Central Coast coach Tony Walmsley hopes other A-League clubs and coaches are brave enough to take the marquee leap next season as the Mariners have done with Luis Garcia.
The marquee player concept has been a topic of huge debate this season, with the A-League starved of star power until the Mariners’ surprise recruitment last month of Garcia, the former Liverpool, Barcelona and Spanish international winger.
While Garcia is 37 and had been semi-retired before joining the club, he has made a huge impact both on and off the field for the bottom-placed Mariners, making key contributions in his two substitute appearances so far.
But clubs and coaches have been largely unwilling to take on true marquees in the past few seasons – some for financial reasons, others out of a reluctance to disturb a team’s tactical approach or dressing room environment with the injection of a big-name player, like Garcia, who is no longer as agile as he once was.
Walmsley reckons they’re missing out.
“I can’t speak for them, but I’m embracing it,” he told reporters on Friday in Brisbane.
“For us, we have a charter with our young players that the more-accelerated learning they can get, the better.
“From a football perspective, the deal’s worked incredibly well so far.”
Criticism was levelled at Alessandro Del Piero and Sydney FC in the Italian legend’s second and final season with the club, as his lack of mobility failed to mesh well with the team’s tactical approach at the time.
But the Mariners seem to have found a way to use Garcia appropriately, not depending so much on his physical attributes but his technique and vision, as they patiently wait for him to gather match fitness.
“He’s a smart player, he knows where to be and, obviously, can execute when he gets time on the ball,” Walmsley said.
“It’s no surprise to us, having seen him work every day. He’s been injected into games and had an impact.”
Walmsley said he was proud the competition’s smallest club was able to boast the competition’s most globally recognised name.
“This is new to us. We believe the A-League demands marquee players, that the bigger clubs should be spending money on marquee players to inject into the league,” he said.
“The A-League’s got the clout to be able to draw some marquee talent and hasn’t done.”
Garcia could yet make his full starting debut for Central Coast on Saturday against Brisbane, with a final decision to be made on the morning of the match.
Walmsley had been aiming for Garcia to make his run-on debut next week against Adelaide United but said the Spaniard could figure at Suncorp Stadium from the outset.
“It’s been quite a long time without training and playing, but I felt very good last weekend, playing 45 minutes. I’ll be ready – we’ll wait until the gaffer decides what to do,” Garcia said.
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