A League Round 4 vs Melbourne

[omni]

Well Jazza is so tired of watching FC play it's hard in last.

[hilly2111]

The Kwassie hating band wagon will scream every game. He could score a hatrick and they'd bitch about how he should have had 4 or should have passed it more. [/quote]

I was on the Kwassie hating bandwagon this year and based on Sundays performance I was wrong to call for him to go. Adam I appologise. He and Viddy were the stand out performers. Kwassie has improved each week and is obviously looking more comfortable in his new position but having to step back into the position that had him under so much pressure last year was a big test and he handled it brilliantly.

I have been reluctant to post any Kwassie comments so far this year as he just gets better and better every game and although (with the exception last night) he still had a few problems to sort out, it wasnt the time to put any negative comments on the post as he was obviously addressing and sorting those areas.

I don't think baiting people such as Omni & co to have a go at Adam is going to help. He is human and one bad performance by him and someone is going to react to such comments and that wont help him any.

Heres to Kwassie putting last year behind him and long may the other players look to his performance yesterday for motivation

[greenpoleffc]

Have I missed the Kwas bashing this year?? Cant remember seeing any so far?

[marinermick]

northernspirit said:

how good was Kwas' chest and volley to hit the bar, quality play - deserved praise for a player who copped so much flack

while he copped alot of flack it was really from the vocal minority

it must be noted that kwassy did get marinators player of the season for version two

[serious14]

I know this might sound weird, but every time I see Vidmar commit a professional foul to save our arses (he's up to 4 now I think, the two most memorable being Sunday's effort and that from-behind tackle last year in Newcastle), my respect for him goes through the roof. He full well knows what he's getting himself into, but he goes through with it anyway...... is it much of a stretch for me to say that he really does like playing for us, and dare I moot it about a returning Socceroo (considering how the rest of them have been), has a passion for this club??

Not at all. ;D The man is "wooooorrrlllddd cllllaaaaarrrsssssh", and I'm honored to have him be here for as long as need be (or he wants to be) - seriously, what is he now?? 35?? And he's still an absolute gun in defence?? Brilliant!!!

Soak up the Vidmar greatness whilst you can everyone, unfortunately he can't play forever.

[marinermick]

serious14 said:

I know this might sound weird, but every time I see Vidmar commit a professional foul to save our arses (he's up to 4 now I think, the two most memorable being Sunday's effort and that from-behind tackle last year in Newcastle), my respect for him goes through the roof. He full well knows what he's getting himself into, but he goes through with it anyway...... is it much of a stretch for me to say that he really does like playing for us, and dare I moot it about a returning Socceroo (considering how the rest of them have been), has a passion for this club??

Not at all. ;D The man is "wooooorrrlllddd cllllaaaaarrrsssssh", and I'm honored to have him be here for as long as need be (or he wants to be) - seriously, what is he now?? 35?? And he's still an absolute gun in defence?? Brilliant!!!

Soak up the Vidmar greatness whilst you can everyone, unfortunately he can't play forever.

he was immense sunday night

we actually commented on the radio that what viddy and boogs lost in pace they made up for with the stuff between their heads

in all honesty, archie, allsop, carceres (for the time he was on) and love should have murdered us with their pace, but our defenders just had immaculate shape and positioning every time

and this was marshaled superbly by viddy

i have also had numerous looks at the tackle on archie - if viddy didn't put his hand on archie's shoulder he would have won the ball cleanly in the tackle, but because of the collar pulling it was definitely a foul and a red

wilko will have to fight his way back in the starting eleven

[brett]

What is crazy is that watching Boogs and Viddie together, if you didn't know one from the other, you might be forgiven for picking Boogs as the one with the glittering international career given the composure with which he conducts himself.

[serious14]

After barely having heard of the guy for 2 seasons, it was maybe 20 minutes into his first game this time round I was impressed.

After his efforts on Sunday and last week, I'm of the opinion that he could easily be a Socceroo one day, preferably sooner rather than later. Absolutely sensational start to the season, and there's no reason he can't keep going at the rate he is. And what a teacher/minder to have in Vidmar...... ;D

[serious14]

P.S. Does someone want to teach Rowdy Roddy VAAAARGAS how _not_ to raise one's hands in defence?? He nearly gave away another penalty and a further two free kicks with that oh-so-funny way he throws his arms all over the place......

P.P.S. Allsopp is garbage. Pure, utter, unadulterated garbage. Watching the reply last night when I got home, I was astounded to hear Cockerill singing his praises about how well he was playing.....

