17/18 HAL Round 07 | Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets | Sat 18th Nov 2017 7:50pm

[Jeterpool]

A-League 2017/18 Round 7 Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets

FIXTURE FACTS

Overall – 38 matches between the two teams.
Jets Wins - 6, FC Wins - 24, Drawn - 8


In Newcastle – 19 matches.
Jets Wins - 3, FC Wins - 12, Drawn - 4
In Sydney - 19 matches
Jets Wins - 3, FC Wins - 12, Drawn - 4

Average Home A-League Crowd – 12260
Average Away A-League Crowd - 14254

Goals in Fixture
Jets – 35, FC - 61
In Sydney -
Jets – 18, FC - 31

1st Goals in Fixture
Jets – 10, FC - 25

Cards in Fixture
Jets - 69 (66 yellow, 3 red), FC 74 (67 yellow, 7 red)

Recent Form (A-League)
Jets - DWDWW (11 point from last 15)
FC - WDWWL (10 points from last 15)

Leading Scorers
Jets - Roy O'Donovan (7)
FC – Bobo (4)

Last Result -
Newcastle Jets 0 - Sydney FC 2 (Ninkovic 56', Brosque 87') at Allianz Stadium, A-League, Round 27, Season 2016/17

Starting line-ups from Last Meeting in Season 2016/17 Round 27

Newcastle JetsSydney FC
Jack DuncanDaniel Vukovic
Jason HoffmanRhyan Grant
Daniel MullenAlex Wilkinson
Lachlan JacksonJordy Buijs
Ivan VujicaMichael Zullo
Ben KantarovskiBrandon O'Neill
Steven UgarkovicJoshua Brillante
Wayne BrownMilos Ninkovic
Andrew HooleFilip Holosko
Andrew NabboutAlex Brosque
Morten NordstrandBobo



FIXTURE RECORDS


Biggest Win

Jets 5 (Topor-Stanley 22’, Zadkovich 29’, Brockie 38’, Brockie 87’, Abbas 90’) – Sydney FC 2 (Moriyasu 47’, Beauchamp 71’), Round 7, Season 2011/12 at Sydney Football Stadium, 05/02/2012.

Heaviest Defeat

Jets 0 – Sydney FC 4 (Brosque 13’, Brosque 40’, Milligan 76 og’, Bridge 85’), Round 21, Season 2008/09 at Sydney Football Stadium, 25/01/2009.

Leading Scorers in fixture –


Jets - Milton Rodriguez, Ryan Griffiths, Jeremy Brockie, Michael Bridges, Jobe Wheelhouse (3)
FC - Alex Brosque (12)



2017/18 SEASON STATISTICS

NumberNameAppearancesStartsSubstitute AppearancesSubbed offMinutes PlayedGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed - Second BookableStraight Red
1Jack Duncan660054000000
3Jason Hoffman321025700200
4Nigel Boogaard660054000100
5Ben Kantarovski660253320200
6Steven Ugarkovic660153400100
7Dimitri Petratos660253032000
8Ronald Vargas330319701000
9Roy O'Donovan660054071300
10Wayne Brown624220500100
12Mario Shabow2020900000
13Ivan Vujica660153101300
15Andrew Nabbout660548623200
16Nick Cowburn30303400000
17Daniel Georgievski440128300200
18John Koutroumbis1010200000
19Kosta Petratos10101300000
20Glen Moss0000000000
22Lachlan Jackson1010900000
23Devante Clut0000000000
24Joe Champness615115711100
44Nikolai Topor-Stanley660054000100



COACHING

Coaches Head to Head – 0 matches
Ernie Merrick - 0 wins, Graham Arnold - 0 wins, 0 drawn

Newcastle Jets A-League Coaching Records –

Ernie Merrick - 0 matches (0 wins, 0 drawn, 0 losses = N/A% win ratio)
Mark Jones - 3 matches (0 win, 0 drawn, 3 losses = 0% win ratio)
Scott Miller - 3 matches (0 win, 0 drawn, 3 losses = 0% win ratio)
Phil Stubbins - 3 matches (0 win, 1 draw, 2 losses = 0% win ratio)
Gary Van Egmond – 18 match (4 wins, 3 drawn and 11 losses = 22% win ratio)
Richard Money – 3 matches (1 wins, 2 drawn, 0 loss = 33% win ratio)
Branko Culina – 6 matches (1 win, 4 drawn, 1 loss = 17% win ratio)
Nick Theodorakopoulos – 1 match (0 wins, 1 drawn, 0 losses = 0% win ratio)
Craig Deans - No matches
Clayton Zane – 1 match (0 wins, 0 drawn, 1 loss = 0% win ratio)

