Newcastle Jets Manager Phil Stubbins Admits His Squad Lacks Chemistry Just Three Weeks Out From A-League Season

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Stubbins says he is confident that his team can gel before the Jets’ A-League opener against Central Coast on October 11.

Newcastle Jets manager Phil Stubbins has admitted his side lacks chemistry just weeks out from the beginning of the A-League season.

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A total of 12 players have left Newcastle since the end of the 2013/14 season, but Stubbins says he in confident the team can gel together in time for their opener against closest rivals Central Coast on October 11.

“We seem to be playing where the chemistry isn’t right and it’s a different team we’re putting on the pitch every game recently,” he told AAP.

“As a consequence we take the first 45 minutes to find our feet, we address a few things at half time and then the second half is a more polished performance.

“We’ve transitioned, we had a lot of change at the club in this pre-season.

“But come round one I’m confident we will have addressed quite a few things we need to work on in terms of fluency and cohesion and we’ll be a better outfit for it.”

The Jets have been far from convincing in pre-season, although the additions of Jeronimo Neumann, Marcos Flores, Jonny Steele, Billy Celeski and Edson Montano show a side with enough talent to fight for an A-League finals spot.

Stubbins’ side played fellow A-League club Central Coast in a friendly on Saturday in a match that finished in a 0-0 stalemate.

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