Among other things we haven?t had a top level keeper for sometime.
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Among other things we haven?t had a top level keeper for sometime.
TBH, apart from Auckland the GK cupboard is pretty bare.Quote:
Originally Posted by mge61
I'd get rid of Aqualina as he has zero defensive awareness and absolutely no idea how to play out from the back.
If we do keep him I think he needs to be higher up the park in a more attacking role.
Interesting comments by Stanton in the post-match press conference re: Mizunuma. Mentioned there is an option for an additional year if he wants it, and he expects he will take it up because he's enjoying it here - retirement is the only thing that could stop it from his side.
He's been our best attacking outlet all season, he's had to do the defensive work of two people because Taylor has very little defensive focus and whenever we get our transition right it's usually because he's either in the half space and pushing a Natta/Grozos pass straight into Adams/Kota or playing it in behind for Gibson/Rose.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Dunster
He's got my vote for player of the year and it's a big jump to anyone else who's consistently looked great. Adams was unplayable at times but can be a huge liability when things aren't going well, Rose, Kota showed flashes and are a level above but took too long to get up to speed, Grozos has been solid playing out of position all season, Timmins and Wilmering both improved but haven't been spectacular, neither keeper kept form long enough to justify being no1.
So IMO it's Aquilina by a margin.
I've been pondering this season following Stanton's departure and now that 9th place is secured and wondering if this season has been a "failure" or not.
Many predicted we'd be making up the numbers given we had lost more experience and replaced them with young discarded prospects (Adams, Rose), NPL player (Gibson), a loanee (Scarcella), a heap of academy players and two older heads (Susnjar and Wellisol). I think that prediction was actually fair.
Looking back, I said that automatic Australia Cup qualification should be the minimum aim (since the prediction it's confirmed 9th is automatic qualification)...and we've done that.
Our draw certainly wasn't friendly with 1 home game and a bye in the first 6 weeks. And we certainly struggled post-byes as it killed momentum having won each time prior to the first two.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeterpool
Were it not for the 7 game undefeated streak, with 4 wins in 5, we'd be down with Roar and Glory fighting off yet another spoon. The change in formation to a back 3 helped along with the recruitment of Mizunuma and return from injury of Rose coincided with that run.
Goals haven't been our problem. We scored in 14 straight (the second longest run in our club's history). We've lost 6 by one goal. But I think what's killed us is the ability to either maintain a lead or regain one when we go behind. Season-to-date we've only salvaged 4 points from losing position (3 points in rd 2 v Macarthur from quick Adams double, 1 point v CCM away). We've lost 17 points ("20" if you include the Australia Cup loss to Macarthur) from winning positions, however, and 12 points from 36 possible at home isn't great either.
Interested in others thoughts, but I think overall this season has been a pass for what would have realistically been our goals at the start....but I want to see us start to aim higher.
They need to get a career guidance counsellor in for most of the team, too inconsistent for professional footballers. Heard someone say they hope the team stays together next year. Yeah nah
Members are still waiting to hear from management on a number of issues, Stanton?s sacking, Stanton?s replacement, player retention, players leaving, Taylor?s request to leave, it?s gone very quiet, I heard the new coach wants a certain assistant but they can?t afford him.
Apart from drawing 0-0, you're either up or down... so that's like saying we lack the ability to do anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeterpool
Which is probably not far from reality.
Still one game to go.Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverRed
Let me put what I said a different way.Quote:
Originally Posted by mic22
If we go behind first, the result is more than likely a loss.
If we go ahead, this season at have struggled to regularly turn that into a win.
I think that was StantonQuote:
Originally Posted by My2BobsWorth
NEWCASTLE Jets general manager of football Ken Schembri has confirmed that fan favourite Kota Mizunuma will return for a second season and said plans for the 2025-26 A-League campaign were well underway.
The Jets bring the curtain down on 2024-25 against Melbourne Victory at AAMI park on Sunday.
