Big concerns already for the North Queensland Fury

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By Adrian Musolino, 1 Jul 2009 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert

Tagged:: A-League, Australian Football, English Premier League, Felipe, football, Ian Ferguson, North Queensland Fury, Robbie Middleby

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Former English premier league soccer player Robbie Fowler, right, pictured with the North Queensland coach Ian Ferguson at a news conference in Townsville, Australia, Sunday, March 15, 2009. Fowler will play for the North Queensland Fury in Australia's A League competition later this year. AP Photo/ Michael Chambers

Their pre-season form has been disappointing and their marquee player has yet to play a competitive match. There are worrying signs for the North Queensland Fury and those concerns are compounded when examining their squad list for their initiation into the A-League.

The signing of Robbie Fowler unsurprisingly dominated the headlines and it has overshadowed the rest of the clubs signings.

Without Fowler, the Fury have been, thus far, “not good enough,” according to Fury chairman Don Matheson, having conceded eleven goals and scored zilch in their pre-season games against A-League opposition.

Most concerning is the lack of cohesion in the pre-season matches and lack of depth in the squad. There are so few game breakers, creative options to service the likes of Fowler.

Felipe would have fit this role perfectly, but his walking out on the club has left them with a gaping hole in the midfield.

This is the biggest concern, the lack of depth in key positions.

Aside from the experienced pair of Robbie Middleby and Ufuk Talay, the majority of the squad is made up of youngsters who have been on the fringe of the A-League yet unable to make regular first team appearances.

Two former Adelaide lads typify this.

Fred Agius has been on the fringe of a professional career many a time and has been a regular for Adelaide City following his brief spell at Adelaide United.

The other is 18-year-old Osama Malik, who showed plenty of potential in his few outings for Adelaide United, most notably at the World Club Cup, but was unable to break into the side regularly.

The list of fringe A-League players also includes the likes of Jacob Timpano, Jason Spagnuolo, Brendon Santalab, and Chris Grossman.

This calibre of player may have, as coach Ian Ferguson describes, “untapped potential”, but there are still question marks about that potential, especially in an environment where there are so many of them attempting to gel together as a cohesive unit in such a pressure cooker environment.

For the sake of the franchise, and possibly their own careers, they need to rise up.

So the Fury waits in anticipation for Fowler’s debut, expected soon, hoping he can spark the side into life.

But can Fowler, 34, with a recent history of ankle, groin and hip injuries, playing in conditions so alien to what he has been exposed to, really carry a side on his back?

It’s unlikely and he will need the service and assistance of his younger colleagues.

Chairman Matheson has addressed the concern about the pressure on Fowler, telling the Northern Territory News, “It’s unfair on the lad and the team when every appearance is treated as the Fowler show, forgetting that it is in fact the Fury show.”

The reason for that may be because there is so little else to focus on.

The Fury’s season rests not just on Fowler’s ability to lead the team on the field, but on how many of the once fringe players, given their big chance at the Fury, can rise to the occasion.

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The Crowd Says (71) | Page 1 of Comments

GeneralAshnak said | July 1st 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment

NQF are in a lot of trouble from the appearance of their pre season form. However we have seen time and time again that the pre season means nothing. As long as NQF can get their structure and shape together prior to the start of the season and play as a unit (much as AUFC did during the ACL) then they have the potential to do very well. This comes down more to the ability of the coaching team than the players. I fear NQF have the caliber of their coaches as the biggest hole in their plans for the upcoming season…

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Realfootball said | July 1st 2009 @ 9:32am | Report comment

Talay will be a key player for them and he hasn’t played so far, plus they now can sign a visa player to replace the AWOL Brazilian. Given the lack of depth in the squad, this new player will be absolutely crucial. The Fury have to be able to get the ball out of midfield to Fowler. If they can do that, they will be competitive.

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Pippinu said | July 1st 2009 @ 9:41am | Report comment

All Glory, SFC and Nix fans will be sighing with relief, knowing that another team is likely to keep them all off the bottom of the table.

It’s not all bad news – someone has to finish bottom – better NQF (and FNQ) than my team.

