Every Newcastle player will need to defend on Friday if they’re to stand any chance of stopping Sydney FC’s rampant strike force, coach Phil Stubbins says.
The Sky Blues travel to Hunter Stadium on Friday fresh from the heart-stopping 4-3 win over Western Sydney last week, where they scored their 19th goal in just five games.
Marquee striker Marc Janko has been at the centre of all the action, netting eight of them himself to climb to the top of the league’s goal scorers’ list with 12 for the season.
Should he get one past the Jets on Friday he’ll equal the league record of scoring in six consecutive games.
And Stubbins, whose side has still only posted one win this season, knows the Jets will be up against it.
“Tomorrow we’re all going to have to be working our absolute socks off from the font line and that will help the back line,” he said on Thursday.
“If we all work as a team defensively hopefully that’s going to be enough to limit Sydney’s opportunities.”
In good news for the Jets they’ll have exciting young talent Andrew Hoole and Ben Kantarovski back from suspension while new Serbian recruit Enver Alivodic has already slotted in well after debuting last week.
Sitting at ninth on the ladder and desperate to break their eight-game winless run, Stubbins’ side has shown some promising signs in their last few outings.
And Stubbins knows matching it with a red-hot Sydney would be the ultimate proof things are on the up.
“I think we’ve all got something to prove against Sydney, they’re a very good side at the moment and probably close to title favourites,” he said.
“Arnie has got a bag of riches in the front third to choose from.
“But our boys are focused on the job at hand and we’re going to be going out there ready for the contest.”
The Sky Blues will also be forced into at least a couple of changes with both left-back Alex Gersbach and midfielder Mickael Tavares suspended.
While Terry Antonis will be a direct replacement for Tavares, Arnold has a few options in defence.
Matt Jurman could be shifted to left-back with Sebastian Ryall partnering Nikola Petkovic in the centre of defence with either Rhyan Grant or Aaron Calver will on the right.
Fadida
Guest
The tragedy is that a competent coach could make them competitive, a good coach could turn them around in 6 months. Unfortunately Stinkler has no football knowledge and is taken in by Stubbins coach-speak
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
And yet he endures, cliches and all. The Jets will never advance while he is at the helm, but the Boganaire believes in him. What a mess.
Fadida
Guest
More classic Stubbins; "work our socks off", "contest". Where is "moving forward", "putting in a shift", "boys becoming men", "win individual battles", "be on our mettle"? You're slipping Stubbins. Even your cliches aren't of the early season quality! Stubbins never talks about how he might improve the team tactically. I imagine the "boys" watching Braveheart in the sheds pre-game, before warming up to "eye of the tiger" and "final countdown". I'd much rather him work out how to combat SFC's superiority in centre midfield, or exploiting their susceptible defence on the counter attack (Hoole is perfect for thsi). Sadly I doubt he will, because "passion" and "fight" are all that are needed. Apparently. "risin' up back on the street, did my time took my chances..." No wonder the foreign players got out as soon as they could. Imagine their faces when Stubbins got into flow......