The Brisbane Roar and their manager Ange Postecoglou have received plenty of plaudits for the quality of the football they’ve dished up this season, and deservedly so.
But there was something even more impressive about their work at Suncorp over the past week or so, and especially on Saturday night, when they managed to see off the Melbourne Victory with a late winner from Costa Rican Jean Carlos Solorzano.
What the Roar were able to demonstrate across three games in eight days is that they not only have the stamina and quality to see out the season, but that they are developing their patience and mental toughness to go with it.
After such high octane performances against the Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners, in which Postecoglou’s men procured four points, but should have had six, and with the Victory coming home strongly in the second period, it was tempting to think the Roar might have run out of legs and will, despite dominating the first period.
Thomas Broich, such an influence for two and half games, suddenly stopped getting his foot on the ball, while the ‘Mass and Matt Show’, Murdocca and McKay, the masters of pass and burst forward, were reduced to mere mortals, focussed on keeping their shape.
Soon the Victory had their equaliser, from a former Roar player no less, and were getting on top, through possession and territory. For a while it looked like the curse of the three games in a week would strike Postecoglou.
Brisbane sides of the past would most certainly have folded, frustrated by their own inability to finish off a game.
But the sign of a good side is not only an ability to dominate when the possession is flowing, but to absorb and respond when questions are being asked. Respond the Roar most certainly did.
The fact Postecoglou was able to call on three attackers from the bench certainly helped. The timing of his double substitution, introducing Solorzano and Kosta Barbarouses for Reinaldo and Mitch Nichols, was perfect.
While Reinaldo had toiled manfully, working the frontline well with his and mobility, Kevin Muscat seemingly had his measure. But the introduction of Solorzano and Barbarouses on 64 minutes upped the ante, their pace posing even more questions of the Victory rearguard.
What a luxury for Postecoglou, even moreso when you consider he had the equally explosive, and impressive, Rocky Visconte up his sleeve.
With McKay and Murdocca reduced to walking pace (by their standards), it was time for Luke DeVere to inject himself into midfield with an aggressive forward run, one we have seen throughout the season.
There is something rather raw about the way the Roar central defender carries the ball forward, at pace and with power, but he has his head up and he is certainly leaving the opposition behind, even if he doesn’t quite know what to do when he gets near or inside the box.
Here he burnt the retreating Ricardinho before venturing through an empty midfield and gliding past a stationary Muscat. A bit of fortune presented the ball to Solorzano, who finished with aplomb, but Postecoglou will be delighted with players like DeVere taking the initiative in situations like this.
It is one of the many facets that go into a successful side, and after being culpable at AAMI Park in the first clash between these two sides this season, it was wonderful to see DeVere bounce back here.
He and Matt Smith have been excellent throughout, playing open, covering the ground with pace, and always looking to play out.
The other unsung hero is Erik Paartalu, who, like DeVere and Smith, provides a real physical presence, in the midfield and at set pieces, but also likes to play.
There is something balanced, methodical but beautiful about the way the Roar construct their attacks. They have a few rules and continue to adhere to them;
1. The two fullbacks get forward, allowing the centre backs to split. This allows McKay to drift out into the left back spot or Paartalu to drop into the space vacated by the split central defence. McKay and Paartalu take turns in getting on the ball and starting the play.
2. There are very few, if any, long balls. It’s all on the ground, and the focus is about finding a play-out solution. The players are given license and encouraged to play. Postecoglou isn’t interested in “playing safe”.
3. Once a pass is made, usually forward and diagonal, the passer normally takes off, bursting forward into space, ready to receive. With the fullbacks also getting forward, and the front three dropping off to receive, lay-off and move forward, there are many bodies in motion. It’s movement, but it’s in synch, unlike some of the days gone by, when the Roar appeared to run for the sake of running.
4. An economy of touches, normally one or two, ensures the ball moves quickly, giving the opposition little opportunity to get organised.
5. Their recovery of the ball, soon after losing it, high up the pitch, ensures the pressure is always on the opposition to retain the ball on the few occasions they see it. The Roar swarm, with the buzzability of McKay and Murdocca setting the tone.
Hitherto the real problem has been an inability to get what they deserve, mainly due to their wastefulness at the pointy end, but there have been some great signs of development over the past week or so.
If the Roar can continue to add patience and mental strength, and find solutions when their sophisticated possession-based plan A doesn’t find the goals, then Postecoglou’s men will sure take some beating between here and the finals.
NY
Guest
I remember a time when all the football talent in this country was coming from NSW. I can see in the next 10 years a lot of Queenslanders playing for the Socceroos. No doubt Queensland has a state knows how to produce sporting talent. The fast moving, aggressive and direct play of Brisbane Roar is very Queensland like to me.
Realfootball
Guest
Absolutely - Seo was terrific - how could I have forgotten!
Realfootball
Guest
To be fair, no one could have picked them. My mate and I went to the Everton game and saw the Roar in action and we immediately put money on the Roar for the title at truly stupendous odds. What we saw against Everton was no accident, and this from a team that had not even played a competitive game yet. They pushed Everton all the way. To borrow a phrase, it was not the Roar as we knew it.
