Much has been made of the added opportunities afforded young domestic players during the early weeks of the new A-League season.
Already we have seen the emergence of Macarthur FC’s Lachlan Rose, Newcastle’s Valentino Yuel and Sydney FC’s Calem Nieuwenhof, just to name a few. With those players and a plethora of Olyroo eligible talent also on show, the competition has looked much better for it.
Should Graham Arnold’s long term plans include guiding the fortunes of Australia’s Under-23’s and the Socceroos, he much surely be champing at the bit; in anticipation of working with what looks such a talented group of players.
However, the pick of the bunch has been one player not really that new; a player we all knew about but one who’s limited A-League opportunities appear to have hidden much of his talent from us in recent seasons.
Newcastle Jets took Ramy Najjarine on a loan deal from Melbourne City on the eighth of October 2020. No doubt Newcastle’s motivations behind the move were to provide Craig Deans with some increased depth to what was looking a threadbare squad, but also to provide opportunity to a player with considerable potential.
From the loaner’s perspective, Melbourne City must surely have had long term intentions for the Sydney born Najjarine and sending him off to the Hunter was an undoubted ploy to add some miles to his legs and some added smarts and experience to his football brain.
After just three games of the 2020-21 season, it is likely that City will now be watching even more closely than they expected to be; with many A-League pundits already sitting up and taking notice of Najjarine’s impressive performances.
A graduate of Westfield’s Sports High in Sydney, Najjarine has long been touted as a future star. How far that potential can take him in the game will, as always, come down to the amount of work he is prepared to do.
Western Sydney saw it and 20 games at NPL level in the red and black quickly led to interest elsewhere. As is becoming disturbingly commonplace, the City Football Group lurked outside the Wanderers’ dressing shed, eager to chat, and the teenager headed off to Melbourne to enhance his reputation.
Sadly, he did little of that across two seasons. Limited minutes and just 22 appearances left public opinion on Najjarine unchanged; an exceptionally talented young player with a world of potential, but one far from establishing himself as a consistent and top-class A-League player.
On Sunday afternoon, it became crystal clear that such commentary had now become well and truly inaccurate. After two strong performances to open the season and the Jets a little unlucky not to have something to show for their efforts, Najjarine turned on the style at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Sadly, it was to be another disappointing afternoon for Newcastle, where despite plenty of possession and chances they failed to find a second half equaliser against Ante Milicic’s Macarthur FC.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
It was not for want of trying and at the heart of much of that endeavour was a young Jets midfielder finally receiving the game time a player of his talent deserves. And did he ever make good use of that game time, with a sparkling performance as arguably the most influential player on the pitch.
Najjarine played with the skill and precision of a top class foreign veteran, picking up the ball in midfield time after time and dexterously slipping past defenders to propel the Jets into attack.
At times it reminded me of former Adelaide legend Isaias and for a brief second it occurred to me that Najjarine’s movements and distribution were akin to those displayed by a young Aaron Mooy, albeit with a more impressive turn of foot.
Whilst visually frustrated by some of the decisions made by teammate s this season and no doubt unhappy with the Jet’s points haul to this point, Sunday saw Najjarine announce himself to the A-League community as nothing less than a future star.
If the match slipped by without your attention, make every effort to catch a replay of it. There was something truly different and polished about the performance of Ramy Najjarine.
His involvement and energy had me beaming from ear to ear, knowing that despite a few seasons of frustration with Melbourne City, the A-League was about to consistently see one of the brightest young domestic talents in the country.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
You are a good judge mate. Well called. If the Jets win a few he will amass plenty of points.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
I predicted Ramy Najjarine to win the Johnny Warren Medal before the A-League Season as I believed in his ability from the moment I saw him play. You’re right Stuart about him being a Socceroo and hopefully he will play in the Premier League down the track.
Will
Guest
The kid has got game, just has that extra finesse and class on the ball unlike alot of the Australian players of recent times, sees a pass, makes the right run, sees the chance to shoot, great on set pieces overall he's got the right mentality of a true modern No.10. For me he's the best creative football talent in Australian football probably since Tom Rogic, but unlike Rogic he's alot more mobile and quicker in the first few yards too. If he can add those goals and become more consistent like he's doing now then he can go beyond the aleague level. Melb City's call though.
