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Thread: 2019/20 Squad

  1. #1221
    Senior Member StannyCFCJET's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 380 View Post
    " While Hoffman signed a two-year extension and hopes to be back on the pitch as soon as possible, he is using the down time to think about his future.

    The 31-year-old is studying a business degree, majoring in sports management, but is considering changing focus to education."


    Is there a chance Hoff has been told by Robbo his chances of game time next season are next to nothing ?. From memory his extension was done about the same time as Kanta's a acouple of months before Robbo's appointment.
    Hoff is a good enough squad player and decent enough cover at fullback. Makes no sense to get rid of him. Shouldn't be starting every week but thats not his fault

  2. #1222
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    Quote Originally Posted by StannyCFCJET View Post
    Hoff is a good enough squad player and decent enough cover at fullback. Makes no sense to get rid of him. Shouldn't be starting every week but thats not his fault
    Bloke should be playing right back ahead of Gypo Miller every day of the week

  3. #1223
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    Hoff is the ideal number 12 - 23

  4. #1224
    Senior Member evolution's Avatar
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    Some actual football news, article itself is a "subscriber only" but the headline tells you all you need to know:

    A-League: Italiano rewarded with two-year extension at Jets

    https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/s...-jets/?cs=7580

  5. #1225
    Senior Member turbojetfireV8's Avatar
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    Tomorrow's NMH:

    Newcastle Jets: Nigel Boogaard says players want clarity around the competition's future and plans moving forward
    Local News

    Increasingly anxious and frustrated A-League players are demanding Australian football powerbrokers deliver clarity over the competition's future.

    An FFA assessment of the A-League's status during the coronavirus pandemic is set to be finalised on Wednesday, though it's unclear when the assessment's recommendations will be made public.

    The league was postponed indefinitely in late March and since that decision was made at least six of the 11 A-League clubs have stood down players and staff.

    Host broadcaster Foxtel's commitment to the competition is also increasingly uncertain. One of those clubs to stand down players is Newcastle and as he and his teammates face an indefinite period without pay, Jets captain Nigel Boogaard said players have had enough of being kept in the dark.


    The 33-year-old said those in charge need to come together and devise a plan for the short and long-term future of professional football in Australia.

    "To let it drag on to this point is a little bit ridiculous to be honest with you," Boogaard said. "These are the powers that are going to dictate the future of the game moving forward.

    "If the likes of FFA, club owners and everyone involved can't come together and, I suppose, be grown ups and sit at a table with each other and come to a decision about - not only the end of this season and what the next few months look like but the professional game in this country for the next few decades - it doesn't give you great confidence."

    Boogaard is one of approximately 130 players whose contracts expire on May 31.

    Any attempt to complete the 2019-20 season, which has only a handful of rounds remaining before finals, would need to work out what happens to those off-contract players. The veteran defender doesn't believe a point of no return has been reached for this season and said players are still hopeful of completing the campaign.

    "As an overall playing group, everyone would like to see it out and if we're able to, that would be our preference but not knowing where everything lies, that's going to be hard," he said.

    Adding to the uncertainty has been persistent speculation over Foxtel's plans.
    Life isn't the same without Con... but it can only improve without Tinks...

  6. #1226
    Senior Member turbojetfireV8's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by evolution View Post
    Some actual football news, article itself is a "subscriber only" but the headline tells you all you need to know:
    Forgot to post this:
    https://video.nbnnews.com.au/lewisitaliano150420.mp4
    Life isn't the same without Con... but it can only improve without Tinks...

  7. #1227
    Senior Member turbojetfireV8's Avatar
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    Missed this one the other day:

    APRIL 22 2020 - 7:30PM
    Newcastle Jets import and Welsh international Joe Ledley respects A-League standard
    James Gardiner
    Newcastle Jets

    FORMER English Premier League and Wales star Joe Ledley believes the A-League is a similar standard to Major League Soccer in the US and has hinted at extending his stay at the Newcastle Jets.

    Ledley, 33, was midway through a short-term deal when the A-League was postponed on March 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He has returned to his family home in the UK city of Cardiff to be with wife Ruby and children Layla, 9, Reeva, 4, and Hendricks, 2.


