Other Australian clubs in the ACL - 2022

I think the league is young more than it’s weak. Clubs are spending less and they’re going for kids - as a league I think we’re getting a bit smarter on that score. I’d rather see us signing tomorrow’s stars than yesterday’s.

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I think it’s weak and young.

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I tend to lean towards shabby’s feelings on this. Sure, most clubs have younger squads now, which in itself is to be applauded, but you need to complement that with at least solid foreign signings to guide the younger players. I know money is tighter but I don’t know if there’s a lot of experience coming into the league that will help youngsters succeed in even mid-tier European leagues.

After a decent look at all of the squads for this season, there’s very few squads, even on paper, that have improved. Most have gone backwards at worst or sideways at best, which is what I think will save Central Coast from spiralling far down the table.

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When does it stop being young? We are 20 years old now… when does maturity set in…

in my case I am 46 and still act like a child

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I just think - while I was sort of only watching out of the corner of my eye, and I could see that the Mariners were letting them run the middle a fair bit - looking at the technical and physical level of the Buriram players, I’d say that I could pretty much see them doing that to any given Aleague side.

Mariners might not be where they were at the end of last season, but I don’t think they’re a million miles off the pace. They just played a team that was better than them and better than what they’re used to playing against.

The Buriram squad is worth more than twice what CCM’s is according to Transfermarkt.

I truly hope you are right and I am just being pessimistic. If mariners are there at the end, even in the top 4, either the other teams have gone severely backwards or Mark Jackson is a world quality coach.

However, Mariners strength has been in their midfield with Josh Nisbett and Max Ballard being the heart and head of the team. They more than any other players were the ones that will be irreplaceable.
It is going to take more than one season to develop another midfield combo from youth to match them.
Those two were the reason we could lose the players we did 2 seasons ago and still win back to back championships plus the premiership and that Asian pot.

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Yeah that’s a gut punch to the team for sure.

Particularly after losing a whole forward line, then in consecutive seasons losing a quality partner for Kaltak.

You cant just keep doing that an expect to be fine each season.

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And it looks like Sainsbury is out for at least four months as well

Only one two-win team in the Eastern Conference - Gwangju.

Next outing for CCM, away against Shanghai Port (draw and loss) probably a must win.

Muscats team, so goes without saying the nation is behind the Mariners next time out.

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