It really is a crazy, wild rollercoaster ride of a time being a Newcastle Jets fan in 2020.
The heads of Markus Babbel and Marko Kurz were very close to the coaching chopping block but Newcastle beat both the Wanderers and the Victory to the punch by sacking Ernie Merrick on 6 January.
Things were not great, but injuries and the smallest budget in the A-League should have bought the canny coach a little more time. The news was definitely a shock to many of the Novocastrian faithful.
Injuries to inspirational captain Nigel Boogaard, former Premier League stalwart Wes Hoolahan and Panamanian Abdiel Arroyo were major handicaps to any real progression on the field of play.
The Newcastle Jets’ depth was tested and found wanting. The likes of Angus Thurgate, Patrick Langlois and Dimitri Petratos, clearly good players, were either played in unfamiliar positions or maybe not quite ready for the full-time rigours of the A-League.
The situation with Irish import Bobby Burns was a frustrating one for fans and surely the player too. The reasons for his limited game time were a mystery. Rumours of him being too slow and unable to handle the heat were there in the background.
Why bring in an import and a genuine left-sided fullback and play Johnny Koutroumbis there, who was clearly not a good fit? Was this the straw that broke the camel’s back, and brought Merrick’s tenure to an end? We may never know.
Ernie ‘George is getting upset’ Merrick (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Life goes on and the rollercoaster continues. We signed a left fullback from Brisbane, Connor O’Toole. He is a good acquisition as Burns is only on a loan deal and left backs don’t exactly grow on trees. Wes Hoolahan was named in the extended squad for the Round 17 clash at home against newcomers Western United.
As it turns out, the Irish Messi was spared the extreme heat and the frustrations of a nil-all draw that the Jets should have won comfortably. The bigger news was the signing of Roy O’Donovan. This was truly bizarre and not expected at all. It is just what’s required, though. Roy O’Donovan equals goals.
Craig Deans is performing very well as caretaker coach. The football is good, it’s just the results that have been otherwise.
With Boogaard now back and playing well, Koutroumbis playing in a more familiar role and Nikolai Topor-Stanley performing as well as he ever has in a Newcastle shirt, our back three look solid.
Right fullback Matthew Millar has been a model of consistency and Burns is now holding down the left back position, and has added to the team both in attack as well as defence. With Wes Hoolahan back soon, let’s say off the bench against the local derby rivals Central Coast, plus O’Donovan spearheading the attack the excitement is building again for the fans.
Can the season be salvaged? It would be a big ask to make the six, but considering that none of the teams above, bar Sydney, are proving that consistent, it would not be impossible.
Newcastle are definitely much better than their current position and I’m no longer contemplating the wooden spoon. With soon-to-be new coach Carl Robinson on board plus an almost full squad, this weekend’s F3 Derby should be an absolute cracker.
The Coasties are in a slump, they’re shipping goals for fun and Roy O’Donovan is champing at the bit to add to his goal tally against his former employers. In fact with Arroyo, O’Donovan and Petratos as an attacking three, Jets fanatics could well be in for a feast of goals. They are certainly due, that’s for sure.
If you haven’t ventured down to Turton Road for a while, come along for the original derby. The F3 Derby. Jump on the rollercoaster, it could be one hell of a ride.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I meant Merrick initially succeeded because certain players were injured not failed because of injuries.
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
Injuries and the lack of depth were massive factors. Not sure where Deans has gone backwards. No one has blown us off the park since he took the caretaker role and we should have had six points from the last two games. Hopefully ROD will go a long way to fixing the goal drought.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Jets have failed because Merrick has no idea why he succeeded and it was largely due to certain players being injured as well. Deans is just as clueless on what the basis of the Jets success was. If they have Connor otoole and they haven't played him they are clueless. Deans has improved some things and gone backward with others.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Merrick ran out of ideas. They were thrashed on a regular basis. At least be hard to beat if you can't score. His subs and selections had been ridiculous for ages; JK at left back with an actual left back on the bench. Each game he'd sub in Ridenton, swap full backs, a like for like centre midfield swap. Persevering with Moss. Hoffman as a striker. Dean's has changed formation, installed a left back at left back, utilised Millar in his best role. They have put of their 2 best performances of the season back to back and deserved 6 points, not 1. Hoffman has to go though, he's killing the attack
Griffo
Roar Guru
Ideally I'd drop Hoff to the bench. As an attacker he isn't returning much, and I do wonder if he's no been restyled back as an attacker rather than a defender like at City. Koutroumbis is doing well on his preferred side so stick with him. We have Wes and potentially O'Tool (LB, or left wingback?) that is in the mix. Thurgate I think is suffering from being too versatile. He did well enough in attack and creatively behind the striker/s that without Roy he would be in my starting lineup, with Arroyo alone up top on paper, but roaming and rotating with Thurgate and to a lesser extent, Dimi, with the wide attackers coming in, also being fed by Ugarkovic...
