Mariners Squad 2024/2025 ALM and ACL Elite

[Ironbark]

Lets be realistic, we are out of contention to progress to the next ACLE stage and therefore no real "financial" justification for MC to open up the cheque book. There will be no new signings in Jan but i think we will see a different team in the new year. Sainsbury will make a big difference across the back. MDP brings a fresh dynamic in the front third. ATM Kuol and Edmo do not have young guys chomping at the bit to dislodge them from the team. I expect that when De Lima and Durate are back they will force themselves into the team.
As for the A League season, we are not far behind and aside from the die hards, only the toilet seat winner is remembered. All we need to do is get some momentum (once we get a fully fit side) get into the 6 and anything is possible #believe

Agree - think those returning from injury will feel like fresh new recruits. With those guys back (shame about Tappy) we'll be top 6 competitive again.

Just so thin on the ground currently. This next month or so could be tough.

 

[priorpeter]

I guess Tappy is out for the season but does anyone know how far away Duarte, DeLima, and DiPizio are?
Maybe Pete?

Nico likely mid-Feb as long as his rehab goes well. Poor kid’s had rotten luck with injury over the couple of years.
Migz probably a couple of weeks ahead of Nico. De Lima hopefully before the new year.

 

[FFC Mariner]

A decent analogy of us in the ACL elite is CCU trying to get into their season but having to play an AL club every 2 weeks.
Arguably the gap is wider than that but no one would expect CCU to get anything out of these games.
A distraction more than anything useful.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Part 2, on my reasons for pessimism about our starters this season.

Back 4.

It Is a shame that Sains is out injured. That injury has hurt us massively. He was meant to replace not only Dan Hall but also Danny both as Captain and organiser at the back. We desperately need someone on the pitch to get the defensive act together.

Kaltak is not the answer. Either the responsibility is affecting his game or he is missing Danny calling the shots from behind. It must be remembered that although he is in his 30s he is very inexperienced and only has 2 years with us behind him in professional football.

Paul is showing improvement but is not the answer yet. Hopefully a prospect for the future.
Like goalkeepers centre backs take time to learn the trade.

Mauragis is a prospect and looks good going forward, but is still a work in progress. However as many here have pointed outed his defence is lacking. Maybe he should be on the wing, but in the modern game fullbacks are probably more important.

Storm is good in defence but is starting to get on in years to be playing a position that demands the ability to get fully up the park and then instantly back in defence for 90 minutes. Fullback is a young man's spot. He is also our most experienced player in the back 5 but fullback is not a position from which to organise. I would like to see him moved to centre back but that creates problems. Although I am sure he could handle it, it is not his position, like Kaltak he is a right side player and he would rob Paul of valuable minutes in what I am clearly seeing as a development season.

We are not scoring goals, so if Jacko cannot sort the defence out we are in for a lot of hurt.

 

[pjennings]

Storm is good in defence but is starting to get on in years to be playing a position that demands the ability to get fully up the park and then instantly back in defence for 90 minutes. Fullback is a young man's spot. He is also our most experienced player in the back 5 but fullback is not a position from which to organise. I would like to see him moved to centre back but that creates problems. Although I am sure he could handle it, it is not his position, like Kaltak he is a right side player and he would rob Paul of valuable minutes in what I am clearly seeing as a development season.

I always thought Brian looked the best on the left when partnered with Triantis. Trent can play either but is usually on the right I thought.

Maybe Trent would be better on the left to marshall Mauragis because Storm and Kuz know what is expected.

 

[Rising Sun]

Part 2, on my reasons for pessimism about our starters this season.

Back 4.

It Is a shame that Sains is out injured. That injury has hurt us massively. He was meant to replace not only Dan Hall but also Danny both as Captain and organiser at the back. We desperately need someone on the pitch to get the defensive act together.

Kaltak is not the answer. Either the responsibility is affecting his game or he is missing Danny calling the shots from behind. It must be remembered that although he is in his 30s he is very inexperienced and only has 2 years with us behind him in professional football.

Paul is showing improvement but is not the answer yet. Hopefully a prospect for the future.
Like goalkeepers centre backs take time to learn the trade.

Mauragis is a prospect and looks good going forward, but is still a work in progress. However as many here have pointed outed his defence is lacking. Maybe he should be on the wing, but in the modern game fullbacks are probably more important.

Storm is good in defence but is starting to get on in years to be playing a position that demands the ability to get fully up the park and then instantly back in defence for 90 minutes. Fullback is a young man's spot. He is also our most experienced player in the back 5 but fullback is not a position from which to organise. I would like to see him moved to centre back but that creates problems. Although I am sure he could handle it, it is not his position, like Kaltak he is a right side player and he would rob Paul of valuable minutes in what I am clearly seeing as a development season.

We are not scoring goals, so if Jacko cannot sort the defence out we are in for a lot of hurt.

If you want to move Storm to CB but keep developing Paull then play 3 at the back. I think WB suits both Kuz and Mauragis better than LB, and a more inverted role suits both Doka and Feijao if they are the starting wide mids.

Not sure why he moved away from that formation, I think it best suits the current cattle that we have