    The midfielder has been following a training program in the hope that the A-League will resume and spoke glowingly of his time in Newcastle on BBC podcast, Eli James' Football Feast.

    The football show features Ledley's former teammate Danny Gabbidon and fellow Welsh international Iwan Roberts.

    The Jets are coached by another former Welsh international in Carl Robinson, who head hunted Ledley.

    Asked how he found the A-League, Ledley said: "I didn't know anything about the league when I signed. The standard is a lot better than what I thought.

    "There are some good players, especially in our team. With the players we have got, and with Carl coming in, he has completely changed it. We had lost one in six games at the end and could still push for a play-off position. It's nice and relaxed and we play good possession-based football, which I like."

    Ledley has played 77 games for Wales, was one of their stars at the 2016 European Championships, spent four seasons in the Premier League for Crystal Palace and won titles with Scottish club Celtic. Although the A-League is a step down, Ledley rates it highly.

    "I think the A-League is a bit disrespected," he said. "I think it is just as good as MLS. It is an entertaining league and always end-to-end football.

    "When I went there, I knew we had Wes Hoolahan in our team. He is an unbelievable player. He has still got it and the fans love him. He has been unfortunate because he got injured just before the start of the season.

    "When you start playing against other teams you see there are quite a lot of English players, some of them even from the Premier League and Championship and Scottish Premier League."

    Ledley had been training with League Two club Newport County before joining the Jets. He was on the verge of signing with the south Wales outfit but opted to be part of Robinson's revolution in Australia.

    "I had my squad number and everything was sorted," Ledley said of the Newport deal. "When Carl got the job at the Jets, he wanted me to sign for longer in Australia. I didn't want to go over there, not enjoy it and want to come home. I signed until the end of the season and have loved it.

    "I felt bad on Newport because it seemed like I used them to train. But it wasn't like that at all. They were a great group of boys, good professionals, good manager. I just wanted to try something different.

    "I have always wanted to play abroad ... to say I have tried a different place, a different culture."
    Last edited by turbojetfireV8; 25-04-2020 at 01:11 AM.
    Life isn't the same without Con... but it can only improve without Tinks...

  8. #1228
    Senior Member turbojetfireV8's Avatar
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    On the postponement to hold off till June:

    APRIL 23 2020 - 9:00PM
    Newcastle Jets players facing at least another five weeks in limbo
    ROBERT DILLON
    Football

    THE Newcastle Jets and their fellow A-League players remain in limbo despite a commitment from Football Federation Australia officials on Thursday to complete the 2019-20 season "as soon as possible".

    Unlike the NRL, which is forging ahead with plans to resume full training operations on May 4 and games on May 28, the A-League has been unable to offer any substantial update about what its next step will be.

    The competition was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic on March 24, with only a handful of rounds remaining before the finals were scheduled to kick off. Seven clubs, including the Jets, have since stood down players and staff.


    FFA chief executive James Johnson said in a statement on Thursday that "a number of criteria" would define when players would be cleared to resume normal training, but added: "It is difficult to see that process beginning before the end of May."

    The FFA said it was in "ongoing dialogue with government health authorities" and would need restrictions relating to health and safety, state and federal borders, large gatherings and social distancing to be relaxed before players are allowed to train together.

    "Our priority remains the health and safety of all players and staff and we will need to be satisfied that appropriate measures are in place to ensure this," Johnson said.

    " .... football takes its responsibilities as a good corporate citizen very seriously, and remains committed to working in partnership with the government to slow the spread of COVID-19.

    "At the same time, we want to play our part in supporting the social and mental wellbeing of the Australian football family and all sports-loving Australians.

    "Ultimately, the coronavirus will have the final say on when we can get the season started again."

    Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna said the NRL's ambitious plans were irrelevant to his code.

    "Between now and the end of May, we should know how things are going," McKinna said.

    "And obviously things are getting better every day.

    "Everybody wants to come back and finish the season. All the clubs agreed on that, but it's still too early to be putting dates on it.

