Veteran Jason Hoffman backing Jets to defy the doubters

With less than three weeks before the season-opener, the Jets have again been written off as A-League contenders.

They are $17 outsiders to win the league, with only Central Coast and Wellington at $21 below them in the betting.

Champions Melbourne City are the $4 favourites ahead of Sydney FC ($4.50).

A number of so called experts have also given Newcastle little hope, tipping them to finish in the bottom couple of rungs on the ladder.

"That is fine," Hoffman said of the low appraisals. "People can have their opinion on us. To be honest, they are opinions that we shouldn't be concerned with. We know exactly where we are at as a group.

"As a staff, as a playing group, we work hard every, single day. We will be quietly confident about where we want to finish.

"The bar is set at the absolute top for us. After many years of being in the league, I feel we have a system, a model and a playing group that has the capacity to do extremely well.

"People can say what they like about us, but the only opinions that matter are inside our own heads."

It was a similar story ahead of the 2017-18 season when, after collecting the wooden spoon the previous year, the Jets, boosted by the arrival of a new coach, Ernie Merrick, and new-look squad were the surprise packets.

They set numerous club records on the way to finishing second, won the right to host the grand final against Melbourne Victory, only to be dudded by a VAR breakdown.

READ MORE: SPANIARD DESIGNED FOR JETS' POSSESSION GAME

READ MORE: VETERAN WELCOMES BATTLE FOR STARTING XI

READ MORE: GREEK WINGER HOOKED BY JETS' SALES PITCH

READ MORE: JURMAN CONFIDENT JETS HEADED IN RIGHT DIRECTION

Again this season, there is a new man at the helm, Arthur Papas, who has ushered in 15 fresh faces, including a full quota of imports.

Papas, like Merrick, has overhauled the Jets' game, introducing an up-tempo, high pressing, possession game.

Hoffman is confident that all the ingredients are there for a successful campaign.

"The biggest thing was that we started pre-season first," Hoffman said. "We were the only club in when we started in July. We had a lot of new players get in a lot earlier than in other years, which always helps.

"We have had a lot of time to get together as a group to nail down a new, exciting style the boss has us playing. A lot of long days to prepare as a collective.

"Having your imports and everybody available as early as possible and fit firing ready to go will help any squad. We have a mentality that we are in it together. We have been together, a long, long time and we are prepared."

As well as time on the pitch, the Jets have been undertaking extra homework with the aid of technology.

"We have access to a program on the computer that gives us plenty of feedback," Hoffman said. "We can watch every training sessions, every match, and I think that is a critical part in the individual development of a player and of the group.

"If we can keep that hunger for improvement throughout the season, I'm sure we will be in a very good position at the business end."

IN THE NEWS:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: