Usain Bolt!

[Offsider]

'Mostly' because even relentless pessimism has it's place. And I think being charitable, honest and even handed matters a great deal.

No I did not support a move to North Sydney.

SFC's recent signings are great. I hope when we're cashed up with Bolt sponsorship money we may be able to afford their level of squad expenditure, instead of being stuck developing their talent for them, while praying for an oil baron saviour who wants nothing more in the world than to be able to lose vast sums of money on an Australian football team for tax purposes.

My loyalty is not blind, it's just not fragile nor vengeful, and it will always be maintained as long as I can clearly identify good intention and effort going in. And that goes for both on and off field. Which I think is clearly there for anyone with an ounce of fairness in them to see. On the contrary, I think the people in our club try very hard, and Charlesworth actually cares about the club, as evidenced by his significant losses, yet consistent (if sometimes shit) philosophy to try an innovate a path forward for the HAL"s smallest club. I don't think our bad year last year had anything to do with him at all. I think that lies firmly on Okon and Jolic's shoulders. And MC's appointment of Mulvey, Monty and Phelan since has been very good imo. And yep, I'm happy as a lipsticked pig in mud about the Bolt circus. Some pundits may not like it, but there are plenty out there who see it as an audacious piece of strategic brilliance and a real coup.

Whining about Charlesworths losses That cracks me up.

As to the rest of your hyperbole, sorry, but I've got a pig that needs some matching eyeshadow.

Yo !!! ............ well said ........... I conceed

 

[bikinigirl]

Hang onto that thought bikinigirl ........... [snipped] your charlesworth

. this made me quite angry for some reason ... but you are new around here and tend to get carried away with your rants so i have calmed down now. since you don't appear to have the knowledge of the last five years of my posts, i will clarify - i was very wary of Charlesworth when he took over and ever since have been concerned with how he chooses to run the club and make the decisions he makes

. however you appear to have more passion for your Charlesworth than i have for mine

Oh !!! ............ I am sure you have no idea where I am coming from or you have gotten confused as to who you replied to ???? ............. either way your loyalty is noted............ cheers

. when i read this:

[snipped for clarity this time]This is the first that he is said to be wanting a contract worth three million. It has been previously asserted that he wanted to pursue his love of football and money was not an issue .............. maybe three million dollars is not an issue to him, but, it would have bought a couple of marquee players of bobo quality instead of sfc finished with hand me downs simon and co. [snipped]

. i thought i understood what your idea was: you wanted Charlesworth to spend three million dollars on a couple of marquees of Bobo quality ... that is what i was responding to to with a reminder of the reality Charlesworth wont do that and why

... but i obviously didn't understand what you were saying (and i am still none-the-wiser - which is probably best for now)

Oh !!! ............ I am sure you have no idea where I am coming from or you have gotten confused as to who you replied to ???? ............. either way your loyalty is noted............ cheers

. and this just adds to the confusion as there is no context - my loyalty to the Mariners?

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

aaaaaanyway
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...g/news-story/9e2dfe8b1733f47a1b9bddbc606e7958

USAIN Bolt is charging down the left wing, urging for the ball to be pushed through into space.

Same deal Mariners coach Mike Mulvey, on the sideline.

And Brett Costello, The Daily Telegraph photographer who is, right now, positioned up against the Pluim Park fence midway through this Friday morning opposed session — frantically clicking as the world’s fastest man charges for what will surely be his first goal on Australian soil.

CASH: Mystery surrounds Bolt’s massive payday

TRIAL: Still waiting for Bolt to step up the pace

“Yeeeeees,” shouts Bolt, full tilt now and motioning to a heap of free space just outside the penalty box.

Space to where he is headed.

Quite obviously, at speed.

So can somebody please push through that ball?

But a certain Gosford midfielder, who has said ball at his feet, and who will also stay nameless because of what happens next, decides to ignore his celebrity winger and instead — gasp — pass the ball out and right.

Opportunity gone.

At which point, Bolt throws his arms high.

And Mulvey, he goes quiet.

Usain Bolt hitting his stride at Central Coast Mariners training on Friday. Picture: Brett Costello
Gone too that Saturday backpage picture.

But as for this being a bad day?

Absolutely not.

For having already spent the best part of a week settling into his new Central Coast club, 32-year-old Bolt used day seven of his A-League tilt to not only enjoy genuine touches in an opposed game - notably, at left wing - but also immerse into a host of ballwork drills.

And never once did he look a gimmick.

Usain Bolt lines up a shot during Central Coast Mariners training on Friday. Picture: Brett Costello
Which isn’t to say the Olympic great is anywhere near the calibre of, say, Matty Simon.

That beloved Mariners striker they call the Wizard of Woy Woy — even though he grew up in Wyoming, and played for the East Gosford Rams.



