FIT again Reno Piscopo is in contention for a recall as Jets coach Arthur Papas considers freshening up the squad ahead of the clash against the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Wednesday night.
The Jets went down 1-0 to Brisbane Roar on a sandy pitch at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night.
The trip to Gosford, their second in 10 days, is the postponed round one battle which was washed out.
Piscopo injured his calf in a friendly against Macarthur during the World Cup break and sat out the 2-1 win over the Mariners and the defeat to the Roar.
"Reno is a possibility to come back into the team," Papas said. "With the short turnaround, it is hard to get players on the fringe ready to play a match. He trained the last session and will come into calculations.
"There are a couple of others who will come into contention as well. I think there is a chance to make a couple of changes."
Jaushua Sotirio provided a spark off the bench and nearly scored late equaliser, having a header tipped onto the bar by Roar keeper Jordan Holmes.
Papas and Brisbane opposite Warren Moon were highly critical of the playing surface at McDonald Jones Stadium, which was relaid after hosting a round of the Australian Supercross series on November 26.
"Newcastle deserves better, we deserve better, the league deserves better," Papas said. "It is not the only reason, but if you don't provide a very good pitch, you won't see a very good game. Players were slipping, balls not moving, even opportunities in the box the ball was bobbling. I raised my concerns about it Thursday."
Moon labelled the surface a "cow paddock".
"We want to play good football and they just relaid the pitch and it wasn't suitable for an A-League game," he said.
The Jets had 64 per cent of possession against Brisbane but couldn't break down a compact and organised Roar defence.
"Brisbane played well and stuck to their game plan, which was to defend quite deep," Papas said. "If you are trying to break down a team that is sitting deep, you need to move the ball quickly and clearly that wasn't possible.
"[Striker] Beka Mikeltadze is a highly technical player. He wants the ball played into him. The players behind him need to get into certain body positions to receive the ball to play forward and not have to look at the ground to see how the ball is going to move."
The Roar, despite having just 34 per cent of the ball, created twice as many shots on goal.
The winner, scored in the 80th minute by Nicola Mileusnic, came from a set piece which the Jets failed to clear.
Keeper Jack Duncan blocked Mileusnic's first effort but the striker was able to sweep home the rebound.
"It was something that could be avoided irrespective of the pitch," Papas said. "We need to be better because it is three point lost from a set piece."
The Jets' next home game is against Sydney FC on New Years day.
"Our next game is January 1 and we expect the turf will be back to the standard we expect," Mattiske said.
"Moving forward, we will be meeting with stadium management about time periods between events like the supercross that carry a risk of damaging turf and the scheduling of our games."
McDonald Jones Stadium will host Elton John concerts on January 8 and 10.
The Jets host Western Sydney on January 22, leaving 10 days for any repairs to the pitch if required.
"The risk in relation to Elton John concerts is less significant," Mattiske said. "We will work with the stadium and APL to make sure appropriate risk mitigation procedures are put in place."
After the event, we will monitor it and ensure there isn't damage to the turf that would impact a game."
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"There simply wasn't enough time for the turf to recover where it was at a standard that either team or the APL (Australia Professional Leagues) would have wanted," Jets executive chairman Shane Mattiske said.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT - legs heavy, reno or other
Reno is a possibility to come back into the team. He had a niggle over the past couple of games. With the short turnaround, it is hard to get players on the fringe ready to play a match.
he will come into calculations. He trained the last session. There are a couple of other who will come into contention as well.
ARTHUR PAPAS
WHAT WAS DIFFERENCE
We watched Wellington v Sydney last week on a really sub-standard pitch and we did our best to match that and provide a surface that isn't conducive to a good game of football.
WARREN MOON - not a-league standard
Absolutely. I made my point fairly clear on Thursday after seeing it. Players were slipping, balls not moving, even opportunities in the box the ball was bonbling.
