Some will say Central Coast have no chance of beating Guangzhou in the AFC Champions League. If Graham Arnold is smart, he will use such sentiment to his team’s advantage.
The result of Australian sides underestimating Asian opposition in the ACL makes for ugly reading.
Melbourne Victory lost 3-1 to Thai outfit Chonburi. Newcastle Jets were crushed 6-0 by Pohang Steelers. Sydney FC were thumped 3-0 at home by Kashima Antlers. Gamba Osaka tore Adelaide apart.
The Mariners arguably started the trend in 2009 when they somehow missed the memo that Kawasaki Frontale have one of the most productive scouting set-ups in Asia.
The end result was a crushing 5-0 away win for Frontale, for whom North Korean international Jong Tae-Se and Brazilian duo Renatinho and Juninho ran riot.
Unless the Mariners have given some serious thought to how they’re going to approach their two-legged clash with Guangzhou, the tie could end in another bloodbath.
The Cantonese moneybags – let’s be honest, it is a factor – will bring a squad to Australia so jam-packed with talent that it should give Mariners fans nightmares.
Everywhere you look there’s a star. From Chinese number one Zeng Cheng in goal to the well-travelled Zheng Zhi bossing the midfield and fan-favourite Gao Lin up front.
Then there’s the foreign contingent; Kim Young-Gwon, experienced Muriqui, ex-Borussia Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios and jewel in the crown, Dario Conca.
It’s Conca the Mariners must be wary of, with the Argentine one of the most talented South American players of his generation never to play in Europe.
However, Guangzhou’s star-studded line-up could also prove to be their downfall.
Barrios has made little attempt to fit in, yet the Paraguayan international is likely to start the expense of the dangerous Gao.
Meanwhile, the Chinese side left Brazilian youngster Elkeson out of their ACL squad, and he responded by scoring 13 goals in his first seven Chinese Super League fixtures.
Needless to say, the southern side aren’t exactly short of form, and according to Wild East Football’s Guangzhou expert Ian Fuchs, the Cantonese club are in it to win it, when it comes to the ACL.
“I think club owner Xu Jiayin takes it very seriously indeed,” Fuchs said.
“Guangzhou have won the Chinese Super League in each of the past two seasons and have started this one in exceptional form. He wants continental glory now.”
However there are some cracks in the façade – albeit small – and it’s these that the Mariners must take advantage of.
“Probably the most impressive Chinese player is attacking right-back Zhang Linpeng, who is only 23 but already a national team stalwart,” Fuchs says.
“His main flaw is his temper – he’ll miss the first leg against the Mariners because he got sent off for retaliation in the fifth group game against Urawa.”
And a quick look at the goals conceded during the group stages suggests that defence could be Guangzhou’s Achilles’ heel.
They’ve got Feng Xiaoting and South Korean tough nut Kim Young-Gwon, but the entire back four has looked vulnerable when exposed to pace down the flanks, particularly in the 3-2 away defeat to Urawa Reds.
The goal conceded on the road at Thai side Muangthong United was farcical and when the Guangzhou defenders backed off Kim Jung-Woo on their trip to Jeonju, the wily veteran responded by cracking home a right-footed strike in off the post.
In other words, the Guangzhou defence is far from impregnable and the common denominator in all of those goals is that they were conceded away from home.
The Mariners will almost certainly need to score in Gosford to progress.
They’ll also need to keep Conca better shackled than they did Kashiwa playmaker Leandro Domingues.
Additionally, they’ll need a healthy dose of luck if they are to see off one of the genuine favourites for the title.
But for all the financial disparity between the two sides, this tie will be settled over two legs, like any other.
Graham Arnold would do well to remind his players of that, because there’s a good chance Marcello Lippi may well forget.
