Mariners v Heart – Round Two Preview
It was a tense start to the A-League season for more than one of the teams as last weekend the Melbourne Heart and the Central Coast Mariners both played out draws with their respective opposition. The Heart showed they had lost some of their reputation for playing poorly away from home and the Mariners showed they still have the potential to be one of the forces of the competition.
With as few as four players from last year’s Champion team taking the pitch Mariners fans were looking for plenty of answers to whether they could continue to mix it with the best teams, while Western Sydney played with many of the same players from their Grand Final team and have boosted their stocks in the right areas as well.
Before the game Mariners fans pondered a few questions. Could Marcos Flores return to his previous best and ‘pull the strings in midfield’ as he had done in Adelaide? Could the attack shine in the absence of Michael McGlinchey, regarded by Mariners fans as one of the competition’s best players? Could the new look defence mix it with the cohesion of their oppositions improved attack? Would Mitchell Duke step up to provide the attacking flair and quality finishing required in the absence of on loan Golden Boot Danny McBreen? And Could Graham Arnold again be the architect of a game plan which would bring together the new individuals into a package capable of competing in this year’s competition?
The answer to most questions after the first game of the season was “yes”. Marcos Flores fitted in superbly with his deft touches and brilliant vision. Trent Sainsbury looked more confident than ever in his role as leader in the centre of defence. Mitchell Duke’s goal to put the Mariners ahead around 55 minutes was as quality a finish as you will see, and Graham Arnold’s match plan was within a few minutes of taking all three points from a team who are certain to be contenders again this season.
Heading into their first away Hyundai A-League clash against Melbourne Heart, the Mariners will field a largely unchanged team and have named an 18 man squad with Hayden Morton and Michael Neill added to the previous line-up. Having a good record at AAMI Park and a great record against the Heart, the team travels to Melbourne with plenty of confidence. Marcos Flores will again be the key player for the Central Coast and his combinations with the Mariners’ forwards and wingers will be critical. Just as interesting will be the continued development of the defensive structure. Trent Sainsbury took up where he left off last year but Graham Arnold will have a decision to make as to who partners him in the central defence, as neither Zach Anderson nor Marcel Seip have yet cemented their spot alongside him.
The Heart will be no easy opposition as they showed in the Melbourne Derby what a tough team they can be to breakdown. While their game plan seemed cautious last weekend, ex-Mariner hero John Aloisi will likely employ something different to take on the travelling Mariners. A couple of key personnel will be missing for the Heart with Harry Kewell suffering a facial injury and whiplash after a stray elbow from the Victory’s Adrian Leijer in the Derby and Maltese international Michael Mifsud likely to be miss again as his return from international duty will be too late for him to be risked.
While I don’t see any large score lines, I think the Mariner’s will again have too much for the Heart and will leave AAMI Park with the points (Editors note: Dream on, you are playing at the AAMI Fortress.) Prediction: – Mariners by 1
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