The Newcastle Jets soar into this Round 16 clash off the back of a derby win at home, hosting a Brisbane Roar side stung after two home losses in a row. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEDT).
If you ask Paul Okon, the better side last in Newcastle on Tuesday. If you ask most other people though, the better side is normally the one that takes three points.
Central Coast ran Newcastle ragged at times, but the scoreline simply doesn’t lie. A goal from player of the season candidate Dimitri Petratos was followed shortly after by a new Argentinian, and while he may not be Messi, Pato Rodriguez lit up the Hunter with a cameo of pace, skill, ferocity, and footballing instinct.
As for Brisbane, one week you think they’re on the rise, the other you think they’re rundown and headed for the spoon. To some extent they were unlucky against Western Sydney, and paid for not taking chances. But last up against Sydney they were comprehensively outplayed, and given Newcastle are second on the table, John Aloisi may be coaching for his career.
To be sure, the Jets will want to start a lot brighter than they did against the Mariners, and Ernie Merrick will be reminding all of his players that there are a lot of new and fit faces to return.
As for Brisbane, most of these players are playing for contracts, and they should use that incentive to take the game to the home side and keep their season alive.
Prediction
This will be something of a bittersweet match for Newcastle. It was against Brisbane that they lost Ronny Vargas to that horrific legbreak, however tonight, they get to show off their latest import, who is likely to start in place of Joe Champness.
The Jets are in form, and on fire in front of goal, while the Roar are on a losing streak and haven’t scored in their last two games. While the away side will likely score tonight, against a Newcastle side that has exhibited an ability to concede, they won’t hold enough out.
Also, the home side here have scored in every match this season – that streak won’t end against a disjointed Brisbane.
Newcastle 3-1.
Lionheart
Guest
Cheers JB.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
The provinces are showing the way.
LuckyEddie
Guest
The kid next door puts in a lot of 'effort' but is a useless player. Are you saying you pick a mid-fielder on an ave. of $500k per year on the basis of 'effort'. I do not think he has scored for about two years in HAL and probably scored about 4 in the last 6 years. McKays skills - cannot kick with right foot, cannot head a ball, cannot shoot on goals, cannot tackle etc. etc. but is big on 'effort'. McKay landed on his feet with the arrival of Broich and Berisha and now that they have gone people are finally seeing what he has to offer - effort and running around a lot. At best a bench player, as can be seen by how long he lasted at overseas clubs. AS for the Socceroos Ange has played a lot of very ordinary players. It seems every second player is a former socceroo.
Cool N Cold
Guest
Would it be reasonable to ask Matt Mckay to stay back during corner kicks at opponent's side?
Kangajets
Guest
J b Talking Among Newcastle jets fans , everybody is praising Jamie Young . Excellent goalkeeper.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Percentage change from last season Sydney -7.6% Jets 18.5% Victory -5.6% Adelaide 12.2% CCM 5.9% Perth -4.3% Melb -8.6% WSW -14.6% Roar -31.9% Wellington -0.7% I'd guess that Jets fans are happy, AU and CCM fans have been hopeful and happy so far and Roar fans are just p.ssed off about being second from last.
j,binnie
Guest
Lionheart - What does he men when he talks about "our structures"? If you can explain that to me I would be eternally grateful. If what he means is "his structures", then it must be obvious to you that "his" structures are not working .I do appreciate the fact that you are a "fan" and as such I think you deserve better than you are getting. Someone has to be a loser in our game ,I grant you that, but it is not the loss that shames it is the manner in which the loss is attained. Young last evening, made four or five saves that would have to be deemed "world class", and had it not been for those saves the score could have nbeen 4 or 5 -0 by half time. That fact appears to be the same story in all the recent games,the keeper has "won" any points gained. Hope your Missus is keeping the faith,you two are the life blood of the game. Cheers jb
j,binnie
Guest
Griffo - IMO John Kosmina is one of the better commentators employed to pass comment on our game As a player he was regarded as "fearless" and in his comments he gives the same aura around his comments,he says it as he sees it and is not afraid to say what he thinks. Some years ago the FFA embarked on a philosophy that appeared to favour the hire, or at least the recommendation to hire, former Socceroos in our game, as commentators or coaches. While this may have been done with the best of intentions it was a philosophy girt with danger, for all ex - Socceroos are not guaranteed to have the "necessaries" when it come to commenting, or coaching, in the higher echelons of our game. Cheers jb.
