Brisbane will look to use their home ground advantage to kick-start a potentially record-breaking run for the A-League title when they take on Western Sydney, on Friday.
The Roar finished the regular season in third place and as such are looking to be the first team to win the A-League grand final from outside the top two.
Roar Striker and joint Golden Boot winner Jamie Maclaren says creating history is a nice bit of motivation but Brisbane won’t be distracted by it.
“The record is there to be broken,” Maclaren said.
“We’re at home so it will be especially important to stick to our structures, we know what we can do at home.”
Suncorp Stadium has been an intimidating venue for opposing teams with the Roar winning 51 per cent of their games at home this season so not even the short turnaround from Sunday to Friday is bothering Maclaren.
Nor is the fact the Wanderers have had an extra day to prepare for the encounter.
“It’s a short turnaround for Friday but players would much prefer to be playing rather than training,” Maclaren said.
And while Maclaren is an old hand at finals football it’s going to be a new experience for a man he has gelled with well this season in former Socceroos star Brett Holman.
Holman understands the need for him to stand up and be counted now more than ever.
“In the role where I am, you have to provide goals and score,” Holman said.
“If you’re in that attacking area you have to score goals and create them, that’s my job and hopefully I can continue to do that.”
Cool and Cold
Guest
Yes and no. The last chance to see him, Broich, is more likely in Melbourne or Sydney. I cannot go. However, I will be in suncorp this Friday night to see Roars beat WSW. What if he is in the Grand Finale in Suncorp?
Chopper
Guest
Broich is Brisbane Roar and should be at the club in some capacity as a player and coach for a long long time. He has lifted the game to new heights in the A League by his skill and awareness and is still tirelessly backtracking to defend when younger players and other imports are floundering. John Aloisi must adjust his squad to make room for Broich unless of course he is seeing off the competition for his own job. Very very poor piece of man management and a sad indictment on the club going into the finals.
TK
Guest
Thanks Fuss. Hopefully you will get the chance to watch him at work again next week in the flesh.
TK
Guest
I think broich has had a resurgence over the last six weeks, dare i say since caletti turned up? To be honest there are others i would say goodbye to before broich given his current form. Dunno what contracts are in place but we could get by without mckay and oar next year straight off the top of my head. Pretty short sighted to not keep broich in some capacity and to make the decision now? Great way to start our history making run in to the finals.
TK
Guest
I agree the first goal came from being unchallenged but still a good finish. The second a good goal. It was more his attitude. He seemed to be actually fired up and interested rather than his usual going through the motions routine.
j binnie
Guest
Nemesis- the timing of this information is tatamount to 'treason".Here we have a player who has featured in run-on teams over the last few weeks, (not without some success), being told he is no longer wanted ,days before 2 of the clubs most important games of the season so far. Not only that but it is the player himself who has released the news to the club's long suffering fans. There are many around Brisbane who still question how this franchise is being managed and surely this is just another example of from where these suspicions arise. Any follower of the game could tell you where savings could be made in this squad so that if Broich appears to still be needed, (as in the last few weeks), steps could have been taken to free up some money within the salary cap. jb
Nemesis
Guest
Hope Brisbane Roar fans show some respect & turn out in huge numbers to thank this man. Most likely the last chance they'll get to see him playing. BREAKING Thomas Broich to leave Brisbane Roar at end of the season. Full story: http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/a-league/club-legend-thomas-broich-to-leave-brisbane-roar-at-the-end-of-the-aleague-season/news-story/98e8071a452582c710e67cfeb1603c9f
TheVolley
Guest
Both clubs seem to have found form. Roar are playing at home so it will be difficult to tip against Roar for that reason. Kashima's coach knew how hard it would be to come and play here so that says something. For WSW to win, they will have to silence Big Mac, Holman and Borello. For Roar to win, all 3 players plus Broich must fire on the night.
TheVolley
Guest
Not so sure about that. Ref was poor and WSW benefitted from it.
j binnie
Guest
Tezza- The lad is only 29 and sat for his top coaching tickets in England and passed out at the age of 21. He is from coaching "stock" his father was employed in a coaching capacity by the FFA ,but left to take up a position in his, the father's ,homeland ,New Zealand, where he is still employed ,more in the coaching of coaches than a direct coaching with teams. It would appear Drew has been busy locally with getting out visiting other Brisbane football clubs with an eye to using Roar's potential Academy which is yet to be formally announced.This is a huge step in the right direction. Let's hope the lad succeeds, where many others have failed miserably. Cheers jb.
Josh
Guest
It wasn't a clear penalty at all, Brosque is a notorious diver so anything that happens to him around the penalty area needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
Realfootball
Guest
I was at that game, and I'm not a Sydney fan, but Sydney deserved to win. WSW only got over the line because of poor refereeing. No other reason.
Realfootball
Guest
Wellington gave him an extraordinary amount of latitude. In my view, far too much is being made of his performance.
Waz
Guest
I did jb. He visited my junior club a while back (our junior clubs TD is an ex-Roar player) and while I didn't get to meet him he left a great impression on the coaching guys. He was offered the same time at an English club but turned it down for Brisbane - it's rare you get to build an academy from scratch these days. Roar and football in Brisbane generally will be better for his appointment.
Waz
Guest
Drew Sherman. TD.
Tezza
Guest
ok JB now you have caught my interest, I can`t find the appointment anywhere, who is it and what does it mean for us?
j binnie
Guest
Waz - Don't know if you noticed but Roar have just appointed a man to their staff who has qualifications in management/coaching that far outstrip the qualifications of any coach at Roar presently. Interesting appointment. Cheers jb
Waz
Guest
I think the two months he was out following his kneee operation account for some of the previous 26 rounds though? Sounds like he wasn't fully fit when he joined Roar tbh
At work
Roar Rookie
Your win over us was marred by Alex Brosque not getting the clear penalty call late in the game either, so if we want to play semantics that game should have been a draw. WSW have improved over the last coupe of months, but they shouldn't worry the Premiers as much as Brisbane IMO.
Josh
Guest
You should be more worried, WSW beat you once and if not for the missed Zullo handball - would have beaten you twice.