John Aloisi will be keen to inflict another blow to his former club as Brisbane Roar host Melbourne City.
Bruno Fornaroli vs Jamie Maclaren
While individual battles across the pitch will define the character of Friday night’s encounter, it is the two front men who will ultimately decide the result. Both Maclaren and Fornaroli came out of the blocks firing this season, but offer entirely different assets to their respective sides: Maclaren eager youth and Fornaroli experience and determination. Will the Uruguayan show Brisbane’s young forward how it is done, or can Aloisi get one up on his former side thanks to this season’s surprise packet?
Javier Hervas to prove another John Aloisi masterstroke?
Last round, Brisbane looked set for a stalemate with Perth Glory, only for Javier Hervas to enter the fray for the first time and almost instantly pull off a sublime assist for Henrique’s winner. So with Maclaren, Brandon Borrello and Corona all proving revelations under Aloisi, will Hervas be yet another stroke of genius from the former Socceroo? Given last round’s assist was merely a glimpse of the former Sevilla midfielder, Hervas has a lot more to show before gaining the praise of his team mates. But based on his first foray into the league, all the signs of another impressive import are there.
How much longer does John van’t Schip have?
Since the City Football Group takeover in Melbourne, pressure and expectation on City has increased significantly. Following an impressive offseason, which saw the signing of Australian internationals as well as locking down imports Thomas Sorensen and Harry Novillo, City were tipped to dominate the league. As of yet, they have fallen drastically short and heading into Friday’s clash sit outside the top six – seeing pressure mount rapidly on coach van‘t Schip. Facing Aloisi, the coach he succeeded at City, JVS must get a result and prove his merit or he could face the embarrassment of losing to Aloisi while becoming the first coaching casualty this campaign.
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