Newcastle coach Phil Stubbins has ramped up the pressure on Brisbane Roar by hinting that Thomas Broich is a fading force for the struggling A-League champions.
Broich is the reigning Johnny Warren Medallist and widely regarded as the best import in the competition’s 10-year history, but Stubbins believes the German maestro lacks his usual lustre without strike weapon Besart Berisha up front.
The new Jets mentor made the claim as he warned his own cellar-dwelling side were hell-bent on capitalising on the Roar’s early-season woes which has quickly seen counterpart Mike Mulvey put on notice by his chairman.
Brisbane must overcome their bogey side, who won all three of their 2013-14 clashes, at Hunter Stadium on Friday night to rebound from four straight defeats – the worst start by any club in the A-League.
“They’re coming here with real pressure and it’s up to our boys to capitalise on that,” Stubbins said in Newcastle.
The Roar’s frustrations bubbled over at the end of last weekend’s 3-1 loss to Melbourne City when veteran defender Shane Stefanutto abused battling goalkeeper Jamie Young on field at Suncorp Stadium.
Stubbins said he expected the confidence of both players would have been rattled by the experience and then continued with the mind games by questioning whether Broich, 33, was past his best.
He felt Berisha’s defection to Melbourne Victory had been the single biggest factor in Brisbane’s slide as they lacked punch and fluency in the front third.
Asked whether Broich was the same player without Berisha, Stubbins said: “That’s a good point.
“(Ruud) Van Nistelrooy wasn’t the same without David Beckham.
“I think Broich is 34, going on 35, and may not be as fleet of foot as he was in seasons past, but he’s a magnificent player and if you’re not tuned into the game he’s certainly capable of hurting you.”
That’s what Mulvey, who welcomed an off-shore review by club owners the Bakrie Group, is hoping for as he is expected to move the German from the left wing into the middle of the ground, possibly as a centre-forward.
“There will be some changes and you have to utilise your best assets in the areas where it best suits the team,” he said.
“It’s a very important game and we recognise the seriousness of the situation.”
Stubbins declared Billy Celeski would start his first match in the midfield after overcoming his groin injury while Marcos Flores has been left on a bench including former Socceroos defender Adrian Madaschi.
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