The Newcastle Jets had an impressive season last year, finishing as runners-up. Ernie Merrick will look to build upon that surprising finish and go one better.
Newcastle Jets
Last season’s position: second, 57 goals scored, 37 goals conceded.
Finals series: second, lost 1-0 to Melbourne Victory
FFA Cup: Round of 32 in 2017, Round of 16 in 2018
Last season, Newcastle finished second. They did well in offence scoring more goals than in their previous two seasons combined, but they could have improved in their defence and were far too dependant on Nigel Boogaard and Nikolai Topor Stanley.
In the offseason, Newcastle has lost five players, first choice goalkeeper Jack Duncan, midfielder Wayne Brown and attackers Riley McGree, Mario Shabow and Patito Rodriguez.
They have replaced these players by signing former Wellington goalkeeper Lewis Italiano from Stirling Lions, midfielder Matthew Ridenton from Wellington Phoenix and attackers Mitch Austin from Melbourne Victory, Kaine Sheppard from Avondale FC and Jair from Yanbian Funde F.C.
Shown convincingly last season, with Newcastle scoring countless goals, their strength is their attack with plenty of depth in their squad, even with numerous departures.
In addition, there is still some depth up front despite the suspension of Roy O’Donovan.
Joe Champness is a year older will be fighting with Mitch Austin for a position on the wing.
However, a new season means new challenges for Ernie Merrick. Shown last season, Newcastle is dependant on the defensive duo of captain and vice-captain Nigel Boogaard and Nikolai Topor Stanley.
Ernie Merrick of the Jets. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Should one get injured, there is a huge void to be filled by Ben Kantarovski or Lachlan Jackson, both who failed to deliver in the heart of the defence.
Prediction: sixth. Making the finals might be the limit for a Newcastle Jets, with the loss of McGree and Rodriguez.
Players
Top Scorer: Andrew Nabbout, Dimitri Petratos (10). Top assister: Dimitri Petratos (9), Most minutes: Nikolai Topor Stanley (2,610), Most Passes: Steven Ugarkovic, (1,023).
Transfer window grade: Poor
In early September, Newcastle was in big trouble. They only signed one player (Matthew Ridenton) and five key players departed. While Jair is a decent signing, Austin was injured for most of the season at Victory, Italiano was satisfactory in goal for Wellington. Sheppard was good in the NPL, but he failed to set Finland on fire.
Squad
Goalkeepers: 1) Glen Moss, 20) Lewis Italiano
Defenders: 3) Jason Hoffman, 4) Nigel Boogaard, 13) Ivan Vujica, 16) Nick Cowburn, 17) Daniel Georgievski, 18) John Koutroumbis, 22) Lachlan Jackson, 44) Nikolai Topor Stanley
Midfielders: 5) Ben Kantarovski, 6) Steven Ugarkovic, 32) Angus Thurgate
Wingers/Attacking Midfielders: 7) Dimitri Petratos, 10) Ronald Vargas, 11) Mitch Austin, 23) Matthew Ridenton, 24) Joe Champness, 29) Jake Adelson
Strikers: 8) Jair, 9) Roy O’Donovan, 14) Kaine Shepperd, 19) Kosta Petratos
Predicted best eleven: 4-2-3-1
1) Glen Moss, 3) Jason Hoffman, 4) Nigel Boogaard, 6) Steven Ugarkovic, 7) Dimitri Petratos, 8) Jair, 10) Ronald Vargas, 17) Daniel Georgievski, 23) Matthew Ridenton, 24) Joe Champness, 44) Nikolai Topor Stanley
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Might be because those Chinese millions are disappearing fast. From today's Australian: Tariff war risks shooting down Jets The ripple effects of Donald Trump’s aggressive trade war have reached as far as a soccer team in Newcastle, whose Chinese owner’s financial commitment has been put in doubt by a 25 per cent US tariff. Multi-billionaire Martin Lee has considered a big chop to the budget of his Newcastle Jets after watching his LED lighting fortune cut in half in only five months. The Australian can reveal that Mr Lee approached Jets management several months ago and floated the idea of cutting as much as $600,000 from the players’ wages bill.
Alex Hrissis
Roar Rookie
6th is pretty generous. Jets haven't strengthened as much as the other teams and have lost many key players. Plus losing a grand final the way they did could be bad for the team's morale.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
So where are you Kanga? I would think some of those youngsters have enough improvement in them to lift your team to big things again this year. Surely you agree?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I hope I’m wrong on this but jets have had a very underwhelming off-season; they’ve hired like the cheap Jets of old not a club backed by Chinese millions. Ernie is a shrewd operator and still one of the best coaches in the competition so if anyone can pull it off it’s him. But for me they’ve stood still this off season and that’s normally fatal so might even miss finals altogether
Fadida
Guest
That was ...... brief! I tend to agree on the likely finishing position though. There are plenty of unknowns; is Jair any good, can Vargas fulfil his potential, is Sheppard good enough! There is potentially a lack of a quality goalscorer given O'Donovan will miss 8 games and then chase fitness for another few. They should have discarded him. There is a feeling of standing still, relying on an average group who overachieved last season. Even without an injury to the heart of defence I have doubts over their mobility, and yes, the lack of cover is a concern. Midfield lacks technical quality if Vargas doesn't have a huge season. McGree is a massive loss. The element of surprise is also gone.