That's the brief. Weigh up the hard facts, the lessons of history against an increasingly large gut feeling and the vagaries of the intangibles.

The Jets' budgetary constraints, player departures and a couple of very untimely long-term injuries late in pre-season suggest the lads from the Hunter face an uphill battle.

So much so that former Newcastle national league coach, now Fox pundit, John Kosmina tipped the team to get the wooden spoon.

Other high-profile tipsters generally found a ranking between 8th and 10th for Ernie Merrick's men, so it's fair to say the Jets will hardly be crushed by the weight of expectation from outside of the region at least.

The players won't dwell on that assessment. Some will file it away in the recesses of the mind for later in the season. For that matter this columnist's view won't be afforded too much airtime either unless I'm wildly inaccurate, in which case I will be reminded down the track .

Football is a game full of theories, philosophies, approaches, systems and so on. But by and large in the A-League the successful sides are among the most frugal defensively, whilst scoring close to 50 goals at the other end in the 27 games.

Concede at close to one goal per game and score at close to two goals per game and there is a very good chance your side will be close to the top of the table at season's end.

It can be as simple as that. Certainly the odd 8-2 blowout can distort a tally on occasion, but nine times out of 10 that basic recipe or equation is a winner.

Of course that's hardly rocket science. The key is how much of your resources have to be devoted to one aim at what cost to the other?

How many times have you heard a coach bemoan "that we are sound defensively, but can't score" or conversely "we're scoring for fun, but conceding too many"?

Unless one team is seriously more talented than the other - Australia v Chinese Taipei or England v Bulgaria - then contests become a question of the balance of your team, effective transition and conversion of chances. That should be doubly true in a salary-capped league.

With that in mind and having had a sneaky look at the opposition teams in round one while the Jets had the bye, I am encouraged that, despite having one of the lowest budgets and something of a blue-collar image, the Jets' best side will be more than competitive with most teams.

Ernie Merrick is not suddenly going to become a conservative coach. The recruitment of Matt Millar and Bobby Burns suggests that fullbacks will be more important than ever in attack. That, in turn, should reduce the creative burden on the front four.

That being the case, Merrick must decide how he can best provide protection, cover and balance for his experienced central defensive pairing.

Will that be with a deeper defensive starting position, a more conservative midfield selection or will he risk a high line to press further up the pitch?

The departure of the South American midfield influence, whether planned or due to circumstances, not the least of which financial, probably simplifies a selection of style or at least intent for the Jets coach.

Sometimes the influence of a talented footballer such as a Ronny Vargas requires understanding and confidence that teammates don't possess. It also can require that others sacrifice their best qualities to accommodate a special talent .

Put simply, the Jets were a little bit six-of-one half-a-dozen-of-the-other it seemed last season.

Understandably, they did not want to waste the South American flair on offer but never quite found an effective balance to suit the majority.

Wes Hoolahan, with undoubted skill and vision and 20 years of applying that in the high-octane pace of top-level English football, would have fitted the bill perfectly. But a bad ankle injury sustained in the FFA Cup quarter-final against Adelaide means we won't witness that until the new year.

Nick Fitzgerald is at a perfect age to showcase his quality. He is quick, fit, skillful and team-orientated, and should approach this season with much optimism.

Panamanian striker Abdiel Arroyo, the latest import from the Americas, provides the greatest unknown. Reportedly very quick and powerful, how he adapts to the A- League will be crucial to the Jets' output.

Getting back to our simple equation, I can envisage the defence being sound enough to concede at around one goal per game if Ernie can find the right balance and keep key players fit.

Fifty goals at the other end is more of a challenge. Dimi Petratos, Fitzgerald, Jason Hoffman, Hoolahan and Millar will all contribute, but you 'd suspect Arroyo will need to get 12 to 15 at least.

Simple equation, complex process.

Welcome to Newcastle to those who have arrived from Ireland via Scotland, East Anglia via the north of England, Central America, Melbourne and all the way from Gosford.

Welcome back to a host of familiar regulars. We wish you all well

Vive le pace, power, Petratos, a pinch of prudence and a healthy helping of Hoolahan in the new year.