16/17 HAL Round 5 | Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets | Sat 5 Nov 2016, 5:35PM

[Jeterpool]

A-League 16/17 Round 5 Preview - Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets

FIXTURE FACTS

Overall – 28 matches between the two teams.
Jets Wins - 9, Phoenix Wins - 15, Drawn - 4


In Newcastle – 13 matches.
Jets Wins - 6, Phoenix Wins - 6, Drawn - 1
In New Zealand - 15 matches
Jets Wins - 3, Phoenix Wins - 9, Drawn - 3

Average Home A-League Crowd – 9788
Average Away A-League Crowd - 8962
Goals in Fixture
Jets – 36, Phoenix - 54
In New Zealand -
Jets – 12, Phoenix - 32

1st Goals in Fixture
Jets – 11, Phoenix - 16

Cards in Fixture
Jets - 56 (49 yellow, 7 red), Phoenix 47 (43 yellow, 4 red)

Recent Form (A-League)
Jets - DWDL (5 points from last 12)
Phoenix - LLLL (0 points from last 12)

Leading Scorers
Jets - Nigel Boogaard (2)
Phoenix – Roy Krishna (1)

Last Result -
Jets 3 (Durante 27' o.g, Nordstrand 53', Nordstrand 73') – Phoenix 2 (H. Watson 22', H. Watson 37') at Hunter Stadium, A-League, Round 20, 20/2/2016.

Starting line-ups from Last Meeting in Season 15/16 Round 20

Newcastle JetsWellington Phoenix
Mark BirighittiGlen Moss
Jason HoffmanThomas Doyle
Daniel MullenAndrew Durante
Nigel BoogaardDylan Fox
Lachlan JacksonManny Muscat
Cameron WatsonAlbert Riera
Steven UgarkovicRoly Bonevacia
Morten NordstrandMatthew Ridenton
Enver AlivodicMichael McGlinchey
Milos TrifunovicBlake Powell
Leonardo Vitor SantiagoHamish Watson



FIXTURE RECORDS


Biggest Win

Jets 5 (Heskey 36’, Griffiths 46’, Taggart 57’, Taggart 77’, Bridges 90+3’) – Phoenix 0 at Hunter Stadium, Round 24, Season 2013/14, 22/03/2014.

Heaviest Defeat

Jets 0 – Phoenix 4 (Brown 18’, Rojas 31’, Greenacre 41’, Macallister 88’), Round 19, Season 2010/11 at Westpac Stadium, 18/12/2010.

Leading Scorers in fixture –


Jets - Joel Griffiths (4)
Phoenix - Shane Smeltz (6)



2016/17 SEASON STATISTICS

NumberNameAppearancesStartsSubstitute AppearancesSubbed offMinutes PlayedGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed - Second BookableStraight Red
2Daniel Mullen11016300000
3Jason Hoffman321117700000
4Nigel Boogaard440036020000
5Ben Kantarovski440233001000
6Steven Ugarkovic440036010100
7Andrew Hoole440036011100
8Mateo Poljak312017200000
9Aleksandr Kokko21115700000
10Wayne Brown440134010000
11Labinot Haliti1010100000
12Andy Brennan0000000000
13Ivan Vujica431028800000
14Mitch Cooper0000000000
15Andrew Nabbout330223702100
16Nick Cowburn440036000000
17Radovan Pavicevic0000000000
19Morten Nordstrand321215600000
20Jack Duncan440036000000
22Lachlan Jackson321115700000
23Devante Clut413118410000
24Kristian Brymora0000000000
28Johnny Koutroumbis1010800000
30Pierce Clark0000000000



COACHING

Coaches Head to Head – 0 matches
Mark Jones - 0 wins, Ernie Merrick - 0 wins, 0 drawn

Newcastle Jets A-League Coaching Records –

Mark Jones - 0 matches (0 wins, 0 drawn, 0 losses = N/A% win ratio)
Scott Miller - 3 matches (3 wins, 0 drawn, 0 losses = 100% win ratio)
Phil Stubbins - 3 matches (0 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses = 0% win ratio)
Gary Van Egmond – 12 matches (3 wins, 3 drawn and 6 losses = 25% win ratio)
Richard Money - No matches
Branko Culina – 7 matches (2 wins, 0 drawn, 5 losses = 29% win ratio)
Nick Theodorakopoulos - No Matches
Craig Deans - 1 Match (0 win, 0 drawn, 1 loss = 0% win ratio)
Clayton Zane – 2 matches (1 wins, 0 drawn, 1 loss = 50% win ratio)

Wellington Phoenix Coach Record – Ernie Merrick 33% win ratio (9 wins, 6 drawn, 12 losses)




TALKING POINTS:


General

The Jets are undefeated in the last 4 matches against Wellington.
The Jets have scored in the last 8 matches against the Phoenix, at an average of over 2 goals per match.
There has only been one scoreless match between these two teams.
5 points from the first 4 games place's this season below 6 previous years, while ahead of 5 others.
A player has been sent off in each of the last 4 matches between these two teams.




Players

Johnny Koutroumbis became the 144th player to appear for the Jets in the A-League.
Hamish Watson has scoring rate of a goal every 45 minutes against the Jets.
However, Morten Nordstrand has a scoring rate of a goal every 40 minutes against the Phoenix.
Andrew Hoole provided an assist in his last 2 appearance for the Jets against Wellington.



