Football Season Guide

Another year went past without the Jets making the play-offs. Inability to defend was their main issue. Had the second-worst defence in the entire league (36 goals conceded in 20 matches). This led to the joint-most defeats – 11 and only ninth place in the final standings. The forward actions were good all season, only 3 teams scored more than Jets’ 30 goals. Melina Ayres and Kelli Brown combined for 14 of these 30 goals. Both departed this summer so the front line had to be rebuilt. American strikers Allie Thornton and Cameron Valladares signed and will be tasked to deliver the goals this season. Thornton can be a handful with her size and ability to cause havoc inside the box. This is the only quality summer arrival though. All other moves are seen as insignificant ones and none of them seem to addressed the lack of stability in defence. If anything the departures of Cicco, Wilson and Lancaster from the back line exposes even more the lack of quality and depth in this area. Jets are ill-prepared to start the season. A week before their first game they have only 18 players, 3 of those goalkeepers, under contract. Emergency signings in bulk can be expected but those won’t be quality options. With no clear idea or new personnel to believe there will be defensive improvement and unknown regarding the efficiency of the two new American strikers Jets got slightly weaker if anything this off-season.