Neighbour Dave has featured in a few of my columns over the years. He is my sounding board for the daily issues that present themselves in both football and sport in general.
One of his long standing staples is a firm belief in opportunity. For Dave, the difference between an athletic career of fame and fortune or a life spent in the lower tiers occupying the pine, can sometimes be as simple as opportunity.
For every Pele, Messi or Ronaldo there are hundreds and thousands of footballers whose lives are far more mortgage and Mazdas than mansions and Mercedes. Players live in constant hope of being in that proverbial right place at precisely the right time.
Along the journey, there are windows of opportunity that present themselves. Identifying and grasping them is key and players’ careers are often decided on the whims of fate.
For some, injury, misfortune and flat out poor timing can destroy their dreams whilst others will grasp a moment with both hands and turn rocks to diamonds.
Matt Simon’s hat-trick against Central Coast United at Pluim Park last Wednesday was a perfect example of the role opportunity can play in football.
Matt Simon (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Now 32, Simon has well over two hundred A-League appearances to his name and still stands as the Central Coast Mariners’ leading goal scorer with 41. The Sydney-born striker has undoubtedly lost a yard or two of pace over the years but after three seasons with Sydney FC, he has found his way back to where it all started in 2006.
The cameo roles he played in the Graham Arnold juggernaut at Sydney looked to have cemented the belief that the sun was well and truly setting on his sometimes controversial career.
Often criticised for his enthusiastic defensive work that has chopped down many an opponent over the years, Simon built a reputation as a hatchet man in sky blue.
Sadly, the tall blonde who led the Mariners in the formative seasons of the A-League had become known as ‘Matt the axe’ and was often lampooned for his approach.
There was some truth in the moniker but in reality, Arnold was using him brilliantly. Somewhere inside the final thirty minutes, Simon would replace a tiring forward and his rather chaotic and manic entry to the game would often produce the desired result.
It was simple, primal stuff really. Send on a firebrand late to shake things up; get under a few skins and distract the opposition from their defensive duties. Defenders hated it, as Simon still had enough speed to make them accountable for even the longest and most unlikely of balls.
His time in the harbour City produced only five A-League goals from 67 matches, such was his limited and clearly defined role. Yet somewhere near what was to become the end of his journey, Simon managed to find the net once more.
It was an Asian Champions League match against the Kashima Antlers in March 2018, where we saw a brief flash of the veteran’s past and he broke a two-year goal scoring drought.
It should never be forgotten that Simon represented his country at both Olyroo and senior level. Younger A-League fans might find that hard to comprehend considering his role with Sydney, yet a striker’s instinct doesn’t fade, it just requires a club to have belief in it.
Despite appearing destined for NPL play and a potentially valuable educative and leadership role, his old stamping ground took something of a leap of faith.
Whilst most in A-League circles felt assured he had been cashiered as a top flight domestic footballer, opportunity knocked in the shape of the Central Coast Mariners.
Having watched Matt Simon for years, there is no doubt that he would have trained the house down in the pre-season and brought a tangible energy to the Mariners’ training track. His passion and enthusiasm are infectious.
Adrian Mierzejewski of Sydney trips over Matt Simon during the FFA Cup Final. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
What role Mike Mulvey has him destined to play this season is unclear. Mirroring Graham Arnold’s tactics is an option, especially considering the recent signings of Tommy Oar and Ross McCormack that add to the Central Coast’s attacking stocks.
However, perhaps Mulvey has something else planned for the Wizard of Woy Woy and his recent hat-trick could be just the beginning of a resurgence in the twilight of his career?
The quality of the opposition and the goals themselves should moderate any over-excitement at the achievement, however, for a striker it doesn’t matter.
Goals are goals and form is form.
Right now Matt Simon is in form and neighbour Dave has been proven correct once again; when people receive opportunities, they can do some pretty cool things.
Squizz
Guest
The score was CCM 1 NSM 0. McCormack was not in the country. Simon played in the later game that day against CCU. He scored a hattrick and had an assist in the 4-0 win.
feedthegoat
Roar Rookie
i was so hoping that i would learn that he had a masters in philosophy!
Trev
Guest
Ccm played north shore Mariners the other day, does any1 know the score? Did McCormack or Simon score?
Griffo
Roar Guru
"No. of elbows:" A new statistic to be added to FIFA in the next update... Matty Simon to make headlines as leading the world with six. Impact rating: 99
Fadida
Guest
They're are noted for lacking quality, not being lazy. McCormack improves the quality, Simon doesn't. He's a 4th-5th choice striker at best.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
4 of those were penalties, he was very good off set pieces outside the area. he had Kamau and then Arzani to help penetrate defences and earn fouls and penalties. City were good in defense in last year . The problem I see at the Mariners is they are noted for being lazy, while they have changed their squad they have retained the laziest players, so a lazy striker even if they score goals will mean they will concede more as well.
