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.
MatthewSkellett
Guest
The Two MF Sauce Bottles are the most loved of the permanent bench players for CCM and they don't even have to talk ;-)
Evan Askew
Guest
I have no love for Central coast thanks to their insolence in scoring 2 goals in extra time against Brisbane in the grand final of 2010-11. But screw SBS and the Melbourne and Sydney mafia for their criticism of Central Coast. I would wager that Central Coasts worst season average attendance eclipses anything by South Melbourne, Marconi, Melbourne Croatia, Sydney Croatia and Sydney Olympic. (I just want to say I am not opposed to ethnic clubs. Many "mainstream Aussies refused to support the NSL because of the existence of ethnbic clubs, not because those ethnic clubs didn't make efforts to broaden their support base) The fact is that Central COast achieve support which indispensable to top flight Australian football. To cut Central Coast adrift would be madness.
Midfielder
Guest
Already voted one of the 10 most beautiful stadiums in the world.. http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/features/12-most-beautiful-football-stadiums-world#jWsAKp9Yd78B9wrU.99#:UZ10yxp0oqdviA
Luke Gaskett
Roar Rookie
"world’s best-located club" This is the most contentious issue out of all of the things you just said.
Midfielder
Guest
Agree Stevo a lot of work to do ... but hold the faith MC has a five year plan and year 1 last year was the year of great pain... this year less pain by the fifth year we have won a title
Midfielder
Guest
Pure BS .... he was essentially a bench player this season for us .... he wanted a chance to be a first team player and MC have given him that chance and with Fitzy and AC already there combinations and understanding are to a large extent established You are sooooooooooooo farrrrrrrrrrrr off the mark with that comment ...
Midfielder
Guest
Double post I think my post went to the M's so in case it does not escape here it is again. All teams have bad patches, the Mariners last season arguably the worst. Even allowing for TW and Moss we are still third on the table of results for HAL…. we have produced more Socceroos than any other A-League club, and have many of our top players in other Hal clubs today. The fans saying on the Coast is… Nobody rates us We don’t care… From the start with Mrs Football and her cohorts from Hal 1 questioning why a CC team in a RL heartland… we have every year some idiot who thinks their brand of Football knowledge and understanding of history is so superior and announce to the world the Mariners should be sent back to the beach to surf or something similar. No club has invested in a national training facility anything like ours and its operational today not pie in the sky stuff, two stages to go yet but when totally finished will rival any academy in the world. What does surprise me is the Mariners are more like old NSL teams than any other club… always had from Hal 1 junior teams and from Hal 2 an academy and a close connection to our association. The coach is gone and I think a new coach will be brought in… suffice to say in-spite of all the football elite experts snipping coffee from their inner city cafes the Mariners have a plan and if anyone cared to listen it has been said many times. However its far to easy to ignore what the club is actually doing and kick the RL heartland non ethnic beach team. The coach has gone he was the main issue I believe and a new coach can be found. Just as an aside someone from the Melbourne Knights the other day with great pride and I respect the pride and pay honour to the young side that won an NSL competition and he said no other Australian team can match this … Try this … Ryan, Wilkson, Sainsbury, Rogic, Musty, Bernie, Olly B, weeMac ….. not bad and I rate this side as good for youth as the famed Melbourne Knights and again massive respect to the MK’s. So Mr Marth consider yourself told … and we don’t give a Ryan Brits about your opinion there is a plan in place and this year will be better than last. Also from the deep cold heartless town that is the AFL dominated southern Mexico I suggest you take a trip as the article head says “”””Paradise”.. please come and enjoy this part of our great country… Link to the CC… enjoy.. https://www.google.com.au/search?q=bergoogle+imagines&espv=2&biw=1821&bih=857&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1qoeUrb3OAhWHkJQKHWmxBiYQ_AUIBigB&dpr=0.75#tbm=isch&q=central+coast+nsw
Midfielder
Guest
All teams have bad patches last year the Mariners bad patch was arguably the worst. Even allowing for TW and Moss we are still third on the table of results for HAL.... we have produced more Socceroos than any other A-League club, and have many of our top players in other Hal clubs today. The fans saying on the Coast is... Nobody rates us We don't care... From the start with Mrs Football and her cohorts from Hal 1 questioning why a CC team in a RL heartland... we have every year some idiot who thinks their brand of Football knowledge and understanding of history is so superior and announce to the world the Mariners should be sent back to the beach to surf or something similar. No club has invested in a national training facility anything like ours and its operational today not pie in the sky stuff, two stages to go yet but when totally finished will rival any academy in the world. What does surprise me is the Mariners are more like old NSL teams than any other club... always had from Hal 1 junior teams and from Hal 2 an academy and a close connection to our association. The coach is gone and I think a new coach will be brought in... suffice to say in-spite of all the football elite experts experts snipping coffee from their inner city cafes the Mariners have a plan and if anyone cared to listen it has been said many times. However its far to easy to ignore what the club is actually doing and kick the RL heartland non ethnic beach team. The coach has gone he was the main issue I believe and a new coach can be found. Just as an aside someone from the Melbourne Knights the other day with great pride and I respect the pride and pay honour to the young side that won an NSL competition and he said no other Australian team can match this ... Try this ... Ryan, Wilkson, Sainsbury, Rogic, Musty, Bernie, Olly B, weeMac ..... not bad and I rate this side as good for youth as the famed Melbourne Knights and again massive respect to the MK's. So Mr Marth consider yourself told ... and we don't give a Ryan Brits about your opinion there is a plan in place and this year will be better than last. Also from the deep cold heartless town that is the AFL dominated southern Mexico I suggest you take a trip as the article head says """"Paradise".. please come and enjoy this part of our great country... Link to the CC... enjoy.. https://www.google.com.au/search?q=bergoogle+imagines&espv=2&biw=1821&bih=857&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1qoeUrb3OAhWHkJQKHWmxBiYQ_AUIBigB&dpr=0.75#tbm=isch&q=central+coast+nsw
Dominic Unwin
Roar Pro
No doubt that Rose loves the club but something must have been going on (i.e. disagreement over the direction/philosophy) to have him leave. Either that or he wanted success, something he was obviously not going to get at the Mariners.
Mahler
Guest
Why were Pain, Faty and Tavares left on the bench against Green Gully? Three top players freezing on the sidelines.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Cup competitions are meant to produce whacky, surprising results. And they do the world over. Marth's comment is self-serving and irrelevant but CCM do have a lot of work to do no doubt.
Squizz
Guest
So I gather Andrew Marth's application for the manager's job was unsuccessful. As for Josh - all the best to a true gentleman and maybe you should read what he said about the Coast, the club and the fans.