Source: Fox Sports online
MARIO Jardel will be given just one more game to prove he is worth his $3000-a-week price tag.
Newcastle Jets owner Con Constantine conceded for the first time his marquee striker’s future at the club will go on the line against Central Coast next Sunday.
After a week of turmoil within the Jets over Jardel, Constantine finally admitted the time had arrived for a decision to be made on the future of the controversial former Brazilian international.
Constantine also revealed:
- The club is close to signing one or possibly two Italian stars – a striker, and an attacking midfielder for the rest of the season.
- Action against Mark Bridge was unlikely despite his disparaging comments last week about the way his contract negotiations were handled by the club.
- He wants to sign contracted star Joel Griffiths and his twin brother Adam to long-term deals.
On Jardel, Constantine said:
Source: ABC Online
A late equaliser from Travis Dodd rescued a point for Adelaide United in a pulsating 1-1 draw against the Newcastle Jets at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday evening.
Dodd rose to meet a teasing cross from fit-again striker Paul Agostino and directed the ball to the far post with precision, his fourth goal of the campaign cancelling out Joel Griffiths’ 70th-minute strike as neither side grasped the opportunity to consolidate third spot on the ladder.
Neither side managed to break the deadlock throughout a cagey first half, with numerous chances evading the back of the net at both ends.
United playmaker Diego had a chance to put the hosts ahead in just the second minute, but sent his viscious curling free-kick just wide of the left post.
Richie Alagich tried his luck from range in the seventh minute but his effort was blocked, while Newcastle searched for an opening with several half chances at the other end.
The second half breathed new life into the ailing contest with end-to-end football punctuating the spectacle, with United defender Angelo Costanzo looking solid in his first game back.
Griffiths scored the first goal to add to his growing tally of strikes with a trademark finish to beat Eugene Galekovic in goal.
United went dangerously close to producing the equaliser several times before Dodd broke through six minutes later, his deft header inspiring rapturous applause from the home crowd.
United will remain third on the A-League ladder four points behind the Queensland Roar, while Adelaide moved into fourth spot at the expense of Sydney FC.
Source: Aidan Ormond, Four Four Two
The Jets have defended under-fire ace Mario Jardel but have not ruled out leaving the Brazilian in Newcastle when they travel to Adelaide for Sunday’s clash with United.
“Obviously, we’d have liked him to have had more of an impact to date, but hopefully that’s just around the corner,” club CEO John Tsatsimas admitted.
There have been reports in the press this week that one unnamed Jets player had described Jardel as a "liability". Jardel responded by saying if it was true, that the claim was "childish".
Quizzed on whether Jardel will play against Adelaide on Sunday, Jets coach Gary Van Egmond said he was still weighing up his options.
“We’ll have to have a look at that," said Van Egmond. "We’re still undecided which way we’ll go.
"If we feel he’ll be more effective starting or coming off the bench then that’s what we’ll do. And if we feel it’s better he doesn’t travel with us, then he won’t.
“I think it’s forecast to be very hot in Adelaide when we play them. So we have to make sure that those players who are involved in the game are physcially very fit.”
Source: Greg Prichard, Sydney Morning Herald
NEWCASTLE’s marquee player, Mario Jardel, has defended himself following media and public criticism of his lacklustre performances this season, saying he can’t be expected to perform miracles coming off the bench and that he only needs to start a few games to produce the goods.
Speaking through an interpreter after training yesterday, the Brazilian striker added that some Jets players who criticised him anonymously in The Newcastle Herald yesterday were being childish and that if anyone at the club had a problem with him they should approach him to talk about it.
"People who say those things are obviously frustrated. They don’t understand football. It is kids’ talk," Jardel said.
Jardel said he respected Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond, but that playing as a lone striker did not suit him.
"I have not played up front on my own," he said. "I have had people in close beside me so I can knock balls down for them and lay off. I’m not a runner."
Source: David Davutovic, The Daily Telegraph
NEWCASTLE are plotting an audacious bid to recapture last season’s Colombian cult hero Milton Rodriguez, with the Jets believing that they are one quality attacker away from being bona fide title contenders.
Former Celtic star Henrik Larsson and former Tottenham striker Stefan Iversen have rejected recent offers from Newcastle.
Football director Remo Nogarotto is in Europe preparing to scour the Scandinavian and eastern European markets and he is hoping to get in touch with Rodriguez in the next 48 hours.
"It’s really early days with Milton but we’ve heard indirectly that he would like to come back here for the balance of the year and we’re trying to establish if this is correct," Nogarotto said from Italy last night.
