19/20 HAL Round 3 | Newcastle Jets v Adelaide Utd | Sat 26/10/19 1930

[Jeterpool]

A-League 2019/20 Match day 3 Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United

FIXTURE FACTS

Overall – 45 fixtures between the two teams. Of this, the teams have met on 43 occasions in the A-League and on 2 occasions in the FFA Cup.
Jets Wins - 13, United Wins - 19, Drawn - 13


In Newcastle – 20 matches.
Jets Wins - 9, United Wins - 6, Drawn - 5
In Adelaide - 25 matches
Jets Wins - 4, United Wins - 13, Drawn - 8

Average Home A-League Crowd – 9774
Average Away A-League Crowd - 9621

Goals in Fixture
Jets – 44, United - 59
In Newcastle -
Jets – 22, United - 18

1st Goals in Fixture
Jets – 19, United - 20

Cards in Fixture
Jets - 115 (111 yellow, 4 red), United 72 (69 yellow, 3 red)


Last Result -
Newcastle Jets 0 - Adelaide United 0 at McDonald Jones Stadium, A-League, Round 20, Season 2018/19

Starting line-ups from Last Meeting in Season 2018/19 Match day 20

Newcastle JetsAdelaide United
Glen MossPaul Izzo
Daniel GeorgievskiRyan Strain
Nigel BoogaardMichael Marrone
Nikolai Topor-StanleyMichael Jakobsen
Ivan VujicaScott Galloway
Ben KantarovskiIsaias
Matthew RidentonMirko Boland
Dimitri PetratosRyan Kitto
Jair EduardoCraig Goodwin
Kaine SheppardGeorge Blackwood
Roy O'DonovanJordy Thomassen



FIXTURE RECORDS


Biggest Win

Jets 4 (Kemp 12’og, Carle 22’, Zelic 68’, Carle 89’) – Adelaide 2 (Valkanis 38, Corbo 67’og) at Hindmarsh Stadium, Round 8, Season 2005/06, 14/10/2005.

Heaviest Defeat

Jets 0 – Adelaide 7 (Djite 2’, 54’, Carrusca 23’, 28’, Boogaard 35’, Cirio 70’, Isais 90+3’) at Hindmarsh Stadium, A-League Season 2014/15 Round 15, 24/01/2015.

Leading Scorers in fixture –


Jets - Joel Griffiths, Nick Carle, Mark Bridge, Matt Thompson, Andrew Nabbout, Ben Kantarovski (3)
United - Marcelo Carrusca (6)



2019/20 A-LEAGUE SEASON STATISTICS

NumberNameAppearancesStartsSubbed OnSubbed offMinutes PlayedGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed Cards
1Glen Moss000000000
3Jason Hoffman000000000
4Nigel Boogaard000000000
5Ben Kantarovski000000000
6Steven Ugarkovic000000000
8Wes Hoolahan000000000
9Abdiel Arroyo000000000
10Dimitri Petratos000000000
11Nick Fitzgerald000000000
14Kaine Sheppard000000000
16Matt Millar000000000
18John Koutroumbis000000000
19Kosta Petratos000000000
20Lewis Italiano000000000
22Lachlan Jackson000000000
23Matthew Ridenton000000000
24Joe Champness000000000
25Jack Simmons000000000
28Patrick Langlois000000000
31Maki Petratos000000000
32Angus Thurgate000000000
40Noah James000000000
44Nikolai Topor-Stanley000000000



COACHING

Coaches Head to Head – 1 matches
Ernie Merrick - 0 wins, Gertjan Verbeek - 1 win, 0 drawn

Newcastle Jets A-League Coaching Records –

Ernie Merrick - 6 matches (2 wins, 2 drawn, 2 losses = 33% win ratio)
Mark Jones - 3 matches (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss = 33% win ratio)
Scott Miller - 3 matches (0 wins, 2 drawn, 1 loss = 0% win ratio)
Phil Stubbins - 3 matches (1 win, 0 drawn, 2 losses = 33% win ratio)
Gary Van Egmond - 17 matches (5 wins, 7 drawn and 5 losses = 29% win ratio)
Richard Money - 3 matches (1 win, 0 drawn, 2 losses = 33% win ratio)
Branko Culina - 6 matches (2 wins, 2 drawn, 2 losses = 33% win ratio)
Nick Theodorakopoulos - 1 match (0 wins, 0 drawn, 1 loss = 0% win ratio)
Craig Deans - No matches
Clayton Zane - 1 match (1 wins, 0 drawn, 0 losses = 100% win ratio)

[plague]

No wins from 3.
CEO OUT.
MERRICK OUT.

hope the weather is nice.

