Brisbane Roar are clearly ready to defend their A-League crown if a shock finals berth falls their way courtesy of Perth Glory’s salary cap strife, according to coach Frans Thijssen.
As the Glory prepare to answer to multiple allegations of serious cap breaches, the Roar showed the kind of damage they could inflict on their rivals with a 6-1 demolition of the hapless Central Coast Mariners.
Currently five points outside of the top six, Brisbane’s ladder position could be a moot point if Perth are found guilty and are stripped of competition points as flagged by FFA earlier on Thursday.
Thijssen wouldn’t speak directly about Perth’s predicament, saying the Roar can’t afford to think about anything else but themselves – particularly with an AFC Champions League campaign on the side and a trip to South Korea looming next week.
But he warned that if push comes to shove and they do Steven Bradbury their way into the finals, they won’t be there to make up the numbers.
“We know we have a good team and if everybody’s here we can beat anybody,” Thijssen said.
“That’s clear, I think, for everybody.”
The Glory have until April 8 to justify alleged payments to five players, including star striker Andy Keogh, who was reportedly paid $150,000 into a bank account held by a family member and not included as part of Perth’s salary cap declarations.
The scandal is manna from heaven for Brisbane, who appeared to be out of finals calculations after a run of five games without a win in all competitions – including four straight A-League losses.
Thijssen said it wasn’t the scent of new hope that spurred the Roar onto their crushing victory, rather the return of influential players such as Thomas Broich and Matt McKay.
Broich laid on two assists in his comeback from an ankle injury while McKay, who has been on Socceroos duty, was an unused substitute.
“If you see the presence even on the bench and the dressing room with Thomas Broich and Matt McKay … it’s important,” Thijssen said.
“It’s good to see (Broich) back and get 45 minutes, everyone in the group sees that as very positive.
“Everybody’s performing again.”
But McKay’s return presents Thijssen with another quandary – what to do with hat-trick hero Steven Lustica.
The 23-year-old midfielder ran rings around the Mariners, scoring two stunning long-range strikes to make the most of a rare starting opportunity.
Yet with McKay back, Broich fit and Luke Brattan cemented in his position, it’s highly likely Lustica will drop to the bench for next week’s AFC Champions League meeting with Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
“That’s good. It gives me an extra choice, that’s positive,” Thijssen said.
BtoThePower3
Guest
As the league grows, the fans grow too. They have grown to be more sophisticated; they do not make comments as much as before. However, the Brisbane Roar's current situation is worrying. As such, one cannot help commenting. Would it be suitable to make Donachie to play a central defensive role like Paartalu used to play? When Paartalu played, some fans criticized that he just kicked the ball back all the time. However, apparently, Donachie seems to have better foot work than Paartalu. Also, they are both very tall. Consider the formation: Theo Polenz, North, Devere, Stefanutto Brattan, Donachie, Lustica Borrello, Kaluđerović, Broich Some of the positions above can be varied: Polenz or Bowles; Lustica or Clut, etc; Brown or Stefanutto; etc, etc. However, the central idea of this formation is the central triangle in the defence: North, Devere and Donachie. If the opponent aims at the left back, then Devere moves to cover while Donachie fills up the hole that Devere has made. The same is for the right back; if North moves to cover Polenz then Donachie moves to fill up the space North has made. Nothing is prefect, but the good thing of this formation is the aerial attack and defence. North is very fast and destructive. If North, Devere and Donachie are there, then both the left and right backs have no pressure of losing a corner. These 3 players should be very safe in defending a corner kick by the opposition. Also, corner kicks are opportunities for counter attack. If Roar's opponent fails in making an advantage on a corner kick, then the Roar players can organize counter attack. Also, with the height of Donachie, Roar can send some long crossings from the wingers occasionally. Roar's way of play has been appealing. However, the strategy should evolve a bit. Maybe, Donachie may keep kicking the ball back to the full backs always like what Paartalu did, if he is to play a central defender's role. However, once the defence has been strengthened, good results may come.
Ian
Guest
I can't see the Bakries revealing anything else that went on to the Mariners that they wouldn't say to the press or the fans. Mariners, or any other club, aren't closer to the Bakries than anyone else. Mike may not even have been called.
Waz
Guest
Nice try, care to elaborate though?
BtoThePower3
Guest
You are a Roar supporter? Which Club in the A-league is in good management? What is the definition of good management? Ban club winning an average number of championship? Are you really serious in this saying? Is this a kind of sarcasm?
