Roar looking to reign at home in top-six chase

Lol ange ball, you Brisbane fans are delusional. It is not even close to anges style. Brisbane is a boring not attacking long ball team!!! ask any neutral fan what they think of Brisbane and they will all say the same

You have the most long balls in the league each week, it's a long ball team. This is what happens with British coaching and British players in the team. The sooner you rid yourselves of that you will come back to being a half decent team. To think you used to be the best team to watch when ange was there. Now you're one of the worst with Macarthur. I would hate to be a Brisbane fan with the dross you play

jb Good stuff. And whilst not in the same league as the big clubs in Europe there are technical options that help with this even for the smallest of clubs. But, as you said in an earlier post, all you have to do ..... is look :thumbup:

I remember when we played you guys, they made your youthful attackers looked like under 5 players

2nd least goals conceded in the league, our faults aren't in defence. Your comments don't hold up to much scrutiny.

Waz - going back some 30 years I was instructed at a coaching course as to how to analyse individual player performance. It had the general name "charting" and it could be applied to any player's overall performance based on how he completed the basic skills in the game. The work involved some very intense application to the job at hand as it involved a lot of concentration on the player bring assessed. Imagine my surprise when just this week I read an article on a system named Pro-zone which is just the same as charting but heavily improved to include modern electronics. Many of the big clubs in Europe and the States are heavily into usage of this "new" technique. Cheers jb.

jb I started off my original post having a bit of a dig at journalists, professional and citizen alike but “pulled up” without really putting the boot in. The standard of football analysis at the moment is sadly really, really low and it’s almost impossible to get an informed and knowledgeable opinion .... and I say opinion because it’s just that, but it would be nice to have more informed commentary. (and for what it’s worth I’ve always thought the erroneous “formations” the media regurgitate come from the actual coaches sheet where for some bizarre reasons they’re expected to tell the referee what formation they’re in so pick some nonsense instead to tick a box).

coolncold= After watching football morph from 2-3-5, to WM, to 4-2-4, to 4-3-3, to 4-4-2 and the hated catenaccio I feel reasonably qualified to assess what I see on tv without referring to a book or TV set of figures supplied by someone who probably has never seen these systems put to use. Fowlers "back 3" last year were the same three as started yesterday .The middle 5 yesterday were the two wing backs,Brown and Courtney Perkins, O'Shea, and new boys Dakzani and Akibari Up front there was a change with a pure left winger ,Champness brought in to replace McDonald who played the deep lying central attacker role in previous games . That to me reads 1-3-5-1-1 when DWH is added. What Waz, Lionheart and myself are discussing is whether the young players being introduced into the first 11 actually understand their role in this comparatively new (for Australia) system. If the Jap throws himself forward( as he does) the line up changes accordingly to 3-4-3. Over the last few games there has been some evidence that when substitutions were being made the line up was slowly morphing back to 4-3-3, a system which actually suits the youngsters (and some of the old brigade)being introduced to the A-League. So forget what people are telling you just believe what your eyes tell you. Cheers jb.

JB, "but note you don’t mention the “shape” they play" You have been targeting the formation (shape) of BR for weeks. However, you have not got the information updated, or you stick on the A-league website for lining-up. I would like to say that the announcements on lining up (formation) on Foxtel are quite different from that of the A-league web page. Since the match with WUN, BRI has been changing the formation. Maybe, they have heard your call already. Just you have not noticed. Below is a list according to Foxtel/Kayo's videos. 14 Mar, WUN vs BRi, BRI started with 3-4-3 21 Mar, WEL vs BRI, BRI started with 5-3-2 3 Apr, BRI vs WSW, BRI started with 5-3-2 9 Apr, BRI vs MAC, BRI started with 4-4-2 16 Apr, WSW vs BRI, BRI started with 4-2-2-2 The 4-2-2-2 last night is the thing I don't quite get how to work good. Anyhow, they changed to 5-3-2 towards the end of the match last night. That was so apparent if you can watch re-play on Foxtel. When they have substitution they change. When AP coached MV, he played 4-2-2-2 for a number of matches successfully. But his 4-2-2-2 was not the rectangular one (with no striker). Have DWH and Danzaki moved to the side. If I have time, I will watch the video of last night again to find out. Hi Fi