[Dogshot99]

A-League: Jets not about to roll out red carpet for Adelaide wonder boy

James Gardiner

Local Sport

Jets coach Ernie Merrick, seemingly like the rest of the nation, was wowed by the heroics of teenage sensation Al Hassan Toure in Adelaide United's FFA Cup final success.

"It shows the quality of young players coming through," Merrick said before quickly pointing out "we have some good players coming through as well".



Indeed, Toure caused havoc, scoring a wonder goal and setting up another, in the Reds' 4-0 wipe out of Melbourne City at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday night.

However, it won't be the catalyst for the Jets to pay the 19-year-old special attention when they host the Reds at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.

"It's good for Australian football to produce these type of players and rely less and less on overseas players," Merrick said. "He is keeping out the Danish striker [Kristian] Opseth. That is a big plus for him. We don't look at any particular players, we look at their attacking and defensive structures and try to maximise our opportunities and negate their strengths."

What was clear on Wednesday night was the direct and up-tempo game plan deployed to great effect by the Reds. Apart from Toure, wingers Nikola Mileusnic and Ben Halloran cause constant problems.

"That is the Australian game pretty well - speed up front," Merrick said. "We make up sometimes for technical skill with our physical competitiveness and speed. They have a pretty quick starting line-up, up front especially. But we have a pretty quick defensive line as well."

Jets left back Johnny Koutroumbis was hooked after an unhappy first half in the 1-all draw with the Mariners last round. His replacement, Bobby Burns, did well in the second half on debut but Merrick has a lot of faith in Koutroumbis and is confident he will bounce back.

"Johnny is a very good player with a big future," Merrick said. "I find when players go away with the Socceroos or Olympic squad, they come back a little flat mentally. I think that was a part of it."

Adelaide are yet to win a league game, but will arrive in Newcastle on a high, which Merrick welcomed.

"I think it is important to play teams at their best because they are the ones who tend to open up and play good, quality football," he said. "End-to-end play suits us, rather than a team who is coming in on a low. Although Adelaide have lost their first two league games, they will be buoyed by that win. They are the type of team who will attack rather than sit back and park the bus."

The Jets showed enough in attack - they delivered twice as many balls into the box, had twice as many shots and nearly three times the amount of corners - against the Mariners, but couldn't find a killer punch.



"We are buoyed by the way we dominated the game, particularly the second half, against the Mariners," Merrick said. "The boys are pretty keen to score goals and have done a lot of work on the front third."

The match, as well as being the first at home, will be played on a newly laid $1.4 million surface at McDonald Jones Stadium.

"I think the surface is excellent quality, better than it has ever been," Merrick said. "It's not as firm as it used to be, it has a bit of softness to it. When the pitch is watered I think the ball will skid on beautifully."

After the departure this week of Clayton Zane to begin his role as Northern NSW Football Technical Director, Jets W-League coach and former assistant Craig Deans will join Merrick on the bench. Youth League coach Daniel McBreen will also have more involvement wit the senior team.

"Having lost a terrific coach in Clayton Zane sitting next to me on the bench, I want a voice and the experience of someone who knows this league inside out," Merrick said. "To have Craig Deans sit next to me is very important for real-time coaching for the 95 minutes on match day. The information he can deliver will be very useful."


Not sure I'm convinced about Deans in Ernies ear. This will be and always has been a very slippery game for us. I do believe, but can someone please say something to make it more likely for me?
Just not convinced yet .

[Hunter403]

What I find funny is he $1.4m price tag on the new turf.

