It’s been an unquestionably slow start to the season for the Central Coast Mariners.
They copped yet another loss in Sunday’s game at home against the Western Sydney Wanderers, but head coach Tony Walmsley says he’s building a team in the making.
“It’ll happen when it happens.”
“Slowly we’ll reach a point where that first win will give everybody a lift and the extra belief that’s required.”
Walmsley’s prepared to take some risks to get there, which makes for entertaining play despite a failure to convert it into points.
“I wouldn’t say craziness but we took a calculated gamble. Those defenders are playing right on the edge of their games, so they’re learning a hell of a lot.”
“Every time they go into a situation, they’ve got to make decisions… We’re not too far away.”
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic isn’t so patient in his approach after his team’s 2-0 victory away from home.
“We deserved to win, we dominated from the start and the scoreline should have been a lot bigger.
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Popovic’s confidence wasn’t diminished by the loss of nearly a thousand members of the Wanderers army in a walk out protesting the lack of FFA action in supporting its fan base following the News Corp leak of banned spectators.
“I don’t know about disrupting the play, because we pretty much dominated the whole first half…but with us you do notice when the fans leave because they’re so vocal.”
“We respect their view, they know we love them.”
At half time Head of the Hyundai A-League Damien De Bohun made a statement to the press regarding the controversy and announced a new formalised regime for banned spectators to appeal their sanction.
“If a banned spectator can prove to us through new evidence that there has been a mistake made, they can bring that evidence to the club.”
“If it is proved that that fan is not engaged in alleged behaviour, that ban will be overturned.”
De Bohun was adamant in explaining how this incident has been an exercise in solidarity among football fans.
“It’s been a difficult week, there’s no question, but what it’s done is it’s united people across the board.
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“This has been more about the strength of football than about the fracture of football.”
“Our invitation is there to meet with all the fan groups to better understand what their requirements are.”
Meanwhile the Mariners will make light preparation of the next three days before a quick turnaround for a home game against Melbourne City on Thursday. The Wanderers are sitting pretty on the A-League ladder before a face off against the third-placed Brisbane Roar next Saturday.
