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Good CCM reports
- Thread starter MrCelery
- Start date
kevrenor
Well-Known Member
Tony is a good man, and good writer, even if he is a Sydney FC fan.
Forum Phoenix
Well-Known Member
Cheers Mr Celery, an intelligent enjoyable read.
MrCelery
Well-Known Member
Arnie's quiet achievers get shot at redemption
Michael Cockerill
December 12, 2011
A lean, mean, fighting machine. That's Central Coast Mariners. Newcastle Jets weren't just dissected in the F3 derby on Saturday night, they were blown off the park. Hard to find fault? That was the question put to Graham Arnold after a win that was far more clinical than the two-goal margin suggested. For once, the Mariners boss didn't bother to disagree. Central Coast now share top position on the table with Brisbane Roar, and next weekend's grand final rematch is there for the taking. The champions have slipped since claiming the record for the longest unbeaten run in Australian professional sport. Two defeats in a row.
The Mariners are heading in the opposite direction - they haven't lost in their past seven, and are getting better by the week. Beating Brisbane won't decide the title, but it would put a marker in the sand. The perennial bridesmaids of the A-League are looking more and more like a bride. Is this the best-ever Mariners side? ''You're not going to get me talking about titles,'' Arnold says. But if you know ''Arnie'' well enough, you can see the glint in his eyes. It's going to take an exceptional side to stop the Mariners from making it fourth time lucky after three grand final defeats. Brisbane are exceptional, but even at their peak they've been run close by Central Coast. And the gap, if it exists, is now wafer thin.
The side that Arnie built is there by design, not accident. With the help of youth coach Tony Walmsley, and the scouting system set in place by Lawrie McKinna, the Mariners have assembled some of the best emerging talent in the country. How Sydney FC must rue allowing Mustafa Amini, Bernie Ibini and Matthew Ryan to escape their net. All three teenagers played like seasoned veterans against the Jets, and there's more to come. If you doubt Central Coast have the best youngsters in the A-League, consider this: there are five Olyroos in the squad and on Saturday night only one, Ryan, started the game. Amini and Ibini are the next generation, and there's already a next generation after that. Mitchell Duke and Kwabena Appiah-Kubi are being talked about as potential stars.
At the other end of the spectrum, a spine of veterans provides the big-match experience, and guidance. Patrick Zwaanswijk is the oldest outfield player in the league, at 36 years and 11 months, but he's only missed one game since arriving from the Netherlands midway through last year. Daniel McBreen, John Hutchinson and Josh Rose are some of the other veterans. Good, honest pros. The Mariners have a ''no dickheads'' policy, and it's one they treat seriously. Look at those who couldn't even get on the teamsheet against the Jets, and you'd think there's fertile ground for dissent. Not a bit of it. The Mariners might be the smallest club in the A-League, but they have a culture the rest can only envy. That's why they consistently punch above their weight.
It's not about getting stuck in and shouting platitudes. It's about being professional, respectful, and demanding. The Mariners used to be blue collar in every respect. They're not going to get rid of their working class roots off the field, nor should they. But it's a different story once the first whistle blows. Arnold sets high standards, and the players are desperate to achieve them. These days the Mariners pass the ball, and keep the ball, as well as every other team except Brisbane. And they do that without a Thomas Broich or Issey Nakajima-Farran or Besart Berisha. Instead they have Matt Simon, Michael McGlinchey and Amini. Increasingly, it looks like an idle comparison.
Brisbane will believe they still have the edge, and maybe they do. But Ange Postecoglou will also know that of all the aspirants to the throne, it's the Mariners who are best equipped to punish them for a single lapse in concentration. Arnold doesn't want to talk about titles, but the Mariners are becoming impossible to ignore.
Michael Cockerill
December 12, 2011
A lean, mean, fighting machine. That's Central Coast Mariners. Newcastle Jets weren't just dissected in the F3 derby on Saturday night, they were blown off the park. Hard to find fault? That was the question put to Graham Arnold after a win that was far more clinical than the two-goal margin suggested. For once, the Mariners boss didn't bother to disagree. Central Coast now share top position on the table with Brisbane Roar, and next weekend's grand final rematch is there for the taking. The champions have slipped since claiming the record for the longest unbeaten run in Australian professional sport. Two defeats in a row.
The Mariners are heading in the opposite direction - they haven't lost in their past seven, and are getting better by the week. Beating Brisbane won't decide the title, but it would put a marker in the sand. The perennial bridesmaids of the A-League are looking more and more like a bride. Is this the best-ever Mariners side? ''You're not going to get me talking about titles,'' Arnold says. But if you know ''Arnie'' well enough, you can see the glint in his eyes. It's going to take an exceptional side to stop the Mariners from making it fourth time lucky after three grand final defeats. Brisbane are exceptional, but even at their peak they've been run close by Central Coast. And the gap, if it exists, is now wafer thin.
The side that Arnie built is there by design, not accident. With the help of youth coach Tony Walmsley, and the scouting system set in place by Lawrie McKinna, the Mariners have assembled some of the best emerging talent in the country. How Sydney FC must rue allowing Mustafa Amini, Bernie Ibini and Matthew Ryan to escape their net. All three teenagers played like seasoned veterans against the Jets, and there's more to come. If you doubt Central Coast have the best youngsters in the A-League, consider this: there are five Olyroos in the squad and on Saturday night only one, Ryan, started the game. Amini and Ibini are the next generation, and there's already a next generation after that. Mitchell Duke and Kwabena Appiah-Kubi are being talked about as potential stars.
