The upcoming round of 32 clash in late August between Blacktown City and the Central Coast Mariners has all the making of a cup upset.
Central Coast have come back down to earth after an amazing A-League season last term with the coach and a raft of big-name players leaving the club in the past couple of months.
If ever there was a good time to face an A-League club in the FFA Cup, it’s this round with many A-League teams just starting pre-season training as well as a host of players transferring in and out.
The Mariners will be in for a fight against the club with the all-black strip and they know first hand how tricky the Demons are in the FFA Cup as they were bundled out by this very club in the FFA Cup in 2017.
City was formed in 1953 and has always been a very competitive club in NSW.
They have been premiers, champions and runners up in league and cup competitions several times in their near 70-year existence and have produced a lot of Australian international players.
The 2021 incarnation of Blacktown City is one that the Mariners need to be very careful of and playing anything less than a full-strength team could see the Mariners be knocked out and sent on their way back to Gosford with their tails between their legs.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
City currently sit top of the NSW NPL, four points clear of their nearest rival with a superior goal difference.
They are the highest scoring team in the division with 36 goals from 17 games and they also possess the measliest defence with 17 goals conceded so far.
The Demons are coached by one of the legends of NSW football coaching, Mark Crittenden.
Crittenden recently hit the 300-game coaching milestone and has held a variety of different coaching roles within the club.
His time with the junior sides saw talent like Matt Ryan, Mustafa Amini, Mitchell Duke and Bernie Ibini come through the Demons’ door under his watchful eye and this mantra has continued on with a raft of young players in the fist team currently.
Crittenden is yet another NPL coach who has the talent to coach an A-League team.
When you talk about the best NPL teams in the country this season, player for player, Blacktown City is right up there in the equation.
Former Mariners player Travis Major is the second top scorer in the league with 12 goals in only 15 games. This is Major’s third stint with Blacktown City and he has always consistently scored goals and has overseas experience in Hong Kong.
Major has had help from a good mix of young and mature players in the Demons’ squad.
The diminutive Mario Shabow has chipped in with four goals and has looked like the player that three A-League clubs have already taken a chance on. At 23 years of age now, the child prodigy has fully matured and it would come as no surprise to see a fourth A-League club try and get the best of his talent.
At the other end of the pitch, Lachlan Campbell is a name that has been linked with A-League clubs but he is still playing in the NSW NPL. He is one of the best defenders in any NPL team in this country and has contributed with four goals.
Carlos De Oliveria, Jackson Bandiera, Suleyman Bangura and the ever-green Charles Mendy have all had their moments so far this season.
Blacktown’s ground, the Lily’s Football Centre, has artificial turf and this can be a very uncomfortable experience for professional players in Australia, as artificial turf pitches are still not that common.
If the Mariners underestimate the team in all black, they could be in for a torrid time. The Demons have enough quality to frighten most teams in the FFA Cup.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Brisbane Roar field teams in all age groups, they're my team. Redlands are my second choice and Brisbane City my sentimental club.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
get out and support your local, there is nothing better than the sense of community spirit at a local NPL club - its what is missing from franchised a league teams well besides the free parking, cheap beer and hamburger/kebab options haha
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
they had a grand vision, to get to the A League, and were going so well. I don't know what's happened, I'm more a casual supporter after Roar and Roar academy teams in the NPL.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
they'll do well to avoid the drop this season, at least they can see the team below them and above them so there is hope. couple of decent midfielders in guilherme & boroni, need to find a more consistent goal scorer though
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
funny with Redlands Andy. They play at (adjoining) the local showgrounds and some grounds shared with the High School in a good central location. Redlands Council recently invited sports clubs to relocate to a new sporting complex, not far from me but away from public transport etc. The proposed facilities look very good, plenty of fields, club house, change rooms, etc. But Redlands FC weren't interested. The rugby leaguer club took up the offer. I'm guessing ready access was their problem, for parents of their juniors, but they won't be able to complain inm the future, about facilities.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
but its about this upcoming round of 32 matches lol
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
no, they're off the boil with their players in high demand elsewherre, but you're writing about giant killers Andy, and Redlands would have to be the biggest one, but as I say, Adelaide bias will keep quiet about that for now
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
Last time I checked redlands didn't make this round lol
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Greatest win was my local side, Redlands knocking out the then reigning champions, Adelaide but you won't write about that, southern bias
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Still remember BC Demons smashing Nixs in a friendly a few years back, Very good side and i will be watching them to pull the upset over CCM.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
de silva, nigro, clisby, koul all had wonderful campaigns last season. All 4 are losses for the a club the size of mariners. thats 4 first team players missing, most clubs will struggle if they lose 4 first choice players add to that tonyik been accused of an assault on a young lady (which is why he was dropped from the olympics) it will be interesting if the club stands by him, if he is found guilty. all im saying is it wouldnt come as too much of a shock if the demons win this match
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
no ones underestimating them, they have the best chance out of any NPL team this round to knock out a league opposition - mariners looks ripe for the picking
josh
Guest
My home town has always punched above it's weight, taken down 2 A League club's so far and nearly took down WSW, underestimate us at your peril. Demon's Den has slowly been growing in numbers too, we'll be there.
