16/17 HAL Round 17 | Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City | Fri 27th Jan 2017 7:50pm

[Jeterpool]

A-League 16/17 Round 17 Preview - Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City

FIXTURE FACTS

Overall – 19 matches between the two teams.
Jets Wins - 8, City Wins - 8, Drawn - 3


In Newcastle – 10 matches.
Jets Wins - 6, City Wins - 3, Drawn - 1
In Melbourne - 9 matches
Jets Wins - 2, City Wins - 5, Drawn - 2

Average Home A-League Crowd – 9654
Average Away A-League Crowd - 7002

Goals in Fixture
Jets – 29, City - 36
In Newcastle -
Jets – 17, City - 16

1st Goals in Fixture
Jets – 9, City - 10

Cards in Fixture
Jets - 58 (57 yellow, 1 red), City 32 (30 yellow, 2 red)

Recent Form (A-League)
Jets - DLWDL (5 points from last 15)
City - DDWLW (8 points from last 15)

Leading Scorers
Jets - Andrew Nabbout (5)
City – Bruno Fornaroli (11)

Last Result -
Newcastle Jets 1 (Nabbout 35') - Melbourne City 2 (Fornaroli 14', Fornaroli 27') at AAMI Park, A-League, Round 6, Season 2016/17

Starting line-ups from Last Meeting in Season 2016/17 Round 6

Newcastle JetsMelbourne City
Jack DuncanDean Bouzanis
Jason HoffmanIvan Franjic
John KoutroumbisOsama Malik
Nigel BoogaardMichael Jakobsen
Ivan VujicaManny Muscat
Wayne BrownNeil Kilkenny
Mateo PoljakAnthony Caceres
Morten NordstrandTim Cahill
Andrew NabboutBruce Kamau
Andrew HooleBruno Fornaroli
Aleksandr KokkoFernando Brandan



FIXTURE RECORDS


Biggest Win

Jets 3 (Goodwin 56’, Zadkovich 52’, R Griffith 87’ pen) – City 0, Round 19, Season 2011/12 at Hunter Stadium, 11/02/2012.

Heaviest Defeat

Jets 0 – City 4 (Jaliens 18', Novillo 47', Williams 63', Ramsay 87') at AAMI Park, A-League, Round 21, 14/03/2015 & Jets 0 - City 4 (Mooy 43', Fornaroli 56', Mooy 59', Fornaroli 62') at Hunter Stadium, A-League, Round 10, 13/12/15

Leading Scorers in fixture –


Jets - Ryan Griffiths (6)
City - Mate Dugandzic, Bruno Fornaroli (5)



2016/17 SEASON STATISTICS

NumberNameAppearancesStartsSubstitute AppearancesSubbed offMinutes PlayedGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed - Second BookableStraight Red
2Daniel Mullen651145400000
3Jason Hoffman151412123600100
4Nigel Boogaard11110195421300
5Ben Kantarovski752346401000
6Steven Ugarkovic151413121610400
7Andrew Hoole151500135041500
8Mateo Poljak151143106710100
9Aleksandr Kokko835324600000
10Wayne Brown141404117421400
11Labinot Haliti312011600000
12Andy Brennan21119500000
12Harrison Sawyer10101500000
13Ivan Vujica1091377500100
15Andrew Nabbout13121699853300
16Nick Cowburn131121103900000
18Ma Leilei936237710300
19Morten Nordstrand1293581431100
20Jack Duncan161600144000000
22Lachlan Jackson651142700000
23Devante Clut1578666312000
24Kristian Brymora1010600000
26Iain Fyfe330220500100
28John Koutroumbis1376070901400



COACHING

Coaches Head to Head – 0 matches
Mark Jones - 0 wins, Michael Valkanis - 0 wins, 0 drawn

Newcastle Jets A-League Coaching Records –

Mark Jones - 1 matches (0 wins, 0 drawn, 1 loss = 0% win ratio)
Scott Miller - 3 matches (2 wins, 0 drawn, 1 loss = 67% win ratio)
Phil Stubbins - 3 matches (0 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses = 0% win ratio)
Gary Van Egmond – 7 matches (3 wins, 1 drawn and 3 losses = 43% win ratio)
Richard Money - No matches
Branko Culina – 3 matches (1 win, 1 drawn, 1 loss = 33% win ratio)
Nick Theodorakopoulos - No matches
Craig Deans - 1 Match (1 win, 0 drawn, 0 losses = 100% win ratio)
Clayton Zane – 1 match (1 win, 0 drawn, 0 losses = 100% win ratio)

Melbourne City Coach Record – Michael Valkanis 0% win ratio (0 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses)




TALKING POINTS:


General

This fixture has never produced a 0-0 result.
On average, this fixture produces over 3 goals.
The last time these teams faced off on a Friday, the Jets came back from 2 down at half time to win.
Newcastle are 14 matches without keeping a clean sheet. Their record for consecutive matches without a clean sheet is 18.
Newcastle have won 3 matches during January over the last 5 seasons (20 matches).



