Brisbane Roar may just be the greatest team to grace the A-League. They play good football like many teams, they play flowing and entertaining football like many teams, but unlike many of those teams, Brisbane get results.
Despite the results, many question the significance of Roar’s historic run and their true credentials as a champion side. It’s time these questions were answered once and for all and time to try to better understand the Roar.
Before the Roar’s current run of play can be assessed, it must be understood how Brisbane turned their fortunes around. That is quite simple, Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou was initially criticised for his brutal reworking of the Roar’s list, cutting players like Liam Reddy, Craig Moore and Charlie Miller in favour of younger, untested players.
He famously challenged his early critics to judge him in a year and successfully proved them wrong. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Postecoglou initially struggled to get results with the Roar finishing ninth out of 10.
However, as it is widely known, things began to work for the Roar, drawing with Adelaide in Brisbane to kick start their incredible run of form.
The run wasn’t without fault though. Brisbane have continually struggled against Melbourne Victory and the recent 2-2 draw in Melbourne may have shown other A-League teams the way to stop Brisbane.
This was exemplified a mere week later where Brisbane failed to defeat Wellington at home.
Extremely defensive football prevented the Roar from penetrating the Wellington defense as they have in the past and the Nix used quick, counter-attacking play to expose the Roar’s high defensive line.
But could this signal an end to the Roar’s incredible run? Most likely not.
The truth is Brisbane have been able to adapt to changes in opposing play and yet stay true to their original game plan.
Last year’s grand final saw the Roar down by two goals with 15 minutes to go. Did they play the long ball? Did they rush the play? Did they even cross? No.
The Roar stayed true to their game plan and found a way back into the game with passing football. Brisbane don’t fall to pressure and they can come back from the most bleak situations.
A number of factors have facilitated the Roar’s run. The ability of Brisbane to adapt has been a key part to its success.
On the field, it has made all the right moves and won praise off the field, even from opposing supporters!
However, just as important is the players’ incredible drive. From nothing, many have found the willingness to keep going time and time again in the search for respect and glory.
Postecoglou has created an environment where players feel professional and passionate, two key elements of football that when brought together, produce something special
This leads to the issue at hand. Will Brisbane beat the 70-year old record? Will the run ever end?
At the end of the day, the Roar may not care about the record. Success in football is measured in silverware, not form and the Roar understand that.
This focus on the end result, the ultimate goal, is something commentators of late, have lost. It is not enough to play things out, a game at a time, because football is a funny sport and anything can happen and regardless of the teams on the pitch, both have a chance before the whistle blows.
This is what makes the Roars run so awesome. Despite the competition and nature of football, Brisbane have won. They remain undefeated even after facing games they should have lost.
Newcastle are unlikely to trouble the Roar (especially after last week’s second half performance in Melbourne) and even if they do, the Roar will surely rebound better than ever.
However, one cannot help but wonder when the Roar’s run will come to an end.
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