    "Whatever the NRL is doing is up to them.

    "All the best to them with what they're doing, but the A-League won't be driven by that.

    "We'll be doing what's right for our game."

    Exacerbating the dilemma the round-ball code is facing, Fox Sports has not paid a grant that was due last week and there is mounting speculation that the pay-TV provider is poised to walk away from on its $57-million-a-year deal broadcasting deal with FFA.

    In addition, standard A-League player contracts expire on May 31, so as it stands a host of players will need to be re-signed if the competition is to resume.

    In the case of the Jets, head coach Carl Robinson is with his family in Canada, assistant coach Kenny Miller has returned to Scotland, and overseas players Joe Ledley and Bobby Burns have returned to Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.

    If the A-League season is to be completed, they may have to at least spend two weeks in quarantine before they are allowed to re-enter the country.

    McKinna said working through the myriad logistics was "like putting a jigsaw together."

    "When you've got the first couple of pieces in place, you can start building it," he said.

    "But until you've got those pieces, you can't really get started. That's where we're at now."

    Jets skipper Nigel Boogaard expressed his frustration earlier this week, saying it was "a little bit ridiculous, to be honest" that the uncertainty had dragged on for a month.

    "If the likes of FFA, club owners and everyone involved can't come together and, I suppose, be grown-ups and sit at a table with each other and come to a decision about - not only the end of this season and what the next few months look like but the professional game in this country for the next few decades - it doesn't give you great confidence," Boogaard said.

    McKinna said Newcastle's players and staff were "all up to speed with where things are at".

    "From the club's point of view, I keep Boogs informed and he notifies the boys. But I can understand if they're a bit frustrated with the stuff that's happening at the top," he said.
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  9. #1229
    Senior Member turbojetfireV8's Avatar
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    At least we still have Arroyo till end of the season...

    MAY 6 2020 - 7:30PM
    A-League: Panamanian on board until Jets' flight ends after loan deal extended
    James Gardiner
    Newcastle Jets
    Comments


    POWERHOUSE striker Abdiel Arroyo will play out the A-League season with the Newcastle Jets after Panamanian club Arabe Unido agreed to extend his loan by three months.

    Arroyo's deal with Newcastle expires on May 31.

    However, Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna said the international had been given the green light to continue in Newcastle once the A-League season resumes.

    Football Federation Australia are working with players union, Professional Footballers Australia, and the government on a return date.


    McKinna anticipates the Jets will be back training in July, with the competition to restart in August.

    "We contacted Arroyo's agent requesting that the loan be extended and the club was happy for him to stay until the end of August," McKinna said. "There was interest in him from Korea, Japan and the MLS but Arroyo was happy to stay in Newcastle."

    The Jets have five games remaining, which will be played behind closed doors most likely at a centralised hub over three weeks, plus potentially finals.

    They are ninth on 24 points, but are only three points outside the top six.

    Arroyo has scored two goals in 14 appearances for the Jets and was part of a new-look strike force under new coach Carl Robinson, which has netted seven goals in the past three games.

    Unlike Bobby Burns, who returned home to Northern Ireland, Arroyo was forced to stay in Newcastle after Panama closed its borders.

    READ MORE: JETS HOPE FOR HOME BASE WHEN A-LEAGUE RESUMES

    Midfielder Joe Ledley (Wales), coach Carl Robinson (Canada) and assistant coach Kenny Miller (Scotland) have also returned home.

    Ledley and Burns may not return but McKinna was confident the coaching staff would be back on deck for the start of training.

    "Carl and Kenny are starting to look into when they can return," McKinna said. "Their working visas are valid and it is a case of waiting for the border restrictions to loosen. We have seven weeks before we start training. In seven weeks the world could change. Look what has happened in the last seven weeks. If the curve continues to flatten, I reckon international borders will open for people who have work visas."

    In the meantime, Robinson and Miller are working from afar.

    "We are having a hook-up with the football staff on Tuesday," McKinna said. "Players have fitness and gym programs which they have been undertaking. They will need to change that now."

    Plans to complete the season were confirmed after Foxtel paid its $12 million quarterly payment to the FFA last Friday.