At the other end of the spectrum, a spine of veterans provides the big-match experience, and guidance. Patrick Zwaanswijk is the oldest outfield player in the league, at 36 years and 11 months, but he's only missed one game since arriving from the Netherlands midway through last year. Daniel McBreen, John Hutchinson and Josh Rose are some of the other veterans. Good, honest pros. The Mariners have a ''no dickheads'' policy, and it's one they treat seriously. Look at those who couldn't even get on the teamsheet against the Jets, and you'd think there's fertile ground for dissent. Not a bit of it. The Mariners might be the smallest club in the A-League, but they have a culture the rest can only envy. That's why they consistently punch above their weight.
It's not about getting stuck in and shouting platitudes. It's about being professional, respectful, and demanding. The Mariners used to be blue collar in every respect. They're not going to get rid of their working class roots off the field, nor should they. But it's a different story once the first whistle blows. Arnold sets high standards, and the players are desperate to achieve them. These days the Mariners pass the ball, and keep the ball, as well as every other team except Brisbane. And they do that without a Thomas Broich or Issey Nakajima-Farran or Besart Berisha. Instead they have Matt Simon, Michael McGlinchey and Amini. Increasingly, it looks like an idle comparison.
Brisbane will believe they still have the edge, and maybe they do. But Ange Postecoglou will also know that of all the aspirants to the throne, it's the Mariners who are best equipped to punish them for a single lapse in concentration. Arnold doesn't want to talk about titles, but the Mariners are becoming impossible to ignore.
Forum Phoenix
Well-Known Member
AWESOME 
verhead:
I think I'll just read articles you post from now on thanks Celery :
verhead: I think I'll just read articles you post from now on thanks Celery :
MrCelery
Well-Known Member
Central Coast Mariners coach Graham Arnold says team deserves more recognition
Tom Smithies
The Daily Telegraph
December 12, 2011 12:00AM
CENTRAL Coast coach Graham Arnold has demanded that his players receive their rightful share of accolades, as he prepares for a top-of-the-table showdown with Brisbane Roar on Saturday at Suncorp Stadium.
Having watched his side ruthlessly dismantle Newcastle Jets on Saturday night to move level on points with Brisbane, Arnold questioned the coverage the Central Coast have received, suggesting a media myopia has concentrated on their opponents' weaknesses rather than the Mariners' strengths.
Now unbeaten in seven games, six of them victories, the Mariners have renewed their grand final rivalry with a suddenly mortal Roar.
For all the superlatives heaped upon Brisbane, Arnold believes his side's form and dominance with nine goals scored in the last three games is also lifting the A-League benchmark.
The Mariners coach is also acutely aware that Brisbane have hit a relative slump, two consecutive losses after 36 games unbeaten, and must travel to New Zealand to face Phoenix on Wednesday night before returning for the Mariners match-up.
"We've had some great contests with Brisbane - by common consent the grand final was one of the great spectacles of Australian football history," Arnold said.
"Ange (Postecoglou) has challenged everybody with what he's done there, but maybe we're also setting a standard for the teams who are chasing us.
"Brisbane will be a great challenge for us but there's 17 rounds to go and we won't get carried away. Ange will have Brisbane prepared, though they do have a tough trip to Dundein on Wednesday. But we'll prepare as normal as we would for any game. If you look at how we planned the pre-season (to factor in the Asian Champions League) we weren't ready for round one and we weren't ready for the Jets in round three.
"But we're ready now. Every player has improved physically, they're super fit now. I've got 22 fit players to choose from and not all the clubs can say that.
"We've got competition for places. I feel sorry for Ollie Bozanic who did absolutely nothing wrong; he went away with the Olyroos and John Hutchinson has come in and played so well I can't drop him.
"We beat Sydney then Adelaide and really you don't want to change much about a winning team. That competition challenges the players, they realise anyone can be in the same position as Ollie."
Having previously said he prefers to fly under the radar and allow other teams to create the league's hype, Arnold conceded his side, though not himself, should take their place in the sun.
Tom Smithies
The Daily Telegraph
December 12, 2011 12:00AM
CENTRAL Coast coach Graham Arnold has demanded that his players receive their rightful share of accolades, as he prepares for a top-of-the-table showdown with Brisbane Roar on Saturday at Suncorp Stadium.
Having watched his side ruthlessly dismantle Newcastle Jets on Saturday night to move level on points with Brisbane, Arnold questioned the coverage the Central Coast have received, suggesting a media myopia has concentrated on their opponents' weaknesses rather than the Mariners' strengths.
Now unbeaten in seven games, six of them victories, the Mariners have renewed their grand final rivalry with a suddenly mortal Roar.
For all the superlatives heaped upon Brisbane, Arnold believes his side's form and dominance with nine goals scored in the last three games is also lifting the A-League benchmark.
The Mariners coach is also acutely aware that Brisbane have hit a relative slump, two consecutive losses after 36 games unbeaten, and must travel to New Zealand to face Phoenix on Wednesday night before returning for the Mariners match-up.
"We've had some great contests with Brisbane - by common consent the grand final was one of the great spectacles of Australian football history," Arnold said.
