Grand Final - The Mighty CCM vs WSW

[Forum Phoenix]

RBB at it again I'm afraid.

 

[MrCelery]

Great article, apart from the obvious WSW bias, and the lack of credit for the Mariners fans who were at the game. Just found it:

Mariners break the drought

April 21, 2013
By Quinn Jones

Down here in our dry, dusty continent we have a name for the rains that turn dead creek beds into raging rivers and brown paddocks into lush rainforests: drought breakers.

Sometimes we don't get to say those two tantalising words for years. Decades even. Hell, I sometimes wonder if those living in the interior even know what it means, let alone use it in passing conversation.

But sometimes, just sometimes, those who feel the cool breath of moisture on a daily basis know exactly what it means to break a drought - just ask Central Coast Mariners' fans.

Born and bred next to the deep waters of the Hunter region in NSW, the Mariners faithful have been tormented year after year, grand final after grand final, as their opponents - Sydney FC, Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar - stole glory from their grasp.

But not anymore. After eight long years of heartache, tears and a barren run no club would wish on their rival, Graham Arnold's men finally succeeded in becoming A-League champions with a 2-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers. They just had to beat the league's feel-good story of the season to do it.

Give me a dollar for every football fan who backed the league's latest expansion ploy to reach the grand final at the start of the season, and I would have nothing in my wallet. Scratch that, I would probably owe a small fortune to the bank. Wanderers manager Tony Popovic has produced a minor miracle to build a team from absolute nothing which, not only captured the imagination with its modern style of football, but claimed the minor premiership in its maiden season. All this within the space of a year.

However, an inaugural championship eluded Western Sydney as their flowing football broke down on the biggest stage. Maybe it was just a game too far, perhaps their motto of "every games is a final" bled them dry or maybe, and I like this one the best, the football gods were finally smiling on the Mariners.

It certainly seemed so as the 45,000 capacity Allianz Stadium was overflowing with a red and black Wanderers wave of support. The singing, chanting and cheering was aimed at only one team (MrC - Bullshit!), but the Mariners cared little, making early forays into the Wanderers vaunted defence.

But despite the early pressure, there was no guilt edged chance. Not until the 43rd minute.

A corner was won, the Wanderers' box a flurry of jostling and pushing and then, from the back of the pack, Dutch defender Patrick Zwaanswijk raced through the crowd and headed home the opening goal. Last season Zwaanswijk scored seven goals. This was his first of this campaign. Not only that, it was the first time the Wanderers had conceded from a set piece all season. What did I say about the football gods?

But suddenly the ball was down the other end and the Wanderers' players, bench and fans rose as one. Did the ball not just hit Pedj Bojic's arm in the box? The replays showed that indeed there was contact but the officials missed it and the game moved on. Again, what did I say about the football gods?

The Wanderers returned for the second half less lethargic and looking to add one more twist to their Cinderella story. And for a moment there, Mariners' fans again hid their eyes from the action, daring not to look should they catch that precise moment when those eight long years would come back to haunt them.

But suddenly the Mariners' players, bench and fans rose as one. Did the ball not just hit Jerome Polenz's arm in the box? The replays showed that indeed there was contact and the officials pointed to the spot. Daniel McBreen, the league's leading goal scorer, stepped up and perfectly dispatched the ball to the top left hand corner. I hope you're starting to hear those football gods?

The Wanderers kept pushing but as time ticked by, there was a growing sense that this was the Mariners' time; there would be no epic comeback, no late goal and that finally, the Mariners would be crowned champions.
And so they were. Full-time dooming the Wanderers and their fairy tale, while the Mariners, one of the league's most consistent clubs, rejoiced their victory. They had endured bad luck stories, good luck stories, unbelievable stories; and all to write their own chapter in A-League history.

They say third time's a charm but down here in our dry, dusty continent, Arnold and his men simply say fourth time's a drought breaker.

 

[ryan]

Decent article but it seems to me that not one single reporter bothered to come down our end at any point during the game

 

[Benched]

style_cafe....The hypocrisy of this though is the club use footage of flares to promote the 'atmosphere' at games. Even the film clip by ExitRow of their Wanderers song has flares in it, and it was ok'd by the club. The media, particularly the tele, have jumped on the bandwagon. They always seem to have a disclaimer...."forget the fact flares are outlawed, the smoky crowd was jumping in unison creating an atmosphere undeniably the best in Australian sport" and the like.

 

[Benched]

The Mariners end looked awesome. A lot of flags and banners. Obviously though, we couldn't hear a thing

 

[scottmac]

style_cafe....The hypocrisy of this though is the club use footage of flares to promote the 'atmosphere' at games. Even the film clip by ExitRow of their Wanderers song has flares in it, and it was ok'd by the club. The media, particularly the tele, have jumped on the bandwagon. They always seem to have a disclaimer...."forget the fact flares are outlawed, the smoky crowd was jumping in unison creating an atmosphere undeniably the best in Australian sport" and the like.

