If there’s one thing Robbie Fowler has done during his short time in Brisbane, it’s rekindle interest in a club based in one of the A-League’s biggest markets.
Hands up if you were surprised by Brisbane Roar’s performance in their 1-1 draw with Perth Glory a fortnight ago? I certainly was. But not because I thought the Roar would struggle to get anything from their trip to Perth. I’d watched a few of their preseason games, so the performance of players like Macaulay Gillesphey and Brad Inman didn’t come as a shock to me.
What surprised me was that in just 95 minutes Fowler managed to accomplish something Brisbane Roar failed to achieve for the entirety of last season: he made changes during the match that positively influenced the outcome.
If you watch the Roar’s equalising goal, you’ll see three players involved who are crucial to the Queensland club’s season.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
It’s captain Tom Aldred who wins the ball in a one-on-one challenge with Neil Kilkenny.
It’s midfielder Jay O’Shea who drops a yard away from the last line of defenders to give himself space before taking a touch and floating an inch-perfect cross over the top of the Glory backline.
And it’s substitute Aaron Amadi-Holloway, who terrorised a tired Glory defence in an 11-minute cameo off the bench, who heads the ball across for Roy O’Donovan to bundle home.
Aldred. O’Shea. Amadi-Holloway. Who among us can honestly say we’d heard of any of them before they joined the Roar?
And in an era of hot takes and social media banter, watching the online critics write off Brisbane’s chances before a ball had even been kicked was as predictable as VAR. But here’s the thing: Fowler has never gone out of his way to label the likes of O’Shea or Amadi-Holloway as potential game changers.
Short of announcing the tough-as-teak Aldred as the Roar’s new captain, he hasn’t really singled out any players at all.
And that’s the thing about this managerial version of Robbie Fowler. He’s essentially the opposite of everything you might expect him to be.
Calm. Methodical. Meticulous. These are not the sort of adjectives that spring to mind when we think of Fowler’s thrill-a-minute playing career.
But any thoughts the Liverpudlian was here for a holiday were dispelled the second he sent out a completely new-look team capable of holding the reigning premiers to a draw in Round 1.
And while Fowler’s profile has certainly sparked some interest from those who remember him for his Liverpool playing days, what needs to happen for the A-League to build some credibility in Britain is for Fowler to prove himself as a Liverpool manager-in-waiting with some success Down Under.
The draw with Perth Glory was a promising start, but the real test starts tonight against Melbourne Victory in front of a big home crowd at Suncorp Stadium.
Roar officials are expecting a decent roll-up for the first home game of the season, with Fowler having rekindled plenty of interest in a club that has been in the doldrums for the past couple of seasons.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that when Brisbane Roar won the last of their three A-League championships in 2014 they had one of the highest average attendances in the competition.
Just under 22,000 fans saw them smash Sydney FC in their first home game that season and they knocked off Melbourne Victory at home in front of nearly 18,000 supporters later on in the campaign.
It’s not too late to get back to those numbers, even if it requires some patience from fans.
Win, lose or draw tonight, the Roar’s season won’t be defined by one result.
But it’s hardly a stretch to suggest that a strong Brisbane Roar is great for the city and good for the A-League as well.
In God we trust.
Jimmy
Roar Guru
I don’t think that at all, and I also have noticed that the Sydney Derby has had good press so far this week.
chris
Guest
Well 150k on channel 7 is quite poor actually. An infomercial would rate better. I'm not disparaging it (WBBL) or Jillaroos etc. What I am saying is that once again commercial interests on FTA dictates what they report on. If you think that the Jillaroos, WBBL and Sheffield shield deserves more "news" coverage than a sold out A-League match then good luck to you.
Jimmy
Roar Guru
I was there, I may write something on it this week. Mate I’m a Football fan, I lived in the UK for 3 years and I also support SYDNEY FC. There is no law against supporting both codes, I was just making a point that the WBBL is popular and deserves coverage also. I don’t criticise anyone personally, or Football as a code, just commenting on the interesting summer ratings battle is all.
chris
Guest
Jimmy why the fascination with something you appear to not like? Isnt there a league article you can write or something? Australia played a test match against NZ (again) last night. Any thoughts?
Nemesis
Guest
Aussies have the cricket on TV the same way tradesmen have the radio on at work. It's there to just be background noise. I've been at summer BBQs where the cricket is on all night & no one is sitting there watching. It's on FTA TV & it's more suitable for a social setting than "Silent Witness" on Saturday night.
Jimmy
Roar Guru
Nah you are right as far as crowds go the A League leaves it for dead. But last Saturday it did have about 154 000 viewers on Channel 7.
Beach
Roar Rookie
And tonight we saw that unfortunately a poor Brisbane side is what Fowler is delivering
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Hmmmm. Was I right all along?
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Yes well now, getting a ticket for a game like that will cost almost as much as your airfare
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Yes I recall skimming through that stuff but I prefer to focus on the playing side of things. Owners and their strange ways Are a law unto themselves. I’d love to have a real community club maybe along the lines of Green Bay Packers - won’t happen anytime soon here though.
chris
Guest
So if it wasn't on TV - there would be how many at the ground watching it? So what was the ratings? You havent really said. What channel was it on?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
and it's another three weeks before our next home game Kangaa2. But that suits me personally this season because I'm off to the UK next week for just under three weeks, getting home just in time for our next home game v MCY. And hey, LFC play Man City while I'm over there. Pub job.
Griffo
Roar Guru
You last sentance is key: can you recruit better than you let go? I'm not sure the Jets are financially in that position yet, unless some ace youth are coming through we haven't heard about. Last time we had a 'youth policy' was the days when Stubbins and Tinkler became besties...
Nick Symonds
Guest
5,000 people at the Center of Excellence!? They'll have to give Josh Kennedy a call to see if he can do the catering.
Kanggas2
Guest
Good article focusing on one of the northern teams in the a league. Northern Nsw and South Queensland have a long history of Socceroos and genuinely getting behind their local teams. Unbelievably Brisbane and Newcastle were not awarded home games until round 3 , which is a massive opportunity lost to reignite the football flame in the heartland states. Good luck to RF and the roar.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Just good Aussie blokes having a bit of a blue after a few coldies
Jimmy
Roar Guru
I’m just saying you shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss it.
chris
Guest
I think the women on the receiving end of those punches would disagree LH
chris
Guest
No, tell me all about it.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
sure I guess those punches thrown post AFL games don’t hurt either huh?