The last new surface only lasted 5 years of Jets and Knights games. This new surface should last for decades with that little use and with that massive cost!

[plague]

Not sure I'm convinced about Deans in Ernies ear. This will be and always has been a very slippery game for us. I do believe, but can someone please say something to make it more likely for me?
Just not convinced yet .

i think you'll find that Deans is the most successful Jets coach in the history of the A-League.
Some stat nerd will no doubt prove me right or wrong.

regardless, hes the most successful Jets coach in my heart.

[MFKS]

i think you'll find that Deans is the most successful Jets coach in the history of the A-League.
Some stat nerd will no doubt prove me right or wrong.

regardless, hes the most successful Jets coach in my heart.

Dean's Out

[Tommyjet]

Adelaide to rack up double figures in goals for the week.
Dimi will put a few frustrated long shits into rubes territory but no shots on target for us.

[StannyCFCJET]

Merrick has gone Insane, Burns on the bench again

[Grimario]

Should be fun in this weather. Almost glad I'm stuck at my niece's birthday party.

[belchardo]

bloody hell, how did neither of them not get a stud on to that cross?

[Hunter403]

Get ridenton off!!!! Please, please , please.utter, utter crap

[Hunter403]

Great finish!!

[Hunter403]

How good woukd Ugar be if he could shoot?

[belchardo]

Dimi continues to frustrate.

Loved the half time analysis. 3 seconds and straight onto the next match.

[Jetmaster]

Ground announcer said our goal was scored by "Number 9".....ffs.

[StannyCFCJET]

Dimi continues to frustrate.

Loved the half time analysis. 3 seconds and straight onto the next match.

If he released the ball quicker would be 10 times the player but needs soo many touches

[belchardo]

well, that was completely unexpected. :blush:

[Hunter403]

Ridenton! Bloody hell, you let Troisi cross that way too easily and they scored. Miller caught ball watching

[The Dunster]

Gypos and Kiwis. Why?

[Hunter403]

Well that was junior football stuff. Moss should drop himself for that. McGree torturing us

[Hunter403]

Get Kanta on now! Our back 4 constantly getting exposed

[belchardo]

Pitch seems to be fooling everybody at the moment

[Hunter403]

Ernie must be reading this...

[The Dunster]

Ref is killing us. Pissants are getting away with a lot of grubby shit.
Pissants kicks Panama and Pissants get a free kick.

But we need to get more physical as well.

Moss should retire.

[The Dunster]

Fcuk VAR

[Hunter403]

Well I'll be.....Ridenton stays on and Ugar goes off.

[belchardo]

Jonny K is playing with zero confidence

[belchardo]

Well I'll be.....Ridenton stays on and Ugar goes off.

Bit did you see that touch! No pressure, straight over the sideline!

[Hunter403]

Has Dimi touched the ball in the second half or was he replaced at half time and I missed it?

[Hunter403]

Bit did you see that touch! No pressure, straight over the sideline!

Yeah, but he still contributed far more than Ridenton.

[belchardo]

Yeah, but he still contributed far more than Ridenton.

I was talking about ridenton. 😁

Weird seeing a pro footballer with his shirt tucked in.

[StannyCFCJET]

Ridenton is just a better looking Cameron Watson. Should be the last picked midfielder

[belchardo]

Just for a bit of variety if nothing else, it would be nice to see somebody else take a free kick or corner. Whoever takes it probably can't do any worse.

[The Dunster]

Neither side impressed and the ref was shit.

Welcome to the A-League.

[plague]

The **** did we lose that?

[Hunter403]

The **** did we lose that?

How long have you got?
Junior goal keeping
Ridenton
No Kanta
Ridenton
Invisible Dimi in the second half
Ridenton
Ugar can't shoot
Ridenton
No screening of our back four by a quality 6
No Burns
Johnny K not a left back
Missing in the first 6 seconds.......

[StannyCFCJET]

How long have you got?
Junior goal keeping
Ridenton
No Kanta
Ridenton
Invisible Dimi in the second half
Ridenton
Ugar can't shoot
Ridenton
No screening of our back four by a quality 6
No Burns
Johnny K not a left back
Missing in the first 6 seconds.......

