Newcastle Jets hosted Victory at Ausgrid Stadium in front of over 17,000 people that provided an excellent atmosphere throughout. A brace from Ryan Griffiths and a goal from Labinot Haliti secured the victory over Melbourne.

Melbourne Victory

1. Same set-up, just the one change to the starting XI

There was only the one change to the side that beat Gold Coast the week before, with Petar Franjic replacing the suspended Roddy Vargas. It was a more stable side, but Mehm still hasn’t fielded the same XI in consecutive weeks all season. On paper, it looked a good and balanced side. On field, well…

2. A few issues…

I didn’t understand why Mehm took off Harry Kewell. I thought it was one of Harry’s better games at Victory and he looked most likely to score for his team. It was probably a precautionary move, but it took away from Victory’s attack, possibly taking away the chance to nab a point off the Jets.

Also, where was Jean Carlos Solorzano? Last Monday, he tweeted “I’m ready to play” and on Tuesday he tweeted “I can’t wait to play again this weekend”. Those the words of an injured player? Nope. So where was he? Danny Allsopp returned to the squad for Tom Pondlejak and presumably in front of Solorzano. I’ve said this before, Solorzano offers more than Allsopp and needs to be in the squad. It beats me why he isn’t in there.

3. Lost the game in midfield, not from referreing

A somewhat contentious penalty call from Victory went unrewarded by ref Jarred Gillett. From the second it happened, it was a clear penalty. These things happen in football, decisions have a way of balancing each other out. Case in point being Victory’s fortunate penalties against Perth and Gold Coast. If the penalty was given, it would have changed the game, no doubt. It is easy and lazy to blame refs, but it can’t be blamed for this loss.

Instead I’m looking at the midfield for this one, which couldn’t win the ball consistently and couldn’t hang onto the ball either. Broxham is a terrier, but needs to improve his passing, Celeski didn’t back up his effort from last week, Brebner missed tackles and passes and Cernak looked lost when he came on. It is a night they would rather forget I think.

4. Confused

This has been the case for most of the season, but it was the case against the Jets as well. There is no set game-plan, tactics and confusion into what the team is trying to play. Is it the short passing game or the long ball counter-attacking game? On Saturday it was both styles. For the most part, Victory looked more threatening on the counter in my view. Oddly enough, Hernandez’s goal was the result of good buildup play. For now, the club should revert to the counter-attacking game, to build up points and confidence.

5. Where is the consistency?

This is really starting to grate. The players’ form has been yo-yo-ing right now and most of the season, with the exceptions of Archie Thompson and Ante Covic. The midfield and attacking set-ups were the same as last week, why wasn’t that built on? Victory played well in parts, but didn’t do it for long enough. It is probably the blame of both players and coaches. Mehm didn’t use his subs wisely and the players made stupid mistakes at stupid times, Marco Rojas’s penalty an example. Highly frustrating to be a Victory supporter right now.

 

Newcastle Jets

1. Big show, big time atmosphere

As a football fan (not a Victory fan) it was great seeing a big crowd, which was entertaining and loud all game. The pre-match banner was special and the crowd got behind their side. Newcastle is a great football region and I hope the crowds keep turning up for all games. Ausgrid is fast becoming a fortress for the Jets, who are slowly building up to become a big club of the A-League.

2. Deserved winners

Based on their ability to score when chances came and their midfield, the Jets got the right result. Labinot Haliti put his side in front early in the second half, putting home an excellent cross from Jeremy Brockie. Ryan Griffiths equalised, scoring a penalty and pouncing on a chance in the box to seal his side’s win. They were fortunate to have an obvious penalty against them denied, Nikolai Topor-Stanley’s face said it all. But when you are the better team on the night, luck (more often than not) is going to go your way.

3. Kasey Wehrman, man of the match?

Ryan Griffiths and Jeremy Brockie give him competition here, but for mine Kasey Wehrman was best player on the park and is probably their most important player. He was brilliant on Saturday and had the presence and touch in midfield that Victory didn’t have. He is crucial to the passing and build-up play that van Egmond is putting in place, and is crucial to the younger players there.

4. Won the game in midfield

Just as the Victory lost the game in midfield, Jets were polar opposites and won it there. Wehrman, Wheelhouse and Zadkovich were a good combination in midfield. Wheelhouse played the role of destroyer, making the tough tackles and winning the ball. Wehrman, as mentioned earlier, was brilliant, in particular his passing game. Zadkovich was dynamic in attack and got in good positions to possibly score. It really is no question who had the better midfield on the night.

5. Welcome back, Mr Bridges

The popular striker was put in the squad for the first time after announcing his return to the club as a player. He played about five minutes and will slowly get back into it from here. As I wrote here last week, I don’t know what he’ll bring for the rest of the season and I’m not sure if he should be a starting player. But it is clear he is popular with the fans and he is welcomed back by the club, so I hope he does well for however long he plays for.