midfielder
Well-Known Member
Found this quite refreshing and honest by Trent .... wonders aloud what it say about Holger...
http://www.foxsports.com.au/footbal...on/story-e6frf4gl-1226721153852#ixzz2fDDOnLCw
IT was one of the more mystifying stories of the off-season.
Trent Sainsbury, one of the most consistent performers in the Hyundai A-League with Central Coast Mariners, was selected for the Socceroos squad for the East Asian Cup - but came home as the only outfield player not given any meaningful action by coach, Holger Osieck.
There were murmurs that Sainbury was lacking in fitness, or perhaps had his head in other places due to the transfer rumours, linking him with moves to England and Switzerland. But Sainsbury says the problems may have been partly of his own making.
"It's total rubbish about my fitness - I was training with the rest of the boys. I thought I was going to get some game time, but I don't want to come away bitter from it, because it was a great experience to see what that level was like, and I'm happy I had the chance to be with the team," said Sainsbury.
"To be honest, I didn't get any feedback from Holger at all, but Viddy (assistant Aurelio Vidmar) did say my attitude was a problem - that it looked like I didn't want to be there. But, I've had that from every coach I've ever worked under to be honest.
"Kenny Lowe over in Perth was the first one to point it out to me - he said I looked so relaxed, that any more and I'd be dead. He thought that coaches were going to find that difficult unless they knew me really well. It's something I need to work on."
Sainsbury hasn't spoken to Osieck since the tournament, but says he wants to set the record straight with the German.
"No, I haven't had the chance to yet, he's been a busy man - but definitely in the future I would like to." said Sainsbury.
In the meantime, Sainsbury is preparing for his fourth campaign with the A-League champions - but for a long time, it looked like he would be heading overseas, with Bolton Wanderers leading the chase for his services, along with Southampton and FC Basel.
"They were looking at me as a right-back over there (at Bolton), and I wasn't too sure I wanted to play that position and try to start again in that role. I did agree personal terms with Basel after a trial, but one of their centre-backs, who was due to move on, ended up staying, so they said there was no point in me being just a back-up.
"Southampton was just media spin - I know they sent someone out to look at me, but when they stayed up in the Premier League, they were looking at bigger money signings."
While Sainsbury admits he still harbours a desire to move to Europe, for the moment he's fully focussed on retaining the Championship with the Mariners.
With Mat Ryan and Pedj Bojic no longer at the club, and Patrick Zwaanswijk having retired, it'll be a much-changed Mariners defensive unit, with Sainsbury forging a new partnership with Marcel Seip. Seip, like Zwaanswijk, is a Dutchman - but Sainsbury says that's where the similarities end.
"Patrick was one of a kind, and Marcel doesn't have the passing range of Swanny, but he makes up for it with his defensive capabilities. In particular, he's a very hard tackler. We're slowly getting to know each other - he's a true professional," said Sainsbury.
After an off-season full of disappointments at club and international level, Sainsbury says he can't wait to get back into action against the Wanderers on opening night, and he's already set his seasonal goals.
"I'd definitely like to play for my country, and I'd like for us, as a team, to keep 15 clean sheets this season." said Sainsbury.
If they manage to reach that target, the Mariners will be well in contention to retain their crown - and perhaps then, the next off-season may be a bit kinder to Trent Sainsbury.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/footbal...on/story-e6frf4gl-1226721153852#ixzz2fDDOnLCw
IT was one of the more mystifying stories of the off-season.
Trent Sainsbury, one of the most consistent performers in the Hyundai A-League with Central Coast Mariners, was selected for the Socceroos squad for the East Asian Cup - but came home as the only outfield player not given any meaningful action by coach, Holger Osieck.
There were murmurs that Sainbury was lacking in fitness, or perhaps had his head in other places due to the transfer rumours, linking him with moves to England and Switzerland. But Sainsbury says the problems may have been partly of his own making.
"It's total rubbish about my fitness - I was training with the rest of the boys. I thought I was going to get some game time, but I don't want to come away bitter from it, because it was a great experience to see what that level was like, and I'm happy I had the chance to be with the team," said Sainsbury.
"To be honest, I didn't get any feedback from Holger at all, but Viddy (assistant Aurelio Vidmar) did say my attitude was a problem - that it looked like I didn't want to be there. But, I've had that from every coach I've ever worked under to be honest.
"Kenny Lowe over in Perth was the first one to point it out to me - he said I looked so relaxed, that any more and I'd be dead. He thought that coaches were going to find that difficult unless they knew me really well. It's something I need to work on."
Sainsbury hasn't spoken to Osieck since the tournament, but says he wants to set the record straight with the German.
"No, I haven't had the chance to yet, he's been a busy man - but definitely in the future I would like to." said Sainsbury.
In the meantime, Sainsbury is preparing for his fourth campaign with the A-League champions - but for a long time, it looked like he would be heading overseas, with Bolton Wanderers leading the chase for his services, along with Southampton and FC Basel.
"They were looking at me as a right-back over there (at Bolton), and I wasn't too sure I wanted to play that position and try to start again in that role. I did agree personal terms with Basel after a trial, but one of their centre-backs, who was due to move on, ended up staying, so they said there was no point in me being just a back-up.
"Southampton was just media spin - I know they sent someone out to look at me, but when they stayed up in the Premier League, they were looking at bigger money signings."
While Sainsbury admits he still harbours a desire to move to Europe, for the moment he's fully focussed on retaining the Championship with the Mariners.
With Mat Ryan and Pedj Bojic no longer at the club, and Patrick Zwaanswijk having retired, it'll be a much-changed Mariners defensive unit, with Sainsbury forging a new partnership with Marcel Seip. Seip, like Zwaanswijk, is a Dutchman - but Sainsbury says that's where the similarities end.
"Patrick was one of a kind, and Marcel doesn't have the passing range of Swanny, but he makes up for it with his defensive capabilities. In particular, he's a very hard tackler. We're slowly getting to know each other - he's a true professional," said Sainsbury.
After an off-season full of disappointments at club and international level, Sainsbury says he can't wait to get back into action against the Wanderers on opening night, and he's already set his seasonal goals.
"I'd definitely like to play for my country, and I'd like for us, as a team, to keep 15 clean sheets this season." said Sainsbury.
If they manage to reach that target, the Mariners will be well in contention to retain their crown - and perhaps then, the next off-season may be a bit kinder to Trent Sainsbury.
