The Newcastle Jets look like they can still take flight, but it will have been another sleepless night for the Aloisi brothers following the Brisbane Roar’s defeat.
Who on earth would be an A-League tipster? Not that my tips have ever been particularly prescient, but I actually sat down and had a good think about who I thought would win this weekend – and yet again came up with nothing.
That said, it’s nowhere near as difficult as being a coach.
Ernie Merrick probably won’t win any world manager of the year awards on the back of Newcastle’s 2-0 defeat of Brisbane Roar at McDonald Jones Stadium yesterday, but the Jets were good value for their win over the toothless visitors.
You’d have got long odds on Kaine Sheppard and Jair finishing as Newcastle’s goalscorers against the Roar, but the Jets never really looked like losing once the 25-year-old Englishman opened his A-League account.
And Sheppard’s goal was a reminder that there’s plenty of talent on offer in the National Premier Leagues – the Jets signed him from Victorian state league side Avondale – for clubs willing to give some untried talent a chance.
On the other side of the ledger is Jair, and the relief on his face when he scored his first ever A-League goal was palpable.
The Brazilian arrived in Australia with some pedigree – he scored almost 50 goals in a couple of different spells in South Korea’s rough-and-tumble K-League – but at times he’s looked like he’s being played out of position on the left wing.
Yet the 30-year-old can play anywhere across the front third, and it was his decision to drift over to the right-hand side that opened the space for Dimi Petratos – who did well to attract no less than three defenders – to allow the former Roar attacker to hold the ball up long enough for Jair to rifle home.
And didn’t he celebrate? Which is fair enough given that it was Jair’s first goal anywhere since September 2017, following a barren spell at Chinese Super League club Yanbian Funde.
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
So the Jets proved they can score without Roy O’Donovan, but can Brisbane Roar do so without Adam Taggart?
The sometime Socceroos striker was clearly hindered by a groin injury, but not – it would seem – enough to prevent him from being introduced as a substitute with 20 minutes remaining.
So why not start him? Or was it simply a desperate attempt to try and salvage something from two goals down?
Perhaps a more pertinent question is how can a team sheet containing names like Jamie Young, Avraam Papadopoulos, Alex Lopez and Eric Bautheac conjure just one win so far this season?
And why is it that despite adding attacking talents like Tobias Mikkelsen, Stefan Mauk and even their own former NPL player in Dylan Wenzel-Halls, do the Roar rarely look like scoring unless Taggart is on the end of things?
If nothing else, yesterday’s defeat was another reminder of the value of having a reliable goalscorer at the focal point of an A-League attack.
Try as he might, the 33-year-old Henrique clearly isn’t the man to lead the line for the Roar – club legend though he may be.
And at some point, the question must surely be asked of whether John Aloisi is the right man to lead Brisbane Roar, even if he is an icon of the Australian game.
What many Roar observers would like to see – and I count myself among them – is for Aloisi to literally coach himself out of a hole.
But things just aren’t happening at the moment.
And suddenly Friday night’s fixture with a rampaging Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium looms as a make-or-break encounter.
At the end of the day, no one wants to see coaches get sacked.
But on the back of yet another deflating defeat, Brisbane Roar may soon find themselves needing to ask some tough questions.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
"Mauk provides energy and passion which I haven’t seen in a brisbane player for 3 years his long term signing is key and brisbane should find players of this age and passion to play around him" DK, I think that's a major issue for Roar. If you want to know where our players of that age and passion are, look around the league. We develop them and then they get better offers from other clubs, in Australia and overseas. It's a hard issue to do much about.
TK
Guest
Exactly !
TK
Guest
The drovers dog should be able to coach that team to a win. Mistakes in my view were keeping (and playing where relevant) Mckay, Henrique, Holman. They could be playing Wenzell up front with Taggart, Caletti feeding offensive passes (he'll be next to get go from Roar). There is no reasn why this team wth the talent they have shouldn't be winning - but there is no fluid attack - same old problem.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Too much Melbourne all at once seems risky. It would have been good to still have Wollongong as an option and sub them in for West Melb.
Jjg
Guest
Re devere. He has had a look of injury concerns. Least season he was barely running and then injured his knee. Could he be held back for the January period to build him up? Roar need more legs. Mauk is a huge loss. Speed going forward and back. Lopez and mikkelsen did not track back for the first goal. Caletti appears too slow. Would you put mauk a box to box player next to Lopez then ? Mikkelsen 10, Eric b legs, leck rw and taggs upfront? Okon could be a good option to me. More resources and better players could be the thing he needs. Would attract youth players.