Waz - Thanks for the clarifying reply. You mention recruiting, apart from Fowler's procurement of the two centre-backs and O'Shea the Roar's recruitment operation over the last few years hasn't been what one would call "top class". The players that have "come and gone" are too numerous to mention but I know you will know what I mean. Brown and Akbari have both gone and come back after being released by Victory. Fowler's goalkeeping recruit has also gone down the Victory route with the same outcome. So ,I hope you are right. I hope someone up there recognises the need for new blood and have sufficient nouse to go get players who fit the system. cheers jb..

jb Before discussing some of your points let me just point out something I omitted in my original post: the same flaws that were in Fowler’s set up are also present here. I.e. to improve the side you’d pretty much go down the spine and recruit a sweeper-keeper, a strong DM, and a strong goal scoring 9. And just for clarity - I wasn’t comparing this side to Ange’s side, just commenting that the style of play is the closest we’ve had to Ang-ball .... which I actually think has helped their youth coming through. As for the formation; I’d play 3-5-1-1 every week if I could (I’m bound by a club playing style that necessitates 4-4-2/4-1-4-1 unfortunately) but agree some of the players do look a bit confused and the balance in the squad is not there to execute it consistently. I’d also say that Hingert and Brown confuse their roles at times - they love getting forward but can make poor decisions on when to go/not go and when they need to get back. I don’t think this side will make the GF this year but with smart recruiting next year I think they will have a great chance.

Waz - a fair analysis of what you are seeing in each individual as a player but note you don't mention the "shape" they play in and to my eyes that is where the main trouble lies. Fowler introduced a 3 back system using two imported centre-backs and drafting the experienced Neville in as the third back. Were they successful? the goals against for last year suggest yes. We now move to this year and Neville is no longer available having been loaned out, his position filled by the youngster Trewin, who, it is doubtful, had ever seen a successful 3-5-1-1 formation used, so had to learn quickly. To compare that team with AP's all conquering team is a bit tongue in the cheek ,Smith for Aldred? yes, Hingert for Franjic??? Young for Theo,!!!!,,Dwh for Berisha,????? Brown for Steffanutto,????,Champness for Broich???? O'Shea for Big Eric??, maybe, and no one to match Angie's ball winner in midfield, the unsung "Greek". I think I've covered that. Back to today's Roar. I maybe wrong but the more I see them the more I am convinced some of the chosen players don't know what their task is in this system which in effect has the philosophy of packing the midfield with up to 6 players ,necessitating 2 super fit wing backs and a deep lying mid/strike player playing off the lone striker. Roar are not doing this successfully and it is not hard to notice they revert back to a 4-3-3 when certain players have to leave the field. usually being replaced by another youngster. This leads to lack of balance, Champness is asked to play wide on the left and is usually "left" to fend for himself, such is the standard of his "service". Jack Hingert ,I am convinced ,just doesn't comprehend the wing-backs role in this system and Jack is too old to be changing his style now. Some games his partner Brown ,bombs forward at every opportunity but always appears behind the 8 ball getting back, meaning a central defender is drawn in subsequent play, usually a break away. The youngsters? Nothing better than seeing them get a run but at the same time they have to be taught the ins and outs of this higher standard of football and in watching the younger mid-fielders playing it is quite apparent that education is lacking. Ball- watching is rife with opposition players given yards of space in which to operate and this in turn throws tremendous pressure on the back-line. There is much work to be done before Grand Finals are to be reached, AP's team did that twice. cheers jb..