Coach Rob Stanton and his assistant Damir Prodanovic will finish up.
Mark Milligan is expected to be officially appointed as Stanton?s replacement after the club?s awards ceremony on May 9.
The former Socceroo will put together his own football staff.
Mizunuma was among 10 players whose future was uncertain.
However, Schembri told the Newcastle Herald on Tuesday that the Japanese international had taken up an option for a second season in Newcastle.
Mizunuma, 35, has been a revaltion since his arrival during the January transfer, netting two goals and supplying four assists to help spark a late push for the finals.
Midfielder Cal Timmins has been linked to Perth, where his family is based.
Brazilian Wellissol is expected to return home.
Jets import at training
Matt Scarcella?s loan deal is up and he will return to Sydney.
Jacob Dowse, who hasn?t played in two seasons due to a chronic knee injury, will officially be released.
Ryan Scott, Dane Ingham, Daniel Wilmering, Charles M?monbwa and scholarship-holder Zac Bowling, who is on loan at Blacktown City, are expected to meet with the new coach in the next fortnight.
Home-grown youngsters Will Dobson, Alex Nunes and Ben van Dorssen have a season to run on their scholarship deals.
Schembri also confirmed that the club had rejected a request from Clayton Taylor to be released from the final year of his contract.
?I have formally advised Clayton?s management that he is a contracted player for another 12 months and our expectation at this point is that he will stay on,? Schembri said.
The Jets men are locked in ninth spot and automatically qualify for the main draw of the 2026 Australian Cup ? avoiding a four-way play-off for two positions in the round of 32.
New chief executive Tain Drinkwater starts on Thursday but Schembri and the new coach will be responsible for shaping the roster.
Schembri has completed a review of the men?s program and is undertaklng the same process with the women?s team.
Women?s coach Ryan Campbell and a host of players are off contract.
The men?s squad will assemble for pre-season training in early July. The women begin preparations in September.
?In between next week and the end of May, I would think that all new staffing appointments in the male space would be complete,? Schembri said. ?The review of the women?s program would be completed by then and with the board for implementation.
?That would allow the CEO five weeks to get across the business.?
Australian Professional Leagues executive chairman Stephen Conroy announced changes to the A-League salary cap concessions earlier this month.
From 2025/26 onwards, there will be just one marquee player per squad eligible to be exempt from a salary cap of $3million per club that will have all other concessions removed entirely.
The Jets don?t have a marquee player and operate on a budget of about $3miillion.
?When you have been one of the bottom spending clubs, that impacts on us less than other clubs,? Schembri said.
There had been speculation that Schembri would not continue beyond this season.
?I am looking to continue, subject to the board wanting me around,? he said.
Cheers FR. Thanks for copying this across.Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverRed
I must have missed Taylor's extension last year was on an initial 2 year contract, not one.
Ditto FR, good to see some news finally coming out of the club
Oh, another thing to add - Clayton Taylor's agent is the same agency as Stanton and half the other members of the team too. No surprise his agent has requested a release.
Glad the club are holding firm. Hope it doesn't become like Ibini and Ugarkovic situation though.
If clubs want him, they can pay us for him.
Oh, another thing to add - Clayton Taylor's agent is the same agency as Stanton and half the other members of the team too. No surprise his agent has requested a release.
