David Lowe: So near and yet so far
BY DAVID LOWE
22 Nov, 2011 04:00 AM
The A-League run a slick “We Are Football” advertising campaign to promote the code’s premier competition, but Saturday’s clash with the Brisbane Roar would have been better suited to the “90 minutes, 90 emotions” campaign they produced last season.
There was anticipation, anxiety and excitement in the build-up. I’m not sure if trepidation is an emotion, but there was certainly an element of that for those who learnt early of Gary van Egmond’s decision to gamble with a back three.

There was an element of panic and fear, as Brisbane threatened to blow that experiment out of the water in the first 15minutes, but when Besart Berisha and Issey Nakajima-Farran wasted gilt-edged opportunities in that period, hope that this might be a day to remember for the Jets started to surface.

That hope was parlayed into belief as the Jets exerted excellent pressure in midfield and up front, and Brisbane’s fluency was effectively disrupted.

The corner count grew in favour of the home side and Jobe Wheelhouse and Nikolai Topor-Stanley had opportunities with strong headers.

A minute before the interval, Kasey Wehrman picked up the ball from a throw-in in a luxurious amount of space (Brisbane were feeling the pace) and he found Ruben Zadkovich also with room to turn in a central area.

Zadkovich then played a reverse pass of delightful weight and direction to Ryan Griffiths haring in and across defenders at a 45-degree angle from the right flank. Griffiths balanced up and dinked the ball over the advancing Michael Theoklitos with calm assurance.

It was a great time to score, and with it came excitement, unbridled joy and perhaps a sense of temporary vindication. Those wise old heads found time for a cautionary note: “There’s still a long way to go in this game.”

After 45 minutes the Jets had achieved much of what they had set out to do. They had disrupted Brisbane’s possession game, exerted pressure themselves to good effect, and been rewarded on the stroke of half-time with a goal.

Discussion in the stands centred on whether the Jets would change their approach in the second half.

Having surprised the Roar in the first half by essentially going man-on-man at times at the back, funnelling Brisbane’s attempts to build up through their debuting left-sided central defender, Sayed Mohamed Adnan, and having an extra man in midfield, would they continue with that plan?

There had been a lot of energy expended to play much of the game in Brisbane’s half, and as Jets coach Gary van Egmond mused in the Herald on Friday: “Can we do that quickly enough and consistently enough over the duration of 90 minutes? That’s the $64 question. I believe we can, and come Saturday, hopefully it comes to fruition”.

More than 13,000 Jets fans inside Ausgrid Stadium were on the edge of their seats, fingers crossed hoping for the exact same thing.

Would van Egmond at some stage in the second half back things off a little, ask his team to sit deeper and absorb some pressure, and conserve some fuel for the latter stages of the game? Would the chance of Brisbane then finding some fluency be too big a risk to take? Fate, circumstances and a reasonably early equaliser for Brisbane in the second half meant we will probably never know. The injury to keeper Ben Kennedy used up one of the three allotted substitutions, and given the intensity of the pressing game the Jets played, fresh legs in midfield were always going to be a requirement at some stage.

When Henrique scored for Brisbane, the Jets threw Francis Jeffers into the game to try and conjure a winner, leaving Taylor Regan as the unused substitute.

The selection of Regan as a substitute in the first place was intriguing, not because his form has been anything other than very good, but because at home, and with good defensive coverage in your chosen midfield selection, van Egmond may well have gone with another attacking option in someone like Ali Abbas.

Would the coach have parked the bus at some stage? I doubt it, but he may well have looked to shore things up a little if the Jets had led for another 15 or 20 minutes. I might ask him one day.


T

he Jets were very disappointed to have worked so hard for no reward, and it will be a test of their mental resolve to bounce back after a short turnaround against Adelaide on Friday night.

Van Egmond’s team selection will be an interesting topic this week, as some players are no doubt still feeling the effects of Saturday’s exertions and some carrying injuries.

And as much as coaches are reluctant to admit it, selection concessions were made in the formulation of the plan to combat Brisbane. For example, there is little doubt in my mind that van Egmond would consider the likes of Jeffers and Tiago Calvano to be valuable contributors in matches where possession-based football is key.

All in all an interesting, brave and adventurous performance from the Jets went unrewarded, and the quest to turn their away form around assumes even more importance at Hindmarsh Stadium this week.

It would be grossly remiss of me not to acknowledge the achievements of Ange Postecoglou and his Brisbane Roar team to go unbeaten in 35 consecutive matches.

His team were not at their best on the weekend, indeed they weren’t allowed to be, but once again they withstood all that could be thrown at them and got the job done.

Certainly the Jets were disrupted by the injury to Ben Kennedy, in terms of bench options, but the Roar started the game minus several regulars, lost skipper Matt Smith to illness at half-time and had flying fullback Ivan Franjic carrying a hamstring problem. They were vulnerable, the Jets had a real good crack at them, but still they prevailed. Sign of a bloody good side? You better believe it.

