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Post by Bearinator on Sept 21, 2007 6:56:49 GMT 10
Mariners land Mori - The Daily Telegraph
THE Central Coast's blistering start at the head of the A-League has been strengthened with a swoop for on-demand goalscorer Damian Mori on a six-week contract.
Assuming the deal receives clearance from the FFA and its South Australian counterpart, the evergreen Mori will make his debut in Sunday's clash with Perth that could cement the Mariners' ascendancy with more than a fifth of the season gone.
It will be Mori's second stint with the Mariners after a run of six goals in eight games last season.
As well as holding the Socceroo scoring record he has 15 A-League goals as a roving rent-a-hitman, making him the league's joint-third highest marksman in its two and a bit years.
The Mariners insist the deal does not precurse a long-term absence for injured striker Nik Mrdja, whom the club are hoping will be fit to return after another week's rest. Mori said he jumped at the chance after being approached by Lawrie McKinna earlier this week.
"It worked well last year and I'm confident it can work well now,'' he said. "I really enjoyed my time there and only left because of circumstances. I left with best wishes from the club and I can only feel welcomed back.
"Their two strikers are in doubt and hopefully I can go there and help out.''
McKinna said Mori's signing showed the club was determined to push on despite the absence of Mrdja.
"We can't afford to sit back - we're covering ourselves, and hopefully in a few weeks we'll have Nik available as well,'' he said.
"According to the specialist it's two weeks of total rest for Nik, and if it's not right then another two weeks. But he's been through the scans and thinks everything's fine, it's just the workload.
"Sash (Petrovski) is 50/50 for Sunday - he did light running today so we're hopeful he'll train on Saturday but if he doesn't then he won't start. We're not resting on our laurels - Damian did a great job for us last year and his experience should rub off on the boys as well.''
Meanwhile, midfielder Ahmad Elrich will today be unveiled as a new signing by Wellington Phoenix after failing to agree deals with both the Mariners and Sydney FC.
The Socceroo, out for the past year with injury, has just been released by EPL side Fulham and flew across the Tasman last night to finalise his contract with Phoenix.
The former Parramatta Power player signed for joined Fulham two years ago in a $1m deal but suffered injuries throughout much of his time in London and made only six appearances under then-manager Chris Coleman.
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Post by Jesus on Sept 21, 2007 7:57:54 GMT 10
Good news. If sash and nik are out, I like the idea of an experinced striker. Give kwassie more freedom and less pressure.
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wombat
State League player
Posts: 190
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Post by wombat on Sept 21, 2007 8:22:48 GMT 10
Very good news. If Sasho is injured we can play either Kwas or Tommy alongside him. Like you say it takes the pressure of the other blokes.
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Post by alicia on Sept 21, 2007 8:56:49 GMT 10
I think Kwas has been doing really well since the pressure of being striker last season has been taken off his shoulders.
I think he's going to do a great job on sunday and I have him pegged as scoring the first goal.
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Post by serious14 on Sept 21, 2007 9:19:07 GMT 10
*keeps on etching our name on the Championship* Sorry, say what??  |
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Mermaid
Local league player
Posts: 126
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Post by Mermaid on Sept 21, 2007 9:41:32 GMT 10
Thats awesum! Cant wait to see him do that plane thing when he scores a goal! ;D
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Post by serious14 on Sept 21, 2007 10:15:29 GMT 10
Check the photo heading the story on ccmariners.com.au ;D And not only do we have him for a derby at home (against ze Jest in 2 and a bit weeks time), but his last game on this deal is the second away game against Sydney!!! Gosh, it's tough being a Mariners fan right now I tell you...... |
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Post by dru on Sept 21, 2007 10:57:22 GMT 10
Check the photo heading the story on ccmariners.com.au ;D And not only do we have him for a derby at home (against ze Jest in 2 and a bit weeks time), but his last game on this deal is the second away game against Sydney!!! Gosh, it's tough being a Mariners fan right now I tell you...... I'm struggling today. But that may be more to do with it being friday rather than being a mariners fan.  good stuff. |
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Post by T on Sept 21, 2007 11:18:40 GMT 10
Check the photo heading the story on ccmariners.com.au ;D And not only do we have him for a derby at home (against ze Jest in 2 and a bit weeks time), but his last game on this deal is the second away game against Sydney!!! Gosh, it's tough being a Mariners fan right now I tell you...... I'm struggling today. But that may be more to do with it being friday rather than being a mariners fan. good stuff. Just think as the day goes on the easier it will get... and before you know it it will be game day!!  |
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Post by ~Floss~ on Sept 21, 2007 11:57:04 GMT 10
Just think as the day goes on the easier it will get... and before you know it it will be game day!! I think that's why so many people hate Sunday games - you wish your whole weekend away, then you can't let loose to celebrate the win afterwards. |
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Post by Bearinator on Sept 21, 2007 12:02:00 GMT 10
Just think as the day goes on the easier it will get... and before you know it it will be game day!! I think that's why so many people hate Sunday games - you wish your whole weekend away, then you can't let loose to celebrate the win afterwards. You can if your working saturday, and have sunday/monday off ;D Ill be thinking of you all when im at home with my post game/booze hangover  |
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Post by newieutd on Sept 21, 2007 12:04:27 GMT 10
Thumbs up to Mariners management.
