2013/14 A-League season preview: Brisbane Roar

@ Roar Fan: What 'we' think our back-up players are is irrelevant as it'll be up to how the coach uses them. And yes, most teams only have to swap 2-3 players at most for any one game, but for the sake of explanation let me put a scenario to you: How do you think Roar will go if Berisha is unavailable after being sent off the game before, Broich has a groin strain which has him out for a couple of weeks, Smith hasn't reached the form of past years & Franjic is in a form-slump too? Yes, losing 4 key players will hurt any team, but such a scenario could quite easily occur and IMO, Roar don't have good enough bench players to cover for something like that if they'r going to win the Premiership (the GF is another matter entirely!). It's one thing expecting a good 20min cameo from Petratos or Yeboah, but quite another to expect them to perform for 3-4 full games in a row (especially as they're youngsters). And to entertain your request, here's my SFC team: Starting XI: Janjetovic, Warren, Bosschaart, Ryall, Bojic, Carle, Emerton, Garcia, Chianese, ADP, Gameiro Subs (5-man bench): Necevski, Petkovic, Grant, Triantis, McFlynn, Antonis, Yau Not in match-day squad: Petkovski, Jurman, Tiago, Gligor, Abbas, Powell, Mallia Now, I'm not saying whether they are better than Roar's squad - but I don't need to as I'm not tipping SFC to be in the Top 2 like myslef & a lot of others are tipping Roar to be. I do tip SFC to make the play-offs though! :-)

For WSW after the first 11 back ups would be: Spiranovic, La Rocca, Haliti, Santalab, Minniecon, Cole, Appiah-Kubi, Heffernan, Trifiro, Perkatis.

I challenge the supporters of the other HAL teams to list their 'back up players' that are equal or better to the ones that I have mentioned for the Roar. I have followed the HAL since its inception and usually watch every game, every weekend I believe that I have a fairly good knowledge of the players in each team and I am quite comfortable in saying that the whole Roar squad is up to the task and so are some of the youth players like Yeboah, Borello and Liftin. And I repeat the statement in my earlier post, how many first choice players will not be available at any given time because of injury, suspension or representative team duties? 2, 3, 4. It is unlikely that there will be many more than that.

@ Roar Fan: I think you're looking at your team through rose-tinted glasses! Don't worry, we all do it - I'm still confident that SFC will make Top 4, even though pre-season results have been bad!! I'm just saying don't be surprised if Roar start to struggle if their best XI isn't on the park. Best of luck for the season!

@ BES: It sounds like a case of "can't see the wood because of the trees" for you then... I'll point out at the start that I'm an SFC fan & also refer you to my previous post about my view of the Roar's squad this season above, so we get any claims of bias out of the way... But seriously, look at your list again: Acton? Not many outside of hardcore Roar fans would know whether he's any good at all. Brown played ok last season, but are you listing Ivan Franjic twice to make their depth look better? Donachie was like Brown ok last season Ferreira was cut by Postecoglu, Lambadaridis is out for the season Henrique is too inconsistent, as is Petratos, Yeboah is a youth team player so he'll also be inconsistent, & Do was released in the off-season. So if Roar are going to win it this year, it's the starting XI you listed that is pretty much going to have to stay on the park for every match that is going to have to do it. Having said that, I think they've got 2 more spots on their roster left, so maybe they can bring in some good signings during the season (although do they have any room in their salary cap?)

Things should be all good now Ian. Communication was a problem but that has been fixed and now I'm not so deterred from contributing. In fact, I'll be doing Sydney FC vs Newcastle Jets live blog on Friday night!

I am flabbergasted by the suggestions that we have no depth. Consider Jack Hingert to be the first choice RB, he can be replaced by either Ferreira, Davies, Borello or if push comes to shove Ivan Franic. In central defence we have a very experienced McDonough to replace either North or Smith. At left back Shane will still be first choice with Corey Brown breathing down his neck. Corey has also proven to be a very good replacement for Thomas Broich. In the midfield Mackay, Miller and Brattan will be first choice in the midfield but we have a couple of very good youngsters like Ben Liftin to come in if necessary. Lambadaridis is also walking again and may well become available later in then season. Henrique is another one who could step in the breach. In the forwards we'll have Broich, Berisha and Franic as first choice with Henrique, Petratos and Yeboah as extremely capable replacements. Also nearly every player can play at least 2 positions so there is room to move players around. Michael Theo is back to his old reliable self and did extremely well in the pre-season games. Matt Acton has been a very capable deputy when called upon. Quite frankly, I feel that any team would love to have the depth we have. And a great mix of experience with exciting youth. And apart from that how many first choice players are likely to be unavailable for a specific match? The Roar have very much progressed from Ange's 'plan' and whilst possession is still the number one objective, we only play the ball back if we have to. Very positive play. Defence has done extremely well and everybody seems to click and anticipate their team mates' next move. Everyone's attitude is positive and confident and at no time did I see the team panic, no matter who they played.. I believe that we are less of a dark horse than the likes of Victory and Wanderers. Go Roar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really dont get all this talk about lack of depth at Brisbane. Take a look at the below: 1st Team: (playing in their usual 4-1-4-1) Theo, Stef, Smith, North, Hingert, Bratten, Broich, McKay, Miller, Franjic, Berisha = best in the League Back Ups Keeper: Acton Wing Back: Brown and Franjic CB: Donachie Midfielders: Ferreira, Lambadiridus (when back from injury) Forwards: Henrique, Petratos, Doe, Yeboah Re all the talk of a backup for Berisha, Yeboah, Petratos and Henrique have been banging goals in for fun in the preseason.(as have Brown and Franjic I might add) I really dont see the problem.