Yep that sums it up

[Tommyjet]

Yeah, but he still contributed far more than Ridenton.
Wrong

[redwah]

If he released the ball quicker would be 10 times the player but needs soo many touches

This

[redwah]

We should have been out of sight by half time, they were completely gased.

Ernie had them running the stadium stairs at halftime to make it a fair contest because we looked ****ed after halftime and played worse.......that was a disgrace

[Tommyjet]

The 4 clowns up front are to blame for that loss. Game should of been put to bed by halftime if they didnt waste the umpteen million chance in the first half.
Second half Adelaides hangover subsided our front 4 stopped providing pressure and a want to get the ball back following turnover after turnover and our 2 mids were drawn out covering for others and Adelaide waltzed through.
Also we don't have a number 1 keeper. That should be more pressing rather than the constant whinging about a bloke who has been far from our worst in the first 2 games

[380]

Bert can GTFO selecting his favorites in Johny K and Ridenton. The difference in performance between Irish and Johny K last weekend was clear for every mutual to see.

As for Ridenton , What can one say that won't incur the wrath and the threat of a meet & greet. The bloke is not a professional footballers backside but only in this league does a player with such lack of talent get to call themselves a pro footballer.

[380]

How long have you got?
Junior goal keeping
Ridenton
No Kanta
Ridenton
Invisible Dimi in the second half
Ridenton
Ugar can't shoot
Ridenton
No screening of our back four by a quality 6
No Burns
Johnny K not a left back
Missing in the first 6 seconds.......

Please email this truthbomb of a post to Bert.

[StannyCFCJET]

Bert can GTFO selecting his favorites in Johny K and Ridenton. The difference in performance between Irish and Johny K last weekend was clear for every mutual to see.

As for Ridenton , What can one say that won't incur the wrath and the threat of a meet & greet. The bloke is not a professional footballers backside but only in this league does a player with such lack of talent get to call themselves a pro footballer.

Johnny K was loads better this week but still not a FB and should not play there if we have an actual one

[Couscous]

Where's the Member

[StannyCFCJET]

Where's the Member

Probs banned again

[belchardo]

Probs banned again

pretty sure i saw him chasing ernie's car out of the carpark...

[Jetmaster]

Well I haven't seen a team worse than us yet. Lets's not sugar coat it....lack of money will land us the spoon this year.

Firstly our kit is shit. A worse Knights strip than any the Knights have worn.

We are so predictable.

Usual bright start and inability to finish and put the game to bed early.
We make tired teams look fit and look pedestrian at times.
JK is not a left back....use the real one we have before we destroy him.
Ugarkovic will never get another gig overseas because he can't shoot.
Ridenton was poor and I have been prepared to give him leeway.
Arroyo is not being given the correct service and will get frustrated if it doesn't change.
Moss must be dropped on thatcerror alone....amateur.
Ernie and Boogs need to get out of fairyland and be realistic....we are not a top 6 side, not without Wessi.
We will be closer to the spoon than the finals.

Oh and did I say our kit is shit?

Bring on a new owner and next season.

[Jetmaster]

And the simple things....a Jets announcer who can't pronounce "Petratos".

[StannyCFCJET]

And the simple things....a Jets announcer who can't pronounce "Petratos".

She couldnt pronounce anyone, But a Male was the one who said the team line-ups

[The Dunster]

Ridenton has technical ability but he's a defensive liability and can be easily pushed off the ball if refs are being lenient with the whistle.
Sometimes he does something really great like runs into space or slips a slick pass in behind the defence and you think wow.
A few mins later he will make a bonehead error you wouldn't expect to see from a NBN League player.

He's not hopeless like many here say - but I think he's a long way short of a starting 11 player in any team with serious finals aspirations.

[StannyCFCJET]

Ridenton has technical ability but he's a defensive liability and can be easily pushed off the ball if refs are being lenient with the whistle.
Sometimes he does something really great like runs into space or slips a slick pass in behind the defence and you think wow.
A few mins later he will make a bonehead error you wouldn't expect to see from a NBN League player.

