Aussie rookie FC McArthur has been playing like a summer fire, igniting hopes for a new season. Through five regular season games, he has shown his strength with two wins and two losses, with strong early season momentum.
McArthur's heroics, especially in the win over Wellington Phoenix, saw Shemin prove once again that he is in hot form with his fourth goal. He has scored twice in his last three games to help his side to fifth place in the league table.At 34 years old, Shemin may not be getting any younger in terms of age, but his goal-scoring prowess is still alive and well.
And the sideways breaks of Martin Jaegergolis are even more defensible, as he has already made eight appearances this year, contributing four goals and three assists. His accurate passes, especially those that send the ball into the box, have certainly made Xie Ming the team's key man.
Facing the challenge of the Mid Coast Mariners, a team that has yet to win at home, having lost four to Adelaide United, and has had an up and down season, seems to imply some deep-seated problems.
The Mariners' weak backline was exposed as they conceded four goals in their AFC Champions League match against the Mariners. They have also conceded three goals each against Kobe Victory and Wellington Phoenix in their last six matches, leaving a gaping hole at the back that needs to be fixed.
Leader Mark Jaison, who was a linebacker in his time, is confident of improving the team's defense. Players like Bayern Kadada and Niton Paul must also improve their defensive skills to help reshape the team's defense.
Although the Midcoast Mariners are incredibly quick on the counterattack and Mikhil Duka's creativity adds a lot of flair, I'm confident that FC MacArthur will come out on top at home.
