Sunday, January 14, 2007
Short-Term Memory Loss
Watching Damian Mori score for Queensland on Friday must have been especially painful for Mariners fans, considering the circumstances under which he left the Central Coast club.
To remind readers of the situation: the Mariners intended to keep the veteran poacher on as short-term cover for another injured player, Paul O’Grady. The FFA, however, refused to sanction this, supposedly on the basis that O’Grady was a defender, while Mori was a striker.
Already they were on very shaky ground. Determining players’ positions is always somewhat subjective, and given that O’Grady has played as a Jamie Harnwell-style emergency striker in the past, one could even question the specific application of the policy in this case (let alone the general principle).
Yet Mori went to Queensland, and, despite a slow start, he has played a pivotal role in the Roar’s two impressive recent wins, which have catapulted them into finals contention.
The FFA have recently shown that their stance is perhaps not always consistent.
Sydney FC have reacquired the short-term services of Nikolai Topor-Stanley, who was originally signed as cover for the then-injured Jacob Timpano - who, like Topor-Stanley, is a central defender. This time, Topor-Stanley is covering for…Jeremy Brockie. A striker (or wide midfielder).
Memento Mori, one might say. What’s the story?
To remind readers of the situation: the Mariners intended to keep the veteran poacher on as short-term cover for another injured player, Paul O’Grady. The FFA, however, refused to sanction this, supposedly on the basis that O’Grady was a defender, while Mori was a striker.
Already they were on very shaky ground. Determining players’ positions is always somewhat subjective, and given that O’Grady has played as a Jamie Harnwell-style emergency striker in the past, one could even question the specific application of the policy in this case (let alone the general principle).
Yet Mori went to Queensland, and, despite a slow start, he has played a pivotal role in the Roar’s two impressive recent wins, which have catapulted them into finals contention.
The FFA have recently shown that their stance is perhaps not always consistent.
Sydney FC have reacquired the short-term services of Nikolai Topor-Stanley, who was originally signed as cover for the then-injured Jacob Timpano - who, like Topor-Stanley, is a central defender. This time, Topor-Stanley is covering for…Jeremy Brockie. A striker (or wide midfielder).
Memento Mori, one might say. What’s the story?
Comments:
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A very strong point. The FFA are new and they are still learning. But they absolutely must pay more attention and being more careful.
# posted by 
: January 14, 2007 at 12:18 PM
: January 14, 2007 at 12:18 PM
It's a weird one. Perhaps the assumption that the Mariners were denied Mori for a 3rd 4-week stint purely because he wasn't positionally the same as O'Grady is in fact incorrect?
It is indeed something I heard - from quite a good source - and something I personally perpetuated, but I also have seen comments on forums (and I dunno how true they are) suggesting that;
1) Mori may have decided to leave for QLD before this was properly contested by the Mariners, and
2) There may be some kind of rule regards signing a replacement player for a 3rd consecutive stint.
We can discount the last one if this is Hyphen's 3rd stint as a replacement?
Jaza (?) was also pushing the idea on the Mariners forum that Brockie's replacement was perhaps under different rules because Brockie was lost to Int'l duty.
Buggered if I know what's going on, but some clarification from somewhere (?) would be nice.
- Subby
It is indeed something I heard - from quite a good source - and something I personally perpetuated, but I also have seen comments on forums (and I dunno how true they are) suggesting that;
1) Mori may have decided to leave for QLD before this was properly contested by the Mariners, and
2) There may be some kind of rule regards signing a replacement player for a 3rd consecutive stint.
We can discount the last one if this is Hyphen's 3rd stint as a replacement?
Jaza (?) was also pushing the idea on the Mariners forum that Brockie's replacement was perhaps under different rules because Brockie was lost to Int'l duty.
Buggered if I know what's going on, but some clarification from somewhere (?) would be nice.
- Subby
# posted by : January 14, 2007 at 3:35 PM
: January 14, 2007 at 3:35 PM
I find it ridiculous that Mori was denied a 3rd stint on the basis of playing in a different position.
Surely positions are all subjective to the whims of the coach anyway (RIP Miron Bleibergs team selections). Didnt Mori play as a fullback early in his career anyway?
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Surely positions are all subjective to the whims of the coach anyway (RIP Miron Bleibergs team selections). Didnt Mori play as a fullback early in his career anyway?
# posted by : January 15, 2007 at 1:15 PM
: January 15, 2007 at 1:15 PM << Home