P.P.P.S Did anyone see the closeup of me and Shoelady at halftime, with my good self looking so _serious_?? I managed to take a screen grab with my phone, I'll post it when I get home.

[~Floss~]

serious14 said:

P.P.S. Allsopp is garbage. Pure, utter, unadulterated garbage. Watching the reply last night when I got home, I was astounded to hear Cockerill singing his praises about how well he was playing.....

That reminds me - I was thinking while watching the game, when we were without Mrdja and Petrovski, how we would probably expect a walkover if Melbourne lost Thompson & Allsopp.

Puts our performance into perspective.

[Ursus]

serious14 said:

P.S. Does someone want to teach Rowdy Roddy VAAAARGAS how _not_ to raise one's hands in defence?? He nearly gave away another penalty and a further two free kicks with that oh-so-funny way he throws his arms all over the place......

P.P.S. Allsopp is garbage. Pure, utter, unadulterated garbage. Watching the reply last night when I got home, I was astounded to hear Cockerill singing his praises about how well he was playing.....

P.P.P.S Did anyone see the closeup of me and Shoelady at halftime, with my good self looking so _serious_?? I managed to take a screen grab with my phone, I'll post it when I get home.

As soon as I saw you I said "That must be serious", the expression wasa giveaway.
Beware now I know who you are.

[Foriegnmariner]

Allsopp is more over-rated than Archie.. the only reason he scored so many last year was because fred layed them on a plate for him (excluding the goal in the semi final last year).
Boogard is an immense player and how he hasn't been selected for the Olyroos i wil never know. Kwasnik was MOM easily last night he is certainly the free-kick maestro atm.

[marinerbhoy]

hilly2111 said:

The Kwassie hating band wagon will scream every game. He could score a hatrick and they'd bitch about how he should have had 4 or should have passed it more.

I was on the Kwassie hating bandwagon this year and based on Sundays performance I was wrong to call for him to go. Adam I appologise. He and Viddy were the stand out performers. Kwassie has improved each week and is obviously looking more comfortable in his new position but having to step back into the position that had him under so much pressure last year was a big test and he handled it brilliantly.

I have been reluctant to post any Kwassie comments so far this year as he just gets better and better every game and although (with the exception last night) he still had a few problems to sort out, it wasnt the time to put any negative comments on the post as he was obviously addressing and sorting those areas.

I don't think baiting people such as Omni & co to have a go at Adam is going to help. He is human and one bad performance by him and someone is going to react to such comments and that wont help him any.

Heres to Kwassie putting last year behind him and long may the other players look to his performance yesterday for motivation[/quote]

am with you mate. wont take back comments i have made about him about playing for PP, NS and previous 2 season with mariners but the last two games he has the best on ground. what i really really dont want to do is jinx him, as i want to continue to be wrong. what has impressed me is that in the last two games he is the only player looking to keep to ball. he gave away cheap possession in the first game, but since then he has been rock. refuse to give him anymore kudos as i wish to look even more of a fool.

[T]

Finally a good report about the Mariners in a Syd paper
From the SMH
THE Central Coast Mariners are the real deal.

Losing grand finalists in the A-League's inaugural season, the Mariners had their pride dented by last season's disappointments. They never looked a threat.

But with new blood in the dressing room, and a fierce sense of self-belief, Central Coast have been the quickest out of the blocks this season.

Last night's scoreless draw against champions Melbourne Victory might have been the first time they have missed out on full points, but it proved more than the three wins in the opening three rounds. A draw might have been the right result, but it was the Mariners who emerged with the pyschological advantage.

They now look, genuinely, the team to beat.

Going into the match, coach Lawrie McKinna had to contend with the late withdrawal of striker Nik Mrdja, who worryingly complained of soreness from an old knee injury after a heavy week with both club and country.

Then, after half an hour, he lost his other main forward, Sasho Petrovski, who rolled his ankle contesting an aerial ball.

In the stadium full of noise and passion - a stadium the Victory like to call their fortress - lesser teams might have wilted under the strain. But never did Central Coast look second best in any of the key areas.

They kept possession, they kept shape, they worked tirelessly, the tackled with full-blooded commitment and, in Adam Kwasnik, they had the most potent threat of the game.

Twice Kwasnik rattled the crossbar, and his movement off the ball, his acceleration and his first touch combined to pose enormous problems for the normally comfortable Victory defence.

At 24, Kwasnik is a player who has to live up to his early promise. And burdened by circumstance with the responsibility of leading the line, he rose splendidly to the challenge.