0:00
/
0:21
Loaded: 0%

Progress: 0%

Usain Bolt starts A-League trial with Central Coast
But still, sauntering down the clubhouse stairs at 10.09am — as usual, kitted out in tracksuit pants and gloves — Bolt used the ensuing two hours to prove he has some touch, some skill and certainly some hope of earning that $3 million deal.

Usain Bolt jumps for a header during a training drill with the Central Coast Mariners on Friday. Picture: Brett Costello
Sure, he doesn’t take many risks with the ball.

Or not yet anyway.

Just as at times playing opposed, the big fella needed a little positional prodding.

But if Bolt can prove himself on par with even Australia’s worst A-Leaguer, the Mariners should sign him.

Knowing his $3 million contract, it will be repaid in jersey sales.

And if not that, then memberships.

Or sold out stadiums.

Same deal all those corporate deals that, a year from now, will help the club go chase some Serbian star with a surname nobody can say.

Usain Bolt during training with the Mariners on Friday. Picture: Brett Costello
So c’mon, who cares if the football purists don’t want Bolt in?

They’re not turning up to Mariners games anyway.

Nor are they buying jerseys, corporate boxes, any of it.

And given the club is coming off a wooden spoon … well, how good can the bloke be he replaces anyway?

Besides, professional sport is about entertainment.

That’s it.

And find us a better sell than Bolt, full tilt, and charging down a left wing, when that ball is finally pushed through …

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Thanks for snipping that out from behind the pay wall Capn. Few chuckles in there, good article

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

Thanks for snipping that out from behind the oay wall Capn. Few chuckles in there, good article

No prob. I feel the need to defend myself - I don't subscribe I think you can see an article a week or something without subscribing. But yeah, it's an optimistic article....although the weird, frequent use of 'same deal' irks me

 

[Offsider]

. this made me quite angry for some reason ... but you are new around here and tend to get carried away with your rants so i have calmed down now. since you don't appear to have the knowledge of the last five years of my posts, i will clarify - i was very wary of Charlesworth when he took over and ever since have been concerned with how he chooses to run the club and make the decisions he makes

. however you appear to have more passion for your Charlesworth than i have for mine

Yes I am new around here and have formed a few opinions from the posts I have read .......... more so From the replies. I have no passion for charlesworth ???? Unless you refer to a passion to have him relinquish the club to an owner that will honour the spirit of the a-league ???


. when i read this:



. i thought i understood what your idea was: you wanted Charlesworth to spend three million dollars on a couple of marquees of Bobo quality ... that is what i was responding to to with a reminder of the reality Charlesworth wont do that and why
No ......... I didn’t want charlesworth to do anything .......... I was merely pointing out an alternative that would have cost the same and to my mind more in keeping with the desires of his community. I believe a competitive team will bring back the supporters and achieve what he wants in sales etc ............. as opposed to bolt’s sugar hit.............. although it appears the media is getting on board and that is a good thing for him.
... but i obviously didn't understand what you were saying (and i am still none-the-wiser - which is probably best for now)

Let me try and explain ........ I have watched and enjoyed the a-league since it’s inception. I enjoy watching the different coaches tactics, l enjoy the ebb and flow of what the capped league is supposed to offer, I also enjoy the different ownership models and how they overcome the associated problems with the capped league.
I have lived on the central coast for over ten years, I am not a loyal fan of ccm but they are my home team and I am a loyal fan of the a-league and australian football. I have become bitterly disappointed in what charlesworth has done to the team and the supporter base to the effect that we are the laughing stock of the league and dismissed by the media.
I have a perception of charlesworth based on his speeches and his actions, reactions and decisions since he took over the club. I rant because I am confident of the ground I am ranting on ............ most of the time.



. and this just adds to the confusion as there is no context - my loyalty to the Mariners?

There are posters on this forum that I have respect for .......... most of the time ........... you being one. Are you not loyal to ccm ????
There was no context it was a simple stand alone compliment I thought................ I don’t have the need to be right, I just like to have my tuppence worth and happy to cop the consequences. Negative replies to posts tell much more than people think.

 

[Wombat]

MM says 15-20 mins foe him on Friday night.

To skil to the time. Hold done on the line and swipe towards the right. I had some problems trying to work it out. MM is stressing the value he has to the team on a mental side

48min until 55min. Excellent coverage.

 

[yellowcake]

Another journalist seeing the wider positives (no paywall here so will leave it as the link)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-...riners-possibly-match-made-in-heaven/10161942

 

[Big Al]

Just saw an ad in Foxtel for the THE TRIAL on Friday night

 

[yellowcake]

In truth, most of the really negative (to nasty) reaction to Usain Bolt coming here has been from within Australia - incredulous journalists and particularly keyboard warriors from other clubs ("embarrassing", "disgrace", "fold the club" , etc). The rest of the world has been just curious.

