Brisbane Roar narrowly avert liquidation

I'm going to spread my first ownership rumour, as reported by the SBS: "It’s been mooted that the mystery potential investor could be Belgian billionaire Roland Duchatelet, who paid $28 million to add English championship team Charlton Athletic to his portfolio of clubs in February 2014. The former owner of Standard Liege, Duchatelet built his wealth through an electronics empire and is Belgium's richest man. He also controls fourth tier German club FC Carl Zeiss Jena and second tier Spanish club AD Alcorcon"

Didn't Ange and Mike both receive their appointments during the season? Didn't they not have the opportunity of a full pre season for preparation? Lovely how you use the same brush all the time on all Roar fans yet both times when it came to the calling of the coaches head, it was the River City Crew who held up signs and tifos. This was not the core support being the Den and was not the majority of fans. So rather than remain ignorant, let this be the last time that's explained to you...

Hopefully no ones saying that but assuming we get new owners (and not the FFA) the relief should feed through - pressure is on JA and he needs to win his next two

Very hard to judge season performance based on pre-season form especially with the off field drama which must have some unsettling effect on players. During JA's time down south, we played HAL opponents 7 times during his two pre-seasons for 5 losses and 2 draws. OK, different squads but winning feeds a winning mentality and there is no comfort IMO in saying "well it's only a pre-season game." Good luck.

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jb - In the absence of alternatives Borrello is worth a try, as I said we haven't figured out how to use MacLaren but that should be right up Aloisi's street (but I think we'll need to sign someone new if/when we can) I think we're beyond just winning now though, I was chatting with a footy fan last night who seemed quite knowledgeable on Roars situation (we were stood by someone's bedsheet with the words FONG OUT scrawled beautifully on it) and when he asked me how long the disconnect between Roar fans and management had gone on for I replied "back as far as the last championship winning season" and when he asked why it wasn't a problem back then my reply was simply "we were winning". But today too much damage has been done - even in that season we averaged 15k and it should have been 18k, if we start winning now and the Bakries stay I think we'd be lucky to average 12k such is the distain felt by many. Jets next - that may tell us more, as may the new owners we (might) have by then ;) third time lucky possibly?

Spot on re McClaren, jb. I have made the same observation myself. In this regard he is not unlike Kaluderovic.

Indeed, jb.

The backstories of Aloisi and Ange are chalk and cheese. Likewise Mulvey and Aloisi. In both AP and Mulvey's pre seasons their teams beat every A league team they played. You really don't have to lecture a long time Roar supporter on patience. And please, spare me hyperbolic phrases such as "sticking the boot in". I did no such thing. Try to actually respond to the post as written.

Shows how much I know, they now play in the Qld Premier League. Just checked their website.

Redlands are in the NPL aren't they?

I haven't seen the Melbourne Victory friendly but I saw the FFA CUP game against Wanderers and the friendly against Liverpool and I have to say that I am optimistic on Aloisi as a coach. As you say, Posgtecoglou started off poorly (though he did have his previous track record of back of back to back titles with south Melbourne Hellas in the NSL) so to my fellow Roar fans, I say this worry not how the season will go. Just turn up to the games, drink your beer, have fun and the rest will sort itself out.

Yay Bob, and thanks.

Waz, I live in the area now but don't follow the local team (Red Devils) too closely. I understand the game is at their home ground, at the show grounds. They play in the Brisbane premier league and have 5 or 6 fields, so it should be a decent pitch. I think there's a few fans out this way so hope we get a good crowd. There's plenty of football grounds on the Goldie so don't get why they played on an Ausy rules ground.

Waz- Two things emerged from your comment one being the fact that among the 7 "injuries" you mention only 1, or at a stretch 2 ,could be said to add "firepower' where it matters,in front of goal.Henrique,who has scored many important goals in his time at Roar must now come under the microscope,not for his football ability,but his physical susceptibilty to injury and lately Solarzano is not far behind in that examination. Also in the finishing department you mentioned McLaren and it in my opinion this kid is not a recognised "front man "in the true sense of the word thugh it appears that is the role he is being asked to fill .He has finishing ability ,no doubt. but it has always shown when coming from areas behind a "ball holder" using his pace to get into dangerous areas. created by the hard work of his partner. Keogh and Berisha are ideal example of the type of player McLaren needs to work off,and at Roar just now that type of player is sadly missing.With this problem in mind I would love to see Borrella "programmed to havea go at this role.He has the pace stamina and downright cussedness to be a problem to most central defenders and I am led to believe he had a very successful run in Roar's youth team in that position.In the wide role he is being asked to perform in at the moment his inadequacies for the position are too often shown up,His lack of tight control and accuracy of distribution showing him to be a limtted "flank" performer.So cut him loose in the oppositions penalty box tocreate unrest and then you may see McLaren's true talent emerging.Whats to be lost in a pre-season game?. That brings us to the rest of your comment concerning the fans.Right on all counts but there is one thing that can be done to improve the situation and thatis for the players to start winning games no matter who they are playing.That is,has and always will be the main motivating force among supporters of a team. Cheers jb

This is the Courier's take on it: http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/brisbane-roar-captain-matt-mckay-calls-for-club-and-ffa-to-take-responsibility-for-financial-mess/story-fnk6pqhe-1227490671209 "Roar players and staff have still only been paid part of their monthly wages that were due last Saturday, and are also owed superannuation. The players have also had to contribute to their medical expenses. Roar chairman Chris Fong, senior vice-president of club owners the Bakrie Group, remains in Europe attempting to finalise the sale of the club to a consortium of Australian and foreign investors. " Let's hope Mr Fong can complete the sale soon and players and supporters can get some certainty back.

The team so badly in debt it can't pay its bills, is up for sale but no one seems to want it, the one that has been booted off its usual training ground and is having to share with some Uni kids, the one that narrowly evaded winding up on Monday, meanwhile it still has most of its training kit locked up in the QRU's lockers, the team that can't make any signings aside from a poor orphan boy from Perth ..,, THAT team, just matched Melbourne United Victory and only looses by a narrow goal late on. What's the problem? If they're that close to Victory now how close can they get when this sh*t dissipates is the only question on my mind?? P.S. Meanwhile in other news last night Jets and Glory scraped past non-league opposition 1-0. Let's get real people!

Ken Stead the co-author?

JB, I'd guess that your question can be easily explained as being due to a perception by those individuals that the Roar are too big/important to the FFA to be allowed to fail. They probably believe that if the Bakries pull the plug then the FFA will step in and look after them. I'm just guessing, I don't actually know what they are thinking of course!

lol - I'm from the west mate, fresh air - what's that??? (Hopefully it's a soccer pitch and not an oval like last night, great facility but bloody awful for watching football from ground level)