BY THE PALM TREES – A/League Season 12
After the “season from hell” last campaign there is only one direction for the Central Coast Mariners. The many problems of last season were well documented and need no introduction here except to say a repeat is unacceptable. To that end, the level and type of changes in recent days suggests the owner and management have wiped the slate clean.
Lacking the required experience in a number of roles last season, the priority for the club was to find experienced players to create a solid spine for the team. Soon after the completion of last season the club made signings designed to deliver that. Their effectiveness remains to be judged but early indications are that they are fitting well within the famed Mariner’s culture.
Squad
Goalkeepers – Paul Izzo, Tom Heward-Belle, Ivan Necevski
Defenders – Jacques Faty, Jake Adelson, Harry Ascroft, Jake McGing, Storm Roux, Jacob Poscoliero, Michael Neill
Midfielders – Mickael Tavares, Trent Buhagiar, Nick Montgomery, Liam Rose, Brad McDonald, Adam Berry
Strikers – Roy O’Donovan, Blake Powell, Kwabena Appiah, Connor Pain, Fabio Ferreira, Matt Fletcher, Josh Bingham
Signings
Goalkeeper – Ivan Necevski – has looked good through the pre-season and should have plenty to prove, including whether he should be Paolo’s first choice glove man.
Defender – Jacques Faty – can be the leader in the centre of defence which the team cried out for last season. Again, should have plenty to prove after figuring in Sydney FC’s Grand Final loss two seasons past followed by his departure from Sydney FC the following season.
Midfielder – Mickael Tavares – arguably the best signing this offseason, Tavares can combine with Nick Montgomery to become one of the most potent midfield combinations in the A-League. No doubt will have plenty to prove to his former employers – I doubt if we’ve heard all of the details associated with his Sydney FC departure yet…
Forward – Blake Powell – has fitted into the team easily and seems to have almost instantly formed good combinations with other forwards – Fabio Ferreira, Roy O’Donovan and Connor Pain.
Forward – Connor Pain – an exciting addition to the squad whose speed and ability to get in behind his opposition will cause problems for defenders. Quality crosses on the end of those bursts can vastly improve the attacking threat posed last year.
Forward – Kwabena Appiah – a former CCM youth player, “Kabsy” returns from his term at Western Sydney looking to establish himself in the Mariner’s first team, will provide great support for Fabio Ferreira.
The Manager
Manager – Paul Okon – the biggest and most important change of the off season, Okon was inspirational leader and technically gifted player on the pitch and now has the opportunity to prove those traits can help him deliver success in the tough world of professional club football.
Despite lacking the practical application of his coaching knowledge in a professional club environment, his development as a coach has come at the highest level in the Australian game. Part of the developing methodology under Ange Postecoglou’s rein as Socceroos coach, Okon will be itching to put that theory into practice on a week in week out basis.
Encouraging in the circumstances is that the clubs manager selection process clearly set out to deal with not just the need for an immediate turnaround in performance, but at the same time kept an “eye to the future”, a methodology that follows the Central Coast Mariners philosophy of developing Australians in our game.
No-one can doubt the size of the task facing Okon in bringing the club back to its former glory, but equally it can be said that there are few developing Australian coaches (if any) who are prepared better to take such an opportunity, and probably none who can boast the network of available Australian football resources and contacts that Paul Okon can.
Summary
The big questions are – what will all of this will mean on the pitch? Can Paul Okon succeed using a squad created by his predecessor? How will the tough experiences of last season impact on those young players thrown into the deep end?
As if there aren’t enough challenges for the team, the structure of the early section of the 2016/2017 draw has the team playing away in five of the first seven games, with one of those home fixtures scheduled for Canberra, the team will have played just twice at Central Coast Stadium before the start of December. While there will be a period later in the draw which evens this up, starting with so many away matches will have Paul Okon on his toes.
The primary requirement for Okon is to restore some pride amongst the players, the club and the fans. Expectations after last campaign will be low so the club will be flying under the proverbial radar, as they have done since the A-League begun. The competition has recruited well overall and only the most one eyed supporter would argue the Mariners actions in the signing market stack up well against them.
Under a best case scenario where injuries are few and a little luck goes our way, the Mariners can make it into the A-League finals. Avoiding the wooden spoon and providing enough positive play to send Central Coast fans home happy from most home games would be the minimum required standard.
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