Newcastle Jets

Last week was the first match in 8 the Jets have been kept scoreless.
Newcastle have lost in Wellington only once in the last 4 seasons.



Wellington Phoenix

Wellington have scored only one goal this season.
Having played on Monday night in Melbourne, Wellington will have a 5 day turnaround for the match.
Young defender Dylan Fox will miss the match after being dismissed in the match against Victory for a second bookable offence.




Injuries

Newcastle Jets Daniel Alessi - Knee (Season), Daniel Mullen - Knee (12 weeks), Ben Kennedy - Achilles (Season), Andrew Nabbout - Groin (3 weeks), Lachlan Jackson - Ankle (indefinte), Ben Kantarovski - Knee (2-3 weeks)
Wellington Phoenix

[belchardo]

Injuries


Newcastle Jets Daniel Alessi - Knee (Season), Daniel Mullen - Knee (12 weeks), Ben Kennedy - Achilles (Season), Andrew Nabbout - Groin (3 weeks), Lachlan Jackson - Ankle (indefinte), Ben Kantarovski - Knee (2-3 weeks)



We're gunna need a bigger injury ward soon.

[Jeterpool]

We're gunna need a bigger injury ward soon.

There's only so many characters in a text box, too.

[halo se7en]

0-0

[plague]

Lose.
Doomed.
7 at the back.
Jones out.

[stopper2]

I know we have improved in recent seasons away to the Nix but losing only once in the past 4 seasons is a bit of a surprise. (refer Jeterpool's stats above)
Nix absolutley fell apart with 10 men against a rampant Victory last night. They will be desperate and playing to regain pride against us; which are always dangerous games. Both Brown and Ugar have been very quiet the past 2 games against WSW and SFC and need to step up against the Nix for us to have any chance.
One thing is for certain is that Boogs will be starting with his fourth CB partner in only the fifth game of the season!

[Hunter403]

Interesting from the Herald
Jets winger Andrew Nabbout could make an early return from injury in Wellington on Saturday in a rare spot of good news for the injury-hit Newcastle squad.

Nabbout limped off in the second half of Newcastle’s 2-2 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers 10 days ago with a groin tear and was expected to miss three games.

But the 23-year-old trained strongly on Tuesday and could join his teammates on the plane to New Zealand on Thursday to prepare for Saturday’s game at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

The Jets lost 2-0 to Sydney FC last weekend after a win and two draws to start the season. They emerged from the game with an injury list that now includes central defensive options Daniel Mullen, Ben Kantarovski and Lachlan Jackson, meaning 18-year-old Johnny Koutroumbis could make his A-League starting debut at centre back beside captain Nigel Boogaard.

Nabbout looked dangerous in the first three rounds, especially in the 4-0 rout of Brisbane. Jason Hoffman played wide on the right in a back five last weekend, but it remains to be seen whether coach Mark Jones will stick with that formation when Nabbout returns.

Boogaard said after training that the winger was a contender to play this weekend.

“He’s always champing at the bit to play. He’s always energetic and very vocal about being out there, so hopefully he’s fit and raring to go for the weekend,” Boogaard said.

“He’s a great addition and adds that pace and power that we need in those wide areas.”

The Phoenix lost to the Jets in all three of their meetings last season, have scored just one goal, from the penalty spot, in their four straight defeats to start this campaign and lost 6-1 to Melbourne Victory on the road last weekend.

But Boogaard believes their position on the ladder does not reflect the attacking talent in their squad, including Michael McGlinchey, Roy Krishna and former Victory pair Guy Finkler and Kosta Barabouses.

“We’ll go over there with confidence from previous results, but off the back of their result against Melbourne Victory they’ll be looking to bounce back at home,” he said. “I think, if you watch all their games, they’re quite dangerous and they’ve got some weapons.”

In the Wellington camp, coach Ernie Merrick said his winless side must start accumulating points this week before World Cup qualifiers rob him of a host of players in round six.

"You've got to win games, and we've really got to win games next week. We've got to start next week," Merrick said on Tuesday.

"In November we've been told six players will be out of the squad for the qualifiers. I came into the job knowing that could be the case, [but] I didn't think I'd lose so many first-team players."

Meanwhile, Jets midfielder Mateo Poljak will have an extra spring in his step this weekend after wife, Katarina, gave birth to their first child, Mia, on Monday.

[hawk]

we have no chance. I would take the most boring 1-0 win from any defensive formation. We can show boat later

[Imyourhero]

Even if nabbout is ahead of schedule I'd rather see him sit this week out and get more training under his belt

[belchardo]

likewise. it's a long season.

[halo se7en]

Even if nabbout is ahead of schedule I'd rather see him sit this week out and get more training under his belt

I was thinking the same thing.

[borat]

Herald reports the Nabbout will play off the bench.

The team I would start with

-------------------------Duncan

Cowburn----Koutroumbis----Boogs--------Vujica

-----------------Brown----------Ugarkovic
Hoole------------------------------------------------Hoff

------------------------Clut

-----------------------------------Kokko

Res

?????
De Godoy
Poljak
Nordstrand
Nabbout

[StannyCFCJET]

Herald reports the Nabbout will play off the bench.

