I’M going to keep this short and sweet because we have a football game to focus on tomorrow night!
I-M going to keep this short and sweet because we have a football game to focus on tomorrow night!
But so much has been written and commentated about the impact the January transfer window may have on the Mariners it would be remiss of me not to make mention.
So let me say this. When big, world-renowned European football clubs show interest in our best young talent at the Mariners it makes us extremely proud as a club.
Do we want to lose players at this time of the season? Of course not!
Can we pick and choose when big clubs will come knocking for our players? Of course we can-t.
So if the likes of Tommy Rogic (who at the time of writing was in the final throes of a mov to Celtic), Bernie Ibini-Isei and Maty Ryan go during the January transfer window or at the end of the season, it is out of our control.
Under Graham Arnold, the coaching staff turns up every day motivated by the fact we can play a role in helping to develop players – both as footballers and as people – to the best of their ability at that stage of their career.
The time and effort our senior players also put into helping the kids come through is immense.
If we are successful at it there is generally two by-products that follow – winning football matches and having our players recognised by other clubs!
So as a dressing room we are all delighted to think that the work we put in is both headed in the right direction and being recognised by clubs that can help take the boys to the next level and beyond.
Far from it being a distraction, it has actually put a bounce in our step!
So let-s now turn our attention to installment three of the F3 Derby against Newcastle at Bluetongue Stadium tomorrow night.
Finally, this season, we get the Jets on our home turf, our Fortress!
Having won one apiece at Hunter Stadium so far this season, the three points tomorrow night will also give the winner a 2-1 lead on the ledger for season 2012-13 so bragging rights are well and truly up for grabs.
For us, Trent Sainsbury returns from suspension to give ‘Arnie- another selection headache with Zac Anderson doing so well alongside Patrick Zwaanswijk during last weekend-s 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory in Launceston.
If ever there was a game of two halves, it was last week. By our standards, the first half was poor and we were lucky not to have been punished by Victory before half time.
The Mariners of old re-emerged from the sheds in the second half though and in the end we could have nicked all three points.
It was the way we fought back from the first half performance and came from a goal down against a quality opposition to get something out of the game that showed the true mark of the team and has the players primed for a strong performance at Bluetongue tomorrow night. Training this week has certainly had an extra edge to it!
As always the Derby will have that little bit extra and we are determined to be the team that leads from the front foot and sets the tempo of the game from the first whistle.
It should be a cracker! Kick-off is 7.45pm.
Central Coast Mariners vs. Newcastle Jets – Hyundai A-League Round 17
Saturday 19 January, 2013
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEDT)
Tickets: CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to the match.
Twitter: Join the match conversation on Twitter! The official match hash-tag is #F3Derby
TV: LIVE on Fox Sports 1 & 1HD
Radio: LIVE on selected ABC Radio frequencies & digital channels. LIVE on Coast FM (96.3FM locally or streamed online at www.coastfm.org.au)
Yellow Army Fan March
Saturday 19 January, 2013
Starts: Gosford Boat Ramp (near Gosford Pool)
Ends: Bluetongue Stadium, Western Entrance. Yellow Army will then converge on Bay 16.
Meet: Between 6:15pm and 6:45pm
