GA and the Russians

[pjennings]

First of all Smithies still is the only source. Cockerill (who is closer to Arnie) has a story that GVE is Sydney's backup plan.

Second - no to GVE - never rated - never will.

 

[adz]

Good point, hard to know what to believe and what to ignore really. Might be true, might not. I've got thoughts on a replacement but will hold off on that discussion until it has been confirmed either way by the club.

For me (as others have mentioned) the bigger loss would be Clark & Crawley. In the early seasons it was pretty rare for Lawrie to be able to pick the same team every week, but those few times it happened we put in solid performances and got results. Remember when we had so many injuries once, we registered 38 y/o assistant coact Ian Ferguson as an injury replacement? Ironically... for Andrew Clark!

Arnie has pretty much been able to name the whole squad every week since he has been here, and the team on the park has been very stable. How much of that is down to the brilliant work of Andrew Clark?

 

[garlo]

imagine if lawrie is then announced as our new coach . . .basically the mariners were used for graham reputation haha so everyone will forget Beijing . . .enjoy the pay packet arnie but leave crawley moss and clark!

 

[Forum Phoenix]

The A-League which is struggling already will not survive if teams keep continually cannibalising each other rather than finding their own talent.

After coping with the difficulties he has had to put up with, I don't think he owes us anything at all, and he leaves with my gratitude and respect. Though also my strong disappointment. And I sincerely think it will prove a mistake. Be interesting to see if this turns out to be a poisoned chalice or not. However the cannibalising line is very true. This is world football, which when I reminded my irate son at the news of Arnie's imminent departure, I gave his beloved Man United as just one example of a team that is hated for poaching good players. However he made the excellent point, that yes, but they are a great team,Sydney just think they are.

I think this might cost us Rogic as said. With Arnie gone when MV throw cash and Ange at him, hard to see him staying. @$$# But I think Dutchy has a year left, settled, loves the coast and may be quite content for his swan song o be here under another coach rather than just relocate or throw it in when he can get another years good wages doing what he loves.

So...onwards, who wants to coach the premier team, with the hottest youth in the country coming through the premiere youth side, while living in one of the most beautiful beachside areas in Australia, getting to go and coach in the international football arena, and be a part of helping grow an Australian first and flagship facility in the COE??

Anyone?

All we need is the Russians to come to the party, sign a good coach, and a marquee striker - and it's business as usual - chewing bubblegum, kicking ass, and taking names.

 

[pjennings]

The word is that Anderson had agreed terms with Arnie but was still not completed with CCM and that he will be following Arnie. Good young CB - I hope the rumour isn't true. Patrick is also off contract - though he seems to love the coast - so we can hope he stays.

 

[cbowden9000]

Bring Lawrie back. It's not like there are any other amazing options out there.

 

[adz]

Interesting stuff on the licence, GA and the Russians.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/central-coast-mariners-chairman-peter-turnbull-denies-he-is-on-verge-of-handing-back-his-licence/story-e6frf4gl-1226340509954

Central Coast Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull denied he is on the verge of handing back to Football Federation Australia the licence to run the financially embattled club.

Speculation was rife that Turnbull, who said he has invested $6 million in the club, had had enough and wants to offload the Mariners amid concerns a potential lifeline deal with a Russian group had fallen over.

Turnbull has been in negotiations with the Russians to sell a 50 per cent stake in the club since November, but the deal has apparently stalled because the group has been unable to process the funds.

It's the last thing FFA needs in light of the events of the past six months which has seen the axing of Gold Coast United and the decision by billionaire Nathan Tinkler to hand back the licence for the Newcastle Jets.

With FFA committed to funding a western Sydney franchise next season and possibly the Jets, having to take over the Mariners would place a huge burden on its budget, which is already stretched.

The Mariners have had financial issues for most of the season but were hoping to resolve that through the deal with the Russians, who have strong links with Spartak Moscow.

Turnbull, who has been reluctant for much of the season to talk in-depth about the situation at the club, went on the front foot yesterday, telling The Australian he has no intention of giving back the licence and that the sell-off deal is still alive.

"Why do people want to kill off this club?" Turnbull said.

"We are doing great things. We are halfway through finishing a $70m development that will make the Mariners the envy of the A-League.