Waz
Guest
jb: I'm with you on this, the only name that's gives me any confidence is Ante Milicic. Oenning I suspect (hope) is a red herring - also, I recall Fox Sports announced with great certainty as "breaking news" shortly after Mulvey was fired that Roar had signed an unnamed Portuguese coach - perhaps that is the deal to be closed? Anyway, hoping it happens in the near future as were about to go into a critical phase of planning for next season
j binnie
Guest
Waz- Like you I like to keep abreast of what is happening on the grapevine.Had a look at Herr Oenning on his Wikipedia file as I have done for most foreign coaches employed in the HAL and, may I add most of the players Roar have supposedly been chasing over the last 2 years in their efforts to replace Berisha. I have not been overwhelmed by any of the people connected to these Roar jobs and this latest one is no different.Before Frans arrived Wiki will tell you he had not coached a team for 13 years and before that his 5/6 year management record did not match his playing record. It poses the question,where do Roar get their "inside information" from when chasing good recruitment.? jb
Waz
Guest
Shortlist for the Roar management position on Fox Sports this morning: Michael Oenning, a former coach of Broich, an unnamed Portuguese coach, Ante Milicic and Aurelio Vidmar as well as Theijjsen. Pick any one from five it looks like
Waz
Guest
ahh, Lang Park, the traditional home of the Grand Final ;-)
Waz
Guest
Well it will fit in well with the rest of this season then, let's complete your statement "It does make a mockery when ...." (1) ... the Asian Champions are forced to travel the length and breadth of ANZ days after winning the ACL (2) ..... a game is abandoned after 73 minutes when the pitch was playable an hour later and in Brazil the same weekend they waited an hour for rain to clear in the same situation and finished their game (3) .... postponed games are rescheduled into the international window (4) .... no consideration is made for teams competing in the ACL with long away games scheduled before/after ties eg Roar in Perth then Japan, Roar in Korea then Adelaide (add your own for WSW) and even Roar in Beijing followed by a FRIDAY game to suit TV (5) .... assistant referees are so desperate to give offside she calls it when the ball comes off an opponent AND travels backwards (feel free to add your own favourites) (6) .... the league continues during international windows (7) .... the FFA are so uncertain about their visa player rules a championship contender feels compelled to let one of their visa players go (Fierra) only for the FFA to backdown a week later (8) one of the teams with the greatest match schedule (Roar) have a game rearranged from Sunday to Monday to suit TV and then are asked to Play again 4 days later away at Jets (9) .... the FFA can't even reserve stadiums for their own GF properly. slight bias towards my side here but I wasn't even trying here, this has been a season when the phrase "It does make a mockery" can be applied in sooooo many situations where the GF is actually played may well be the last in a very long list - remembering we've got the Perth decision still to come this week.
Bfc
Guest
First...a disclaimer. I am a Roar season ticket holder. But IFF the Glory has tacitly rorted the salary cap then they need to be sanctioned accordingly, even if they miss the finals. The 'cap' is in place to protect the competition...for all. Perhaps to be 'seen' to be impartial, the FFA should audit all clubs and make the results public (even if they keep individual contracts confidential...)? Some clubs seem to have very deep lists and fans should welcome an open process. In regards to speculation about the HAL GF...the MCG is a crap venue for football! It is only good for AFL or cricket. If the GF must be held in Melbourne then it should be held in a rectangular venue like AAMI. If a neutral venue is required the Lang Park is THE best football venue bar none.
AZ_RBB
Guest
It does make a mockery of the final series if top spot doesn't guarantee you a grand final in at least your home state.
TheVolley
Guest
JB let's just agree to disagree. I think our clubs esp. ACL ones have to play too many midweek games in a row. You obviously don't. It's a matter of opinion. Popa and Roar coach have been clear about what they say and do. I'll leave it at that.
j binnie
Guest
The Volley. So you are a fan of coaches and ex-players and their opinions. That being so you will then form your opinions on what they are saying and as a result of that can I ask one simple question,what is your opinion.or do you have one?. You mention TP changing his squad due to a "rotation policy ". Could it be with so many losses Tony could have been chopping and changing his team trying to come up with a winning combination?. Can you explain why MM continually tried Donnachie at right fullback when it was obvious to any discerning spectator that the lad was a promising centre back,nothing more ,nothing less. Then Franz started to do the same,as other coaches have done over the last 3 years and decided to try another kid at right full back,where it became obvious he was a "fish out of water".Then necessity forced Franz to give Bowles a go at centre back last week and lo and behold the boy was a star in the role. That's coaching at this level for you,sometimes your hunches work,sometimes they don't but always,that is always,a coach has to present a fallible excuse for his actions to a media who like nothing more than to "crucify" these men. Hence the term "coachspeak".Cheers jb
Waz
Guest
And if it is all Melbourne it needs to be held at the G
Waz
Guest
It is a major mistake to not book out a stadium - I hear all the weasel words coming out of the FFA but simply put they failed to book a stadium for a GF date. Someone should be sacked.
Waz
Guest
It's more neutral than Allianz but to be honest if Sydney are hosting it (if) against MV or Roar then they should take it to ANZ anyway.
Waz
Guest
If it's all Melbourne Friday night makes sense.
Paul
Guest
NO to two legged finals !!!!
AZ_RBB
Guest
The part I don't understand is: “But if Sydney were second and Melbourne first and we couldn’t play in a suitable venue in Melbourne, then it may well be a neutral venue like ANZ for example.” How is ANZ Stadium considered a neutral venue in a game between Sydney and Melbourne? A couple of seasons ago SFC played a home game at ANZ Stadium. I understand the 2013 final was played in a neutral venue but the teams were almost equidistant from the venue. Two legged final anyone?
Paul
Guest
A "very real possibility" of it being an all Melbourne affair ha ha ha ha ha ha .... written by a Melbourne rag I presume? Victory have a very real chance of hosting the final but the FFA should stick to their guns - if there's no stadium in Melbourne then host it elsewhere in a season where we're going to have asterisks all over the place this will just be one more. I will say this - this is one more mistake by the FFA that is starting look incompetent in running the HAL