It has been a tumultuous offseason for the Brisbane Roar. How do they stack up a week out from opening day?
Offseason transfers
The offseason has been marred by the financial instability of owners the Bakrie Group, with people unable to ascertain whether the club would even make it to this season. The first port of call for the club came in the form of announcing a new coach, John Aloisi. His appointment surprised a few and leans towards integrating the youth within the first team squad and creating a team built upon a shared passion for the game. However, the financial instability eventuated into a spillover effect throughout the Brisbane Roar’s transfer dealings, resulting in a lack of transfer activity for a club desperately in need of an injection of fresh faces after season 10.
Jamie Maclaren may prove to be a shrewd piece of business as the 22-year-old former Perth Glory man has the makings of a top class striker, and the Roar will hope that the added pressure of leading the line does not have an adverse effect upon his clinical nature in front of goal. So far, the offseason points towards promising signs. Luke Brattan ended up being a casualty of the mess, deciding to leave and seek a new chance overseas, which is a choice that comes at the right time in his career. However, the Brattan-shaped hole left in the heart of the team has been addressed – enter Miguel Angel Garcia Perez-Roldan, or Corona for short. He comes with almost a decade of La Liga experience and will look to fit into the mould of a team that lacked midfield grit last season, but will he be a success? Only time will tell.
Last season
Last season will be one for the club to remember, as a series of events that should never be repeated – not much went right. The championship-winning coach was sacked early in the season, an experienced Dutchman was originally signed as technical director then turned coach and was eventually sacked before he could return to his director position. Yes, it was just as confusing as it sounds and in all honesty the team did well to not fall in a heap, even if they needed the salary cap saga of Perth Glory to give them a position in the finals series through default. The Asian Champions League also passed the club by without the Roar having all too much of an impact.
The only consistent facet of Brisbane Roar throughout the 2014-15 season was their lack of consistentcy. Purple patches of form were replaced by uncreative, boring games, driving the fans away from Suncorp Stadium and creating a stark picture from the multiple championship-winning teams of past seasons. One of the only postives to take from last season was the emergence of a core of youth team players who are now more than ready to take their place in the A-League and bring a youthful exuberance to a team crying out for creativity. The likes of Devante Clut, Brandon Borrello, James Donachie and Corey Brown now have enough experience under their belts to take the league by storm and this season may prove to be just that moment.
Manager
Ex-Socceroo Aloisi comes to the club with passion and drive at levels not seen since the days of Ange Postecoglou. After failing as Melbourne City’s manager, Aloisi has many doubters to prove wrong and with his brother Ross by his side as assistant, the Roar has a new identity, one that harks back to the true championship-winning Brisbane Roar, one that fights tooth and nail and plays a high-pressure possession game.
In many ways, Aloisi coaches in a similar way to his old playing style, one where nothing is left to spare and emotions run high. This could come at no better time as former coach Frans Thijssen was often found wanting in that department, as he held no real connection to the league or the club. Aloisi has not taken long to make his mark at the club, helping to instil former captain and marquee player Craig Moore as football operations manager and convincing Maclaren that this was the club for him. The preseason has been promising. Big wins against local opposition has instilled confidence, while a 3-1 win against Central Coast points towards a team entering the season in good shape and confidently behind a manager thankful for a second chance.
Strengths
Youth stands as the strength of the team. As mentioned above, the likes of Borello, Donachie and Brown in particular have now had multiple games and even seasons of improvement to build upon. With flashes of brilliance along the way, it is now consistency that must be attained. With Jade North getting older, his ability to play week in, week out may be on the edge and Luke DeVere stands as the perfect defensive partner for someone of Donachie’s potential to learn from. Further, Clut looks the most promising out of all the young players. Throughout the back half of last season, he showed the entire continent what he could do, with a couple of top quality goals in the Champions League and consistent performances in the A-League, all the while learning from Thomas Broich, arguably the best import the A-League has seen. For Brisbane to succeed this season, the younger players will have to perform on a consistent basis and link with the older players to create a formidable team with a balanced mix of experience and youthful enthusiasm.
Weaknesses
Vice Captain Shane Stefanutto is 35 while new signing Corona along with Broich and Michael Theo are 34. North is 33, and captain Matt McKay is 32. This outlines the major issue facing the club as questions are raised about the older players being able to perform throughout another Australian summer where temperatures are regularly above 30 degrees. Experience is necessary in a team filled with up-and-coming youngsters, however there is a dearth of players hitting their prime. Broich managed to silence his critics last season, however these questions will not disappear and with players such as Clut challenging for his position, Broich may need to view this season as his swansong.
The financial troubles of the offseason will continue to hang over the club until results hush critics. The instability may end up having an effect over the players, however early signs have pointed towards a coaching staff hellbent on focusing on the football, creating a positive environment for the football team and rightly emphasising the game.
Key Player
Maclaren stands as the key player for Brisbane Roar this season. Yes, Henrique and McKay are central to the fortunes of the team, and while a fit DeVere will push for Socceroos selection, it is young Maclaren that will be sought to score goals and provide a clinical avenue in the front third. The loss of Besart Berisha last season had more of an effect that anyone predicted and the lack of a focal point up front proved to be an issue as the season wore on. They did manage to score as many goals as their championship-winning season, but this was mainly down to huge wins against the failing Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets. Andrija Kaluderovic did not have the speed and energy needed to make an ongoing impact while how Jean Carlos Solorzano is still in the squad continues to mystify. Maclaren must make the most of the opportunity provided to him by Aloisi and the club. This season stands as the year he proves to everyone that he is the future striker the Socceroos have been looking for.
Best XI
(4-3-3): Theo (GK); Hingert, North, DeVere, Brown; Corona, McKay, Broich; Henrique, Maclaren, Borello.
Prediction
In 1995 on BBC’s Match of the Day, Alan Hansen famously said: “you can’t win anything with kids”. That followed the interjection of the class of ’92 into Manchester United and nothing has ever been more wrong as the club went on to win the league and cup double that season. Brisbane Roar now stand at a similar point in their history as an A-League club. The youth team players are finally taking the step up to the big league after developing in the system, forming an exciting brand of football and with a coach experienced in developing younger players and open to giving them a chance.
Should Brisbane manage to push through their offseason financial issues, this season will be a turning point. While a championship is out of reach, a top four finish should be the priority. With the right mix of cohesion and luck, Brisbane may be able to pull off a few surprises with the finals being the bare minimum. If nothing else, this is going to be an exciting season.
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