Central Coast Mariners has called for Members and Supporters to show their appreciation for what his side has achieved, by turning out in force at Bluetongue Stadium tomorrow, for what could be one of the club’s most important games of the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season.
Central Coast Mariners has called for Members and Supporters to show their appreciation for what his side has achieved, by turning out in force at Bluetongue Stadium tomorrow, for what could be one of the club-s most important games of the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season.
“It-s going to be a massive game, Sydney still believe (they can make the top six), but this is probably their last chance so they need three points and we need to keep the momentum that we are building going, so it-s going to be a great game and I hope we get a big crowd.
“The crowd we had on New Year-s Eve was fantastic against Melbourne Victory and I know Sydney FC will bring up the Cove, probably a thousand supporters and we need our supporters out there in full voice to get over the top of them.
“The players deserve that with the way they-ve played. Forget the travel side of it but we have been away for the last two games and our away form has been very good this year but our home form has also been very entertaining. The way the players have applied themselves to the task has been first class and I think that the supporters should be very proud of the team, and get behind them and show their appreciation,” said Arnold.
Despite Adelaide-s 8-1 thrashing of North Queensland last night, the Mariners can move back into outright second spot with a win over their local rivals tomorrow and to within four points of Brisbane at the top of the table. Arnold believes that after a period of good form, anything is possible in the run home.
“I think in the last four matches since Wellington we have played very well. Wednesday-s trip (to Perth) was tough particularly after the F3 Derby on Sunday, which took a lot out of us in the heat, so to back up and play like we did after the travel and the amount of changes that we made, I was really proud of the boys.
“The boys are confident, and the boys are enjoying their football at the moment, because winning breeds that confidence, and they are looking forward to every game. There-s minimal training at the moment, it-s more about recovery, and getting them ready for the game on Sunday,” Arnold said.
The Mariners mentor made five changes to the team that was victorious in last Sunday-s F3 derby for the trip to Perth in midweek, and he was proud of the depth of his squad as it got the job done.
“If we tried to do what we did in Perth six weeks into the competition it wouldn-t have worked. The young boys have worked extremely hard and we have gradually nursed them along and brought them in. It-s great that Musti and Trent Sainsbury and boys like that can come in. Daniel McBreen came in with Adam Kwasnik-s small injury and Daniel was great in scoring a goal and working extremely hard to cause me a headache for the weekend.
“John Hutchinson as well came on against Newcastle and scored, did a good job there and then I thought against Perth he did very well as well. The depth is being created by the players, the competition for places has created the depth and that is what our main focus was at the start of the year. We only had 22 players in the squad, we didn-t use the full quota and we didn-t have a marquee, the players have pushed themselves and each other and the best thing about this group is that it-s about the team and not the individual,” Arnold said.
While many eyes will be on Melbourne Victory-s clash with cross town rival Melbourne Heart tonight, Arnold believes that local derbies built up over six years still mean more than one just two matches old.
“I think the Melbourne derby is great for the league but I think the real derbies from day one have been the Mariners with Sydney and also Newcastle.
“Sydney is only 60k-s from the Central Coast and from day one it-s been a real big derby. The Mariners are in a place where they are halfway between two local rivals.
“Sydney FC and the Mariners from day one has been the biggest derby there is and Melbourne Heart and Victory is still behind that, with a long way to come.”
The Central Coast Mariners next match of the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season will be against Sydney FC this Sunday, 23 January at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford. Tickets are available through www.ticketek.com.au or by phoning 132 849.
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1, FS1 HD and Sky Sports 3 (NZ). Hyundai A-League club broadcast partners are 96.3 Coast FM (Gosford) and SBS 6 Digital. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au .
Head-to-Head: All matches (played 18): Central Coast Mariners wins 5, Sydney FC wins 8 (5 draws)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 2. Daniel McBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11.Oliver BOZANIC, 13. Michael BAIRD, 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 17. Chris DOIG, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 22. Mustafa AMINI, 23. Adam KWASNIK, 30. Paul HENDERSON.?
*three to be omitted*??
In: Patrick ZWAANSWIJK (returns from injury), Patricio PEREZ (promoted), Josh ROSE (returns from injury), Adam KWASNIK (returns from injury)?
Out: Matthew LEWIS (not selected)?
Unavailable: Brad PORTER (knee – 8 weeks), Nik MRDJA (knee – 8 weeks), Jess VANSTRATTAN (knee – season)
Sydney FC: 1. Liam REDDY (gk), 2. Sebastian RYALL, 3. Stephan KELLER, 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU, 7. Brendan GAN, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 9. Bruno CAZARINE, 10. Nick CARLE, 11. Kofi DANNING, 12. Shannon COLE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN (c), 17. Matt JURMAN, 18. Juho MAKELA, 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21. Scott JAMIESON, 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN, 23, Rhyan GRANT, 24. Dimitri PETRATOS
*three to be omitted*
In: Brendan GAN, Kofi DANNING, Rhyan GRANT (all promoted)?
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Hayden FOXE (groin – 2 weeks), Mark BRIDGE (stomach – 1 week), Alex BROSQUE (groin – 1 week), Terry ANTONIS (knee – 3 weeks)
Referee: Strebre Delovski
