They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. That definition parallels the experience of being a Mariners fan pretty closely. The 2011-12 season brought more of the same for the Central Coast: no superstars, no money, a decent dose of youth, over-achievement, finals, heartbreak. Are the Yellow Army truly insane or is this finally the season for the little team that couldn’t?
Last season:
A-League: 1st
They’ll win the league because…
… of Graham Arnold.
They’ll be cellar dwellers because…
… of the player drain that comes from being a small market team. Club stalwarts Matt Simon and Alex Wilkinson were sold to big money teams in Asia and rising superstar gloveman Matt Ryan has trialed with Tottenham and West Brom in the past few months. Ryan is yet to leave but his talents exceed the A-League and even die-hard fans would be happy to see him flourish in a big league. Rostyn Griffiths also left the club toward the end of the regular season and it was the departure of he and Mat Simon that spelled the end of the Coast’s stumbling title contention. Adding to this drain is the loss of last year’s teenage midfield maestro Mustafa Amini who is gone but will certainly not be forgotten. Amini is already earning plaudits from his new fans and garnering a few pre-season starts for German superclub
Talk around the watercooler… Look smart in front of your colleagues with this valuable piece of information.
The Mariners are the most likely team in the A-League to score first but are also the most likely to lose after scoring first.
The offseason brought…
… stability and promise. Both financial and in the coaches box. The securing of Graham Arnold was the first of many wins for the Mariners administration in the off-season. Long sought after financial stability and big potential for future growth was secured when the Mariners Centre of Excellence became a reality. The complex will house the Mariners in the best training facility in Australian football and will also boast a five story hotel carrying the Mariners brand.
Key player…
Patrick Zwaanswijk. Affectionately known as ‘Dutchy’, Zwaanswijk has become an integral cog in the Mariners machine. He defends with passion and strength, his awareness and positioning is fantastic and he is a weapon from the free kick. Dutchy leads this team and will be more hungry than ever to end the Mariners’ tragic streak of heartbreaks in what could well be his final year on the pitch.
One to watch…
Tom Rogic. Names such as Amini, Ryan and Ibini-Isei could well begin to populate the Soccerroos team sheet in a few years and Rogic is another young Mariner that has huge potential. Rogic’s early 2012 A-League game time came too soon for the Youth League rising star but he was able to show glimpses of his potential, including a standout performance in Central Coast’s away loss to Nagoya Grampus in the Asian Champions League. Rogic has already scored a goal in preseason against Brisbane and despite some questions about his fitness and work rate Rogic should be a name that every A-League fan knows by Christmas.
Full squad list…
Mat RYAN, Josh ROSE, Pedj BOJIC, Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, John HUTCHINSON
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