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
Isnt this the bloke who tipped Brisbane to beat WSW 2-0? Now he is telliing the mariners what they must do to win? Is it a gee up?
philk
Guest
Ian-I am a Mariner's fan and I only have a go at Mike when I feel he is being disrespectful to them ( which has been often, lately). It seems that, no matter what they do, they just aren't good enough in Mike's eyes. Re my comment about the Roar....they were, after all, pronounced A-League Champions and yet produced the most woeful display of any of our ACL representatives. The fact that it was a play off game is all the more reason to show the rest of Asia what the A-League champion is all about. They didn't do too badly the previous year.
j binnie
Guest
Mid - I can only speak from my own experience, When I was D of C at Brisbane Lions for 4 seasons we had a youth system from Colts,fourth division(local league) and Local League top division.The coach of the NSL team had nothing to do with these teams We had a panel of 3 coaches who looked after each team at their matches but on training nights it was a mix and match situation for each step was governed by an overriding principle, Colts was discipline in all forms required for success, graduates from there could be advanced to the second "grade" where the emphasis was in high powered teaching of ball skills that had been sadly neglected at junior levels,not due to effort but lack of coaches.The third level was where they were subjected to coaching straight from NSL level for the coach employed was in fact an ex-NSL coach.This guy worked wonders with these kids so much so that when Lions fielded a team in the NSL there were always at least 3 players out of this level playing and another 3 on the bench. Now to the surprise. This team ,all amateur and mostly under 18 finished second in the "open" local league and more surprisingly were all on amateur forms,allowing them to leave if they wanted. We didn't lose any. The budget to run that system was $6000 all wages for the 3 coaches. The players were given track suits,boots,bags,and trainers. I could name at least 3 players who passed through that system who went on to play with Australia,another 3 who played under 21 with the young socceroos, and another 5 or 6 who went on to have careers in State Leagues. It can work, but unfortunately you may be right. Last week I spoke to a prominent personage from the Brisbane Strikers who told me they had little or no contact with Roar. Pity. jb
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
Me 2 - no other live sport worth watching at the moment in Sydney.
1860melbourne
Guest
In one word. Wigan!!!!
Its the game stupid
Guest
As a Syd FC Supporter ....I'm going and I'm in a packaged car !! Why? A/ Respect for Graeme Arnold B/ Mariners never had any money , yet they have been to 50% of GFs.. If you a sport fan you'd be behind them 40 million vs the battlers....go David... This is clearly the bes quality sport In Australia .. the dollars prove it ... Let see how many of the hillbilly local media give it the coverage it deserves ....
Midfielder
Guest
Jb You echo Arnolds words... I know I crap on about it at times but to the best of my knowledge their is no real connect between the A-League clubs and youth development... again it's easy for a regional team to say because we only have one association... we work with two the CCA and Wetsern NSW {Bathuurst/Orange] ... My Sydney house is quite near where STC train and a gaol kick away from Gladesville Hornsby Association home ground and where SFC train their are five or six fields and I often wonder why they don't run training camps and so on... Despite all their issues all the NSL clubs did have a youth structure me thinks its time for the A-League clubs even if at gun point be forced to connect to the associations ...
j binnie
Guest
Mid - I don't disagree with your or GA's sentiments but just a look at last year's 'imports" into the HAL belies the fact that after 8 years that is happening. That's my worry. jb
Midfielder
Guest
Jb Arnold said [its easy for him given the COE, youth academies and lack of funds] ... but Arnold said imports should only be marquee players each club should set about training locals and creating pathways .... he maybe on to something...
Ian
Guest
Philk - pretty sure Mike supports Sydney first, and a soft spot for Brisbane. and he did mention Sydney. its ok to like Brisbane. are you a MV supporter? perhaps he didnt mention it because it was a play off spot and not a game in the actual rounds of the competition and it was lost on penalties. not goals scored during regular play. and Brisbane did play crap in that game and and somehow went 120 mins without letting a goal in (well that's the genius of Theo). but the acrobatic thai keeper stopped 3 in a row, which just plainly sucked.
