Corona has been cracked open, and Brisbane coach John Aloisi knows there’s a lot more fizz where that came from.
The experienced Spanish midfielder, signed only last week by the Roar, had a considerable hand in his side’s 3-1 opening A-League win over the Western Sydney Wanderers.
It took him a little while to get going at Pirtek Stadium on Thursday night but once he did, Corona bossed the midfield and took the set pieces that led to two of Brisbane’s three goals.
First, he whipped in a wonderful corner in the 23rd minute which was met by defender Daniel Bowles and powerfully headed home.
The 34-year-old followed that with another 11 minutes later, from which striker Jamie Maclaren netted his second goal, rolling the ball over the line after Wanderers defenders failed to clear it.
“Corona has only been with us just over a week and hasn’t played any games with us,” Aloisi said of the 10-season La Liga veteran.
“You’ve heard his English, it’s okay, it’s hard for him to understand everything.
“But he’ll get better. We know that he’s a quality player, we know that he’s good on the ball. We know that we can play through him.”
Aloisi said he had to coax Corona onto the ball early in the first half, but praised his efforts once he picked up started to control proceedings.
“He’s got that poise on the ball – he can quicken the game up, slow it down,” Aloisi said.
“I thought that in the second half we took the sting out of the game a little bit and that was thanks to him and also the other players around him.”
Bob
Guest
Corona looked very classy on Thursday night - it was said the difference last season between top and bottom was the quality of the close season signings so as we are already talking about MacLaren and Corona the (very) early signs are positive
Lionheart
Guest
Yes, Hingert I'm sure it was. Corona defended a few off the line in the first half. Not just with his play, but Corona also looked to be talking a lot, directing traffic, saw him directing a defensive wall, talking in the dressing room and tunnel, and smiling. He was club captain at Almeria, and a club legend for fans. Great buy, shows the respect held for John Aloisi. Corona will likely become the League's most fouled player, with Broich.
Waz
Guest
I think Hingert was on the press, correctly, so Corona should have tracked back with Nicholls or a CB come across. The bloke ran 40 years to score he'll only get that freedom in early season games
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
I think you'll find it was Hingert that left Nichols alone. He was a long way up the pitch and Nichols ghosted into the space he left. Pretty much where Hingert left off last season, really. :(
Waz
Guest
I haven't seen it back but I thought it was Cirona that let Nicholls run free but I guess that's likely to happen when you've only been with your team mates for seven days. That and the first corner were the only issues in an otherwise class display - I think JA has landed a good one let's see what our second spaniard brings. On the second half - I agree, 3-1 up is the time to keep the ball, aimlessly pass it from side to side, wait for the opponents to get desperate and rush out of position and strike. I think the importance of the win overcame normal instincts but like you I want to see Roar play the Roar way.
BES
Guest
It was a class effort from Corona I agree (although letting Nichols go to score the opener for WSW was something of a blight on his copy book early). From then on - I loved his brilliant 1 touch distribution and 2 corners of perfection more than atoned. More worrying to me is: “I thought that in the second half we took the sting out of the game a little bit and that was thanks to him and also the other players around him.” Hmmm - that's not the way we play up here in Brisbane town Johnny. I HATE the sight of our team time wasting more than I hate us losing! We don't need to be stupid about it (by all means, lets not sprint to take a throw in in our own half for instance) but Roar does NOT seek to 'take the sting out of games' We seek to push on until the 93rd minute and thump in as many as possible. It is a psychological message that had every other team in the comp in fear of us back in the glory years. It didn't matter how far in front or behind we were, they KNEW we were going to keep on coming! If I see a Brisbane player heading for the corner post any time this season, I will renege my fanship in a second.
Paul
Guest
Let's hope all the visa signings this season are just as impressive in game 1.
Waz
Guest
The myth being portrayed in the media was "brattan was Roars best player last season" which made a nice headline and twisted the knife in another Roar wound, and yet was far from the truth but backed by Brendon Rogers nice words, the myth grew. The hope from those that new Brattan and Roar fans in particular was that Corona would be an upgrade of sorts, someone that could influence and dictate the game in a way that Brattan hasn't; it's only one game but there's enough for me in last nights game to suggest Corona will be the star of our midfield this season and take the pressure off Broich to create chances. Corona just looks a good signing and oozed quality, confidence in an assured performance - the only downside so far are all the beer related puns from journo's ... still, I should be grateful at least the blokes not a lemon :)