Out for the season, which is a shame. However, you would expect that he would be fit again next year.

Unfortunately, Lambadaridis suffered a knee injury during the game against Albank Creek, and out long term.

Brattan, Brown,Yeboah,Petratos,Litfin.Borrello,Donachie,Hingert,Petratos Doe,Lambadarides,Ferreira all had a run pre-season. Brattan Brown Donachie Petratos Ferreira Hingert all ready to step in for the aged's if necessary. The rest look to have the potential to do so.

I think Corey Brown will get a fair bit on time at LB this season. I also expect James Donachie get a fair bit of time at CB. The rest are harder to replace. Yeboah and Lambadaridis look like promising midfielders but whether they are at Miller and McKay standard remains to be seen. The front line is even harder to replace; Petratos and Doe are good players but I don't see them being as good a Broich. And, a lack of back up for Berisha for this season is a concern. Having said all that, with short seasons and the amount of sports science applied to Brisbane training regime by Ken Stead, you would expect players to play well into their mid 30s. So there's ample time to find replacements. The bigger concern is how long these young promising players hang around. Bratton is such a classy player and he may want to try his hand overseas at some point (as may Yeboah and Lambadaridis).

Yes, I forgot about that. They do seem a lot more focussed and hungrier this season and MM deserves the credit for that.

One observation I will make about the current Roar squad, is the ageing nature of the First XI. With seven of the current starters over 30 - Theo (32) Smith (30) Stefanutto (33) Miller (32) North (31) McKay (30) Broich (32) - Brisbane need to make the most of what they have in the next couple of seasons. Whilst there is currently a good mix of experience and youth, more young players need to emerge in coming seasons to inevitably fill the gaps. I hope MM's strategy of recruiting experience for short term success does not backfire in the medium term. Whilst Roar may be "super competitive" in the present, a failure to win any trophies this season should see a player turnover in order to remain competitive moving forward.

I much prefer the dark horse tag rather than be regarded as favs for a top 4 spot .... Under promise and over deliver. Happy for other teams to carry the added burden of favourites

I expect that the players eagerness to perform is a direct result of increased competition for places. Unlike under Vidosic where certain players were a protected species on the team sheet (Paartalu, Broich, Nichols, Theo) even when horribly out of form, MM has shown that he is more than willing to sit any player out.

Kellett 1992 - you've changed your name. I read your message. You'll still be posting comments I assume? Go the Roar!!

i think Roar are more than a dark horse. i know pre season form doesnt count for much, but contrast this year where they are winning to last year where they really struggled in pre season and then had poor performances for much of the first two thirds of the season....It is much better to be winning coming into the start of the season. Anyone who watched the roar consistently last year would not be to upset at the players that either left or were let go and liam miller coming into midfield should be a great addition....I'll reserve judgement on Matt McKay. Got my membership sorted and can't wait for kick off against the sky blues at home in round two.

I agree that they will be tough to beat. I just don't understand how Brisbane are classified as only "finals contenders" when MV will be classified as top 4. I get the impression that most of these predictions have been made without watching the teams play in the pre-season (correct me if I'm wrong). It's all well and good to analyse player movements and results on paper, but it only tells you half the story. Performance on the pitch and how glowingly players speak of their coaching staff hold more sway in my opinion I would expect Perth and Adelaide to do well based on the credentials of the coaches they have. However, I haven't seen either play so I would reserve judgement. Brisbane seem to be high-pressing with more intensity now than they did at any time under Ange. Perhaps that's just because they are really keen because it's pre-season but defensive attitude is usually a good indicator of a team's enthusiasm and mindset. There have been admissions made that some Brisbane players were overconfident leading into last season and that was reflected in the results and performances. I don't think that can be said about this season.