Players

Bruno Fornaroli has scored 5 goals in his last 3 appearances against the Jets.
Wayne Brown and John Koutroumbis are one yellow card from an automatic 1 week suspension.
Harrison Sawyer became the 148th player to appear for the Jets in the A-League.
Nigel Boogaard made his 32nd appearance as captain last week, surpassing Matt Thompson (31). He is now the player with 3rd most appearances as captain.



Newcastle Jets

Newcastle have conceded the first goal in 13 of their last 14 matches.
The Jets have 1 additional point, when compared to the same point last season.
The Jets have claimed 2 wins from a losing position against City (Heart) - the equal most against any other A-League team.



Melbourne City

Michael Valkanis has faced the Jets only once as a head coach. He was temporary manager for Adelaide following the departure of John Kosmina.

[StannyCFCJET]

No red cards this season wow (**** i've jinxed it, sorry Boogs)

[Roundball Enthusiast]

Lose. Move on. Perth away and MelV at home, 0 points from 9 coming up in the next 3 weeks boys. (We might get 1 from Perth, if we play well and they don't)

This game will define our season, IMO.

[plague]

Draw.
0-0.
Turgid game.
Coffs goes home cranky.
Everywhere north of Williamtown hates the Jets.
Cahill to be the only player any of the crowd have heard of.

[MFKS]

Why this game on in the middle of butt **** no where??


Northern are a ****ing joke putting on this junket for themselves at the expense of Jets fans

****ing disgrace

[Hunter403]

Why this game on in the middle of butt **** no where??


Northern are a ****ing joke putting on this junket for themselves at the expense of Jets fans

****ing disgrace

What ****ing genius thought it was a good idea to take City to Coffs and not Perth or Wellington? Same kind of genius that thinks Griff didn't score the winner in the GF.

[hawk]

Why this game on in the middle of butt **** no where??


Northern are a ****ing joke putting on this junket for themselves at the expense of Jets fans

****ing disgrace

Protests were done and dusted 6 months ago. Most have moved on and are tripping up for a wild w/end. You can be SD's wingman

[RAM]

Why this game on in the middle of butt **** no where??


Northern are a ****ing joke putting on this junket for themselves at the expense of Jets fans

****ing disgrace

I suppose Kotara is the centre of the universe :wanker:

[MFKS]

Kotara is pretty central in Newy

So yeah it is centre of the universe

Being that this is my universe

[plague]

Kotara is pretty central in Newy

So yeah it is centre of the universe

Being that this is my universe

wrong.

the centre of the universe is wherever Griff is at any given time.

[Bon]

wrong.

the centre of the universe is wherever Griff is at any given time.

Praise Griff..

[hawk]

hey, this game can

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/12/01/00/3AE7EACD00000578-0-image-a-24_1480551101905.jpg

[evanhayes5]

watched training today, looks as if Hoff might play left back with Mullen at right back.

Hoole straight in out wide and LeiLei back to 10.

[StannyCFCJET]

watched training today, looks as if Hoff might play left back with Mullen at right back.

Hoole straight in out wide and LeiLei back to 10.

There goes any chance of a win!

[MFKS]

There goes any chance of a win!

We are a chance against these ****s if we defend well ourselves.

They have a great attack but are wide open exposed at the back


If we can get in the game we can roll them no doubts

[StannyCFCJET]

We are a chance against these ****s if we defend well ourselves.

They have a great attack but are wide open exposed at the back


If we can get in the game we can roll them no doubts

yeah but Hoff at LB and Mullen at RB, Jones is taking the piss if he does that

[Roundball Enthusiast]

We are a chance against these ****s if we defend well ourselves.

This coming from the team who haven't kept a clean sheet since Round 2. Against a woeful Brisbane side.

