Fight. Fight. Fight. This is what local sports reporters and writers in Newcastle are saying about the Jets.
The fans of the club are voicing the need for fight until they are hoarse.
Phil Stubbins preaches the notion that his team should fight as doggedly as they possibly can.
However, at the bottom of the A-League ladder, with only a single victory to their name and clearly the worst defensive record in the league, it is clear that the screams of ‘fight’ are not being heeded.
They are a club that simply do not know what their goal is. They do not know how to win, and they do not know how to play football in a way that can make them successful.
Stubbins can talk all he likes about facts, or what he believes are facts, saying that the team has made improvements, but the team has made little to no improvement.
I felt sorry for him when I wrote an article last year about the Newcastle Jets’ poor performance when they lost by four goals to nil against the Brisbane Roar. I said in that article, “If I was Stubbins I would resign from my position – it is clearly untenable.”
I attended a pre-match press conference the day before the recent match against Sydney FC, and watching Stubbins the only constructive word he could say to describe his team’s playing style, or playing goals was “fight”.
So, how can the Newcastle Jets as a club turn their fortunes around?
The answer is simple. Rebuild and restructure the club from the grassroots level up to the first team.
The Newcastle Jets must be built on developing players from a very young age. The players progress up the levels, and hopefully play in the first team. Then, the club can sell the players to clubs which are hopefully not in direct competition with the Jets at a price much greater than what the Jets paid for them. Use the profit to improve facilities at the club, so then you can develop better players, and sell them at an even greater price, gaining a larger profit, and repeat the cycle again.
It is the snowball effect. No elaborate recruitment strategies, just simple, smart and effective work.
However, to do this you must have each and every team in your club playing the same way, in a modern playing style. And that comes from the manager.
Phil Stubbins has shown that he can’t teach good professionals the right way to play, and Nathan Tinkler must sack him.
Freddie
Guest
Both semi-pro comps fat ida. Both poor coaches. Only one gets your usual treatment. Massive chip on the shoulder.
Andy
Guest
UJ, those teams are NOT in the same position as the Jets. WSW- recent aleague form has been poor but they have made the final the last 2 seasons (their first 2 seasons in the comp), and just recently won the ACL for the first time in Oz history. CCM- recent aleague form has not been great, but they have recognized this and sacked Moss, yet they still had won 3 before he left. They have also been successful most seasons, despite the lowest budget and population base, and don't forget that Moss took them to third last season. BR & MelCity- well they're on 25 and 27 points respectively, so how can you compare that to 11points? Both of them have a decent shot at the finals and both have stable club managements. Now for the Jets- we've had 7 (SEVEN) poor seasons in a row. The best we've done in those 7 seasons is scraping into 6th place and then limping out in the first week of finals. We've had horrendous performances this season and unforgiveable management issues. There is obviously something toxic at the very culture of the club. One of the things I find very frustrating about this horrible position the Jets are in is that people seem to have lowered the bar. After some horrendous games, a couple of games which were a bit better and all of a sudden people are talking about how the Jets have got it together. In those few games, the Jets might have improved slightly but they were still relatively poor and we didn't even win one if them!
fadida
Guest
State titles in Victoria equivalent to NSL titles? There goes your credibility guvna
Freddie
Guest
Stubbins won state league titles in Victoria, about the same semi-pro level comps as Nick Alphabet won. Theo's Jets were disorganised, poor defensively, but he bleated on about good football all the time, and how he was a technical coach. Greek surname. Typical Greek coach.
fadida
Guest
And didn't Nick T win a title?
fadida
Guest
Because he's English, and has an English lower league coaches mentality. Hard for you to understand Freddy?. Passion. Fight. Work your socks off etc T'was the ahem great Harry Redknapp who was quoted as saying " don't worry about tactics, just fackin' run around a lot" :)
Freddie
Guest
Ah, fat ida at it again. Never misses a chance to bring nationality into the argument. How about he's just a poor coach? His record is no worse than Nick Theodorakopulous. Was Theos the classic Greek coach?
Bondy
Guest
Midfielder I notice Club Rugby or the Shute Sheild (formerly on the ABC) has just been picked up by Ch7, interesting ...