Glad the club are holding firm. Hope it doesn't become like Ibini and Ugarkovic situation though
Expiring 24/25
18 Kota Mizunuma (option to sign on for next year) - Expected to trigger extension
19 Callum Timmins - Expected to return to Perth
10 Wellisol - Expected to return to Brazil
06 Matthew Scarcella (Loan from SYD) - Expected to return to Sydney
20 Charles M'Mombwa (option to sign on for next year) - Expected to meet with Milligan
01 Ryan Scott - Expected to meet with Milligan
23 Daniel Wilmering - Expected to meet with Milligan
14 Dane Ingham - Expected to meet with Milligan
Expiring 25/26
13 Clayton Taylor - Apparently signed on for next year, not being granted early leave
15 Aleks Susnjar
21 Noah James
17 Kosta Grozos
39 Thomas Aquilina
04 Phillip Cancar
33 Mark Natta
09 Lachlan Rose
37 Lachlan Bayliss
22 Ben Gibson
25 Oscar Fryer
Expiring 26/27
07 Eli Adams
Scholarships
29 Justin Vidic - 24/25 - No announcement made
24 Alex Nunes - 25/26
44 Ben van Dorssen - 25/26
28 Will Dobson - 25/26
Of the lot listed above, the only ones that felt must keep are Taylor and Kota, which it seems we will. Confused by the Taylor situation, and a little nervous to have a player who doesn't want to be there, but if he's a professional he'll keep playing good football, and if he hits the ground running we can hopefully get a transfer fee for him midway next season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark325
Timmins has been performing quite well in the back half of the season, but still not a huge loss by any means. Welli and Scarcella leaving is also totally fine
Of the 4 expected to meet with Milligan, I'd like to keep Scott and M'Mombwa, would keep Wilmering as a backup option for the left side and am desperare for Ingham to leave.
They mentioned the other scholarship players, but no word on Vidic. I'd like to keep him since he's a newy player, and he seems decent, feel like no coach we've had knows how to use him effectively.
MARK Milligan will forever be indebted to Ange Postecoglou.
The unshakable belief Postecoglou had in Australian football and its players, and the work he put in to the likes of Milligan to help shape their careers.
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Milligan is his own man ? his own coach ? but the lessons he learned from Postecoglou and fellow Socceroos boss Bert van Marwijk struck a chord.
?I had one coach in particular, Ange, who really believed in Australian players at a time that was very important in my career,? Milligan said. ?He taught me things. The commitment Ange and Bert van Marwijk had to their trade, their work ethic was second to none. And just the belief in what they were teaching. I definitely have the desire and passion to give that back.
?From a football perspective, my views probably differ a little bit, but I have an unwavering belief in what I want to achieve. I have always been good when given directions. I am very excited now to be the one to lead.?
Milligan was officially appointed as coach of the Newcastle Jets for the next two A-League seasons.
It is the 39-year-old former Socceroo captain?s first appointment in a head coaching role and one he has worked towards for more than five years.
?I want to make sure every player becomes better. I want to see the best version of themselves every day,? Milligan told the Newcastle Herald.
?That was something that drove me throughout my career. That desire and hunger to continuously improve. I want to create an environment here where the players and the staff always want more.?
New Newcastle Jets coach Mark Milligan. Picture Jets Media
Milligan got the utmost out of his playing career, highlighted by 80 caps for Australia, many as captain, and four World Cups.
He won A-League championships at Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory in a journey that spanned 380 top-flight games across Australia, China, Japan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Scotland and England.
For the past five years, he has served a coaching apprenticeship at Macarthur, Adelaide and with the Malaysian national team.
?I prepared for this transition to coaching a long time before I retired,? Milligan said. ?Once I retired, I was very clear in the direction I wanted to head in. Then it was about filling the gaps. Finding out my shortcomings and where I will need staff to assist in areas that are not my strongest.
Mark Milligan and Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou. Picture AAP
?I was very fortunate at Adelaide that [coach] Carl Veart allowed me to be extremely hands-on. He gave me a lot of responsibility.
?The landscape here is perfect. A one-team town with a rich history of sport, not just football.
?My beliefs align with the direction that the club wants to head in. That opportunity was too good for me not to take.?
PLANS FOR THE ROSTER
Milligan is wasting no time. He plans to have his football staff in place within a fortnight and the majority of the playing roster finalised within a month.
Left back Daniel Wilmering is expected to sign a new deal, leaving potentially nine places on the roster to fill.