Griffo
Roar Guru
Sort of but we suddenly started shipping goals, with only Boogaard out (still), with relatively little change to play or tactics over a four or five game period, this was a worrying trend. I don't believe Boogaard is fully responsible for the change for the last two games, either. And Deans has yet to solve the issue of converting even a couple of those myriad of chances, except his sub of Hoffman for Thurgate was new (Merrick would have taken off Arroyo, regardless). Deans might not want the A-League coaching role but he has it for now. He hates losing to the Mariners so I don't think he'll go defensive at home against them. Merrick's belief in the attackers he put out finding the net soon meant he kept training Plan A harder even when their (attacking) teeth were falling out. This week I am looking for Deans to start attacking changes now that his defensive changes might be working. It remains to be seen if that occurs on game day.
Griffo
Roar Guru
I think Wes will be eased back in. Derbies can be feisty so not worth risking early, heavy tackles with a start - Wes might be on the bench and sub later game for Dimi most likely. I think Deans will stick with the back three 3-5-2 with Dimi in behind a front two, with wide wing-backs overlapping (Millar and Burns) and setting up a 5-player defensive line at worst, or a 4-4-2 in defence but compress the field on the attacking side.
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
No to Hoffman, keep Koutrombis in the back three. Probably agree with the rest, the big one is wether or not Wes starts, and if he does then I think Dimi goes to the bench. Really looking forward to this game. Enjoyed Deans comments in todays paper too.
Griffo
Roar Guru
For the WU match I had the following lineup as a wishlist for changes going with the back three that Deans put out the week before - which there wasn't much of anyway - that could be possible for the Derby: Italiano Hoff Boogs NTS Millar Ugarkovic Kanta Burns Dimi Roy Arroyo Now, Koutroumbis could be incumbent on that lineup instead of Hoffman. I wouldn't be surprised if the lineup doesn't change and Roy is on the bench/starting in place of Arroyo, with Hoff right attacker. It was a surprise to see Hoffman subbed, but necessary imo. Also Thurgate slotted into Kanta's role when he was subbed on the weekend, so a versatile player. I can't see Millar being dropped. Nor Dimi. Creating plenty of chances is one thing, scoring is another. What's your lineup and formation?
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
The formation for Sunday’s game will be highly anticipated for sure. Will Hoolahan play? Roy O Donovan will surely start. Will the coach, whoever it is, stick with a defensive 3? Yeah I agree Hoffman should be replaced. ROD will replace him. If Wes starts then does Dimi go to the bench also or is Kanta sacrificed?
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
My glass is half full concerning the Jets. We’ve been much, much worse than this in the past. Remember the Stubbins debacle, the Cullina sacking and GVE Mark two. I was going to write about how tough it has been this season to be a Newy fan, but I honestly believe we will get better results. Stating this weekend by beating the Coast.
Kanggas2
Guest
Performances are better . Marginally better but they missed 27 shots on Saturday. That’s a F on any grading scale Effort level is probably better under Deans , but part of performance is perfecting the skills under pressure in front of goal .
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
The results may not have worked, but I've enjoyed watching the Jets. They're not far off a few decent wins.
Franko
Guest
Rubbish, Merrick did a fine job while his best players were injured. All thats changed is the availability of the cattle. Likewise with Kurz.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Merrick was given far too long. Performances since he left have been significantly better.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Where are you playing Millar Griffo?
Griffo
Roar Guru
The Jets create plenty of chances but they do need to start converting a few of them into goals. Roy has goals in his past but he needs to have them in his immediate future. Regular scoring from him might unlock a few goals from others. Deans looks to have plugged some defensive leaks with a tactical change but also Boogaard returning has helped. A tactical change up front then should have a reverse effect and help goals flow a little easier. Has Deans got it in him from an interim perspective to make those changes? A big part of that change for mine is Dropping Hoffman to Right Back - although Koutroumbis could be doing enough there to stay - or dropped entirely for Roy. Arroyo and Roy as a front two leaving Dimi behind, although Dimi is out of sorts right now that possibly Thurgate could start there, given his technique and vision he’s shown when in a quasi false-nine role. That would be a big Deans call. Oh there is no better time in letting the goal scoring floodgates open than at home in The Derby.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
It is good to see some positive things being written about the Jets. It has been a tough season undoubtedly and the whole ownership issue always lurks in the background. I hope ROD works out. He obviously didn’t really fit into RF’s plans in Brisbane and when he was on the field, he looked like a fish out of water at times. You have to hope that he still has a hunger and what better way to start than a clash with the neighbours.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Ok I am going to kick this off. Firstly I reckon that when Con Constantino left the Jets high and dry, I can understand the desperate search for dollars, but have a look at the club’s that are showing consistency. Victory, City, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and WSW will get back there. What’s the common denominator here? Simple, it’s a balance of financial horse power and a football mentality. Tinkler had any remaining cerebral horsepower surgically removed years ago. And there was never any football mentality in the first place. He was probably challenged with NRL. My point is this, does the FFA have a set of suitability criteria for prospective licence holders that has more than one question i.e do they have the bucks. Stability off the pitch breeds stability on it. The supporters can smell instability from 40yds off. Stability contributes to crowds, which puts money in the coffers, therefore, happy players, so better form on the pitch, therefore wins, therefore a higher profile, which attracts better players and on it goes in a self perpetuating cycle. The US Trade war was brutal for Mr Lee, and the players knew