Fadida
Guest
Oar is wasting his time crossing for Simon. McCormack, on the other hand, scored 14 in 17 for a fairly dysfunctional City.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Matt Simon became the focal point of those with a psychological fixation with Sydney FC bordering on the mentally disturbed. When you have a group of such people being in the majority they can affect the perceptions of normal people. The facts are Simon played 630 minutes only so he is only the 14th most used player in the squad. Arnold was not smart in the way he used Simon. While Simon played well and won most aerial contests there was no one to chase the balls he knocked on, and his hold up play was very good. Thats because Arnold quite foolishly chose to leave Bobo on who did very little at the end of matches, and Simon's play was not rewarded. The whole effect was to help the opposition. There is no doubt in my mind had Bobo been replaced by Simon and Brosque left on, Sydney would have won their semi final against Melbourne. The previous season Ibini provided the spark needed for someone like Simon but Simon hardly played in the previous season. The Mariners I think they are going to have work very hard to compensate for the lazy and rotund McCormack. They would be much better advised to use Simon up front where Oars crossing would deliver the goals and then Simon can put the pressure on the opposition from the front.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
No, I meant aggression.
Fadida
Guest
Milner is no hard man. He is the classic hardworking,uber disciplined, versatile player. When Man City cruised to the title last year I'd argue there was no "hard man". Did France have one as they lifted the WC?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Gameiro (who has again been injured this preseason) still has the pace but he’s lost the ability to take a challenge. Numerous times last year he pulled up, did a u-turn, or made an unnecessary pass to avoid a defenders contact. It’s a shame, but it’s more a mental problem now ..
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Fad Please I am not even close to saying he will be a first team player.... He is what he is and at times you need that.... on the theory you don't need physical players in teams anymore ... that is a great topic for a debate. Hint for Stuart consider a small article on the need for a mix of player types in a team. Lets take Liverpool today considered by many to have the best or close to the best front 3 in the world today ... Yet they have Milner who cough cough cough is a slightly [lol] better player the Simon but he is the hard man in that Liverpool Line up... Real in last years European Cup final took out Salah and it was their hard man that did it. Interesting debate yes Fab, not the 70's anymore but no place for a hard man, hhhhmmmm me thinks not. Stuart how about it write a very brief article about do we still need the hard man in teams anymore... would be a great debating point.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
There could be more to Simon if he added a healthy dose of refinement to his behaviour
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I think what you are trying to say is that you need a Viduka style player who can take the knocks and keep going. One who possesses strength. Whereas the individual here has an uncontrollable mouth and a loose cannon temper
Fadida
Guest
Perfect response nemesis. Summarises the debate totally!
Fadida
Guest
Oh, and I hope to be proven wrong , but Gamiero is an awful signing. He's far from a technical player. His best attribute was his athleticism and hunger. Tragic injuries have probably taken the former for good.
Fadida
Guest
Mid, it seems your entire defence of him is based primarily in his ability to be an aggressive physical protector. It's not the 70's anymore. This isn't needed. His hold up play is actually quite poor, his first touch simply nowhere near good enough. He is a poor man's O'Donovan, both psychotic thugs, but one can actually play. I wouldn't want either. You could justify his inclusion in the early years at the CCM, a cheap youngster with pace and a bit of a goal threat. My issue was that it was criminal that SFC and Arnold allowed him to take the place of a younger, more talented player for so long. You can't tell me they couldn't have found a better option. SFC fans voted with their feet in this approach. They wanted Barcelona, they got Burnie (those of you that have gone through the vortex into NW Tasmania will U) . An ugly footballer who plays a role for a cash strapped underdog club. No more than that. Roy Keane was psychotic, but he was a brilliant technical player who dominated top level matches for a decade. Not a great comparison. If only Pogba had the same will to win. He offered so much more than a rabid dog chasing a car (and arriving late, every time). Again, credit to Simon for somehow making a decade long career from such limited talent though
Nemesis
Guest
Interesting question posed by Stuart. Reminds me of a similar conundrum when Elaine Benes hypothesised: Is there more to Newman than meets the eye? Jerry Seinfeld answered unequivocally: "No. There's less." I think I'd answer Stuart's question with the same unequivocal answer.
RF
Roar Rookie
Less
Fadida
Guest
You're not the only person those 6 elbows have got over the years Stuart :)