Sydney FC Coach Record – Graham Arnold 63% win ratio (12 wins, 5 drawn, 2 losses)




TALKING POINTS:


General

Sydney FC have taken 35 from a possible 39 points in the last 13 fixtures against the Jets.
The Jets have scored in one match against Sydney in the last 4 seasons.
The Jets last win in Sydney was a 3-2 match in 2012. It was the Heskey v Del Piero match, when Del Piero made his home debut.
Sydney have defeated Newcastle in the last 8 matches, scoring 15 goals to 3.
Second halves have been an issue for the Jets in this fixture. Of the 21 Sydney goals scored in the last 4 seasons, 18 have been conceded in the second half. 10 of these goals have been in the 15 minutes after half time.



Key Stats from Previous Round

The Jets sit atop the A-League for the 3rd time in their history and the second time this season. It's the first time they have been outright leaders and outside the first round of the competition.
The Jets won a 3rd straight away game for the first time in their history.
It is currently the best start to an A-League match in the club's history.
Newcastle have conceded in the 2nd half once this season.
The Jets have scored in 6 consecutive games.
The Jets are now 1 win from equalling the number of wins they achieved last season.



Players

Milos Ninkovic has scored in his last 3 matches against the Jets.
Alex Brosque has scored 6 goals his last 6 appearances against the Jets.
Jason Hoffman will this weekend enter the Top 10 A-League appearances for the Jets. He will make his 83rd appearance, equal with the Joel Griffiths.
4 players are yet to miss a minute of play for the Jets this season, while another 4 have missed just 10 minutes of play.
Ivan Vujica and Roy O'Donovan have already received 3 bookings this season. They are 2 from a week suspension.



Newcastle Jets

Three of the Jets' last 5 goals against Sydney have been penalties.
The Jets have scored the first goal in an away fixture once since the beginning of last season. That was Roy O'Donovan's goal against the Roar.
A win would be the 8th time the Jets have won 3 consecutive matches.
A win or draw will equal the Jets record of 7 matches undefeated - achieved twice before, the last time v Gold Coast United in 2010.
The Jets last drew an away fixture on 23/10/2016, a 2-2 draw with Western Sydney.



Sydney FC

Sydney have kept 3 clean sheets so far this season, however have conceded 2 goals in each of the other 3 matches.
Sydney will play Adelaide United in the FFA Cup Final in the middle of next week.

[MFKS]

I do like the stat about how we have scored in 6 straight matches etc

Didn't we go like 600 matches at the back end of the season last year without scoring and were on course to set some all time record ??

Did we get it or miss out after Roy snaked them past the Gypos ??

[Jeterpool]

I do like the stat about how we have scored in 6 straight matches etc

Didn't we go like 600 matches at the back end of the season last year without scoring and were on course to set some all time record ??

Did we get it or miss out after Roy snaked them past the Gypos ??

I am pretty sure we broke the NZ Knights record - we ended up with 629 minutes without a goal. It beat our previosu best under Miller of 566 minutes.

We conceded 20 goals without scoring and loss 6 in a row.

All started once Gillett sent Hoffman off against the Roar.

[Bon]

I particularly like "The Jets are now 1 win from equalling the number of wins they achieved last season."

Yeah nah, but Jones was great... Right Membah? :gent:

[plague]

Time for my traditional bet on Sydney.

Works every time.

I’ll be over here counting my cash if anyone needs me.

[MFKS]

Time for my traditional bet on Sydney.

Works every time.

I’ll be over here counting my cash if anyone needs me.

Don't forget to take Brosque to score as well as a side bet

More cheese on your taco etc

[MFKS]

Jones signed Dimi
Jones signed Georgevski
Jones wad 9/10 of the way to signing Roy

Bloke obviously was given shit last season from Miller

[sorefootballer]

Who is this Jones character?

