Michael Hallett
Statistical randomness?
The A-League table is (mostly) a result of random statistical variations. Discuss.
Michael Hallett
The Jets are a shambles
It's been a very average festive season for the Jets.
Michael Hallett
A Christmas Jets wrap
It's been a mixed bag for the Jets of late...
Michael Hallett
Our wing play is crap
The invisible force-field that only the bravest Jets players approach...
Michael Hallett
Green shoots growing
After the carnage, the slash and burn at the start of the Jets season, green shoots are emerging
Michael Hallett
It all comes down to this game
Saturday is a true showdown for both the Jets and Roar
Michael Hallett
The magic of a great striker
The best strikers conjure something out of nothing.
Michael Hallett
Should you sack your coach?
Could sacking your coach be a blessing in disguise? One step backwards can be three forwards
Michael Hallett
The road ahead
With one win and one loss, is it too early to be condemning the Jets?
Michael Hallett
Lessons To Learn
What the game against Heart should tell Craig Deans: How and why the Jets need to recruit...
Michael Hallett
Jets To Finish In Top Four
Why Newcastle can surprise the pundits and outperform their lowly expectations
Michael Hallett
Interview with Branko Culina Part 2
The second part of my interview of Branko Culina focuses on the long-term view at the Jets rather than the current team and the coming season.
"Can you tell me about the Nathan Tinkler revolution and your long term tenure at the club? That's a pretty extraordinary deal for a football coach ...
Michael Hallett
Interview with Branko Culina - the Jets off-season.
OK, it's the off-season at the Jets and there are hardly any games to discuss. And not being a journalist, I have generally been too lazy to generate content from my own mental machinations (unlike our esteemed 442 Perth commentator, who seems to be able to come up with dossiers of material). ...
Michael Hallett
Another reason I love Newcastle.
Even in the off-season, you can still talk football and see footballers around town.
As is my habit, I found myself down at Merewether Beach the other morning grabbing a coffee and checking out Surfest. There, sitting at a little table under an umbrella enjoying the morning with his lovely wife ...
Michael Hallett
The Blog we have to have.
Who should in the Jets squad next season? You choose.
OK, so the Jets season wound down in a less than glorious manner and whether you liked the players and the coach, or whether you think they were great or awful, the knives still have to come out. There are a large number of players due ...
Michael Hallett
Well played boys
With an understrength, injured side, the Jets held their own against the so-called "form" team of the competition, Central Coast Mariners. If it wasn't for Newcastle's new tradition of not scoring consistently, the result could have been very different too. Jesic had a fine shot saved acrobatical...
Michael Hallett
Give Sasho a Contract!
He's the Jets top scorer. He's our Pippo Inzaghi. If you're good enough, you're young enough, in my opinion.
Put him on a minimum wage, whatever! He scores goals. Isn't that how you win football games? Unless Jets management is going to use his wage to help pay for a mind-blowing Marquee player ...
Michael Hallett
Bring on the FFA Cup
Why? So we can test Ljubo Milicevic's assertion that there are better players out there that A-League coaches aren't picking. And, also so I don't have to spend any time in the blog talking about the Jets lack of form, lack of wins, lack of goals, lack of players, lack of discipline, lack of ...
Michael Hallett
Why the Jets will not be in the finals.
Earlier this season I wrote a piece stating the reasons why the Jets were good enough to make finals football. Whilst I usually to try to stay positive, this time I'm going to write a deliberately negative article, criticising everyone and everything that is, or could be wrong with the Jets ...
Michael Hallett
Thirteen thousand, four hundred and sixty-seven
That's how many turned up to see the Jets play the Mariners on Sunday. The Jets are setting the example for community engagement in the A-League and are a great model for bringing crowds back.
Certain Sydney based fan forums might like to look at Newcastle's new modus operandi. There were more ...
Michael Hallett
Two games, two wins and the end of King Ljubo.
The FFA fixture list and other events lead to two Jets vs NQ Fury games within a week. Unfortunate for the Fury, fantastic for the Jets. The Jets have been in good form recently, while the Fury, due to injuries and their precipitous financial position are playing like a team who couldn't be ...
Michael Hallett
Football and Facebook
A month ago I joined the Newcastle Jets Facebook page.
Why does this site exist? It seems it exists only so Jets fans can abuse each other, arguing about whether Ben Kennedy is the reason for the complete collapse of the Jets over this season / last season / this slump / the last ...
Michael Hallett
The ghost of early losses lurks
I recently returned from 8 days of sensory deprivation in the southern highlands of NSW where Mrs Mike owns a restored church with no Foxtel, indeed, no TV reception at all. So on return to the faithful home entertainment system and the HDD, I was able to watch the game against Melbourne Victory ...
Michael Hallett
Merry Christmas, you Jets fan.
The past few games for the Jets have been great. OK, there was a 4-0 biff in the nose in Wellington, but that's just a blip.
How do we know the last game was just a blip? Look at the past few matches before that. Alright, the game against the Galaxy was only an exhibition match, but no matter ...
Michael Hallett
Sasho hits the target again.
Can the Jets run of form continue? Another win can take them into the top six, with games in hand.
With Sasho Petrovski scoring in game after game, can Branko afford to leave him on the bench? And on other things, now that Australia won't be hosting the 2022 World Cup, will a pall of gloom ...