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/david-lowe-so-near-and-yet-so-far/2365423.aspx?storypage=0

Kennedy ruled out of Jets' road trip to Reds
BY BRETT KEEBLE
23 Nov, 2011 06:29 AM

JETS coach Gary van Egmond expects Ben Kennedy will return to repel Harry Kewell and the Melbourne Victory at Ausgrid Stadium in 10 days after the groggy goalkeeper was ruled out yesterday from the game against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night.

Kennedy has concussion and a broken nose after coming off second best from a goal-mouth collision with teammate Tarek Elrich early in the second half of Newcastle’s 2-1 loss to Brisbane Roar at Ausgrid last Saturday.

Van Egmond indicated regular understudy Matt Nash, who missed an opportunity to play against Brisbane because of a strained adductor muscle, was likely to start against the Reds.

That would leave 18-year-old Young Socceroos representative Jack Duncan, who replaced Kennedy to make his A-League debut against the Roar, on the bench as a back-up.

‘‘Nashy got through training today, which was good, so I’ll have another look at him and Jack on Thursday and decide then,’’ van Egmond said last night.

‘‘But I would suggest that the experience that Nashy has got, and he’s got through the training sessions, that he will be the goalkeeper.

‘‘Our medical advice with ‘BK’ was that he have one week off.

‘‘He’s had concussion previously, and he tried to play the following week and got the black spots in front of his eyes ... especially under the lights. So that was no good for him, and we’re going on the medical advice of [sports physician] Neil Halpin.’’

Van Egmond said he was unaware of all the details surrounding Dutch international Andy Slory’s sudden departure from Adelaide.

Slory announced yesterday that he was quitting soccer to return to The Netherlands to start a business, but van Egmond said the Jets were taking care of their own business.

‘‘What we have to do is ensure that we turn up with the right frame of mind, and that’s what we did against Brisbane,’’ he said.

‘‘We didn’t get the prize, but we definitely turned up with the right attitude.’’

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/kennedy-ruled-out-of-jets-road-trip-to-reds/2367045.aspx

Clint Gosling dumped by Jets
BY JAMES GARDINER
26 Nov, 2011 04:00 AM
RESPECTED goalkeeping coach Clint Gosling will look overseas for a new job after he was sacked by the Newcastle Jets, ending a 17-year association with the region’s flagship team.
Gosling was told on Wednesday that coach Gary van Egmond wanted to take a new direction.

Former Newcastle Breakers goalkeeper Bob Catlin has been appointed in an interim role and accompanied the team to Adelaide for the clash against the Reds last night.

The dismissal came as a shock to Gosling, who has been in charge of the Jets senior, youth team and W-League programs.

‘‘I am gutted,’’ Gosling told the Newcastle Herald last night.

Gosling, 51, played for KB United in the club’s formative years in the national league and returned to the Newcastle Breakers for a swansong season in 1993-94 before moving into coaching.

Apart from one season when Steve Dorman worked under Lee Sterrey at the Breakers, Gosling has been a mainstay.

Gosling is also the goalkeeping coach of the New Zealand national team, which is a part-time role, but intends to search for another full-time gig.

‘‘I will put my name out there even if I have to go overseas,’’ he said.

‘‘As coach of the New Zealand national team keepers, I have been to a World Cup, two Confederation Cups. I coached Ante Covic to the grand final win 2008. I suggest my achievements speak for themselves.’’

Gosling holds no animosity towards the club and said they had been nothing but professional.

‘‘Am I disappointed that my time at the club is at an end? Absolutely. But that is football,’’ he said.

‘‘My association with Newcastle football is a long one, in total 17 years as a player and a coach. I have repeatedly turned down offers due to my loyalties to Newcastle football.

‘‘Do I believe my removal to be justified? No. That said, Gary’s decision must be respected. I wish the franchise, my keepers and the team every success.’’

Van Egmond said it was a hard but necessary decision to let Gosling go.

‘‘We wanted to freshen the area up and give the keepers a different voice,’’ he said.

‘‘Ben Kennedy, for example, has been hearing the same voice for a long time now.

‘‘I have known Goose [Gosling] for a lot of years, and that is where it becomes difficult with staff members. I want to see people who bring a lot of enthusiasm and energy to that position. I don’t think that has been the case with Clint for some time.’’

Catlin’s appointment, albeit caretaker, follows that of Melbourne-born youth team coach Arthur Papas.

Both go against the grain of the Jets’ ‘‘local policy’’, but chief executive Robbie Middleby said getting the right person was the priority.

‘‘The first port of call is for a Newcastle person,’’ he said.

‘‘That is the priority in any role, but it has to be the best person for the job.’’

Meanwhile, Professional Footballer Australia chief executive Brendan Schwab said yesterday that progress had been made towards an amicable resolution between the Jets and unwanted marquee player Jason Culina.

‘‘We are working towards a favourable outcome,’’ Schwab said. ‘‘The club has been been very good. They understand it is an involved matter and have been supportive.’’

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/clint-gosling-dumped-by-jets/2371349.aspx?storypage=0.

