You go into the 2013/14 A - League season as defending champions as a die hard mariners fans how does that feel ?.
In short, it feels good. It'll be a tough year with so many leaving last season, but we're defending champions, who cares.
Mariners fans were previously labelled chokers after reaching the grand final 4 times, a tag we saw as unfair it must feel great to finally win a Championship ?.
It was more of a relief then anything, having been to all 3 previous grand finals and experienced all the emotions, it was just a sigh of relief as well as tears once the final whistle went.
What did winning the A - League mean for the Gosford region ?
It means everything, we've had fans not come back after the previous grand finals, now everyone wants to be a part of it, we saw more then 5000 people line the streets of Gosford for the street parade wanting to celebrate the clubs success.
Before Peter Turnbull saved the club last season were you afraid the Mariners would fold ?
As a fan, of course I was afraid, we are the Coasts only sporting professional sporting team, this area needs one but at the back of my mind I just thought that the FFA wouldn't allow this, they wanted a regional side at the start of the A-League and we're that side, we are here to stay.
For one of the league's most successful clubs the Mariners only averaged 9k last year, what can the club continue to do to increase their fan base ?
Some say 9k is poor, but yet don't realise there's only approximately 300 000 people living on the Coast. Averaging 9k in a Rugby League area is a good achievement, and having 6 NSW derbies this will help this average to be well over 10k by seasons end.
Take your emotion away from this question if you can but long term can the Central Coast Mariners survive in the A- League ?
Yes. Every A-League side has had financial problems, our financial situation can only get better, our player development is second to none and each year providing dollars back into the clubs pockets.
The Tuggerah centre of excellence, as a fan has / will this be a good investment ?
Not much has been done to date, with a full training facilities for the players as well as a Soccer5's complex being built, but if you ask players like John Hutchinson, this is heaven after having to train on up to 15 pitches a season. Also, don't forget we've already had the Socceroos and Young Socceroos have training camps there. Over the next year or so will see more developments in the Centre of Excellence so time will tell whether it will be a good investment.
Graham Arnold has turned out to be a club legend - what does he mean to you and the rest of the fans ?
He's done what all of us wanted, he has won us the premiership and an elusive grand final win, he came to Coast with plenty of haters but will leave the Coast, yes he'll eventually leave, with plenty of admiring with what he has done.
He was supposedly as good as gone to Chinese side Guangzhou RF last season before Sven Goran Erikson became available, If Arnie did leave who should replace him ?
Arnie doesn't hide the fact that he still has a dream to head overseas, and so we'll have to replace him, in which will be a tough ask. Ideally I'd want to see a young coach come into the picture, perhaps even Zwaanswijk who will be in charge of the youth side this coming season.
Lets look forward to this season now, what will be classed as a successful season this year, can the Mariners go back to back ?
I think this year will be one of the toughest yet, not only for the Mariners, but for all sides. Not 100% on the the Mariners going back to back but they will be thereabouts come finals time.
There have been more outs than ins in the off season have u been satisfied with Arnie's off season recruitment ?
Satisfied hits the spot, was always going to be hard to replace the likes of Maty, Ibini, Bozanic, Dutchie and even to a certain extent Rogic. The keepers position is difficult with only a few keepers coming off contract, with a relatively young backline for another season the experience of Seip should help. Flores will ease the pressure off from Mcglinchley who carried many of the forward attacks after Rogic left, and Matt Simon adds to an already quality forward line. We've still got the likes of Duke, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Sainsbury, Caceres and Morton improving and hopefully Roux and Slater will grow as footballers under the guidance from Arnold and Zwaanswijk
Matt Ryan will be a big loss, are u confident in Justin Pasfield and Liam Reddy?
It'll be a tough year without Maty in goals, and regardless of how well Pasfield or Reddy go, we have to remember that our past keeping stocks have been strong in Ryan, Vukovic, Redmayne, Crawley, and to a certain extent Bosnich. Us as fans should have the belief in Arnold and Crawley to make Pasfield and Reddy better keepers, we may not like them an even not cheer for one, but it was the clubs choice and we'll accept that.
You are not a fan of the decision to sign Reddy, does he not deserve another chance by all reports he's a very cheap option who has a lot of ALeague experience ?