Yeahhhh... ok

[RAM]

Kotara is pretty central in Newy

So yeah it is centre of the universe

Being that this is my universe

:facepalm:

[Wilso8948]

Nothing like a spot of racism on a Wednesday arvo

[plague]

Nothing like a spot of racism on a Wednesday arvo

Man, Trump has only been in power 2 days and all of a sudden the purge has started.

[Jetmaster]

Words in jest........just words. But keep forgetting what sort of world we live in now.

[Wilso8948]

Please. I consider myself pretty far right. But I'd like to see you walk up to the nearest Polynesian and call them a <mod snip>. I've got plenty of mates who you could try it on

[hawk]

Please. I consider myself pretty far right. But I'd like to see you walk up to the nearest Polynesian and call them a <mod snip>. I've got plenty of mates who you could try it on

far right! rofl...pretty close to leftard stuff.

[furns]

Words in jest........just words. But keep forgetting what sort of world we live in now.
Mate whether it was in jest or not - it's a racist term. Unless you're Polynesian, it's not acceptable.
I've removed the references and am prepared to let it go this time being you're a long term forum user without issues in the past, but everyone can consider this a warning. It won't be tolerated.

[Jetmaster]

Agree - no.

Abide by the rules - but of course, humble apologies. We move on.

Don't want to be Membah 2.0

[MFKS]

Agree - no.

Abide by the rules - but of course, humble apologies. We move on.

Don't want to be Membah 2.0
Why bring me into it??

You ****ed up nothing to do with me here at all

[Wilso8948]

far right! rofl...pretty close to leftard stuff.
Forgot you know me personally
Pftt

[The Dunster]

Most of peoples perceptions of how race relations have changed overtime are based upon what they hear in the media - and nothing could be further from the truth.
In the 60's and 70's we pretty much all got along. I had koori mates, I had Islander mates, Asian, Maltese, Lebanese, Mauritian, French .. you name it - and it was very rare we ever made any reference to it - we simply didn't give a ****.
And when someone did say something offensive or out of line - blows were traded - you shook hands - and everyone moved on.
Today, it's all been hyped out of proportion how everyone's so much more tolerant but I certainly see no evidence of it.

Incarceration, poverty, health - none of this is improving - and it's probably because we concentrate on such minor issues as language rather than the previously mentioned bigger issues.

In saying that though using the said term implies that an Islander has abandoned their own beliefs and customs in exchange for those of their colonial oppressors.
You wouldn't have said it in the 60's or 70's and you wouldn't say it now. It's the equivalent to the Uncle Tom slur - which will get you killed in the US.

[Jeterpool]

Thought I was on the death matchthread...
Interesting to see Kokko has been left at home.

[plague]

Interesting to see Kokko has been left at home.

Jones getting him better by not playing him.
Foolproof strategy so far this year.
Blokes a genius.

[The Dunster]

Jones getting him better by not playing him.
Foolproof strategy so far this year.
Blokes a genius.

It's yer basic Everett version of Quantum Mechanics . Sits on bench in one dimension but scores six against Sydney FC in a parallel universe.

Genius indeed.

[Wilso8948]

Dunster will quickly touch on your said point before I move on. Have plenty of Polynesian mates. All of which would belt the **** out of me if I decided to start calling them said name. Nothing to do with my perceptions in media.
I do however agree with most of what you wrote. Was probably just a bit defensive for said mates.
Moving on.

[MFKS]

What time is the Motocross on this weekend and do they still have tickets??

[steve136]

Love the game plan today - let them have all the ball and don't put any pressure on them. This will go well I reckon.

[MFKS]

Love the game plan today - let them have all the ball and don't put any pressure on them. This will go well I reckon.

It not the worse tactic if you vigorously pressure them 30m from your goal everytime


Problem is we don't do it we still jockey too much

[plague]

Tell me you all heard that bozo in the crowd yell "you're a winger, be a winger" to Hoole who dared to make a central run.

Go the Jets.

[plague]

Chinese messi is here to save us!!!!!!!!

[steve136]

It not the worse tactic if you vigorously pressure them 30m from your goal everytime


Problem is we don't do it we still jockey too much

True, that's kinda what I was trying to get at. Dangerous giving such quality players space in dangerous areas. But we're 1-0 so what the f*ck do I know

[plague]

Jets gonna get like $70m for the transfer fee for Chinese Griff.

PAY ME MY MONEY BITCH!!!!

[MFKS]

Was that Chinese Messi spraying that past to Nabbout??

[plague]

I'm legit if we keep Ooga Booga and Asian Griff I'm buying season tickets next year don't @ me.

