Newcastle Jets coach Phil Stubbins questioned whether a “fear factor” when in front was hurting his win-less side after they gave up their fifth advantage this season to lose 3-1 to Wellington Phoenix at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
Phoenix came from behind with three goals in five minutes to extend the Jets’ drought this season to nine games.
The Jets were on top on the scoreboard and in chances created before Nathan Burns rounded goalkeeper Ben Kennedy to equalise in the 73rd minute after a beautiful ball from Rolieny Bonevacia.
A minute later, an unmarked Michael McGlinchey tapped home Bonevacia’s shot, which Jets keeper Ben Kennedy had pushed onto the far post.
The stunning turnaround was complete in the 78th minute when Fiji international Roy Krishna cannoned a stunning strike from the edge of the area into the top-left corner of goal to make it 3-1.
The hosts had the better of the first half and led in the 24th minute when Joel Griffiths tapped home a ball from Andrew Hoole following excellent work from David Carney down the right.
Wellington’s win was their fifth in nine games, while the loss was Newcastle’s fifth and left them on four points.
Stubbins was again searching for answers after the Jets failed to capitalise on another lead.
“It’s very disappointing,” Stubbins said.
“Is there a fear of being in front?
“We’re certainly good enough to go and get goals, it’s been proven, but thereafter to fall down and get ourselves in a situation now where we’re sort of questioning ourselves
“I’ll certainly have to have a look how we address taking the lead and how we want to play after that.
“We can go out there and park the bus for 90 minutes and hope to get through the game, but I don’t think that’s the way to go.”
While Wellington coach Ernie Merrick praised his fleet-footed strike-force of Burns, Bonevacia and Krishna, he believed the turning point came in the 71st minute when Vince Lia replaced Alex Rodriguez, who had five stitches to a head cut.
“We rode our luck a little bit but we were playing good football and we talked about that at halftime,” Merrick said.
“I asked the boys to start pushing forward. They didn’t do it initially but the change of bringing on Vince Lia allowed me to push Roli Bonevacia forward even more with McGlinchey… and that was the difference.
Both sides had chances in a free-flowing first half.
Griffiths’ was denied by the crossbar in the 14th minute. The Jets also went close when Carney hit the top-left corner of the woodwork from a free kick in the 43rd minute and Jacob Pepper, who came in the seventh minute for an injured Billy Celeski, had a shot smothered in the 34th.
For Wellington, McGlinchey hit a Burns ball over the crossbar from the six-yard line in the 21st minute and had a shot blocked in the 44th.
fadida
Guest
Who would Hoole start ahead of at Sfc ,Glory, AU and MV? I'm pretty sure Carney would struggle to make their squads. Monatano is showing signs but again wouldn't be a top 4 starter
jamesb
Guest
Which Jets players would be starters? I probably go with Carney, Hoole, Montaño and Neville as you mentioned. The other thing also is, when you got players on the wrong side of 30, like Jaliens, Griffith's and Madashi, and add to it with poor conditioning, then it may give you some idea why the Jets are struggling.
Fadida
Guest
I agree that the skeleton of the team should be competitive. Unfortunately if you have a poor coach and levels of fitness way below those expected from a professional team you aren't going to maximise your ability. I'd like to raise a question though, which of the Jers players would be starters at a top 4, or even top 6 club? I'd argue Neville is possibly the only one that anyone else would want. A weak squad with an even weaker backroom staff
jamesb
Guest
....and the Jets need to replace Jonny Steele.
jamesb
Guest
With the A League having a long off season, it probably is hard for players to keep fitness levels up during the off season. But that shouldn't be an excuse. Actually, I still think Newcastle has some talented and experienced players in their squad. Neumann, Montaño, Griffths, Flores, Carney, Jaliens, Madashi, Kanta, Celeski, Hoole etc are no mugs. Sure, perhaps a couple of them are closer to the end of their careers. But, if that squad had the right conditioning, and had the right coach who can get the best out of his players, especially in a tactical sense, then IMO, that squad is good enough to play finals. Pretty obvious from yesterdays game and the one against Brisbane, conditioning is the problem.
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Watching the game yesterday, I wondered if the Jets were properly fit. Then I put the thought aside; professional players should always be fit. But then in the post-mortem, Adam Peacock raised the issue of fitness and threw it open for Bozza and Rudan to discuss. There appeared to be an underlying assumption that the players might not be at peak fitness and Rudan was asked whether a team could crank up their fitness during, rather than before, a season. He thinks it's possible. Fadida, above, is convinced the Jets don't have the conditioning to last until the bitter end of matches. Griffo, also above, cites the risk of flogging players at training to raise fitness too quickly. Nine games in and no wins. The coach always cops it and Phil Stubbins must be feeling the pressure.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Certainly wouldn't have any issues in not following club philosophy... I wonder if Middleby will pull the plug? No funds to pay out a season and a half for Stubbins. Not a good look for business in selling the club. Not sure they could pick someone decent even if available, if even interested. Can they even afford it right now? Just can't see Stubbins going this season until the usual end of season review, if at all. Not while the talk out of the club is we are in sniffing distance of the top six. At this rate we'll know by Christmas I think.
Griffo
Roar Guru
One of my fears with cost cutting in the conditioning department is the risk of soft tissue injuries, particularly if there is inexperience in training methods or recovery. Hope Flores isn't the first in a long list of players to suffer. If the staff are trying to flog the players at training to raise fitness too quickly then that is a risk, as is performance over a number of rounds while players bodies catch up. Don't need another item on the list to be trotted out at pressers...
Fadida
Guest
On the plus side one M. Mulvey is available...
Fadida
Guest
They can't hold a lead because they lack the conditioning to compete past about 60-65 minutes. It was very obvious that once WP scored there could only be one winner. Not only do the Jets have the weakest squad, but they easily have the worst conditioned squad. The last 30 minutes of the games feature enormous gaps in midfied as the team fail woefully to transition And a coach whose simply not up to it