Roy Law
Well-Known Member
Why the Mariners Cannot win the Title.
Whether the title is about winning the Championship or the Premiership the task is clearly beyond the Mariners. History is overwhelming against them. Only one A-League team, Brisbane Roar, has ever gone back-to-back with either of the titles – as Champions; and they only did it by the narrowest of margins – the width of a Rizla cigarette paper to beat the Mariners and a controversial penalty to beat Perth. And they did it with an almost unchanged line-up.
The Mariners have lost half of their Grand Final run-on side including three key defenders, Ryan, Bojic and Zwaanswijk. They will play the first game against Premiers WSW with seven of the GF side missing. It is turning an optimistic blind eye to think that such a dramatic change in personnel cannot have a destabilising effect. The A-League is too full of talented teams and hungry coaches not to take advantage of these changes.
The Mariners’ success was built the strongest of defences; in the last two seasons the side conceded less than a goal a game. But the defensive wall has been torn down with three key defenders moving on. The Mariners have lost ground and the others will be lining up to exploit the weaknesses. From the frighteningly competitive Ange Postecoglou of Melbourne Victory to the urbane intelligent Ernie Merrick at Wellington Phoenix all coaches will be looking to bring the Mariners down. It could be a very hard road this season.
Why The Mariners Can Win the Title
In a word, only a fool would underestimate the Mariners.
Grumpy Graham Arnold is one of the great Australian coaches fuelled by a deep passionate desire to succeed. He won’t be thinking the Mariners will fail, he will believe they will again be front runners for both titles. He sets the highest of standards and will expect his players to be thoroughly professional throughout the season. He not only wants to retain the Championship, he wants to regain the Premiership. He wants to qualify yet again for the Asian Champions League.
Just because the Mariners have lost key defenders does not mean Graham Arnold has lost his belief in building success around a strong defence. The team will defend as a team starting from the front. The Mariners three big front men Matt Simon, Daniel McBreen and Mitchell Duke are a clear and present danger to any defender; they will give no respite - and they will score goals too. Last year the Mariners were equal top scorers and fans can expect more of the same with the mouth watering prospect of seeing the magical skills of Michael McGlinchey enhanced by the creative genius of Marcos Flores. What the Mariners may lose defensively they will gain in attack. Look out too for Nick Fitzgerald and Anthony Caceres to make their mark.
The Mariners can retain the Championship, can regain the Premiership, simply because they are the Mariners. The most consistent, the most focussed, the most achieving, and the most ambitious club in the A-League. Pundits used to write off the Mariners as too small, unsophisticated and under-funded but no-one these days dares to writes off the Mariners. They will be there or thereabouts when the big prizes are handed out at the end of the season
Whether the title is about winning the Championship or the Premiership the task is clearly beyond the Mariners. History is overwhelming against them. Only one A-League team, Brisbane Roar, has ever gone back-to-back with either of the titles – as Champions; and they only did it by the narrowest of margins – the width of a Rizla cigarette paper to beat the Mariners and a controversial penalty to beat Perth. And they did it with an almost unchanged line-up.
The Mariners have lost half of their Grand Final run-on side including three key defenders, Ryan, Bojic and Zwaanswijk. They will play the first game against Premiers WSW with seven of the GF side missing. It is turning an optimistic blind eye to think that such a dramatic change in personnel cannot have a destabilising effect. The A-League is too full of talented teams and hungry coaches not to take advantage of these changes.
The Mariners’ success was built the strongest of defences; in the last two seasons the side conceded less than a goal a game. But the defensive wall has been torn down with three key defenders moving on. The Mariners have lost ground and the others will be lining up to exploit the weaknesses. From the frighteningly competitive Ange Postecoglou of Melbourne Victory to the urbane intelligent Ernie Merrick at Wellington Phoenix all coaches will be looking to bring the Mariners down. It could be a very hard road this season.
Why The Mariners Can Win the Title
In a word, only a fool would underestimate the Mariners.
Grumpy Graham Arnold is one of the great Australian coaches fuelled by a deep passionate desire to succeed. He won’t be thinking the Mariners will fail, he will believe they will again be front runners for both titles. He sets the highest of standards and will expect his players to be thoroughly professional throughout the season. He not only wants to retain the Championship, he wants to regain the Premiership. He wants to qualify yet again for the Asian Champions League.
Just because the Mariners have lost key defenders does not mean Graham Arnold has lost his belief in building success around a strong defence. The team will defend as a team starting from the front. The Mariners three big front men Matt Simon, Daniel McBreen and Mitchell Duke are a clear and present danger to any defender; they will give no respite - and they will score goals too. Last year the Mariners were equal top scorers and fans can expect more of the same with the mouth watering prospect of seeing the magical skills of Michael McGlinchey enhanced by the creative genius of Marcos Flores. What the Mariners may lose defensively they will gain in attack. Look out too for Nick Fitzgerald and Anthony Caceres to make their mark.
The Mariners can retain the Championship, can regain the Premiership, simply because they are the Mariners. The most consistent, the most focussed, the most achieving, and the most ambitious club in the A-League. Pundits used to write off the Mariners as too small, unsophisticated and under-funded but no-one these days dares to writes off the Mariners. They will be there or thereabouts when the big prizes are handed out at the end of the season