[plague]

Was that Chinese Messi spraying that past to Nabbout??

Only one in our team capable.

[MFKS]

How good is Raheem Sterling at falling down???


Soon as he feels the slightest contact he goes down quicker than a whore in Isso park if your waving a fistful of fifties at her

[MFKS]

I'm legit if we keep Ooga Booga and Asian Griff I'm buying season tickets next year don't @ me.

And Millertime didn't want to work with the Chinese Messi

Reckoned he wasn't good enough for us

5
5
5

[steve136]

And Millertime didn't want to work with the Chinese Messi

Reckoned he wasn't good enough for us

5
5
5

One moment of brilliance and 44 minutes of averageness from Chinese Messi. We'll certainly take the assist every day of the week but let's not pretend he's that good.

[MFKS]

One moment of brilliance and 44 minutes of averageness from Chinese Messi. We'll certainly take the assist every day of the week but let's not pretend he's that good.

You do realise he on a different wave length to our players??
He physically piss weak

But give him time and space on the ball and he our most talented player by a long long way


Up to the coach and his teammates to get the bloke time on the ball and space and then run

He has the vision to see them and pick them out

[Wilso8948]

Credit to Jackson boogard and poljak for that half

[MFKS]

On another note

Poljak and Stevie U??

Are they ****ing.playing??


They get the slightest bit of control in midfield occasionally this coming half and we will put 3/4 past Heart


Perfect reason that first half why Poljak shouldn't be signed again

Stevie U needs someone much better to play with in the centre

[Roundball Enthusiast]

How good is Raheem Sterling at falling down???


Soon as he feels the slightest contact he goes down quicker than a whore in Isso park if your waving a fistful of fifties at her

You'd know better than any of us about waving $$ at Isso lasses.

[steve136]

You do realise he on a different wave length to our players??
He physically piss weak

But give him time and space on the ball and he our most talented player by a long long way


Up to the coach and his teammates to get the bloke time on the ball and space and then run

He has the vision to see them and pick them out

Idk man a couple times he had time and put in some garbage balls out wide when he should have played centrally or taken it himself. He does seem quite comfortable on the ball though so that's good to watch.

[Roundball Enthusiast]

On another note

Poljak and Stevie U??

Are they ****ing.playing??


They get the slightest bit of control in midfield occasionally this coming half and we will put 3/4 past Heart


Perfect reason that first half why Poljak shouldn't be signed again

Stevie U needs someone much better to play with in the centre

1385

Tell us more how Ugar isn't playing? :lulzturtle:

:popcorn:

[Roundball Enthusiast]

Hoole with another assist.

Nabout continues his fantastic form

[boz-monaut]

I'm in the weird position of watching this game on Foxtel Go, while at my folks house

they live a few doors down from Griffo

I heard their cheers a few seconds before the goal went in, due to the delay on Foxtel Go

if only all of life's better moments could be foretold in this manner

[furns]

Btw just in case you didn't realise - that was Stevies fifth yellow of the season. So he gets a week off.

[plague]

Btw just in case you didn't realise - that was Stevies fifth yellow of the season. So he gets a week off.

Awesome.
Jones' players get so much better on the bench.
He'll be the second coming of Chairman Wow when he returns.

[weston]

I actually expected Nordstrand to score that.

[halo se7en]

Lol this ref is hopeless 😂

[plague]

Hoole has been great.
Again.
Fight me.

[steve136]

Hoole has been great.
Again.
Fight me.

Agreed. Great game tonight.

[steve136]

Nordstrand blowing that one on one might hurt us tonight. Dumb penalty.

[Roundball Enthusiast]

I actually expected Nordstrand to score that.

It was going wide before the block...

[steve136]

How'd you like that MFKS from Lei Lei? Class above...

[MFKS]

How'd you like that MFKS from Lei Lei? Class above...

Laughing my arse off

Bloke tried taking the piss rather than trying to wrap up the game


The look on Jones face when he hooked him though

5
5
5

[weston]

It was going wide before the block...

I had visions of him slotting it home with his right around the keeper. Really not sure why he changed foot etc.

[goaliepersempre]

WOW there you have hoole

[plague]

I want an enquiry into this dodgy pitch.
Cost us a couple of goals.

[plague]

WOW there you have hoole
85 mins in you found your voice.

Congrats.

[steve136]

I want an enquiry into this dodgy pitch.
Cost us a couple of goals.