Doesn't GVE play a 4-3-3 though??

Depends on the opposition

But like 4-3-3 is what you play most of the time isn't it? Could you post the strongest 4-3-3 please?

-----------BK-----------
Elrich--Regan--Toppa--Byun
----------Wehrman---------
--Jobe---------------Rubez----
--Griff---Frannie----Brockie

Ali, Tiago, Kanta, Nash

This guy seems to be putting together a great CV and is so young at 31, realistically if he makes the right moves could be coaching at the top level in 5-7 years (A-league) and from there on who knows how far he could go? Sounds like he's doing brilliantly though!

Special strip price for Jets Members

Sunday, 27 November 2011 4:49 PM 

Newcastle Jets Members are in for a treat with the most affordable price in the country for our new Home and Away playing strips. Members can purchase the strips for the special price of $95 for Adults (non-Members $120), $85 for ladies (non-Members $110) and $80 for youth (non-Members $99).

The special Member price is available to encourage as many of our Jets Members to proudly wear the team’s new colours. This is a great idea for a Christmas gift for any Jets supporter, but be quick as there is limited stock due to the overwhelming pre-sale.

Visit the online shop or head to the Hunter Sports Superstore to make your purchase today:

Members: Click here
Non-Members: Click here

Not only will our prices be the most affordable anywhere but all profits will stay with your Club.

We recommend Members and supporters buy direct from the Hunter Sports Superstore retail shop if you’d like your gear in time for the match against the Melbourne Victory.

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/newcastlejets/news-display/Special-strip-price-for-Jets-Members/43069

I would only ever wear it on gypo away days

Special delivery for Tiago and Jets

BY JAMES GARDINER
03 Dec, 2011 04:00 AM

JETS defender Tiago declared his move to Australia was complete after the birth of his son, Jean Pedro.

‘‘Excited and delighted’’ with the new arrival on Thursday, the proud Brazilian was not as sure about the prospect of his son playing for the Socceroos.

‘‘Maybe, we will see, if he likes football,’’ Tiago said.

Jean Pedro, who weighs 3.7kilograms, is a little brother for Julia.

Both mother, Paola, and baby are healthy.

Tiago said the birth would provide extra motivation for the clash against Melbourne Victory tonight.

‘‘Absolutely, hopefully we can mark the birth with a win,’’ Tiago said.

Tiago’s in-laws are out from Brazil and he ensured his friends and family in Rio de Janeiro were up to date on the latest member of the family.

‘‘I filmed the birth and sent it straight to Brazil online,’’ he said. ‘‘It was amazing, beautiful.’’

Now Tiago’s focus has switched to the Victory and keeping their much-vaunted three-pronged strike force in check.

‘‘We have looked at some DVDs on the Victory, we know where they are dangerous,’’ he said. ‘‘We are very focused and know what we have to do to win this game.

‘‘We must concentrate and do our jobs for 90 minutes.

‘‘If we press high and play good football we can make a good result.’’

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/special-delivery-for-tiago-and-jets/2379758.aspx

Newcastle Jets merchandise update

Wednesday, 7 December 2011 1:50 PM

The Newcastle Jets wish to advise Members and supporters that a second delivery of authentic home strips have arrived and are now on sale.

The new blue and red Jets strip has been an enormous hit, with in excess of 400 selling in the first week of sale.

The Jets have secured an additional 400 home strips across all sizes. These are expected to sell quickly, so Members encouraged to buy now to avoid disappointment.

Members can purchase the home strip, along with all authentic training and off-field apparel from the Hunter Sports Superstore, online Jets Superstore, or from our official merchandise outlets at Ausgrid Stadium on match days.

The Hunter Sports Superstore is also offering heat seal names and numbers for $20 for Members and $40 for non-Members.

Hunter Sports Superstore
(Ausgrid Stadium)
294 Turton Road
New Lambton NSW 2305

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/newcastlejets/news-display/Newcastle-Jets-merchandise-update/43353

Ok I stood with the Squadron boys for this game and chanted with them. On the whole I'd like to say you guys were great and a bit of a laugh. But to the dickhead that lit the flair, two words; FUCK....you. Why would you do that? For goodness sake. Ruined the match nearly. And what was the scuffle down the front and a Jets fan was being ushered away and looked like he wanted to kill someone? Did anyone else see that?

Newcastle; you can keep this guy.

Ok I stood with the Squadron boys for this game and chanted with them. On the whole I'd like to say you guys were great and a bit of a laugh. But to the dickhead that lit the flair, two words; FUCK....you. Why would you do that? For goodness sake. Ruined the match nearly. And what was the scuffle down the front and a Jets fan was being ushered away and looked like he wanted to kill someone? Did anyone else see that?

Fight down the front was a few nobodies trying to push their way through the active hierarchy. Few things were said between 2 guys one of the nobodies brother took offense and and threw a punch at the capo. other guys who are well respected and known in the sqaudron stood up and got the guys causing the shit thrown out.

Just idiots.

Feel sorry of the club who are going to cop a fine over that flare.