The team I would start with

-------------------------Duncan

Cowburn----Koutroumbis----Boogs--------Vujica

-----------------Brown----------Ugarkovic
Hoole------------------------------------------------Hoff

------------------------Clut

-----------------------------------Kokko

Res

?????
De Godoy
Poljak
Nordstrand
Nabbout

id play Haliti out wide bloke needs game time or whats the point. and if i Jones id tell Hoole start playing for the team and stop sooking or im hooking you at half time. rest of the team looks solid

[borat]

Just not sure Haliti would be up to the defensive duties. Agree he desperately needs some game time though

[Hunter403]

Nobby has to start

[borat]

Nobby has to start

I don't think he is fit enough tbh

[Hunter403]

I don't think he is fit enough tbh
Possibly but probably fitter than Kokko and Haliti. Give him half then bring on one of the others. He seems to be able to make more happen than Haliti or Kokko. Ideally I'd like to see Nobby and big Kok on together

[hawk]

back line is pretty weak on paper. Hopefully they'll aim up and stick it to them

[StannyCFCJET]

Either the is Hoff out wide (WHY FFS) or were doing the same shit formation we did last week FMD. Kokko should be starting as should Clut. move Brown deeper alongside Stevie U and give Haliti some game time. We need more players who give 100% every week no matter what so that means Haliti

[Jetmaster]

All of Fux Sports tip Willingtun....why bother watching?

[belchardo]

Wouldn't want to miss our injuries.

[boz-monaut]

trying to get ABC radio coverage on so I don't have to listen to the ridiculously shit and biased local commentators

ten minutes in and can't get it working

also, we will loose

[Retro Jet]

trying to get ABC radio coverage on so I don't have to listen to the ridiculously shit and biased local commentators

ten minutes in and can't get it working

also, we will loose

Phucking Cricket on 1233....

[Hunter403]

10 minutes in and we've barely had the ball. We are very slow starters

[Retro Jet]

http://www.sportingvideo.org/20161104/vv581bb6f14d3f72.05766193-1478710.html

But still with shet commentators.

[Jetmaster]

Attack you pussies ffs!

[plague]

what pathetic football.

[Hunter403]

18 mins in. Nix have 64% possession.

[Hunter403]

Making them look good

[plague]

but still though, you guys will be well please if they 'put in a shift' 'stick a boot in' and 'bleed for the shirt' etc etc.
gutless coaching.
coach is a coward.

[Hunter403]

That had to come...

[boz-monaut]

only two metres ofside

[weston]

We are like lost sheep going forwards. No one to pass to and they do not look interested.

[Retro Jet]

Ffs...if you're teams travelling like a beotch in this League,
you thank your lucky stars when the Jets come to town.

[boz-monaut]

karma for khrishna?

wasn't a penalty by any stretch of the dive

[Hunter403]

We can't string 2 passes together and are stationary while they move around us. Again we turn it over...

[Hunter403]

Freekicks are probably our only route to goal

[borat]

This team selection is honking yet again. Hook Poljak at halftime for god sake

[borat]

What good does Brown do for this team being stuck wide out on the right

[Hunter403]

And Hoffman is no attacker

[plague]

Haha anyone see Hoole(?) just give up on chasing that dude back.
What a fantastic team spirit we have.
If blokes stop 'putting in a shift' then what's left for SuperCoach Jones?

[boz-monaut]

the worst team in the competition is making us look like witches hats

also, I bet somewhere in the post match analysis someone from the club says we've got an issue with 'decision making' i.e. the players are stupid and do stupid things

[Grimario]

This is really really awful. Almost enough to make me give up on football.

[borat]

It's like whatever good work Miller put into this team in pre-season, Jones is just slowly chipping it away each week

[halo se7en]

It's like whatever good work Miller put into this team in pre-season, Jones is just slowly chipping it away each week

Yeah but wasn't Miller shit and all that?

[Thomas477]

It's like whatever good work Miller put into this team in pre-season, Jones is just slowly chipping it away each week

But he's Newy through and through.

**** This club just continues and continues to disappoint.

[borat]

Yeah but wasn't Miller shit and all that?

Miller was no master coach but he knew how to get the best out of this team. Jones is without doubt the worst coach in the league

[boz-monaut]

three on one and leave a bloke free

what the **** do you expect to happen?

I think it might not be tactics or ability but sheer stupidity that's the issue

[halo se7en]

Miller was no master coach but he knew how to get the best out of this team. Jones is without doubt the worst coach in the league

I know, I felt like one of his biggest advocates on here lol

[borat]

That's the striker Hoffman I remember

[Grimario]

Stubbins and Welsh.
Jones and whatever this new guys name is.

Scum don't have a monopoly on adding shit npl talent, do they?

[borat]

Likes ducks in a shooting gallery

[plague]

Miller was no master coach but he knew how to get the best out of this team.

I mean, what evidence at all do we have of that?

This season is heading that same way as last season except with (seemingly) more injuries.

[weston]

I rage less playing Fifa when it glitches and lags.

**** me.

[StannyCFCJET]

Jones is ****ing clueless brown out wide hoff up front nordstrand solo striker We are not making finals

[borat]

I mean, what evidence at all do we have of that?

This season is heading that same way as last season except with (seemingly) more injuries.

