Brisbane are undefeated from their past five A-League games and coach Robbie Fowler says the Roar are finally starting to settle into gear.
Undefeated in the past five rounds, Brisbane Roar coach Robbie Fowler is starting to see the fruits of his labour in the A-league.
The Liverpool legend has guided the team from the bottom of the table into the top six in a little over a month with three wins and two draws, including a late 1-0 victory over Central Coast on Saturday.
The win put Roar within the top six, but further emphasised the development in the team Fowler says has been evident all season.
“We’ve always said we’re not a million miles from where we want to be,” he said.
“We still want a bit more, we always do but luckily the lads will put in a shift now, but it’s only what we’ve been working on.
“We are a new club, we’ve got essentially a new team. It’s not going to be an overnight success … I think any manager or any team will find it tough, but we’re getting good results now and we knew that would always be the case.”
(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
New recruit Scott McDonald made his first start for the Roar against the Mariners at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday night.
Fowler said he has been impressed with the former Socceroo following a difficult stint at Western United.
“You can see at times when he has the ball he’s a classy player, and I think the levels he’s played at, you can see that on the pitch,” he said.
“He probably needs a few more minutes, the way things have been at Western United where he’s been sort of in and out and certainly the last month where he’s been on the periphery of the squad.
“Scotty’s performance was good and he’ll get better the more training sessions he does with us and the more game time he has, so I’m really happy with him.”
The Roar now have their second away game in a row when they face A-League champions Sydney FC at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Friday night.
They last met in early December, with Sydney FC thumping Roar 5-1 in their biggest loss for the season.
“Sydney are a good team and they’ve proven time and time again how good they are. We’ll go away, we’ll work on what we need to work on,” Fowler said.
“That’s all we can ask from the lads, to go there and give us everything that they’ve got and they’ll do that.”
Waz
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t argue Roar are hard to watch, they are. The way they are playing only a mother could love them - the good news is I don’t think it’s intentional. But form is always expressed in results - always has been. Roars form over the last ten games is 5-2-3, Adelaide’s 5-0-5, Victory 3-1-6 ... it says nothing about how they are playing although SFC’s 9-1-0 perhaps gives a hint
Redondo
Roar Rookie
True JB, although the EPL throws up similar disparities in football standards. I guess the difference is the EPL has 20 teams and the standard declines more gradually from top to bottom.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Results are results, form is how you get them. The Wanderers have been in bad form all season but got good results for the first 3 or 4 games. Obviously we have different definitions of the words, but one thing is clear - Brisbane are hard to watch.
jbinnie
Guest
Stu- Without getting into a debate on "form" v "results" anyone with a bare modicum of what good football is should simply have taken in two A-League matches at the weekend. Sydney v Victory was a game full of good attacking football and if one compares it with the CCM v Roar game then they would have to be excused for thinking the participants played in 2 different competitions. Such was the difference in football standard. Sydney are setting that standard and it is the other teams who have to catch up. Is that possible? Up till now it does not appear so. jb.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Form means one thing in football - results. Roar have that. The style of those results is not exactly pleasing on the eye but that’s not form.
Coastyboi
Guest
I respect Mr. Fowler for traveling to Brisbane, & I think he can help grow the A-League. The Roar have so much potential, but its mega-rich owners (similar to CCM) seem to always tighten their grasp on their operations budget. The fans are crying out for more marquee players.
stu
Guest
I think it is ok to suggest that the word 'form' in this instance is subjective. The ultimate desired result we could readily claim as being the win/loss ration however, as I suggest it can mean different things to different people. Headline statements are researched first before printed to ensure that at least the content of the article can relate to the headline in some form.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Nope. If a side is in “big trouble” when they’re unbeaten in 5 then ....?
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Obviously not
Waz
Roar Rookie
Form is: - 5 games unbeaten. - 3 wins in 5 games - back to back away wins - back to back wins - back to back clean sheets. Style, entertainment, quality are not the same as form.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
If that was the Roar hitting form they are in big trouble.
stu
Guest
I am assuming the article was written after the game against CCM. Unfortunately yesterday's performance was painful, therefore I can't agree with the article. Both teams in front of goal were woeful. When the subject is discussed by some, and shot down by others on the value of spending money on the a-league compared to other entertainment options, that game did struggle to provide any value other than 3 points for the roar. Regardless of weather conditions, which teams train and play in every summer, the standard must improve for those who want to see the sport at a higher public interest level. Should this not be the primary focus?