How the Glory can silence Brisbane's Roar

The key to Perth Glory stopping the Brisbane Roar in this afternoon’s grand final rests on their ability to set out their stall, keep things tight and not concede a goal in the opening 20 or so minutes.

From there they have a chance of growing into the game.

The Roar will look to stretch the Glory, using every centimetre of the wide Suncorp Stadium, switching the play from side to side, asking questions of the Glory’s organisation.

It is the Roar way, moving the ball quickly from sideline to sideline, waiting for some space and a penetrating run through the middle, or some space out wide for the fullbacks to overlap.

It is a formula that has been particularly effective against the Glory this season, with 10 goals scored and three conceded in their three clashes.

To give themselves the best chance here, the Glory need to keep things tight, particularly in the early going, and ensure their counter attacks are precise and efficient.

If they play an open game, pressing high and playing with a high defensive line, Brisbane are likely to have too much mobility and ball movement to allow them to put a ball on the end of Besart Berisha’s world-class runs.

If they are looking for a recent template, they could do worse than look at the way Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea stifled Barcelona in the midweek UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Of course, had the Catalans scored an early goal, which their play deserved, it would have been an altogether different scenario.

But Chelsea rode their luck, eventually pinching a ball in midfield and breaking forward to score, before hanging on.

Whether the Glory can muster the defensive discipline for a smash-and-grab remains to be seen, but you sense it might be their best bet.

To that end, Ian Ferguson may be best placed adopting a defensive minded 4-2-3-1, congesting his midfield by starting Steve McGarry ahead of Billy Mehmet.

In truth, it’s unlikely. Ferguson has shown a propensity to stick to a winning formula in recent weeks, and there’s nothing to suggest he’ll move away from the 4-4-1-1 that has served him well in the finals.

The spanner in the works, of course, is the injury to Andrezinho, sustained in Gosford last week.

While the diminutive Brazilian has been such a key figure in the Glory’s run, most of his best work is when the Glory are on the front foot and he can get the ball in the front third and go at his defender, one on one.

If the Glory take the option of dropping into their own half and pressing the Roar when they enter it, an injured Andrezinho might not be the best option from the start.

This is especially the case when you consider Liam Miller has also been nursing an injury this week.

Andrezinho, given the defensive work required early, might be best kept on the bench to have an impact late on.

To my mind, it might be worth bringing some fresh legs in the midfield, to help with the pressing and countering.

While Todd Howarth is the nominal left sided replacement, perhaps the best option for a defensive job like this would be Scott Neville.

Quick, mobile and a defender by trade, Neville would also have the legs to spring forward and support Shane Smeltz and Travis Dodd in transition.

In recent weeks he’s been used off the bench as either a midfielder or second striker, so it’s not beyond reality to think he could be an option.

Ferguson could even use him on the right, switching Travis Dodd to the left.

This would give Perth is a right side featuring Josh Risdon and Neville, and their quick legs could be crucial in halting the influence of Thomas Broich.

Make no mistake, stopping Broich remains fundamental to curbing the Roar, and Ferguson must have a plan to stifle him.

If Ferguson did anything midweek, he should have been watching the way Ulsan dealt with Broich in the Asian Champions League, ambushing him with a two-man press every time he touched the ball.

Whether it’s Dodd or Neville on the right side of midfield, they have to make sure they get back and lend support to Risdon.

If Broich switches over to the left, Dean Heffernan and whoever shapes up ahead of him get the responsibility of meeting him early.

Once you allow the German to carry the ball and build up momentum, you’re asking for trouble.

Meanwhile, playing McGarry at the head of the midfield, close to Erik Paartalu, would provide more insurance, evening the numbers in central midfield.

Jacob Burns and Miller could then look out for Mitch Nichols and Mass Murdocca, knowing McGarry will be close to Paartalu.

If Ferguson does start Mehmet with Smeltz, he’ll be asking much of his two front men from a defensive point of view. Pressing is not their forte.

While Ferguson will be hoping to hurt the Roar on the counter or a set piece, the early priority should be enough to ensure they remain organised defensively.

If they can get that right in the early going, their confidence will grow, and if they use the ball well in forward transition, their hopes of a smash-and-grab could become a reality.