Patrick Doan
Guest
I think we're all forgetting something - the loan system that has been brought into the A-League has served its purpose already. Previously - City would have lost Najjarine to another club permanently as not enough playing opportunities arose. Now, Najjarine can delevop, do well for the Jets and then City get back a better asset - can keep, on sell etc.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Rogic is the best I have seen in a Socceroo jersey for a long while. Bresc is great but his is more all round, No 10 & deep lying playmaker & scoring goals. Bresc is the best midfielder Australia has ever had.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
So he will match his career playing time after just five matches in Newcastle. I guessed six. Thanks for the deets.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
One word of evidence to your point......Troisi.
Nick Symonds
Guest
A-League stats 25 matches played Started 5 times (including 3 times this season) 702 minutes total (7.8 full matches equivalent) 432 minutes played before this season (4.8 full matches equivalent over 2 seasons)
Popavalium Andropoff
Guest
This is why I can't stand Melbourne City. They recruit lots of youngsters from other clubs eg Wales/Gomulka/Najjar/Tongyik so they can potentially get them onto Manchester City's list to loan out and/or sell, without having to pay transfer fees to the clubs that developed the players (just look at Mooy). I think the reason the City Football Group chose to buy an A-League team was because Australia doesn't have transfer fees.
Punter
Roar Rookie
IJ, I agree 100%, he is a No 10 & this is the rarest of fauna in this country. We do not have too many creative No 10s in our history.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
That may have been more to do with the balance of the City side. He may have better opportunities at the Jets to play in his preferred position. I doubt Mombaerts would have been blind to this issue.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
While I respect your loyalty to your club, to be fair I'm not too sure if City saw enough of him to really make the assumption that he wouldn't be good enough to hold a place in their team. City sell the CFG dream to these 'kids' and then seem to sit them in their youth set when they should be getting senior match minutes into them. I am sure that after a few of these lads get their dreams shattered, they will end up being City's messengers, but not in a good way.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
A good point really. Very rare for a domestic player to shine in that spot. I referenced that in the piece for that very reason. Without knowing the players, he would easily have passed as an experienced foreigner.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Don't forget that Isaias spent some time below that as well. He was a fine player but to me Najjarine looks move powerful through the hips and certainly tougher. Can't wait to see what he does in future. We'll both enjoy it, no doubt.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
His wiki site says he made 22 appearances for City but many of those would have been coming off the bench. Last season we had decent enough competition for spots in the team which meant Ramy was up against it unless he was able to convince Professor Mombaerts that he was capable of starting games. Mombaerts did a very decent job at City so if he thought Ramy wasn’t in the starting XI then that was good enough for me. I guess it’s a different situation this season at the Jets.
Punter
Roar Rookie
The lure is not playing overseas in some lower level competition, it's having a go at the EPL via Man City ala Aaron Mooy. Maybe it is a myth. However not sure why Brisbane, Adelaide or CCM has better options.
IJ
Roar Rookie
City insisted on playing Rami on the wing, when clearly he isnt a winger; he's a 10 - that rarest of Aussie fauna, a talented 10. So now he's being played in his natural position and he's shining. Quite an indictment of City coaching.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
I think hes looked ok so far. if im going to be brutally honest, he should be the best player in that newcastle team this year. He should be given free range to roam that front 3rd like dimi petratos used to. Its easy for him to be the main man in a team which nothing is expected of, its when he makes his next move to a lower league european team or a mid/high a league team (where hes expected to be a starter and produce week in week out then you will see if he can kick on. The problem is hes wasted 2-3 years languishing not playing at city, hes 21 in april; cant really use the kid excuse anymore. Newcastle unfortunately will battle for the spoon with central coast and brissy. They need to be playing kids, theres no relegation in this league; they have nothing to lose isaias didnt have a career at the top echelon of the sport, but i stil dont think Najjarine will even get close to Segunda division
Franko
Guest
The lure is a myth. A young player appears to have more chance moving overseas is they play for Brisbane Roar, Adelaide or CCM.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I'll go further and say Najjarine might have Isaias covered in a few years time. In my view he is something special.