R18 vs Newcastle Jets | Thurs 7th Feb | 9:50pm | SS4

Huge game. Lose this and we are back into a fight for the top 6. Win and we put pressure back on Adelaide and City, who play each other this weekend. 

Must-win six pointer. We just have to want it more.

Bounce back time? Dura and Taylor?

I hope we win

Just seen that City are playing Adelaide this round - would think that any result would be good for us (so long as we win!)

A win is absolutely necessary this weekend. I don't care how ugly, we just need the 3 points.  As I said in the league table thread a few weeks back, when the gap was 8 points last time around I wasn't comfortable.  Reduce that to a potential 5 and it's seriously squeaky bum time.

Hopefully with the return of our starting pair, it should see our form return.

And the 5 could become less than that pretty quickly considering our next two games are against Victory and Sydney.

Heads up, its Thursday!

Ha, so it is! Not used to this randomness. 

hope the defence returns. 

Are the Nix coming back to NZ or staying in Aussie?

According to other posters, they are staying in Aussie.

(But trip from Perth to Newcastle is probably more tiring than flying from Perth to Welly).

Why is the game on a Thursday?

Isnt it just a direct 4 hour flight.?.albeit against the clock

I do not think there is a direct flight from Perth to Newcastle, unless the airfield there has been expanded recently. 

No direct flights from Perth to Newcastle. Shortest is 7 hours via Brisbane.

has mandi has his baby and is he due to play?

Think we need him badly, 

It's just over a 2 hour drive from Sydney Airport to Newcastle. 

4 hours & 10 mins flight Perth to Sydney.

By  the time you have got through the Sydney traffic it would be closer to 2 and a half hours which would make the flight via Brisbane more attractive for me.

Have done the train trip a number of times pretty hassle free actually,could always fly from Sydney

Are you guys saying the JETS from Newcastle doesn't have a proper landing strip? Ironic.

That's the Williamtown RAAF military base they're named after, not the puny Newcastle airfield that Pelican Air flies from.

Fudge

The

Jest

Games at 9:50 not 9pm?

From the Newcastle Herald.

Petratos is struggling with a back complaint. After sitting out training on Monday, he did part of the session on Tuesday and is rated a 50-50 chance to play Thursday.

I guess Mandi is also 50-50 to play. Any word on him?

I assume Mandi's kid was born on the weekend, or why would he fly back from Perth?

Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referee 1: Ryan Gallagher
Assistant Referee 2: James Cleal
Fourth Official: Stephen Laurie
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones

Newcastle Jets squad: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimi PETRATOS, 8.Jair, 9.Roy O'DONOVAN, 10.Ronald VARGAS, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 14.Kaine SHEPPARD, 16.Nick COWBURN, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY **two to be omitted**


Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Filip KURTO (gk),5. Ryan LOWRY, 6.Dylan FOX, 7.Cillian SHERIDAN, 9. Nathan BURNS, 11.David WILLIAMS, 12. Antony GOLEC, 13.Liberato CACACE, 14.Alex Rufer, 15.Michal KOPZCYNSKI, 16.Louis FENTON, 18.Sarpreet SINGH, 19.Tom DOYLE, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21.Roy KRISHNA, 22. Andrew DURANTE, 23.Max BURGESS, 27.Steven TAYLOR **two to be omitted**

No Mandi, we are doomed.

fudge

CBs weren't our biggest issue last game, the biggest issue was the fact no one could play through midfield. I'd be tempted to drop Singh back there and bring in Sheridan. At least we'd have someone who can pass, though Singh is prone to losing it.

Sucks that Mandi not in the squad, but we did win both games he was suspended (away to WSW & home to CCM) so we can win without him.

Hopefully Taylor alright and can start, him & Durante back in will make a big difference.

After Rudan's comments about Doyle, will he bring Golec in?

Hopefully. Doyle's been poor this season. 

COYN

Thought Kopa didn't look that  good at DM. last time out.

Rudan's not shown much desire to experiment, and has shown a lot of faith in his players. So the following is unlikely, but I'd like to see it, if no Mandi:

              Kurto

Fenton Taylor Durante Cacace

Rufer   Burgess

      Singh

Krishna Sheridan Williams

Or

            Kurto

Fenton Taylor Durante Golec

      Rufer Cacace

           Singh

Krishna Sheridan Williams

Singh has had the job of pressing the keeper,. If Sheridan does this, Singh can play deeper, where he's looked comfortable and effective, dictating play- but he needs ball-winners around him. I don't think Rufer and Singh alone in midfield would work.

Rudan needs a reserve DM this game - wonder who?

Don't think Golec is 100% match fit at present. He wasn't playing regularly before leaving CCM, and don't think he has played regularly since returning from a broken leg.

Massive game. Win and we keep top 4 (and home play off match) hopes alive... Lose, and we are in a battle to make the top 6.

I really don't want to see a Kopa/Rufer midfield again, so;

Kurto

Fenton Taylor Dura Kopa Cacace

Rufer
        Singh

Sheridan

Krishna Williams

I think Rudan will be conservative and play

Kurto

Fenton Taylor Dura Doyle Cacace

Rufer Kopa

Singh

Krishna Williams