[plague]

Don't forget to take Brosque to score as well as a side bet

More cheese on your taco etc

Cheers boss.
Looks like I’ll need to hire another truck to bring home all dat paper.

[The Camel]

Jones signed Dimi
Jones signed Georgevski
Jones wad 9/10 of the way to signing Roy

Bloke obviously was given shit last season from Miller

Jones also extended Brown's contract

[Jeterpool]

Last year we broke the Perth hoodoo.

The year before, the Gosford hoodoo.

The Sydney hoodoo is being broken this weekend (sorry Plague and Plague's money)

[plague]

Last year we broke the Perth hoodoo.

The year before, the Gosford hoodoo.

The Sydney hoodoo is being broken this weekend (sorry Plague and Plague's money)

Nah, Plagues cash is going to a good cause, who the hell do you blokes think is paying for all these curse breakages?

[Jeterpool]

Nah, Plagues cash is going to a good cause, who the hell do you blokes think is paying for all these curse breakages?

I assumed it was Hawk. The bloke is rich enough

[plague]

I assumed it was Hawk. The bloke is rich enough

None of Hawks supermodels know how to work the TAB machine.

This is why Hawk is rich and I’m not.

[leftrightout]

Jones signed Dimi
Jones signed Georgevski
Jones wad 9/10 of the way to signing Roy

Bloke obviously was given shit last season from Miller

Only in your crazy mind can a manager who takes a team to a wooden spoon be better than a coach of an unbeaten team having their best ever start to a season...

[hawk]

ASX is overloaded, get on Sydney

[halo se7en]

Sydney nailed on to win 2-0. Our attack will forget to turn up and we're not so good at this clean sheet business. Brosque and Bobo to score.

[GrantB]

One all draw Roy to score.

[Tommyjet]

Sydney the win. Var to their rescue

[hawk]

One all draw Roy to score.

paying $4 as well

[Jeterpool]

paying $4 as well

Hopefully your supermodels work out how to use the TAB machine then. Printing money.

[Roundball Enthusiast]

Jones signed Dimi
Jones signed Georgevski
Jones wad 9/10 of the way to signing Roy

Bloke obviously was given shit last season from Miller

Jones didnt do shit. Its management who signs players. Remember? You said all this, not me.

[The Dunster]

I'm saying nothing about this game other than I'm saying nothing about this game.

[StannyCFCJET]

Jones didnt do shit. Its management who signs players. Remember? You said all this, not me.

Jones did do something? Took a team who were in the top 6 to the wooden spoon. Jones was out of his depth and the players knew it

[belchardo]

how long has it been since we've been involved in a top of the table clash?

[Jeterpool]

Probably season 3

[Jetmaster]

The away Gypo game where Holland and Griff scored.

[The Dunster]

how long has it been since we've been involved in a top of the table clash?

I heard the ad on SBS about the top of the table clash and immediately thought "this is bullshit why don't Jets games get televised". Then realised we are on top and it is us playing Sydney.

[MFKS]

I heard the ad on SBS about the top of the table clash and immediately thought "this is bullshit why don't Jets games get televised". Then realised we are on top and it is us playing Sydney.

I right in also saying that if we win tonight not only we stay too but we there for at least another week as it would open up a 1 game win advantage??

[belchardo]

I right in also saying that if we win tonight not only we stay too but we there for at least another week as it would open up a 1 game win advantage??

****in hell, yes you are!

8-0 loss nailed on now!!!!!

[Jetmaster]

Jets have history in blowing the big chance to stamp their authority, even in the days of Griff.

Will loose 1-3.

[StannyCFCJET]

Vandy on twitter saying O'Donovan is injured and will miss the game

[Retro Jet]

Vandy on twitter saying O'Donovan is injured and will miss the game

I'd love this to be an Arnold the Pig windup...

[The Dunster]

We can't win without Roy. Rather than risk injuries Ernie should turn the bus around and head for Newcastle. Alternatively, select a team of enforcers and just kick the shit out of Sydney and hope for the best.

[Roundball Enthusiast]

No Roy, no Joy. Lose 2-1, or 1-0.

