Lose both Birraz and BK we might be in trouble (reckon Birraz will be off again end of season chasing the Eurodream), though I wouldn't blame BK if he took a better offer somewhere else offering $$$, he's still got plenty of years left in him as a keeper and it's pretty obvious he's a wallflower as far as Jets are concerned...
Life isn't the same without Con... but it can only improve without Tinks...
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/38...r-jets/?cs=306
Newcastle Jets: Scott Miller juggles A-League squad turnover By Michael Parris
March 30, 2016, 10:40 a.m.
JIGSAW PUZZLE: Scott Miller has one more year to run on his contract at the Jets. Half of his squad are off contract at the end of this season. Picture: Getty Images
THE Jets’ turnover of players in recent seasons has been nothing short of dizzying. The merry-go-round doesn’t look like stopping any time soon, but the club will hope it at least slows down.
Of the 32 players who took the field in Jets colours last season, 21 have left the club, and coach Scott Miller has inherited a squad in which half of the 22 players will come off contract at the end of this season.
Regular starters Mark Birighitti, right back Jason Hoffman, fellow local product Ben Kantarovski and the imported attacking quartet of Enver Alivodic, Morten Nordstrand, Leonardo and Milos Trifunovic are all reaching the end of their current deals.
Birighitti could try his luck again overseas, opening the door for local boy Ben Kennedy, perhaps the best back-up keeper in the league, to again take the No.1 shirt. Kantarovski, who has proved valuable filling in for suspended centre backs this season, and Hoffman will hope they have done enough to earn another season or two.
But the main focus for Miller will be in the attacking third, where the Jets have struggled for most of the season, and especially during a run of six goalless games in December and January.
The Jets claimed the wooden spoon last season under Phil Stubbins, winning just three games, scoring 23 goals and conceding a calamitous 55 in compiling only 17 points.
All of those statistics have improved under Miller (seven wins, 37 goals against, 27 points) except the goals-for column. Newcastle’s 23 goals in 25 games is seven fewer than the last-placed Mariners’ attacking haul and includes five penalties.
The Jets have, as Miller promised, been harder to beat this season and have had spells in just about every game when they have been on top. Their inability to capitalise on this ascendancy is the main reason they will spend a sixth straight season watching the finals series from home.
Winger Alivodic has played more minutes than any other Jets outfield player in 2015-16. He has scored only once and contributed just three assists, but Miller may value his high work rate.
The artistic Leonardo has been a joy to watch confounding defenders in the middle of the park, but he has not scored, struck only two shots on target and provided three assists in 16 starts.
Danish striker Morten Nordstrand, who arrived late in the January transfer window, looks the most likely of the four imports in the front third to earn another contract. Miller praised the 32-year-old’s football intelligence and finishing ability last week after the 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory.
The former international has offered better mobility and hold-up play at No.9 since switching from the wing in place of Trifunovic in recent weeks and may be even sharper after a full pre-season in Australia.
The Jets player with by far the most goals in the A-League, 30-year-old Labinot Haliti, has missed almost the entire season through injury but will be akin to a new signing in the second year of his contract next season.
The bottom line for Miller is that he needs more output from his attacking players: more goals, more assists, more athleticism. Whether he gets the funds to finance such a shopping trip will depend on the club’s ownership.
The FFA has said categorically it won’t open the purse strings while it is in charge, meaning Miller will have to hope for the resources of a new owner or try to uncover a couple of bargain buys.
Elsewhere in the squad, Olyroo Steven Ugarkovic arrived in January and established himself as a first-choice midfielder in front of Kantarovski and the off-contract Cameron Watson. Both Mateo Poljak and Ugarkovic have a year to run on their deals, and it would not be a surprise if Miller tried to lock up 21-year-old Ugarkovic for significantly longer.
Ryan Kitto, another Miller signing, was brought in as an injury replacement for Haliti and has scored twice in 16 appearances.
Newcastle junior Brandon Lundy is coming to the end of his pro youth contract after playing just 75 minutes this season. Midfielder Josh Barresi is off contract after two seasons without a game in the first team.
Miller said last week that he was free to sign players, regardless of the club’s ownership status, and was “progressive” in his thoughts for next season.
The club has been in rebuilding phases since winning the title in 2008 and spent much of last season looking shambolic on and off the field. But they have been more consistent and easier on the eye this season, and they have used only 22 players, 10 fewer than in the previous campaign.