What Evidence???? Did you watch the first half. If you are content with that than you have rocks in your head.

This is a better squad of players playing far worse football.

[plague]

What Evidence???? Did you watch the first half. If you are content with that than you have rocks in your head.

This is a better squad of players playing far worse football.

Yes and I watched the same garbage last year.

[boz-monaut]

I don't think you can say Miller got the best out of anyone

I refuse to believe our players are genuinely that shit

[StannyCFCJET]

No changes at half time are you ****ing kidding me!!!

[plague]

I don't think you can say Miller got the best out of anyone

I refuse to believe our players are genuinely that shit

I think it's been well established that last year was entirely Milos' fault.

So glad we got rid of that guy,

[plague]

No changes at half time are you ****ing kidding me!!!

Changing the coach would have been the only viable move.

[StannyCFCJET]

No changes till 70 mins whos with me

[belchardo]

This is truly diabolical.

I can't coach at all, but even I can see hoffman isn't working, Nordstrand is being wasted, brown is not a wide player and hoole is a lazy turd.

[Hunter403]

If this was a home game i would be on my way home by now. Spineless effort. Crap selections. Clueless coach

[belchardo]

And why have we lost the ability to pass or talk? even doing just one of those would be a massive improvement.

[Retro Jet]

Cue the Hoff haters... lofl

[Hunter403]

Cue the Hoff haters... lofl

No. He is just out of position.

[StannyCFCJET]

More magic from jones

[belchardo]

That's our season exploding in the background.

[Retro Jet]

It's almost a shame they have players off with the W/Cup next week.
Any other club bar the sCCuM would bring the Nix back to earth.

We get to give the Plastics a charity game next week.

[Jetmaster]

Loser of us versus Scum in two weeks will get the spoon....end of

[Hunter403]

Nabbout on and we look a lot better.

[Retro Jet]

Oh dear, oh dear.
Same old Aussies, always cheating
**** OFFFFFFFF outta the League then!

[belchardo]

It's almost a shame they have players off with the W/Cup next week.
Any other club bar the sCCuM would bring the Nix back to earth.

We get to give the Plastics a charity game next week.

#Gottagiveyoshihisfirstwin

[Retro Jet]

Nabbout already putting in more than the rest in wot...5 min?

[belchardo]

Nz commentators giving jones all the excuses

[Hunter403]

Hoole. You arseclown!

[plague]

Nabbout already putting in more than the rest in wot...5 min?

Already clutching at the leg.

[belchardo]

Already clutching at the leg.

Yeah,that was a good sign

[evanhayes5]

He must not like Clut

[belchardo]

Oh now the linesman knows the offside rule!

[Hunter403]

Clut would try. Get Hoole off and Clut on

[Hunter403]

Not another injury....

[halo se7en]

Typical. Shit enough to lose. Not shit enough to concede a 3rd goal and get my +2.5 goals bet over the line :angry:

[Hunter403]

Typical. Shit enough to lose. Not shit enough to concede a 3rd goal and get my +2.5 goals bet over the line :angry:

Not over yet!

[Hunter403]

Absolute shite

[boz-monaut]

this club is the ****ing ship of Thesus

change all the players, coaching staff, owners and it's still the same thing - we still lose to exactly the same shitcunce in exactly the same way

**** you

[Wilso8948]

Seen enough of clut to say he needs to start. Has terrific vision and good passing range.
Can't wait to see us play city next week.

[Retro Jet]

this club is the ****ing ship of Thesus

change all the players, coaching staff, owners and it's still the same thing - we still lose to exactly the same shitcunce in exactly the same way

**** you
Holy sh!t Boz. You're on the money. Thanks for that.
Now, someone with a VPN and some interweb clout get into Wiki (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus)
and change that ship's definition to the Newcastle Jets.

[WolfMan]

Let the hate flow through you. Glad I'm not alone in my thought RE: personnel deployment.

It's scary when us 'nobody' fans can see the issues clearer than those with the ability to enforce changes.

[plague]

Had the Gypo GM had any good hashtags tonight?

[hawk]

Watching on delay 27th min.....we belong in div2 atm. Wonder whats in store?

[Wilso8948]

Can't wait for an 18yo to mark Timmy Cahill next week.

[StannyCFCJET]

Anyone else wish they could bring them selves to go **** this shit and stop going to jets games??

[plague]

Anyone else wish they could bring them selves to go **** this shit and stop going to jets games??

way ahead of you homeboy.

although i went last week to placate Plague Jnr and even he was happy to leave early.

[StannyCFCJET]

Dont you miss it on the blue moon when we play ok

[plague]

Dont you miss it on the blue moon when we play ok

you find me that game when we played well and ill let you know how im feeling

[StannyCFCJET]

Hahaha top bantz but I reckon well be waiting a while

[hawk]

2nd half a bit better

Who are we going to blame for this..hoffy & hoole like those retards on fb? or that our roster is inept. Clut getting his usual 5 mins ffs,

Jones has us watching the game for the first 25mins each week. "Go down 2 then have a go" is his game plan

what a larf

[lquiquer]

2nd half a bit better

Who are we going to blame for this..hoffy & hoole like those retards on fb? or that our roster is inept. Clut getting his usual 5 mins ffs,

Jones has us watching the game for the first 25mins each week. "Go down 2 then have a go" is his game plan

what a larf

First 25!!!!.... u generous, more like 65 to 70

[hawk]

First 25!!!!.... u generous, more like 65 to 70

i was. fools no-one

[front2]

ledman out. unless the Jets are mansion property on the north shore.