    That money is normally carved up and distributed to the clubs to pay wages.

    The Jets were among seven clubs to stand players down a month ago. The Jets have registered for the Jobkeeper allowance and paid the players and staff $3000 each for the past month ($750 per week), which will be reimbursed by the government.

    "The foreign players don't qualify for the Jobkeeper allowance, but we paid them anyway," McKinna said.

    The PFA and FFA and working through a number of issues regarding health and safety protocols and a likley reduction in wages before the players take to the field.


    Other issues include how much time teams will be given to train before the season resumes and how many day's break they will receive between games.
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  10. #1230
    Occasional Podcaster furns's Avatar
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    That certainly fills in a lot of info many supporters had about the current state of things and where all our internationals ended up
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  11. #1231
    Senior Member turbojetfireV8's Avatar
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    Jets appoint ex-NZ assistant

    MAY 12 2020 - 8:00PM
    A-League: Group training on hold as Jets bolster coaching staff with former New Zealand assistant
    James Gardiner
    Local Sport


    FORMER New Zealand assistant coach Darren Bazeley will join the Jets but just when he and the other football staff will be able to work with the squad remains unclear, despite gatherings of up to 10 people being permitted in NSW from Friday.

    Bazeley, a former fullback who represented England under-21s, played alongside Jets coach Carl Robinson at Wolverhampton Wanderers before finishing his professional career in the A-League at the New Zealand Knights.

    He has spent the majority of the past 10 year coaching in New Zealand, where he took the national under-20 side to the World Cup, and was an assistant with the All Whites senior team before joining US Major Soccer League club Colorado Rapids in 2018.


    The 47-year-old is back in New Zealand and will move to Newcastle as soon as COVID-19 border restrictions are lifted.

    Craig Deans, who had assisted Robinson during his transition into the Jets job, will return to his role at the head of the club's academy.

    "Darren has an understanding of the league, having played with the New Zealand Knights," Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna said. "He has coached in the New Zealand set up and also in the US. Prior to that he had a good playing career with Watford and Wolverhampton, where he formed a relationship with Carl."

    Robinson told the Newcastle Herald this week that he wants to bring through young players and Bazeley has a strong record in youth development.

    Jets players have been following individual training programs since the A-League was postponed on March 24.

    The league is flagged to restart in August. Technically players can train in groups of up to 10 from Friday when NSW enters phase one of the COVID-safe framework.

    However, McKinna said the Jets would continue to train as is for now.

    "All A-League clubs have agreed to come back to training at the same time once the FFA and PFA (players union) have sorted out a return date," McKinna said. "A few of the boys have been training in pairs. If they were to get together it would be off their own back. The club won't start training until the league has given the go ahead."

    McKinna is working with FFA to get the coaches back to Australia for the start of training.

    "The understanding is that once the borders are opened, essential service people will be allowed in first and we will be putting in a request to have Carl and Kenny fast-tracked," McKinna said. "We make the request to FFA who go through the appropriate body."

    The Jets have matches remaining against Wellington, Central Coast, Sydney FC and Western United. They are three points behind sixth-placed Western United, who have played two games less.

    Robinson is planning a mini pre-season before the league restarts.

    Conditioning coach Brice Johnson and physio Nathan Renwick are "dealing with the physical aspects".

    "My biggest thing will be reaffirming what we worked on in the eight weeks I was there," he said.


    "I also want them to be adaptable in relation to a different formation. I am going to bring in different type of players next season, and I want to have plan b and plan c. es, we are fighting for results and we still want to get to the play-offs ... it's also an opportunity for me to try different things with different people."
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  12. #1232
    Senior Member turbojetfireV8's Avatar
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    Robinson looking to youth to replace unavailable internationals

    MAY 10 2020 - 8:00PM
    A-League: Robinson to arm Jets with nation's young guns
    James Gardiner
    Newcastle Jets

    COACH Carl Robinson wants to bring the best young Australian players to the Newcastle Jets for what he anticipates will be a very different looking A-League post COVID-19.

