Central Coast Mariners might have pummelled Wellington on the weekend but today Sydney’s press will focus almost entirely on Sydney FC. Would any of that change if the Mariners won the title?
Sydney’s tense 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar yesterday was hardly a showcase of classic football but once again it highlighted what an asset Alessandro Del Piero is to the A-League.
There are rumours Del Piero might leave for a money-spinning final fling with Brazilian giants Flamengo, though Sydney FC chief executive Tony Pignata seems fairly certain the Italian will stay.
It’s not like Del Piero needs the money and it would be a surprise to see a player in such red-hot form turn his back on a ‘project’ which is supposedly dear to his heart, so expect to see the veteran midfielder in a Sky Blue jersey next season.
Del Piero was outstanding against the Roar, opening the scoring, having a hand in Peter Triantis’ winner, clattering the crossbar with a tremendous free-kick and generally looking like one of the best players to have ever graced Australian shores.
It’s a shame then that less than 15,000 fans turned out to witness a clash against the two-time defending A-League champions, not least because it seemed twice as many as that turned up at the airport or got themselves on TV to declare their undying love for Del Piero when he first signed.
At any rate, while yesterday’s lone encounter was a passable affair, the Mariners opened the round with a predictable 5-0 thrashing of the hapless Wellington Phoenix.
The Kiwi club’s form is so dire they might as well give Daniel Vettori a call and see if he’d be up for a game at left back, because at the rate they’re going it’s hard to see how they won’t win the battle with Perth Glory for the mantle of the worst team in the league.
The Mariners made the Phoenix defence look about as lively as some petrified planks of wood but, despite playing some superb football, it’s sometimes hard not to come away feeling bored stiff after watching the Gosford side in action.
Perhaps it’s all the sterile grey seats at Bluetongue Stadium or the fact that every so often a ball goes hurtling into the Brisbane Water rather than a sea of supporters (or the goal), but there can be something so underwhelming about watching Graham Arnold’s side play.
Maybe it’s just that after finishing as premiers twice and reaching the grand final three times and still failing to lift the A-League title, it can hard not to think of the Mariners as anything other than perennial losers.
And it doesn’t help that Arnold can come across as something of a whinger, perpetually grumbling about decisions going against his ‘little’ team and dismissing the importance of the grand final whenever it suits.
It’s unlikely they’ll dismiss the importance of a grand final should they finally win one and on current form that looks a probable prospect indeed.
But with Western Sydney, Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United all locked in a ding-dong battle for second spot – if not first – the Mariners will find the competition fierce irrespective of who they play in the finals.
Adelaide’s gripping 1-0 win over arch-rivals Victory on Friday night was just about the most entertaining match of the round from a neutral perspective, with the bitter foes going at it hammer and tongs in front of a vociferous crowd at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Interim coach Michael Valkanis will have done his popularity with the Adelaide faithful no harm by getting himself sent to the stands, as tension boiled over in what was a highly entertaining affair.
It’s the sort of drama you sometimes wish would happen in Gosford, where for all their free-flowing football, the Mariners continue to trundle along as arguably the most beige team in the league.
Cameron
Roar Guru
I never said that but cheers crown 77. I tend to rely more on statistics and facts more than anything. My opinions have generally clashed with Fuss, but that's about it. I'll have no problem in the future though providing you with my always right opinions ;)
Mr Celery
Guest
And what about the southern suburbs of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie? There is already a strong contingent from those areas that are fanatical supporters of the Mariners and not their closest Club the Newcastle Jets. Plenty of untapped potential there. My grandfather-in-law is now a Mariners supporter after recently defecting from the Scummers. And he lives in Medowie, north of Newcastle.
basketballguru
Guest
The Mariners are a proper football club , with a proper football philosophy , they are connected with their community , they are a stable club off the field , develop really good young talent , they punch constantly above their weight , and they are properly coached . All things being equal , the Mariners will win the title this year . They were doddled by the refs last year against the Glory and were four minutes away from winning it all the year before . All this despite the fact they constantly lose their talent mid-season year after year ( Rogic , Amini , Simon , etc ) . Next article please .
Kasey
Guest
If the Mariners qualify to host the HAL GF it has already been foretold that they will not get to host the game at Bluetongue. FFA will move it to SFS with " Bluetongue being deemed by the FFA to not have a sufficient capacity to hold the centrepiece of the A-League season" .…A mistake if you ask me. A guaranteed 21k sell-out would be a great look for the images that would be broadcast around on the nightly news bulletins after the game, compared to say a 2/3-3/4 full SFS (depends on who the opponent is) Last time the FFA ‘got lucky’ in that the Newcastle Jets were the opponent. 36,354 was the attendance in a stadium that holds 44,000 (82% full) Not to mention the boost to the standing in the community the Mariners would receive for bringing such a high profile event to Gosford. But the FFA makes coin from the finals series so the bigger capacity stadium will of course get the nod :( Still for decades we Football fans wanted the head body of the game in this country to be 'more professional'. I guess the making of decisions based on commercial decisions is one sign. Given the steps forward on a in the last 3-4 years, If the FFA feels more solid financially perhaps they might allow the GF to be played at a smaller stadium?