God will be the biggest flop since Jesus failing to use his magical powers to avoid crucifixion.

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Kazama said | July 1st 2009 @ 9:42am | Report comment

I agree Adrian. I’ve always had a fear that an expansion franchise would be made up of players who couldn’t cut it in the squads of the existing teams and it seems to have manifested itself in North Queensland. Looking over their squad – http://www.northqueenslandfc.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_team (note that Fowler is not listed!) – doesn’t inspire confidence and neither do their results so far. You are right in saying there is no game-breaker in the squad, and frankly I don’t think Felipe was the answer anyway as he was hot and cold during his time across the ditch.

Yes, they have Fowler, but there are question marks on whether or not he will have an impact in this league and the fact that he hasn’t made it onto the park yet is not a good sign. Even if he plays every game, he’s not going to score goals without good service and I question whether the Fury’s playing roster has the ability to break down defenses and play in good balls to Fowler.

Call me a naysayer if you like, but going on the evidence so far it seems that the Fury are destined for the spoon. Perhaps this will be a wake up call for the FFA that we can’t be handing out new franchises just for the sake of having more teams.

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Luke W said | July 1st 2009 @ 9:50am | Report comment

I think the glitz and glamour that has come with Gold Coast United has glossed over the fact that most other clubs in the A-League have recruited poorly for the coming season. Other than Fowler and Mile Sterjovski (to Perth Glory), no other proven big names have been brought in, only young players being promoted and current A-League players changing clubs. I don’t think Melbourne or Queensland needed mass changes, so they can be forgiven. But what of teams like Central Coast and Wellington? Central Coast have not won a match in over six months, yet they haven’t brought in one single player, and Wellington lost their star striker (who basically carried them last season) and have only brought in Diego from Adelaide.

There is still time, and I really hope we see some new talent flow in before the season kicks off.

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Luke W said | July 1st 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment

Pip,

I think SFC and Glory will have better seasons this year. Perth started building at the end of last season, and I think Sterjovski is a good signing for them. SFC didn’t need any more players, they made the perfect signing with a stable, well developed coach. I think both of those teams will perform decently this season.

Unfortunately, I don’t see any other teams except Melbourne, Queensland and Gold Coast dominating this competition. Sydney may push them, and Newcastle and Perth will be a thorn in the side (especially at home), but the other teams will be easybeats for those three teams.

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Kazama said | July 1st 2009 @ 10:04am | Report comment

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/101409,phoenix-find-a-new-smeltz.aspx

Before you ask “who?,” remember that Smeltz was playing non-league football for Halifax when the Phoenix signed him.

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Pippinu said | July 1st 2009 @ 10:18am | Report comment

Luke W
you might be right about the Glory – but I see SFC battling it out with NQF for the spoon. Another season in which Aloisi flops spectacularly while a few others retire mid season, being well past it.

By round 10, the new new coach will be wondering why he took the job – he doesn’t mind a challenge – but I’m sure he’s not big on performing miracles.

Their one saving grace is that they have a few kids who can play a bit – that might keep them off the bottom – but only just.

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Brickowski said | July 1st 2009 @ 10:25am | Report comment

PIpps,

Stirring the pot again I see. Sydney will be challenging for both titles this year, mark my words. It really doesn’t matter if Aloisi flops again, I don’t really see him getting many starts. Brosque will start & star all season, alongside Chris Payne who will be the revelation of the season, all on the back of a very talented midfield.

I’d be worrying about my own backyard if I were you. The league has caught up and the Tards have made no significant improvement. I see your guys battling it out with Gold Coast and WP for mid table respectability. Still you can thank your lucky stars you’re not a CCM or NUJ man, I predict a world of hurt for both of those teams, particularly Newcastle under then inept tutelage of Branko.

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Pippinu said | July 1st 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment

Bricks
you might be right about us not making any significant improvement – it’s hard to argue with – our big claim has been that we have kept the whole of our grand final team except for Ryall (who was pretty much on the fringe of it anyway).

Tick for stability (worth a lot)
Tick for leadership (worth a lot)
No cigar for improving the sqaud – I agree there.

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