Highlighting this interesting insight from the below article:
"Is there a pattern emerging in what the boss (Okon) wants from his players?
Powell: I’ve only worked with him for such a short time but he’s one of the best coaches I’ve had. The way he expresses himself, his passion, willing to work on things over and over again, whereas previously with Tony [Walmsley], it was just going through the motions, just turning up. I think that’s what set them back last season compared to other teams in the league. That’s all changed now - we’re working on defensive structure in units, at the back and up front and as one, making it hard to be broken down...
Everyone is hungrier, especially after Paul’s come in, the intensity has lifted at training, everyone is hungrier going into challenges full on, he gets his points across really quickly and easily. I think a few will be pretty surprised with us."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/footbal...91d2102ae247fb990889158f96ec78-1475492653NEXT
in the series “The New Guys”, we’re off to the Mariners, the poor old hapless Mariners, coming off a season of regret.
They’ve recruited almost exclusively from within the A League, so finding out about an unknown quantity from overseas is impossible. But there is a player from overseas, technically.
Nothing has come easily for Blake Powell - released by Sydney FC, back to the NPL, before a great first season in Wellington.
Nine goals, including four on one memorable afternoon against Wanderers, was a handy start before non-football matters cut short his stay.
Peacock: Welcome back to Australia Blake. Why did you decide to move to Central Coast, especially after the season they had in 2015-16? Was it a risk joining them?
Powell: It wasn’t really a risk for me. I wanted a team close to where I grew up [in Sydney] and seeing as I came back for personal reasons, it was a no brainer to come back to Australia and take up the offer. I’m just glad I came back and I had an offer from an A League team, to be closer to home which suited my situation perfect.
Obviously you would have loved to stay in Wellington, but personal reasons – which you don’t want to get into and fair enough – made it impossible?
Yeah, any chance at the A League I’m going to jump at, but to be close to home and my family so I can support them through this time we’re going through at the moment - I’m in a better place as long as my family is. Wellington didn’t have to release me [he had another year to run on his contract], but they fully understood. They knew family comes before football and I took that risk [leaving without a new club] and I’m grateful they understood and Central Coast offered me a contract when I was back.
What about having the taste of the A-League as a younger kid playing for Sydney FC. It didn’t work out, you end up at APIA Leichhardt banging in goals [21 in 16 games in 2015] – how’s the incentive for a player that gets a taste of A-League and is back in NPL wanting to return?
It’s not easy. I made a sacrifice not to get myself into a career, just got a job, worked on the council, so I was able to concentrate on my football, so I could keep going at night time with training. I knew where I wanted to be and nothing was going to stop me from getting there.
So what was the career path you could have gone down, before being a council worker?
I got accepted at UWS for a Bachelor of Policing, so if I continued with that I would have been down at Goulburn at the moment at the NSW Police Academy and not be a footballer full stop. But I chose to take another risk, allowed me the extra hours to work on my game.
But you stayed away from the regular council worker diet of meat pie, can of V for lunch?
Of course! Got stay in tip top shape.
Well it worked. You get to Wellington, then tell us about the day you turned Wanderland into a state of shock when you scored four for the Nix.
That was a great occasion, especially with my whole family there watching. I think they were the only ones who stood up and applauded when I scored. It’s something I’ll never forget.
Did you have any idea what a perfect hat-trick [one with the left, one with the right, one header] was before that day?
Not really. I thought a hat-trick was a hat-trick. I do now!
What was the T sign you gave after three of the four goals?
Ha, the T sign! My partner, who is a big footy fan, she used to think scoring a goal was a try, T for a try, so it was Valentine’s Day, so I gave her a little T. I didn’t do it on the second goal [when Powell smashed it in from the top of the box with his non-preferred left foot] - I was too happy with that one!
How much do you think you improved under Ernie Merrick and in the Wellington environment?
He brought things to my game that I wasn’t aware of, that I could exploit. My pace in behind, getting off shoulders. There could have been times where he could have played other guys, who were more known for that right winger role and I’d like to think I did my best to repay him, and this season they look formidable in attack so I’m sure they’ll be a force.
Central Coast – any other league in the world and they would have been relegated. Is there a feeling with the guys that were there for last season this is about righting wrongs, or is it a total fresh start with the new boss Paul Okon?
I think it’s a bit of both actually. They’re out to prove everyone wrong. Everyone is hungrier, especially after Paul’s come in, the intensity has lifted at training, everyone is hungrier going into challenges full on, he gets his points across really quickly and easily. I think a few will be pretty surprised with us.
Is there a pattern emerging in what the boss wants from his players?
I’ve only worked with him for such a short time but he’s one of the best coaches I’ve had. The way he expresses himself, his passion, willing to work on things over and over again, whereas previously with Tony [Walmsley], it was just going through the motions, just turning up. I think that’s what set them back last season compared to other teams in the league. That’s all changed now - we’re working on defensive structure in units, at the back and up front and as one, making it hard to be broken down.
What do you want from your football this season?
This year, I want 10 more goals!
In a game, or spread over a few?!
Ha, spread over a few games, that’d be nice. Under Paulo I think I can improve a lot. I want the team to be successful, don’t want to come off the field disappointed again and instead head for those finals.
Well, good luck with it and welcome back to Australia.
Cheers, thanks for having me.
Plus the goal machine will be winning the NPL National gf