[StannyCFCJET]

No brown either. Happy to see Clut on the bench though

[ForeverRed]

A minor groin injury ffs it's top of the table stuff, is there a sniff of offers elsewhere

[Retro Jet]

Joey n da HonkMann up front!
Good luck Bert. Go git em Joey.

Lokolingoy being 'unleashed'...from the bench.
Arnold = unmitigated idiot.

[Hunter403]

Dreadful start. Not sure we have strung 2 passes together and we are down a goal. Pathetic defensive effort that

[MFKS]

I leave the country and they turn to shit

[belchardo]

some prize chmp defending there.

joey champness, however, seems like he's up for it.

[Hunter403]

I leave the country and they turn to shit

No, just back to how we always play against the smurfs

[hawk]

Take a miracle for us to win. Shitney will be livid after last week. Put a mill on now gogogo

[MFKS]

No, just back to how we always play against the smurfs

There are strip clubs within a short walking distance

These ****s keep this up I gonna leave the idiot box and go watch the real show

[Retro Jet]

Take a miracle for us to win. Shitney will be livid after last week. Put a mill on now gogogo

Are you going to put a lazy mill on there Mr Hawk?
Your Mr Money bags...according to all and sundry on this Foz. :rof:

And if there's 1 Sh!tney try hard chant I hate, it's that fkn Yankey Doodle shit.
Some turds were trying to get it going in the active section Wed night.
Probably the same dickheads I saw turn up in club colours...ffs.

[westjet]

Love how for the goal fox show no replays showing how close bobo was to being offside. If that had been a jets goal pretty sure there would of been multiple views in the hope they could overturn it using the var.

[belchardo]

jets just letting the sydney players line up for shots at the moment.

[StannyCFCJET]

Need a flogging to bring us down to earth this is it

[Retro Jet]

Fmd...did youze see that brief shot of The Cave?
Fat Nerds FC x 100

[MFKS]

Will these Smurfs get another goal FFS

Want to go drink beer and watch tits

[Retro Jet]

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR714.loop.shtml#skip

Our friend 'puddle' to lend a hand?

[Hunter403]

Puddle warming up!

[Hunter403]

Duncan looks like man of the match so far

[Mark325]

Duncan looks like man of the match so far

just about to say duncan is keepin us in this right now

[Retro Jet]

And what a sh!t we conceded early. This rain a good leveler.

[belchardo]

regardless of what happens from here, duncan is nailed on for 3 points. been immense so far.

when we actually get the ball forward, we aren't doing too badly.

[Hunter403]

We look ok in attack but shaky in defense. Smurfs playing very well. They seen to be targeting Vujica

[Retro Jet]

"He f***en touched it" screamed down a ground mic.
Charming!

[weston]

"He f***en touched it" screamed down a ground mic.
Charming!

I get carded for yelling stuff out like that.

[belchardo]

awesome, georgevski gone with another hamstring injury

[Mark325]

wouldn't count on getting another chance that good for the rest of the game

[lquiquer]

Faarrrk Champness did a Hoole.... .... nahhhhh

[MFKS]

Faarrrk Champness did a Hoole.... .... nahhhhh

Bullshit??

He hit the target for a start

Raheem could never do that

Five yards wide minimum

[plague]

I much prefer the good old days when you just blindly voted for the keeper as MOM knowing you’re a good shout of being right.

Forza jerks.

[lquiquer]

3 points ... maybe not

[Mark325]

that's gotta be one of the worst keeper fumbles i've ever seen

[Mark325]

at least we'll still be 2nd place

[MFKS]

No **** it

No points for Duncan now

Match fixing at its finest

[westjet]

How does alex brosque get away with his constant abuse of refs. Everytime the decision goes against him he gives the ref a serve.

[StannyCFCJET]

Merrick needs to show massive errors are not on. Duncan needs to be dropped for that

[The Dunster]

Bk would have let it go out. Duncan drags the ball back into play so Khunt FC can score

[Mark325]

Dimi petratos!!!

[belchardo]

Merrick needs to show massive errors are not on. Duncan needs to be dropped for that

you shitting me? he's had about 10 saves that kept us in the game for 60 minutes.

hells yeah DIMI!