They might have been kept scoreless for the first time this season, but, on this evidence, the Mariners have no reason to fret. As a goal-scorer, Kwasnik looks like he's going to have his most productive campaign.

Central Coast might still have found a goal, but Victory keeper Michael Theoklitos once again proved unbeatable. How Theoklitos continues to be ignored at international level says more about reputation than form. His save low to his right to thwart Mile Jedinak was top-class, and his block on a rasping Tom Pondeljak volley might have been even better.

In the end, the Mariners had to survive the last 90 seconds with 10 men, after veteran skipper Tony Vidmar was handed a straight red for bringing down former Socceroos teammate Archie Thompson on his way to goal. Vidmar was the last man, and referee Mark Shield had no choice.

But the moment of indiscretion didn't cost his team, nor did it detract from Vidmar's marvellous all-round display.

Indeed ,adversity seems to inspire a team which had, until now, felt it hasn't received the recognition, or respect, it deserves. Five international call-ups last week suggest the secret is out. The Mariners are not only a good team, they also have good players. Kwasnik, never capped at any level, is another who might feel his chance is about to arrive.

For all that, the Mariners also lived dangerously at times as Melbourne looked to put their frustrating start to the season behind them. Too often they conceded careless set pieces and McKinna will be grateful that Victory's work from the dead ball was so poor. Thirteen corners from Matthew Kemp, not one variation, and only an angled header from Kevin Muscat which went past the post to show for it. In a match of such fine lines, coach Ernie Merrick can hardly have been satisfied. More work on the training ground is needed, and in a hurry.

Danny Allsopp, with a shot which keeper Danny Vukovic did well to palm around the post, and with another toe-poke in front of an open goal, came closest to giving the Victory their first win of the season.

Last season, those chances were going in. This season, the Victory are finding wins hard to come by. It's the Mariners who look the goods.

[shipwreck]

In line with the whole positive spin on the mariners thing, ive noticed some sour grapes on the newcastle forums claiming that the fox sports commentaters are biased towards the mariners saying we were more entertaining than actually displayed, i can remember this time last year when les murray wrote an entire article about how everyone BUT the mariners is playing attractive football, interesting how views can change.
In my opinion, there is nothing more attractive than goals, thats what makes fans get out of their seats...

[marinermick]

shipwreck said:

In line with the whole positive spin on the mariners thing, ive noticed some sour grapes on the newcastle forums claiming that the fox sports commentaters are biased towards the mariners saying we were more entertaining than actually displayed, i can remember this time last year when les murray wrote an entire article about how everyone BUT the mariners is playing attractive football, interesting how views can change.
In my opinion, there is nothing more attractive than goals, thats what makes fans get out of their seats...

I was watching the adelaide game with my wife and she actually commented that the bias was TOWARDS the jets - stuff like newcastle were unlucky, while adelaide were just bad in certain situations. It was the same sort of wording you here when they commentate Sydney.

Harper rubbished Salley all night when I though he was excellent. He said that Cornthwaite has let his whole city down when he missed a cross. He absolutely tore into Erdogen.

On the other hand he was singing the praises of Covic, Griffiths (both) and North.

Very strangle thing to say on their forum when i thought it was the complete opposite.

As for the Mariners game you just have to listen to the commentary for their games against Melbourne and Sydney to know the Newcastle forum is just not true.

It amazes me how much of what they say is just completely untrue and I suspect much of it is just deliberate lying. For what reason I don't know because it just looks bad.

[ceburoo]

And what about the singing of the praises when SuperMario came on as a substitute? Given what was on show by him in his 15 minute cameo he should be getting somewhere near peak fitness for the pre-season in version 4 if he is still here. For a person who was working his butt off and doing extra practice on his own (Fox commentator). His onfield impact for Newcastle will be about the same as that other Brazilian Super?Mario that played for Adelaide last year. It seems that Newcastle have got it wrong with this bloke and Lawrie has got it right in not going after the flavour of the month players from Brazil like the majority of the other clubs have.

[greenpoleffc]

Harper did used to play for them didnt he??

[marinermick]

greenpoleffc said:

Harper did used to play for them didnt he??

he missed two penalties in a game that they lost by one

would have put newcastle in the semis

[bikinigirl]

. i will preface my comments by saying that i don't really hear the commentary (games watched live or at the leagues (no fox), but

. this type of commentary can only harm the league and its support

. for the uninitiated viewer watching a game and seeing somebody play ordinary footbal which gets all the praise from the commentatorss what does this suggest?

. it is the same as the romario thing - all the talk about him being a legend and a must-see

. it has people coming away thinking if that is the best we can expect then i'm not too fussed