Ahahaha you're joking right? All your brexit players arr rubbish, they're the reason your team is average

Not to knock any journalist in particular (but) this week it’s a “resurgent Roar” and last week Roar were a “sinking ship” and a couple of months ago it was “rampant Roar” as they stormed to 4 wins in 5. The lack of real analysis is palpable guys. The reality is it’s pretty much the same Roar. They are incredibly difficult to beat and could win-lose any game by one goal ..... or draw it. In games played this season, no side has looked better than Roar but they’ve only looked significantly better than an admittedly very poor Victory and an “off-day” Adelaide. Roars style of play is as close to Ange-ball as its ever been since the great man departed. It’s exciting at times and it’s controlled and structured at others ... and yet at other times though it’s sloppy and too predictable. This team is a good one. But there’s obvious areas to improve upon if they want to be contenders. Young in goal is a great shot stopper but his distribution is woeful and opponents know it and win plenty of turnover from him. The back three is as good as the best of the rest - while many complain at the use of lower level English defenders the reality is they provide a great test for young Aussies of what to expect when/if you get into Europe’s second divisions. The midfield lacks dependability out wide. Both Brown & Hingert are doing well but are not dependable when in defence. This is an area that needs improving. Thd middle three look to be coming in to their own but have lacked the presence of a quality DM. Akbari did well in that position last night but it’s not his natural position. O’Shea and Danzaki are brilliant and great to watch. Many a young Aussie player would fit well to study these two. Then we get upfront and where the real Achilles heel is in this side. DWH is slow and pedestrian but packs a powerful shot. As defenders have worked him out his return has dropped off - he needs to learn a bit of cunning and guile from Scott MCD Champness is finding form rapidly and is providing some x-factor, it’s going to be interesting to see where he ends up next season. Kudo and Gol Gol both have potential, but both are slow in revealing it and I’m not sure the latter ever will. The crop of youngsters around the main squad is as good as we’ve seen since pre-Aloisi days. Trewin looks genuine quality, Daley too but needs more time to learn that DM role, Akbari is still only 20 and Freke looks a quality keeper. But my pick of Roars youngsters is Parsons - I’ve watched him with Roar and Pride in the NPL and looks to have what it takes to be a future Socceroo. So where to from here: Roar should make top-6 and will likely finish 3/4 (again). In finals though they will struggle unless they fix the goals But next season, with 3-4 new players. Watch this team go I recon.

Mebratu even managed to stop a Roar shot that looked to be headed to goal, he just got in the way. Apart from his header/goal a while back, I can't recall a single touch where he has contributed anything. As for Aldred - disagree, him and Gillesphy are contenders for best centre-backs in the league and the reason Roar are so hard to beat.

Would it be better for Jordan Courtney-Perkins to play the number 9 position rather than Golgol Mebratu? Both Kudo and Golgol are disappointing.

Lionheart -I think the way young Trewin handled the enforced position was admirable, the only thing missing was Aldred's experience in influencing others around him. That will come. However, there is still a problem with balance in the team. Young's antics in telling certain players off was indicative of someone not doing their job properly. The left winger Champness promises much but the service he gets from his immediate midfielder is abysmal and that need to be fixed, and soon. Thought the first goal was very well executed and no doubt a boost to the player. Cheers jb.

Great to see so many players who've come up through Roar's ranks featuring not just for Roar, but across the A League.

Moon created his issues with just plonking Mebrahtu into the starting line up, Mebrahtu looked both unfit, relatively slow compared to his youthful speed and out of touch, he has hardly played for years I assume he got injured because he had a decent goal scoring run in Czech for two seasons and then hardly played after that. Aldred loss I cant see that being an issue, maybe they are even better off without him. WSW you imagine how much money they have tied into Cox, Muller, Troisi and the amazing thing people write articles and discuss Barbarouses . Barbarouses is going quite well fitness and speed wise for his age and he is only 31, works hard in every match.