Capt. Awesome
Well-Known Member
Possible Marquee- me likey.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...e/news-story/b8237ed64bb2e73c1959a929695aec67
IT’S been a long time coming, but finally Paul Okon has started to create the Mariners squad he always wanted.
With a clutch of signings in recent days and more tantalisingly close, coupled with changes made off the field, Okon won’t be taking a holiday this off-season — there’s too much to do to lift the Gosford club out of its recent rut.
Remarkably the acquisition of Dutch midfielder Tom Hiariej last week was only Okon’s second signing since taking over from Tony Walmsley last September.
With Alan Baro, Antony Golec and Andrew Hoole quickly following suit, Okon is anxious to have his squad settled sooner rather than later, and make full use of pre-season to overhaul the club’s fortunes.
KEY MAN: Mooy to decide future before Brazil clash
A scouting mission to Europe last month was as close as he got to a holiday, and bore immediate fruit with Hiariej persuaded to join long term. Other products of that trip will, he hopes, not be far behind.
Central Coast Mariners coach Paul Okon is revamping his squad.
“I understood what cards I’d been dealt when I arrived, and having worked with the Young Socceroos for years where there is limited access and sometimes availability with players, you work with what you’ve got,” he said.
“But yes, during the season there were moments when my mind ticked forward to this point, as I knew I had the opportunity to look at making the team stronger.
“Everyone knows we don’t have the financial power of some other teams, so we need to spend what we have wisely, especially with the five visa spots.
“It’s a challenge, managing the cap and where to spend the bulk of your money. Right now I’m quite happy with where we’re at, and confident we’ll be more competitive than last season.”
Golec and Baro’s arrival are clear indicators of Okon’s need to bring in experience at the defensive end of the field.
The Mariners have signed Tom Hiariej from Holland.
“The club has conceded 172 goals in three seasons which is madness,” said Okon. “It’s an area we have to improve on, and there’s possibly another centreback coming in.”
It’s not a huge surprise, at a club where visa players have been at a premium, that the Mariners probably won’t fill all five overseas places, “though we’ll try to get as many as possible” — and Okon says a marquee player is also on the horizon.
“A marquee certainly isn’t out of the question,” said Okon. “A lot depends on what the FFA’s grant to the clubs will be, that’s still a bit unclear. Obviously the clubs have declined the first offer, so a lot depends on what happens in that area and how much money is freed up.
“But we could have a little surprise in the next couple of weeks in regards to a marquee signing.”
Andrew Hoole has joined the Central Coast Mariners from rivals the Newcastle Jets.
He will shortly unveil a new conditioning coach, keen to make his team physically capable of “a quite aggressive” style, and then the start of pre-season can’t come quickly enough.
“I’m sick of looking at my computer screen,” he said. “Being so far away from the rest of the football world makes it hard, and the situation is accentuated by our large turnover. Ideally you wouldn’t be looking for up to 10 new players.
“But we’ve got a pretty good recruiting strategy in place. I’m pretty confident moving forward.”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...e/news-story/b8237ed64bb2e73c1959a929695aec67
IT’S been a long time coming, but finally Paul Okon has started to create the Mariners squad he always wanted.
With a clutch of signings in recent days and more tantalisingly close, coupled with changes made off the field, Okon won’t be taking a holiday this off-season — there’s too much to do to lift the Gosford club out of its recent rut.
Remarkably the acquisition of Dutch midfielder Tom Hiariej last week was only Okon’s second signing since taking over from Tony Walmsley last September.
With Alan Baro, Antony Golec and Andrew Hoole quickly following suit, Okon is anxious to have his squad settled sooner rather than later, and make full use of pre-season to overhaul the club’s fortunes.
KEY MAN: Mooy to decide future before Brazil clash
A scouting mission to Europe last month was as close as he got to a holiday, and bore immediate fruit with Hiariej persuaded to join long term. Other products of that trip will, he hopes, not be far behind.
Central Coast Mariners coach Paul Okon is revamping his squad.
“I understood what cards I’d been dealt when I arrived, and having worked with the Young Socceroos for years where there is limited access and sometimes availability with players, you work with what you’ve got,” he said.
“But yes, during the season there were moments when my mind ticked forward to this point, as I knew I had the opportunity to look at making the team stronger.
“Everyone knows we don’t have the financial power of some other teams, so we need to spend what we have wisely, especially with the five visa spots.
“It’s a challenge, managing the cap and where to spend the bulk of your money. Right now I’m quite happy with where we’re at, and confident we’ll be more competitive than last season.”
Golec and Baro’s arrival are clear indicators of Okon’s need to bring in experience at the defensive end of the field.
The Mariners have signed Tom Hiariej from Holland.
“The club has conceded 172 goals in three seasons which is madness,” said Okon. “It’s an area we have to improve on, and there’s possibly another centreback coming in.”
It’s not a huge surprise, at a club where visa players have been at a premium, that the Mariners probably won’t fill all five overseas places, “though we’ll try to get as many as possible” — and Okon says a marquee player is also on the horizon.
“A marquee certainly isn’t out of the question,” said Okon. “A lot depends on what the FFA’s grant to the clubs will be, that’s still a bit unclear. Obviously the clubs have declined the first offer, so a lot depends on what happens in that area and how much money is freed up.
“But we could have a little surprise in the next couple of weeks in regards to a marquee signing.”
Andrew Hoole has joined the Central Coast Mariners from rivals the Newcastle Jets.
He will shortly unveil a new conditioning coach, keen to make his team physically capable of “a quite aggressive” style, and then the start of pre-season can’t come quickly enough.
“I’m sick of looking at my computer screen,” he said. “Being so far away from the rest of the football world makes it hard, and the situation is accentuated by our large turnover. Ideally you wouldn’t be looking for up to 10 new players.
“But we’ve got a pretty good recruiting strategy in place. I’m pretty confident moving forward.”