[rhysd]

All I can assume from that performance is that they were trying to play people in different positions to see if would work in another injury crisis.

Hoole has a starting spot cemented, perhaps a week or two coming off the bench wouldn't hurt to bring his ego back in check.

Both goals again from stuff ups. Doesn't take away from fact we deserved to lose for how we played.

I am a proponent of Poljak but in a 442 doesn't offer what we need as he does not have the passing range. Bring brown back into the centre please.

Clut needs to play mor minutes.

Hoping we start kokko.

Nabbout, not sure why he even played.. Doesn't look ready for game time. Well we do know, but the fact him being injured and coming on and being our near best player said as much about the team performance against Wellington than anything.

Repeat of that against city and our season has worry signs written all over it..

[borat]

Poljak is way too slow to be a starting central midfielder in this league. He doesn't have the stamina to play box to box and should be coming off the bench.

Our most effective midfielder and the person you want to be getting plenty of touches of the ball, is for some inexplicable reason stuck out on the right where he barely sees it. And to make matters worse, Brown isn't really that fast so could never get away from his marker even in space.

Nobby is not effective leading the line and should only be played as a no 10 or a second striker. He is also unfit at the moment which leaves us with very little movement up front.

Hoole is not a bad 10 but when you combine that with a 9 in Nobby who isn't moving about an awful lot, it's not pretty. We are left with very little movement resulting in long balls because there is no clear pass and no central striker to draw the defence in.

To me those are the major priblems with this team. Hoff, Vujica, Boogs all tried and Kouts did ok for his first senior start, but unless with fix the centre of the park it's never going to work.

Thank god we only have to wait another 6-8 weeks for Chinese Messi to get fit enough to sit on the bench

[StannyCFCJET]

But why does every single coach we ever have bar miller i think play players in areas there not suited too or comfortable in. Then wait to long to make changes. Gve did it Stubbins did it Jones did its Cant remember if Zane did it. Wait miller did it with Kanta at CB. Its sooo farked every new coach gets a coaching for dummies book and thats it

[Wilso8948]

Clut brown and Uga in central of the park. Pick the rest of the team around them. They are your three best passers and hold possession the best. That has and always will be the problem that has surrounded this team. Can't link backs with forwards without a midfield.

[lquiquer]

Play Hoffman in the youf team.... he ll still give 100% (whatever that means?)
Can't pass, can't shoot. Can't throw, can't defend...

[StannyCFCJET]

Play Hoffman in the youf team.... he ll still give 100% (whatever that means?)
Can't pass, can't shoot. Can't throw, can't defend...

he defended Pretty good last year

[redwah]

Poljak is way too slow to be a starting central midfielder in this league. He doesn't have the stamina to play box to box and should be coming off the bench.

Our most effective midfielder and the person you want to be getting plenty of touches of the ball, is for some inexplicable reason stuck out on the right where he barely sees it. And to make matters worse, Brown isn't really that fast so could never get away from his marker even in space.

Nobby is not effective leading the line and should only be played as a no 10 or a second striker. He is also unfit at the moment which leaves us with very little movement up front.

Hoole is not a bad 10 but when you combine that with a 9 in Nobby who isn't moving about an awful lot, it's not pretty. We are left with very little movement resulting in long balls because there is no clear pass and no central striker to draw the defence in.

To me those are the major priblems with this team. Hoff, Vujica, Boogs all tried and Kouts did ok for his first senior start, but unless with fix the centre of the park it's never going to work.

Thank god we only have to wait another 6-8 weeks for Chinese Messi to get fit enough to sit on the bench

Poljak shouldn't be trying to get box to box....he shouldn't be getting much more than 10 metres from the 2 centre backs....and that's why we concede crap goals.....to many times our "defensive midfielder " is out of position and not concentrating on his job.

Yeah agree with all that say Brown shouldn't be wide...needs to be central.

Nobby has been asked to do to much of the donkey work in the last couple of weeks due to the ****ing absolute laziness of Hoole. Play Nobby in the 10 and Hoole wide, or better still youth til he grows up.

Thought the kid at the back did pretty good for his first hit out.

[plague]

when the whole 'screener' position became 'cool' with makalele (and yes old farts theres prob an older example) he was there to win the ball then distribute to the proper mids.

over time it seems that the screener has now become two blokes who's primary task is there to win the ball.

the good teams still only used one yeah? (Lester with Kante, Barca with Busquets, Ausses with Grella, Jets with Stu)

would love to see the Jets go back to one screener (Ooga Booga) and play a proper mid like Brown next to him.

this poljak/ ooga booga combo aint working.

also, if we are gonna be more interested in continually 'recycling possession' rather than having a dig then we might want to get those lumbering oafs at the back a few yards up the pitch. by the time the ball goes back there the space between the mids and backs is massive and the opposition press blocks the space.

GVE needs to get them up the park and at least make the next 'in' ball a lot easier than it is.


anyway what do i know im a 12 year old in his moms basement.