Newcastle deserves better, we deserve better, the league deserves better. It is not the only reason, but if you don't provide a very good pitch, you won't see a good game.
HOW PREVENT go to the ceo, league
I'm not sure.
I raised my concerns about it Thursday. I coach a team and can't do everything.
FOOTBALL Wise - credit brisbane plan to stay compact, block passing lane
Brisbane played well and stuck to their game plan, which was to defend quite deep.
They played well and stuck to their game plan, which was to defend quite deep.When you are playing against a team which is defending deep, you have two problems. On transition there are some really good opportunities for them. The Roar were strong in transition.
Set pieces they were strong as well. Some really good delivery.
Then if you are trying to break down that is sitting deep, you need to move the ball quickly and clearly that wasn't possible.
BEKA TYPified frustration
Beka is a highly technical player, and in the end he is going to be frustrated. he wants the ball played into him. The players behind him need to get into certain body positions to receive the ball to play forward and not have to look at the ground to see how the ball is going to move.
We still lost the game. It is a game based on a second phase from a set piece. It was something that could be avoided irrespective of the pitch.
We can't sit here and say that was the only reason.
GUS POST AND SAVE AT END - not many clear cut chances - change much mariners
We will have an extra day to prepare and hopefully use it well.
FORESEE changes
I think there is a chance to make a couple of changes. We will assess it.
HALF TIME - pin them in second half
We had most of the ball, it is what you do with it. When you have 70% of ball, you are pressing or transitioning for 30.
We weren't good enough with the ball.
FORGET THE GAME BECAUSE PITCH -
It is an opportunity to show a bit of resilience and grit with how we respond.
We defended quite well overall. We had to block quite a bit in the box and in closer areas.
LOT OF SET PIECES
It was the first time we have conceded off a second phase, let alone a first phase, from a set piece.
We have been very strong in that area. It just takes one opportunity and you switch off on the second phase.
We will review it. We need to be better because it is three point lost from a set piece.
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WARREN MOON
DEFENSIVE
We pride ourselves on our defensive efforts and tonight was no different.
I thought on a whole we were really well disciplined and well structured.
AGAINST JETS
The jets are a very good football side. We pride ourselves ...
We played a game tonight on a cow paddock.
We want to play good football and they just relaid the pitch and it wasn't suitable for an A-League game.
Moving forward we will be meeting with the stadium management about time periods between events like Supercross that carries a risk of damaging turf and the scheduling of our games.
McDonald Jones Stadium will host Elton John concerts on January 8 and 10 for which boards will be laid over the pitch.
The Jets host Western Sydney on January 22, leaving 10 days for any repairs to the pitch if required.
"The risk in relation to Elton John concerts is less significant," Mattiske said. "We will work with the stadium and APL to make sure appropriate risk mitigation procedures are put in place. After the event, we will monitor it and ensure there isn't damage to the turf that would impact a game."
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MATTISKE ON PITCH
The state of the surface was clearly disappointing. We have communicated that to the stadium. That was a result of the Supercross event which happened there on November 26.
There simply wasn't enough time for the turf to recover where it was at a standard that either team or the APL would have wanted.
Our next game is January 1 and we expect the turf will be back to the standard we expect.
It is an issue that is difficult to address. Only time would fix that.
Moving forward we will be meeting with the stadium management about time periods between events like Supercross that carries a risk of damaging turf and the scheduling of our games.
ELTON JOHN
The risk in relation to elton john concerts is less significant. The challenges of putt boards and tonnes of soil onto a football pitch are far morwe significant.
In hindsight the scheduling of our games around such an event would need to be reconsidered.
If those events happen again at that venue. We will definitely be working with the stadium in relation to the Elton John concerts - Jan 12.
We have Wanderers on January 22.
The risk in relation to elton john concerts is less significant.
We will work with the stadium and APL to make sure there is appropriate risk mitigation procedures put in place and then monitor adfter the event to ensure there isn't damage to the turf that would impact a game.
Post elton...
