Thomas Broich eyeing off coaching role with Brisbane

It would be terrific for the local game if someone of Broich's experience and knowledge were to stay on in a coaching role.

jb. As always a good analysis. It will be interesting to watch Roar this season as JA try's to beat better resourced rivals with (yet another) squad that has band-aids on it. - If yesterday's QSAC game is anything to go by Holman will provide attacking support to MacLaren and release the two wide wingers to get Maccers on the scoresheet. A lot rests on this combination working. - yesterday we also saw Roar playing with that band-aid firmly ripped off with defensive manpower shortages forcing Hingert to LB and playing Bowles at RB. Roar were less potent with this combination (admittedly Oar/Borrello were absent rom the wings) as Bowles plays an awful lot like Polenz in that position, good in defence but can't spell overlap.

100% agree there jb, the second season is crucial for a coach and the hardest to follow up when you've had s good first year as expectations are sky high normally (it's also true of players and is where Fornaroli and to some extent Maclaren will get judged). But back to Roars defence - we'll see JAs problem this arvo at QSAC; brown isout with flu, his teenage back up is away in international duty, so Hingert moves across to LB, Bowles moves in to RB meaning all three first choice CBs will start today. It's a weakness that will only be a problem with injury/suspension but could cruel JAs title hopes.

Waz - A very shrewd observation,probably hitting right "on the spot" where Roar need huge improvement and so far the "good' signings made don't appear to affect that area in any way. As I said to Lionheart,,it is going to be an interesting season ahead to see if last year's performances can be improved upon. That is the real test for any coach never mind having to contend with lack of funding. Cheers jb

Lionheart - A lot of this comment of yours hits home to Roar's problems but due to those "behind the scenes" problems it is doubtful if JA has yet had a chance to show his talents in improving the squad under his control. Last season Roar went close to "sweeping the boards" and yet in the final analysis their failure to convert ball retention superiority into goals cost them dearly.and this in turn pointed to a weakness in the overall squad,whether in the absence of a truly gifted playmaker ,or an "aid" up front to the youngster for whom they depended on their telling counters. Now there are those who will tell you Arsenal and Chelsea and others only use one striker but that is a foolish observation for their "lone operators" are of a certain physical or talented make-up earning them thousands of dollars per week.Jamie McLaren dies not have the physique for this role (like Berisha) but all during the season this factor was constantly ignored so that we were left wondering what McLaren's true potential really was. With the arrival of Holman it is going to be interesting to see how JA will use him,he may well be the answer but another problem JA has to solve is the silly goals that were conceded last year due to what simply could be be called "poor defending". That is an area that is going to need watching this season.An interesting year ahead,no doubt. Cheers jbj

pacman - An interesting comment on how you perceive "teaching".You obviously did an analysis on a future opponent and attempted,by what I will dub "chess strategies" to countermand their strengths when on attack. This is how coaching is conducted at the highest level of football,no doubt ,but you did lose 0-1 so it could be argued that your "planning" (not teaching) didn't actually work on the match day you describe. You did mention it was at an Under 19 level and in doing so you pointed out again the weakness in our system of "education" Let me explain. All around this huge country of ours there are countless numbers of people "coaching" teams most of whom are volunteers who in real life could be anything from carpenters to doctors in the ranges of their particular field of operation. Unfortunately those fields of operation may or may not contain the necessary qualities in how to pass knowledge of a subject from one person to another, ie "teaching". Could I put it to you that if your teenage charges had been "taught" the basic principles of attack and defence at an age when these principles should be taught,(11-15), your attempts at out-thinking your opponent would have been just that much easier, in fact could have attained what you set out to achieve. Out in the big world of football there are countless coaching manuals that contain these principles I mention bur my worry is that far too few of the huge number of volunteer coaches in our game do not have knowledge or access to these books or, worse still, the necessary qualifications to interpret that knowledge and pass it on to their young charges. Let me demonstrate. You are obviously an experienced coach but do you fully comprehend the function of the first,,second, and third attackers, or conversely the functions of the first,second, or third defenders. This is pretty basic knowledge for "teachers" of the game to get across to their charges but in my experience is not too obvious when watching junior, or even youth, football. Hope this is of some help Cheers jb.