And into this dodgy ref

[plague]

Johnny K is our best #10.
Sign him up Middleby

[goaliepersempre]

85 mins in you found your voice.

Congrats.

haha at work, took an early lunch and could only tune in then....

[monz6]

Jones didn't play kokko and we won a home game not in newi fold the club now

[monz6]

Also Hoole was out and we didn't win and he comes back and we do. A match winning assist. Brilliant

[The Dunster]

The effort by all our players tonight to win the ball was very impressive all over the park.
Melb City look a much better team without Cahill who is probably the most overpaid player in professional sport. He doesn't produce on the park and he's hardly drawing in big crowds either.
For the $4m or what ever it is they are paying him they could do a lot better in other areas like defence.
For us I thought Nabbout, Hoole, and Messi were good as well as Jackson and Boogs.

[Wilso8948]

**** member open your eyes mate. I'm the first to rag on poljak but the bloke was immense tonight. He does so much dog work. A lot goes unnoticed. Probably by people like yourself

[q-money]

how good is it that even when we win a game the battle rages on in "cyberspace".

Nabbout is a deadset warrior, on griff trajectory here

[plague]

Hows Matt Thompson being all chummy with that gypo **** Heffernan on the telly.

Thompson is the biggest discrace to ever buy a Jets shirt.

**** Matt Thompson.
**** Middleby.
and **** Flume.

[lquiquer]

Shame Kokko wasn't on the pitch instead of Noddy.... I think it would have been a good game for him to earn his money.
In saying that (and I didn't pick on that before), I noticed even after scoring zillions of goals in Finland he actually never played for Finland....

[MFKS]

**** member open your eyes mate. I'm the first to rag on poljak but the bloke was immense tonight. He does so much dog work. A lot goes unnoticed. Probably by people like yourself

Maybe it is you that needs to open your eyes.

If he actually positioned himself well he would gain possession of the ball more.
Then we get more ball
Then we threaten the opposition more
Then our defence ain't under the pump so much

It all just flows from the central midfield actually getting control of the game in a much better manner than we are currently doing



But no you think Poljak needs praise for running around all day chasing the ****ing ball when if he done his job in the first place he doesn't chase it so much


If we want a headless chook who runs all day sign Rhyan Grant and play him in a CM
Same result as Poljak and Grant has better engines

[lquiquer]

Hows Matt Thompson being all chummy with that gypo **** Heffernan on the telly.

Thompson is the biggest discrace to ever buy a Jets shirt.

**** Matt Thompson.
**** Middleby.
and **** Flume.
Matt Thompson was one of the most over rated player in HAL history

[plague]

Matt Thompson was one of the most over rated player in HAL history

People rated him?

Mongs.

[MFKS]

Hows Matt Thompson being all chummy with that gypo **** Heffernan on the telly.

Thompson is the biggest discrace to ever buy a Jets shirt.

**** Matt Thompson.
**** Middleby.
and **** Flume.
They both been playing and coaching at Maitland in the NPL

[lquiquer]

I shall admit Hoffman was solid tonight... :grin:

[plague]

They both been playing and coaching at Maitland in the NPL

I've just forwarded this to President Trump. At least he now knows where to land the first nuke.

[Imyourhero]

We're gunna win the league

[StannyCFCJET]

What does Jones see in Sawyer that he didnt see in Kokko, bloke has no pace looked buggered after 10 mins and I couldnt tell what position he was playing cause he was walking in different areas everytime i saw him

[Hunter403]

Gotta love "Crazy Eyes" Nabbout

[seldom]

The effort by all our players tonight to win the ball was very impressive all over the park.
Melb City look a much better team without Cahill who is probably the most overpaid player in professional sport. He doesn't produce on the park and he's hardly drawing in big crowds either.
For the $4m or what ever it is they are paying him they could do a lot better in other areas like defence.
For us I thought Nabbout, Hoole, and Messi were good as well as Jackson and Boogs.

Mate you mustn't have stayed for his Pressers after their wins. Apparently Fornaroli only looks good because of his presence. Bloke's turned me off him big time. The Anthony Mundine of Football. Refs seem to like him tho.

[Hunter403]

What does Jones see in Sawyer that he didnt see in Kokko, bloke has no pace looked buggered after 10 mins and I couldnt tell what position he was playing cause he was walking in different areas everytime i saw him

Younger and cheaper.

[hawk]

fk me, 3pts at fortress Coffs. well done.

