Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals. It’s as simple as that.
The striker is one of modern football's most demanding positions; it requires intelligence and speed, both of execution and of thought, to perform the role well.
Coaches typically field one striker who plays in an advanced position (the centre forward), and another attacking forward who plays somewhat deeper and assists in making goals as well as scoring (the second striker).
In relation to strike options at Athena - with Phil Arnold having confirmed that he will be joining Cypriot Australian backed Bentleigh Greens in the Victorian Premier League in 2012 it would appear that we are certainly in need of a recognised and experienced striker to join the first team ranks. Arnold is heading east along with a band of three WA boys also transferring to the club, both being ex-Glory youth players Andrija Jukic and Tonci Skoric.
This clearly leaves a crucial element in a football team that is missing as of today.
We lack a quality experienced second striker to complement the talent, skills and ultimate potential of teenager Liam Boland.
We lack a quality experienced second striker to complement the talent, skills and ultimate potential of teenager Liam Boland.
In fact this blogger was appealing for a second recognised striker during the entire last campaign and in his mind could have lessened the load of expectation and pressure on Boland in his first full season of first team football. Essentially the midfield toil and goal scoring feats of Paul van Dongen could well have been the difference between a competitive and respectable mid-table - just out of the finals overall performance and a dogged cellar dweller battle for survival.
It was previously reported at the immediate end of the season that Athena was in hot pursuit of Balcatta’s 2011 Gold medal winner English import gun striker Steve Burton. Sources at both clubs have since then categorically ruled out the possibility of the move happening. Links with similar high profile and proven WAPL strikers or beyond have at least in the public domain seemed to have waned. However senior coach Chris Barbas and the Board could well be holding their cards close to their chests as is their prerogative of course.
It was previously reported at the immediate end of the season that Athena was in hot pursuit of Balcatta’s 2011 Gold medal winner English import gun striker Steve Burton. Sources at both clubs have since then categorically ruled out the possibility of the move happening. Links with similar high profile and proven WAPL strikers or beyond have at least in the public domain seemed to have waned. However senior coach Chris Barbas and the Board could well be holding their cards close to their chests as is their prerogative of course.
And since John Thornley, a quality powerful attacking player who scored 10 goals in 2011 and who had expressed in playing for Athena left ECU Joondalup and signed for Balcatta in the off season, the availability of proven WAPL strikers as of December 2011 at least appear to have somewhat dissipated. There is no doubt in this bloggers mind that John Thornley would have been an ideal addition to Athena’s squad for 2012.
John Thornley Jr a Balcatta player in 2012
The rest of this blog entry explores potential WAPL targets in experienced strike partners for Liam Boland. 'Experienced' is broadly defined as having a history of being able to score goals in the WAPL. The most successful and universally accepted football formation is the classic 4-4-2 model. The lone striker format is often reserved almost exclusively for outfits that are brimming with 2 or 3 creative, attacking and yet defensive players - the classic 'box to box' midfielders. Too often sides that over rely on the single striker formation become one dimensional and this feature can be the reason for their demise.
Liam Boland Athena striker vs Perth
In ex-Athena player Branimir Mikulic you have a well credentialed striker in the twilight of his career and whether he could still command a starting 11 place in an ambitious side is debatable. However after a less than satisfactory stint at the Western Knights for all concerned parties it seems that he has parted ways with the club. Hence, a leadership role could also prove to be an invaluable asset if negotiated in a mutually acceptable format within what currently appears as a very young squad.
Branimir Mikulic former Athena Fairest and Best and Golden Boot
Johnny Mirco – also an ex-Athena player set last season alight with consistent performances with two clubs Cockburn and Western Knights throughout 2011. An effort that was noted by referees all season that culminated in Mirco being tied in the gold medal count on points. He reads the game well and always has an eye for goal, and his pace causes problems to all defences. The former Cockburn City and Floreat Athena player has also been a member of the WA state team for a number of years.
Johnny Mirco 'tied' Gold medalist 2011
David Foster has been in good form over the past two years at Sorrento. It was felt that Foster left Athena in pursuit of more regular first football since under coach Michael Roki his first team starts were few and far between. Whilst he had a lean 2011 he is a popular and accomplished forward who could well be lured back lakeside.
Callum Roberts came of age in the premier league last season with a string of impressive goal scoring achievements under the direction of Carl Medica at the Knights. Still very young Roberts has great potential ahead of himself to be one of the States most dangerous strikers.
At the other end of the age scale his partner with whom he formed a ‘dynamic duo’ relationship with is Stuart Montgomery. The veteran Wester Knights striker continues to score at the top level in WA football, he holds the ball up well to bring other players into the game. With such a long association with the Knights it may seem highly unlikely that he could be prised away from the southern based club towards the end of his career – but one could argue that he is still worthy of a conversation to explore possibilities especially as he was still amazingly able to score 12 goals last season.
Stuart "Peter Pan" Mongomery
Current Mandurah City striker Rafael Insaurralde also an ex-Athena player posseses the typical array of silky south American trademark skills that opponents find hard to mark and contain. He is also noted for his work rate and uncanny ability to score special goals. He could possibly be lured back to Britannia Road.