AZ_RBB
Guest
Wow. Brisbane must be $1.01 to win the Championship now.
fadida
Guest
I believe Roar are trading Broich, Brattan, and Donachy for Stubbins, such is Stubbins genius
Ian
Guest
yes, i'm getting that vibe coming through that there is no story
fadida
Guest
One win in 21 UJ. ONE win in TWENTY ONE games and the coach is doing OK? CCM sacked Moss for a much better record. Popovic won the ACL and titles, so he has form and evidence of his coaching ability, thereby buying him time. Stubbins has none. A goal difference of minus 30. They have not played "really good football". That is a ludicrous comment. Stubbins has sent teams out to lose by as few as possible. Damage limitation. They have lost games they should have won due to his tactical ineptness. One win in 21 games and he deserves more time? Absurd. No coach anywhere else in the world would survive that. And that's without getting into the issue of sacking his selected captain and vice captain, sacking his assistant plus 2 coaches he himself employed. Sacking or ostracising every experienced player in the squad because he is a weak character. As for Tinkler and co, wages and super are still outstanding. Read the lists of players I supplied above. Stinkler has stripped the squad of quality. Stubbins has finished the job. But yes, things are going well. If you are " truly impressed" I'd say you have very limited football intelligence, or you are a Jets employee hiding under a pseudonym.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Just noticed it was started by Soccer Stoppage Time. Nothing to see here.
Ian
Guest
Broich retiring. That would cap things off well. Or Pep has been signed on as coach and Totti coming over for a season. Unless it's the confirmation of another game against a visiting team post season.
Uncle Junior
Guest
I'm saying if Jets are all doom and gloom, there should be doom and gloom for Wanderers and CCM. Maybe even doom and gloom for Brisbane (given they won the double last season, albeit losing 2 key players this season) and City who had David Villa, Robert Koren, Damien Duff plus the most likely Johnny Warren Medal winner in Aaron Mooy. Jets also Taggart and Brillante who are both in the Olyroos team. I'm truly impressed by what I've seen from Jets since the clean out.
Andy
Guest
So..... You're saying that it's looking positive for the Jets because if we hadn't have conceded in the last 15 minutes of those 6 games you mentioned, then we'd be in 9th spot on the ladder and not 10th? Somehow doesn't seem like a particularly strong argument, considering that just a few days ago we were in 9th spot. The doom and gloom at the Jets didn't start last week when the Wanderers won a game and pushed us from 9th to 10th.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Apparently a big story re Brisbane about to be released. What could it be!??!
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
He most certainly has - all all fronts. Simply shocking season, and for fans, there seems no way out - Tinkler is giving no indication he is now funding the club better, nor of any waning support for Stubbins. I'm really hoping Stubbins pulls off a Merrick next season, but I really don't have faith in his abilities anymore.
Smarty
Guest
I have to agree. Stubbins clearly is totally out of his depth. Technical skills and tactical acumen is what is required now in the A-League, not "roll up ya sleeves, lad!". Tinkler should have sacked him after sacking all those players and given someone new a completely clean sheet. Newcastle is incredibly good at supporting football and with the right love and care, the Jets can get back to the glory they had a few seasons ago. Oh how we might wish that we employed Ernie Merrick when we were looking at coaches. But no, the media kept saying how Merrick was washed up and behind the times, playing old school football. That's right, where's his team at now? Oh, wait....
Uncle Junior
Guest
Don't understand the doom and gloom about Newcastle or Stubbins. Since the cleanout, Jets have played some really good football through the middle and in transition but just can't find the final pass or shot. In fact, prior to the latest loss to City, Newcastle had drawn with Wanderers, Nix, CCM and totally outplayed SydFC (Arnie admitted) in the opening half eventually losing as a result of a bad back-pass. In fact when you look at Newcastle's results, they've lost matches they should have drawn (CCM, Perth, Brisbane, Victory) or drawn matches they should have won (City, Nix) by conceding goals in the final 15 minutes. Additionally, this season Jets have drawn with Victory (after being 2-0 up) and drawn with SydFC. That's not the sign of team or coach that's out of its depth. That's 8 points Jets have dropped in the final 15 minutes of matches. Those 8 points would put them on 19 points same as CCM and above Wanderers.