Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets: Matchday Two Preview

Friday, 14 August 2009

Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets

Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

Local kick-off 8.00pm

Referee: Ben Williams

The Cental Coast Mariners take on the Newcastle Jets in the season’s first coastal derby. With both teams last match winners expect a cavalcade of miss- timed tackles, poor crosses and hoofed shots into the stands as the early season ticks get ironed out. Being a derby lets hope the fans get treated to some quality play and some skill from the teams.What we can expect from the Mariners is an intense battle (Kosminaism); after all it is a derby.

After shanking their way to a 2-0 win over champions Melbourne Victory the Mariners lose defender Chris Doig for this game and that could cause disruption in the defence of the fisherman with Pedj Bojic who was immense in midfield having to drop back to help the defence.

Mariners players to Watch: Lanky Striker Matt Simon and his hustle bustle style is not what is considered a majestic player but I like him as he has moments of quality and can finish. Michael McGlinchey looked like he had a bit of fight and could play, provides the Mariners a playmaker which they never had or believed in before.

The Newcastle Jets gave up a 2-0 lead against the Phoenix but scored late on, they have a heap of players injured but they will take the confidence of last weeks win into this game. I have written them off for this season but the recent Asian Champions League campaign showed they can play and with Ljubo Milicevic making 40 -50 yard runs and combining well with Italian and ex Lazio player Fabio Viganaroli the Jets have weapons. Up front the Novocastrians will be dangerous Striker Jason Hoffman got a double last week and could have scored more while Jason Nadidovski and Sean Rooney are young and raring to go.

Jets players to watch: Midfielder Chris Traintis was captain of the Sydney youth team last season and has 20 brothers who also play football. Triantis is one of those players that is easy on the eye, he is composed and passes well. Tarek Elrich can run fast set up goals and shoot; sometimes he wants to do all those things at the same time.

Key Battles: The older Elrich (Ahmed) vs the younger Elrich(Tarek).

John Hutchinson vs everyone else. Ljubo vs everyone else.

The coach’s battle is an age old one: The Apollonian pragmatic approach of Lawrie McKinna’s Mariners vs the Dionysian free flowing style of Culina’s Jets; well sort of...........

A Football Story Prediction: 2-2 draw

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Brad PORTER, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Dean HEFFERNAN, 9. Nik MRDJA, 11. Dylan MACALLISTER, 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY, 16. Nigel BOOGAARD, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21. Ahmad ELRICH, 22. Nicky TRAVIS, 23. Adam KWASNIK

In: Nik MRDJA (promoted)

Out: Chris DOIG (calf)

Unavailable: Shane HUKE (knee – 4/5 weeks)

Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2. Angelo COSTANZO, 3. Adam D’APUZZO, 4. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 5. Ljubo MILICEVIC, 7. Jin-Hyung SONG, 8. Matt THOMPSON (c), 9. Sasho PETROVSKI, 11. Tarek ELRICH, 15. Sean ROONEY, 16. Jason HOFFMAN, 17. Fabio VIGNAROLI, 19. Jason NAIDOVSKI, 20. Neil YOUNG (gk), 24. Chris TRIANTIS

In: Nil

Out: Nil

Unavailable: 6. Ben KANTAROVSKI (knee – 2 weeks), 10. Donny DE GROOT (knee – indefinite), 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE (ankle – indefinite), 13. Shaun ONTONG (groin – 2 weeks), 18. Marko JESIC (knee – indefinite), 22. Kaz PATAFTA (back – indefinite)

*Head-to-Head: All matches (played 17): Central Coast Mariners wins 5, Newcastle Jets wins 6 (6 draws). In Gosford (played 8): Central Coast Mariners wins 3, Newcastle Jets wins 1 (4 draws)