"Ange (Postecoglou) has challenged everybody with what he's done there, but maybe we're also setting a standard for the teams who are chasing us.
"Brisbane will be a great challenge for us but there's 17 rounds to go and we won't get carried away. Ange will have Brisbane prepared, though they do have a tough trip to Dundein on Wednesday. But we'll prepare as normal as we would for any game. If you look at how we planned the pre-season (to factor in the Asian Champions League) we weren't ready for round one and we weren't ready for the Jets in round three.
"But we're ready now. Every player has improved physically, they're super fit now. I've got 22 fit players to choose from and not all the clubs can say that.
"We've got competition for places. I feel sorry for Ollie Bozanic who did absolutely nothing wrong; he went away with the Olyroos and John Hutchinson has come in and played so well I can't drop him.
"We beat Sydney then Adelaide and really you don't want to change much about a winning team. That competition challenges the players, they realise anyone can be in the same position as Ollie."
Having previously said he prefers to fly under the radar and allow other teams to create the league's hype, Arnold conceded his side, though not himself, should take their place in the sun.
MrCelery
Well-Known Member
Graham Arnold had Vince Grella in mind when he signed Rostyn Griffiths
BY: RAY GATT From: The Australian December 12, 2011 12:00AM
GRAHAM Arnold has paid midfielder Rostyn Griffiths the ultimate accolade, describing him as the Vince Grella of the Central Coast Mariners and declaring he would not look out of place with the Socceroos.
"He has been awesome for me from the first day I signed him from North Queensland Fury last season," Mariners boss Arnold said of Griffiths, who played a starring role as the Central Coast joined Brisbane Roar at the top of the table following a 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets in the F3 Derby in Gosford on Saturday.
Griffiths scored the opening goal and had a hand in much of the play. Arnold described him as "the orchestrator" in the middle of the park.
"He is my (Socceroos and Blackburn Rovers midfielder) Vinnie Grella," Arnold said of the 23-year-old, 1.87cm midfielder.
"When I signed him from Fury that's what I had in mind for him. I wanted him to be like a Grella for our team . . . the number 6 role where he sits as a holding midfielder.
"Rostyn has it all. He can pass short and long, is great from set pieces, has great vision, is great with his head and is aggressive in the tackle."
Former Australia coach Arnold believes Griffiths, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent, England, has the ability to shine for Australia.
"He has already been involved in a Socceroos camp for locally based players, so it is obvious he is in the mix," Arnold added. "He definitely wouldn't look out of place in the green and gold."
Despite what was a solid win against arch rival Newcastle, Arnold said the Mariners could still play better.
"I reckon we're about 75 per cent and I have no doubt these guys can get better," he said.
"Every player has improved physically and that is a great credit to (Mariners fitness coach) Andrew Clark. These guys can still push themselves to another level."
Arnold also praised young guns Mustafi Amini and Bernie Ibini. Both are growing in stature with every game.
"Musti is coming is on in leaps and bounds," Arnold said. "He has come a long way since the end of last season. He had a lot of problems physically. The workload with the club and representative stuff took too much of a toll.
"But now, he is a different player. His strength, the extra pace. He has worked so hard."
The Mariners, unbeaten in their last seven games and clearly the in-form side of the competition, will play Brisbane Roar next week.
"They have had a couple of slip ups, but that can happen," a mindful Arnold said. "Don't worry, they'll be primed to come back. It will be a great test for us to see where we are at."
BY: RAY GATT From: The Australian December 12, 2011 12:00AM
GRAHAM Arnold has paid midfielder Rostyn Griffiths the ultimate accolade, describing him as the Vince Grella of the Central Coast Mariners and declaring he would not look out of place with the Socceroos.
"He has been awesome for me from the first day I signed him from North Queensland Fury last season," Mariners boss Arnold said of Griffiths, who played a starring role as the Central Coast joined Brisbane Roar at the top of the table following a 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets in the F3 Derby in Gosford on Saturday.
Griffiths scored the opening goal and had a hand in much of the play. Arnold described him as "the orchestrator" in the middle of the park.
"He is my (Socceroos and Blackburn Rovers midfielder) Vinnie Grella," Arnold said of the 23-year-old, 1.87cm midfielder.
"When I signed him from Fury that's what I had in mind for him. I wanted him to be like a Grella for our team . . . the number 6 role where he sits as a holding midfielder.
"Rostyn has it all. He can pass short and long, is great from set pieces, has great vision, is great with his head and is aggressive in the tackle."
Former Australia coach Arnold believes Griffiths, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent, England, has the ability to shine for Australia.
"He has already been involved in a Socceroos camp for locally based players, so it is obvious he is in the mix," Arnold added. "He definitely wouldn't look out of place in the green and gold."
Despite what was a solid win against arch rival Newcastle, Arnold said the Mariners could still play better.
"I reckon we're about 75 per cent and I have no doubt these guys can get better," he said.
"Every player has improved physically and that is a great credit to (Mariners fitness coach) Andrew Clark. These guys can still push themselves to another level."
Arnold also praised young guns Mustafi Amini and Bernie Ibini. Both are growing in stature with every game.
"Musti is coming is on in leaps and bounds," Arnold said. "He has come a long way since the end of last season. He had a lot of problems physically. The workload with the club and representative stuff took too much of a toll.
"But now, he is a different player. His strength, the extra pace. He has worked so hard."
