The Mariners have made base camp now at the foot of the summit. Will they be able to make a push to get to the top of the mountain that is the 2010/11 A-League season? With the schedule this year the mountain analogy fits quite well as the season really is a huge challenge for all teams. But here we are at the business end of the year and the Central Coast boys are again at the very pointy end of the table. That rarefied space that the experts and commentators thought the Mariners would only stare up at from foot of the table.
With the Mariners looking well situated, although a little worn out and tired, they could close the gap on the early run away leaders. By the end of the weekend there could be just four points between the Central Coast and Brisbane teams. This is something that I would never have even dreamed of at the start of the season and probably thought even less likely at the midway point. Yet the Mariners can see the top of the mountain right above them now and they are very well situated to make a tilt at the summit.
The really exciting thing about the tilt for the top of the table from the Mariners is that they have the opportunity to play a number of the teams that will join them in the playoffs next month. If the Mariners play the way they did against Roar last week when facing Adelaide and Gold Coast they can ensure they will finish no lower than they sit now. If they can ensure they play this way against Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne and Wellington then they may just topple the high flying Brisbane club. Could it be the club no one dared to give a chance to at the start of the season may just lead everyone home at the end?
I must admit I would feel a touch of sadness if the Mariners do come home in the top slot for the year. I would certainly feel for a team such as Brisbane, who have now gone on a record equalling run of undefeated games only then to have their home base and town ravaged and tortured by mother nature. It would be a true fairy tale if Roar could overcome the devastation of this natural disaster and win the title for the people of Queensland that have had to endure such a hard few weeks. I would really regret that fairy tale not coming true for at least a few seconds. But if someone has to ruin that fairy tale then I would much prefer that to be the Mariners than any other team.
So if Arnold and the Mariners are going to make a push for the Premiers Plate they are going to have to battle fatigue and player drain. This is something that they have managed very well so far this year, the team at this late stage still only has a few players not available for selection. Of all the players that are missing from the squad the only missing player who would be guaranteed of a start would be Jess Vanstrattan and although we have lost our top keeper we seem to have found a very capable replacement. How many junior replacements in the world of football lead the league in Clean Sheets? Matt Ryan is now the joint holder for the most Clean Sheets in an A-League season with five games to run.
The rotation policy that Arnold and his coaching staff have implemented this week could be the hero for the close of the season and the post season playoffs. Not too many of the other squads this year seem to have had the luxury of resting their key defensive and offensive players on the longest road trip of their year. Not only that but thanks to the way the game unfolded Simon and Griffiths could be rested for 30 minutes. This should leave the team in good shape for the last game of the hell fortnight they have just finished. This weekend they will face a rejuvenated Sydney FC, a team that is coming back and playing with some more belief in themselves. Sydney were also hoping to welcome their talisman Brosque back for the game this Sunday. Unfortunately this makes me think that the Mariners are not going to have the same easy run this Sunday as the last game they had with Sydney. I have faith they can overcome this Sydney team though and complete the double Local derby win, Newcastle and Sydney in one week.
I also have a hope that the team may also finish the season off and maybe just maybe make the summit of the A-League.