    Robinson is "itching to get back on the training field" and is eagerly awaiting the lifting of Australian border restrictions so he can return from Vancouver, Canada, where he has spent the past month with wife Laura, 17-year-old daughter Lowri and son Milo, 11

    The A-League, postponed on March 24, is expected to resume in August.


    The Jets have four games remaining, which are likely to be played behind closed doors at a central hub, and are an outside chance of making the play-offs. Western United hold sixth spot on 27 points, three ahead of the Jets, but have played two less games.

    Robinson, who along with assistant coach Kenny Miller faces 14 days in isolation on return to Australia, is preparing to be without imports Joe Ledley, Bobby Burns and Wes Hoolahan.

    Ledley and Burns have returned to Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.

    Hoolahan, whose wife Emma is pregnant, departs for Ireland this week.

    "There are no guarantees that international players, one, will be allowed back in the country and, two, can actually get back based upon the league rules," Robinson said. "I have to prepare as though I won't have my international players.

    "Arroyo is still in Australia which is good. It's tough because we are in a good place and on a good run of form. It also gives me a chance to have a look at the young ones."

    Roy O'Donovan, who is awaiting Australian citizenship, is the only foreigner contracted beyond this season.

    The absence of internationals may be a sign to the future.

    Robinson, though focused on finishing in the top six, is also looking ahead to next season and the prospect of a cut to the $3.2 million salary cap and cost cutting across the league due to the financial impact from COVID-19.

    "Based upon projection of what is going to happen next season, I have to find some talented young national team players within the 17-to-22 age group to add to the players we have already - Johnny Koutroumbis, Matty Millar, Connor O'Toole, Angus Thurgate, Makis and Kosta Petratos," he said.

    "I have been spending a lot of time looking at young Australian players in Europe as well as at the other A-League clubs.

    "I want the nucleus of players from Australia. In the worst-case scenario and the salary cap is cut, we are OK. If it is not the worst case scenario then we are in a really good position to strengthen with another key international player if we need one."

    Robinson has been in constant contact with staff and will return to Newcastle as soon as possibe.

    "The key thing for me was to get back with my family [in Canada] when it all started," he said. " It has been a tough few weeks. We are moving house so I have been packing boxes. I have watched all of our games again, I have watched half the A-League games. I have been doing analysis on teams I admire, Hoffenheim, Dortmund and teams like that.

    "Now, I'm itching to get on the training field. I had a year out [from coaching] which was great and I needed it. Once I got back in, I'm hands on and with the boys all the time. I want to be back there. There was never any thought of me saying 'I can wait, I can wait'. I want to be back there as soon as possible. Kenny is the same. We saw the success we had in a short period of time. We want to reset, rebuild and bring more youngsters through."

    Jets players have been following individual programs and Robinson plans to give them 10 days off once a starting date for team training has been confirmed.

    "If the games are in August and the boys are going to start training in July, there is still six weeks between now and that point," he said. "After the season, there will probably be a month off and then another pre-season. Once it's confirmed, I will give them maybe 10 days total rest. I want them to do nothing before they come in and we start to build them up once we get some dates.

    "I'm used to having five-week preseasons in Major League Soccer. I do all my pre-season with the ball."

    The Jets have games against Wellington, Central Coast, Sydney and Western United remaining.

    "I'll say to the boys, we have four fixtures left against good teams, go and enjoy yourself and play the way we want to play," he said. "There will be one team who surprises. We have put ourselves in a position where we could be that team. That will be our aim."
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  13. #1233
    Senior Member turbojetfireV8's Avatar
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    Boogs awaiting restart

    A-League: Jets skipper keen for early take off
    James Gardiner
    Newcastle Jets

    JETS captain Nigel Boogaard hopes the NSW Government are quick to implement step one of the Roadmap to Covidsafe announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday and allow gatherings of up to 10 people outdoors.

    .

    Jets players, like all those in the A-League, have been training in isolation since the season was postponed on March 24.


    Although an official start date is yet to be locked in, A-League clubs have been flagged to resume training in July, with the competition to restart in August.

