Roux revels in the Mariners' new style

Storm Roux is one of those defenders who is under the most pressure when Central Coast's adventurous style of play breaks down, but he said he much preferred taking a risk over playing "boring football".

Storm Roux

The 22 year-old is excited by the Mariners expansive style of play Source: Getty Images

Right-back Roux was at the Mariners last season, when the more the team struggled the more defensive they became. Trying to contain the opposition and hope for limited opportunities in attack didn't work and Central Coast finished eighth.

The Mariners revamped approach this season has been met with mixed reviews and so far brought mixed results, as well as being the catalyst for internal drama with established goalkeeper Liam Reddy ending up on the outer as a critic of the new style.

But coach Tony Walmsley is sticking with it in the belief that trying to be proactive is better than just being reactive and after that it is up to the players to try to adjust as individuals and as a team.

Asked if he was comfortable with the new playing style, Roux said: "Yeah, I'm very comfortable with it. As an attacking fullback I like to overlap and help out in attack and help out my winger, so I enjoy it.

"I prefer it a lot more than sitting back defensively, playing boring football.  At least with this style of play you can show what you can do and you can enjoy yourself while you're playing. Our fans love to see attacking football, so that's what we try to bring."

Central Coast have been getting into trouble when they bomb forward in numbers and lose possession, leaving  their midfielders and defenders vulnerable to the counter-attack.

"I mean, it (defence) is a tough position to play when you play that style," Roux said. "Not only defensively, but your fitness levels have to be very high as a fullback because of all of the running up and back that you're doing.

"Defensively, it's up to the fullback to win the one-on-one battles against the winger and at times you're going to win and at times you'll lose and the spotlight will be on you, but we're working every day at training at getting better at it."

In last weekend's 3-1 loss to Melbourne City, Walmsley wanted one of his two centre-backs to sit in front to try to plug the gap, but the idea didn't work as well as the Mariners would have liked.

However, it is something Central Coast will continue to work on and are confident will improve.                        

"Against Melbourne City  our two centre halves (Jake McGing and Harry Ascroft) were very young," Roux said. "And with a bit more experience they'll be sorting things out, no problem.

"It was just the way the game went against City and I think in the second half we played a lot better. We were putting them under pressure, but we were getting hurt on the counter-attack. We didn't get any points out of the game, but that's the way football goes sometimes.

"Obviously a lot of people were going to be surprised by the way we came out and played the first few games of the season. We're trying to be more attacking and at times that may leave us exposed at the back.

"But we've got a lot of young boys in the squad and we just need a bit more time to gel and I'm sure everything will come right and we'll start picking up results."

Roux called on Mariners fans to turn up in numbers for Saturday's game against Sydney FC at Central Coast Stadium.

"It's a massive game, sort of like a derby for us, with Graham Arnold as Sydney coach and his history at the Mariners," he said. "It should make a for a good turn-out from the fans.

"Hopefully our style of football will bring us more fans through the gate and they can sort of be the 12th man for us and help us get a result.

"Sydney is coming off a win against Wanderers in the derby, so they're going to be fired up for it. We expect a tough game, but we'll be ready for it."


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4 min read
Published 29 October 2015 6:44am
Updated 29 October 2015 6:54am
By Greg Prichard


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