Inglewood United’s young striker Ndumba Makeche has made an immediate impact at the 6PR Stadium after joining from Stirling Lions this season. He scored 11 league goals in his first season at the club and has pace to burn. His partnership up front with Rory Grant who netted 14 goals in 2011 has helped Inglewood rise from near relegation last season to third this year, and will be one to watch to next season. Either Makeche or Grant would be more than handy acquisitions for Athena.
Ndumba Makeche - Inglewood United Striker
Phil O’Callaghan is currently at Stirling Lions and is a recognised quality striker netting 13 goals in 2011. A proven scorer now at several WAPL clubs and who would be ideal leading partner for Liam Boland.
However if the club wishes to concentrate on youth and raw talent it could do worse than land Rory Feely from relegated Cockburn City who scored 7 goals last campaign.
News in from the training track indicates that young attacking left sided player Joshua Tumoe from Bayswater is at the club - though his signing is yet to be confirmed. Some examples of his raw talents can be seen in the clip below.
Joshua Tumoe - Athena Bound?
Looking internally in the reserves ranks from last year Alex Novatsis could well be ready for first team action along with other young hopefuls from the successful under 18’s outfit and possibly new as of today unknown youngsters.
An ex-Athena life long junior who failed to make the under 18's cut in 2011 Geordie Papathanassiou, did what any rejected young boy who loves the game should do. He went down the road to rivals Stirling Lions and banged in bag full of goals to collect the club's golden boot for the under 18's. One would think that this kid is worth another look at - especially with the under current wave of new found nationalistic overtones swirling around the club. If only of course given the unmistakeable heritage of the boy's surname.
An ex-Athena life long junior who failed to make the under 18's cut in 2011 Geordie Papathanassiou, did what any rejected young boy who loves the game should do. He went down the road to rivals Stirling Lions and banged in bag full of goals to collect the club's golden boot for the under 18's. One would think that this kid is worth another look at - especially with the under current wave of new found nationalistic overtones swirling around the club. If only of course given the unmistakeable heritage of the boy's surname.
There is no doubt that amongst the coaching team of Chris Barbas (first team), Ramon Falzon (reserves) and Alan Pottier (18’s) plans are being plotted for attack minded and skilled players who can make the step up to WAPL first team football. The question that remains is will the club maintain its pursuit of visa players such as Burton or opt for the development challenges of raising youth to the top ranks – only time will tell.
However the warning signs of complacency and ill preparedness are there and plain for all to see. That is, recently is clubs that have over relied on youth over a functional and effective blend with experience have sailed too close to the drop for comfort. Examples of which are no clearer than Stirling three seasons ago when they had a mere 5 points before the end of the then July transfer window and were forced and/or willing to dig deep into club and supporters pockets to urgently recruit players such Phil O’Callaghan mid-season. This was a desperate, expensive and ultimately successful bid to avoid relegation. In fact most remarkably they still managed to compete in finals football.
More recently, both Mandurah City and Cockburn City were relegated last year after a dismal season and arguably an over reliance on youth and inexperience. And Waneroo City and Fremantle City a few years before them also experienced the pain of relegation from top flight WA football.
More recently, both Mandurah City and Cockburn City were relegated last year after a dismal season and arguably an over reliance on youth and inexperience. And Waneroo City and Fremantle City a few years before them also experienced the pain of relegation from top flight WA football.
Patience is almost never a virtue of the Athena faithful or its board’s as there is an omnipresent expectation of success or at the very least a requirement for the first team to win more than it loses. A cursory glance at the record books of league standings over the club’s history is testament to this.
Many pundits felt that going on the loyalty shown by the survivors and warriors in the aftermath of the Etna catastrophe the squad at the end of the 2011 season had the hallmarks of everything that a progressive and ambitious club in transition yearned for - that ideal mix of youth and experience. This was clearly expressed in Kovacevic's fairest and best night speech - 'look no further for evidence of loyalty and talent than the men in front of you all here'.
In light of this it was thought that what was probably required was some significant and strategic tweaking in certain areas and not necessarily the radical surgery that has occurred. Since the massive overhaul occurred twelve months earlier.
Suddenly over the past two months of the off season we have seen the dismantling of the legacy of the youth and development initiative instigated by the past Board and selected and delivered by coaches Barbas, Goodman, Nicoliades under the direction Kovacevic. And what we are now seeing is essentially the same model being applied. However the experience has vanished. While efforts are being made to express and communicate some apparent newness of the current model. However the question that begs an answer is: what specifically was wrong with the 'old model'?
This appears to be a classic example of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale - The Emperors New Clothes about two weavers who promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes that is invisible to those unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes, a child cries out, "But he isn't wearing anything at all!" The title that is often used to describe a situation in which people are afraid to criticise something because everyone else seems to think it is good or important.
This is a new and inexperienced coaching team in top flight terms at least. They will be treated just like every other coaching team before it - with tough love and they will be ultimately judged by their results.
History, loyalty, sentiment and the apparent well laid plans of coaching staff counted for little at Floreat Athena FC in 2011 in the eyes of the Board of Management and some vocal and yet ill founded and irrational sections of the fan base.
History, loyalty, sentiment and the apparent well laid plans of coaching staff counted for little at Floreat Athena FC in 2011 in the eyes of the Board of Management and some vocal and yet ill founded and irrational sections of the fan base.
Athenista for one, hopes that 2012 is different because Floreat Athena FC exists to fight and to succeed at all costs and never to merely just survive.