    The resumption plan was confirmed after Foxtel finalised their $12 million quarterly broadcast rights installment last week.

    "It is is good to know that Foxtel have fulfilled their commitment to pay FFA," Boogaard said. "We are still waiting to see how much of that is passed on to the clubs and the players.

    "In terms of time frames, I know it has been tabled that we go back to training at the start of July and play games in August but the playing group would like to get back earlier, and as soon as possible, to prepare properly for what is likely to be a very chaotic month."

    The Jets have games remaining against Wellington, Central Coast, Sydney and Western United. Some clubs have six games to play, which will be condensed to a three-to-four week period.

    The Jets have been following individual programs for six weeks.

    "Our opinion is that as soon as we can get into competitive training, the more it will reduce the risks," Boogaard said.

    "Injury prevention is obviously a big thing, but the quality of the product is important as well. We don't want to restart the league and the product is a long way off what it was when we finished.

    "The bare minimum would be a month. To get the league back to the standard it was and allow the players to get back to peak fitness, I can't see that being sufficient enough time ... ideally, we would love to be reinstated tomorrow and get back to training."

    Boogaard is on the executive of the Professional Footballers Australia players union and has been part of a committee working with FFA on a plan to complete the season.

    "The players have been very involved," Boogaard said. "There have been group talks with [Head Of A-League] Greg O'Rourke and [FFA boss] James Johnson.

    "It is good that the FFA are willing to open up and answer the players' questions and let us get an understanding of where things are from their point of view.

    "As bad as it [COVID-19] has been for everyone, it has united all the stakeholders and we are starting to work together to come up with better solutions for the future. I applaud what FFA are doing in opening that avenue for discussion. That is how the game is going to grow. Not to say that the players deserve the right to make policy, but it's important that they understand our point of view when those decisions are being made."

    Boogaard believed it was essential for teams to resume group training at the same time.

    "It is about maintaining sporting integrity and making sure there is not too much disparity between when teams return to training, " he said. "If it's a week or two, that may be acceptable. You don't want a position where, say, Perth overtake Sydney to win the league because they were able to get back on the park earlier to train."

    The Jets had won three of their last four to move to 24 points, three outside the top six when the season was halted. However, sixth-placed Western United have played two games less.


    "The focus for us - not knowing if we would come back or not - was to finish on the right note," the Jets skipper said.

    "To walk away from the Melbourne City win, knowing we are capable of beating someone who is supposed to challenge for the title. We are building towards bigger things this season and next year as well. There is still a sniff and we will keep pushing. The mentality at this club is that we go until the end."
    Life isn't the same without Con... but it can only improve without Tinks...

  14. #1234
    Senior Member Frodo's Avatar
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    Hearts have said that Burns won't be allowed back to us no matter what happens, as his loan deal has expired and they don't want to extend it.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jeterpool View Post
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  15. #1235
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    Hearts would be lucky to beat the jets so who cares
    Quote Originally Posted by pv4 View Post
    You are easily the worst person on this forum. Srs.

  16. #1236
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    Quote Originally Posted by My2BobsWorth View Post
    Hearts would be lucky to beat the jets so who cares
    Yep this. They have no ticker

  17. #1237
    Senior Member turbojetfireV8's Avatar
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    Foxsports JOWIC story - apparently he is up in Brisvegas at the moment but no plans to return to football:

    HOMEFOOTBALLA LEAGUE
    ‘No regrets’: The rising star who gave up football to become a rapper in LA
    A-LEAGUE
    May 30, 2020 1:31pm
    by ZAC RAYSON
    Source: FOX SPORTS

    In August 2019, one of Australia’s brightest young talents stunned the football world by announcing he was leaving the A-League for Los Angeles to pursue a career in hip-hop.
    Now, 10 months later, Joe Champness – aka JOWIC – is riding out the coronavirus crisis in Brisbane with family and celebrating the recent release of a music video on one of hip-hop’s most popular platforms.

    In this exclusive interview for Fox Sports, he opens up on the growth of his musical career, his enduring love for football, and having ‘no regrets’.

