Michael McGlinchey (Weston FC | Australia)
Lowest ever attendance in Australia. There's been three lower figures in Auckland.
http://www.ultimatealeague.com/records.php?type=att&season=LA
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/News/184838,thats-the-best-weve-played.aspx
I haven't seen the game but I guess it means he was a bit more assertive/influential than when I've seen him play. If so, it's a step in the right direction.
I just caught a replay of Fox Sports Matchday Saturday and spotted this, a quick challenge attempted by 2 or 3 players each week
http://www.foxsports.com.au/Football/mcglinchey-takes-challenge/video-e6frf423-1225945619630?subcat=1225908912051&site=FoxSports
Cant view it in NZ
he seems to have great confidence at the moment. Its like he took a fairly careful and conservative approach after first arriving in the A-League, but now that he has confidence of coach and certainty of selection he is really backing himself.
Last few games he's been on fire. Still has the first touch and quick passing option, but also running with the ball so effectively and providing some great delivery. Massively encouraging from AW point of view. Perhaps rediscovering some of what made him such a talent at youth level.
Thought he'd made his name as a youngster in Scotland as a wide player?
Kiwi McGlinchey inflicts pain on hometown club
Sunday, 9 January 2011
by Liam Howitt
A brilliant first half strike to New Zealand international Michael McGlinchey has helped the Central Coast Mariners to a vital 1-nil win over the Wellington Phoenix at Bluetongue Stadium, keeping pressure on Adelaide United in second spot, and setting up a blockbuster with Hyundai A-League leader Brisbane Roar back at Bluetongue on Wednesday.
After the frustration of their New Year Eve meeting with the Melbourne Victory, the Mariners responded in the best possible way to further consolidate third spot on the ladder. The match was highlighted by McGlinchey�s first goal of the campaign and young custodian Mathew Ryan netting his 10th clean sheet for the club, an outstanding feat for a rookie goalkeeper.
It was a perfect way for the Mariners to begin 2011, and head coach Graham Arnold was pleased that his side was able to take the points after a slow start, in what were energy-sapping conditions for both sides.
�If we want to take our game to the next level we need to start better than we did tonight,� said Arnold.
�After those first six minutes I thought there was only one team in it scoring goals. We were calm throughout the match, and handled the situation pretty well.
�Don�t underestimate the heat factor with 5�oclock kick-offs, they certainly aren�t easy.�
Keep to dispel the popular line that they don�t travel well, the Phoenix took less than a minute to take the game to the Mariners. A familiar face, Dylan Macallister was the beneficiary of an outstanding cross. An alert Ryan pulled off a smart save getting his body behind the ball, before Patrick Zwaanswijk made sure that the ball wouldn�t be tapped home by the lurking Wellington players.
The visitors would control possession for the opening five minutes and would get two more strong chances to open their account for the afternoon. First was a header to Ben Sigmund, and the second was off the boot of impressive youngster Marco Rojas.
After weathering the storm, the Mariners went on their own territorial odyssey keeping possession for a significant period of time as they fired their opening shots for the afternoon. Josh Rose and Patricio Perez tried their luck, but neither player could quite get the accuracy they were searching for.
Rojas was causing trouble for the Mariners defence, showing a clean pair of heels to cut inside the defenders, and made several threatening runs that his teammates were unable to capitalize on.
The first real scoring chance of the match fell to McGlinchey who struck a drive from about thirty yards out that forced former Mariners fans-favourite Danny Vukovic into a smart save.
It was a strange opener with both sides having periods of complete dominance, at least in terms of possession but neither able to take full advantage. The visitors would rue the opening five minutes when they had three strong chances, and it appeared that the Mariners would experience the same frustration.
Striker Daniel McBreen � making his first start since November 21 � had the chance to open the scoring twice in the space of a minute but couldn�t quite find a way through.
With the end-to-end tempo of the match it was only a matter of time before something gave. Several times earlier in the match, the Phoenix showed hesitation when Perez was in possession. The Argentine relished the extra time and space he was being given, and made them pay with interest in the 41st minute.
His gem of a pass found Rose who cut the ball back across the Wellington backline and found McGlinchey. The Kiwi international hit it first time and drove the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the season, and his second in the Yellow and Navy. It was a just reward for one of the most consistent players this season, who looked threatening every time he touched the ball.
If the visitors started the game stronger, it was the hosts who would reverse the trend in the second half. Zwaasnswijk has one of the most reliable heads in the league, and he went agonizingly close to doubling the lead for the Mariners. A sensational cross from McBreen saw the flying Dutchman leap above the pack only to be thwarted by the crossbar.
Zwaanswijk�s chance was the first of three chance clear-cut chances the Mariners manufactured in the opening exchanges of the second half.
Josh Rose was next to try his luck, and with goal scoring form against the Phoenix behind him, he understandably fancied his chances. The shot was only just wide after some strong lead up play from Matt Simon.
Searching for the defining blow against a tiring Wellington side Perez tried a shot from distance that forced Vukovic to scramble across. His efforts were in vain though as the shot sailed off-target.
Returning from suspension Pedj Bojic turned in his customary energetic performance, and a strong run down the flank saw him whip in a cross that should have been rewarded with his side�s second goal.
The Mariners welcomed a new player into the Central Coast fraternity when Michael Baird was introduced into the attack in the 63rd minute. Baird�s first contribution was a lovely flick onto Perez, and he received a warm introduction from the Bluetongue faithful.
Try as they might after the early flurry of chances the Mariners couldn�t hold onto possession as Wellington pushed forward in search of an elusive goal. Whilst they couldn�t fabricate any real chances from open play, Macallister hit a stinging drive from a free kick that almost netted a goal in the 75th minute.
