Official Central Coast Mariners Thread [R]

el-capitano · Oct 15, 2008

The Central Coast Mariners have today added versatile Italian import Andrea Merenda to their playing roster for a six-round playing stint – the European journeyman signed on as cover for long-term injury concern Ahmad Elrich for the coming two months pending an international clearance and final approval from Football Federation Australia.

Merenda, 31, has been in training with the Mariners for the past month after completing the 2007/08 Italian Serie C1 campaign with Calcio Lecco, an historic club from the north of Italy once coached by the manager that took Italy to Euro 2008 – Roberto Donadoni.

Born in Milan, Merenda has come to Australia seeking a fresh football challenge after 16 seasons in his home country that has included stints at nine clubs across various divisions – peaking with six seasons in the third-tier Serie C1, a division that once pitted Merenda against current Qantas Socceroo Carl Valeri.

Merenda, who is equally at home in defence or midfield, will not be eligible for selection for the Mariners’ Hyundai A-League clash against the Wellington Phoenix at Bluetongue Stadium on Sunday, but may soon feature in upcoming National Youth League and Hyundai A-League fixtures.

Merenda’s signing, albeit on a short-term basis, is a significant one for the Mariners, who up until today’s announcement had yet to engage the services of a foreign player made available from abroad.

Though the Mariners have German-born midfielder Andre Gumprecht on their books at present and were once home to Scotsman Stewart Petrie and Wayne O’Sullivan from the Republic of Ireland – each of the aforementioned had established playing reputations in Australia before signing on with the yellow and navy.

Indeed, should Merenda make an appearance in the Hyundai A-League during his stay on the Central Coast, he will become just the second Italian player to have contributed to the new era of football in Australia, behind former Sydney FC guest player Benito Carbone, who made a three-match cameo in 2006.

"I’m very happy, I feel very good in this group, all the players are very nice to me, the coach, the staff and the club," said Merenda.

"I said to my agent in Italy that I’d like to have an experience in Australia if that is possible, I hope to have a good experience here and I feel really good in this place.

"The Mariners team I think is a very good team, here things are good because you always try to have a smile on your face, but work hard, I think this team can do very, very well."
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http://www.footballaustralia.com.au...px?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=24205

el-capitano · Oct 15, 2008

Its CCM new week!

CENTRAL COAST coach Lawrie McKinna says sentiment will not be a factor when he decides whether to hand veteran goalkeeper Mark Bosnich an A-League swansong on Sunday.

Bosnich is desperate to play against Wellington at Bluetongue Stadium, in what is the final match of his seven-game contract with the Mariners. He faces a race against time to overcome a hamstring injury and stiff competition from fellow keeper Danny Vukovic, who returned in the Mariners youth team last week following his lengthy suspension for striking the referee in last season's grand final.

McKinna said he hoped Bosnich would be fit for selection, but admitted there were no guarantees he would be picked even if he recovered.

"There'll be no sentiment," McKinna said. "It's about winning the game and putting in the best keeper. Danny's definitely in contention, we'll just see who trains the best.

"It's a good position to be in when you've got two goalkeepers going for one spot."

McKinna said Bosnich had been "working his butt off" to recover since injuring his hamstring while taking a goal kick in last month's 4-1 win over Perth Glory.

He said the 36-year-old would return to full training tomorrow, with a selection decision likely to be left until Saturday.

"I just hope for Mark that he's fit and available for the game," McKinna said.

"There'd be nothing worse than him being here, doing well, and for his final appearance he wouldn't be fit to take part.

"That would be a shame."
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/fo...to-get-swansong/2008/10/15/1223750131395.html

el-capitano · Oct 30, 2008

nice puff piece on DYLAN MACALLISTER here........

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/fo...rways-big-chill/2008/10/30/1224956237972.html

el-capitano · Nov 14, 2008

CENTRAL Coast Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna expects battle-weary Adelaide United to try to choke his side defensively when the teams come face to face in Gosford tomorrow night.

But that won't deter McKinna from ploughing ahead with his brave attacking formation of the past few matches, vowing to again deploy three strikers - Matt Simon, Dylan Macallister and Sasho Petrovski - in an attempt to blast the opposition away.

The last time they met Adelaide raced away to a 3-0 lead, but just like in the Mariners' most recent match against Sydney FC two weeks ago, they were able to claw back with three second-half goals to walk away with a valuable point.