"Given what he did last year and the cult status that he enjoys with the fans, it would be wrong of us not to chase it up.
Source: Newcastle Jets
The Newcastle Jets have been defeated by the odd goal in tonight’s contest at EnergyAustralia Stadium in front of over 16 000 fans. A second half strike from new Sydney FC recruit, Michael Bridges, gave the southerners the points.
Newcastle opened the brighter of the two teams, as Mark Bridge latched on to a well weighted through ball after 5 minutes. The Olyroo striker was unlucky to see his left-footed shot drift wide of the goal however.
During the next 20 minute period, the Jets maintained possession well, and attacked in numbers. Few clear cut opportunities were presented to either side during this period, in what would prove to be a frustrating night for the home team.
Source: John Taylor, Daily Telegraph
NEWCASTLE Jets owner Con Constantine refuses to listen to advice that Mario Jardel is washed up and is not yet ready to tell the former Brazilian national team striker to pack his bags.
Nor is Constantine about to give a direction to coach Gary van Egmond to play him.
"It’s a Catch 22. We have a winning team and we are right up there challenging for the title," Constantine said yesterday.
"Look, I am from the old school. I want to give him (Jardel) the benefit of the doubt.
"I’d like to see him get a little bit longer and then judge accordingly.
"But he’s not getting much time. You can’t gauge him on that. But I can’t force the coach’s hand either. We’re having success and there’s a price to pay."
Jardel has started only once in six games for the Jets, averaging just 19 minutes an outing.
He missed the trip to Melbourne for last Friday’s clash with the Victory but coach van Egmond said he was "up for selection" against Sydney FC at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Saturday.
Source: ABC Online
Newcastle joined Central Coast at the top of the A-League with a comprehensive 2-0 win over reigning premiers Melbourne at Docklands on Friday evening.
Defender Adam Griffiths headed home in the eighth minute on his return from injury and brother Joel clinched all three points at the death with a sweetly placed shot past Melbourne goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos.
The win took Newcastle coach Gary Van Egmond’s record against the Victory to three wins and a draw.
Of the five losses the Victory has suffered in its last 26 matches, three of them have come against the Jets.
"Tactically I was very, very proud of the boys, they followed it (the game plan) to the letter," Van Egmond said.
"We tried to make sure there wasn’t any space in behind for the likes of the Archie’s (Archie Thompson) or the Allsopp’s (Daniel Allsopp) to exploit."
Source: Peter Desira, Melbourne Sun Herald
BRAZILIAN international Mario Jardel is becoming the A-League’s saddest story after withdrawing from the Newcastle Jets squad to play Melbourne Victory at Telstra Dome tomorrow night.
Jardel, twice winner of the Golden Boot as Europe’s top scorer when he played in Portugal with FC Porto, was hailed as the A-League’s biggest recruit.
But he has struggled with the pace of the league and dropped out of the Melbourne trip after injuring his back at sprint training yesterday.
Jardel has been mostly used as a late substitute.
"Jardel was always going to be a work in progress," Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond said yesterday.
"He did not have a great deal of games under his belt, or training, and he’s working as hard as he can to get as fit as he can."
The patience with Jardel is in stark contrast with two other Newcastle pre-season signings: Argentine Jorge Drovandi and former South Melbourne striker Scott Tunbridge.
Source: Dom Brock, Sportal
The Newcastle Jets have announced they will release striker Scott Tumbridge and Argentinian import Jorge Drovandi.
The 25-year-old Tunbridge had struggled to find a place in the starting XI ahead of fellow forwards Mark Bridge, Joel Griffiths, Troy Hearfield and Mario Jardel, while winger Drovandi battled fitness and ball control troubles in a few underwhelming performances.
Both players are set to be released by the club when the transfer window opens on November 1. With money freed under the salary cap, Newcastle may look to secure another player during the transfer window.
Meanwhile, Jets coach Gary van Egmond has praised the mid-season signing of Socceroos star John Aloisi by neighbouring rivals the Central Coast Mariners.
"He’s a proven goal-scorer," van Egmond said. "He’s played in England and Spain, and at some top clubs. He brings in plenty of experience for the players around him."
"It’ll give them a real lift. They could’ve been content with first place but they’ve gone out there and recruited a top player."
Successful new recruits may be invaluable in what is shaping up to be a tight Hyundai A-League season.
"We always thought it would be a tight competition this season," van Egmond said. "It’s going to go down to the wire, you’d imagine, for the top four positions."
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