"So to say I am going to hand back the licence . . . I am not handing it back. We are in for the long haul."

Asked about the situation regarding the sale of the club, Turnbull denied he was getting nervous.

"No, I am not nervous," he said.

"They are contracted to invest.

"But they are still waiting for the processing of the funds from overseas."

Turnbull said there was some frustration that the money had not been forthcoming.

"It is taking longer than we anticipated and longer than we had hoped," he said.

Asked at what point does he tell the investors he needs an answer and when does he start worrying, Turnbull replied: "I am in daily contact with them. The minute they don't take my calls, the minute they say they are not committed, I guess . . . but that's not the case."

Turnbull, a prominent property investor and developer with a lifelong passion for soccer, admitted the A-League's problems could be having some impact on the Russian deal.

"Probably," he said.

"You would think it would make it more difficult."

Adding to the Mariners' woes is the fact that the club is unlikely to retain coach Graham Arnold, who is expected to be named Sydney FC boss within a week.

Arnold has been offered close to $400,000 to take on the Sky Blues, money Central Coast simply cannot afford.

"I spoke to Graham on Tuesday and there is no change to the situation," Turnbull said.

"We are still having talks."

Main points for me
* "Why do people want to kill off this club?" -- I'd like to know this too.
* The Russians are under contract to invest but *something* is holding up the money.
* Sydney are really pushing Arnie. There are no guarantees Sydney's offer would be matched even if the investment dollars came through now, but the hold-up in investment could help tip the decision for Arnie.
* "We are in for the long haul" - Players, coaches, staff, all come and go but the club will always be here.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Interesting stuff on the licence, GA and the Russians.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/central-coast-mariners-chairman-peter-turnbull-denies-he-is-on-verge-of-handing-back-his-licence/story-e6frf4gl-1226340509954




Main points for me
* "Why do people want to kill off this club?" -- I'd like to know this too.
* The Russians are under contract to invest but *something* is holding up the money.
* Sydney are really pushing Arnie. There are no guarantees Sydney's offer would be matched even if the investment dollars came through now, but the hold-up in investment could help tip the decision for Arnie.
* "We are in for the long haul" - Players, coaches, staff, all come and go but the club will always be here.

1) Absolutely. Feels like agenda's and negativity everywhere. I'm sure nothing better that Palmer and Tinkler would like than to see another club fall over. Not sure Craig Foster wouldn't mind also.

2) Standard business deals. Very big business deal I have been involved in so far in my life, always takes 3 time longer at least to come together. Big news is it's alive - when we had been barraged with how it was doomed.

 

[bloggo]

Mario, Phantom surely one of you know whats going on.

 

[Wombat]

Bring Lawrie back. It's not like there are any other amazing options out there.

No.

Can you remember why we got rid of Lawrie?

We all love him but he is not the answer.

 

[Wombat]

Mario, Phantom surely one of you know whats going on.

Phantom might but Mario would struggle to spell his own Surname.

 

[Wombat]

After coping with the difficulties he has had to put up with, I don't think he owes us anything at all, and he leaves with my gratitude and respect. Though also my strong disappointment. And I sincerely think it will prove a mistake. Be interesting to see if this turns out to be a poisoned chalice or not. However the cannibalising line is very true. This is world football, which when I reminded my irate son at the news of Arnie's imminent departure, I gave his beloved Man United as just one example of a team that is hated for poaching good players. However he made the excellent point, that yes, but they are a great team,Sydney just think they are.

I think this might cost us Rogic as said. With Arnie gone when MV throw cash and Ange at him, hard to see him staying. @$$# But I think Dutchy has a year left, settled, loves the coast and may be quite content for his swan song o be here under another coach rather than just relocate or throw it in when he can get another years good wages doing what he loves.

So...onwards, who wants to coach the premier team, with the hottest youth in the country coming through the premiere youth side, while living in one of the most beautiful beachside areas in Australia, getting to go and coach in the international football arena, and be a part of helping grow an Australian first and flagship facility in the COE??

Anyone?

All we need is the Russians to come to the party, sign a good coach, and a marquee striker - and it's business as usual - chewing bubblegum, kicking ass, and taking names.

Arse not ass FP!

