A-League Season 2013/14 Preview - Central Coast Mariners & Melbourne Heart
Last Season: The Central Coast Mariners methodically stalked their way through the Premiership campaign, leading from the front from almost the first whistle, but were were eclipsed in the final stretch of the season by the Western Sydney Wanderers. The key moment being a 1-0 loss at home in Gosford that saw the Wanderers leapfrog the Mariners and eventually lift the title. The Mariners gained a measure of revenge in the post-season cup final, winning 2-0 against the Wanderers, although this won't ease the pain of Graham Arnold, who has repeatedly said the Premiership is the most important trophy to win.
In: The two biggest signings for the Mariners are the return of crowd favourite forward Matt Simon from Korean side Chunnam Dragons, and attacking play maker Marcos Flores, who was allowed to leave the Victory. Liam Reddy replaces Mat Ryan as one of the custodians on a 'zero tolerance' contract after Reddy left Sydney FC in disgrace. Dutch defender Marcel Seip steps into the side on a three year deal. Storm Roux looks to be the replacement for Pedj Bojic at right fullback. Hayden Morton & Michael Neill were promoted from the youth side.
Out: The Mariners have allowed Daniel McBreen to play for Shanghai on loan for much of the opening quarter of the season alongside Bernie Ibini-Isei who was sold to the same club on a 3 year contract. Pedj Bojic was given a release so he could join Sydney FC, while Tom Slater comes from the Sydney FC Youth team to join the Mariners. Mathew Ryan was sold to Club Brugge in Belgium. Oliver Bozanic was sold to FC Luzern of Switzerland. Brad McDonald & Adriano Pellegrino were released to the Mariners Youth Academy squad. Patrick Zwaanswijk retired but has stayed on at the club as a community manager.
Pre-Season: The Mariners had a mixed pre-season. They started by losing 2-1 against their own youth squad in an intra-club match, then defeated Gladesville & Bankstown both by a goal to nil. A trip to Bathurst to play Brisbane saw them defeated 2-1, before they travelled to Adelaide to take a narrow 1-0 victory against Adelaide. The Mariners participated in the Menpora Cup in Indonesia, beating both Sriwijaya & the Malaysian Under 23 side with 2-0 score lines, then drawing 3-3 with Persib Bandung in the final group stage game. The final of the Menpora cup saw the Mariners robbed by extremely suspicious refereeing as they went down 2-1 to two very dodgy penalties. On the same day of the final they played a match with players who had left Indonesia early against Newcastle, losing 2-1.
Key Players: Despite the signing of Flores, it is Michael McGlinchey who has pulled the strings for the Mariners since his arrival in 2009. The rugged and tricky midfielder exemplifies the Mariners grit and determination, and when he is on song his side are hard to beat. Liam Reddy & Justin Pasfield will both have a claim staked on being the new #1 goalkeeper for the Central Coast and they will have a big hole to fill in the absence of Mat Ryan.
Best Case Scenario: Marcos Flores rediscovers the form that saw him win the Johnny Warren Medal with Adelaide United in the 2010-11. Matt Simon steps into the hole filled by McBreen's temporary absence and adds goals to his typical nuisance value as he leads the line. Seip & Roux ensure that the Mariners defence keeps ticking away as it has done for the past several seasons. Lastly, the money worries that saw staff and players go unpaid are a thing of the past and the club begins to build it's bank balance to a point it can ensure it's long-term viability.
Worst Case Scenario: Graham Arnold is offered and takes a big money offer from a bigger club. Matt Simon comes back to the A-League but isn't up to the higher pace created since he left. Marcos Flores continues his lazy, layabout work ethic that saw him dumped by the Victory and he spends much of the season sulking on the bench. Reddy breaches his zero tolerance contract and is sacked, only for the Mariners to lose Pasfield to a season ending injury later that week. Storm Roux and Seip are unable to replicate the stoic defence of Zwaanswijk & Bojic and the Mariners slip out of the top 6, with crowds falling to record lows.
Prediction: 4th. The Mariners have lost several big name players, and have replaced them with players like Reddy, Flores, Seip & Roux that are unknown quantities. I feel they will lose a lot of continuity from last season and will take a while to regain their feet as a side. I don't see a huge collapse on the cards as the Mariners have been built by Graham Arnold on efficiency over flash but I feel that they are overdue for a bad season (by their standards).
