David Elliott blogs on the Central Coast Mariners for BPL. Click here if you want to join the BPL A-League blog network.

After missing the final series for only the second time in A-League history, a new coach and a new CEO, many could have been forgiven for thinking that Mariners might change, if not adjust their brand of football. But it has been another pre-season of workmanlike football from the Central Coast Mariners.

Perhaps a mass clean out of players was too much to ask. Although I suspect, the Mariners are victims of the poor economic times and can't afford to cull players that have promised much but delivered little. Or Lawrie's Boys as I like to call them!

Although it does seem as though new coach and long time bridesmaid, Graham Arnold, has at least put Lawrie McKenna's long-standing ‘no dickhead' policy to the side and signed players that can play an exciting brand of football. Hopefully for the football lovers of the Central Coast, we will see a more expansive game this year. Surely in his time first as Guus Hiddink's and then Pim Verbeek's assistant at a national level will mean some Dutch flavour has rubbed off on Arnold.

The recent signing of Argentine Patricio Perez and Arnold's promotion of youth (Oliver Bozanic and Matthew Lewis) alongside the experience of Chris Doig and Rostyn Griffiths does bode well for exciting running football. And with newly signed ‘keeper Jess Van Stratten back in familiar territory playing for his home town fingers crossed he can recapture the form that took him to Juventus as a junior. It seems the goal-scoring issue might have been addressed with the signing of Daniel McBreen from North Queensland via Perth; the only question is who will partner him up front? Matt Simon might be a crowd favourite at Bluetongue Stadium lacks composure and it remains to be seen if talisman Nik Mrdja has a full season in his ageing frame.

So what does 2010-11 have in store for the Mariners, or a Mariners Fan? Well we've seen solid pre-season results mixed with flashes of brilliance, depth, as usual will be an issue. That's where Arnold has differed from his predecessor. He sees the value in promoting young players like Mustafa Amini and Trent Sainsbury, who if given a chance, may just have the Marinators cheering all the way to February.