Me personally it of course was the indiscretions that refuse to accept that he was even considered, yeah sure he got drunk on the flight to Wellington but many forget that he stomped on one of our players whilst playing for the Jets in season one. But also there's 2 other things, we're the champions, we should easily be able to attract better keepers, and from seeing many NSW National Premier League games, he wasn't the best one in that competition. Also why don't we bring in an young keeper (someone like Liam Jacob) and trust Pasfield, he went well last season in the few games he played.
Marcos Flores has very disappointing for Victory is he under pressure to perform for the Mariners ?
Not at all, at Victory he was played in a position that didn't suit him, as well wasn't comfortable in his surrounds, here he is enjoying where he lives and loves the culture of the club. He will play with the freedom he wants with no pressure.
With left back being a problem position for the Socceroos how has josh rose not featured for the national team ?
Who knows !! One of the standout Left backs for the past few years and doesn't get considered, it's ridiculous. And no, age is definitely not an issue with Holger's sides
Pedj Bojic is also a big loss does it hurt to see him move to such a close rival ?
Yes and no, he'll be missed for his runs down the right hand side, but towards the end of the season he was too focused on promoting his fashion label. We've now got Morton and Roux fighting for that spot so it's and exciting time for the club with both players having represented Australia and New Zealand at age level.
We've seen Ryan, Ibini , Bozanic and many others sold to overseas clubs who's the next to go ?.
It's a toss up between Sainsbury and Duke. Duke's selection in the Socceroos squad for the Brazil squad will only help his chance. I'd even add McBreen to that list, if he keeps performing, I don't see how he couldn't land a permanent deal in China.
Ok a tough question now but the who's been the best player to play for the central coast mariners?.
Overall, it would be Patrick Zwaanswijk. not only for his talent on the field, but he was/is a player that would make time to talk to any fan. Wilkinson, Jedinak, Ryan, Hutchinson, Rose and Simon all get honourable mentions.
And the worst ?
The worst ? wow, there's been a few ordinary players, but John Sutton tops the lot, might have only been a loan but he was just terrible. Nicky Travis would also be up there as well as a few others like Leo Carle, Russell Woodruffe, Vuko Tomasevic, Matthew Trott and Ahmed Elrich would also deserve mentions.
In 10 years the mariners will be .......
Still the forefront of Australian football by developing very talented players.
In short, it feels good. It'll be a tough year with so many leaving last season, but we're defending champions, who cares.
Mariners fans were previously labelled chokers after reaching the grand final 4 times, a tag we saw as unfair it must feel great to finally win a Championship ?.
It was more of a relief then anything, having been to all 3 previous grand finals and experienced all the emotions, it was just a sigh of relief as well as tears once the final whistle went.
What did winning the A - League mean for the Gosford region ?
It means everything, we've had fans not come back after the previous grand finals, now everyone wants to be a part of it, we saw more then 5000 people line the streets of Gosford for the street parade wanting to celebrate the clubs success.
Before Peter Turnbull saved the club last season were you afraid the Mariners would fold ?
As a fan, of course I was afraid, we are the Coasts only sporting professional sporting team, this area needs one but at the back of my mind I just thought that the FFA wouldn't allow this, they wanted a regional side at the start of the A-League and we're that side, we are here to stay.
For one of the league's most successful clubs the Mariners only averaged 9k last year, what can the club continue to do to increase their fan base ?
Some say 9k is poor, but yet don't realise there's only approximately 300 000 people living on the Coast. Averaging 9k in a Rugby League area is a good achievement, and having 6 NSW derbies this will help this average to be well over 10k by seasons end.
Take your emotion away from this question if you can but long term can the Central Coast Mariners survive in the A- League ?
Yes. Every A-League side has had financial problems, our financial situation can only get better, our player development is second to none and each year providing dollars back into the clubs pockets.
The Tuggerah centre of excellence, as a fan has / will this be a good investment ?
Not much has been done to date, with a full training facilities for the players as well as a Soccer5's complex being built, but if you ask players like John Hutchinson, this is heaven after having to train on up to 15 pitches a season. Also, don't forget we've already had the Socceroos and Young Socceroos have training camps there. Over the next year or so will see more developments in the Centre of Excellence so time will tell whether it will be a good investment.
Graham Arnold has turned out to be a club legend - what does he mean to you and the rest of the fans ?
He's done what all of us wanted, he has won us the premiership and an elusive grand final win, he came to Coast with plenty of haters but will leave the Coast, yes he'll eventually leave, with plenty of admiring with what he has done.
