Thought I'd write up a news article for your site. I'm guessing this is the best place to post it (no news page on here).
New Mariners signings have big shoes to fill
By James Heffield, Betfair journalist
As the fourth A-League season draws near, Central Coast Mariners management will be pondering whether their off-season signings will be enough to carry the team through to another A-League final.
The Mariners have a good record in the last few A-League seasons, but the departure of striker John Aloi$i and the retirement of defensive stalwart Tony Vidmar will have many at the club nervous about the approaching season.
The club has secured the services of some quality players, like Ahmad Elrich and former Australian Youth International Dylan Macallister, but none have the pedigree or experience of Aloi$i or Vidmar.
Perhaps the signing with the most potential is Elrich, who was the marquee player for the Wellington Phoenixs inaugural season. The former Australian national team midfielder is one of the few A-League players who has plied his trade in the English Premier League, where he spent a season with Fulham. He had a rocky first A-League season with the Phoenix and never really lived up to his billing, but if he can improve his fitness he should be able to make at least as much impact on the league as his younger brother Tarek Elrich, who has impressed at the Newcastle Jets.
Other signings include former Australian age group representatives Macallister, Adrian Caceres and David DApuzzo.
Like Elrich, Macallister also has European experience, most of which was with SK Brann and FC Lyn in Norway. The 26-year-old striker scored 10 goals in 38 appearances for Brann, but was less successful at his most recent club, FC Lyn Oslo, due to ongoing injury problems. Former Melbourne Victory player Caceres made many of his 25 appearances for the Victory off the bench, showing good work rate for the Melbourne side.
The Mariners one year deal with Australian youth international DApuzzo should also prove useful. The 19-year-old is the brother of current Newcastle Jet Adam DApuzzo, and has earned his place after strong performances for NSW Premier League side APIA Leichhardt.
Theres little doubt that Aloi$is departure to Sydney FC will have the largest impact on the Mariners of any of the offseason transfers. Aloi$i was not the most mobile of strikers but his strength and ability to win headers from free kicks will be missed and the Mariners will have to find a new target man up front.
The transfers of classy midfielder Tom Pondeljak, to Melbourne Victory, and forward Adam Kwa$nik, to the Wellington Phoenix, will also hurt the club. Pondeljak made 55 appearances for the Mariners and provided much needed experience in the midfield. Kwa$nik, while sometimes appearing ungainly, was a prolific goal scorer for the Coast, and may be Wellingtons best option to partner All Whites striker Shane Smeltz up front.
Substitute goalkeeper Matthew Trott, midfielders Ian McAndrew and Andre Gumprecht, and defender Alvin Ceccoli have also departed after the club decided not to renew their contracts.
Meanwhile, in a transfer that could have been, the Mariners snubbed former Manchester United and Sydney FC striker Dwight Yorke last month. Yorke said he was willing to take a significant pay cut to return to the A-League, but the Coast decided they could do better for the amount Yorke was demanding.
The Mariners have shown steady performances in their last three pre-season matches, with a 2-1 win over ACT club side Belconnen Unites, a 4-0 win over a Canberra representative selection and a 3-0 win over NSW Super League side Northern Tigers, on Wednesday.
The teams pre-season build up continues with friendlies against the Newcastle Jets, on July 12, and the New Zealand U-23 team, on July 15, before the opening match of the preseason cup, against the Wellington Phoenix on July 20.
New Mariners signings have big shoes to fill
By James Heffield, Betfair journalist
As the fourth A-League season draws near, Central Coast Mariners management will be pondering whether their off-season signings will be enough to carry the team through to another A-League final.
The Mariners have a good record in the last few A-League seasons, but the departure of striker John Aloi$i and the retirement of defensive stalwart Tony Vidmar will have many at the club nervous about the approaching season.
The club has secured the services of some quality players, like Ahmad Elrich and former Australian Youth International Dylan Macallister, but none have the pedigree or experience of Aloi$i or Vidmar.
Perhaps the signing with the most potential is Elrich, who was the marquee player for the Wellington Phoenixs inaugural season. The former Australian national team midfielder is one of the few A-League players who has plied his trade in the English Premier League, where he spent a season with Fulham. He had a rocky first A-League season with the Phoenix and never really lived up to his billing, but if he can improve his fitness he should be able to make at least as much impact on the league as his younger brother Tarek Elrich, who has impressed at the Newcastle Jets.
Other signings include former Australian age group representatives Macallister, Adrian Caceres and David DApuzzo.
Like Elrich, Macallister also has European experience, most of which was with SK Brann and FC Lyn in Norway. The 26-year-old striker scored 10 goals in 38 appearances for Brann, but was less successful at his most recent club, FC Lyn Oslo, due to ongoing injury problems. Former Melbourne Victory player Caceres made many of his 25 appearances for the Victory off the bench, showing good work rate for the Melbourne side.
The Mariners one year deal with Australian youth international DApuzzo should also prove useful. The 19-year-old is the brother of current Newcastle Jet Adam DApuzzo, and has earned his place after strong performances for NSW Premier League side APIA Leichhardt.
Theres little doubt that Aloi$is departure to Sydney FC will have the largest impact on the Mariners of any of the offseason transfers. Aloi$i was not the most mobile of strikers but his strength and ability to win headers from free kicks will be missed and the Mariners will have to find a new target man up front.
The transfers of classy midfielder Tom Pondeljak, to Melbourne Victory, and forward Adam Kwa$nik, to the Wellington Phoenix, will also hurt the club. Pondeljak made 55 appearances for the Mariners and provided much needed experience in the midfield. Kwa$nik, while sometimes appearing ungainly, was a prolific goal scorer for the Coast, and may be Wellingtons best option to partner All Whites striker Shane Smeltz up front.
Substitute goalkeeper Matthew Trott, midfielders Ian McAndrew and Andre Gumprecht, and defender Alvin Ceccoli have also departed after the club decided not to renew their contracts.
Meanwhile, in a transfer that could have been, the Mariners snubbed former Manchester United and Sydney FC striker Dwight Yorke last month. Yorke said he was willing to take a significant pay cut to return to the A-League, but the Coast decided they could do better for the amount Yorke was demanding.
The Mariners have shown steady performances in their last three pre-season matches, with a 2-1 win over ACT club side Belconnen Unites, a 4-0 win over a Canberra representative selection and a 3-0 win over NSW Super League side Northern Tigers, on Wednesday.
The teams pre-season build up continues with friendlies against the Newcastle Jets, on July 12, and the New Zealand U-23 team, on July 15, before the opening match of the preseason cup, against the Wellington Phoenix on July 20.