He's not hopeless like many here say - but I think he's a long way short of a starting 11 player in any team with serious finals aspirations.

As long as Merrick is here there will always be a starting spot somewhere for him IMO

[sorefootballer]

Good old Jets. A few rogers

[380]

Ridenton has technical ability but he's a defensive liability and can be easily pushed off the ball if refs are being lenient with the whistle.
Sometimes he does something really great like runs into space or slips a slick pass in behind the defence and you think wow.
A few mins later he will make a bonehead error you wouldn't expect to see from a NBN League player.

He's not hopeless like many here say - but I think he's a long way short of a starting 11 player in any team with serious finals aspirations.

Lets be fair dinkum here. He would be in the grandstand on game day at any other club.

[StannyCFCJET]

Lets be fair dinkum here. He would be in the grandstand on game day at any other club.

Merrick thinks our midfield is doing well and Ugar got subbed so Ridenton and Kanta will start next week

[belchardo]

Firstly our kit is shit. A worse Knights strip than any the Knights have worn.



even simon hill thought we were called the knights at one point in the match.

[Jeterpool]

Player of the Match voting is up.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YL9R8FT

Also, sorry about the stuff up with last week's list.

[380]

Bert can go take a flying leap if he starts Johny K and Ridenton next week. We have a specialist LB and Ridenton is lucky to have Bert as a fan or he would be out looking for a real job come Monday morning.

[StannyCFCJET]

Bert can go take a flying leap if he starts Johny K and Ridenton next week. We have a specialist LB and Ridenton is lucky to have Bert as a fan or he would be out looking for a real job come Monday morning.

I'm starting to share that view. Ernie needs to change his tactics as well

[MFKS]

Settle the **** down

As if our problems start and end with Johnny K or Ridenton

They run much deeper than this


Don't know what you really are expecting from these players when clearly they are not good enough for the Top 4 and will be unlikely to jag the Top 6

The writing is on the wall

Mediocrity awaits us

A fish rots the head

[Frodo]

So many people on here thinking we have a squad capable of making the finals when in reality it will be classed as a success if we avoid the spoon.

This season was a write-off as soon as we knew Mr Lee wanted to sell us. We just need to get through another tough year of playing well for small periods and then conceding easy goals and hope we still reach the only true metric for a good season. Finish above the Gypos. I'll take a wooden spoon as long as we finish above those filthy buggers.....

[Frodo]

Settle the **** down

As if our problems start and end with Johnny K or Ridenton

They run much deeper than this


Don't know what you really are expecting from these players when clearly they are not good enough for the Top 4 and will be unlikely to jag the Top 6

The writing is on the wall

Mediocrity awaits us

A fish rots the head

Well, I didn't need my post at all (this come through as I was typing away at work). Membah gets it.

[StannyCFCJET]

They may not be the biggest issue but we have better players in their spots who should be starting over them

[Jetmaster]

You have a problem when a coach sticks to favourites no matter what. Remember GVE and Brodie Mooy?
Ernest has to make changes next week....if not....out, out , out!

[MFKS]

They may not be the biggest issue but we have better players in their spots who should be starting over them

Such as who??

Burns isn't that good so don't claim him

Kanta is only just coming back from injury


So exactly who is better in those positions that we have??

[MFKS]

You have a problem when a coach sticks to favourites no matter what. Remember GVE and Brodie Mooy?
Ernest has to make changes next week....if not....out, out , out!

We have a bigger problem when our coach has to pick Nick Fitzuseless and the Hoff as our wide attacking players

Like FFS if that is the best we have then what exactly are we expecting from our side??

[StannyCFCJET]

Such as who??

Burns isn't that good so don't claim him

Kanta is only just coming back from injury


So exactly who is better in those positions that we have??

Thurgate has shown way more then Ridenton ever has at the Jets so has Langois IMO and Burns only needed to show me half a game to prove he is a better LB then Johnny will ever be

[plague]

Johnny K wasnt the problem yesterday.

i like Thurgate.

[StannyCFCJET]

Johnny K wasnt the problem yesterday.

i like Thurgate.