He was supposedly as good as gone to Chinese side Guangzhou RF last season before Sven Goran Erikson became available, If Arnie did leave who should replace him ?
Arnie doesn't hide the fact that he still has a dream to head overseas, and so we'll have to replace him, in which will be a tough ask. Ideally I'd want to see a young coach come into the picture, perhaps even Zwaanswijk who will be in charge of the youth side this coming season.
Lets look forward to this season now, what will be classed as a successful season this year, can the Mariners go back to back ?
I think this year will be one of the toughest yet, not only for the Mariners, but for all sides. Not 100% on the the Mariners going back to back but they will be thereabouts come finals time.
There have been more outs than ins in the off season have u been satisfied with Arnie's off season recruitment ?
Satisfied hits the spot, was always going to be hard to replace the likes of Maty, Ibini, Bozanic, Dutchie and even to a certain extent Rogic. The keepers position is difficult with only a few keepers coming off contract, with a relatively young backline for another season the experience of Seip should help. Flores will ease the pressure off from Mcglinchley who carried many of the forward attacks after Rogic left, and Matt Simon adds to an already quality forward line. We've still got the likes of Duke, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Sainsbury, Caceres and Morton improving and hopefully Roux and Slater will grow as footballers under the guidance from Arnold and Zwaanswijk
Matt Ryan will be a big loss, are u confident in Justin Pasfield and Liam Reddy?
It'll be a tough year without Maty in goals, and regardless of how well Pasfield or Reddy go, we have to remember that our past keeping stocks have been strong in Ryan, Vukovic, Redmayne, Crawley, and to a certain extent Bosnich. Us as fans should have the belief in Arnold and Crawley to make Pasfield and Reddy better keepers, we may not like them an even not cheer for one, but it was the clubs choice and we'll accept that.
You are not a fan of the decision to sign Reddy, does he not deserve another chance by all reports he's a very cheap option who has a lot of ALeague experience ?
Me personally it of course was the indiscretions that refuse to accept that he was even considered, yeah sure he got drunk on the flight to Wellington but many forget that he stomped on one of our players whilst playing for the Jets in season one. But also there's 2 other things, we're the champions, we should easily be able to attract better keepers, and from seeing many NSW National Premier League games, he wasn't the best one in that competition. Also why don't we bring in an young keeper (someone like Liam Jacob) and trust Pasfield, he went well last season in the few games he played.
Marcos Flores has very disappointing for Victory is he under pressure to perform for the Mariners ?
Not at all, at Victory he was played in a position that didn't suit him, as well wasn't comfortable in his surrounds, here he is enjoying where he lives and loves the culture of the club. He will play with the freedom he wants with no pressure.
With left back being a problem position for the Socceroos how has josh rose not featured for the national team ?
Who knows !! One of the standout Left backs for the past few years and doesn't get considered, it's ridiculous. And no, age is definitely not an issue with Holger's sides
Pedj Bojic is also a big loss does it hurt to see him move to such a close rival ?
Yes and no, he'll be missed for his runs down the right hand side, but towards the end of the season he was too focused on promoting his fashion label. We've now got Morton and Roux fighting for that spot so it's and exciting time for the club with both players having represented Australia and New Zealand at age level.
We've seen Ryan, Ibini , Bozanic and many others sold to overseas clubs who's the next to go ?.
It's a toss up between Sainsbury and Duke. Duke's selection in the Socceroos squad for the Brazil squad will only help his chance. I'd even add McBreen to that list, if he keeps performing, I don't see how he couldn't land a permanent deal in China.
Ok a tough question now but the who's been the best player to play for the central coast mariners?.
Overall, it would be Patrick Zwaanswijk. not only for his talent on the field, but he was/is a player that would make time to talk to any fan. Wilkinson, Jedinak, Ryan, Hutchinson, Rose and Simon all get honourable mentions.
And the worst ?
The worst ? wow, there's been a few ordinary players, but John Sutton tops the lot, might have only been a loan but he was just terrible. Nicky Travis would also be up there as well as a few others like Leo Carle, Russell Woodruffe, Vuko Tomasevic, Matthew Trott and Ahmed Elrich would also deserve mentions.
In 10 years the mariners will be .......
Still the forefront of Australian football by developing very talented players.
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