JOHN Crawley will have a hefty say in determining Mark Bosnich’s Bluetongue future and the Mariners goalkeeping coach said day one merited a ‘pass’ mark.
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The duo spent the bulk of the training session working together in between catching up on a previous playing encounter.
Crawley and Bosnich lined up on opposite sides in an Under 13 cup competition between Marconi and Blacktown many years ago.
The Mariners coach was reminded that he had helped his team to a penalty shoot-out success against Bosnich’s team but now it’s all about the former Manchester United and Chelsea man securing himself a future.
Crawley said: “First day? Pretty good. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s walked in here with plenty of enthusiasm. Today was a good hit out. Certainly, pass marks.
“I realise he’d just stepped off a plane. We did a little of handling and ball work, simple stuff but he handled it well.”
Crawley accepts there is work to do and Bosnich needs some conditioning work but there are clear signs of a top class keeper.
He said: "When you haven’t played in two months there’s a difference and when you haven’t played a competitive game in six years there is a big difference.
“In the small-sided games he was talking and communicating just like the class player he is.
“In my opinion that’s one of the most important things a goalkeeper should have, communicating and organising his defence. He does it very well.”
Crawley will assess Bosnich’s progress, day by day in close consultation with McKinna and the rest of the coaching staff.
He said: “At the end of the two-week stint we’ll sit down and say is it worthwhile, is he up to it, is he physically in condition for it, is he match fit?”
No doubt the two weeks will see plenty of opportunities for that under 13 cup tie to be brought up again. Crawley joked: “It went down to penalties and we won by one. I think I saved it. My story's I saved it."
To see Bozza back in training...
...and to see the rest of the squad training with Bozza...
...and to see the rest of the squad training with Bozza...
The duo spent the bulk of the training session working together in between catching up on a previous playing encounter.
Crawley and Bosnich lined up on opposite sides in an Under 13 cup competition between Marconi and Blacktown many years ago.
The Mariners coach was reminded that he had helped his team to a penalty shoot-out success against Bosnich’s team but now it’s all about the former Manchester United and Chelsea man securing himself a future.
Crawley said: “First day? Pretty good. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s walked in here with plenty of enthusiasm. Today was a good hit out. Certainly, pass marks.
“I realise he’d just stepped off a plane. We did a little of handling and ball work, simple stuff but he handled it well.”
Crawley accepts there is work to do and Bosnich needs some conditioning work but there are clear signs of a top class keeper.
He said: "When you haven’t played in two months there’s a difference and when you haven’t played a competitive game in six years there is a big difference.
“In the small-sided games he was talking and communicating just like the class player he is.
“In my opinion that’s one of the most important things a goalkeeper should have, communicating and organising his defence. He does it very well.”
Crawley will assess Bosnich’s progress, day by day in close consultation with McKinna and the rest of the coaching staff.
He said: “At the end of the two-week stint we’ll sit down and say is it worthwhile, is he up to it, is he physically in condition for it, is he match fit?”
No doubt the two weeks will see plenty of opportunities for that under 13 cup tie to be brought up again. Crawley joked: “It went down to penalties and we won by one. I think I saved it. My story's I saved it."
To see Bozza back in training...
...and to see the rest of the squad training with Bozza...
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