If you are looking for the team to beat come the grand final, you’d be hard pressed to go past the Central Coast Mariners.
Tony Popovic and his Wanderers may have walked away from Gosford with the three points, their eighth straight win, the competition lead and title favouritism among the bookies.
The Wanderers may well go on to win the premiership now, but on the evidence of this pulsating night in front of a near full house at Bluetongue Stadium, the Mariners are the competition’s best and most complete team.
They proved, in the big wet, in the face of an almighty traveling contingent of about 6000 Wanderers fans, they have the capacity to hurt Popovic’s men more than any other team.
Graham Arnold hasn’t always got it right throughout the season, but at home he has had his men ready, and they were certainly primed for Saturday’s blockbuster.
It only took the Mariners a few minutes to show how they could hurt the Wanderers, stretching and testing their system both in behind and through the use of width.
Within the first minute John Hutchinson played a ball in over the top of the Wanderers high defensive line for Mitchell Duke to chase, turning Michael Beauchamp, forcing him into the corner, where he was pressured.
It was an early sign of the Mariners’ power, an ability to stretch the Wanderers vertically through penetrating runs.
The other thing the Mariners were able to do so well was stretch Western Sydney, especially by using their right flank, such an effective outlet this season.
In the third minute, Mat Ryan picked up a ball, saw Pedj Bojic had a few yards on Mark Bridge and released it immediately.
Off Bojic sprinted, playing an early ball down the line, in behind Adam D’Apuzzo, for Bernie Ibini to chase. Giving D’Apuzzo a couple of metres start, Ibini powered beyond him.
Rather than sit and admire his through ball, Bojic carried on, into the box, ahead of Bridge. Ibini found him with a square ball, and while Bojic, at full tilt, struggled to control the ball on the wet surface, the pattern was set.
As the match went on, Josh Rose started chipping in down the left. As the Wanderers, under relentless pressure, unable to keep the ball, started to retreat more, Michael McGlinchey started to come into the space.
The Mariners certainly hurt the Wanderers with their relentless run, and later, when the space opened, their combination and link-up play was easy on the eye.
Bojic, in particular, was phenomenal, giving Bridge one hell of a working over. Rose, too, kept Youssouf Hersi busy.
Meanwhile, Hutchinson and Nick Montgomery, working closely with Trent Sainsbury and Patrick Zwaanswijk, made sure there was very little space for Shinji Ono to get on the ball and influence the Wanderers front third.
This was a tactical victory for the Mariners in almost every sense. They just couldn’t round off all their great work, even when presented with what looked a dubious penalty.
Only when Aaron Mooy and Labinot Haliti came on late did the Wanderers have any front third possession.
Perhaps not since a ten-man Melbourne Victory picked them off at Parramatta Stadium in round eight in November has the Wanderers’ system been so stretched and out of control.
Even though they scrambled with terrific spirit, it wasn’t the usual controlled and compact defending.
Indeed, there were many moments of panic, with Ante Covic and the odd post coming to the rescue.
It’s little wonder Popovic hinted over the past couple of days there is improvement in his side ahead of next season.
Clearly he still has somewhat of a dilemma to resolve at number nine this season, where there has been lots of industry but little goal threat.
While Dino Kresinger continues to work hard and has become a crowd favourite, he hasn’t looked like scoring for some time.
Haliti, more typically a wide player, may have given himself a chance of starting against the Wellington Phoenix on Sunday.
Arnold and his team, on this evidence, should go into any re-match in the finals or championship decider with much confidence.
On an unforgettable night, there was certainly an air of destiny about the Wanderers’ win in front of a wonderful traveling contingent.
But if they can maintain the standards displayed on Saturday night, and the football gods give them a break for a change, the Mariners certainly look the one to beat.
Mantis
Roar Guru
I think that the way that CCM play compared to the way WSW play, that awful conditions suited WSW more. They often play with less (sometimes far less) possession and score from the counter, whereas CCM play with the ball and try and work and pass their way through a side. With torrential rain and torrid conditions, this had to suit the more defensive side more than an attacking side.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Hey to watch a veritable wall of football passion home-grown and time see it grow and grow to a point where it has got tget media writing positive things about the A-League -that's something to honour:-)
Midfielder
Guest
Interesting review of Mariners V WSW ... http://leopoldmethod.com.au/central-coast-0-1-western-sydney-wanderers-make-an-exception/
Cameron
Roar Guru
Tony, I don't understand how the title of this article can read "Mariners are the team to beat this season" when the season is almost over, would have been a nice heading for earlier in the season. I don't even think Mariners are the team to beat come finals either. Choke *cough*. Sorry but the article I wrote the other day was dead set spot on whether people actually agree or not. Even Foxsports asked the question and provided numerous examples. Can the Mariners win the GF? Yes! Are they the team to beat? Well they were on the weekend, now Wanderers are. Are they the team to beat in the finals? Probably not as history would indicate.
