Jets - we are what we are: Stubbins
By JAMES GARDINER
March 15, 2015, 9:30 p.m.
EMBATTLED coach Phil Stubbins conceded that the Newcastle Jets had taken a step backwards but maintained there were brighter days ahead for the A-League cellar dwellers.
Describing the listless 4-0 loss to Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Saturday as not up to A-League standard, Stubbins was again left searching for answers.
The defeat was the Jets’ 12th of the campaign and worst since a clean-out of five senior players and four support staff in January.
‘‘You can’t hide behind a performance like that,’’ Stubbins said.
‘‘From start to finish we weren’t at the races.
‘‘We were clearly outplayed by a better team on the day.
‘‘I think that is – since we have made those changes – the first time we have succumbed to a performance that wasn’t worthy of our own expectations.
‘‘It was disappointing.’’
On a lopsided statistics sheet, the Jets failed to carve out a single shot on target.
Had they been playing against a top-four side the scoreline may have been uglier.
As it was, City were playing their third game in a week but still had enough urgency and quality to dispose of the visitors, who were coming off a string of solid results.
Former Jets skipper Kew Jaliens started the rot in the 18th minute when left unmarked from a corner to stroke a half-volley into the roof of the goal.
The Jets hung on until half-time despite having just 34per cent of possession and being on the wrong side of a 9-1 shot and 5-0 corner count.
But once French import Harry Navillo struck two minutes into the second half after shambolic Jets defending, the floodgates opened.
Replacements David Williams (63rd) and Iain Ramsay (88th), who were part of a star-studded bench that included Massimo Murdocca and the unused Erik Paartalu, both profited as the home side breathed life into their play-off hopes.
The heavy defeat –
the fifth time this season that the Jets have conceded four goals or more – leaves Newcastle with one win in 21 rounds.
They remain on 11 points alongside Western Sydney, who have a game in hand, but their -29 goal difference is far worse than the Asian Champions (-15).
With six games remaining, including a trip to Parramatta next round, the Jets are on course for the club’s second wooden spoon and worst season in history.
‘‘There are a lot of things on the players’ minds,’’ Stubbins said. ‘‘Is it contracts, is it fatigue? ... There are a lot of things to take into account.
‘‘We had a bad day at the office today, there is no doubt about that. We will regroup and go again.’’
The loss will no doubt increase the pressure on Stubbins, who up to now has had the firm support of owner Nathan Tinkler, and add fuel to the frustration of a disgruntled and diminishing fan base.
‘‘We are what we are,’’ Stubbins said. ‘‘They have Aaron Mooy and Robert Koren in the middle of the park, Josh Kennedy up front, they bring on David Williams and Murdocca and Paartalu are also on the bench.
‘‘With all respect to what we have at the club, we need to invest in a way that we can get ourselves some parity in the contest. The boys who have been working their socks off for the past six weeks were a little short today.
‘‘We need to recognise without the real quality and depth that is needed at the club, it is a hard task to keep backing up week after week.
‘‘There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes with recruitment. The advantage for us is that we have quite a lengthy period before we finalise a squad.
‘‘We have to do it in a way that there is a real diligence surrounding who we bring to the football club.
‘‘Today was a sad day for Newcastle Jets supporters, but in terms of moving forward we are doing everything to make sure there are brighter days ahead.’’
With a core squad of 17 players at present, Stubbins shuffled the deck in a bid to provide a spark.
Andrew Hoole started at the point of the attack in place of Edson Montano, and Ben Kantarovski dropped to the centre of defence in place of Taylor Regan.
‘‘If you are going to do the same thing, the same thing, the same thing and fall short, why not try something different,’’ Stubbins said.
‘‘We tried Hooley in a false nine. It didn’t work how we wanted it too.
‘‘Ben has played there before in the Australian youth set-up. He had a fair shift today.’’
Asked if he would consider recalling exiled trio David Carney, Billy Celeski and Adrian Madaschi, who were sacked by Tinkler in January but continue to train, Stubbins said: ‘‘No. We have been there and discussed that in the past.’’