[The Dunster]

Anyone here that wouldn't root Petratos cannot call themselves a Jets fan.

[MFKS]

You cunce

This is on delay here

Can see the Dimi posts and wondering what the ****

Then all of a sudden Simon Hill cracks a fat on the idiot box

Here I was half way out the door to the strip club

[Mark325]

Merrick needs to show massive errors are not on. Duncan needs to be dropped for that

it's a big mess-up but one that's worth putting him on the bench for when just before that people have been sayin he's easy getting the 3 points? definitely not

would have been the equivalent of sayin O'Donovan should've been dropped for missing an obvious goal last week, it was a massive error

[monz6]

Merrick needs to show massive errors are not on. Duncan needs to be dropped for that

If anyone ever argues for fan/member ownership again I’m just going to show them this

[plague]

Blokes on here wanting Dunkman dropped yet are happy watching Boogaard cash dem cheques week in week out.

[StannyCFCJET]

If anyone ever argues for fan/member ownership again I’m just going to show them this

May have been drinking tonight haha

[plague]

Underrated part of this match.

The rain sure brings out the peach on this kit.

Puke.

[Mark325]

another just put in our lap that we've messed up

[Hunter403]

We are still in this surprisingly. We don't deserve to be but we are. That is certainly an improvement on the Jets of the last few years.

[halo se7en]

No matter what happens from here on, and admittedly it’s been a low bar, but we’ve performed much better tonight then we usually do against Sydney over the past few years. We usually don’t even create chances.

[weston]

Nice attacking substitution by Merrick when we are chasing the game.

[MFKS]

Kantarovski

**** me dead

How you call yourself a footballer and miss that

No wonder Bayern said no

[plague]

Yeah but again, we looked garbage at 0-0 then Sydney sit back with a 2 goal buffer and blokes thinking we are bossing it.

They playing for a trophy on Tuesday why waste energy sticking another 6 past us?

[MFKS]

You blokes realise we only 10 points off the spoon

I think we can run that down if we try

[Hunter403]

I disagree Plague. Sydney have pressed hard most of the game; even when leading by 2. I think that at last, we haven't thrown in the towel. Merrick gets the best performance out of them in the second half

[StannyCFCJET]

What's up with Kosta Petratos why didn't he get picked and also Devante Clut your Jets career is over pack ya bags son

[weston]

Nice attacking substitution by Merrick when we are chasing the game.

And again.

[Hunter403]

Still no Clut.... Jackson up front.

[lquiquer]

Jackson our new stricker

[belchardo]

i think tonight has shown how thin on quality we are up front.

[belchardo]

did redmayne just kill wilkinson?

[Hunter403]

That's why Johnny K is on the bench....

[Hunter403]

How stupid is Arnold....too manly to use a raincoat or umbrella. Stuffed his cheap suit

[belchardo]

hard to say we deserved a point, hard to say we didn't.

we've got to work on our first 20 minutes.

[halo se7en]

Yeah but again, we looked garbage at 0-0 then Sydney sit back with a 2 goal buffer and blokes thinking we are bossing it.

They playing for a trophy on Tuesday why waste energy sticking another 6 past us?

All 4 minutes of it? Lol

[hawk]

light blue aids strikes again

[monz6]

Sad to lose our first. But what a game. No cards no VAR. we pushed them till the end and to be honest we made a gk error and missed three sitters so could have maybe should have won. Merrick and co are doing a great job this season. But depth will hurt us i suspect

[westjet]

Hopefully that has convinced them they can compete with Sydney. First half looked as though they were a bit starstruck. Been a while that I have walked away from a sydney game not cursing the team for giving up when they go behind. Ernie def doing some good work with the team. Really showed tonight how important a healthy roy is.

[StannyCFCJET]

hard to say we deserved a point, hard to say we didn't.

we've got to work on our first 20 minutes.

45*

[The Dunster]

At full strength Sydney FC won't be able to match us. Get Vargas in there to carve them up through the middle and Roy up front and Sydney will be no chance against the Jets.

[Mark325]

this week and last week we started very slowly which needs to be addressed

[Jeterpool]

Agree.

