The A-League is alive! Caution has been dispensed and players with attacking prowess have gone bonkers.
The break during the Asian Cup helped a number of clubs regain momentum this season, and the resulting attacking force has defenders and goalkeepers running for cover.
Familiar names appear on the scoresheet: Marc Janko, Shane Smeltz, Besart Berisha and… Brandon Borrello?
The new kid on the block has flourished since the resumption of the club football. Appearing on the right side of attack in Brisbane Roar’s 4-3-3 formation, the 19-year-old has found himself right in the middle of Roar’s transition in style under interim coach Frans Thijssen.
Borrello’s exciting attacking potential appeared in Brisbane’s first game back after the break against Wellington Phoenix. His goal was Brisbane’s second in a 3-2 win, a well-taken finish off a deft through-ball by Thomas Broich.
This was the first time we were awoken to Borrello’s speed and composure in front of goal.
Brisbane kept getting the job done against league strugglers Newcastle and Central Coast in two routine but forgettable games. They lost at the death to Beijing in the Asian Champions League, and then came a 2-2 draw in Perth in which Borrello assisted the Roar’s first goal.
After that came a gruelling 10-hour flight from Perth to Japan to play Urawa Red Diamonds. After losing in their previous ACL game, Brisbane knew they would have to take something from this match, and a 1-0 win saw them taking three points home with them.
As for the goal, it came via an early strike from – who else – Borrello. Fed through by Broich, he shot from an acute angle, beating the keeper at his near post.
After the ACL win Brisbane came back to the A-Leauge to face fellow ACL participants Western Sydney Wanderers. Borrello now had well and truly thrust himself into the spotlight, and again he delivered. A quick interchange of passes on the wing allowed him to cut into the box – a bobble, a deflection, a neat touch past the defender and a cooly executed finish.
Brisbane were up 1-0 thanks to Borrello and that’s how the game ended.
Perhaps due to him starting every game since the break, he was left out of the starting XI against Sydney FC last Sunday. In a game which blew the A-League record book to pieces, the Sky Blues won 5-4.
After entering the match on the hour mark, Borrello’s smart running and persistent pressure gave the Sydney defenders problems. As Brisbane were facing a mauling, Borrello went down the wing, cut inside, turned his defender, and put a cool, low ball to the edge of the penalty area for Steven Lustica to convert. 4-3.
His second major contribution of the game was at 5-3, Sydney having scored another to put the game to bed. Borrello again cut inside from his wing into the penalty area, his cross went loose, two Sydney defenders comically swung at the ball, and it bounced for Brisbane to score again, 5-4.
Even with only 30 minutes left and his team being smashed on the scoresheet Borrello’s intelligent runs and interchanging of passing breathed life into Brisbane. He was a major factor in the team fighting until the end.
Brandon Borrello has shown since the Asian Cup break that he is a talent to be taken seriously. His natural talent to attack and cut inside off his wing as helped Brisbane immeasurably, bringing them back into finals contention.
At 19 he has his whole career ahead of him, and based on the flashes of brilliance we have seen it is going in the right direction.
Dinoweb
Guest
I was sitting up the Den end when Borello made his senior debut off the bench for 15 minutes against Melbourne Heart last year, and I must say I was immediately impressed. Not by his skill, speed, or physical prowess, but by his intelligent movement off the ball. More often then not, he simply moved towards the right places before the ball was even passed. This ability to "read the game" is rare at any age. It does improve with experience, but some players never get it. Add to that, he can finish, again a skill not everyone can master. He is still only young, still has a lot to learn and improve, and I am sure, like everyone, he will go through patches where his form slumps, but regardless, he does look like the real deal to me.
j binnie
Guest
Thom -The trouble when assessing players that it is perfectly natural to comment on the "flashes of brilliance" which perhaps take up about 3 or 4 minutes of the 90 minutes the game lasts.You may think this a rather harsh comment but it is not made with evil intent towards the player,rather it is leaning towards a more mundane assessment based on what a player does during the remaining 86 minutes. Young Borella in recent weeks has shown a tremendous attitude towards how he approaches a game,he does not spare himself when thrusting himself into the action and thus gets 100% fot "attitude" This "attitude" has also helped his goal scoring statistics for in recent weeks one could say he literally has won games for Roar almost single handed,getting all important goals at all important times. His "attittude" and application also find him many times getting back to help in deep defence if the team is in trouble and that of course is a huge plus although it leads to another question,why is he needed back there so often? All the above go on the man's plus side of assessment but on the other hand,if one cares to assess him for the whole game there are "weaknesses" in his overall game that need worked on and these weaknesses are not "scarce" when assessing "young" players in the HAL. Brandon's "first touch" is needing work done on the skill for too often does he find himself having to battle for a ball when he has given an opponent an opportunity to take the ball from him. He also,like most youngsters, (and some more experienced team-mates) sometimes makes a poor selection when trying to pass a ball,with again the resultant "battle" to win possession back from an opponent. These two "flaws" can be worked upon and improved and it is in this fact that assessment has to take the long view in player assessment,does the kid appreciate the flaws in his game and is he working at improving them?,not in "training time", when as Waz suggests,time is short, but in work he does caused by his inherent desire to improve resulting in personal effort he makes when "away" from normal training time.At 19 he still has room for improvement and let us hope that sanity prevails and the mentors at the club can get this message across. Cheers jb
Thom Davies
Roar Rookie
Yes i know its early days in his career, however the flashes of brilliance and the way he's able to use his speed to go past his man is something which should be treasured. I also agree about going overseas too soon, Australian players should wait until they've had 2-3 years of full A-League before they do. Look at Matt Ryan and Trent Sainsbury they did that and now they are reaping the benefit with the Socceroos squad.
Waz
Guest
Borello and "brilliant" is a bir of an over statement but I can let you off under artistic licence. I think it's important to remember this wasn't instantaneous, he came into the side a few games into the season and picked up criticism as along other team members, it's only these past 5 games where his efforts have been rewarded - good job by the Roar sticking by him and backing him to get better. His potential is huge - let's hope he doesnt head off overseas too soon!