Still isnt good enough to play LB for a team who wants to make finals

[Ruud Van Nistelrooys Chin]

Zone League Three for Glen Moss next year. And he will probably have to come off the bench. Most keepers have one, maybe two really bad howlers in their career. He’s serving them up every fortnight

[Frodo]

Still isnt good enough to play LB for a team who wants to make finals

He doesn't play for a side who wants to make finals. He plays for a side who doesn't want to shut the doors whilst it waits for a new owner... Again...

[Frodo]

Zone League Three for Glen Moss next year. And he will probably have to come off the bench. Most keepers have one, maybe two really bad howlers in their career. He’s serving them up every fortnight

Someone wasn't here for the BK years, or the Birraz years, or the early Duncan games, or the Nash games, or... Wait was Covic the last time we had a decent keeper?

[plague]

Someone wasn't here for the BK years

i was here for the BK years and they were ****ing glorious and amazing and you shut yer damn mouth you commie.

Gold Coast penalty shootout, enuff said.


BK 4eva.

[plague]

Still isnt good enough to play LB for a team who wants to make finals

hey man im not the bloke picking a not left back at left back.
as for finals.

Gypos are garbage, Wellington are garbage, Victory are garbage, we own Brisbane.
As always, we'll be a mathematical chance with 3 rounds to play.
im here for all of it.

[Jetmaster]

i was here for the BK years and they were ****ing glorious and amazing and you shut yer damn mouth you commie.

Gold Coast penalty shootout, enuff said.


BK 4eva.

Much respect....he is available, bring him back.

[plague]

Much respect....he is available, bring him back.

http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/jN0ygssTH2hoI/giphy.gif

[MFKS]

Much respect....he is available, bring him back.

Getting released by the Gypos doesn't mean he is available

It is a sign that even the worst franchise in the comp says NO

[MFKS]

Thurgate has shown way more then Ridenton ever has at the Jets so has Langois IMO and Burns only needed to show me half a game to prove he is a better LB then Johnny will ever be

Thurgate??
You are dreaming if you think he is a better option in centre mids

Burns done nothing in the Gypo game because he didn't have to
He didn't go ****ing forward once just say on the backline all day never once offering an option in attack

If you can't get a run in the SPL then it pretty obvious you won't get a run in the HAL

[The Dunster]

Adelaide were hardly impressive and apart from winning the game what else did they do ? [I know sounds ridiculous - but they were hardly impressive].
We pumped their goal in the first half and could have put it beyond them with better finishing.
In the 2nd half Adelaide had a handball decision save them and Troisi could easily have been sent off on a 2nd Yellow if the ref showed any consistency [Boogs yellow as an example].
Moss had a shocker on a corner to concede the goal but again, he got a nice shove / push from an Adelaide player as well so ref could easily have blown the whistle and given us a free kick - like he would have for any of the big city teams.

Not saying we were great out there but we were easily as good as Adelaide and I don't here anyone here saying Adelaide are going to miss the finals.

Oh - and bring BK back - he's a million times better than Moss.

[Jetkel]

No where near as far off as some make us out to be. Game should of been wrapped up at half time. Poor finishing is hurting us. On the bright side, the movement is good, we're getting into good positions & we (at times) play some decent football.

Whinging for the sake of whinging by the usual suspects.

[Aegon]

No where near as far off as some make us out to be. Game should of been wrapped up at half time. Poor finishing is hurting us. On the bright side, the movement is good, we're getting into good positions & we (at times) play some decent football.

Whinging for the sake of whinging by the usual suspects.

Totally agree.

[380]

The usual poor performances by the usual suspects give us reason to be frustrated or whinge as you put it JK.

[Jetmaster]

Game should of been wrapped up at half time. Poor finishing is hurting us..

You have nailed it - but the problem is can we fix it before we fall away? Looking at what we have on deck we don't have the tools or the depth if Arroyo or Dimi get a 1-3 week injury.

Only one stat matters - goals.

[plague]

Poor finishing is hurting us.

totally agree here, and i actually think its an improvement on recent years when we are poor at actual football.
Saturday was as step in the right direction.
and once The Coach and CEO fix the problems that even Captain Obvious can see then we'll be fine and mathematically in the hunt for the finals.

