A RARE early season home game for the Mariners this Saturday night should be worth the price of admission.
Despite 'Caville Avenue's' relatively shaky form in the last couple of rounds, the visit of the competition leaders to Bluetongue will be something to savour
The overall quality of United's passing game and the considerable goalscoring capabilities of Shane Smeltz will be highlights. However, as Miron himself honestly put it, 'we're not the Gold Coast everyone was scared of, we have our weaknesses'.
As the first half last week against Perth showed, this is no doubt true. However, likewise the Mariners are not without their problems.
Incidently, is it just me, or is Miron the most suavely dressed manager ever seen gracing the sidelines of the A-league? It's a new ensemble for each game, and you just know he wouldn't be seen dead in the old Terry Butcher trackie dacks.
Michael McGlinchey is likely to be rushed back into the starting line up to assist in the Mariners getting forward. McGlinchey should provide some much needed energy in what looks a very one paced team at the moment. That pace by the way, is slow if you hadn't figured it out.
It's this slow, low tempo game that opponents in half decent form have been able to deal with quite effectively. The victory against Perth was a case of hanging in there and snatching a win, in a game in which neither team really impressed.
Again I'll defend direct ball tactics, where it works. However at the moment, it's not. There needs to be variation, or the ability to shift gears and up the tempo. I'm sorry but Clarkie and Brad Porter aren't doing it on the flanks. The rest of the game is very narrow up the middle and as a consequence we just don't get behind defences.
Our defence is solid enough even without Doig but there is very little penetration in attack. Mrdja's touch is generally OK but he lacks pace and is not creating scoring chances for himself. Simon, simply appears unfit or is lacking sharpness.
Perhaps this latter term is the best way to describe the team at the moment. They are not as sharp with their movement, touch and passing as their opponents. I'm pretty confident that they will be playing against a team that will not lack in these areas on Saturday night so the challenge will be significant.
Culina, Smeltz, Milson, Robson, Thwaite, and Caravella all look very sharp on the ball and unless the Mariners step it up they will be chasing the ball for 90 minutes. Hustle and bustle will be the order of the day but they need to do something with the ball when they win it, not give it back with a long ball after two passes.
I am disappointed that the Mariners have managed to bore me to death this season. What is remarkable about this is that they are fourth in the league despite being so ordinary. I'm actually starting to believe some of drivel that is contributed on these blogs in criticism of them.
Of course I'd feel worse if Sydney could actually play, but given they're only a different shade of boring I can live with most of the criticism.
On a boring/excitement rating scale, in which 1 is the equivalent of Rugby match between England and Scotland, and 10 being the Liverpool v AC Milan European Champions League Final 2005, I'd have to give Sydney FC a 3, and the Mariners a 2.5. This being on the basis that given its football it's at least 2.5 times more entertaining than a non-running rugby match.
Given we like to compare the A-league to 'European' football, I'd rank Arsenal and Manchester United towards the top of the excitement scale this season, on probably about an 8 (Chelsea can have a 6.5).
If the Brazilian Anderson is looking for a contract, I'd suggest Lawrie get on the phone to his agent because he is exactly what the Mariners need.
Lets also see what Wolry Wolf has to offer... give me some excitement Lawrie please.
