Season perspectives

[David Votoupal]

So it's the 2/3 mark of the season and the Mariners find thsmelves out of the 4 after drawing with Queensland. Obviously a disappointment, as is the recent stuttering form having not won the last 3 games. But is it time to panic? Compared to last season, where you finished first and reached the Grand Final, the current position would be a disappointment. It is.

However, you can also consider this. Last season's top four were- Mariners, Jets, SFC, Roar. Admittedly it was a poor league last season in terms of quality on show. However, it's also evident that Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United were in false positions last season as evident by them being the top two sides this season. Realistically this was going to happen, and a tussle to fill the other two spots in the finals was on the cards. The quality of the Mariners squad is very much up there, but the league overall has lifted compared to last season.

Make no mistake, the home game with Sydney FC is a definite six-pointer. Here we find a Sydney side that will feel confident after ending their recent slump, but this is always a fixture that throws up something out of the ordinary in A-League terms.

 

[midfielder]

David you make a good point about this weeks game being a 6 pointer ... I hate the Choppers and it was this match last year that Kossie and his gang kicked the shit out of us. Heff onlt getting back now ... Fark the choppers hope we smash em and smash em good and hard.

 

[clarence]

David you make a good point about this weeks game being a 6 pointer ... I hate the Choppers and it was this match last year that Kossie and his gang kicked the shit out of us. Heff onlt getting back now ... Fark the choppers hope we smash em and smash em good and hard.

+1.
Win at all costs this game. Fark the Mr. Nice Guy attitude.

 

[ponno]

I agree .... losing this game would be really bad news at this stage... we need a win to restore that winning feeling within the team.... and sydney are a danger side because u never know when they are going to show up and play their A game... but my bets are that they will against as as they always seem too...

 

[FFC Mariner]

We lose this and we are really going to struggle to even make the semi's (yes its that big a game IMHO).

If they play like they did at the scumdome, we will hammer them. But they wont will they? Kossie will have them kicking and scratching and trying ever ugly trick in the book. There will be a good turnout from the Cove too.

This game is simply f**king massive

Cant wait

 

[pjennings]

I know we are sitting outside the four at the moment but I saw enough on Saturday, to have a great deal of confidence going into the final third of season.  ;D

Positives we have going into the final third are:-

Danny looked to be back to his confident best.
The backs looked more solid this week (Pedj has been great, though I'm not a big fan of D'Apuzzo).
Heff has had some good game time in the NYL and must be ready soon to come in at left back.
Mile has been great for 18 months, probably feeling the strain a bit at the moment but as others take up more responsibility he will get back to his best,
Caceres - playing as a number 10 has given the creativity we have needed.
Porter - very versatile seemed to play quite defensively on the weekend keeping Matt McKay quiet.Going forward - some of his crosses, particularly to Matty, are sublime.
Hutch - not the greatest season but seemed to combine very well with Gumps and Nik when they came on
Gumps - Saturday was the best I have seen him for season 2.
Matty - great season
Sasho - not a great game on Saturday but has done the business all year
Dyl - big presence in the box (maybe not what we need in the 4-3-3 lineup - maybe better as the target man in a 4-2-3-1 or the like)
Nik - looked sharp on Saturday and will only improve.

All in all - while we might not be in the same position as last year there is plenty to be happy about. 
 

 

[blastbum]

Does anyone know where we were on the table at this time in Season 1?

 

[dbryant]

Does anyone know where we were on the table at this time in Season 1?

We were 6th: http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/3226/fddgdxf3.jpg

 

[blastbum]

Thanks DBryant.

That handy piece of information is very reassuring.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Same No of points too

 

[brett]

"However, it's also evident that Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United were in false positions last season"

wtf? False positions? One year they were not as good, this year they are great.

 

[Auburn Mariner]

We are going OK, showing LOTS of ticker.

We need the Tards & Barrel Boys to keep winning, and we must take at LEAST 7 points out of the next three games.

I believe we will make the elimination final, with a trip to the magnificent Lang Park on the horizon.

 

[David Votoupal]

"However, it's also evident that Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United were in false positions last season"

wtf? False positions? One year they were not as good, this year they are great.

Looking at the quality of squads, overall. Adelaide United were decimated by injuries, while Melbourne only got it together when it was too late like the last 4 rounds of the season.

All you need to do to succeed in this league is be good at what you do and avoid too many injuries and suspensions, or have a good dose of luck (which is what Newcastle got with Griffiths not being suspended for the whack).

 

[blastbum]

Can you image where Newcastle would've been if Griffo had been suspended for the whack???

 

[brett]

"However, it's also evident that Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United were in false positions last season"

wtf? False positions? One year they were not as good, this year they are great.

Looking at the quality of squads, overall. Adelaide United were decimated by injuries, while Melbourne only got it together when it was too late like the last 4 rounds of the season.

All you need to do to succeed in this league is be good at what you do and avoid too many injuries and suspensions, or have a good dose of luck (which is what Newcastle got with Griffiths not being suspended for the whack).

Be good, avoid injuries and/or be lucky. No offence, but I don't think that's exactly insightful information as to how to win the A-League, let alone any team sport in the world.

I can't accept that MV and AU had 'false' positions last year. MV had the wrong squad balance and AU had poor depth. This season AU has the best depth and they're up the top despite playing many games in Asia because of that. CCM built for three years towards our squad last season and our off field stability and progress got us Aloisi. NJ had the best player, a great back four and the best coach tactically. We were rightfully the benchmarks in 2007/08.

As for the Mariners' season, we're right on track. Almost everyone predicted at the start of the year that we'd come about 4th. Adelaide and Melbourne will finish top two. Despite the best efforts of Perth and Welly, I just don't think they have the squads to maintain their recent good form. 3rd and 4th will go to two of Sydney, Mariners and Queensland.

It's quite funny that these three teams each have their own problems at the moment. Sydney have the potential to fall apart and the players don't seem to support the coach. Queensland struggle with goals and their best player is playing through pain and needs surgery. Mariners are in a lull and need an injection of enthusiasm to spark the team from the first whistle.

It will come down to a goal here, a referee decision there. I think we have the scoring options all over the park with the emergence of Matt Simon, Adrian's great form and Mile's free kicks, to get the goals we need to win games and keep coming back when we have to.

 

[Nik Mrdjas Disco Bikkie]

Hutch out!!!

Nuff said