The Central Coast Mariners stand as an interesting case study in the world of football.
Many clubs around the world strive for results first then style of football second, as long as these results stay positive.
After years of constant success, with a formula built upon the foundations of a rock-solid defence, impenetrable until the final whistle, the Mariners have changed.
Lawrie McKinna began the philosophy when the club was in its infant stage. A small club from Gosford consistently stood side by side with the likes of Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. No one quite understood how this continued to occur, but the minnows deserve congratulations none the less. Central Coast have featured in four grand finals, equal with the Victory and one more than Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar. This fact speaks for itself.
Graham Arnold continued this tradition with an increased amount of success, bringing the club its first title after multiple attempts. However the mentality of stoic, defensive and well structured football continued, but this has not always pleased the fans.
Attendance has proven to be a sore point for the Mariners with numbers being so low and owners fearing the financial burden so heavily that games were moved to North Sydney Oval, much to the outrage of key fan groups and supporters alike. The results were not positive and neither were the crowd numbers.
So while the club produced results on the field, more or less maintaining the McKinna style of play, the attendances plummeted. Clearly the Mariners fans were unlike many other fans around the world. This is why the club continues to be so interesting. Not even a constant stream of results paved the way for increased crowds.
And so this brings along the current dilemma. Tony Walmsley faces a unique problem. Having been given full reign of the coaching responsibilities, Walmsley has been instructed to play attacking football at all costs, leading to goalkeeper Liam Reddy leaving the club, and veteran centre-back Eddy Bosnar following him after an apparent clash of philosophies.
This has led to a young team taking to the pitch in what look likes a club destined for the wooden spoon, considering the Mariners have only picked up five points from the first 10 games, leaving them four from second-bottom.
Fast forward three months and the attacking style has not had the desired effects. The gates have not flung open, the people have not rushed into the stadium. The club continues to lag behind. News emanating out from the club suggests a mass exodus sits on the horizon unless wages can be paid. For the Mariners, this situation is more than a footballing philosophy, it is about the life or death of the club.
This is what makes the Central Coast such an interesting case study. Even when the results were favourable and the grand finals were coming thick and fast, crowds and financial stability never improved. Now the complete opposite approach is being taken and has not worked. All it has achieved is to make Central Coast the laughing stock, the whipping boys of the league.
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Zac Anderson looks to have made a smart career choice as the central defenders at Central Coast this season look to be left stranded by this new style. Bosnar represents this disillusionment, while Reddy reinforces the mindset.
However, the most worrying facet of this issue for Central Coast is the slowing quality of youth. Their opponents this weekend, Brisbane Roar, have a well documented youth system, one that has produced players of immense quality. On the other hand, Central Coast have been unable to bring young players of substantial talent. They have had to rely upon sub-standard young and state league players, creating a team that sits below-par.
So now Central Coast sit in an precarious position. With the finals almost amazingly out of reach after just over a third of the season, how should Central Coast face the rest of the season? Is it time to stick with the squad, let the dead wood leave and mould a team capable of challenging for next season?
For the fans, it is a time to look at themselves in the mirror. After years of yearning for attacking fearless football, is it time to realise that you cannot always have your cake and eat it too?
Central Coast fans need to support their team. With testing times ahead it will be important for clubs to show their strong fan base to the league, even if the style of football does not suit the cries of the masses. As sometimes, results mean more than style.
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