Dear oh dear, just what is going on at the Central Coast Mariners?
Just days after sacking manager Tony Walmsley, the head honchos at Terrigal have agreed to release veteran Josh Rose.
Rose’s departure was not a tactical decision but one made by the man himself.
How could things have got so bad that one of your club legends, at age 34, would rather pack up and leave then play out his days with one of the world’s best-located clubs?
Rose’s request to terminate his contract and link-up with Melbourne City, where he will be hard-pressed to start, could well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back as the Mariners attempt to keep things together as the season approaches.
Let’s take a look at the issues facing Central Coast.
Tony Walmsley
Let’s start with the obvious one, the lack of a coach. Purely looking at results, Walmsley’s sacking was never going to raise any eyebrows.
Last season’s record of three wins from 27 matches is not the stuff of long-serving mangers but given the circumstances it shouldn’t have come into consideration.
Walmsley and the Mariners announced loud and clear their intention to rebuild at the start of season 2015-16 and blooded a host of youngsters. This invariably led to their miserable record but throughout the year the Mariners board and in particular owner Mike Charlesworth stated their support for Walmsley and what he was trying to achieve.
Those ambitions looked to have stepped up a notch after the off-season signings of Michael Taveres and Jacques Faty, both from Sydney FC, added some much-needed experience and backbone to Central Coast’s defence.
Two players do not make a team however, and the loss of the talented Mitch Austin combined with their dreadful result against Green Gully in the FFA Cup pointed to another miserable campaign.
Although results hadn’t seemed too much a problem for the board, Walmsley’s tense relationship with a number of senior players looks to have played a part in the decision. Veteran custodian Liam Reddy was let go after a clash of opinions and Austin had seen enough and wanted out. Rose’s departure seems to be just the latest in a long-list of break-ups at Terrigal.
Walmsley guaranteed youth and an attacking style of play that would put bums on seats. It was an ambitious and positive attitude but one that the Mariners were woefully under-equipped for. It was only a matter of time really.
Too many youngsters
As mentioned above the Mariners should be applauded for putting their faith in youth but don’t seem to know when to stop. Their Championship-winning team of 2012-13 contained an excellent crop of youngsters but mixed it with experienced campaigners such as Patrick Zwaanswijk, John Hutchinson and obviously Rose.
Last season’s squad simply had too much inexperience and the senior crop of Nick Montgomery, Fabio Ferreira and Luis Garcia had far too much to do. Finances obviously hold the Mariners back but success requires investment. Will the addition of cousins Faty and Taveres help ease the burden?
Competitiveness
Very much in tune with the squad’s makeup are the results. The Mariners simply didn’t have the ability to execute Walmsley’s high-tempo brand of football. Sure Roy O’Donovan and Fabio Ferraira both know how to finish but the ball needs to get forward somehow.
Again much will rest on Taveres and the combinations he forms with fellow midfielders Montgomery and Liam Rose.
Results on the field determine more than points however and Melbourne Knights coach Andrew Marth’s recent comments raise questions over the Mariners’ future. S
peaking in the wake of Central Coast’s elimination at the hands of NPL minnows Green Gully, Marth labelled the Mariners as an “embarrassment” and re-ignited the debate about promotion and relegation. Last season’s points haul of 13 simply wasn’t good enough for a side playing in the top division.
Marth added that “you would’ve looked at the Mariners and you wouldn’t know if they are an A-League team or an NPL team.” It was a big call but hardly inaccurate.
After enduring the pre-season from hell, Central Coast will do well to not collect a second-consecutive wooden spoon.
If the above issues can be addressed in the hiring of a strong coach, a more realistic game-plan and an experienced midfield signing, there’s no reason why the Mariners can’t once again punch above their weight.
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