bryan
Guest
Exactly! "This was a tactical victory for the Mariners in almost every sense."----Hah! We get a lot of this sort of nonsense from AFL commentators,too! My son's answer to them, in both codes is,:-------"SCOREBOARD!!!" It doesn't matter how much of a "twinkletoes" you are,if the other team gets more goals,they win--Sports 101! :)
emile
Guest
Deluded. Aside from the first twenty or so minutes in Melbourne, Western Sydney dominated the game. I'm afraid you fail to recall the clear cut chances Hersi, and Bridge had to put the game away. Melbourne had nothing aside from the Pain goal, and the immense tackle by Polenz to deny Nabbout.
Kasey
Guest
Arvind, you're on a sports banter page you can say 'Choke' here:) the Mariners have a horrible(if you like them) tendancy to choke in big important games. From week 9 to week 22, the Mariners were top of the table and odds on to lift a 3rd Premiers plate. Momentum is everything in sport, right now the Wanderers have it and I wouldn't be surprised to see them lift the Plate this month. I bet the FFA have a replica ready at the stadium to present if they are a chance. As I understand it each replica Plate costs roughly A$10k, I know this because Adelaide United do not have one to display in their History Room trophy Cabinet...upon querying, the response from FFA was: " happy for you to have one, but you'll have to pay for it yourselves." My understanding is that the History committee are asking the board to pay for it with the plan B being pass the hat around (online) for the fans to chip in.
NCB619
Guest
-- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
NCB619
Guest
I think you seem to forget that the Mariners choke a lot -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Towser
Guest
Momentum they tell me is very important in all sports in Australia, going into the finals. Roar had it in Season 6 then after the mini collapse in season 7. As a fan you could sense it at the ground. This season patchy at best to this point. Then again I dont see any team with that edge in momentum over other teams at this stage,despite the consistent performances of the Mariners & WSW's over the season. As the Finals Series being instant knockout is similar to a cup competition & having seen in the FA Cup over years many upsets it happens,so how important is momentum anyway with the new format? Lets face it consensus was that the Mariners should have won last Saturday,they didn't. If that was in the finals series ,out on their ear.
Cameron
Roar Guru
I can just smell a three peat and oh how funny would it be if it was the wanderers!?
nordster
Guest
They do have Berisha ...who given the average season for the club would be the type to push them on. His mentality is perfect for these type of games when he is on. He has a fair few pent up winners in him...can see he is itching for goal of late.
Cameron
Roar Guru
I would put my money on Brisbane Roar if they can finish in top 6 or even better 5th.
nordster
Guest
Its the luck factor that should help them win something if not the league. They are a perfect Cup team...provided they can hold out at the back, possession or not if they find a sneaky goal, id back them for the playoffs title.
dinoweb
Roar Guru
WIth the lottery that is now the A-League finals, and CCM's past finals history, I wouldn't be so sure that they will win anything this season. My experience is that finals are a funny thing where metality plays a huge part in the result. The ghosts of CCM's past will be out in force in a few weeks time, and it doesn't matter if individual players were in those teams or not. As for Wanderers, they are a good side, but seem to have riden their luck a little to get to where they are. Don't get me wrong, good teams do make their own luck, but like Roar of the past two seasons, WSW seem to have had their fair share already this year. That said, WSW and CCM are two of the best teams in the comp this year, and deserve to be heading the table.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
Just a bit of banter Middy. All in good fun.
Midfielder
Guest
Minister Yep those Centre lInk Drive Buys or their team is ... but TBH found their travelling fans to be very nice people ... all those stories of head shaved, no teeth, covered in tats, arms dragging on the ground [just the women mind you the guys worse] ... all untrue as I said I found them to be a nice crowd knowledge and showed respect...
Cameron
Roar Guru
I like the Wanderers but their supporters act like they own the place. When the novelty wears off I wouldn't be surprised if the fans cocky nature puts other interested fans off??
Cameron
Roar Guru
Haven't the Mariners missed four penalties in a row? They've also never won a grand final and everyone says they should have won against Wanderers but didn't. They continue to blow matches they should win. What makes anyone suggest they'll win anything. Does anyone know that Wanderers have only won the possession statistic ONCE! Against Melbourne Victory when they lost 2 nil and had an extra man. Amazing! Wanderers don't need to dominate possession to beat any team in the finals, they've already proven this by winning EIGHT matches in a row.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
These WSW pests are becoming more numerous on The Roar since they discovered the internet. See you at the derby! Greetings - Smurfs!