Melbourne Heart
Last Season: Last season was abysmal for the red half of Melbourne. John Aloisi's men started promisingly, with a win over Melbourne Victory in the first round derby, but they soon crashed out of contention for finals positions. Heart found little consistency over the season. They only managed to win two games in a row once during the season. They lost the last 5 games of the season, and overall only managed 8 wins, 3 draws, and finished 9th, ahead of Wellington via their 'superior' negative 9 goal difference.
In: Australian superstar Harry Kewell is the biggest name to join the club in it's history, and is arguably the biggest new signing this season for any club. In addition to Kewell, a huge number of players have joined the club in the off-season. Jeremy Walker, Sam Mitchinson and Stefan Mauk were promoted from the youth squad. Iain Ramsay rejected Adelaide to move to Melbourne. 28 year old Massimo Murdocca left the Roar after 8 seasons on a mutual termination of the final year of his contract. Rob Wielart & Orlando Engelaar came from Holland to fill two of the foreign player positions, only for the Heart to see Engelaar suffer a broken leg during a pre-season match. Tando Velaphi moved from the blue half of Melbourne to the red half to battle Andrew Redmayne for the Goalkeeping position. Aziz Behich returns to the club where he made his name after a torrid time in Europe. Socceroo Patrick Kisnorbo is looking to resurrect his career after suffering numerous injuries. Andrea Migliorini is an injury replacement for Engelaar. The final piece of the puzzle for the Heart was the signing of the "Maltese Messi" Michael Mifsud from Valletta on a 1 year contract.
Out: As can be expected for such a large incoming roster, a similar number left the club. Vince Grella retired after playing just 30 minutes for the Heart and suffering a bad injury. Steven Gray, Matt Thompson, Clint Bolton, Fred, Simon Colosimo, Cameron Edwards, Jamie Coyne, Marcel Meeuwis, Josip Tadic & Richard Garcia were all released, while Eli Babalj was transfered to AZ Alkmaar of Holland.
Pre-Season: Heart began their pre-season in style, defeating a Melbourne lower league All Star team 4-1, then thrashing La Trobe University 12-0, and Victorian Premier League side Richmond SC 4-0. Their first A-League opposition was the Brisbane Roar, played in Lismore, and the Heart suffered a dismal 3-0 loss that could have been far worse. Heart then scraped past the Oakleigh Cannons 1-0, lost to Perth Glory in Perth, drew 1-1 against Perth a few days later in a re-match, then lost 2-1 to Adelaide United. Their final pre-season match was against a Peninsula Select side, and Heart ran out comfortable 4-1 winners.
Key Player: Harry Kewell. For Heart to have any hope of reaching the A-League finals he needs to score and score often, while also providing assists for his team-mates such as Ramsay & Mifsud. David Williams needs to step up this season, he is coming to the end of his contract this season and the Heart management will be expecting better than his small return of 6 goals from 39 appearances if he is going to be rewarded with a new contract.
Best Case Scenario: John Aloisi coaxes a new level of end product out of Williams, Mifsud leads the line and gets into double figures for goals. Kisnorbo, Wielaert, Gerhardt, Behich & Redmayne combine to help the club to keep long unbeaten streaks. A resurgent Harry Kewell takes the league by the scruff of the neck and he shoots the Heart to their first ever A-League silverware.
Worst Case Scenario: They play major title contenders in the first 5 rounds of the season, lose all 5, and are already well behind the leaders when the Heart board lose patience with Aloisi and sack him. Redmayne gets hurt and the Heart are forced to play Tando Velaphi in goals and he causes numerous defensive errors that cost Heart points. Mifsud flops, as the A-League is far too hard when compared to Maltese Premier League. Hoffman is forced into playing fullback repeatedly and is destroyed by much of the league's top attacking talent. Kewell getting hurt and retiring would be the stuff of nightmares for Aloisi, the Heart ownership & their supporters.
Prediction: 8th. Aloisi cut and replaced half his squad list, but Kewell aside, I don't see much of an improvement in the overall level of quality. Aloisi is yet to prove himself as an A-League manager and this squad isn't good enough to overcome any tactical weakness from their leadership. There is a lot counting against the Heart this year that they will have to overcome if they are to better their finish from last season in any significant means.
Overall Prediction:
- Roar
- Mariners
- Adelaide
- Heart
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