Ancient Mariner
Well-Known Member
Over the last 5 years I would consider myself to have been one of the most optimistic posters on this forum. I defended Walmsley’s entertaining football, I hoped initially Okon’s Ange ball could work for us and kept expecting that the team would show the form of the first few games under Okon where they looked good.
When Okon left, and before Mulvey’s appointment,things did not look too great, we lost Roux, not seen as a great loss at the time (error), we were having continual arguments with DDS and lost him, Wout decided that the CCM adventure was not fun anymore and left. Our two most promising up and coming local juniors Lachie and TBT had had enough.
The optimism for the future was that we were going to get a new coach and hopefully something to be optimistic about.
Along with many other fans, all armed with flaming torches and pitchforks, I went along to here what the future would hold. Optimism was provided in the form of Mike Mulvey who was going to make the Coast great again. No more commuting to Sydney, every player would be a Coastie and all had to be willing to die for the team. He talked the talk and I like MOST of those present left with a feeling of optimism, again.
The signings that were made to fill the many gaps, in the main were not overly thrilling, Simon (no longer wanted on the bench at SFC) and Wee Mac (not good enough for the Nux) both supposed to bring back the old spirit. Cisse talked out of retirement for a bit more money to add to his pension completed the list of geriatrics who would not get on the bench elsewhere in the A-League. Then we signed the injured and infirm with fingers crossed that they could recover, Gamiero who has had so many chances to find fitness and Aspro also battling a major setback.
Then there were a host of NPL signings and other club leftovers of which the only one to show form is Millar.
Add that to the leftovers who still had a contract of which the only one who would get a game elsewhere is Pain and the squad is looking a bit pedestrian with big gaps, keeper, fullback and #10.
There was reason for optimism however with the loan deal of O’Neil, possibly the best of the signings so far.
Then wonder of wonders it appears that MC has been convinced either by Phelan or action on the FFA front to loosen the purse stings and we get Ross on loan (wow a real striker) and sign Oar (who once showed promise). Maybe there is the foundations of a team somewhere in this mix, maybe.
We were entertained and got great publicity from the Bolt circus, the pre season looked promising, maybe we could jag 6th.
Then the season began for real.
Like that famous African tribe the Fukawe, where the f*** are we?
7 games in with two draws.
Ross shows why he is so loved at Villa and is gone, Oar is seldom seen and when he is shows little. We are toothless in attack. Kennedy performs as to expectations. Our old players look old. Our defence is disorganized. Our injured signings are still injured.
However shit happens.
But what is worrying me is that our great hope, and only reason for any future optimism, Mike Mulvey appears to be in a time warp and living in an A-League long past. He has said he would have liked to have signed Berisha, he has great wraps on Hoole and appears to believe our best DM is Melling, who may have enough ability to get a start in one of the NPL teams.
But the thing that is really killing me and causing total loss of confidence in the future, is that the one class player (Tommy H.) who would literally walk into any other A-League’s club starting line up cannot convince the coach of his worth.
Kossie is right we are a club that can only attract players that cannot get a start elsewhere. We have a the squad that Mulvey wants, ie players who want to be here. But the reason they want to be here is because they are not wanted elsewhere.
We have become the elephants’ graveyard of the league.
For all my optimism of the past, I am sorry, it is all gone. I cannot see a way out. I am almost thinking it would have been better for the Club to fold under the weight of debt, and to have not been saved by Charlesworth's buyout, and been left with proud memories, rather than to go on through years of this living death.
I look forward to someone here convincing me that there is hope
When Okon left, and before Mulvey’s appointment,things did not look too great, we lost Roux, not seen as a great loss at the time (error), we were having continual arguments with DDS and lost him, Wout decided that the CCM adventure was not fun anymore and left. Our two most promising up and coming local juniors Lachie and TBT had had enough.
The optimism for the future was that we were going to get a new coach and hopefully something to be optimistic about.
Along with many other fans, all armed with flaming torches and pitchforks, I went along to here what the future would hold. Optimism was provided in the form of Mike Mulvey who was going to make the Coast great again. No more commuting to Sydney, every player would be a Coastie and all had to be willing to die for the team. He talked the talk and I like MOST of those present left with a feeling of optimism, again.
The signings that were made to fill the many gaps, in the main were not overly thrilling, Simon (no longer wanted on the bench at SFC) and Wee Mac (not good enough for the Nux) both supposed to bring back the old spirit. Cisse talked out of retirement for a bit more money to add to his pension completed the list of geriatrics who would not get on the bench elsewhere in the A-League. Then we signed the injured and infirm with fingers crossed that they could recover, Gamiero who has had so many chances to find fitness and Aspro also battling a major setback.
Then there were a host of NPL signings and other club leftovers of which the only one to show form is Millar.
Add that to the leftovers who still had a contract of which the only one who would get a game elsewhere is Pain and the squad is looking a bit pedestrian with big gaps, keeper, fullback and #10.
There was reason for optimism however with the loan deal of O’Neil, possibly the best of the signings so far.
Then wonder of wonders it appears that MC has been convinced either by Phelan or action on the FFA front to loosen the purse stings and we get Ross on loan (wow a real striker) and sign Oar (who once showed promise). Maybe there is the foundations of a team somewhere in this mix, maybe.
We were entertained and got great publicity from the Bolt circus, the pre season looked promising, maybe we could jag 6th.
Then the season began for real.
Like that famous African tribe the Fukawe, where the f*** are we?
7 games in with two draws.
Ross shows why he is so loved at Villa and is gone, Oar is seldom seen and when he is shows little. We are toothless in attack. Kennedy performs as to expectations. Our old players look old. Our defence is disorganized. Our injured signings are still injured.
However shit happens.
But what is worrying me is that our great hope, and only reason for any future optimism, Mike Mulvey appears to be in a time warp and living in an A-League long past. He has said he would have liked to have signed Berisha, he has great wraps on Hoole and appears to believe our best DM is Melling, who may have enough ability to get a start in one of the NPL teams.
But the thing that is really killing me and causing total loss of confidence in the future, is that the one class player (Tommy H.) who would literally walk into any other A-League’s club starting line up cannot convince the coach of his worth.
Kossie is right we are a club that can only attract players that cannot get a start elsewhere. We have a the squad that Mulvey wants, ie players who want to be here. But the reason they want to be here is because they are not wanted elsewhere.
We have become the elephants’ graveyard of the league.
For all my optimism of the past, I am sorry, it is all gone. I cannot see a way out. I am almost thinking it would have been better for the Club to fold under the weight of debt, and to have not been saved by Charlesworth's buyout, and been left with proud memories, rather than to go on through years of this living death.
I look forward to someone here convincing me that there is hope
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