?There will definitely be some changes,? Milligan said. ?There are some very good players already here to develop the squad around.
?I will probably have a maximum 19 fully-contracted players with seven scholarship players. I have watched a lot of the youth team games over the last month.
?We need to bring in three experienced players. With what we want to do, that is very important.
?I am fortunate that I have been well-travelled during my career and have an extensive network that I will lean on.
?When it comes to experienced players, I want people who fit the character we need as well as the playing profile.
?With all the huffing and puffing I do, young players will learn just as much from the person sitting next to them in the change room.?
Japanese international Kota Mizunuma, a revelation in the second half of the season, is set to be a key figure.
Japanese midfielder Kota Mizunuma is set to return for a second season at the Jets. Picture Jonthan Carroll
?My Japanese isn?t as great as it was but I had a good conversation with Kota on Tuesday,? Milligan said. ?He is a priority. Someone like Kota is very important with what we want to do moving forward.?
The Jets had one of the youngest squad in the league under former coach Rob Stanton.
Home-grown midfielder Will Dobson made his A-League debut last season aged 17, while Christian Bracco and Garang Arou were also promoted from the youth team.
Milligan intends to place an even greater focus on youth development, especially of local players.
Youth team coach Damian Zane will have a greater role with the A-League squad and former players Jobe Wheelhouse, Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Clayton Zane will work in the academy.
?My background, especially over the past few years at Adelaide, has been in that development and youth space,? Milligan said. ?Working on the best way to integrate young players to become effective in first-team football. That is very important to me.
?Having Damian at training and across things makes it easier. He is fantastic from what I have seen, not only bringing through players, but across all levels. He works so hard.
Jets young gun Will Dobson. Picture by Jonthan Carroll
?I feel you need to pull the bandaid off a bit. If we want to develop local players, it has to start with the youth team. There is a lot of potential there.
?I?m acutely aware of players from Newcastle, especially from my generation, that have had successful careers.
?By doing what we are now, in five years we will have a core group of Newcastle players who are successful not only for the Jets but overseas. We want to see the young ones in national teams. That is the end goal.?
James Gardiner
Thanks for sharing FR. I think retaining Wilmering is an astute move. He's been reliably fit as our only left back this season....but he needs to be challenged.
Without knowing what formation Milligan will play, it's hard to do a depth chart, but if I have a go with who we know is signed for next year...
GK - 1 - Noah James
RB - 1 - Aquilina
CB - 5 - Susnjar, Natta, Cancar, Arou, van Dorssen
LB - 1 - Wilmering
CM - 4 - Grozos, Bayliss, Bracco, Nunes (?)
RW - 2 - Mizunuma, Dobson
LW - 2 - Taylor, Fryer
CAM - 1 - Adams
ST - 2 - Rose, Gibson
With the potential for 3 experienced players to come in, where would we like to see them?
I think we're sorted in terms of NUMBERS at CB. I would want some central midfield experience. Even a goal keeper....
We're very light up front.
Thoughts?
I heard Scott has an offer from a Melbourne side and began looking for a house before the season had ended. So if that's true I can't see Milligan convincing him to stay.
No idea which club tho, Western already have a couple of average GKs, Victory has Langarak and regardless of how rubbish he's been I can't see them letting him go, maybe that young City GK has an offer overseas?
I heard similar, and I could see him at City. Melbourne is home for him. Even if on the bench he's getting to play ACL Elite next season too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frodo
I can't see Taylor staying and we all know what happens whenever a player is forced to stay somewhere they don't want to be. The club must have known he'd follow Stanton, so they have nobody to blame but themselves if he goes and we don't get a fee or anything.
Scott is no better than Noah James which makes re-signing him pointless imo. We should be looking to upgrade. Despite what the FB crew says.