[lquiquer]

when the whole 'screener' position became 'cool' with makalele (and yes old farts theres prob an older example) he was there to win the ball then distribute to the proper mids.

over time it seems that the screener has now become two blokes who's primary task is there to win the ball.

the good teams still only used one yeah? (Lester with Kante, Barca with Busquets, Ausses with Grella, Jets with Stu)

would love to see the Jets go back to one screener (Ooga Booga) and play a proper mid like Brown next to him.

this poljak/ ooga booga combo aint working.

also, if we are gonna be more interested in continually 'recycling possession' rather than having a dig then we might want to get those lumbering oafs at the back a few yards up the pitch. by the time the ball goes back there the space between the mids and backs is massive and the opposition press blocks the space.

GVE needs to get them up the park and at least make the next 'in' ball a lot easier than it is.


anyway what do i know im a 12 year old in his moms basement.

Good call Plague.....I'm a fan of the 4-1-3-2
When all fully fit I could see the following line up:
Duncan
Cowburn-Boogs-Mullen-Vuj
Super Ugar
Hoole-Brown-Nabbout
Kokko- Clut

Haliti-Nords-Jackson-Poljack-Keeper

[StannyCFCJET]

Good call Plague.....I'm a fan of the 4-1-3-2
When all fully fit I could see the following line up:
Duncan
Cowburn-Boogs-Mullen-Vuj
Super Ugar
Hoole-Brown-Nabbout
Kokko- Clut

Haliti-Nords-Jackson-Poljack-Keeper

This looks good. And i feel teams only need two screeners because the forward players dont work hard enough

[Hunter403]

Could not believe our starting team.
How could Hoff start wherehe did when there were better options for that role on the bench?
Why was Brown not central?

I would have started (considering injuries)
Duncan
Cowabunga, Boogs, Alphabet Kid, Ivan the Terrible
Clut, Super Ug, Brown, Haircut Hoole (mid diamond)
The Nob, The Kok.

The Nix conceded 6 last week. If we had pressured them early and dented their confidence they may have buckled. Instead we sat back and let them play themselves into form and confidence. Then when it wasn't working (clearly by halftime) our manager did nothing to change things.

I think Hoole and Clut would have worried them out wide. Hoff was the wrong choice. Brown is at his best in the centre and we need him bringing Nobby and Kokko into the game.

Nabout should have been rested.

[borat]

Good call Plague.....I'm a fan of the 4-1-3-2
When all fully fit I could see the following line up:
Duncan
Cowburn-Boogs-Mullen-Vuj
Super Ugar
Hoole-Brown-Nabbout
Kokko- Clut

Haliti-Nords-Jackson-Poljack-Keeper

This every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Super Ug was killing pre-season on this role. Jones has this obsession that packing defence is going to win us games. It's not, get over it.

[stopper2]

Could not believe our starting team.
How could Hoff start wherehe did when there were better options for that role on the bench?
Why was Brown not central?

I would have started (considering injuries)
Duncan
Cowabunga, Boogs, Alphabet Kid, Ivan the Terrible
Clut, Super Ug, Brown, Haircut Hoole (mid diamond)
The Nob, The Kok.

The Nix conceded 6 last week. If we had pressured them early and dented their confidence they may have buckled. Instead we sat back and let them play themselves into form and confidence. Then when it wasn't working (clearly by halftime) our manager did nothing to change things.

I think Hoole and Clut would have worried them out wide. Hoff was the wrong choice. Brown is at his best in the centre and we need him bringing Nobby and Kokko into the game.

Nabout should have been rested.

A good summisation of how things were played out. We sat back and let them dictate like we did against Sydney. Defending in numbers and then when we had the ball we gave it straight back to Nix as we were not set up in trying to play football in a positive manner.
It was better and more positive in the 2nd half only because we were down 2-0 early and had nothing to lose but to open up and start playing.

Our negative defensive mindset in the 1st half is summed up in the way Nobby, our #9, quite often at corners or free-kicks was guarding the back post. Ball pops out, we have no outlet and the ball goes straight back to the Nix.

[Jeterpool]

A few people have mentioned my thoughts on the game as well - particulary that Poljak seems at this stage to be too slow in the midfield to play the way we were when playing well earlier in the season. As an option he was either too far away or couldn't/wouldn't shake his marker to present himself as an option.

What is evident to me is that the press from our team has gone. In pre-season, round 1 and 2 we pressed really high and really fast but the same team are static and if they do press it's one person only. We could and should have been pressing the Nix in this area and a lack of personnel through injury isn't a reason for this not happening. The Nix certinaly did it to us!

Not only the absence of our press, but our ball movement was far too slow. The Nix could easily recover and press us.

I also agree we wasted Brown out wide. He should have been up there with Nordstrand and Hoole moved to the wide left where he has had some level of success this year.

Anyway, we've got a few days before we play again - a quick turnaround. Interesting to see what changes. I'm worried for Nabbout because he made a great impact when he came on - but I saw some grimances on his face during the match. I don't think he's 100% and we are risking him being out longer by bringing him back too quick.

[RAM]

Poljak is way too slow to be a starting central midfielder in this league. He doesn't have the stamina to play box to box and should be coming off the bench.

