A-League preview: Central Coast Mariners

Last season, Central Coast had an improved squad but finished last. They did well in creating chances in the front third, but they could have improved their finishing with a defence that was led poorly by departed captain Alan Baro.

Last season’s position
Tenth place with 28 goals scored and 49 goals conceded.

Finals series
N/A.

FFA Cup
Round of 32 in 2017, Round of 32 in 2018.

Summary
In the offseason, Central Coast has lost several key players which include goalkeeper Tom Glover, defenders Josh Rose, Storm Roux, Alan Baro and Jacob Poscoliero, midfielders Lachlan Wales, Liam Rose, Wout Brama and Daniel De Silva on loan and attackers Trent Buhagiar, Blake Powell and Peter Skapetis.

They have replaced these players by signing goalkeeper Joe Gauci, defenders Jack Clisby and Jonathan Asprotamitis from Western Sydney and Malian Kalifa Cisse from Thailand with experience in England.

Former New Zealand international midfielder Michael McGlinchey joins from Wellington Phoenix, including Aiden O’Neill from Burnley.

Attackers Corey Gamerio, Matt Simon, Jordan Murray, Matthew Millar and Mario Shabow made the transfer domestically with the latter transferring from the rival Newcastle Jets.

And of course, there’s Usain Bolt.

Good news for Central Coast is that their player of the year Ben Kennedy is still at the club, who kept five clean sheets in 23 appearances and made a number of good saves. In addition, with the return of in-form Pain and the signing of Michael McGlinchey, Central Coast should have no problem creating chances for Matt Simon.

Central Coast must answer if Matt Simon is up to the task to score. Having a quality striker was an issue for Central Coast for many seasons.

In addition, for many seasons Central Coast was defensively vulnerable, conceding around 50 goals in each of them. Unfortunately for them, they exited the FFA Cup Round of 32 for the fourth consecutive time, a disappointing 3-0 loss to quarterfinalists, Adelaide United.

Players
Top scorer: Blake Powell, Andrew Hoole, Connor Pain (4).

Top assister: Andrew Hoole (5). Most minutes, Jake McGing (1,962).

Most passes: Alan Baro (1,290).

Transfer window grade: Very poor.

Central Coast lost a lot of first-team players and talented youngsters. Their replacements have either struggled for game time in the past, or they are past their best.

(AAP Image/Darren Pateman)

Squad
GKs: 1) Ben Kennedy, 12) Adam Pearce, 24) Joe Gauci

DEFs: 2) Jonathan Aspropotamitis, 3) Jack Clisby, 4) Jake McGing, 5)
Antony Golec, 15) Kye Rowles, 18) Matt Millar, 20) Kalifa Cisse, 26) Josh Nisbet, 27) Alec Vinci, 29) Lewis Miller.

MIDs: 6) Tom Hiariej, 13) Aiden O’Neill, 14) Adam Berry, 22) Jacob Melling, 28) Charles M’Mombwa.

AM/WIs: 7) Andrew Hoole, 8) Michael McGlinchey, 11) Connor Pain, 17) Peter Kerkeris, 23) Mario Shabow.

STs: 16) Josh Macdonald, 19) Matt Simon, 21) Corey Gameiro, 25) Jordan Murray.

Predicted best eleven: 4-2-3-1
1) Ben Kennedy, 3) Jack Clisby, 4) Jake McGing, 5) Antony Golec, 6) Tom Hiraiej, 7) Andrew Hoole, 8) Michael McGlinchey, 11) Connor Pain, 19) Matt Simon, 20) Kalifa Cisse, 22) Jacob Melling.

Prediction
Tenth place. Important players have departed and their replacements don’t look like they can fill that void.