McKinna believes the toil of competing in the Asian Champions League will force the Reds to attempt to frustrate the Mariners by stacking numbers behind the ball.

"I'm expecting them to be quite defensive and to come here not wanting to lose," McKinna said yesterday. "They'll have some tired legs and things like that so I think it will be a very tight game from them. They'll be cautious because of their workload. The game was held in hot conditions and the boys were dead on their arse at the finish.

"They gave everything they had for their club, but I think they'll be on the defensive on Saturday night and play like they did when they've played away and had one guy up front."

McKinna believes the strain of Adelaide's heavy workload has already shown on the Reds in the past couple of weeks.

"They've obviously had a fantastic run but now it's over and they've lost their last two Asian Cup games and their match against Melbourne, too," he said. "You could even say they tired against us the last game because they were up 3-0 before we fought back, so we'll be taking this as the game of our season so far, and we'll be going in to get a result.

"If we're going to be serious at the end of the season, we need to start now because we need to finish high up and place ourselves well for the Asian Champions League, too."

McKinna's bullishness is exactly what Mariners fans would be hoping to hear after a quick glance at the table. Currently fifth, the Mariners could take Adelaide's second spot with a win, but a loss would cast them six points adrift of the top two with 10 rounds to play.
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/fo...arning-for-reds/2008/11/13/1226318839900.html

el-capitano · Dec 8, 2008

Mariners ownership news......

WELL done Central Coast Mariners. Well done Peter Turnbull and Lyall Gorman for believing in the dream, and well done Kevin McCabe for sharing in it. It's not often you get a good news story from every angle, but this is one. It wasn't that long ago the Mariners were on life support.

Now, after last week's re-structuring of their ownership model, their future is assured. The Mariners are aiming to become the A-League's version of the Green Bay Packers. A small club with big ideas putting itself ahead of the curve.

The best houses always have the strongest foundations. At the start, the Mariners didn't have money, but they did have enthusiasm, and determination. Because of that, they have become the role model of a community club - not through largesse but through sheer hard work.

It is these foundations which last year encouraged Turnbull to move his money from Sydney FC, and which this year enticed McCabe, who owns his home-town club, Sheffield United, as well as sides in China, Hungary and the UAE.

In these fraught economic times, it could be seen as folly to be spending instead of saving. But McCabe doesn't see it that way. "Football is the world game and always will be," he says. "Put it this way - I travel all the time, and I don't see its popularity waning."

Instead, McCabe sees his latest investment in the Mariners as a smart one, not a risky one. He could be right. Having dug deep into the grassroots, where they can now access a database of 60,000 players across the Central Coast and northern Sydney, the Mariners have laid their foundations. Now they have to build the house. Which is where the newly formed Mariners Trust comes in.

It is this trust, which has now assumed the majority stake in the Mariners and is owned by McCabe, Gorman and Turnbull, which will take the club to the next level. A state-of-the-art, $60 million training complex at Tuggerah is planned for starters. The first sod could be turned by this time next year.

There is also the mooted swapping of talent - both playing and coaching - between McCabe's worldwide network of clubs. Down the track, the trust would like to control the management rights to Bluetongue Stadium. But the first team won't be neglected. The trust intends to make clever investments - primarily in property - to ensure there is sufficient cash flow to make the first team "perennially successful".

With the Mariners about to make their debut in the Asian Champions League, the restructure could hardly be better timed. "Think local, act global". It's not an original slogan, but one Gorman has taken on board with a vengeance. Just days after winning last season's minor premiership - which secured passage to the ACL - the Mariners started brainstorming how they would make the most of the opportunity. They see Asia as the springboard, and intend to jump as high as they can.
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/fo...d-set-the-trend/2008/12/08/1228584743830.html

el-capitano · Dec 18, 2008

Is this the smartest of moves?

1: unhappy player might lead to unhappy dressing room
2: they could earn money from the transfer
3: why would a young up and comer sign with them if they were going to block any future move?

Not smart methinks.....

CENTRAL COAST Mariners are likely to prevent Socceroos midfielder Mile Jedinak from moving to Europe next month because they want to make an impact in the Asian Champions League.

Turkish club Genclerbirligi - who already have two Socceroos, James Troisi and Bruce Djite, on their books - are hoping to make it three by recruiting Jedinak in the January transfer window, and it's believed the player is desperate to accept the offer.