If he goes and it isn't overseas I hope the club show a backbone and get the better side of the deal or he stays.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frodo
Another comment I had made to me was that Fryer was signed with the intent to challenge Taylor, with feedback being that Fryer has a higher ceiling than Taylor.
Just putting it out there, Redmayne is available, not retired, experienced mentor and friend of Millsy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buddha
And we need a c***.
Any chance you can follow it out there, get hold of it, and put it back wherever it was before you put it out there?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jetmaster
Preferably in a bin somewhere.
On Mars.
Shameful behaviour Mr JM.
We have enough c***s in Cancar, Timmins and Wilmering and at least those 3 can play. Redmayne is going to struggle in the NPL next season he's so bad now. If you mean as a coach, maybe, but definitely not worth any cap space on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jetmaster
A lot has been said on here, in the press, and even by the coach, blaming the youth of the team for a bad showing this year.
A global list has been released of the clubs with the most U21 minutes played this year.
Jets didn't even make the top four. Adelaide topped the A league list, followed by Western, City, and the Gypos
It's just poor performance by the coach and players, not youth
https://y.yarn.co/f6971309-da2d-488c...16d2f_text.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by plague
Don't think any players will be following Stanton out the door, he's got a job with Arnie in Iraq
The Newcastle Jets can win the A League in 2026/2027.
Yeah , big call and No it's not April 1.
I think if the new salary cap rule changes come in and are enforced the there is no reason the Jets cant win.
Basically next year the Salary cap will be 3.5 million and room for 1 marquee player. All the player exemptions are gone. Next year no club will be penalised for breaches as long as they sit in the current frameworks. So we know clubs will still overspend.
Come 2026/27 The salary cap drops to $3 million with 1 marquee.
There has been no announcement on the salary cap floor for both of the next 2 years from what I could find, but I'm sure it is announced somewhere. The floor would have to be higher next year, So the Jets would have to spend more money on players technically.
Importantly, Come 2026/2027 all excemptions will be gone. So from what currently happens, you would expect the big clubs like Victory, City, WWS, Auckland and Sydney FC will have to reduce spending and rely more on youth team players.
I would imagine that all these clubs will loose possibly around two players that are ranked 2nd to 6th on there lists. At Victory that easily could be Arzani and Velupillay sort of thing, Behich and Tilio at City. At these clubs they would be replaced by youth players. That's how it will work.
For the Jets, If they spend close to the Cap then they will be well prepared as they haven't spent close to the cap or used any exemptions since Martin Lee was the owner. Every team will have a chance, why not the Jets?
Because we don't have the talented youth that other teams seem to be pushing out consistentlyQuote:
Originally Posted by anfield
Now we wait for the list of who is being released....
New coach makes first big call on roster, puts faith in home-grown shotstopper
By James Gardiner
Goalkeeper Ryan Scott will not be offered a contract extension at the Newcastle Jets.
VICE captain Ryan Scott will depart the Newcastle Jets, with new coach Mark Milligan opting to give home-grown keeper Noah James a shot at establishing himself as the No.1.
Milligan confirmed on Monday that Scott will not be offered a new deal, bringing an end to the 29-year-old's two-year stay in Newcastle.
James, 24, replaced Scott in goals in round 18 and made seven straight appearances, including two man-of-the match performances, before he was concussed in a the warm-up and ruled out of the round-25 battle against Wellington.
The Kahibah junior had waited four years for an opportunity after making his A-League debut in a 3-0 win over Wellington in 2020.
"I have been impressed with Noah James," Milligan said. "Moving forward I want to provide the best platform for him to firstly, continue his growth and also be able to make that position his own."
Milligan intends to sign another keeper but is yet to decide if he will go with another young shot stopper or a veteran for James to "learn from".
"I want the keepers to really push each other," Milligan said. "If there was an opportunity to sign someone who is coming to the end of their career who Noah could learn from and push past, that is a possibility.
Noah James will get first crack at cementing a starting place in goals for the Jets.
