mariners football department with his physical attributes and motivation to succeed.

Appiah couldn’t be happier to be back on the Central Coast and was blown away by the facilities upon his return. Appiah also spoke about his hunger to play Hyundai A-League football for the Yellow & Navy.

“It feels really good to be back, everyone has welcomed me with open arms,” Appiah said. “It’s very different to when I was here [in 2011], the set up is incredible and it actually took my breath away, it’s a very professional environment.

“Tony [Walmsley] was the one that took me from playing in the State League and I ended up in the Mariners youth team, he’s helped me a lot and I am forever grateful for the opportunity he gave me back then and the opportunity he is giving me now.

“I wanted this reunion earlier but I’ve been elsewhere and at the end of the day I am finally back here which feels unreal.

“Tony, Hutch and the rest of the staff have been fantastic and I will do everything that I can to repay that faith.

“After winning the Youth League with the Mariners back in 2012 with an incredible team I was faced with a tough decision. Staying with the Mariners or going back as one of the first signings for Western Sydney Wanderers, which was an opportunity, that I couldn’t refuse.

“To be honest, when I left Western Sydney there was only one A-League club I wanted to go to and that was the Central Coast and at the moment I am finally where I want to be.

“My goals for this season are to do well in pre-season, earn that chance, cement a spot in the starting XI and finally score some A-League goals,” Appiah said.

Central Coast Mariners fans will be pleased to hear that Appiah bagged his first goal for the club in a pre-season match on Tuesday night against the Academy after just 10 minutes.

Walmsley is confident that Appiah can fulfill his potential on the Central Coast and is impressed with his physical condition.

“Kwabena has a lot of experience for a young player, including being voted player of the ACL campaign for the Wanderers in 2014 when they were crowned Champions of Asia,” Walmsley said.

“We are confident that this is a perfect environment for him to fulfil his potential. He is ambitious and always wanted to play for the Central Coast Mariners and his recent contribution as a trilaist has warranted him with a short-term contract.

“He had a very good trial period, fits our attacking philosophy with outstanding physical attributes and holds a desire to refine his game,” Walmsley said.

Kwabena Appiah has signed a one-year-deal with the Central Coast Mariners that will see him remain at the club until at least the end of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 campaign.