However, while the Mariners could make anywhere between $500,000 and $1 million by selling Jedinak - who is under contract for another 18 months - it's understood the club is unwilling to let him go as he is regarded as crucial to their fortunes in the ACL

Central Coast not only want to keep their squad together for their assault on Asia, but are also hoping to sign at least one, and possibly two, foreigners for their continental campaign.
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/fo...cool-on-jedinak/2008/12/18/1229189804676.html

RickChelsea · Dec 18, 2008

Dang, delete my thread on Jedinak to Turkey E-C.

My thoughts on his transfer is that he should stay.

Dannyd · Dec 25, 2008

It was natural El-Capitano that the club would try and make it clear they'd like him to stay. In the end the club did the right thing, after they had made effort to convince him to stay. In my opinion, it was worth looking at for club and player. Jedinaks salary could have been upped substantially, money that would be recouped at the end of a campaign of ACL exposure. I think he is that good. $800k is a bargain for Glencir considering what they might have to pay had we made an impact on the ACL.

On the other hand, I don't think Lawrie or the club would have let him go had we not found a reasonable replacement to be acquired fairly shortly. He filled an essential role in the team and to let him go and not replace him would be to abandon the clubs ambitions unecessarily. Fingers crossed for an announcement soon

RickChelsea · Dec 25, 2008

Andrea Merenda?

el-capitano · Dec 28, 2008

Dannyd said: ↑

It was natural El-Capitano that the club would try and make it clear they'd like him to stay. In the end the club did the right thing, after they had made effort to convince him to stay. In my opinion, it was worth looking at for club and player. Jedinaks salary could have been upped substantially, money that would be recouped at the end of a campaign of ACL exposure. I think he is that good. $800k is a bargain for Glencir considering what they might have to pay had we made an impact on the ACL.

On the other hand, I don't think Lawrie or the club would have let him go had we not found a reasonable replacement to be acquired fairly shortly. He filled an essential role in the team and to let him go and not replace him would be to abandon the clubs ambitions unecessarily. Fingers crossed for an announcement soon
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Good to have you back mate- been a while!

Dannyd · Jan 10, 2009

Thanks El-C, don't have alot of time these days to pop in, but I do so from time to time.

Conceding 4 to meow at home is painful. 2 big games for us now.

Wezza · Jan 12, 2009

Dannyd said: ↑

Thanks El-C, don't have alot of time these days to pop in, but I do so from time to time.

Conceding 4 to meow at home is painful. 2 big games for us now.
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Pffft! That's a ROAR to you mate!

el_cuscatleco · Jan 15, 2009

Central Coast Mariners chairman Lyall Gorman has admitted the A-League club are hopeful, rather than confident, of securing the services of Socceroos winger David Carney for their upcoming Asian Champions League campaign......

Link: Mariners chase Carney

RickChelsea · Feb 1, 2009

the new ACL kits, still kinda bland tbh

el-capitano · Feb 10, 2009

All week, the Mariners have drawn strength from the record books - earlier this season, they scored a 4-2 win in Brisbane, while this time last year, they had a 3-0 win against Newcastle after losing the first leg 2-0.

The Mariners have added dumped Perth Glory midfielder Nick Rizzo to their ranks for their Asian Champions League campaign. The 29-year-old spent two years on the books of English Premier League giants Liverpool before spending time at a host of lower league English and Italian clubs, including Crystal Palace, Milton Keynes and Ancona.

He returned to Australia in 2007, spending two largely uneventful years at the Glory, but the Mariners are convinced he has plenty to offer.

"Though Nick's game time at Perth was limited, we saw enough evidence of his quality to suggest that he will become a valuable contributor to our AFC Champions League campaign, where Adelaide United have shown recently that squad depth is one of the cornerstones of a successful campaign," said Mariners executive chairman Lyall Gorman.

With the player registration deadline due to pass at midnight tonight, the Mariners still have four spots left to fill after adding youth team trio Matthew Lewis, Nathan Sherlock and Brady Smith to their 30-man squad.
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/fo...-up--hutchinson/2009/02/10/1234028036249.html

zhuangzi · Feb 10, 2009

Heh, Rizzo is underrated but god, they're going to get mashed at Suncorp.

Hammybino · Apr 9, 2009

Just new to the forums for Australian A League.

