So this is the end of an era for Brisbane Roar, right?
They’re lucky to even scrape into the A-League finals, only there because of Perth Glory’s salary cap cheating.
They’re beset by injuries and have made a whopping nine changes to their side for Friday night’s elimination final against Adelaide United.
So they’re ripe for the picking – right?
Wrong, according to both Roar coach Frans Thijssen and his Adelaide counterpart Josep Gombau.
Sure, Brisbane, champions in three of the past four seasons, have had their challenges – sacking a coach; finishing seventh, only to be elevated to the finals by Perth’s rorting; juggling an Asian Champions League campaign as well.
They also lost more A-League games (13) than they won (10).
But neither Thijssen or Gombau is willing to write off the defending champions.
“I still believe that we can go all the way … it’s only a couple of games and you’re there,” Thijssen told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.
Ask Adelaide’s Gombau about the Roar, and he’s wary.
The Spaniard knows the Roar will be missing three first-choice defenders – Jade North (appendix), Luke DeVere (thigh) and Shane Stefanutto (calf) – when the teams run out onto Adelaide Oval.
But Gombau, a former Barcelona youth coach, also knows a quality club when he sees it.
“They have players that they are missing but in the end, the players who come in will have a good feeling to play a final.
“When you are inside a team like Brisbane, the last champions, for sure you are a good player.”
Brisbane also carry a remarkable record into Adelaide: they haven’t lost in the city in their past eight visits, and have scored in each of those fixtures.
The Roar prevailed against United in two of three clashes this season, losing the other, while the Reds have managed a solitary clean sheet in their past 16 meetings with the reigning champs.
Gombau has cleared his Spanish playmaker Isaias of an ankle injury but will be without frontman Bruce Djite (groin) for the knockout bout.
Ian
Guest
Young got unfairly pillared from game one. He made some errors, but was hung and quartered out of proportion. That has been a highlight for me, seeing him stick with it and improve along the way, and get the armband against Newcastle. Personally I'm glad I saw him once post match and said he had a good game - early in the season. He looked eternally grateful I said it too... I wonder who will be put into goal next season.
j binnie
Guest
Real -Thank you for your kind comments.I have never compared Young to Theo,Theo has been with the club for some time now and was fully informed on the "possession" feature of Roar's game ,with long established players like Smith,Steffanuto,Franjic Paartlu and Mackay ,constantly "offering" themselves as "targets" for the short constructve pass out from goal..Compare that to what Young has had to contend with,not only was he new to the club but when one examines the experience of the ever changing backlines playing in front of him one has to switch attention to the fact that the keeper's distribution was always going to be put under pressure as sometimes players "offered", other times they just weren't there or were "ball watching" as their opponents moved in to mark them. The game today,with all it's tactical innovation,has seen the necessity to take in the "big picture" rather than single out a particular player for criticism.If you try to analyse the game that way it woud be easy to be classed as "cynical "as I have been often when trying to analyse games as I see them.Cheers jb
j binnie
Guest
Waz - An entertaining game ? yes,a good game ? no, for a game representing the top of our league there were far too many errors committed by both sides for the football to be given the accolade "good". The goals themselves gave clear evidence of this.Apart from Goodwin's terrific free lick,the foul committed by Donnachie (and another later by Brattan),beggared description for this level of football.I would think any 12 year old player could tell you today that you cannot tackle an opponent from behind.Both these players did this in very dangerous positions. At the other end,Broich's brilliantly taken goal was preceded by another huge defensive error made under that modern adage,we must try to keep possession at all costs. Adelaide probably deserved to advance on merit,at this level Roar have maybe 3 players who consistently contribute to the overall team effort with skill and vision, Adelaide "shade" Roar in that department probably having 5 or 6 players capable of doing the same job for their team. Last night Galecovic probably contributed more to the team as a "sweeper" than he did as a keeper,whereas at the other end Young was kept busy all night --- protecting his goal. It is in overall analysis of the game that one has to be cruel to be kind,Roar made more mistakes than Adelaide and were punished accordingly.Many are already picking out defenders to blame for the defeat and yet Roar were equally inadequate in front of the Adelaide goal,and could quite easily,with just a modicum of "good" play.put 3 or 4 balls past the sweeper/keeper.As I have said to you before,there is a succesful team in there somewhere but once again they failed to reach what I would best describe as their optimum performance.Maybe next year,or even better,maybe this week. !!!! jb
realfootball
Guest
jb has been vociferous in his defence of Jamie Young since the get go, jb, you stand proven right. I rate Young as a better keeper than Theo. Never would have imagined myself saying that a couple of months back. Brilliant goalkeeping tonight. Top drawer stuff. New coach, new broom. My word the club needs it.
realfootball
Guest
Brown needs to be moved on. I feel for the kid, but he's just not up to it at this level.
realfootball
Guest
Nah. You should always put down a dying animal. And I'm definitely a bloke. Last time I looked, anyway. What we saw this season was the death throes of Ange's great team. Fading tatters of past glories. Glad its over, because it sure ain't been pretty, Now for the rebuilding.
Ian
Guest
Good game. Corey Brown was abysmal. Young was top notch. Glad Broich got a goal. Best of luck to Adelaide.
Waz
Guest
See you all in October fellas.
Waz
Guest
Good prediction. Unfortunately!
Waz
Guest
you're glad? what a strange wo/man!
Waz
Guest
Yup, good game and a worthy finals match.
TK
Guest
Well not as underdone as i anticipated but the late goal by the reds did arise. Well done adelaide thought they were better in attack and defence but the midfield battle was fantastic and very even i thought. Not much in it in the end and thats how finals should be
realfootball
Guest
Oh well, nothing wrong with optimism. We didn't deserve to be in the finals and I'm actually glad we didn't progress. Much better that Adelaide do. My word Donachie and Brown were poor tonight. No surprise with Brown, but the Don is usually rock solid.
Waz
Guest
I know the words "the end of an era" we're used in the ironic sense in this article but doesn't it feel like the start of a new era?!? The old guard of Broich, MacKay, North and Theo are all well respected but in Clut, Donachie, Jackson and Young we can find immediate replacements with a handful of other younger emerging players being blooded this season. The choice of head coach has probably never been more important - we need someone that can nurture the kids, transition the old, bring in some new and get us playing the sort of football than can win championships; no easy task for anyone!
TK
Guest
Tjis match for me has the feel of when we played the wanderers two years ago in the finals. I fe we will put in a good contest but being a bit under stregth will be rolled late by the reds. Of course I hope that I am wrong.
Waz
Guest
Can't argue with that ;)
Franko
Guest
Yeah, our card record has not been great this year. Isais in particular can be very cynical, but that really comes with the role. Still BR have Polenz and McKay, expect them to end the night with yellows at best.
Waz
Guest
The other problem with the ACL is having to compete with a squad of 23 players of which 3 are youngsters. 20 senior players is not enough to compete on two fronts even without the usual injuries
Waz
Guest
To be fair Adelaide aren't shy at putting the boot in - they knobbled Henrique quite nicely in the game before Christmas. For those that follow Spanish football they'll know there's a darker/meaner side other than just the beautiful football so watch out for that tonight.
Waz
Guest
Would like to see Clut start - more than happy for Broich to start on the bench and come on later as we'll need him on Tuesday night as well.