What else can happen to the Jets?

The team bus can break down on the way back from the Sydney match, that's what could happen. And it did.

There's no argument that the Jets were robbed of a point in last Sunday's game. Even Sydney fans will (mostly) agree with that. And the style of victory won't really help Sydney's flailing efforts either.

But while I was left with a feeling of resignation over the Sydney goal and how nothing can go right on the field for the Jets, I was also left with an empty unease about the team and the season in general.

Earlier in the season, the Jets were playing some fast and furious football, with decent counterattacks mixed with some very long spells of passing and possession. What's happened to that? You have to be honest and acknowledge that Sunday's game was very scrappy and not easy to watch.

Sydney were awful, but the Jets went down to their level. Passes weren't sticking, possession was lost too easily and there were lots of balls hoofed out from the back to no-one in particular. Maybe it's down to confidence levels.

Admittedly the second half was an improvement on the first and the Jets were bossing it. I felt sure that they would score at least once, and still think that they would have, had that Sydney goal not been allowed by the ref.

There are some people who blame the players that are on the field at the moment for the Jets woes, claiming that they are either out of form or not up to scratch. There are some (although surprisingly few) starting to question Branko's coaching. It can't be too long with results like these before the knives come out.

Then there's lady luck and poor refereeing too. Other say that with a few key players in the side, like Bridges or Jeffers, things will turn around.

While it's true that a real creator in the team can turn games around, I think more needs to happen with the Jets than the introduction of a new player or two. While all the players in the team are quality footballers, even though we slag them off sometimes for a shot missed or an opportunity gone, some of them could be moved to more effective positions or withdrawn to the bench to make more of an impact on the game by late substitution.

Labi looks like he could be an excellent speedy winger, with one cross in particular he put in on Sunday being very notable. It might also help the jets to play wider than they currently are doing.
Also notice how Labi seems to have more impact off the bench? He really upset the opposition defence when he came on late to score against Perth.

Sash Petrovski can be very sharp and would offer the front third a real potency, which to be brutally honest, the Jets desperately need. He's a proven goalscorer. Why not give him a run with someone alongside him to play off and a central midfielder like Patafta or Abbas feeding him?

Marko Jesic is not having much fortune up front, whether it's poor form or wrong decisions, or being in the wrong spot on the field. Would he be better as an impact player or being played further back?

And why is Fiorentini constantly on the bench? When he comes on he looks like he has the kind of skill the Jets need in the midfield to make those defence cutting passes.

It's all frustration. I've no doubt Branko Culina has thought about these things and a million more. There are no simple answers and when you've built up a side to play a particular way like he has and defined the player's roles, it can be difficult to take an objective position and change things drastically.

But when it's pointed out that the Jets currently have the lowest goals to game ratio in all the A-League, it gives you a nasty feeling in the pit of your stomach. And when the coach throws on your central defender as a centre forward in the last 15 minutes of the game, it does little to reassure you. Let's hope that there is an acknowledgement from the coach that there's a need for substantial improvement - and not blaming the players but looking for answers in all aspects.

They say football is 90 emotions. That's true, and the emotion is glum at the moment. Who knows, in a week's time it might be all smiles as the Jets come off the back of two wins against Adelaide and Brisbane. It just might be. Wouldn't that be nice?