Realfootball
Guest
Yeah, its been a tough road at Suncorp until this season. Certainly the Roar have tested their supporters. I have to travel 2 hours each way to get to games and have been attending regularly since game 1, and it is such a pleasure to go the Suncorp knowing that the team will most likely win and whatever happens will acquit itself well. I can't tell you how long that 2 hours back late at night was after yet another game down the tube because of amateurish defending or a simple lack of bottle. The Roar did lose me for a while - when Farina signed Bob Malcom, I walked, because I knew what it meant in terms of the football that was going to be dished up, and I was right. Farina's team only played well in patches and he was a deeply flawed coach and tactician. I honestly believe that on this showing Postecoglou could be our next Australian Socceroos coach. I don't even mind the colour card disaster strip any more. I was a Gold Coast member last season - half the travel time - but found, regardless of the basketcase that is GCU, that you can't support a team through thick and thin for 5 years and then walk away. Gold Coast are a plastic club with no heart; I go to Suncorp and even with a smallish crowd, the heart is there in the supporters and in the team. The atmosphere with 9500 people last Saturday was brilliant. Can't wait for Adelaide.
Tony Tannous
Expert
Thanks all, some great, very informed comments on here today. I also agree with a couple of the comments here from gawa and Rob Gremio that confidence and mental strength is being garnered from the knowledge they all know what's required from them, and that it's working. It's powerful stuff really - 'here's your job, go out and do it, enjoy it, express yourself and have belief in what you're doing, you're good enough' Taking it further, one of the real factors in Ange being able to deliver this message is that he has basically picked a style of football he wants, and then recruited the players to deliver the style. As I noted in my season preview, expect pace and mobility; "Ange Postecoglou has swept the broom and built a young squad of his own making. Pace and mobility in transition appear the keys, with the dynamic Henrique and Kosta Barbarouses working in and around Costa Rican striker Jean Carlo Solorzano, feeding off the service of Thomas Broich." And speaking of the pre-season, another real factor has been alluded to by some astute readers and that's to do with the pre-season conditioning. In many ways it reminds me of the way Vitezslav Lavicka went about things in the last pre-season (and I was there for much of it), building games, mileage and understanding into his team through game after game against state league opposition. The highlights I saw from the Roar pre-season pointed to the way they are playing today. Agree with GibbonsMcGibbons though, take McKay and/or Broich out and it's a different team, so fingers crossed for the Roar on that front.
Betty b
Guest
and exactly how many of you experts tipped the roar in the pre-season poll? I don't recall too many - most went for MV or Sydney from memory. But the reds are going to be difficult.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I was trying to be modest :) To quote from Fozzy's article today "Roar's fluent style is the fruit of a pre-season regime under the new Football Federation Australia Curriculum methodology of Raymond Verheijen - “football is conditioning and conditioning is football’ - where the players' physical capabilities are built entirely in games with the ball. It is a model for everyone to follow. The results, where individuals and a team are able to build football-specific conditioning rather than strength that has no relevance to the game are impressive. Roar is maintaining a high speed of game longer than most other teams." http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/craig-foster/blog/1028953/With-Ange,-it%27s-not-personal
whiskeymac
Guest
both the roar and the reds were basket cases last year, and are now the belles of the (round)ball. good to see and a good analysis. As Rob Gremio says, good to read such positive articles on these teams (especially Roar). as it stands i wld be happy to see either of these teams representing oz in the AFC.
Andyroo
Guest
Rob mentioned him... I feel pretty bad for forgetting him as well since he was my favorite import until Broich (now tied)!
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
Tony, Great article, and nice to finally be reading some regular, positive news about the Roar this year! I agree that the football that Roar is playing this season is very well structured, and that this is something that has been lacking for some time in their play. I think the structure has contributed to the patience, maturity and mental strength the Roar has shown - most notably against the Victory. All of a sudden, the players know where they are supposed to be, what to do when things break down, and who is going to be where when they need an "out". That knowledge and understanding of the structure is invaluable when facing a difficult opponent who has you under the pump - as is the knowledge that your coach has faith in you to do the job, which Ange has obviously demonstrated with the lads. It means that if the Coach has faith in you, you gain more confidence in your own ability, meaning you are less likey to panic when the house starts to shake. In previous seasons, under both Farina and Bleiberg, the players have had no real positional sense or structure, and no "plan B" in case things start going wrong. This season, there is. Finally, I am not scared of going to Suncorp had having my hopes dashed by sloppy defending in the last minute. I think this, more than almost anything, will bring the crowds back after suffering so many heartbreaks across the first 5 years of the A-League.
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
Yeah, Kruse needed to grow up, and moving away from his good for nothing mates helped him out in that regard - the change of scenery was just what he needed, although he still behaves like a tool. I guess leopards and spots come to mind... As for Minniecon, I would like to think he would get his act together, but after the statements he made when he left Roar for GC, I won't feel sorry for him if he disappears into obscurity.
Andyroo
Guest
Kruse.... not after last Saturday whiskeymac :P
whiskeymac
Guest
shame re minniecon. hopefully he'll get his act together... kruse did i guess.
whiskeymac
Guest
henrique maybe ifit wasnt for the injuries... was kruse mentioned as a valued past player?
Realfootball
Guest
Interesting story. Agree that he has gone backwards at GCU, though I think this also has to do with Bleiberg's coaching. If Minniecon is to save his career, he needs to move to a club with a coach who will get the best out of him. He is a shadow of the player who was tearing down the right wing at the Roar, and that isn't just about Tahj's ego.
BES
Guest
I would probably put Franjic in at RB Andyroo
BES
Guest
Not just one of the fittest - the fittest. Take a look at how many games the Roar finish the strongest. Every one - even after 3 games in a week! Great pre-season by Ange.
BES
Guest
Best quality football there has been in the AL fullstop.
BES
Guest
Guys you are all forgetting Hyuk Su Seo - a true legend of the formative days of the club and consistantly rated as one of the best imports ever.
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
Don't forget Seo - he was a good player and added some class to the Roar's backline.