Recruiting:
Ins:
Angelo Costanzo (Adelaide United – 1 year), Donny de Groot (De Graafschap, Netherlands – 1 year), Ljubo Milicevic (Melbourne Victory – 1 year), Brodie Mooy (Newcastle Jets NYL - 2 years), Sasho Petrovski (Central Coast Mariners – 2 years), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory – 2 years), Sean Rooney (Sydney FC NYL – 2 years).
Pending: The Jets are negotiating to extend the contract of Italian Fabio Vignaroli while Novocastrian striker Peter Haynes and Felipe Garcia from Adelaide are currently training with the club in hopes of picking up a contract. However, with Donny De Groot and Marko Jesic injured, Haynes and Garcia could score ‘injury replacement’ contracts to start the season.
Outs:
Ante Covic (IF Elfsborg, Sweden), Adam Griffiths (Gold Coast United), Joel Griffiths (Beijing Guoan – On loan), Jesper Hakansson (released), Antun Kovacic (Ulsan Hyundai , Korea Republic), Mark Milligan (Shanghai Shenhua, China), Jade North (Incheon United FC, Korea Republic), Noel Spencer (retired)
Re-signed:
Jobe Wheelhouse (2 years), Kaz Patafta (2 years).
Analysis:
Most of the player movements seem to have affected the Jets defence with Socceroos players Jade North and Mark Milligan along with Antun Kovacic taking up contracts in Asia. Goalkeeper Ante Covic returned to Sweden, midfielder Jesper Hakansson went back to Denmark after a miserable stint in Australia while journeyman Noel Spencer retired. But perhaps the biggest dent in the roster has been Adam Griffiths moving to the Gold Coast with twin brother and former Golden Boot winner Joel Griffiths on loan to Beijing. Apart from enjoying a great combination on the field the Griffiths brothers have been the soul of the Jets team in fledging years of the A-League, so the Novocastrian fans will be looing for another ‘hero’ figure to lead their new campaign. That may just come in the shape of controversial defender Ljubo Milicevic. The big fella has been brought in to shore up the defence with young gun Nikolai Topor-Stanley and veteran Angelo Costanzo as his deputies. Meanwhile Ben Kennedy has taken up the role of custodian and after waiting in the wings at Newcastle for more than three seasons he will look to make a name for himself with the gloves. Up front Newcastle has opted to sign veteran striker Sasho Petrovski, who has already struck up a good working combination with Donny De Groot during the team’s ACL campaign. The Dutchman is adept at playing up front with his back to goal and helped Petrovski enjoy a spritely start at the Jets with a clutch of goals in Asia. Youngsters Sean Rooney and Brodie Mooy have also been rewarded with contracts and along with Marko Jesic and Jason Hoffman will be pressing their claims for a starting berth in the forwards.
Pre-Season:
After surprising most observers with a solid performance in the Asian Champions League the Jets suffered a body blow when head coach Gary van Egmond stunned the club with his sudden departure just seven weeks prior to the start of the 2009/10 A-League season. Former Sydney FC coach Branko Culina, who has been contracted at Newcastle as technical adviser since the start of 2009, has taken over the reins for the next two seasons but it has given the Jets a wobbly approach to the new campaign. However, the team has held its own on the pitch with a couple of draws against Sydney FC and some State League teams in healthy hit outs for the club. Despite the results one feels the starting line-up needs a bit more work and with an injury list that includes Ben Kantarovski, Jobe Wheelhouse, Jesic and De Groot, the Jets may start their 2009/10 campaign in second gear.
Improvements:
Perhaps the biggest improvement for the Jets will come from the confidence gained from their impressive Asian Champions League campaign. The Newcastle team silenced plenty of critics getting through to the second round of the competition. And despite being flogged 6-0 in their Round of 16 clash with Korean side Pohang, the confidence of holding their own against some of the best in Asia such as Beijing, Nagoya and Ulsan, is just the tonic the team needed to temper the disappointment of finishing a distant last in the 2008/09 A-League season.
Concerns:
While the Jets look to have enough strike power up front and some reliable defence it is the midfield that really needs to lift if the Novocastrians are going to be a threat this season. A lot will depend on keeping Vignaroli at the club. The Italian is a masterful playmaker and can be the Jets ‘go to’ man. He has been playing on one leg in his stint at the club, so whether the Jets take a risk to sign him for a series of 45-min games is a tough decision. One thing is certain, Korean playmaker Jin Hyung-Song, who had ankle surgery in the off-season needs to take on more responsibility this season. He is adept at setting up goals but he needs to net some himself if he is to be considered a ‘danger player'. The Jets have also shown faith Kaz Patafta and Shaun Ontong, who have endured some pretty lean seasons at the Jets. Along with teenager Ben Kantarovski, these midfielders have to step-up to the next level if the Jets are going to have any influence at all this season.
Key player:
With the Griffiths boys out of the side Newcastle needs a leader and that task may look like it has fallen to charismatic defender Ljubo Milicevic. The fiery stopper has always exuded talent but it comes with an ego to match. He marshals the troops well from the back and isn’t frightened to push forward, but the Jets need him to be injury-free. A groin injury kept him sidelined from Newcastle’s ACL round of 16 match against Korean side Pohang Steelers and the Jets defence looked lost leaking six goals in a woeful display. If he stays fit and if the Jets faithful get behind the big fella he may well be the man to lead the Jets out of the cellar and up the ladder. The performances of key midfielders Vignaroli (if signed) and Song will also be pivotal to the Jets’ season.
Up or down?
The only way is up for the Jets. After finishing outright last the team has no option but to take advantage of a better-than-expected ACL campaign and aim for the top 6 and a semis berth this season. But if this is to be a realistic goal the team needs to distance itself from the controversial coach and player movements over the off-season and start the season on the front foot – if they can do that they should be able to elbow their way into the top half of the table.
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Check out all our 2009-10 A-League Team Previews:
Adelaide United | Brisbane Roar | Central Coast Mariners | Gold Coast United | Melbourne Victory | Newcastle Jets | North Queensland Fury | Perth Glory | Sydney FC | Wellington Phoenix