j,binnie
Guest
Grob- At the halfway point of the season it may be a good time to compare this years attendance figures with last season's overall averages. Sydney FC--- last season- 16,003.------ This season so far - 14,792 Jets ---- last season - 8,652 ------ This season so far - 10,252. Victory ----- last season - 21,332 ---- This season so far - 20,136 Adelaide ----- last season - 9,543 ----- This season so far - 10,706 CCM ------ last season - 7,409 ---- This season so far - 7,848 Perth ------- last season - 10,406 ---- This season so far - 9,954 Melb City ------ last season - 10,593 ----- This season so far - 9,682 WSW ------- last season - 17,746 ------ This season so far - 15,153 Roar ------- last season - 13,892 ------ This season so far - 9,456 Wellington ---- last season - 6,224 ----- This season so far - 6,180. As you can see there are some figures on the increase and some going down but none of them appear to be related as to how that team is playing, Cheers jb.
Kangajets
Guest
Stuart The applause at 14 minutes, made this dad cry, can only think of the family.
Kangajets
Guest
Yep Was a bit disappointing , I thought Rodriguez was going to score a worldie, but every team is guilty of cynical stuff on occasions.
j,binnie
Guest
Lucky Eddie - In a full time 12 year professional career with Roar and overseas identities, Matt has scored 24 goals in 296 matches which works out as one goal every 12 or 13 matches. Now why in that time he has been used as what is called an "attacking" midfielder, one has to start to wonder, as you have obviously done. Maybe that is the reasoning behind a lot of his Socceroo appearances, 59 in total ,scoring only 2 goals, when he was used as a wing-back, not with any lasting success but not a total failure either. Maybe Ange recognised the weakness in his attacking game but still liked his attitude and effort. Cheers jb.
Kangajets
Guest
Scored in 16 in a row Go the province of Newcastle.
Cool N Cold
Guest
Injuries cannot not be an excuse anymore. This year, hope not to be at the bottom. It will be hard to get into top 6. Seemed to be full squad last night. There were only one new comer, Leck. How could the defense be that bad? Just a simple 1-2 penetrated the defending line. The lining up was problematic. Noticeably, there was not enough mid-field defense. Khalfallah bought the ball to Jets' defending line and fell down.
Lionheart
Guest
is that the grab by Kristensen? That was very poor form by TK, the sort of action that will cause Roar fans to walk.
Griffo
Roar Guru
"...does JA really believe what he is saying..." JB this is part of what John Kosmina was asking post game. How much, in front of the camera, does JA have to put a positive spin/bad luck clause in the presser for his and the clubs sake? What is going on behind the scenes as there were a few players not happy last night, that much was obvious. With a multi-season contract behind him, and with ready made excuses, it's hard to see JA being moved on this post season. With so many players off contract even a player revolt won't worry JA or the club too much.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Just learnt: During the week @NewcastleJetsFC set an #ALeague record, becoming the first team to score in each of their opening 15 games to start a season! (record set before this game I think) Anyway, that's a great achievement by the Jets, worth being heralded, and their attendances have been excellent this season.
Lionheart
Guest
No JB, I don't think he is aware. He's reported as saying that what he can do is ensure the players keep playing 'our structures'. But that's the problem isn't it? Obviously there were some rusty players on the field last night, not least TK, and the goal was a sloppy defensive effort by (part time defender) Pepper (and maybe Papa), but Jets played a structure that could have delivered two or three more goals. Roar's just not getting the ball into goal scoring positions. But I'm a fan JB, not a fair weather supporter.
Redondo
Guest
Unfortunately Kanga, we might as well be pi$$ing in the wind
LuckyEddie
Guest
Firing blanks.