The 2011/12 season started off with feelings of expectation for Newcastle Jets fans. Branko Culina had his first full pre-season with players he both wanted and rated. It was a chance for him to shine after a managerial career littered with premature sackings and unfinished business.
There were the doubters, and many of them, but most were content to either see him fail and get the sack or to succeed and prove them wrong.
The Culina saga, however, meant there would be no such chance. Jason Culina’s failed rehabilitation from an existing knee injury, and he and Branko’s subsequent sackings, sent the club’s season into disarray.
The second coming of Gary van Egmond, after his flight to the AIS, was the result of the messy fall-out. Signed to a two-year contract, GVE wanted to bring in a free-flowing, high-paced game.
Yet his man-management left something to be desired, and his unwavering approach to tactics gave off a persona of arrogance.
He blindsided arguably the club’s best player, Kasey Wehrman, for disciplinary reasons, and refused to play youngster Chris Payne, effectively taking away more than $300,000 in wages from his playing roster.
It took time for his side to get comfortable with his style of play, though credit to the man he kept at it. Yet there were still too many inconsistencies between performances, despite the team looking attractive at times.
Fantastic wins over Brisbane, Melbourne Victory and Sydney were coupled with similarly emphatic losses to Wellington, Gold Coast and Melbourne Heart.
They hit form during the finals run-in, but ultimately blew off their hard work with a woeful away loss to Sydney on the last day of the season.
Overall the season has to be deemed unsuccessful.
Defenders struggled to play the ball out from the back, an imposing central midfielder was missing and the lack of an out-and-out striker, pace, and a talented playmaker made adaption to the tactics difficult.
While positives can be taken from Elrich and Zadkovich’s late form, as well as some solid performances from Ben Kennedy, the failure of Tiago to live up to his reputation and the shakiness of the defence was disappointing.
In the end it was probably a good thing the Jets failed to make the top six.
Next season is GVE’s year, just like season 2011/2012 should have been Branko’s. The Jets again have a chance to have a full pre-season with one manager, and GVE has the luxury of having a number of players coming off contract and with it the ability to sign his own team.
It’s time for GVE to match his own opinion of his talents with that of the public. With Central Coast losing some of its best players, and Perth, Wellington, Heart and Sydney failing to step up, a top-two spot is there for the taking and should be the target.
Anything less than top six would be inexcusable.
There’s a lot to look forward to and most Jets fans will be confident that given a full off-season and financial backing, GVE can once again deliver some silverware.
Best Result
You can’t ignore a 1-0 win against Brisbane away from home. The goal was class, Wheelhouse and Kantarovski combining brilliantly from a quick free-kick, and some resolute defending saw the team through.
It probably wasn’t the team’s best performance but its significance was immense. It was the Jets’ first away win for more than a year and the next week they went to Sydney and trounced them 5-2.
Worst Result
The 3-2 loss against Sydney on what would prove to be the final match of the season. Some terrible defending, questionable tactics and substitutions lead to an disappointing result.
Best Player
It has to be Ben Kennedy, who went some way to proving the doubters wrong. Still shaky on the old cross but the vampire finally showed some consistency. Zadkovich follows closely behind.
Best Young Player
Jacob Pepper is the man to grab this award. The 19 year old went from youth team captain to first team regular, and managed an Olyroos debut to boot. He has a promising A-League future ahead of him.
Best Signing
It should have been Tiago, but he was a bit of a flop. So the award goes to Connor Chapman, even though he only managed a brief stint in the first team. Should be installed as a starter alongside Topor-Stanley and Regan in a back three next year.
Best Goal
Jeremy Brockie against the Gold Coast in January. The Kiwi could claim a few contenders for goal of the season but this was the pick of the bunch.
A nice one-two between Bridges and Topor-Stanley saw the latter swing in a cross from the left, Brockie on hand to guide an inch-perfect header past Tyson into the top corner. Brilliant.
Jets fans are in for an interesting off-season, with a few new faces incoming and more players yet to depart and arrive. Next season is a chance for GVE to prove his managerial credentials.
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