[Retro Jet]

What does Jones see in Sawyer that he didnt see in Kokko, bloke has no pace looked buggered after 10 mins and I couldnt tell what position he was playing cause he was walking in different areas everytime i saw him

Slow as a wet week and honkin' on the ball. Might have been the deer in headlights factor though.
Also, wonder if he's gonna get the Peter Crouch tag?
If he scores headers and pulls dreadlocks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJrHkMc5_J8)...

[Wilso8948]

Maybe it is you that needs to open your eyes.

If he actually positioned himself well he would gain possession of the ball more.
Then we get more ball
Then we threaten the opposition more
Then our defence ain't under the pump so much

It all just flows from the central midfield actually getting control of the game in a much better manner than we are currently doing



But no you think Poljak needs praise for running around all day chasing the ****ing ball when if he done his job in the first place he doesn't chase it so much


If we want a headless chook who runs all day sign Rhyan Grant and play him in a CM
Same result as Poljak and Grant has better engines

You're off ya head. Which isn't news to anybody. Poljak won tackle after tackle. His composure this year has really come of age and has been one of the best at playing out from the back. When he plays shit please bag him out but give the guy a break he did so much work last night.
You mentioned during the Perth game the other week when Castro was tearing up out wide he should be there. Then also in the mids. He did exactly this tonight. Him and uga was the second men in to help out wide. Plus they screened Brattan and Kilkenny really well. They were everywhere but in your opinion they are headless chooks..

Genuine question. Have you ever pulled on a set of boots and played the game at competitive level??? Please I'd really like to know.

[MFKS]

You're off ya head. Which isn't news to anybody. Poljak won tackle after tackle. His composure this year has really come of age and has been one of the best at playing out from the back. When he plays shit please bag him out but give the guy a break he did so much work last night.
You mentioned during the Perth game the other week when Castro was tearing up out wide he should be there. Then also in the mids. He did exactly this tonight. Him and uga was the second men in to help out wide. Plus they screened Brattan and Kilkenny really well. They were everywhere but in your opinion they are headless chooks..

Genuine question. Have you ever pulled on a set of boots and played the game at competitive level??? Please I'd really like to know.

Yes I have played football for what is now an NPL club


So how much control of that game do you think we actually had??

Sure as shit we parked the bus and hit on the counter and had a lot of success at doing it.
We scored 2 but we butchered 3
Hoole
Chinese Messi Chip shot to Nordstrand's head
Nordstrand


That 3 we clear as day murdered

Lets not forget however many we butchered as we ****ed ourselves up in the lead up due to our players being well shit


We should have had another half dozen chances in that game easy if our Central Midfield actually had any degree of control in the midfield area.

Hey I not asking to dominate the midfield battle but I talking about improving our level of control and influence in this area of the park.


The reason I say this is because every single time we won the ball and got a couple of passes away we were away. Brattan and Kilkenny were almost ineffective in their roles in defence


This is where our midfield needs to be dramatically improving

Getting a greater degree of control in this part of the pitch will see us more successful at both ends of the park


You can fap on all you like about running and tackling and all that shit. But you are overlooking the main issue here.

If Poljak were good enough in the centre of park in the first place he ain't doing anywhere near as much running and tackling as Poljak has to do.

He runs all day and tackles all day because he offers very little else.

Don't let that confuse you and make you think that makes him good at his role


As for your comments on passing out from the back. Did we play out from the back last night?? NOPE
The tactic was clear as day to get it forward quickly

[rhysd]

Really don't know what you are babbling on about. As if sides haven't worked out that City cannot actually play it beyond the final man.

For all their possession and grafting, they achieved what? A penalty?

They will provide excuses about travel etc but that squad they had out there was filled with expensive players.

Who cares if we didn't play out from the back like we have done on most occasions this season and just recently?

I love the fact we took a pragmatic view to to game rather than just playing a 'style' of football. Soak up the pressure, hit them hard with our lightning counters. When did counter attack football become a bad thing? We all expect to be Barcelona now?

Poljak and Ugarkovic were immense. They covered a lot of ground last night and provided a platform for the victory.

In all of the "controlling" Melbourne city did in the game, Newcastle had the 5 best chances of the game. If we tried to "control" the game it would have given city too much time to get men back behind the ball.

Make clear chances, convert a fair percentage of them and that is how you win football games.

Jones had a clear vision, made his team believe in it and they succeeded. They were not the inferior team, but the superior team who executed a game plan to near on perfection.

Well done jets, and poljak!