Realfootbal
Guest
Well we don't know that do we, because our clubs have never won the ACL. Nor are they likely to in the forseeable future. It's the club's responsibility to promote the game.
j binnie
Guest
Mike - Rather than speculate about what could happen in this particular game two factors that cannot be ignored are - (1) CCM are one of the top two teams in Australia by a proverbial mile. (2) Apart from a reasonably successful foray by Adelaide in the early days of the competition we have yet to see an impact made by any of our various contenders since that occasion. What can be taken out of these two facts???? Personally I cannot see any observation other than that which points out to the standard of play at our highest level not being equal to the highest standards in various Asian countries,& it is this factor we should be absorbing & asking, Why is that so???. We still have raw talent being produced,the endless flow to overseas clubs proves that, but once again leads us to another question, Why after 8 years of a full time professional set up,& with an extremely costly coaching programme being in vogue for 5 of those 8 years, do we still find kids attracted to the "finishing schools" far from these shores???. If this state of affairs goes on unchecked then another question pops up,Will any of our clubs EVER challenge the best in Asia if our best talent is no longer here & Asian money almost guaranteeing a better standard of "marquee" being lured to their club teams?? That is the real hub of any discussion on this subject,& although I hope CCM go out & do us proud ,from what I have seen in recent seasons they have an uphill task. Sad but true. jb
Jimmy
Guest
The crowd will be over 5k. I'm taking my two oldest kids and 5 mates so I'm doing my bit. We smashed the last Chinese side we played but the media are telling me these guys are different ....so I'm a little nervous. middy...agree about Duke but can see zero merit in playing Tesco at DM. Anyway....COYY!
Realfootbal
Guest
That was without doubt the worst of them all. As a Brisbane supporter I shudder at the memory of it. How Mulvey kept his job after that is astounding, regardless of performances since. Brisbane's performance disgraced the whole A League. It wasn't the fact that they lost, but the gutless manner of the loss.
philk
Guest
Realfootball....You know as well as I do that FFA will take all the credit when an Aleague team wins the ACL but will do damn all to help the clubs.
philk
Guest
Mike....in your summary of Australian teams' 'woeful efforts' against Asian teams in the ACL, you omitted to mention Brisbane Roar's totally hopeless effort against a very ordinary Thai team in this year's tournament. Selective amnesia? Surely not!
GZBiffo
Guest
A couple of thousand Guangzhou supporters travelled to the group stage away games this year, and there was a sizable contingent of locally based Chinese people at the one I went to in Bangkok. Australia's quite a bit further than Thailand, Japan, or Korea, but the club subsidises some travelling fans and there are a lot of young Chinese people in Sydney, so expect a large and loud away end. On expectations for the game, I'd caution against reading much into the 3-2 loss to Urawa - communication at the back can be a problem, but Guangzhou are usually much more focused than that. Urawa scored their three goals in 15 early minutes in the second half, after finding out at the break that they needed all the points to have a hope of progressing. Guangzhou were in the lead and simply had to avoid losing by more than three goals to guarantee qualification with a game to spare. They switched off just when Urawa were revving themselves up. Jiangsu beat the Cantonese club in the Super Cup with a very defensive set-up but the players didn't seem to be trying, and that approach has not been very successful since. The only team this season that has really caused Guangzhou trouble in a meaningful match was Beijing Guoan in a league away trip. They pressed them aggressively and really had them sweating. They couldn't keep the intensity up and the game ended in a draw, but that was the most vulnerable I've seen Guangzhou this year.
Realfootbal
Guest
All I hope is that the fans turn out to support the boys in what will be a tough game. They deserve a decent crowd.
Realfootbal
Guest
double post
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Middy From what I gather there's significant interest in this match from SydFC & WSW supporters - particularly those of Italian heritage - who have a fondness for Marcello Lippi. Also, I've heard several away bays have already been ticketed to Chinese students from Sydney. For such a match, the locals should be out in force, so I'm hoping you get 5-7k.