The Mariners, unbeaten in their last seven games and clearly the in-form side of the competition, will play Brisbane Roar next week.
"They have had a couple of slip ups, but that can happen," a mindful Arnold said. "Don't worry, they'll be primed to come back. It will be a great test for us to see where we are at."
MrCelery
Well-Known Member
Pure gold this one. Worth framing!
Mariners winning the battle of the F3
By Robert Dillon (Newcastle Herald)
12 Dec, 2011 04:00 AM
The Mariners might be despised arch enemies, but it is hard not to admire what they have achieved in the seven seasons since the A-League kicked off.
CENTRAL Coast staged a cheeky promotional stunt in the lead-up to Saturday’s F3 derby at Gosford, sending their mascot to Newcastle to remind Novocastrians that the Mariners were ‘‘consistently better’’ than the Jets.
And it’s true. They are.
Even before their emphatic 2-0 victory there was no point denying it.
The Jets and their supporters can bang on all they like about Newcastle’s 2008 grand final victory and the fact Central Coast have finished runners-up in three A-League deciders.
But credit where it is due.
The Mariners might be regarded as despised arch enemies in this neck of the woods, but it is hard not to admire what they have achieved in the seven seasons since the A-League kicked off.
Year in, year out, week in week out, Central Coast punch above their weight.
They have won more games than Newcastle (63 to 57).
They have scored more goals (231 to 190). They have conceded fewer (194 to 223).
They have appeared in more play-off games (13 to 11).
There is no wooden spoon in their closet.
And while Jets fans taunt their nearest neighbours about the absence of silverware in their trophy cabinet, it may only be a matter of time before that derisory argument becomes redundant.
A third of the way into the 2011-12 campaign, there is a distinct impression that only one of these two teams is a genuine contender for the 2011-12 title.
And it sure ain’t Newcastle.
If the Jets were able to play every game for the rest of the season at Ausgrid Stadium, they would be at short odds to reach the competition finale.
Newcastle have won four of five games on their own dungheap this season, including a 1-0 victory against the Mariners on October 23. But unfortunately for the Jets, it seems they could not win a raffle away from home.
Mariners winning the battle of the F3
By Robert Dillon (Newcastle Herald)
12 Dec, 2011 04:00 AM
The Mariners might be despised arch enemies, but it is hard not to admire what they have achieved in the seven seasons since the A-League kicked off.
CENTRAL Coast staged a cheeky promotional stunt in the lead-up to Saturday’s F3 derby at Gosford, sending their mascot to Newcastle to remind Novocastrians that the Mariners were ‘‘consistently better’’ than the Jets.
And it’s true. They are.
Even before their emphatic 2-0 victory there was no point denying it.
The Jets and their supporters can bang on all they like about Newcastle’s 2008 grand final victory and the fact Central Coast have finished runners-up in three A-League deciders.
But credit where it is due.
The Mariners might be regarded as despised arch enemies in this neck of the woods, but it is hard not to admire what they have achieved in the seven seasons since the A-League kicked off.
Year in, year out, week in week out, Central Coast punch above their weight.
They have won more games than Newcastle (63 to 57).
They have scored more goals (231 to 190). They have conceded fewer (194 to 223).
They have appeared in more play-off games (13 to 11).
There is no wooden spoon in their closet.
And while Jets fans taunt their nearest neighbours about the absence of silverware in their trophy cabinet, it may only be a matter of time before that derisory argument becomes redundant.
A third of the way into the 2011-12 campaign, there is a distinct impression that only one of these two teams is a genuine contender for the 2011-12 title.
And it sure ain’t Newcastle.
If the Jets were able to play every game for the rest of the season at Ausgrid Stadium, they would be at short odds to reach the competition finale.
Newcastle have won four of five games on their own dungheap this season, including a 1-0 victory against the Mariners on October 23. But unfortunately for the Jets, it seems they could not win a raffle away from home.
style_cafe
Well-Known Member
Loving every bit of this...please keep them coming. 
Forum Phoenix
Well-Known Member
Holy shit. Best article ever.
midfielder
Well-Known Member
Great thread .... keep those articles coming... bit I liked the best so far...
MrCelery
Well-Known Member
I like that bit too, especially got me thinking how on earth are we going to cheer for Kwabena Appiah-Kubi.
I suppose we coped with Mustafa Amini, Bernie Ibini-Isei, and Patrick Zwaanswijk, so we'll do OK! As long as he plays brilliantly like the other three, maybe 'Kwassie' or 'Benny' will do.
style_cafe
Well-Known Member
Mariners setting standards of their own
Monday, December 12, 2011
by Tyson Scott
Derby this Derby that, we all thought that this week’s F3 match-up between Newcastle Jets and the Central Coast Mariners was going to be a belter and in some respects it was an entertaining match for the spectators, the Mariners coming up trumps two nil.
It was perfect revenge for the Mariners who suffered their last loss of the competition in Round Three to Newcastle up at Ausgrid Stadium although the Mariners have come along in leaps and bounds since then.
Despite an impressive run of form the Mariners know that they are not at their best yet and they know that they will continue to get better as the season progresses.
"At the moment we are at about 75 percent and there's no doubt that we will reach 100 when we have to," said Mariners Coach Graham Arnold.