Despite the loss tonight I think we will beat them this year

[StannyCFCJET]

this week and last week we started very slowly which needs to be addressed

Also the Wanderers and Mariners games to an extent

[380]

IMO better to have a hiccup now before January than later on in the season. Tonight just further demonstrated our lack of depth to our squad and provides the club with the perfect opportunity in January to try sorting that problem out. Perhaps there was also a message in it for Clut tonight that he may very well be better off elsewhere in his pursuit for game time.

Should we really be wasting visa spots on a bench keeper and Brown ?. I don't think so.

[StannyCFCJET]

IMO better to have a hiccup now before January than later on in the season. Tonight just further demonstrated our lack of depth to our squad and provides the club with the perfect opportunity in January to try sorting that problem out. Perhaps there was also a message in it for Clut tonight that he may very well be better off elsewhere in his pursuit for game time.

Should we really be wasting visa spots on a bench keeper and Brown ?. I don't think so.
Moss has aussie citenzship doesn't he?

[Frodo]

Glen Moss finally gets his chance next week, Should be good to see how he goes. Tough luck Dunks, you're not the only one who cost us but you are the only one with a decent backup to step in.


Also, Imagine if we had a half competent centre back in this team. We would be champions of Asia already.

[Frodo]

Also, Devante Clut surely has to drop down to NPL for a year and see if he still remembers what a football pitch looks like.

[Mark325]

clut and alessi stick out as being two dudes who will probably be booted in january

[hawk]

Are you going to put a lazy mill on there Mr Hawk?


Was gonna but the ANZ reckons the money is theirs and wont giss us a lend, plonkers.

[380]

I reckon by the time this weekends round is over we would have been the only team to not field any of there imports.

[plague]

All 4 minutes of it? Lol

hey man they only use a sample size of less than 10 sec to determine the worlds fastest man so im all about that theory.

[The Dunster]

I just watched the Post game presser with Graham Arnold. Still waiting for a journalist to ask him why does his brand of football win trophies but not encourage fans to bother showing up to watch games. I mean the mariners couldn't get a decent crowd when he was there and Sydney FC have absolutely no support at all considering the size of the town.

The answer is that his teams are boring as bat shit to watch - and tonight was no exception.

[Retro Jet]

Don't fret lads and lassies.
6 pts coming up v Tards n Fart.

[rhysd]

Brilliant old school tactic in the end throwing the tall timber up front in the end. Almost sniffed out a chance for us in the end.

I thought boogard had a good game.

Kanta has been a rock. Starting to show on that potential he had all those years ago.

Ugarkovic is getting better with each game.

Draw would have been a just result in the end.

[Jetmaster]

Whenever we play Smurfs they ride their luck and we get none. Huge improvement though frustrating....and the frustration is a good thing long term as it means we are getting there.

[WolfMan]

I could only listen to the match on the wireless, and it is such a great way to consume a match.

With vision, we mostly see the same thing and have our opinions, but it's quite surreal to try and picture what is happening with only a commentator's voice to guide you.

[leftrightout]

Our lack of depth in the front 3rd showed.
Cowburn and Johnny K coming on in advanced roles. Shows pretty clearly that Clut isn't needed or wanted.
Jackson too but i understand that old school trick with minutes to go.

At full strength we would carve Sydney up. I am now convinced, even though we lost, we are certain for the top 6. We are comprehensively better than more than 4 teams.
How horrible was the crowd? i know the weather turned awful but even before the rain came down, it was down right embarrassing!

[Jeterpool]

How horrible was the crowd? i know the weather turned awful but even before the rain came down, it was down right embarrassing!

I reckon people predicted the downpour.

[Macca]

I just watched the Post game presser with Graham Arnold. Still waiting for a journalist to ask him why does his brand of football win trophies but not encourage fans to bother showing up to watch games. I mean the mariners couldn't get a decent crowd when he was there and Sydney FC have absolutely no support at all considering the size of the town.

The answer is that his teams are boring as bat shit to watch - and tonight was no exception.

While I generally agree with you on his brand of football, I thought they were decent to watch first half. Having said that, most teams have looked good against us in the first half this season. Why does it take a revving up from Ernie at half time every week for the Jets to remember they are actually decent this year?