I find it hard to believe that the club have not got onboard with the use of flares. If they don't want them going off in the crowd, f**king set them up at the RBB end (do you have a name for that end yet?) & fire them off at the start of the game or at goals, like other sports do with fireworks.
Take the initiative & the control.
If you can't beat them join them.
Soon enough a flare will not be "fun" to rip cause the club is doing it before you.

 

[Benched]

scott, we have proposed that exact solution, and did from day one. Will be discussed in the offseason.

Even if we had dedicated 'flare marshalls', dressed appropriately and with the appropriate training to do so at certain moments in the game. Have also looked into coloured smoke machines and 'electric' flare simulators.

BTW, that end is named the RBB (Red and Black Bloc), and within that we have several sub groups.

 

[scottmac]

scott, we have proposed that exact solution, and did from day one. Will be discussed in the offseason.

Even if we had dedicated 'flare marshalls', dressed appropriately and with the appropriate training to do so at certain moments in the game. Have also looked into coloured smoke machines and 'electric' flare simulators.

BTW, that end is named the RBB (Red and Black Bloc), and within that we have several sub groups.

Awesome.

Such a shame it couldn't have been done for this season, but I spose how much can you get done in a limited time frame. I mean its not like you could get a title winning team together & organised support to shame the rest of the comp in a few months now is it?

 

[Big Al]

Benched - Loved the atmosphere you created - I was above you at Bluetongue (not spitting) - Let me tell you there were way more WSW (won't call them RBB since your not all the same) in the stands above & there was no sign of trouble from either set off supports so must have been very early in the evening you copped that.

Let me tell you the stand was shaking after the game.

As for the colour on grandfinal day awesome. The stadium looked fantastic.

Shame we couldn't hear you - Well actually when u sang We wan to hear the mariners sing - We shut up - Perfect

Otherwise we actually couldn't hear & the families near our end were poor (in voice i'm talking)

Real shame we got n credit on TV or at the game or in the media - But I think that has more to do with how will WSW did more so than what we did.

The only time I heard us on fox was after the goal (because the mikes where down your end) then we decided to Handle ball just to see if it really was our day as we didn't want to get our hopes up to early. Turns out it was our day but you guys started getting upset & boing (no more mariners could be heard).

I've been to the Kings (basketball) sold out Grand final wins - they were louder (indoor helps) but the colour at the game was awesome.

Also as loud as you are the sound doesn't travel - We couldn't hear you because we were singing & a mate of mine went to Parra stadium when you played SFC (last time) & was near the Cove & said he couldn't here you then either.

My suggestion for Season 2 - Is sing louder & More Flags

Otherwise loved everything about WSW & RBB.

 

[Benched]

Parra stadium definitely isn't 'acoustically designed'. To make matters worse, the away teams supporters at Parra always get a roof over them!

None the less, we'll just sing even louder.

As for flags, you can never have enough of them. Nomad (who post on here) is our flag master. The bloke is a champion.

 

[priorpeter]

. Nomad (who post on here) is our flag master.

Ah, explains a lot

 

[bikinigirl]

Parra stadium definitely isn't 'acoustically designed'. To make matters worse, the away teams supporters at Parra always get a roof over them!

. now imagine all your noise being carried back over your heads and away from the stadium by a cooling breeze coming in off the water you overlook ... whilst the protected and amplified away mob gets their noise carried into the stadium

 

[Big Al]

As for flags, you can never have enough of them. Nomad (who post on here) is our flag master. The bloke is a champion.[/quote]

Hence the more flags comment - He loves his flags

 

[dibo]

Not the case. As great as it would be for some of you and definitely the Cove to think this was done on purpose by those 'hooligan' RBB, it's simply not true. If you apply some logic and rationale you'll come to the same conclusion.
The seats are dislodged in rows, still attached to the metal bases that have come out of the concrete terrace (concrete rust?). It was purely accidental.

TBF, as I helped PP and others clearing up after the match I saw there was one row of seats dislodged in our end.

A mate who works in security and was working at the game went to the WSW end after the game and said that there wasn't just collapsed rows of seats, but some had been seats torn off the rows and thrown over the fence. Others were covered in burn marks as if someone had tried to set them alight (or dropped a flare on a flammable seat rather than the not at all flammable concrete below).

I don't think it's fair to blame the RBB collectively for that other than to say that other groups are clearly better at reining in the inevitable f**kwit element that comes with large groups.

I also remember a flare up your end when we were in Gosford.

