With much of last season’s squad sticking together, a mix of youth and experience brings great optimism to Newcastle Jets this season.
Last season…
A-League: 7th
Finals: Did not qualify
FFA Cup: Round of 16
They’ll win the league because…
If they stay fit, the Newcastle Jets have a starting XI that can beat every other team in the league. Ernie Merrick plays an exciting and attacking brand of football and has put together a squad of individuals who play with unpredictability and are capable of breaking down opposition defences.
Throw in an experienced defensive core of Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Nigel Boogaard as well as exciting new signing Mat Millar and you have the makings of a championship-winning squad.
They’ll be cellar dwellers because…
The lack of depth in the squad may prove fatal for the Newcastle Jets. Despite having great attacking experience with players such Dimitri Petratos and Nick Fitzgerald, if players were to sustain injuries, the lack of depth in the squad may prove crippling.
Case in point is Irish recruit, Wes Hoolahan who will be out for the first half of the season following a major ankle injury against Adelaide United in the FFA Cup Quarter Final. Consequently, the Newcastle Coach announced that the team will be reverting back to a conventional shape during the first half of the season.
Fellow attacker Kaine Sheppard is also out until next year after a foot injury in a pre-season match against Sydney FC.
Already the cracks are starting to appear…
Talk around the water cooler… look smart in front of your colleagues with this valuable piece of information
Internationally renowned referee, Alireza Faghani, has been confirmed as a full-time referee for the Hyundai A-League. This will be music to Ernie Merrick’s earns following his outburst last season on the standard of refereeing remaining unchanged in Australia for 15 years.
The off-season brought…
A lot of changes! Daniel Georgievski and Ronald Vargas are the headliners of a crew of players who are not returning this season. Others include Jake Adelson, Kwabena Appiah, Nick Cowburn and Brazilian attacker Jair.
In positive news, the club went on a decent FFA Cup run which included an impressive win over Melbourne Victory though they ultimately fell to Adelaide United in the Quarter Final.
Key player…
A usual suspect and Squadron favourite, Dimi Petratos. His outstanding performances directly influence that of his teammates.
One to watch…
Young defender Pat Langlois has worked his way through the Newcastle Jets’ NPL side to earn a first-team contract. The 19-year-old made his senior debut in Round 26 last season in a 6-1 away win against Brisbane Roar.
INS: Pat Langlois (promoted, youth team), Matt Millar (Central Coast Mariners), Nick Fitzgerald (Western Sydney Wanderers), Abdiel Arroyo (Arabe Unido – loan), Wes Hoolahan (unattached), Bobby Burns (Hearts loan)
OUTS: Roy O’Donovan, Ronald Vargas, Daniel Georgievski, Jair, Nick Cowburn, Jake Adelson, Kwabena Appiah (all released), Ivan Vujica (Western United)
Full squad list
Goalkeepers: Keegan Hughes, Lewis Italiano, Noah James, Glen Moss.
Defenders: Nigel Boogaard, Jason Hoffman, Lachlan Jackson, Johnny Koutroumbis, Patrick Langlois, Nikolai Torpor-Stanley.
Midfielders: Ryan Goodhew, Wes Hoolahan, Benjamin Kantarovski, Matthew Millar, Kosta Petratos, Matthew Ridenton, Jack Simmons, Angus Thurgate, Steven Ugarkovic.
Forwards: Abdiel Arroyo, Nick Fitzgerald, Dimitri Petratos, Yerasimakis Petratos, Kaine Sheppard.
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