[The Dunster]

I lost count of how many times Poljak and Ugarkovic stole the ball from a Melb City player last night to break down an attack.

[plague]

Members got a point.
I don't think he's explaining it very well though.
Luckily I speak 'Member' so I get ya homie.

[Jetmaster]

We won ffs.

Anyone else at the Stade de Banana? Thoughts....was a bit of a dogs breakfast really. Active support was a flat bit of roped off grass with a sign. Good atmos though.

[Jetmaster]

Mate you mustn't have stayed for his Pressers after their wins. Apparently Fornaroli only looks good because of his presence. Bloke's turned me off him big time. The Anthony Mundine of Football. Refs seem to like him tho.

After the game Timmeh walked out to something akin to Beatlemania.

Bruno walked out and nobody took any notice of him while he stood watching the mayhem. After a few minuted some kids went and asked for a photo.

[parksey]

Can we play there every week?

[Wilso8948]

Memba what you're saying is that if poljak is any good he doesn't lose the ball and have to run and tackle etc. so you're forgetting the bunch of other players out there losing it as well that he has to cover? You're expecting him to play like Xavi in a team full of half tards.
You listed a bunch of chances.. all of which were created from winning the ball and moving well in transition. All of these chances broke down in the final third and all weren't converted due to poor finishing.. what else do you want him to do with that?
You mentioned we should have more chances then go on to mention that we murdered 3 clear cut opportunities? Wtf.
You're shooting yourself in the foot.
I'm not saying he's the long term saviour in that DM role but it's what we have now and he's doing a decent job. Give him credit. He was immense last night.
Do I think we need more quality in our mids? Of course! You always want better players. But to say he was shit last night is obsured. Other then bradnans header when else were they totally threatening?
I'm not disagreeing with you when you say we need to improve the quality of our squad but I am totally disagreeing with you when you say he was poor last night

[R Ramjet]

What does Jones see in Sawyer that he didnt see in Kokko, bloke has no pace looked buggered after 10 mins and I couldnt tell what position he was playing cause he was walking in different areas everytime i saw him

This

[MFKS]

Really don't know what you are babbling on about. As if sides haven't worked out that City cannot actually play it beyond the final man.

For all their possession and grafting, they achieved what? A penalty?

They will provide excuses about travel etc but that squad they had out there was filled with expensive players.

Who cares if we didn't play out from the back like we have done on most occasions this season and just recently?

I love the fact we took a pragmatic view to to game rather than just playing a 'style' of football. Soak up the pressure, hit them hard with our lightning counters. When did counter attack football become a bad thing? We all expect to be Barcelona now?

Poljak and Ugarkovic were immense. They covered a lot of ground last night and provided a platform for the victory.

In all of the "controlling" Melbourne city did in the game, Newcastle had the 5 best chances of the game. If we tried to "control" the game it would have given city too much time to get men back behind the ball.

Make clear chances, convert a fair percentage of them and that is how you win football games.

Jones had a clear vision, made his team believe in it and they succeeded. They were not the inferior team, but the superior team who executed a game plan to near on perfection.

Well done jets, and poljak!

Controlling a game of football isn't about having the most possession.

It is about being allowing the opposition what you want them to have and denying them what they want


How was our control of that match the other night for a side parking the bus and playing on the counter???

Result aside it wasn't even close to a 10/10 park the bus snatch and grab effort

If a couple of Heart players turned up we ain't winning it

Our attacking was not as good as it could have been and our defending was desperate but not exactly comfortable and controlling


You want to see control watch Italy play at a major tournament

You want to see control at club level think Mourinhios teams parking the bus.

It ain't expansive but they are in control of the game even if they dominating play /possession

[cobra23]

You're off ya head. Which isn't news to anybody. Poljak won tackle after tackle. His composure this year has really come of age and has been one of the best at playing out from the back. When he plays shit please bag him out but give the guy a break he did so much work last night.
You mentioned during the Perth game the other week when Castro was tearing up out wide he should be there. Then also in the mids. He did exactly this tonight. Him and uga was the second men in to help out wide. Plus they screened Brattan and Kilkenny really well. They were everywhere but in your opinion they are headless chooks..

Genuine question. Have you ever pulled on a set of boots and played the game at competitive level??? Please I'd really like to know.

Have you ever played at a competetive level?? not stocko reserve either
Just curious not trying to stir you up!!!

[borat]

[/B]

Have you ever played at a competetive level?? not stocko reserve either
Just curious not trying to stir you up!!!

