Among other things we haven?t had a top level keeper for sometime.
Among other things we haven?t had a top level keeper for sometime.
TBH, apart from Auckland the GK cupboard is pretty bare.Originally Posted by mge61
Only one bloke on this foz constantly makes me laugh Plague and it ain't you - MFKS
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.
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles
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.
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.
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.
Last edited by Jeterpool; 29-04-2025 at 11:18 AM.
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles
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.
Which is probably not far from reality.
Still one game to go.
Let me put what I said a different way.
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.
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles
I think that was Stanton
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles
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.
I must have missed Taylor's extension last year was on an initial 2 year contract, not one.
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles
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.
Last edited by Jeterpool; 30-04-2025 at 11:43 AM.
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles
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
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles
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.
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
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