The paltry 3703 Mariners fans who sat in the barren stands at Gosford on Saturday night have every right to be concerned after their side’s 8-2 loss to Wellington and the subsequent sacking of coach Mike Mulvey.
As an extreme hypothetical, what’s to stop Football Federation Australia from stepping in and revoking Central Coast’s licence? This is their second massive loss in 12 months.
Surely the Mariners wouldn’t want to be tarred with the same brush that smeared Clive Palmer at Gold Coast United or Nathan Tinkler at Newcastle Jets?
If you agree with Australian football club rankings The Pecking Order, the yellow and navy army are currently languishing in 16th place. Even National Premier League Victoria club Avondale FC are above them in lucky 13th position.
Thankfully, however, similar to Wellington Phoenix, supporters of the A-League can take comfort in the knowledge that rebuilding a club is possible.
Off the pitch one of the first casualties in a catastrophic loss is usually the coach. Mike Mulvey’s recent form has been less than impressive, but his overall managerial experience can’t be questioned.
Remember that this is the same manager who won the premiers plate and championship with Brisbane Roar. Out of the last four coaches at the Mariners, the previous three being Paul Okon, Tom Walmsley and Phill Moss, Mulvey was the most successful. This includes his former A-League and W-League coach of the year award.
The Mike Mulvey bashing needs to stop.
Undoubtedly the Mariners’ most prosperous period was during the Graham Arnold tenure, and in January former player Patrick Zwaanswijk shed some light on why Arnold’s time at Gosford was prosperous for The World Game.
“When Graham Arnold was coach he had control over everything that was football related. He made all the decisions around the football side of things,” he said.
Who pulls the strings at Gosford?
Former Central Coast Mariners coach Mike Mulvey? (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Last year, as Paul Okon sadly departed the Mariners, Fox Sports expert Robbie Slater made a passing comment in regards to owner Mike Charlesworth.
“In my opinion, Mike Charlesworth has a decision to make. He did not give this man (Okon) the resources needed to make it a more competitive and equitable team in this competition,” he said.
“It’s what Charlesworth doesn’t spend that is the problem.”
Running an A-League team costs lots of money, and it’s very possible Charlesworth has been quite frugal with his funds.
Maybe it’s time to sell the club? The rebuild starts now.
TheGuru
Roar Rookie
they cant be fixed
David V
Guest
No it's just a problem many A-League fans who get defensive about the league do. They think anyone pointing out the cold, hard reality must be an AFL/NRL/Eurosnob type, then wonder why the sport continues to shoot itself in the foot in this country. Don't get me wrong, I love the A-League as much as any football supporter. The rubbish being spouted about the Usain Bolt circus is that a) it would steal a march on other codes and b) it would give the A-League headlines around the world. On point b), I would say that it speaks volumes about a pathetic insecurity that Australian football has about itself. Why are professional leagues in Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, etc not obsessed with this kind of "validation" as a way of bringing fans through the gate? I don't see this in a place like Paraguay, Colombia, Mexico, Poland, Sweden, Egypt, Morocco or any other place you care to name. Forget AFL, NRL and the media - football in Australia continues to be its own worst enemy by virtue of its own insecurity and lack of confidence in itself. The attempt to appear "outside the box" with gimmicks isn't clever, it's treating fans like idiots.
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
What possible effect would Usain Bolt playing soccer in Gosford during the summer have on the AFL?
David V
Guest
When you need to call people "AFL stooges" for having a critical or realistic view of things it actually shows a lack of confidence in the league and the game. The short-termism is what's hurting our league. Too much of an obsession with chasing names and sugar hits as opposed to ensuring sustainable clubs and league is the issue here. What would Usain Bolt have brought except make the league look even more of a joke?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Well 6000 turned up to a pre season for the Mariners for the first time, imagine if he had been signed. When you see all the AFL stooges coming in to deride Bolt you know the AFL was deeply worried the MAriners would have signed Bolt and got massive interest as a result. Wasn't the argument that Folau was signed for the publicity, a man who could not kick the ball and has the worst kicking accuracy in the history of the AFL. Also came last in the fitness runs alongside blokes 10-20 kilos heavier than him. Bolt is easily worth 100 times more than Folau publicity wise and would be easily a better player than Folau in AFL . The income and attention for Bolt plus his professionalism would have meant the Mariners would have had to perform better. So what is this theory of yours that the Mariners lost 8-2 because Bolt was there in the pre season, the players were distracted and 20 weeks into the season they lost 8-2 because they were dreaming of Bolt during the game . None of that makes the slightest sense.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
As I said at the start of the season, dabbling in circuses like Bolt, never, ever ends well. They were my exact words. It's a distraction for the coaching staff, a distraction for all the players, weeks out from the start of the season - it's never a good thing. The millions of likes on social media, massive worldwide exposure measured in the billions of dollars...and 3,000 turn up to a game.
jbinnie
Guest
Waz- It always amazes me somewhat when MM is credited with winning prizes in season 13/14. As you know, I firmly believe it is players who win championships and in that situation MM was extremely lucky simply because he inherited a team put together by AP. ,in season 12/13 Here are some names for you of players that played in both seasons--Theo,Smith,Steffanuto,Franjic,Berisha, Brioch,Henrique,also Mackay and North signed as replacements for experienced players who had moved on, with Donnachie, Brattan, and Brown signed for the future. As you are aware, since those halycon days, Roar's fortunes have steadily slipped down the ladder of success. Unfortunately there is a deeper reason for these "slides". The "quiet edict" put out by the FFA that, where possible,ex-socceroos and or locals, should be employed in the game ,has seen more than a few of these "personalities" fall by the coaching wayside. Think about the list of who has come and gone in such positions. Cheers jb.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The Mariners are victims, the thousands of stooges that came out to big note themselves by bashing the Mariners over Bolt have set up the current situation. Every single one of them probably did not bother to watch a Mariners match or show them the slightest interest except when they can use the Mariners as a soundboard for whatever dirty agenda they have.
Waz
Roar Rookie
“Mike Mulvey’s recent form has been less than impressive, but his overall managerial experience can’t be questioned” Yes it can, and absolutely they should be. His fitness coach walked out on him in preseason, there’s a poor culture within the team, and he lost the dressing room weeks ago .... similar events to his time in Brisbane. I’m not doubting there are many challenges at CCM, but Mulvey has to come under scrutiny
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Buy the stadium and you're sorted.