Since the demise of the Brisbane Roar’s record breaking run, the Mariners have set standards of their own by beating teams through their well structured, hard drilled ball play.
“The Mariners are a side that are very well marshalled and they play to their strengths which makes them a hard side to break down.
“Even though we may have made it a little easier for them to beat us tonight we have to give full credit to our opposition because they played great tonight,” said Jets coach Gary Van Egmond.
It is easy for the players to get caught up in the hype of a Derby match and this week’s A-league match saw a strong travelling base arrive at Gosford which was an impressive site to see.
The Jets admit that they envy the passion of their supporters and were apologetic that they made the effort to travel all this way to watch such a disappointing performance.
“Our fans are great and it was a good sign to see them make the trip to watch us play down here and it is just a shame that our supporters were probably more passionate then some of our players tonight,” said Van Egmond.
Graham Arnold also commented on the Derby feel of the match and noted his concern with the crowd numbers on the Central Coast.
“A derby is for the fans not the players and the boys out on the field are doing everything they can so it was disappointing to see that the crowd numbers were only around the 10 000 mark,” said Arnold.
Full credit was awarded to the fitness staff that is led by former Mariners defender Andrew Clark as the players came out on top fully fit despite a disappointing playing surface.
“Clarky is one of the best I have ever worked with and he gives me plenty of options and a full side to pick from every week so we are grateful to have him,” said Arnold.
Next week the Mariners are on the road to face Brisbane, a mouth watering match up that could mirror the 2010/11 Hyundai A-League Grand Final that was arguably one of the best football spectacles this country has ever seen.
With the Central Coast Mariners finding such form they are aware that there are plenty of games and tough match ups to come and complacency is not an option.
“Titles are not won in December and I would love to beat the Roar on the last game of the year,” said Arnold.
Matt Simon has been one of the keys to the Mariners success, playing at a standard that is possibly the best of his career. Tonight was no different as he bagged his sixth goal against the Newcastle Jets.
“I don’t look at it as playing the best form of my career, I just see every week as a new challenge and hope that we can get better as a team week in week out,” said Simon.
The Mariners are now joint top of the table with Brisbane Roar but sitting in second spot on goal difference. With 17 weeks to go the gap has been bridged and the Mariners will now look to build a gap of their own.
Monday, December 12, 2011
by Tyson Scott
Derby this Derby that, we all thought that this week’s F3 match-up between Newcastle Jets and the Central Coast Mariners was going to be a belter and in some respects it was an entertaining match for the spectators, the Mariners coming up trumps two nil.
It was perfect revenge for the Mariners who suffered their last loss of the competition in Round Three to Newcastle up at Ausgrid Stadium although the Mariners have come along in leaps and bounds since then.
Despite an impressive run of form the Mariners know that they are not at their best yet and they know that they will continue to get better as the season progresses.
"At the moment we are at about 75 percent and there's no doubt that we will reach 100 when we have to," said Mariners Coach Graham Arnold.
Since the demise of the Brisbane Roar’s record breaking run, the Mariners have set standards of their own by beating teams through their well structured, hard drilled ball play.
“The Mariners are a side that are very well marshalled and they play to their strengths which makes them a hard side to break down.
“Even though we may have made it a little easier for them to beat us tonight we have to give full credit to our opposition because they played great tonight,” said Jets coach Gary Van Egmond.
It is easy for the players to get caught up in the hype of a Derby match and this week’s A-league match saw a strong travelling base arrive at Gosford which was an impressive site to see.
The Jets admit that they envy the passion of their supporters and were apologetic that they made the effort to travel all this way to watch such a disappointing performance.
“Our fans are great and it was a good sign to see them make the trip to watch us play down here and it is just a shame that our supporters were probably more passionate then some of our players tonight,” said Van Egmond.
Graham Arnold also commented on the Derby feel of the match and noted his concern with the crowd numbers on the Central Coast.
“A derby is for the fans not the players and the boys out on the field are doing everything they can so it was disappointing to see that the crowd numbers were only around the 10 000 mark,” said Arnold.
Full credit was awarded to the fitness staff that is led by former Mariners defender Andrew Clark as the players came out on top fully fit despite a disappointing playing surface.
“Clarky is one of the best I have ever worked with and he gives me plenty of options and a full side to pick from every week so we are grateful to have him,” said Arnold.
Next week the Mariners are on the road to face Brisbane, a mouth watering match up that could mirror the 2010/11 Hyundai A-League Grand Final that was arguably one of the best football spectacles this country has ever seen.
With the Central Coast Mariners finding such form they are aware that there are plenty of games and tough match ups to come and complacency is not an option.
“Titles are not won in December and I would love to beat the Roar on the last game of the year,” said Arnold.
Matt Simon has been one of the keys to the Mariners success, playing at a standard that is possibly the best of his career. Tonight was no different as he bagged his sixth goal against the Newcastle Jets.
“I don’t look at it as playing the best form of my career, I just see every week as a new challenge and hope that we can get better as a team week in week out,” said Simon.
The Mariners are now joint top of the table with Brisbane Roar but sitting in second spot on goal difference. With 17 weeks to go the gap has been bridged and the Mariners will now look to build a gap of their own.
MrCelery
Well-Known Member
Why Bernie Ibini reminds me of Thierry Henry
By Tony Tannous, 13 Dec 2011
http://www.theroar.com.au
Ahead of the season, in dissecting the Central Coast Mariners’ chances for this season, I wrote about how the development of Bernie Ibini-Isei was critical to the Mariners pushing on from the success of last season.