Really? I don't remember seeing one in our end that day (and I was in the end!) and otherwise I can only think of one flare at a first team.
Apparently that was a random from the GGA anyway...
*cough*

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Yeah when I saw the scorch marks it's what made me think it was deliberate. That and the hiding of course

Oh and Afghanistan.

 

[LFCMariners]

via Imgflip Meme Maker

 

[style_cafe]

Great article, apart from the obvious WSW bias, and the lack of credit for the Mariners fans who were at the game. Just found it:

Mariners break the drought

April 21, 2013
By Quinn Jones

Down here in our dry, dusty continent we have a name for the rains that turn dead creek beds into raging rivers and brown paddocks into lush rainforests: drought breakers.

Sometimes we don't get to say those two tantalising words for years. Decades even. Hell, I sometimes wonder if those living in the interior even know what it means, let alone use it in passing conversation.

But sometimes, just sometimes, those who feel the cool breath of moisture on a daily basis know exactly what it means to break a drought - just ask Central Coast Mariners' fans.

Born and bred next to the deep waters of the Hunter region in NSW, the Mariners faithful have been tormented year after year, grand final after grand final, as their opponents - Sydney FC, Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar - stole glory from their grasp.

But not anymore. After eight long years of heartache, tears and a barren run no club would wish on their rival, Graham Arnold's men finally succeeded in becoming A-League champions with a 2-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers. They just had to beat the league's feel-good story of the season to do it.

Give me a dollar for every football fan who backed the league's latest expansion ploy to reach the grand final at the start of the season, and I would have nothing in my wallet. Scratch that, I would probably owe a small fortune to the bank. Wanderers manager Tony Popovic has produced a minor miracle to build a team from absolute nothing which, not only captured the imagination with its modern style of football, but claimed the minor premiership in its maiden season. All this within the space of a year.

However, an inaugural championship eluded Western Sydney as their flowing football broke down on the biggest stage. Maybe it was just a game too far, perhaps their motto of "every games is a final" bled them dry or maybe, and I like this one the best, the football gods were finally smiling on the Mariners.

It certainly seemed so as the 45,000 capacity Allianz Stadium was overflowing with a red and black Wanderers wave of support. The singing, chanting and cheering was aimed at only one team (MrC - Bullshit!), but the Mariners cared little, making early forays into the Wanderers vaunted defence.

But despite the early pressure, there was no guilt edged chance. Not until the 43rd minute.

A corner was won, the Wanderers' box a flurry of jostling and pushing and then, from the back of the pack, Dutch defender Patrick Zwaanswijk raced through the crowd and headed home the opening goal. Last season Zwaanswijk scored seven goals. This was his first of this campaign. Not only that, it was the first time the Wanderers had conceded from a set piece all season. What did I say about the football gods?

But suddenly the ball was down the other end and the Wanderers' players, bench and fans rose as one. Did the ball not just hit Pedj Bojic's arm in the box? The replays showed that indeed there was contact but the officials missed it and the game moved on. Again, what did I say about the football gods?

The Wanderers returned for the second half less lethargic and looking to add one more twist to their Cinderella story. And for a moment there, Mariners' fans again hid their eyes from the action, daring not to look should they catch that precise moment when those eight long years would come back to haunt them.

But suddenly the Mariners' players, bench and fans rose as one. Did the ball not just hit Jerome Polenz's arm in the box? The replays showed that indeed there was contact and the officials pointed to the spot. Daniel McBreen, the league's leading goal scorer, stepped up and perfectly dispatched the ball to the top left hand corner. I hope you're starting to hear those football gods?

The Wanderers kept pushing but as time ticked by, there was a growing sense that this was the Mariners' time; there would be no epic comeback, no late goal and that finally, the Mariners would be crowned champions.
And so they were. Full-time dooming the Wanderers and their fairy tale, while the Mariners, one of the league's most consistent clubs, rejoiced their victory. They had endured bad luck stories, good luck stories, unbelievable stories; and all to write their own chapter in A-League history.

They say third time's a charm but down here in our dry, dusty continent, Arnold and his men simply say fourth time's a drought breaker.

Does this mean that "Wests" choked?

 

[LFCMariners]

On the SFC forum, they have already re-maked their Wanderers bashing thread 'NRMAIWSWFC- Australian sports' greatest chokers'. Granted it's from a biased source, but I don't understand why so many people feel the need to label somebody chokers. Fair dinkum we had enough of the sheep berating us for that over a 2 year period until the Sunday before last, now suddenly people are attacking WSW for needing to loosen their collar when all that happened is that they lost to a side in the Grand Final who could play better football than them at their best, and did just that...

 

[Big Al]

They couldn't take the trophy so they took the only thing left behind - Our Chokers Tag

 

[FFC Mariner]

The only flares can ever recall being set off at BT was at an ACL game.

Bay 16 was infiltrated by the GGA