    Watch Kayo-Mini Football Replays On-Demand with KAYO. A-League, Socceroos, Matildas plus European and English leagues. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

    HOW IT ALL BEGAN

    For Champness, football and music have always been twin passions. The Auckland-born 23-year-old arrived in Australia when he was five, and it wasn’t long before he was chasing both dreams.

    “I think my earliest memories of performing are in grade six. My primary school I’d be rehearsing and writing music during the lunch times.

    “I’d be playing sport but I’d also be writing – and then as soon as we go back into class I would be asking the teacher if I could rap for the class!

    “That’s my earliest memory and from then onwards it was just ‘I like writing and making music’, it kind stuck with me.”

    In high school, he struck up a friendship with another hip-hop lover – his DJ, ‘Watty’. The pair continue to collaborate closely on music in the US.

    “We go all the way back to middle school, skipping class a little bit in the studio working on music. He stuck by me the whole time with the music. It’s just good to be able to do what you love with good people.”

    The decision to walk out on the Jets and his already-established football career was a courageous one. But it’s not the first time Champness has jetted across the world to pursue a dream.

    In 2017, having signed an academy deal with Newcastle, Joey and another promising Jets teenager were loaned to a Portuguese second-division team, Academica de Coimbra.

    A flashy winger, Champness unsurprisingly developed swiftly in the nation of megastar Cristiano Ronaldo – but he was still working on his music ambitions.

    “I set up a studio in the wardrobe! The first thing I did when we landed in Portugal, the first thing I did was I found a music store and I bought the necessary equipment. We set up the only good place in the bedroom to record was in the wardrobe. So that’s what I did, I was recording in a tiny wardrobe.

    “(It hurt) my cooking because I’d put the food on and then I’d go record in the wardrobe. And then it would burn.

    Living with fellow Jets youngster Antonee Burke-Gilroy, Champness says “He can definitely vouch for me burning whatever it was I was cooking because I was too busy recording.”

    THE BALANCING ACT

    Back in Australia, Champness quickly rose into the Jets’ senior squad and earned a spot in the Olyroos – Australia’s under-23 squad which recently qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.

    He was making a name in Newcastle as an emerging artist too. The club was fully aware, and never tried to dissuade him from his music. If anything, the opposite was true.

    After the disappointing loss of the 2018/19 A-League grand final, where Champness came on as a substitute in front of Newcastle’s largest-ever home crowd, JOWIC was lined up to perform ahead of the next home game. Thousands came early to see Joey perform outside the stadium.

    CEO Lawrie McKinna was sidestage, having organised the gig. He danced, chanted along with the crowd, hugged Champness at the end of the set. Joey – already a popular player for his direct approach to defenders – signed dozens of shirts, took plenty of selfies.

    His teammates, too, were always supportive.

    “The boys always wanted me to do a little freestyle, (asking) ‘Joey do a freestyle for us, Joey’s gonna rap’. I didn’t usually do it just like that!

    “I just told them to play my music. I said ‘you want to hear me rap, then play my music. I’m trying to chill out.’”


    THE DECISION

    In the end, Champness knew he had to choose. Football or music. An established career and a path to the Socceroos – or a leap of faith into the world of hip-hop.

    “I made the decision that I wanted to fully commit to the music … It was just one of those things where I felt strongly about it. I’m not the type of person who’s gonna ignore it or something like that.”

    And so, after a trial month in LA, he walked away with the Jets’ blessing and with the support of his teammates.

    “They were really good about it, just like the club were really good, really supportive. I’ve got some really encouraging messages from the boys and, and from senior members of the squad as well. It’s all love for sure.”

    He recognised that it could cost him his other love – football – but made peace with the sacrifice.

    “When I made that decision, it was my mindset was always, like you’re making that decision to be successful in music. I had to accept that potentially I’m not playing another game.”

    It was a staggeringly bold decision, especially as Champness had no record deal and few contacts to call on.

    “When I went out there, I didn’t really know anyone, you know what I mean? And I was just really blessed to come into contact with people that I connected to on a friendship level and on the business level.

    “No matter how things end up going, I’m thankful for those experiences and those kinds of relationships as well … the ones that took me under their wing and showed me the ropes.”