Very nice pick up.
either mariners were the only ones to agree to all his needs and/or he enjoyed the mariners club.
surely other teams would have tried to sign him.
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Post by ~Floss~ on Sept 21, 2007 12:16:21 GMT 10
I think that's why so many people hate Sunday games - you wish your whole weekend away, then you can't let loose to celebrate the win afterwards. You can if your working saturday, and have sunday/monday off ;D Ill be thinking of you all when im at home with my post game/booze hangover Don't worry about me, i just arranged mon off as well :s PS we need to add a drunken-faced smiley |
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Post by serious14 on Sept 21, 2007 12:35:14 GMT 10
PS we need to add a drunken-faced smiley Just put up a photo of Eggy. |
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radinho
Local league player
Bob Marley and Football that is my life.
Posts: 96
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Post by radinho on Sept 21, 2007 15:58:30 GMT 10
PS we need to add a drunken-faced smiley Just put up a photo of Eggy. even funnier would to put a photo of ;DBoris Yeltsen ;D |
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Post by brett on Sept 21, 2007 18:28:54 GMT 10
Found this interesting excerpt from near the start of this month when trawling through articles on Foxsports. This was before the socceroos call up and such. Makes it all seem a bit predictable looking back Meanwhile McKinna has revealed how on-fire striker Nik Mrdja is still having to work constantly on the knee that has left his A-League career on hold for most of the past two seasons. While the Mariners squad toiled away in their first session of the new week yesterday Mrdja was cooling his heels in the pool. "We don't want to get to a stage where, because we're training him the same as everyone else, he needs a week or two off," McKinna said yesterday. "Monday is usually a hard day so we ease him through - he does a swimming session and then he's right for the rest of the week. "We'd rather just nurse him through so as the season goes on he gets stronger. It's usually just the first session of the week - his knee gets a wee bit tender. We have to monitor him so that we don't load him up too much." |
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Post by midfielder on Sept 21, 2007 18:33:34 GMT 10
Agian proves are management are up there with the best.
Love to see Matt Simon along side Mori with Kwas staying wide. I have always had a lot of time for Matt and this would be a good test with a great teacher along side.
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Post by LeedsMariner#4 on Sept 21, 2007 18:40:15 GMT 10
Mori double on sunday against his former club!
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Post by Andy on Sept 21, 2007 22:29:00 GMT 10
Mori double on sunday against his former club! And Kwassy to add another another two, in a 4-0 rout that confirms our spot as table-toppers. |
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Post by Bearinator on Sept 22, 2007 9:01:42 GMT 10
Smith fires Mori shot - The World Game
His return to the A-League has been rapid but Perth Glory coach Ron Smith says Central Coast recruit Damian Mori may struggle for pace this Sunday.
Mori's registration for the Mariners was being rushed through on Friday so the A-League's gun-for-hire could be available to take on his former club at Bluetongue Stadium.
And while Smith has no doubts of the goalscoring instincts that have netted Mori more than 300 senior goals, the Glory coach said there was a gulf between the South Australian state league and the A-League.
"You don't lose ability, you just lose legs," said Smith.
"What he might find a little bit different is the speed of the game, compared to playing in the state league. But he has played enough games, so he will know what to expect."
"I expect he will play if they can get him registered in time, but I don't see him as any more dangerous than Nicky Mrdja."
"If he has the opportunity to play for a couple of months, or a bit longer in a club that is fine, but it is a little bit different proposition to playing the whole season."
The latest short term contract will be the fourth time Mori has answered an emergency call from a A-League club, after playing for Glory in 2005/06, the Mariners in 2006 and Queensland Roar in 2006/07.
Seven goals in his stint in Perth, and eight goals in his time at the Mariners and the Roar last season make Mori the A-League's joint-third top scorer in its two season history.
And it is a tally the 36-year old hopes to increase at the first time of asking.
"I have had a lot of clubs now, so this is just one of many, but I am here to a job," said Mori.
"I am looking forward to getting out there and having a good game."
While the Mariners will be without Alex Wilkinson, Paul O'Grady, Mrdja and the suspended Tony Vidmar, and have doubts over Sasho Petrovski, Perth will also be forced into changes.
Leo Bertos (groin) and Anthony Danze (neck) will miss this weekend, as will midfielder Billy Celeski who was dropped after storming off after being substituted in the 2-1 defeat to Queensland.
"I said to him that the behaviour was unacceptable, particularly as we had some discussions about what should and shouldn't happen when players are substituted," said Smith.
"He did apologise, and he has accepted it."
Smith said the rest of the Glory squad had also been told to lift their game, after three successive 0-0 draws and the Roar defeat left them second bottom after four rounds.
"If we are going to lift our tempo in games, we have got to lift it in training. In terms of intensity there has been a lift this week, and that is what I asked for," said Smith.
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