Rick
Guest
Agreed, watching Barca is like watching the Varsity toy around with the JV during practice...
whiskeymac
Guest
breathtaking provinciallity... no wonder the article is so confused Mike.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
langou - don't get me started on Glory.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I noted the Roar's self-destruction a few weeks ago Bondy, to the chagrin of some of their supporters. http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/tuckerman-opinion-display/The-Brisbane-Roar-dynasty-is-over/58835
whiskeymac
Guest
i always read your comments towser in the voice of Sean Bean. "whether some ponces from Sydney or melbourne..." great stuff.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
You can't really say that being given charge of Perth Glory does not represent working with a bigger club. It is still a serious and passionate supporter base, with a considerable amount of money flowing, as shown by the squad and marquee. He simply doesn't have the skill set as a match day coach or strategist. Good defence but the attack and training were just woeful. Should have remained an assistant. More than anything else he is a victim of the corporate trap of promoting to a level of incompetence.
Ian
Guest
apart from not seeing the best goal of the game (by Heart) and affirming Flores dives - i did see cardboard cut outs of Victory players on the ground. and that's what Victory fans of the North Terrace gloat about? i'm actually glad I saw that. nothing better than what we see in The Den
Squizz
Guest
Yes to the first part - increasing the number of people that travel from Epping and around Gordon upwards However, don't ever move them to North Sydney - that has shades of the Northern Eagles debacle written all over it.
eastgate
Guest
The long term aim of the club should be to increase its supporter base from the northern suburbs of Sydney. Northern Mariners? Perhaps play half their games in North Sydney. In effect providing a third Sydney side to the comp - producing greater support, rivalries & media exposure
crown77
Guest
So what's new? He never does, it's always his opinion that count's and his is always right...
philk
Guest
Mike....can you expand or is it just another of your silly digs. Must have got out of the wrong side of the bed. I usually find your articles informative and fair minded but this one is just drivel.
Mr Celery
Guest
There was no crackdown at all. The Marinators\Yellow Army have always had good relations with the Club. The Marinators kicked off the vocal support, but as I see it, they gradually evolved into the Yellow Army through a change in personnel. Some originals drifted to other parts of the ground, others left, never to be seen again. Some make occasional re-appearances. The 'leadership' has changed too. Originally the booming voice of AuburnMariner led the chants. Now it is the megaphone-driven voice of PriorPete. The songs and chants went the same way. Some staples remain, while others have been dropped and replaced by more complex 'Euro' tunes with various degrees of success. I recall there was some factional fighting (words only) between old guard and new brigade for a while, but that has tapered off. There was a small number who's idea of clever support was to yell abuse at our own players, which I personally found distasteful, and caused some friction. But that seems to have fallen away. No doubt due to our current form. A notable change has been the ceasing of mass organised TIFO displays which were always clever and colourful. The number of individual flags seem to be on the increase again though. The Club forced a change of bay from 16 to 23 for a year which in my opinion backfired. We're now back in Bay 16. Whatever the makeup of Bay 16, it is always striving to expand and recover the atmosphere of the early years. And to it's credit there has never been a hooligan element. A beer shower and a 'shirts off'' is about as rowdy as it gets.
Kasey
Guest
They certainly aren't boring to me. What they ARE is predictably solid. Every year they get tipped to decline and every year they rise up once more steadily hoovering up points towards another tilt at the Plate as big O/S clubs circle their production-line of talent. Not boring, just not a freaking circus like Sydney FC. I also happen to think BlueTongue stadium is a very nice place to watch a game of football. couldn't be more convenient to get too being right next to Gosford Station. I hope they never build a 4th side on it, it's fine as it is IMO. Be even nicer if the Mariners could start drawing bigger crowds on a more regular basis. Remember Sky Blues fans: Consistency is only a virtue if you're NOT a screw up..something the front office of the Sky Blues should take on board methinks;)
MV Dave
Guest
Must admit l have seen some cracking games when CCM have played Victory in Melbourne...seems to bring the best of of them when a crowd is watching ;)
Stevo
Guest
Complete fantasy! Where was the third goal??? Best part of the clip was Golgol's free kick that Coe didn't get any part of his extremity to. Yawn!
asanchez
Roar Guru
I'm sure the Mariners don't think they're boring! I'd take top of the ladder any day. But the Victory is in there with a shot! For me the Mariners are a well oiled machine, no big stars, no frills! A good honest club with all players and staff pulling in the same direction. They lost Rogic and people thought they might struggle to score but they're on fire! Haven't missed him at all. Also, considering the Mariners are from the smallest population catchment, they need to survive and challenge for titles, and the COE is a great initiative. They're probably my second favourite club.