+1

Provide continuity for BRFC as well, he's been a big reason for their success over the 6 years

Would be good for Brisbane and football in this country

I like what you are saying jb. But really, shouldn't "coaching" be identical with "teaching"? In my coaching days, I rarely used a black/whiteboard in pre-game talks. On one of the rare exceptions, when my U/19 BPL Youth team was hosting the league leaders (who were regularly winning by 6 goal margins), I resorted to the whiteboard after watching our opponents in action the previous weekend. Our game plan was to prevent our opponents from playing possession football amongst their back four, which was resulting in their teenage opponents losing concentration and conceding goals at an inconceivable rate. To counter this tactic, I did a whiteboard demonstration, with our two forwards pushing up on the opposition's two centre backs, thereby restricting their possession play. I explained to my charges that this tactic would isolate the opposition's two wing backs. Instead of playing sideways, they would need to play forwards. How would they cope? Two of my defenders who, incidentally, were not directly involved in our tactic, put up their hands, and asked in unison, "Pete, what does 'isolate' mean?" Those two boys learnt something unexpected that day. Perhaps some of their less vocal teammates also were on the same learning curve? We lost 0-1, which was disappointing considering that our opponents were so frustrated by our tactics that they received two red cards due to ill discipline. So, perhaps the opposition also learnt something that day. I suggest they were taught, rather than coached.

No complaints from me, I don't think we've got competition in every position this year though as were a bit light at the back (only 3 CBs and no back up for LB)

true, but Hervas hit was that JA signed for just 12 months, smart. Hark back to those days and he was trying to patch up a squad basically. No silly stuff like what happened under MM, Polenz and the striker whose name I can't immediately recall for example. This time around JA's building properly, at least that how it looks, but as you say, allow time to judge. JA's said all along, he only wants the best and he wants competition in every position, and that's what he's done.

We've got 21/23 players signed up so even if he uses two visa slots for them he'll still have one spare even before Broich goes local lol. So far on signings it's too early to tell: MacLaren = big hit Corona = hit Hervas = miss But how will Pepper, Katebian, Kristensen, Holman turn out plus the youth added to the squad? That'll be the time to judge JA, but so far no complaints and it would be nice for him to get a normal close season and recruit properly :)

Great player and a big part of the Roar's success story. Very touched about his great comments about Australia and how Brisbane turned his life around. One day I'll make a movie about it with Chris Hemsworth in the lead role and Russell Crowe playing Ange driving all night across Europe in the snow and blizzards to get his signature. :)

A very interesting article about Thomas and one simple sentence credited to him speaks volumes and actually strikes home at a factor that not many take into consideration when discussing "coaching". I refer to his words "The teaching element of it (coaching) is just beautiful". To the thinkers about our game that word "teaching" covers what may be the root cause that is causing the rather slow transition we appear to suffer when studying the transition from junior football to senior football. It poses the question, how many of the coaches in our game have the necessary qualifications to "teach",that is the transfer of knowledge from one person to another,,of a subject, in this case "football". After all would we ever consider sending our youngsters to schools, colleges,and even universities if they were "manned" simply by people who have only "playing experience" as a background to their own "education". Of course we wouldn't, and yet this situation is evident at a lot of different levels in our "football" clubs..Cheers jb

I think we'll see some movement mid season Waz, but I'm just guessing. JA has proven very astute with signings, and aims high. Better wait than sign someone who doesn't fit right, like Polenz.

Had to laugh at the coment on citizenship "which will give John Aloisi an extra visa slot later in the rear", we've already got three spare, how many do we need ??? But yea, he should make a fine coach.

Agree....great mentor for others coming through the ranks.

Fabulous if Thomas could secure a role in the Roar off-park team when his playing days are done. He's a true champion, on and off the field, and still one of the best in the HAL.