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.
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