Lack of depth up front exposed badly with Roy, Brown and Shabow out. If you include Vargas as well though, I guess 4 attacking players out would hurt most teams.

After the first half we probably shouldn't have been still in it, but we were. First goal, Bobo got two lucky deflections running through about 4 defenders. Second goal comical/unlucky GK error. Several good chances for us untaken. Despite terrible first half performance and a scraped together attacking unit, we still could have won the game.

[Tommyjet]

Anyone else think bobo was offside in the lead up to the first goal, a few passes before the final ball across? No replay of it and obviously no var. I reckon the linesmen missed a few in that first half.

[&1gest]

:thumbsup:

[belchardo]

I am now convinced, even though we lost, we are certain for the top 6. We are comprehensively better than more than 4 teams.

i love we jets fans. what other team would be sitting second after 7 games, with the most goals scored (16 to the next closet of 11), third lowest goals conceded, the biggest positive goal difference, the highest goal scorer and double the number of points of the 7th placed team, and still have the fans only expressing confidence of being top 6? :gent:

that's not directed at LRO, just a general observation of how conditioned we are to failure!

[plague]

Yeah but we’ve only played one ‘top’ team and we lost.

Adelaide should have beaten us.

VAR saved our ass v Roar.

I’m almost confident to say we may just slightly be a shade less terrible than 4 other teams so we can make the finals.

But I don’t see how much more confident blokes on here should be.

[Jeterpool]

I have a theory that Merrick has chosen to rest O'Donovan (in particular) because of the City result on Friday night. We couldn't drop lower than 2nd and if we lost Sydney would be 2 points ahead. They were probably carrying a knock so instead of 2 big games in 5 days they let them recover over a period of almost 2 weeks.

He's looking across the season, instead of one game.

[Couscous]

I haven't been to a Sydney derby. But a friend who often does told me that there is a remarkable change in hair and skin colour as one pans from viewing the Cove and the Sydney fans across to the Wanderers fans, RBB etc. Is this generally true?

[halo se7en]

I have a theory that Merrick has chosen to rest O'Donovan (in particular) because of the City result on Friday night. We couldn't drop lower than 2nd and if we lost Sydney would be 2 points ahead. They were probably carrying a knock so instead of 2 big games in 5 days they let them recover over a period of almost 2 weeks.

He's looking across the season, instead of one game.

It's not a bad idea. Regardless of what happened against Sydney, this next game is a must-win, otherwise it's going to be a huge dent to the confidence. Had we beat Sydney, then lost to Victory, we undo all the good work. Lose to Sydney, then lose to Victory, we're suddenly in a slump. Anything gained away to Sydney would have been a bonus, but the Victory match is the must-win IMO. And there's no excuse. Roy should be fit and firing, Victory have had a shorter turn around, plus coming from the other side of the country. Milligan especially looked absolutely knackered at the end - no to mention they've struggled big time this year. Shut down Berisha & George and life will become a lot easier.

[Jeterpool]

I understand what you're saying, but given the target (publicly) for Merrick was Top 6, while the players (publicly) said they could reach Top 3, I don't see it necessarily as a must win at this stage. The following week against City would have more riding on it for me.

In saying that, it's very important to give a resposne and, if what I proposed was the case, that a win will prove the gamble effective.

And you're right on Victory's travel. It's horrendous. They'd probably be boarding a flight about now and won't arrive in Newcastle until about 9pm tonight. After playing us away they then head to Wellington. They've travelled half the bloody globe.

[Wilso8948]

Every game is a must win. Anything less is mediocrity and needs to be stamped out.

[Jeterpool]

Every game is a must win. Anything less is mediocrity and needs to be stamped out.

Every game we should approach with the ambition to win and prepare int he best way to win. Absolutely.

However saying the Victory game is a must-win because we have lost one match is a bit premature in my opinion.

Look back at the 07/08 season and we stuttered at the beginning, struggled in the middle but found form and momentum at the end of the season which carried into the finals series. The season is a marathon, not a sprint.

[halo se7en]

Every game we should approach with the ambition to win and prepare int he best way to win. Absolutely.

However saying the Victory game is a must-win because we have lost one match is a bit premature in my opinion.

Look back at the 07/08 season and we stuttered at the beginning, struggled in the middle but found form and momentum at the end of the season which carried into the finals series. The season is a marathon, not a sprint.

