United under new coach Arthur Papas and a bold, attacking strategy, Newcastle defender Jason Hoffman cannot wait for the new A-League Men season to kick off.
The build-up to the 2021-22 campaign is in stark contrast to 12 months ago when the Jets’ very existence was under a cloud and Carl Robinson’s exit to join Western Sydney left them in turmoil.
Papas’s arrival in June brought with it a vision of the club’s future which Hoffman says has brought a level of enthusiasm to a club many have already written off heading into the new campaign.
“It’s just exciting to be part of something that has a clear identity and it’s a brand of football that I’m sure everyone believes in here that will bring us success,” Hoffman said.
“People can have their opinion on us but, to be honest, they’re opinions that we shouldn’t be concerned with because we know exactly where we’re at.
“We work hard every single day.
“I think we’re a very humble group. We will quietly be confident where we believe we want to finish.
“The bar is set at the absolute top for us and, over the many years of being in the league, I feel like we have a system and 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 the ones inside our own heads.”
While 32-year-old Hoffman is a Jets stalwart, Papas has overhauled a squad that underwhelmed last season.
Over a dozen senior players have departed including veteran defenders Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Nigel Boogaard, experienced striker Roy O’Donovan and Olyroo Connor O’Toole.
Fringe Socceroo Matthew Jurman headlines 12 new faces at the Jets but Hoffman says Papas identifying and signing his targets early mean the team has already gelled strongly before their season opener against local rivals Central Coast on November 21.
“We had a lot of new players get in a lot earlier than any other years which always helps,” Hoffman said.
‘We had our imports in quite early.
“We’ve had a lot of time to get together as a group and try and nail down a new, exciting style that the boss has us playing.
“Having your imports and having everybody available as early as possible and fit, firing, ready to go, I’m sure that will help any squad.”
