Will Vidmar play on Saturday?

[lawrielawrie]

Will Vidmar play on Saturday?

I just assumed he wouldn't be but I now have a reason to believe he might put in a shift.

Anybody got any ideas.

[Melsy]

I reckon he will,

Even if its not for a full game.

I can't see why Lawrie wouldn't give him a run.

[DJ]

2 weeks until the season starts I think he needs some game time to gain some match fitness. I'm sure he will make an appearance, the crowd will certainly be expecting to see him!

[Pete]

If Clarkey or anyone else in the backline starts to look a little stuffed at the 65 min. mark, I wouldn't be surprised if Vidmar runs on.

[marinermick]

today's telegraph quoted lawrie as saying he will be on the bench and hoping to give him thirty minutes at the end

in other news hutch might be a smokey for the bench

[DJ]

marinermick said:

in other news hutch might be a smokey for the bench

He was firing in training today apparently

[chriso14]

he will get game time for sure i rekn, he needs match fitness n that is wat the pre season is for.... how long he will get on for depends how well the fullbacks are playin i spose....

[marinermick]

djgrounsell said:

marinermick said:

in other news hutch might be a smokey for the bench

He was firing in training today apparently

if there is a positive for these long term injuries it is that those players coming back will certainly be itching to play and will bring a fresh enthusiam to the team

[crooksey]

he will def play 20-30 mins otherwise he wont have had the match practice for HAL kickoff

[marinermum]

I think Hutcho & Vidmar will come off the bench second half. If they come into the game at all. Vidmar may strengthen the defence if they are not gelling well. Hutcho is not match fit either & may carry the oranges (my toy boy perfect match).

We have got this far without them & it is scumcastle. Also Vidmar has to have a little more time to get use to the teams play.

[lilkwasnik]

vidmar will defineatly get game time he wont start but i think lawrie will put him no second half . not sure who he will take of to put him on the field,

[DJ]

Vidmar set for A-League debut
Tuesday, 8 August, 2006 - 5:47PM
Sportal

Socceroos legend Tony Vidmar is set to make his debut in the A-League for the Central Coast Mariners in its Pre-Season Cup semi-final clash against the Newcastle Jets at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford this Saturday.

Vidmar, who had to sit out Australia's recent World Cup campaign due to a heart condition, was signed by the Mariners from Dutch club NAC Breda’s just last week and coach Lawrie McKinna is hoping the veteran defender will be able to make his debut for the team this weekend.

"Hopefully Tony Vidmar is fit for the bench and will get out on the park this weekend," said McKinna at training on Tuesday.

The Mariners have been struggling for a fully fit team during the entire A-League Pre-Season Cup campaign and desperately need a fit back four with a number on injuries coupled with the loss of defender Alex Wilkinson and goalkeeper Danny Vukovic on representative duties.

"We are short of numbers because the two young ones are away with the young Socceroos," said McKinna

"So hopefully Wayne O Sullivan will train this week and will be up for a spot on the bench, and hopefully Viddy (Vidmar) is fit for the bench."

"Thursday we will look at what we've got and who's fit and try to put together a team for the weekend."

Mariners defensive coach Alex Tobin, a former team-mate of Vidmar's and the most capped Socceroo of all time, welcomed the signing of the Vidmar and said he is already making an impact at the club, even before he has run out for a game.

"His experience and his knowledge of the game is certainly going to help the younger players in the defence," said Tobin.

"We won't be changing the way we do things in defence because Tony is there. We play very successfully with a high line and getting the defence out quickly and keeping great shape amongst the back four and it is something we will look to continue upon, and who knows, maybe do even a little better than last year."

McKinna agreed that Vidmar's presence is already doing good things for the club.

"Having Tony Vidmar here has picked up the intensity, so we are going to be having a lot of fighting for spots which is good," said the affable Scotsman.

"He came away with us last weekend and just the amount of time he has spent about this place has been great - kids are following him around shopping centres, so he has definitely brought a bit of buzz about the coast."

McKinna was quoted as saying three weeks ago the club was not hunting the signature of Vidmar saying the Mariners couldn't afford him, but at training on Tuesday with Vidmar in a Mariners strip, he denied he was trying to be foxy about signing the left back.

"Three weeks ago I was asked by the chairman, 'Would you like Tony Vidmar?'" explained McKinna. "In the quote I said, 'As a coach, I would like Tony Vidmar, but we can't afford him'."

"But the chairman said, 'Look, leave that to us, that's not what I asked, I asked if you would like Tony Vidmar as a player', so I said 'Yes, I would like Tony Vidmar as a play' and I left it with the club."

"Lyall Gorman (chairman) did a lot of work behind the scenes and last Wednesday we were told 'Tony Vidmar is coming on Friday' - and it was like - fantastic. Last spot in the team, marquee player, legend of the game and third most capped Socceroo so we were very happy."

"We have always said we didn't need a marquee player, but he is not your typical marquee player like a Dwight Yorke, he's an Australian guy who has been overseas and played in three or four World Cup campaigns and done well and plays with his heart on his sleeve and that is the kind of thing Central Coast people like so he will fit in great here."

[jollyroger]

30 minutes would be great. I hope we get a good crowd this weekend. I think the roar would be huge when tony takes the field in the second half.

[Fish]

Ive watched the boys train for the past month and Hutch is tearing the house down and looks extremely fit.Vidmar looked every part the team man today when Bear and I went to have a look.Lawries said in the paper hell play Vidmar so Ill go with that.

[omni]

Yea Lawrie's in the paper saying he'll play, so he'll play.

[Trogdor]

Can't wait too see the boys again, and seeing Tony will be fantastic...can't wait ;D

[Sam]

very exciting times for the club.....vidmar will play for sure...

[Candy]

;D im so excited! carnt wait to see him play!

[fisherman]

Wouldn't be overly excited given last nights performance.

[Jeff (LouMacari)]

fisherman said:

Wouldn't be overly excited given last nights performance.

You're just a barrel full of fun aren't you Fisherman?
The performance of the entire team wasn't that brilliant, sure, but for a guy like Vidmar to come on after so long a 'lay off' after what he's been through, I thought it was brilliant! ...didn't you hear the crowd when he came on? (perhaps you weren't even there?!!) cause if you did hear it, you would have realised how good he is going to be for the game and his team!