THE compilation of this blog takes place amidst what is a Sunday footballfest (extending to the wee hours of Monday morning, no less).

Perth, courtesy of their 3-1 victory over Central Coast have just leapfrogged us - as Wellington did earlier in the weekend - on the Hyundai A-League ladder.

With Glory all but securing their spot in the semi-finals, it's now only the Jets who can realistically drop out of top six reckoning and Postecoglou's Suncorp squad who may manage to squiggle their way into the shakeup.

Fury maintain weak flickers of finals hope, but boy are they weak.

Meanwhile, goliaths of the Dutch and English leagues are preparing to lock horns as two of the most anticipated clashes on the European calendar take place on greens worthy of any game.

Everywhere from the comfort of my couch are there indicators of what needs to be done by Newcastle Jets players, management and fans over the short, medium and long term.

And someone once said 'there's no time like the present', so let's start with what's of immediate value to the football club.

Tonight it's Newcastle versus North Queensland as the pair collide in the Cyclone Olga catch up.

A win to finally expel Fury from finals contention is imperative, and for this part of the overall equation it's down to the players to perform and secure themselves and their fans a fabulous February and further over which to fantasise.

Looking at the match there seems every reason to be confident our boys can bounce back from their Sydney FC beating.

We've two wins from two against Fury this season and Olga has provided the lads with two extra days in Townsville with which to prepare, which augers well for a strong showing. Let's just hope they haven't hit up the 'Mad Cow' in the meantime.

Looking a little further down the line it's Derby Day this Saturday when the Jets venture south to take on the Mariners in Gosford.

Both sets of supporters ought to look to their Feyenoord, Ajax, Arsenal and Manchester United counterparts for inspiration of what it is to be a fan on this day of days...starting with turning up.

As I sit here with the Feyenoord Ajax clash seconds from starting, a 52,000 strong crowd is shaking the foundations at Rotterdam's De Kuip stadium anticipating the 109th 'Klassieker'. A similar figure is sure to be in attendance as two of the EPL's 'big four' battle it out at the Emirates a few hours from now.

Now a minute in, the Rotterdammers and travelling Amsterdam faithful are combining to make a deafening cauldron of noise and the players are reacting to it, flying in with all the passion you'd expect.

Time continues, and neither the fans, nor the players drop the intensity in what's a wonderful sight.

I've been vocal in the past in criticism of the lack of fire the 'F3 Derby' has manufactured - especially since the grand final - so it's up to everyone with an interest in these two clubs to produce a performance of passion in the penultimate round.

Finally, with the Cup of Nations Final edging nearer it should be a long term focus of the club to scout talent from this region.

Sure, it truly doesn't matter where imports come from so long as they're quality and their assessed over time - rather than rash reactions to player drain - but no doubt about it there's an abundance of ability in Africa.

What's best, we've the capacity to attain athletic African talent at reasonable rates, mould them and potentially on sell them to Asian or European clubs when the time is right. It's the best of both World's and if we don't have a scout in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012, I give up.

So while it's been a weekend of inaction for Newcastle fans, frustration as our team's game was postponed, the football global village has provided an array of signs of how we should be seeking to add to our football culture right here in the Hunter.

From little indicators such as results in the A-League, to replicating atmospheres from rivalries abroad and the option to source unheralded stars from Africa, the beautiful game is one that can provide inspiration even from ones humble abode.

For this reason I look forward with anticipation to Newcastle Jets' next match, seeing what showing the Squadron and all supporters serve up on Saturday and what the future may bring for NUJFC.