Three years ago the Central Coast Mariners celebrated their first A-League championship with a squad full of experienced A-League campaigners and future Socceroos. Fast forward to the present and the club has finished rock-bottom of the table, mathematically securing their first wooden spoon weeks before the season’s end. What happened to this once-proud club that punched above its weight?
The Story
Things started well for Tony Walmsley in his first full season in charge of the club with a 3-2 win over Perth Glory at home. However, it was a sense of déjà vu in Gosford, replicating the previous season by failing to win their next eleven matches. A 3-1 win at home to the Phoenix stopped them from matching the 12-game winless streak set by Phil Moss in 2014-15, but there was no end to the nightmare, despite the mid-season arrival of Luis Garcia. The final ten games of the season yielded just one point in a 2-2 draw against Sydney FC, and round 23’s 4-0 defeat to Perth Glory at nib Stadium consigned the yellow and navy to the wooden spoon with four matches remaining.
Key Player – Liam Rose
Rose was undoubtedly the club’s standout performer this year, winning the Mariners Medal at just 19 years of age. Sitting at the base of the midfield beside captain Nick Montgomery, the youngster developed in leaps and bounds as the season progressed, arguably becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Despite his small stature, Rose is always a fierce competitor in defence and covered a lot of ground in order to cover the likes of Ferreira, Austin and Garcia when they failed to track back. That’s not to say that he is lacking in technical ability – his assist for Fabio Ferreira in round 19 perfectly showcasing what he can produce.
Rose picked up another two assists over the course of the season, leaving him tied with Fabio Ferriera and Luis Garcia as the team’s best providers of goals despite playing further from the goal. A player of his quality and age is bound to draw a lot of interest, but no doubt Mariners fans will hope they can witness the development of this promising midfielder for at least another twelve months.
The Manager
One thing you can’t fault Tony Walmsley for is his optimism – despite leading the club to its worst ever season, the 49-year-old has stayed smiling week after week, insisting that the turning point for the club is approaching. Although his positive demeanour has been admirable, it remains to be seen whether Walmsley has what it takes to be an A-League coach. The defensive issues that followed the club all season were never resolved, and the number of players released during the campaign indicated some problems with managing the dressing room. Walmsley looks set to continue at the helm next season, but another campaign like this should result in his dismissal.
Recruitment
Mitch Austin was the most impressive of the new arrivals, impressing fans and commentators alike with his explosive pace and willingness to dribble at defenders, but like the other signings he experienced a patchy campaign. 20-year-old Harry Ascroft showed promise but was partial to the same lapses in concentration and ill-discipline that troubled the rest of the backline. Roy O’Donovan did find the net eight times, but his eight-match suspension for a headbutt on Wellington’s Manny Muscat certainly put a blot on his record, while state-league striker Dan Heffernan never experienced a long run in the first eleven to make an impact. Paul Izzo was awarded the starting goalkeeper spot after Liam Reddy was released, but momentary brain-snaps and rookie mistakes overshadowed his natural shot-stopping ability. Although the mid-season signing of Luis Garcia as a marquee player did trigger a brief lift in the club’s mood and results, in the end it was clear that he was not the man to stop the slide.
Grade – F
Worst finish in the club’s history and the A-League record for most goals conceded, enough said.
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