(Photo: Graham Arnold, Oct 2009 - Linked from Symbio web site - photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Back of the Net reporter and photographer Nick Guoth met up with new Central Coast Mariners coach Graham Arnold, following the two trial matches played by the Mariners in Canberra this week, to get an idea of where the well-travelled coach felt his team was heading. Arnold’s aims may surprise a few and his experience at higher levels is why.

In Canberra for a full week of training at the AIS in lieu of being able to tour to China, the Mariners have been put through a gruelling camp to carry on from the good work done prior to Arnold’s arrival. Having been in South Africa with the national side, Arnold has left the early pre-season training to his assistant coaches, Tony Walmsley and Phil Moss, goalkeeper coach John Crawley and sports science specialist Andrew Clark.

Yet what is Arnold’s philosophy for the Mariners? Here is a coach who has witnessed the international circuit first hand. He has seen players unprepared when they attempt to make the step up from club level. It is Arnold’s want to provide a stepping stone for players to learn how to become national players, the discipline, the techniques, the tactics and the fitness.

Over the few weeks leading up to the opening round of the A-League, Arnold intends to instil these core elements of football into his players, not only to make them better for their club, but also to put them into a stronger position to be selected for their country.

NG: How do you feel the team has been going?

GA: I have only been back for four days. The players have been left with the other coaches who have done a marvellous job to get them to a level that I needed to get them for fitness and to be able to carry out a tactical game plan. So, I am happy with where I am at but we are still four weeks away from the first game against Melbourne Heart and we still have a lot of work to do.

NG: How have the players melded with the new coaching staff?

GA: The players, the playing personnel has changed as well. It is important for me not to lose the culture of the Mariners and to keep players who have been here for quite a while in Wilkinson, Hutchinson, Simon and Kwasnik. With those boys I am really happy and also with Ollie Bozanic bringing him home. He is a wonderful kid and a very good footballer. There is still a lot of work to do. We are playing well in patches, but once we get to A-League standard we have to play like that for 90 minutes.

NG: Have you filled your squad or are you hoping to get some more players in?

GA: There is another central defender coming in on Friday or Saturday, a Dutch player [* Patrick Zwaanswijk, NAC Breda ]. Then we have to look at potentially a replacement for Vukovic if he stays in Turkey. It was a thing that I was not expecting, Danny to go. At the end of the day, the guy’s dream is to go and play in Europe. He has been a great servant for the Mariners. If that happens we need to find a top replacement because Danny was in my view one of the best keepers in the League.

NG: Have you recruited any of the youngsters from the Youth squad?

GA: Well, Matt Lewis, he played a few games last year and he has stepped up. I think we have recruited very well in the youngsters, Trent Sainsbury, Marc Warren from the AIS, Sam Gallagher from Sydney FC and Mustafa (Amini). He is a kid, a 17 year old, and he will learn a lot off the Argentine, when Perez is ready. He is a similar style player. So it is looking good.

NG: How do you feel you will go this year?

GA: I would never put any expectations on what we are going to do. I think if we can perform better than last year it is a positive. I will not put the pressure on the players. I will say to the Mariners supporters, we will have them extremely fit. They will be disciplined, tactically ready and we will give it our best shot.

NG: Who do you see as your main threats this year?

GA: I think Sydney FC obviously. They are the champions from last year. They are going to be very tough to beat the whole year. Melbourne Heart have recruited extremely well. I am just excited about the whole season. For me it is totally new from international football. I came back to the A-League to try and help develop players from what I have seen in international football and the way the game is played internationally. I am just excited about the whole season.

NG: How do you feel the fact that there are only two Australian (born) coaches affects Australian football in the long run?

GA: It is tough. It is getting harder and harder to get a job every day for an Australian coach. I do not wish to comment, as people have different views. So, I just try to do the best I can and I work extremely hard. I am very passionate about what I do. I am very proud with what I have done with the national teams and my aim is to come back and develop players for the national team. I know how hard it is when you do coach at national level. You get players who are not fit enough for international level or are not technically or tactically good enough. So, I hope I can help develop some players who can pass through to the national level.

For many, the choice of the Mariners as a Top Six contender is not one that comes to mind. Yet, in Arnold and his vast experience at a level much higher than the A-League, there is an emerging opinion that team from the Central Coast can return to the heady heights of a few years ago and again challenge the super-teams of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. The Mariners open their season at AAMI Park, Melbourne against the new team Melbourne Heart on Thursday 5 August.

By Nick Guoth 8 July, 2010

* Patrick Zwaanswijk signed - breaking news from the Central Coast Express Advocate (8/7/10)

The two TRIAL GAMES during the week:

The Central Coast Mariners have completed a perfect road trip record in the ACT, following a 4-1 victory over Premier League side Belconnen United on a typically cold winter’s night in the nation’s capital, following on their 4-nil win over league leader and reigning Champion Canberra FC.

Match Stats:

Belconnen United 1 (Wells 44’(pen)) lost to
Central Coast Mariners 4 (Simon 29’, Porter 31’, Kwasnik 32’, Hutchinson 83’)

Belconnen United: 20. Rohan SHEPHARD (gk) (1. Alex CONNELL (gk) 46’), 2. Matt VALERI (c), 3. Dustin WELLS, 4. Bernie RENE (7. Josh SHIPLEY 82’), 5. Taylor BEATON, 8. Cam REINHARDT, 9. Tai SMITH, 16. Zac MAYBURY, 17. Matt GRAYSON (15. Glen SMITH 46’), 18. Jason O’DWYER (12. Michael REEVE 29’, 18. Jason O’DWYER 46’), 19. Dave ARRANZ (12. Michael REEVE 63’, 11. Callum SMITH 84’)

Central Coast Mariners: 20. Matthew NASH (gk), 4. Pedj BOJIC (5. Brad PORTER 28’), 7. John HUTCHINSON, 11. Oliver BOZANIC (12. Matthew LEWIS 82’), 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 15. Marc WARREN, 17. Chris DOIG, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c) (16. Trent SAINSBURY 46’), 19. Matt SIMON (6. Rory FEELY 72’), 22. Mustafa AMINI (8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS 63’), 23. Adam KWASNIK (2. Daniel McBREEN 46’)

Subs Not Used: 21. Sam GALLAGHER

Referee: Gary Vandeburgt

Canberra FC 0 lost to
Central Coast Mariners 4 (Kwasnik 18’, 36’, 53’, McBreen 54’ (pen))

Canberra FC: 18. Ben KLUG (gk) (1. Adam PERAKOVIC (gk) 52’), 4. Marcin ZYGMUNT, 5. John GLASS (7. Guuven CAN 77’), 6. Alex CASTRO (13. Ryan KIER 67’), 8. Matt GRBESA, 9. Michael SPALETA (10. Steve LEE 55’), 11. Ivan PAVLAK, 14. Josipa JADRIC (15. Danai GAPARE 55’), 17. Aiden BRUNSKILL, 19. Adam SPALETA, 22. John ISON (12. Sam GAGALOWICZ 67’)

Central Coast Mariners: 1. Mathew RYAN (gk), 2. Daniel McBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE (15. Marc WARREN 60’), 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Brad PORTER, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 21. Sam GALLAGHER, 22. Mustafa AMINI (6. Rory FEELY 60’), 23. Adam KWASNIK

Referees: Chris Boyle (referee), Ben Wilson, Greg Taylor (assistants)

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Central Coast Mariners FC web site

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Hyundai A-League fixtures link at FFA

BOTN ACT Premier League feature report page

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