Always love this pissing contest. Usually the person who asks is the one drastically over rating their ability/playing level.

I mean Slater played EPL so he must be at genius level of analysing a game.......

[Wilso8948]

[/B]

Have you ever played at a competetive level?? not stocko reserve either
Just curious not trying to stir you up!!!
Stocko 1sts for a few years would be the highest I've played. Would this be seen as competitive?
In my opinion it's no NPL comp but it still gives me a rough idea of what's needed on a technical level and my point was that poljak during that last game performed well in his role.
I worry that some arm chair experts do not notice a majority of work he does. There was many times during the previous game that he made a tackle, stuck a foot in, or made an interception that a player on the same team would greatly appreciate. I know what it's like to have people like this in your team. The ones that do that role and gives the rest of the team a lift. Whether this is noticed by the crowd or viewers at home is a different story.
Is that clarifying my point?

[plague]

Always love this pissing contest. Usually the person who asks is the one drastically over rating their ability/playing level.

I mean Slater played EPL so he must be at genius level of analysing a game.......

i once received a ribbon for doing ever so well at a running event.

MO FARAH IS OVERRATED!!!!!!!!

[WolfMan]

Stocko 1sts for a few years would be the highest I've played. Would this be seen as competitive?
In my opinion it's no NPL comp but it still gives me a rough idea of what's needed on a technical level and my point was that poljak during that last game performed well in his role.
I worry that some arm chair experts do not notice a majority of work he does. There was many times during the previous game that he made a tackle, stuck a foot in, or made an interception that a player on the same team would greatly appreciate. I know what it's like to have people like this in your team. The ones that do that role and gives the rest of the team a lift. Whether this is noticed by the crowd or viewers at home is a different story.
Is that clarifying my point?

If you don't already, you should listen to the Jetstream podcast. At least one of the hosts will draw attention to this often overlooked "grunt work".

Disclaimer - I am sometimes a co-host

[rhysd]

Controlling a game of football isn't about having the most possession.

It is about being allowing the opposition what you want them to have and denying them what they want


How was our control of that match the other night for a side parking the bus and playing on the counter???

Result aside it wasn't even close to a 10/10 park the bus snatch and grab effort

If a couple of Heart players turned up we ain't winning it

Our attacking was not as good as it could have been and our defending was desperate but not exactly comfortable and controlling


You want to see control watch Italy play at a major tournament

You want to see control at club level think Mourinhios teams parking the bus.

It ain't expansive but they are in control of the game even if they dominating play /possession

I did reply to this but for some reason the forum was down.

Sat deep and restricted Melbourne city to a penalty. Apart from kamau effort, the best chances of the game fell to us. To say that we could have scored 4 or 5 is not an understatement.

If we played the same "Italian" slow build up play, we would not have fashioned those chances.

Football is about transition. Possession/control is a statistic which means bugger all really.

We played to our strengths, played a tactic against a side we knew it would work against and we got the spoils. We played a different style of football against Perth in Perth and got the 3 pts there too.

There is no pleasing everybody.

[Macca]

Possession isn't a meaningless stat. But I do chuckle when I see commentators and pundits etc looking at it and saying Team A has dominated the game with say 55% possession. Really? If a teams up around 65-70+ then you start thinking that maybe it was a one way show but even then it tells you nothing about the quality of possession. A lot of smart people are trying pretty hard to be able to quantify the game and I don't doubt that in 10 years there'll probably be some quality statistics available that somewhat represent the game. But for now, football really is pretty hard to abbreviate to numbers.

Even the "balls into attacking 18" stat which you would think is getting closer to the mark. City had a shitload of those against us cause they just hoofed crosses in aimed at noone in particular all night that were for the most part handled quite comfortably.

[Jetmaster]

My favourite stats of all time....

http://blogimages.thescore.com/counterattack/files/2012/11/CelticBarcelonastats-590x342.jpg

A big "FU" to ticka tacka.

Only one stat matters - the top one.

[Macca]

You're not wrong. However, if playing the odds, you would have to say you would rather be on the 89% possession side than not.

You can lose a hand of poker while having a straight flush. But if someone offers it to you at the start of the hand you'd take it.

[WolfMan]

You're not wrong. However, if playing the odds, you would have to say you would rather be on the 89% possession side than not.

You can lose a hand of poker while having a straight flush. But if someone offers it to you at the start of the hand you'd take it.

What a brilliant analogy. Well done