[StannyCFCJET]

totally agree here, and i actually think its an improvement on recent years when we are poor at actual football.
Saturday was as step in the right direction.
and once The Coach and CEO fix the problems that even Captain Obvious can see then we'll be fine and mathematically in the hunt for the finals.

Coach didnt fix the same problems last season

[Couscous]

Bert said on the pod that the Irish fullback is a back-up, not necessarily expected to start regularly, and that he is neither fit nor used to the heat yet

[380]

Bert said on the pod that the Irish fullback is a back-up, not necessarily expected to start regularly, and that he is neither fit nor used to the heat yet

And club management probs wonder why many of us just scratch our heads in disbelief at some of the amateurish shit it does. Bring a bloke halfway around the world take up a visa spot and then refer to him as a back up and not expected to start regularly, FMD perhaps Bert and our Gypo CEO can become back ups also.

[StannyCFCJET]

Vujica was a better left back then Johnny yet was made a backup. Facts are Facts Ernie has favourites and those players will play regardless of form

[Dogshot99]

A-League: International call-ups could hit Jets for six

James Gardiner

Local Sport



ERNIE Merrick has welcomed the Jets' short turnaround for the clash against Sydney FC at Leichhardt Oval on Friday night, but the experienced coach also has an eye ahead to round six and the possibility of being without six players.

The battle with new club Western United in Geelong on November 16 is in the middle of the next FIFA International window, which extends from November 12-20.

The Jets have already received notification that midfielder Matthew Ridenton will be selected in the New Zealand squad to play a friendly in Dublin.

Merrick also expects Abdiel Arroyo to be recalled to the Panama squad for games against Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.

Dimi Petratos is in an extended Socceroos squad for a World Cup qualifier in Jordan on November 15.

Johnny Koutroumbis and Angus Thurgate are likely to be away with Olyroos for a friendly tournament in China.

Northern Ireland under-21s, of which Bobby Burns has previously been captain, meet Romania in a European Championship qualifier in Balymena.

The A-League scrapped international breaks this season due to the introduction of Western United and a need for more playing dates.

Under A-League guidelines, clubs can request to have games rescheduled if they have four under-23 players or a combination of under-23 and 'A' internationals players away on representative duty.

The match between Sydney and Melbourne Victory has been pushed back a day to November 17 to allow players enough time to return.



"We could lose a few players and I'm not sure what the situation is regarding postponing games," Merrick said. "I know roughly what the rules are but I don't know how they will be applied. I will speak to Lawrie about it."

Merrick, despite the potential for a weakened squad, wants his players pushing for international selection.

"I think it is a such good thing when you get the opportunity to represent your country," he said. "We will never stop anyone from playing for their country."

The Jets are awaiting official notification of the players who are selected before they discuss the matter with A-League boss Greg O'Rourke.

"We have to wait and see," Merrick said. "Different countries notify you in different ways. Some notify you early, some late, some name an extended squad and cut it back. We just have to prepare for it. If we have enough fit players, it won't be a problem."

Of immediate concern for Merrick was preparing for Sydney and notching the Jets' first win of the season after they gave up a 1-0 lead to go down 2-1 to Adelaide at home on Saturday.


"The boys are pretty keen to play against Sydney," Merrick said. "It's a good thing that it is a short turnaround ... no-one wants to be out of the finals and currently we are third bottom. That is not a good position to be in."

Sydney are also smarting after losing 1-0 to fierce rivals Western Sydney, despite the Sky Blues dominating large periods.

"Sydney are a top team," Merrick said. "They have proved it over the past couple of years and have retained most of their players. That was their first loss, so obviously it is going to be a tough one, but Wanderers beat them and I think that is the way this season is going to go. Anyone can take points from anyone else, and we have to back ourselves to beat any team we are up against if we stick to our structures."

Jason Hoffman is in doubt with a tight calf and Merrick hinted at potential changes.

"There are a few putting their hands up to start," he said.

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NBN photo gallery from match:
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2019/10/28/photo-gallery-2019-20-a-league-round-3-jets-v-adelaide/