I am from Scotland and working on a project for contacts for Supporters Clubs around the world and was looking for a Supporters Club for Central Coast Mariners any help appreciated

el-capitano · Apr 14, 2009

Who would've thought you'd ever see this article!

THE Central Coast Mariners' sought-after striker Matt Simon yesterday declared his loyalty to the club, saying: "I am going nowhere."

Simon has put to bed stories he was heading to the US to play for Colorado Rapids in the MLS.

"I am focused on the Asian Champions League and I still have a year of my contract to run with the Mariners," he said yesterday. "I've told the boss (Lawrie McKinna) that."

Simon said Colorado made initial contact with him and then he left it in his agent's hands.

"I am not interested right now," he said.

With the luckless Nik Mrdja tearing his hamstring yesterday in a practice match against fellow ACL competitors Newcastle Jets, Simon will be rushed back for the return match against Japan hot-shots Kawasaki Frontale in Kawasaki next Tuesday.

Another Mariner in demand, midfielder John Hutchinson, will be in Sydney today to hopefully secure a dual citizenship passport to enable him to play for Malta.

Hutchinson has been invited to play for Malta in a friendly against the Czech Republic on June 5 and in a World Cup qualifier for the European group one whipping boys against Sweden in Gothenburg five days later.

"I always wanted to play for Australia but it never happened. Why let a chance like this go by? It's a good opportunity for me," he said yesterday. Hutchinson's Maltese connection comes from his mother's side.
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http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25333508-5006068,00.html

RickChelsea · Apr 15, 2009

yeah i was discussing this with the yanks in the mls section, they originally thought he is one of our 'best' prospects, and one of the best players in the a-league. i had to put the lot of them straight

el-capitano · Apr 30, 2009

THe coach of the Central Coast Mariners, who have not won a competitive match this year, says it's time to shake up the playing group as they head towards a rapid exit from the Asian Champions League and prepare for the next A-League season.

The Mariners have long held stability and loyalty in the highest regard, and their conservative ethos has served them well, yielding two grand final appearances in four years.

However, their failure to take the next step domestically and their inability to make an impression in Asia have led to questions being asked by the club hierarchy about the changes required to produce success.

Mariners' executive chairman Lyall Gorman said last week it was time to "refresh" the squad, and although some may find it a surprise, coach Lawrie McKinna agrees the time has come.

"We're on the hunt for players from both here and from overseas who can improve the squad. We need to find a balance between new and existing players."

"We've already started looking for some players to help fill in, although there's not much available elsewhere in the A-League. We'll probably look at the lower leagues in England and see if there's any interest."

While the Mariners squad is set to be cut down after the ACL, McKinna might also lose Danny Vukovic, Matt Simon and Dean Heffernan - all fringe Socceroos .
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/fo...ift-and-rebuild/2009/04/29/1240982277116.html

el-capitano · Apr 30, 2009

Central Coast Mariners have tabled an offer for 22-year-old English midfielder Nicky Travis, who is about to be released on a free transfer by Sheffield United. Travis recently spent a month on trial at Gosford.

The Mariners have also continued negotiations with New Caledonian national team captain Pierre Wajoka. The 30-year-old AS Magenta striker-midfielder is expected to be in Gosford for a trial towards the end of this month, after the group stage of the Asian Champions League.
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/fo...to-glory/2009/04/30/1240982345922.html?page=2

zhuangzi · Apr 30, 2009

Pfft, you expect me to believe the Mariners will actually sign foreigners and then play them?

el-capitano · May 6, 2009

CENTRAL Coast Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna believes that while his side isn't far off the pace of the top Asian sides, bolstering his squad with new signings is the only way the Gosford club will be able to take the next step.

The Mariners battled gamely against Pohang Steelers in their penultimate Asian Champions League group match yesterday in a hot Pohang in South Korea but found the going too much, copping two late goals to lose 3-2.

After years of stability, McKinna has recently conceded changes must be made to his squad if they want to be able to compete in the A-League and in Asia.

"We're not that far away, it's just those little mistakes we keep making," he said. "And that's one of the reasons why we have to get new players in. We need to get a bit of discipline and grunt in there again, because we are too nice a team."
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/fo...r-coach-mckinna/2009/05/05/1241289167164.html

zhuangzi · May 6, 2009

Mack ScKinna

SoundersBeliever · May 6, 2009

Last time the Central Coast won a game in any competition: December 31, 2008 against Perth.
Just saying.