Preview: MARINERS v WANDERERS rnd 1

Central Coast vs Western Sydney

Round 1 

Bluetongue Stadium 

 Saturday October 12 at 5:30pm AEDT.

Head-to-head:

Played: 4, Wins: Mariners 2, Wanderers 1, Draws: 1

Previous encounter:

Wanderers 0-2 Mariners, April 21 2013

Form:

Past five matches:

Mariners: LLDWW

Wanderers: WLDLW

The Game:

A repeat of last season's grand final in a clash between the two teams who were the best throughout that campaign. The squads have changed – more so on the Coast– but the coaches and styles should be similar. Western Sydney were impressive in their first season in the competition and are a stable side having made few changes in the off-season. Popa's men are well-organised and hard to break down. On two occasion's last campaign, the Mariners managed and claimed 2-0 wins – including in the all-important grand final.  Arnie often loses players but manages to replace them and there is no reason to doubt he has not done so again and will not continue to do so. It should be a largely cagey affair and the team that can take their chances is likely to prevail.

The Goalkeeper Question

Goalkeeper Mat Ryan has headed off to further his career in Belgium BUT the Mariners have had plenty of time to prepare for life without him. A fine shot-stopper, Ryan's ability with his feet was a key for Central Coast, who like to keep possession. Against a pressing Western Sydney side, whether Justin Pasfield – the Mariners' number one ahead of Liam Reddy – is capable of doing the same remains to be seen....but, I got to have faith

The Mariner game breaker:

Marcos Flores – The Argentine left Victory after failing to reproduce the performances which saw him win the Johnny Warren Medal with Adelaide in 2010-11. Perhaps partly because of Ange Postecoglou's system, Flores was good at times but struggled during other periods in his one season at Victory. A move to the Mariners and under Arnold could see the 27-year-old back to his best in his preferred number 10 role.

Prediction: 

Mariners 1-1 Wanderers

I'm going for a draw in round one

Central Coast Mariners Squad: 

1. Justin PASFIELD (GK), 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Marcel SEIP, 5. Zachary ANDERSON, 6. Brent GRIFFITHS, 7. John HUTCHINSON (C), 8. Nick MONTGOMERY, 9. Mitchell DUKE, 10. Marcos FLORES, 11. Nick FITZGERALD, 12. Liam REDDY (GK), 13. Hayden MORTON, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 17. Anthony CACERES, 19. Matt SIMON, 21. Mile STERJOVSKI, 22. Tom SLATER *two to be omitted*

Unavailable: 2. Daniel MCBREEN (On loan at Shanghai SIPG until October 31), 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY (International Duty, New Zealand All Whites), 18. Michael NEILL (Ankle – 1 week), 23. Adam KWASNIK (Groin – 1 week)

Western Sydney Wanderers Squad: 

1. Ante COVIC (GK), 2. Shannon COLE, 3. Adam D’APUZZO, 4. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 5. Michael BEAUCHAMP, 6. Jerome POLENZ, 7. Labinot HALITI, 8. Mateo POLJAK, 9. Tomi JURIC, 10. Aaron MOOY, 11. Brendon SANTALAB, 12. Tahj MINNECON, 13. Matthew SPIRANOVIC 17.Youssouf HERSI, 18. Iacopo LA ROCCA, 19. Mark BRIDGE, 20. Jerrad TYSON (GK), 21. Shinji ONO, 22. Dean HEFFERNAN, 23. Jason TRIFIRO *Four to be Omitted*
Unavailable: 15. Yianni Perkatis (knee – 2 weeks), 16. Josh Barresi (leg – 2 weeks), 14. Kwabena Appiah (leg – 3 weeks)