My logic, at the time, was that the Mariners needed to add a little more craft in the front line to compliment the muscle and work-rate of Matt Simon and the well-organised structure behind him.
Last season, Simon spent most of his time alongside either Adam Kwasnik or Daniel McBreen, and while Kwasnik reached double-figures, with his pace and hard-work always proving a challenge to defend, he perhaps lacked the quality to consistently break down defences.
To take the next step as a team, I felt that Graham Arnold needed to add a little more touch and creativity in the top line.
The first three weeks of the season, in which Arnold used Michael Baird, Kwasnik and McBreen, respectively, alongside Simon, only reinforced this.
Having seen him at both youth and first team level last season, I was convinced the Nigerian born Ibini was the one.
I’ve been extremely impressed with what I’ve seen in his seven straight starts this season. His development continues at pace and the Mariners are yet to lose since Ibini came into the 11, accumulating 19 from 21 points.
While the 19 year old obviously has a long way to go in his career, the player his game most reminds me of is Thierry Henry, and for a number of reasons.
Apart from the tall and gangly physique and sharp burst of pace, there are other favourable comparisons.
Foremost, he has the game-sense, always seeming to find space, especially out wide, where he likes to forage, picking up the ball and either driving forward or bringing others into the game.
This was a characteristic of Henry’s, at his peak at Arsenal. Often you’d find him jumping out the left, picking up the ball, and driving at the defence, at pace, ball glued to his right toe, always with his head up, looking positively to either link or go past defenders.
It put them in two minds. Commit and there was a chance Henry would go past them or draw a foul. Hold off and you knew Henry had the quality to link or strike from distance.
Ibini, at this early stage of his career, appears to favour the right flank. Perhaps this has a bit to do with team structure, for Simon has been found peeling out to the left, but you sense it has more to do with Ibini’s game-smarts, knowing the space is away from the centre.
His cameo off the bench in last season’s grand final provided an insight into how effective he looks to be at finding this space.
In his first start of the season against the Perth Glory, he dropped out to the right and played a key role in the lead-up to Matt Simon’s equaliser.
Like Henry though, Ibini looks more than just a wide attacker. Indeed, it’s his ability to make runs in the central corridor, either inside the box or outside it, that make him such an exciting prospect.
Little wonder a few clubs locally are said to be chasing, especially with the reports that the Mariners struggling to keep up with player payments.
On Saturday evening, in the F3 derby, he showed the full repertoire of his runs and invention, especially in the second half, even if there was some abject Jets defending.
In the lead-up to the Mariners second, he checked a run, skipping back a step two to stay on-side, before galloping into the Jets box and squaring a ball across the box for Simon to lash home.
Minutes later he burst through the middle, again beating the off-side trap, only to be denied by an errant flag.
Later, he made two plays that again demonstrated his instinct. The first involved him checking a run to get on the end of a Josh Rose cut-back. From there he lashed a left foot strike against the cross-bar.
Soon he was again streaming towards the Jets box, where, faced by a closing Matt Nash, he tried to guide a ball around him with the outside of his foot. It went just wide of the post, but was an audacious effort nonetheless, despite McBreen being an option to his right.
Henry, the scorer of many a spectacular strike, with both the inside and outside of his right boot, would have been nodding in approval if he was watching.
One thing Henry was less interested in was getting on the end of headers, and hitherto this hasn’t struck as being a strength of Ibini’s. Those balls in the air, you sense him thinking, are for Simon and McBreen to attack.
By Tony Tannous, 13 Dec 2011
http://www.theroar.com.au
Ahead of the season, in dissecting the Central Coast Mariners’ chances for this season, I wrote about how the development of Bernie Ibini-Isei was critical to the Mariners pushing on from the success of last season.
My logic, at the time, was that the Mariners needed to add a little more craft in the front line to compliment the muscle and work-rate of Matt Simon and the well-organised structure behind him.
Last season, Simon spent most of his time alongside either Adam Kwasnik or Daniel McBreen, and while Kwasnik reached double-figures, with his pace and hard-work always proving a challenge to defend, he perhaps lacked the quality to consistently break down defences.
To take the next step as a team, I felt that Graham Arnold needed to add a little more touch and creativity in the top line.
The first three weeks of the season, in which Arnold used Michael Baird, Kwasnik and McBreen, respectively, alongside Simon, only reinforced this.
Having seen him at both youth and first team level last season, I was convinced the Nigerian born Ibini was the one.
I’ve been extremely impressed with what I’ve seen in his seven straight starts this season. His development continues at pace and the Mariners are yet to lose since Ibini came into the 11, accumulating 19 from 21 points.
While the 19 year old obviously has a long way to go in his career, the player his game most reminds me of is Thierry Henry, and for a number of reasons.
Apart from the tall and gangly physique and sharp burst of pace, there are other favourable comparisons.
Foremost, he has the game-sense, always seeming to find space, especially out wide, where he likes to forage, picking up the ball and either driving forward or bringing others into the game.
This was a characteristic of Henry’s, at his peak at Arsenal. Often you’d find him jumping out the left, picking up the ball, and driving at the defence, at pace, ball glued to his right toe, always with his head up, looking positively to either link or go past defenders.
