Jet’s take-off jittery, but can Culina calm nerves?

By: Mitchell | August 5th, 2009

Where to start?
So much has happened since the whistle was blown on the Jet’s A-league season in January, too much. The Off-season should be a period of time for all involved in the club to evaluate the past season and to establish goals for the next campaign. It seems no such approach was taken as we are once again days from the beginning of a new season looking undercooked and ill-prepared.
The past 4 months has been a testing time for those who live and breathe football in the Hunter region. We have seen our fair share of turmoil within the club which didn’t seem to stop even when players weren’t playing, and when coaches weren’t coaching. But along with my fellow Novocastrians, I rather not dwell on the events of the past and would like to look forward to the season ahead.
As a football fan through and through, the beginning of a new campaign is very similar to starting a new job; it’s hard to know what to expect, it’s nerve-racking and every Friday afternoon ends with a few lagers. Especially this season, helped by the introduction of new teams and talent, it seems football in Australia is turning a corner. Unable to maintain the momentum of the World Cup euphoria from 2006, Version four of the A-league saw crowds decline. But since our recent achievements on the world stage, the fifth instalment of the A-league will be the biggest by far. The buzz around the recruitment of players like Robbie Fowler, Jason Culina and Mile Sterjovski puts a strong argument forward that this season will be an outstanding one.
Recruitment has seemed to be a term that the Newcastle Jets haven’t understood. From our short history we have failed to sign a foreign player capable of raising an eyebrow. A list continues to grow, the list titled ‘Recruitment flops’. And speaking for all Jets fans, we are sick of it. Again and again we fail to secure the services of quality players due to the policies that our owner and management stand by. So when news filtered through yesterday that our saviour, the man to carry the Jet’s 09/10 season hopes, Fabio Vignaroli refused to sign as our marquee player and would return to his homeland, I wasn’t surprised. So here we sit 3 days away from kicking off the 2009/10 A-league season without a Marquee player, without a major sponsor and without a full roster. It’s not looking great so far.

But the reality is, we are playing in three days time. Regardless of our stubborn owner’s policies, regardless of whether we can score goals, regardless of whether fans will come and watch, we will be kitting up against the Wellington Phoenix on Sunday afternoon at 3pm. It will be Branko Culina (newly appointed as head coach after Gary Van Egmond’s departure) who will be looked upon to steer the Jets towards the top half of the ladder. After his time at Sydney FC came to an abrupt end, many believed Culina didn’t have what it takes to be a successful A-league manager. But I believe the man will deliver the goods, and it all begins this Sunday!
Finally, sitting as very long odds to compete for the championship, I believe the Jets have been extremely underrated. If we can revisit the form we found during the Asian Champions League, we are more than capable of reaching the finals this season. Even though our preparation has not been ideal, players like Milicevic, Elrich, Kantarovski, Vignaroli and De Groot can really make a major impact when they reach their optimal performance. And lets hope for football in Newcastle’s sake they do!

It is going to be an interesting season….

Mj.