Our most effective midfielder and the person you want to be getting plenty of touches of the ball, is for some inexplicable reason stuck out on the right where he barely sees it. And to make matters worse, Brown isn't really that fast so could never get away from his marker even in space.

Nobby is not effective leading the line and should only be played as a no 10 or a second striker. He is also unfit at the moment which leaves us with very little movement up front.

Hoole is not a bad 10 but when you combine that with a 9 in Nobby who isn't moving about an awful lot, it's not pretty. We are left with very little movement resulting in long balls because there is no clear pass and no central striker to draw the defence in.

To me those are the major priblems with this team. Hoff, Vujica, Boogs all tried and Kouts did ok for his first senior start, but unless with fix the centre of the park it's never going to work.

Thank god we only have to wait another 6-8 weeks for Chinese Messi to get fit enough to sit on the bench

Poljak isn't a box to box midfielder.

He's a 6, and pretty good at it. Our shit forward line and lack of CBs/ shit GK is what hurts us

[RAM]

Clut brown and Uga in central of the park. Pick the rest of the team around them. They are your three best passers and hold possession the best. That has and always will be the problem that has surrounded this team. Can't link backs with forwards without a midfield.

I still think you need a ball winner. Can't have 3 ball players in a 3 man midfield imo

[RAM]

Good call Plague.....I'm a fan of the 4-1-3-2
When all fully fit I could see the following line up:
Duncan
Cowburn-Boogs-Mullen-Vuj
Super Ugar
Hoole-Brown-Nabbout
Kokko- Clut

Haliti-Nords-Jackson-Poljack-Keeper

Too thin for defensive cover when you consider our backline imo

Our backline is too shit for 1 holder. With our current squad we're better off playing on the counter with Nabbout and Hoole isolating defenders. Most of our chances have come from this.... if Kokko can hold the ball up and be a danger from set pieces and crosses then all the better.

[Wilso8948]

I still think you need a ball winner. Can't have 3 ball players in a 3 man midfield imo

As I've suggested before I feel Uga needs to be morphed into that ball winner. It's a waste picking poljak and Uga to do ultimately the same job.

[Wilso8948]

Too thin for defensive cover when you consider our backline imo

Our backline is too shit for 1 holder. With our current squad we're better off playing on the counter with Nabbout and Hoole isolating defenders. Most of our chances have come from this.... if Kokko can hold the ball up and be a danger from set pieces and crosses then all the better.
Problem is poljaks distribution is shithouse. When you win that ball the first thing you need to do is look wide and fast. Give Hoole and nabbout clear air.

[RAM]

Problem is poljaks distribution is shithouse. When you win that ball the first thing you need to do is look wide and fast. Give Hoole and nabbout clear air.

A 6 usually just hits a short pass to the 8 or 10 to do that... holders need to win the ball and play it simple, they're not playmakers unless you're playing with Pirlo and even then he's nothing like a 6.

[Jeterpool]

Poljak isn't a box to box midfielder.

He's a 6, and pretty good at it. Our shit forward line and lack of CBs/ shit GK is what hurts us

Agree he's not a box to box midfielder, but he appeared to struggle to keep up with the player he was challenging. I watched him really closely while watching is for a second time yesterday (under no influence of alcohol) in preparation for the pod tonight. His anticipation of the press, jockeying and abilty to pressure his player was off. Maybe it's still a sign of recovery from his hamstring injury, but if he's there as a ball winner, I feel he struggles with the explosive sprint to intercept and also doesn't have the positional sense to read the play to compensate for his speed.

[borat]

Poljak isn't a box to box midfielder.

He's a 6, and pretty good at it. Our shit forward line and lack of CBs/ shit GK is what hurts us

I get that, I am saying that's what I want to see from central midfield.

Ugarkovic is a far better option, distributes better and can push forward. We don't need 2 no 6's. We should either play with 1 or two 8's.

Poljak plays better coming off the bench IMO

[borat]

Agree he's not a box to box midfielder, but he appeared to struggle to keep up with the player he was challenging. I watched him really closely while watching is for a second time yesterday (under no influence of alcohol) in preparation for the pod tonight. His anticipation of the press, jockeying and abilty to pressure his player was off. Maybe it's still a sign of recovery from his hamstring injury, but if he's there as a ball winner, I feel he struggles with the explosive sprint to intercept and also doesn't have the positional sense to read the play to compensate for his speed.

It's like he is there or there about without ever really imposing himself. I honestly don't believe he has the stamina to be competitive for 90mins

[plague]

I like Poljak, i think he's a pretty good footballer. I like Ooga Booga, I think he's quality.
I don't like the combination of the 2.

[RAM]

I get that, I am saying that's what I want to see from central midfield.

Ugarkovic is a far better option, distributes better and can push forward. We don't need 2 no 6's. We should either play with 1 or two 8's.

Poljak plays better coming off the bench IMO

I disagree. I don't think we can afford the luxury of two no.10s if we play a 3 man midfield.

[RAM]

Agree he's not a box to box midfielder, but he appeared to struggle to keep up with the player he was challenging. I watched him really closely while watching is for a second time yesterday (under no influence of alcohol) in preparation for the pod tonight. His anticipation of the press, jockeying and abilty to pressure his player was off. Maybe it's still a sign of recovery from his hamstring injury, but if he's there as a ball winner, I feel he struggles with the explosive sprint to intercept and also doesn't have the positional sense to read the play to compensate for his speed.

