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Having finished last this season, thirteen months after their championship success, the Newcastle Jets began their Asian Champions League campaign in Beijing. It’s been quite a journey for them and there are signs that they will rebound strongly from their wooden spoon with a raft of impressive signings.
The peculiarity of the A-League and Asian Champions League calendars means Newcastle had to wait over a year before they were rewarded for their success with entry into Asia’s showpiece club competition.
That wait can be excruciating, especially for Newcastle.
In that period their squad was pillaged, the memories of their title win against their archrival down the F3 a distant one.
Their A-League defence fell in a heap, and after the disappointment of claiming the wooden spoon, the Jets have to avoid another humiliation, this time in Asia.
Inspired by this they have, aside from the expansion franchises, been the most active club in the transfer market.
The list of ins and outs from Newcastle could fill this article in itself.
Gone or going are the likes of Joel Griffiths (for the meantime at least), Adam Griffiths, Jade North, James Holland and Mark Milligan.
In is the impressive Nikolai Topor-Stanley from Perth.
Joining him in defense is Ljubo Milicevic, the former Melbourne Victory and Socceroo who has overcome the demons of depression, his return a welcome feel good story for the football community.
Angelo Costanzo and Sasho Petrovski both ooze experience and will be invaluable for the ACL campaign.
The combined talent of Topor-Stanley, Costanzo and Milicevic gives Newcastle a solid foundation at the back.
It could also free up new club captain, Matt Thompson, to move into his preferred midfield position, as he did in the latter half of the season just past.
This experience combined with the incredible potential, and youth, of the likes of Ben Kantarovski, one of the finds of Version 4 of the A-League, and the addition of former Serie A goal sneak Fabio Vignaroli, on a six month deal and Dutchman Donny de Groot must give Jets fans enormous hope.
Off field, the signing of Branko Culina as technical director is a wise choice.
Whether the Jets can repeat Adelaide United’s heroics remains to be seen.
The fact the Jets’ most successful and recognizable player in Joel Griffiths lined up for the opposition in Beijing typifies the crazy couple of years it’s been for Newcastle and just how much has changed.
Their Asian Champions League adventure will allow the multitude of new signings the chance to gel before the A-League season.
Even if they fail to make an impact in Asia, you sense the wise signings could herald their return to the forefront of the A-League, in much the same way as Melbourne rebounded from their dip in the standing following their first A-League crown.