"It was a respect thing for Ryan as well. I do not know where that is going to land and I didn't want to drag that out with him.
"I haven't been away from the playing game that long, that I have forgotten the importance of that side for players and their families."
Scott, who is in Bali on holidays with a host of teammates, had been keen to stay in Newcastle.
He is among 10 players off contract.
Fellow keeper Zach Bowling, who is on a scholarship, will be let go.
Jacob Dowse, who hasn't played in two years due to a chronic knee injury, has also been released.
Midfielder Callum Timmins has been linked with a move to Perth, Brazilian Wellissol will return home, Matt Scarcella has completed his loan from Sydney and striker Justin Vidic appears unlikley to be retained.
Daniel Wilmering is understood to have agreed to terms on a new deal, however the future of Dane Ingham and Charles M'mombwa remains uncertain.
"We are still working on the dynamics of the squad," Milligan said.
"A few have made the decision for us. I fully respect that. I will never be one to force anyone to be in a place they don't want to be.
"My recommendation to the club is first and foremost we want people who want to be here and want to improve and want to fight.
"My priority was to get Kota Mizunuma finalised. He expressed a desire to stay and help and be a part of what we are doing moving forward.
"However, a few have expressed an interest in exploring other opportunities."
Clayton Taylor had asked for release from the final year of his contract, which was rejected.
Milligan remains confident that Taylor will be on deck and revealed the 21-year-old recently had minor groin surgery.
"I have spoken to the players under contract and given them a crash course on what it will look like moving forward," Milligan said.
"In Clayton's case, he had sugery, nothing serious just something he had been dealing with for a while.
"One good thing about the Australian off-season is that you have time to get these things fixied up as long as you address them. He needs to make sure he is in the best shape come preseason."
Milligan, who was officially appointed a week ago, is also close to finalising his football staff, which will be announced after the A-League grand final.
"There will be a review of the medical department - not so much the personnel - to make sure our practices are at the highest standard that they can be," Milligan said.
"That is an expectation I have across our staffing program.
"The biggest one for me will be the integration of Damian Zane. I am cautious on that as well. More so because of how much he does in the academy space. I don't want to lose that expertise from him.
"I also want to create a platform for the ones coming through to have the best environment possible when they do get to the first team."
Meanwhile, former Jets coach Rob Stanton hasn't wasted time finding a new job.
A week after ending his tenure at the Jets, Stanton has agreed to assist new Iraq national ream coach Graham Arnold.
Stanton worked under Arnold for five years at Sydney FC, winning an A-league championship together.
Arnold, the longest-serving coach in Socceroos history, takes over from Spaniard Jesus Casas as Iraq's new leader amid the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
The Lions of Mesopotamia are third in Group B in the third round of Asian Football Confederation qualifying for the 2026 tournament; Arnold's first two fixtures in charge of Iraq will take place in early June against South Korea and Jordan.
Arnold and Stanton are in Baghdad preparing for the next games
We're also apparently still interested in Bruno Fornaroli which I don't love
Great decision by Milligan to not re-sign Scott. James is better & has more potential to get even better.
Not sure about this, James last 2 games were very ordinary costing us goals on several occasions, he doesn?t demand his box and I can?t see that changing, he also needs to try catching some footballs instead of parrying, if a keeper can?t come and defend a high ball from corners then he has no right to be in the A league.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buddha
I think between the two, we were always going to be getting a flawed goalkeeper.Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverRed
"I want the keepers to really push each other," Milligan said. "If there was an opportunity to sign someone who is coming to the end of their career who Noah could learn from and push past, that is a possibility." I think that's an interesting line and one I'd like us to pursue, spend a little extra on someone experienced to benefit James, and that's an instance where I don't hate the idea of Redmayne being brought in to help with that guidance, give James the starting spot and primarily use Redmayne as a mentor figure to James. Ideally it's someone a little more functional that Redmayne currently is, but the point is still the same.