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
The new name is to be announced at this year's final I believe..
Tekkers
Roar Rookie
When you say big name players leaving the club, only Stefan Nigro, Jack Clisby, Kuol, possiably Ruon Tongyik and Michal Janota left?? All our big names resigned for multiple seasons Birriz, Urena, Bozanic, Stensness, Nisbet, Rowles, Hall and we pulled Muller who is huge for the club.. Get your facts straight please. Clisby was alright but we sniped Noah Smith so ill take it, and we have Lewis miller and Mat Hatch at RB, so all good there. midfield is the exact same, just waiting for Bouman to resign and that's it, everyone else is the same from last year except I think Dan hall will replace Ruon which is no problem he's a future Socceroo
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i think the difference there is Australia has a lot more 'clout' in europe when it comes to goalkeepers then it does attacking players. When players are being spoken about in australia, a european football directors ears will prick up when they hear australian goalkeeper rather than australian striker. you could ask a small european team what position does australia produce players in and i bet 9/10 they say goalkeeper. trying to get our attackers out there is the hard point. The competition is fierce and a lot of times they are going to the wrong club for their own development
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Just on players going overseas ... For me I have always believe establish yourself as a starter in the A-L, and then most important go to the right club to both develop you and give you game time... Matty Ryan sort guidance from both Paul Okon and Robbie Slatter about his first move overseas and got those players to put in a good word for him... Hate seeing players go to a top league top club in Europe when they are still struggling for a starting A-League position...
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
blacktown tick all the boxes for succesful youth developement (they have for decades) for a club of its size they punch well above there weight and thats been shown with the amount of players that have come through the system. your story is not uncommon of international scouts attending matches, i can confirm 100% they do. You'll find someone connected to a scout at most significant NPL matches - let alone a league matches. off topic but when adelaide united youth played campbelltown city in the SA NPL, there were multiple interstate scouts/coaches there who i knew lol When Al-Hassan and Mohammed Toure were first showing signs of prominence, the club had been in discussion with PSG, so much so that one of there scouts frederic hebert was sent to adelaide to view them up close (nice guy, his english was better than my french lol) they tabled an offer for both of them as well as prodiginous younger brother Musa - it was rejected by the boys dads. Frederics no longer a scout for PSG, but he will send the occasional email about the boys progress, the french interest has dried up as both Al & Mo are struggling through injuries, young musa has been running amuck in the NPL reserves; hes technically a much better player than his older brothers - hes the real jewel of the family
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Very true... AA, strange or more usual, back when BD's were in the NSL, I was at one of their games against Olympic ... through the match is somewhat unimportant... anyWho a regular at the ground I knew by sight and had sometimes had a conversation with... This particular day he is with a small group of people I had never seen and at the next match I said your new mates did not wanta come back.... he replied they were officials from West Ham doing a sorta world tour looking at random games to see were they could find new players... Have always assumed he was telling the truth ... and no idea how many matches they went too...
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
crittenden oversaw all the boys you mentioned, very surprised he still hasnt had too much of a look in from a league clubs. Once monty gets the sack from the mariners gig, i'd be on the phone to crittenden