The stage is set. The team is on the rise and a top 4 battle awaits. Of course I am talking about our looming Central Coast Mariners game. How could any other news regarding football on the Coast be bigger than this? The clubs fan base was split in two on the return of the crowd cap with one camp declaring to support the team through thick and thin and the other not willing to be pushed around by the politics of the owner and management.
Both sides of the debate get what they wanted this coming Sunday. The diehards get to support their team as usual and see them play in what we all hope is a large crowd, and finally one the players deserve for their sterling work. The boycotters get freedom back to sit where they want and enjoy the team without lining the GCU with a single cent. Ultimately both sides get to prove to Clive and co, that there are fans of football on the coast - here we are - and if you want to see us all again then some drastic changes are needed.
Sales are looking positive as a quick look at ticketek will show.
When compared with last season's seating plan it is clear that the Coast are voting with their feet.
Now..... the catch is for all those people who jumped out and took one of the 10000 freebie tickets so far - to turn up on Sunday, and judging by the stellar weather we have been showcasing it would help if the majority of you were not made of sugar.
Finally, to draw myself away from all this crowd nonsense, it was good to finally see an Australian team convincingly defeat the All Blacks last Saturday night. They managed some good line breaks and commanded the scrum well but Gold Coast United defended in numbers. As the tackles flew in thick and fast and players were cut down with injuries it was Gold Coast who came out on top of this bruising encounter. C'mon Ricki Herbert - if your only tactic to salvage a losing season is to kick lumps out of your opposition until there are no men standing you may as well rename yourself Lawrie McKinna now. I feel sorry for the teams still to face you this year especially if you bring the hatchet game plan to every town. Ironically, and sadly, it is your own keeper who sustained the worst on the night but I guess karma's a bitch and my name is Earl...
So it is with anticipation I look forward to our game against the Jets on Wednesday night and hope to see a good game of football from both sides, albeit with Robson completely ruled out after his knee injury and Culina and Caravella also 50/50 chances to play after the brutal victory over Phoenix. Such is the game of football, and all things being equal I think I would rather them 100% fit for the Mariners visit anyway.