It put them in two minds. Commit and there was a chance Henry would go past them or draw a foul. Hold off and you knew Henry had the quality to link or strike from distance.
Ibini, at this early stage of his career, appears to favour the right flank. Perhaps this has a bit to do with team structure, for Simon has been found peeling out to the left, but you sense it has more to do with Ibini’s game-smarts, knowing the space is away from the centre.
His cameo off the bench in last season’s grand final provided an insight into how effective he looks to be at finding this space.
In his first start of the season against the Perth Glory, he dropped out to the right and played a key role in the lead-up to Matt Simon’s equaliser.
Like Henry though, Ibini looks more than just a wide attacker. Indeed, it’s his ability to make runs in the central corridor, either inside the box or outside it, that make him such an exciting prospect.
Little wonder a few clubs locally are said to be chasing, especially with the reports that the Mariners struggling to keep up with player payments.
On Saturday evening, in the F3 derby, he showed the full repertoire of his runs and invention, especially in the second half, even if there was some abject Jets defending.
In the lead-up to the Mariners second, he checked a run, skipping back a step two to stay on-side, before galloping into the Jets box and squaring a ball across the box for Simon to lash home.
Minutes later he burst through the middle, again beating the off-side trap, only to be denied by an errant flag.
Later, he made two plays that again demonstrated his instinct. The first involved him checking a run to get on the end of a Josh Rose cut-back. From there he lashed a left foot strike against the cross-bar.
Soon he was again streaming towards the Jets box, where, faced by a closing Matt Nash, he tried to guide a ball around him with the outside of his foot. It went just wide of the post, but was an audacious effort nonetheless, despite McBreen being an option to his right.
Henry, the scorer of many a spectacular strike, with both the inside and outside of his right boot, would have been nodding in approval if he was watching.
One thing Henry was less interested in was getting on the end of headers, and hitherto this hasn’t struck as being a strength of Ibini’s. Those balls in the air, you sense him thinking, are for Simon and McBreen to attack.
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Ancient wisdom fuels Mariners' new mission
Greg Prichard
December 17, 2011
A step in the right direction … Mariners coach Graham Arnold says his experience of being eliminated by Iran in a 1997 World Cup qualifier helped him to get his players over their painful loss to Brisbane Roar last year. Photo: Anthony Johnson
Graham Arnold's experience of dealing with adversity has helped his side overcome their grand final defeat, writes Greg Prichard.
CENTRAL Coast coach Graham Arnold has revealed the depth of the ties that bind him to his players as the Mariners bid to go top of A-league by beating Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
''I love the players,'' Arnold told the Herald before the team flew out of Sydney yesterday.
''It's harder to get personally attached to national teams when you're coaching them, because you don't have the players that much. They come and go. But in club football, especially here in Australia, you can have an actual say in the person's life and you can mentor the individual if need be.
''The older players you don't have to worry much about, but the kids I'd do anything for. I say to them: 'My phone's on 24 hours. If ever you need me - in any situation, wherever you are - all you've got to do is give me a call and I'll be there in five minutes.
''You've got to treat them like they're your own kids if you want to get the best out of them.''
Arnold said that since taking charge of the Mariners before the start of last season he has used his own experiences, both on and off the football pitch, to help guide him in shaping the relationships he has with his players.
There was the life advice he got from the late Socceroos coach Eddie Thomson, the crushing disappointment of Australia's 2-2 draw with Iran in a World Cup qualifier in 1997 which knocked the Socceroos out of the finals race on the away goals rule, and the death of his parents when he was a young man.
''I can thank people like Eddie, and Ron Corry, for what they did with my career,'' Arnold says. ''You need mentoring as a player. You need help, you need direction before you can go to another level. Players can't do it on their own.
''I had a few knocks. From the age of 18 to 25 I lost both of my parents, and that made me tougher and harder and more determined to try and be successful. You try to pass on what you've learnt from your experiences about overcoming adversity.
''My aim is to try to make all of these players wealthy men, and one way to start is by helping them become better people. Just something small that we do, for instance, when we come in to work every day, is shake hands with everyone and respect each other.
''We talk to the players about the dangers of gambling and drinking and drugs, to try to have an influence … in their lives. It's all about discipline. If they do well in their football careers, it's possible to make a lot of money … If they can do that I'll be a very happy, satisfied person.''
The Socceroos had that crucial 1997 qualifier almost in the bag, leading 2-0 at the MCG, but the night ended in heartbreak. Last March, Arnold's Mariners led the A-League grand final 2-0 in extra time against Brisbane, only to be pulled back to 2-2 and lose on penalties.
It was a harrowing defeat, the sort that can have long-term effects, but Central Coast have clearly overcome the disappointment. How has that happened?
''At the end of the day it's football, it's sport,'' Arnold says. ''We didn't get the trophy we wanted, but it was a great journey. We talked about the loss the day after the game and we trained on for another week to get rid of it, and then we said: 'Let's not talk about it any more.'
''It was something that happened that we couldn't change, so we had to work to the future. I'd had the experience of playing in the Iran game, the danger of the 2-0 scoreline. I'd had the experience of bad and hurtful results, and they can take a while to get over.
''It was probably my biggest learning experience, the Iran game. It took me six months to get over it, as a footballer. I learnt the hard way that six months later you still couldn't do anything to change the result, and I didn't want my players to have to go through that. I said to these kids: 'Put it in the basket of experiences in life that didn't go the way you would have liked them to, and move on.' In my eyes, they were all winners last season anyway.''