This week I think we've seen that it is above all Usain's genuine desire and our club has been the most accommodating fit to give him a real shot. And yes, he gets this opportunity because of what he's achieved and the resulting global recognition (and the problem is...?) I don't believe he'll be gone by the end of September and I'm actually now thinking he will be given a contract (and then we'll have to see Adrian Deans run naked around the Stadium...)
The generalisations that football skills / brain can't be taught to an older brain just may not apply to a pinnacle athlete and that a non-footballer being paid an enormous sum of money to play football is ridiculous, is not seeing the wider picture for the club (or appreciating what 'brand Bolt' is actually worth - I'm sure he will still be getting more from Puma, etc than us).
Given that he is working full-time in a high-performance football set-up, the very same that our new NPL signings have to assist them to step-up to full professional level, with individualised input to him, don't tell me he can't get to a "squaddie" level, which would = contractability.

In 2004 I was delighted but almost in disbelief that even with the one-city-one-team philosophy, the Central Coast was a successful bidder to have a team in the A-League. How much less probable that somebody like Bolt would ever be associated with our club and region?

My most personal experience of this ride is that my wife - who technically was a member when we had a family membership for a few years from season 2 (when the club encouraged letting others use your pass) had no interest in ever attending a match. She will be coming on Friday night. And thanks to Ticketek's interactive booking platform, in the same seats our season tickets!

 

[Insertnamehere]

There are posters on this forum that I have respect for .......... most of the time ........... you being one. Are you not loyal to ccm ????
There was no context it was a simple stand alone compliment I thought................ I don’t have the need to be right, I just like to have my tuppence worth and happy to cop the consequences. Negative replies to posts tell much more than people think.

Bolded font....... Someone means business

 

[Josho Howe]

Every time l see ''THE TRIAL'' l am not sure if Bolt is playing a game of football or if O.J Simpson is in court again

 

[Wombat]

Just saw an ad in Foxtel for the THE TRIAL on Friday night

A friend told me today, that he heard on the radio that the trial is nearly sold out. I really doubt that but interesting to hear. So far we have been told 500 (unlikely). 1,500 and nearly sold out. I am very interested to know the truth, if anyone is in the know.

 

[Coastalraider]

I went to a bbq with 2 other families today. Both said they would be coming on Friday, which is their first ever trial match attendace (ive only been to one before at Pluim).

Between us we will have 6 adult, and 5 children’s tickets. To a trial.

Bolt is 100% going to have a massive increase in gate takings if/when he signs a contract, and anyone arguing that fact needs to pull their head out of the sand.

 

[MagpieMariner]

[SNIP] She will be coming on Friday night. [SNIP]

My wife comes to one match a season, the NYE game. After the last one, she was so angry she vowed & declared "no more, never again."
She is coming on Friday, why? Because Bolt will be there.

 

[Offsider]

Bolded font....... Someone means business

No they don’t mean business ........ well yes ............ but the bold was just between the points I was answering. Not technical enough to change the colour like I have seen some do ..........

 

[style_cafe]

The hardest obstacle Usain Bolt will have to overcome on friday night is definitely going to be getting his tracksuit pants off!
The guy literally lives in his Mariner`s tracky daks.
He`ll be able to leave his gloves on but he`ll probably need about 45 mins warm up time to get him to strip down.
Maybe BG could volunteer to help him....

 

[true believer]

A friend told me today, that he heard on the radio that the trial is nearly sold out. I really doubt that but interesting to hear. So far we have been told 500 (unlikely). 1,500 and nearly sold out. I am very interested to know the truth, if anyone is in the know.

i booked my seats weeks ago . i just want to see him sprint 50 metres once

 

[yellowcake]

A friend told me today, that he heard on the radio that the trial is nearly sold out. I really doubt that but interesting to hear. So far we have been told 500 (unlikely). 1,500 and nearly sold out. I am very interested to know the truth, if anyone is in the know.

Just had a fiddle with the Ticketek site, which displays the 'unavailable' seats in the 'available' bays. It confirms the eastern stand upper deck is closed and indicates that lower Bays 1 and 30 are not bookable (on Ticketek anyway). So 35 bays.
Bays 6 (plat), 7 (gold), 23, 26 and 27 (blue), which are all lower, are pretty much booked out and several of the surrounding bays and mid-upper western 30-50% full. The rest around 0-40 seats. Given that GA isn't in the count, I'd say currently 3.5-4K.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

I just went through all the booking in all the bays. PITA to do, but couldn't resist. Can confirm that the 1500 figure is close to the mark and definitely under 2k at this stage. And there are shit loads of seats left except in a handful of bays like bay7, as Yellowcake mentioned.