Most 6s aren't quick. Not sure why you think that's important.

I think (as you said) he's a bit off. A bit out of form.

He's a good player, but he's had limited match time and injuries. He's a better footballer than Kanta as a holder IMO

[StannyCFCJET]

Most 6s aren't quick. Not sure why you think that's important.

I think (as you said) he's a bit off. A bit out of form.

He's a good player, but he's had limited match time and injuries. He's a better footballer than Kanta as a holder IMO

Being better than Kanta is not hard, He's close to the worst HAL player atm

[borat]

I disagree. I don't think we can afford the luxury of two no.10s if we play a 3 man midfield.

That's not what I am saying.

My preference is to play the formation that got this team performing in pre-season and play 442, with two central midfielders, 2 wingers who push high up the flanks and 2 strikers but one more advanced than the other.

To pull that off you need 2 x no 8's who can hold the ball, control it and play quality passes to feet. We have that in Brown and Ugarkovic.

We went away from this in round 2 and put Kanta there, then doubled down with Poljak. Neither these two can control the ball under high pressure. And the teams mentallity went back to a defensive mindset.

We don't want to be pushing forward relentlessly but we certainly don't want to be sitting back relying on our defence because it won't hold up

[RAM]

That's not what I am saying.

My preference is to play the formation that got this team performing in pre-season and play 442, with two central midfielders, 2 wingers who push high up the flanks and 2 strikers but one more advanced than the other.

To pull that off you need 2 x no 8's who can hold the ball, control it and play quality passes to feet. We have that in Brown and Ugarkovic.

We went away from this in round 2 and put Kanta there, then doubled down with Poljak. Neither these two can control the ball under high pressure. And the teams mentallity went back to a defensive mindset.

We don't want to be pushing forward relentlessly but we certainly don't want to be sitting back relying on our defence because it won't hold up

Fair enough. I don't like 442 but it did suit us better.

[Jeterpool]

Most 6s aren't quick. Not sure why you think that's important.

I think (as you said) he's a bit off. A bit out of form.

He's a good player, but he's had limited match time and injuries. He's a better footballer than Kanta as a holder IMO

Pace on it's own isn't what I was referring to, but he is slower than the players he's trying to defend, challenge, mark or gain an intercept ahead of. That's where my concern lies.

He missed a lot of the pre-season if I recall. Like Nordstrand, I think he's looking a bit under done.

[Wilso8948]

If Nobby isn't careful he'll slowly become Alivodic 2.0. I'd like to think he has more quality then that..

[Jeterpool]

If Nobby isn't careful he'll slowly become Alivodic 2.0. I'd like to think he has more quality then that..

I actually don't think we are playing a way to get the best out of him. We turn it over before he gets the chance to touch it.

What he did well for us on Sunday was draw fouls in attacking areas. He actually won 5 free kicks for us and managed to create the chance Hoffman missed. I can get the possible comparison (impressive mid-season recruit but struggles first full season) but agree he's too good for that comparison.

[Hunter403]

When we get Nobby on the ball we look a whole lot better. The problem is getting it to him before we turn it over again.

[borat]

When we get Nobby on the ball we look a whole lot better. The problem is getting it to him before we turn it over again.

He is just not fit enough, but I have my doubts that his body is up to 90mins anyway

[Hunter403]

He is just not fit enough, but I have my doubts that his body is up to 90mins anyway

He may not be fit enough and he might not last 90 minutes so that makes it even more important that we don't waste the time he is on the field. We have to get him on the ball.

[borat]

Listened to Jones comments this morning from the post match pressed. Straight out of his mouth, his halftime speech was one message "Don't concede".......

That will do me. This go couldn't coach Adelaide's NYL team and he sure as shit can't coach a HAL team. How the fark anyone could watch the first half and think the only problem was defence is beyond me.

[q-money]

is this bloke seriously going to drop ugarkovic to the bench? fmd

[Jeterpool]

is this bloke seriously going to drop ugarkovic to the bench? fmd

Has left me scratching my head too. Will tune in for the lols

[StannyCFCJET]

I cant wait to watch Cities midfield zoom past Poijak and Brown who arnt the fastest and then Jones come out after the game talking about how he maybe made a mistake or we need more urgency or speed in the middle. Then the following week play hoole and nabbout in the middle to add speed and power to the middle of the park ahaahahahaha

[DonPablo]

I cant wait to watch Cities midfield zoom past Poijak and Brown who arnt the fastest and then Jones come out after the game talking about how he maybe made a mistake or we need more urgency or speed in the middle. Then the following week play hoole and nabbout in the middle to add speed and power to the middle of the park ahaahahahaha
Could be worse. He could try playing Hoffman in midfield again.
2 goals as a striker at the Jets. Moves to Melbs. They see the error of our ways. Turn him into a RB. Then we bring him back and try him attacking again? Fml.

[borat]

I reckon Jones watched how Brisbane played last week and thinks we can do the same. Expect the biggest of buses to be parked and a tsunami of long balls

[StannyCFCJET]

I reckon Jones watched how Brisbane played last week and thinks we can do the same. Expect the biggest of buses to be parked and a tsunami of long balls

If the long balls are to Kokko or Nordstrands feet could work lol