I hope that Arnie stays but if he doesn't it not a massive problem with the structure he has put in place. He cleared out the deadwood, didnt play favourites and vastly improved our shape and structure.
However to be honest we have been a bottom 4 side over the last two months since we sold two off our best so a change might be good for us.

We are only 3 players away from being the best side in HAL.


DM, AM and decent striker to partner Bernie and we will win the league again.

 

[pjennings]

No.

Can you remember why we got rid of Lawrie?

We all love him but he is not the answer.

I;m not saying that Lawrie is the answer - but was he operating with the same budget. Compare the squads - we think things are tight now - how tight was it back then?

Lawrie had a squad of 19 - with Mrdja, Elrich, Brown, Nikas hardly playing - so effectively a squad of 15.


Ryan............Redmayne
McBreen
Rose............Huke
Bojic...........Bojic
Porter..........Porter
Zwaanswijk
Hutchinson......Hutchinson
Griffiths.......Griffiths
Ibini-Isei......Mrdja
Pelligrino......Nikas
Bozanic.........Macallister
Hearfield
Musialik........Brown
McGlinchey
McDonald........Clark
Gallagher.......Boogard
Baird...........Doig
Wilkinson.......Wilkinson
Simon...........Simon
Pasfield........Danny
Sainsbury.......Elrich
Amini...........Travis
Kwasnik.........Kwasnik

 

[12th player]

GA waiting till Wednesday for a better offer by Mariners.He's not asking to equal Sydney's money.It must be in between what he's getting now and what Sydney is offering.He wants to stay.

In regards to AM,DM and strikers,Caceres can play in both AM-DM positions and I believe that if he's given game time he'll do better than Hutch and Rogic. I would also like to see Duke and Bernie together as strkers.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

That's as much as we could hope for from GA. Fantastic news if we can find the coin, and shows he's a wise man. Sydney is fraught with peril for little to no extra gain at all if he can get some more coin here.
Come on you Ruskies!!!

I would like to see Bernie and Duke together too. It has serious potential.

 

[nebakke]

GA waiting till Wednesday for a better offer by Mariners.He's not asking to equal Sydney's money.It must be in between what he's getting now and what Sydney is offering.He wants to stay.

That is quite positive I think, it does sound like he would like to stay and understand that, under the circumstances, we're not in a position to match a Sydney offer. Considering what he's had to work with, it's pretty large of him to relatively speaking, work that hard to get to stay.
Let's hope someone can find some money somewhere... Maybe VIP can move their sponsorship deal from Sutton to Arnie

 

[offtheball]

Come on Singo kick in! He's done well out of the autumn carnival!

 

[scottmac]

GA waiting till Wednesday for a better offer by Mariners.He's not asking to equal Sydney's money.It must be in between what he's getting now and what Sydney is offering.He wants to stay.

In regards to AM,DM and strikers,Caceres can play in both AM-DM positions and I believe that if he's given game time he'll do better than Hutch and Rogic. I would also like to see Duke and Bernie together as strkers.

Great news. He is giving us a fair shot and really its more than we deserve.

Agree on Caceres but not on Duke. He can bang in goals but i just dont rate him as an A-League starter. We need an experienced provider next to either Duke or Ibini or someone like that inbetween them in a 433. It would mean Ibini would need to find an extra 20 - 30 mins of hard running a game.

Difference between us and Brisbane is a 20 goal a year forward and some extra fitness up front to keep defending till the last mins

 

[Gratis]

GA waiting till Wednesday for a better offer by Mariners.He's not asking to equal Sydney's money.It must be in between what he's getting now and what Sydney is offering.He wants to stay.

In regards to AM,DM and strikers,Caceres can play in both AM-DM positions and I believe that if he's given game time he'll do better than Hutch and Rogic. I would also like to see Duke and Bernie together as strkers.

oh man i hope that's true

 

[Gratis]

Great news. He is giving us a fair shot and really its more than we deserve.

Agree on Caceres but not on Duke. He can bang in goals but i just dont rate him as an A-League starter. We need an experienced provider next to either Duke or Ibini or someone like that inbetween them in a 433. It would mean Ibini would need to find an extra 20 - 30 mins of hard running a game.

Difference between us and Brisbane is a 20 goal a year forward and some extra fitness up front to keep defending till the last mins

i haven't seen much of Caceres or Duke really, didn't see much youth league this season