Ryan had an outstanding match between the sticks, and he did well to deny the shot from the big Wellington striker. His confidence has returned, and he soared high comfortably several times to prevent any real threat from the Phoenix attacking raids.
It was a nervous last ten minutes for the Mariners but composed defence across the park saw them home. Strong performances in midfield from Oliver Bozanic and Rostyn Griffiths ensured that most of the visitors possession was well away from the goal. When they did break, Alex Wilkinson, Bojic, Rose and Zwaanswijk combined as a unit to quickly shut them down. Zwaanswijk in particular demonstrated all his experience and guile to frustrate the Wellington defenders, and it was his clear his younger teammates were taking notes.
Mustafa Amini made a cameo appearance off the bench and got into some good positions that could potentially have netted the Mariners a game-sealing second goal, but it wasn�t to be.
At this stage of the season every point is valuable, and the Mariners can look forward to Wednesday�s clash with the Brisbane Roar confident in their ability to compete for 90 minutes.
Graham Arnold and his playing group are looking forward to the challenge.
�That�s ten clean sheets from 22 games, and we build our formation around our defence, and teams find it hard to break us down.
�The progress of this team has been enormous, and I�m very proud of where we are at, but the boys know there is still plenty of improvement left in them.�
�We�ve got a tough game now against Brisbane on Wednesday, and we�re looking forward to it,� said Arnold.
hardly call it a master class. id call it muscat, lia and brown not tracking back.
McGlinchey relishing new role under Arnold
Friday, 14 January 2011
by Sportal exclusive for a-league.com.au
When Graham Arnold took over as coach of the Central Coast Mariners he made no secret of his desire to sign an attacking No.10 - a player who could create and score his fair share of goals.
After plenty of negotiation Arnold got his man when former Argentina under-20 representative Patricio Perez signed on.
Many Mariners fans wondered what the arrival of Perez would mean for one of the club�s better performers last season � Michael McGlinchey.
Under former boss Lawrie McKinna, McGlinchey was at the heart of the Mariners midfield and did enough in his first season in Australia to book a place in New Zealand�s World Cup squad.
But with Perez on the books, what role would McGlinchey play under Arnold?
The former Socceroos boss liked what he saw from McGlinchey during the pre-season, but felt he was better suited to right midfield.
Initially McGlinchey was unsure whether he would be able to have the same type of impact on the right as he could in the centre of midfield.
But with the A-League finals fast approaching, the move has been a masterstroke from Arnold.
McGlinchey has not only been one of the Mariners best performers, he is also among the form players in the competition.
His consistent form has been a feature of the Mariners revival this season.
"Without a shadow of doubt I�m in the best form I've been in since coming to Australia," McGlinchey said.
"In the position I�m playing my fitness had to improve because I need to do a lot of cover in defence."
"When I�m in the final third the only thought in my mind is to have a go."
"My confidence is very high."
Another man who has been extremely impressed with McGlinchey's form for Central Coast is New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert.
Herbert saw first-hand just how well McGlinchey is playing when the former Celtic player scored the only goal in the Mariners 1-0 win over Wellington at Gosford.
It was his first goal since his Mariners debut at the start of last season.
McGlinchey said playing more international football is high on his list of priorities.
While he loved being part of the Kiwis World Cup squad, he was disappointed not to get on the field in any of New Zealand's matches.
The Kiwis are expected to play China and Japan in March and the Mariner is desperate to be a part of both fixtures.
Arnold said he hopes McGlinchey can give him more of the same during Central Coast's run-in to the finals.
"I couldn't be happier with Mikey, he's been great for us all season," Arnold said.
"He's adapted to the position very well and has been one of our most consistent players."
"We need him to keep that going for the rest of the competition."
full 90 and yellow card in a 2-2 vs brisbane roar: here is a photo in this article of mcglinchey battling for a ball with Kosta
McGlinchey is that most rare of New Zealand players - a scheming midfielder. He is a key element in the Central Coast team contesting tonight's A-League Grand Final and offers qualities in the attacking third that Tim Brown, Ivan Vicelich and Simon Elliot do not. If Herbert is to build a team that can find a more innovative path to goal than the Route 1 which yielded those three famous strikes, then McGlinchey would be a good starting point.
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/3462639/Lets-Coast-to-victory.html
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/3462639/Lets-Coast-to-victory.html
Mariners coach Graham Arnold gave former Celtic player Michael McGlinchey the honour of being captain for the match against his former club.
And it was the Kiwi McGlinchey who would make an almost instant impression on the game, netting the Mariners third with one of his first touches. With the ball cut back from the left side, McGlinchey drifted in from right midfield to thrash the ball home on the half volley from the edge of the area.
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/215428,mariners-thrash-bankstown.aspx
Hyundai A-League Countdown: '14'
Saturday, 24 September 2011
14. Michael McGlinchey
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Michael McGlinchey returned to Scotland with his parents as a baby, and progressed through the Glasgow Celtic academy.
Advancing through the ranks at �the Bhoys�, the diminutive midfielder made one appearance for the club he supported as a youngster against Livingstone in December 2005. Loaned to Dunfermline Athletic in 2007, it was in 2009 the now 24-year-old chose to make the switch to Australia.
A full New Zealand international, McGlinchey was included in the All Whites squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
A consistent contributor to the Mariners cause, McGlinchey also represented Scotland at youth level before switching his senior allegiance to the land of the long white loud.
DOB: 7 Jan, 1987
Position: Midfield
HAL Appearances: 55
Goals: 2
Assists: 9
In our Hyundai A-League countdown series, we look at the men who make up the Central Coast Mariners squad� from player number 23, down to player number 1.
� Central Coast Mariners
Michael McGlinchey will be the player to look out for the Central Coast side, as he will look to provide the attacking arsenal up front.