Miller has spoken of wanting to avoid such a crowd of players coming off contract at the same time in future years. Now, at the end of his first season as a head coach, he faces the start of that juggling act. It won’t help that nine more of his players are off contract in 2017.
Home-grown captain Nigel Boogaard, one of only two Jets with contracts until 2018, told the Herald last week that stability was crucial to the club’s success.
“Next year there’s a lot of boys coming off contract, but I think the biggest thing is that the core is still there, a core base to build on,” he said. “I think as long as that’s still around we’ll be in a very good position for next year.”
Miller, a former assistant technical coach at Fulham, himself has one more season to run on his contract.
An FFA spokesman said the governing body could not stipulate that the coaching staff be retained by a new owner, but Boogaard said Miller deserved to be at the helm long-term.
“What the gaffer’s been able to achieve in a short turnaround, and pretty much the inherited squad that he had to take on, and new to the league and things like that, I think he’s done wonders for the club both on and off the field.
“He’s very well respected around this club and among the playing group, but also around the league. I think it would be a great thing if he was given a bit more time here, and in years to come I think we could build something special with his guidance.”
JETS’ CONTRACT STATUS
Off contract: Enver Alivodic (import), Josh Barresi, Mark Birighitti, Jason Hoffman, Ben Kantarovski, Ryan Kitto (injury replacement), Leonardo (import), Brandon Lundy (pro youth), Morten Nordstrand (import), Milos Trifunovic (import), Cameron Watson
One more season: Andy Brennan, Mitch Cooper, Labinot Haliti, Lachlan Jackson, Ben Kennedy, Daniel Mullen, Radovan Pavicevic, Mateo Poljak (import), Steven Ugarkovic
Two more seasons: Nigel Boogaard, Nick Cowburn
Life isn't the same without Con... but it can only improve without Tinks...
What was the go last night on NBN news Mullsy training away from the rest of the group, any idea why? Couldn't find a clip on NBN's site
Life isn't the same without Con... but it can only improve without Tinks...
someone on facebook said their dad works with his dad and he's going overseas cause his GF is going to play neyball
Originally Posted by lquiquer
Mullen going??
Wouldn't be a bad thing.
He is on far much coin than he actually worth
Why the **** has the Hoff and Birraz not been re signed yet??
****ing joke
You may remember a story released a few weeks ago that seemed to suggest that for once contract negotiations would be kept in-house.
Hopefully this is true and a few players have already signed new deals without any fanfare
They can keep the negotiations in house for all I care
But as soon as anyone resigns it makes no sense in keeping it quiet
It resassures fans and sponsors and keeps a positive image also helps the club signing new players
Extending contracts and not saying anything publically is actually a bad PR stunt that it sounds like stuff past admin of the club would do
I'd be really, really interested to see if anyone was willing to offer him more coin than he's currently on elsewhere. I wonder if there's ever been a more expensive backup GK in the HAL. Mayyyybe when Phoenix had both Paston & Moss?
OK
Seriously doubt BK would head overseas with the state of his mum's health.
Vukovic and Thomas at Victory.
Sorensen and Velapi at City
Theo and Young at Brisbane
Bosnic and Vukovic at CCM
Last edited by Premy; 31-03-2016 at 10:41 AM.
wasn't coe sitting on the bench for a while for Victory at some point too?
Wow, can't believe what I'm reading.
So the Hoff has really won you over member?
Can confirm BK was at training. Can confirm he will be our reserve grade keeper.
Think that's precisely the point.
We start hearing about who has already signed, it brings into question those that remain. Let's just wait and see what happens
they announced jackson and cowburn when they resigned why change the system now
So Twitter says we've made an offer to Ben Khalfallah (however the **** you spell it) as marquee.
So obvs that's Leo and Milos gone, can we keep Nobby if that happens? Seems were replacing like for like yeah?
We should also make an offer to Delpierre.....That would be good to maintain their French .....and they can come and talk to lquiquer
Dare to Zlatan
Originally Posted by Grimario
He won't make that mistake at Newcastle since our team is full of number 2's.
He's retiring though isnt he?
He is apparently having second thoughts
Dare to Zlatan
Originally Posted by Grimario
He won't make that mistake at Newcastle since our team is full of number 2's.
As soon as Ugarkovic put the ball in the net at Shittounge the Hoff won me.
His reaction to the away support said enough
If we can't be good I would rather a team of blokes like the Hoff who get it.
Who cares if they are frustrating and shit.
Love blokes like Labi Griff and him.
Blokes that get what it means to be Newy
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