D K
Roar Rookie
Yes the problem is Aloisi , Blind Freddy can see his left and right backs are not up to scratch they are the problem . I've never seen defenders not make a tackle preferring to retreat backwards allowing their opponent into the box with all the time in the world . News flash back tracking with your hands behind your back is not defence , surely John can see this . These 2 Jack and Conner have probably crossed into the box 1 once accurately each over there time in the team note Jack has been there for 5 years now . The team will be better when Mauk actually plays as currently Lopez is sitting just outside Brisbane box trying to set up play . Mauk provides energy and passion which I haven't seen in a brisbane player for 3 years his long term signing is key and brisbane should find players of this age and passion to play around him. Ideally they would sign a marquee striker also not try and grow a local striker with the view that we want them to leave to find a better league that's not future planning . You can look at all the players - Young great keeper extremely poor distribution doesn't help attack Papa good but slow Bowles ok but not top class Lopez shows passing promise no pace Kristensen honestly past it McKay passion speed but skill lacking these days Michelson - can't beat an opponent Bautheac skill full quick but plays for himself Taggart - injury prone looking for other opportunities That leaves a poor bench and Mauk And a very poor tactical coach and his "assistant " Things don't look bright until something changes aloisi will run out with the same squad and get the same result that's all he knows
jbinnie
Guest
coolncold - Sorry mate your reply (if that what it was) lost me after a few lines. By the way Pele scored 722 goals in his 786 match career at the top level. I wouldn't dare to compare Matt Mackay's "finishing " with that of Pele, Messi or Ronaldo,but I do question why a player with Matt's stats would be used as a forward. Matt has NEVER been a finisher at any time of his career ,his most prolific figures were generated during a 7 season spell of 131 matches when he managed 18 goals giving him an average of 2.5 goals per season. Matt also played at left full back for the Socceroos on more than a few occasions. Now I simply ask the question why would any coach play Matt as a forward?? Cheers jb.
Sticks
Roar Rookie
The Roar Aleague team - potentially the one of the oldest teams in the league (avg player age) are currently sitting near bottom of the Aleague. Their youth team (avg player age 17-18) on the other hand are sitting top of the Yleague comp. Perhaps JA should be looking to blood more of his younger players sooner rather than wasting another year with older players that have no long term value to the club.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Nem Agree would be an excellent outcome... two rounds i.e 26 games + international breaks, plus 3 weeks finals... around a 32 week competition ... given all thats happened would be a good outcome
stu
Guest
Yes it is the coach. I feel the vision is to hold the ball in midfield and have no idea what to do next once in the final third. JA has ran his race.
Nemesis
Guest
Middy, I read that also. Very interesting. Got me by surprise. I'd be very happy with 4 team expansion: Western Melb, Team11, Canberra, McCarthur.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Nem & Waz and others if they know. TWG reported a couple of days ago that the Fox preferred option is to go straight to 14 teams over two rounds... Have you guys heard anything along these lines...
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Waz Our best player Tommy H and arguably the best 6 in the league, is on the bench... replaced by a elephant touch Melling ... we sign the NPL's leading goal scorer and striker and play Matty S as the striker ...
Waz
Roar Rookie
“Player management” was his issue at Roar. He left after a player rebellion led by the senior players
Waz
Roar Rookie
“No wonder they can’t maintain high tempo“ ... they have done on several occasions this season. Their pressing game has often been superb. The problem is s lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and s defence, god the 4th season running, that is suspect You’re actually complaining about jade years problem. You need an update ...
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
humblest apologise RF, we're a bit sensitive about our age at Roar
Midfielder
Roar Guru
RF Mulvey talks the talk, but questions are now being asked about his player management and systems... If things don't improve I would not be surprised to see him gone in the new year.
RF
Roar Rookie
Mid, to what extent do you hold Mulvey accountable? He seems to have had a lot of input into recruiting. Seriously, is a team going to ever win anything with Matt Simon captain and leading the line?
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Why not use Pele's statistics to support the saying. Pele scored 650 out of 694 matches. But can he play in EPL to score now? When Mackay was younger he can score occasionally? However, he always missed and failed in some very good chances. Is Mackay a good striker? Are there players in the squad who can play as a striker? What is Matt Mckay's best position? He is a mid-fielder who occasionally plays as a full back when there is no suitable substitution. According to his saying, he did not know "exactly" what to do when an opponent run towards him when he was in a defending position? Yes, he scored more when he was younger. However, from 2013 to now, he has just scored 7 from 117 matches in Brisbane Roar. How many goals he has scored last season? Why a coach would pick a old and about to retire player to play as a scorer? Are there better choices? "Only the man who is selecting the team can answer that question, but is it not a question worth asking.? " Is it not a response you made worth posting?
RF
Roar Rookie
"Age means nothing". Stop and think before you type, Waz, seriously. Of course it does. Age wearies us all sooner or later. Honestly, mate, that was just flat out ridiculous.