I guess I’m just expecting a slump at some point and we’ve recently not had a team capable of pulling themselves out of a hole so I’d rather us try and ride the momentum as long as possible as I think other sides will catch up. In saying that, I’m not seeing any other teams out there we should fear. Very mediocre competition this year which suits us!

[Jeterpool]

. In saying that, I’m not seeing any other teams out there we should fear. Very mediocre competition this year which suits us!

I really agree with this. It's crazy how we've created such a gap at this early stage of the year. Normally it's us who are watching other teams ride off into the distance. It's terrific.

[StannyCFCJET]

Every game we should approach with the ambition to win and prepare int he best way to win. Absolutely.

However saying the Victory game is a must-win because we have lost one match is a bit premature in my opinion.

Look back at the 07/08 season and we stuttered at the beginning, struggled in the middle but found form and momentum at the end of the season which carried into the finals series. The season is a marathon, not a sprint.

Win all your home games and nick points away from home, Thats how you win a title - Jose Mourinho

[MFKS]

Brilliant old school tactic in the end throwing the tall timber up front in the end. Almost sniffed out a chance for us in the end.

I thought boogard had a good game.

Kanta has been a rock. Starting to show on that potential he had all those years ago.

Ugarkovic is getting better with each game.

Draw would have been a just result in the end.


I guess I’m just expecting a slump at some point and we’ve recently not had a team capable of pulling themselves out of a hole so I’d rather us try and ride the momentum as long as possible as I think other sides will catch up. In saying that, I’m not seeing any other teams out there we should fear. Very mediocre competition this year which suits us!

What do you mean it mediocre??

Just because we are competitive for a change doesn't mean this comp is mediocre this year

Last I looked the Melbourne and Sydney sides have their exorbitant salary cap enhanced squads etc

Yet we sticking it to them

Maybe we are doing something right and that why we up the ladder and in games and not at the bottom where we usually ???

Glass half full approach required

[GrantB]

I have a theory that Merrick has chosen to rest O'Donovan (in particular) because of the City result on Friday night. We couldn't drop lower than 2nd and if we lost Sydney would be 2 points ahead. They were probably carrying a knock so instead of 2 big games in 5 days they let them recover over a period of almost 2 weeks.

He's looking across the season, instead of one game.

I was at training on Friday morning until about 10.30 and both Roy and Brown were still training when I left. I'd say Ernie made the call after City lost to Roar.

[Couscous]

Perhaps Jets fans are even whiter than Sydney?

Which is the A-League's most vanilla club?


I haven't been to a Sydney derby. But a friend who often does told me that there is a remarkable change in hair and skin colour as one pans from viewing the Cove and the Sydney fans across to the Wanderers fans, RBB etc. Is this generally true?

[halo se7en]

What do you mean it mediocre??

Just because we are competitive for a change doesn't mean this comp is mediocre this year

Last I looked the Melbourne and Sydney sides have their exorbitant salary cap enhanced squads etc

Yet we sticking it to them

Maybe we are doing something right and that why we up the ladder and in games and not at the bottom where we usually ???

Glass half full approach required

We have a better squad than last year, we’re playing better than last year. And most of our opponents this year are weaker. Brisbane last year had players like McLaren, Borello, Broich, Devere, all replaced nobodies bar that French guy that looks alright. City had Fornaroli & players like Cahill, Brattan, Colazo, that dude with the terrible hair and they were unstoppable for a long time. Perth haven’t had Castro & Taggart fit for most games & lost Williams & Risdon. Now they’re relying on players like Nichols and Keogh looks nothing like the player he did before. The Adelaide that won the title two seasons ago is just a shadow of itself, plus they’ve got a horrid injury list at the moment.

I’m not being negative, I think it’s a case of both.

[WolfMan]

Perhaps Jets fans are even whiter than Sydney?

Which is the A-League's most vanilla club?

You wot, mate?

Can’t tell if you’re taking the pi$$, but from where I’m sitting, that sails fairly close to profiling

[Couscous]

I am extremely interested in the cultural make-up of Australian football fans.

[turbojetfireV8]

sheilas wogs and poofters aint it...