Central Coast meet Brisbane again at a time when the Roar have a question mark over them. After going a record 36 games unbeaten, they have lost three straight and must back up quickly from a midweek game in Dunedin. But Arnold is expecting them to live up to their nickname.
''Anyone who thinks Brisbane are going to just fall over now are fools,'' he said. ''Ange [Postecoglou, Roar coach] is not the type of guy to let that happen, and you don't go 36 games unbeaten and all of a sudden lose your ability. Their confidence levels might be down a bit, but that won't last long.
''We have to be ready to go out and play our normal game against a red-hot side, and take it to them and try to get the result we need. They're a wounded animal ready to fight, ready to bite. When you're up against a champion side that has been backed into a corner, that's when they come out with all guns firing.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/ancient-wisdom-fuels-mariners-new-mission-20111216-1oyne.html#ixzz1ghm7l1tX
Greg Prichard
December 17, 2011
A step in the right direction … Mariners coach Graham Arnold says his experience of being eliminated by Iran in a 1997 World Cup qualifier helped him to get his players over their painful loss to Brisbane Roar last year. Photo: Anthony Johnson
Graham Arnold's experience of dealing with adversity has helped his side overcome their grand final defeat, writes Greg Prichard.
CENTRAL Coast coach Graham Arnold has revealed the depth of the ties that bind him to his players as the Mariners bid to go top of A-league by beating Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
''I love the players,'' Arnold told the Herald before the team flew out of Sydney yesterday.
''It's harder to get personally attached to national teams when you're coaching them, because you don't have the players that much. They come and go. But in club football, especially here in Australia, you can have an actual say in the person's life and you can mentor the individual if need be.
''The older players you don't have to worry much about, but the kids I'd do anything for. I say to them: 'My phone's on 24 hours. If ever you need me - in any situation, wherever you are - all you've got to do is give me a call and I'll be there in five minutes.
''You've got to treat them like they're your own kids if you want to get the best out of them.''
Arnold said that since taking charge of the Mariners before the start of last season he has used his own experiences, both on and off the football pitch, to help guide him in shaping the relationships he has with his players.
There was the life advice he got from the late Socceroos coach Eddie Thomson, the crushing disappointment of Australia's 2-2 draw with Iran in a World Cup qualifier in 1997 which knocked the Socceroos out of the finals race on the away goals rule, and the death of his parents when he was a young man.
''I can thank people like Eddie, and Ron Corry, for what they did with my career,'' Arnold says. ''You need mentoring as a player. You need help, you need direction before you can go to another level. Players can't do it on their own.
''I had a few knocks. From the age of 18 to 25 I lost both of my parents, and that made me tougher and harder and more determined to try and be successful. You try to pass on what you've learnt from your experiences about overcoming adversity.
''My aim is to try to make all of these players wealthy men, and one way to start is by helping them become better people. Just something small that we do, for instance, when we come in to work every day, is shake hands with everyone and respect each other.
''We talk to the players about the dangers of gambling and drinking and drugs, to try to have an influence … in their lives. It's all about discipline. If they do well in their football careers, it's possible to make a lot of money … If they can do that I'll be a very happy, satisfied person.''
The Socceroos had that crucial 1997 qualifier almost in the bag, leading 2-0 at the MCG, but the night ended in heartbreak. Last March, Arnold's Mariners led the A-League grand final 2-0 in extra time against Brisbane, only to be pulled back to 2-2 and lose on penalties.
It was a harrowing defeat, the sort that can have long-term effects, but Central Coast have clearly overcome the disappointment. How has that happened?
''At the end of the day it's football, it's sport,'' Arnold says. ''We didn't get the trophy we wanted, but it was a great journey. We talked about the loss the day after the game and we trained on for another week to get rid of it, and then we said: 'Let's not talk about it any more.'
''It was something that happened that we couldn't change, so we had to work to the future. I'd had the experience of playing in the Iran game, the danger of the 2-0 scoreline. I'd had the experience of bad and hurtful results, and they can take a while to get over.
''It was probably my biggest learning experience, the Iran game. It took me six months to get over it, as a footballer. I learnt the hard way that six months later you still couldn't do anything to change the result, and I didn't want my players to have to go through that. I said to these kids: 'Put it in the basket of experiences in life that didn't go the way you would have liked them to, and move on.' In my eyes, they were all winners last season anyway.''
Central Coast meet Brisbane again at a time when the Roar have a question mark over them. After going a record 36 games unbeaten, they have lost three straight and must back up quickly from a midweek game in Dunedin. But Arnold is expecting them to live up to their nickname.
''Anyone who thinks Brisbane are going to just fall over now are fools,'' he said. ''Ange [Postecoglou, Roar coach] is not the type of guy to let that happen, and you don't go 36 games unbeaten and all of a sudden lose your ability. Their confidence levels might be down a bit, but that won't last long.
''We have to be ready to go out and play our normal game against a red-hot side, and take it to them and try to get the result we need. They're a wounded animal ready to fight, ready to bite. When you're up against a champion side that has been backed into a corner, that's when they come out with all guns firing.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/ancient-wisdom-fuels-mariners-new-mission-20111216-1oyne.html#ixzz1ghm7l1tX
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