    THE BACKLASH

    Plenty was said when Champness flew the proverbial coop.

    Some expected him to come crawling back to the Jets – he has two years remaining on an agreement to rejoin Newcastle if he does choose to restart his football career – and few believed he would have what it takes in LA.

    But Champness didn’t listen.

    “Whenever you’re trying to pursue something, there’s always going to be people saying things and that doesn’t bother me one bit, you know. In fact, I definitely take it as motivation and nothing more. I never take anything negative too personally.”

    He put his head down and worked. Learned from experienced names in the industry, built a tight team and honed his sound. Champness spent his time in the studio – mostly a large home studio, far from the cramped wardrobe of his Portugal dorm – and he didn’t play shows.

    His influences?

    “I gotta say my top three at this time: Biggie (Notorious BIG); Jay Z; and in the modern day – in the last decade – the numbers aren’t really lying about Drake being an influential artist. So those three are probably, from the standpoint of music (my biggest influences).”


    TODAY

    On Friday, Champness released a music video for his single ‘My Plan’ – the culmination of his time in LA.

    It was released on World Star Hip Hop, an iconic platform for the urban scene which boasts 23.5 million YouTube followers, and is well known for establishing the careers of gifted young artists.

    The video racked up 75,000 viewers in 24 hours, and Champness says former Jets teammates have reached out with congratulations and to share the song.

    Watch the video at the end of the story.

    Coronavirus scuppered his plans to celebrate and promote the release with his LA team, forcing him to head home in recent weeks.

    “I had to do the whole two week (quarantine) thing, two weeks at the hotel. It gave me a lot of time to write music, you could say that. Literally just sitting in a hotel room for two weeks.”

    Back in Brisbane, he’s enjoying seeing his family – but he’s not letting his foot off the accelerator.

    “It’s always good spend time with family, they’re the most important people in my life.

    “(But) I can work from anywhere in the world.”

    For now, the single is his priority. But he has big plans for the future – and he still bears the trademark confidence Jets fans saw so often when he was on the field.

    “Everyone wants to be the best and that’s what I want to be – the best me that I can be. “I’m a very competitive person. And once I set my sights on something, I think it’s very important to be to be ruthless in what you’re doing. Whatever it is, I think it’s best to fully commit.

    “The goal is to just see me and my people on top.”

    ‘NO REGRETS’

    Champness is still in regular contact with his ex-teammates (“Obviously I watch the games and everything like that”) but he’s not thinking about returning to the fold any time soon.

    “I love football. It’s always gonna be a part of me, but no regrets. I’ve got no regrets whatsoever.

    “You know, I’ve learned a lot, not only as an artist (but) as a person, and the music’s moving forward. I think if people really look at what’s going on, they’re gonna appreciate how far the music’s come in the last while and hopefully see the potential in what could be to come.”
    https://youtu.be/0ZQv8JWnrGg
    Life isn't the same without Con... but it can only improve without Tinks...

  18. #1238
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    I think it"s time lorry fukt off
    Quote Originally Posted by pv4 View Post
    You are easily the worst person on this forum. Srs.

  19. #1239
    Senior Member StannyCFCJET's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by My2BobsWorth View Post
    I think it"s time lorry fukt off
    **** no. The good Lawrie has done for this club far outweighs the little if any bad

  20. #1240
    Senior Member Frodo's Avatar
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    Question

    Quote Originally Posted by StannyCFCJET View Post
    **** no. The good Lawrie has done for this club far outweighs the little if any bad
    What good? We are still a poorly run club with an owner who wants out. The only difference between the current situation and the one before Lawrie got here is the amount of ex-gypos stinking up the place. Our kits are still the wrong colours, the beer is still mid-strength, we still don't have Jets shaped hats, our wooden spoon collection is more likely to increase than our trophy cabinet for the foreseeable future...

    We are a club that no one takes seriously, and for good reason. Having an ex mayor of Gosford isn't doing anything to fix that.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jeterpool View Post
    I do it just for you. My goal in life is to have a quote in someone's signature.

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