Roar 4, Logan 0

(Bautheac 85)

(Final score)

In typical QLD fashion there’s no rain for a month then there’s a game on, and it’s cold and wet lol.

Last night’s hit-out vs. Logan Lightening at their new CoE was a success all the same with around a thousand people turning out in wet weather. The club sold off old kit and Football Brisbane ran the canteen which was busy all night - nice to see money staying in football for a change.

Most first teamers were there, Taggart didn’t play (apparently fit but rested all the same) and was busy signing autographs and playing FIFA18 in the players lounge which at one point had more kids watching through the window than watched the game itself 😉

As far as I could tell the only first team player not present was Avraam who apparently is still in Greece recovering from his broken leg. There was no official word on his status but talking with one of the players last night the club are monitoring progress and all is going well.

Both players and club officials such as Pourre and Pedge walked and chatted amongst the crowd last night which was really good to see.

The game itself was okay. I’m impressed in the last couple of seasons how these NPL/QPL sides have improved and Logan were no different. They were fit, motivated and organised and set up in a 4-5–1 fashion to frustrate Roar managing to force only one true save out of a Roar keeper.

Meanwhile Roar got the 4 goals, hit the woodwork twice, forced several good saves, and butchered 4 more good chances. The worst offenders being Henrique and Wenzel-Halls. The latter seemed a bit too keen to get on the scoresheet taking a shot in the first minute when a lay off to an unmarked Ricky would have resulted in a certain goal.

First half only had Young and TK you’d consider first team starters along with Bowles and Ricky. Reardon and Yoon stood out and Ingham at RB out in a good shift but it was noticeable Akbari was copping a regular serve from the Roar bench and didn’t have a good game.

At half time it was 2-0 but with better finishing should have been more.

The second half had massive changes with Bautheac, DeVere, Mauk, Mackay all coming on and Young/Bowles/Ricky departing amongst several changes. The second half was more of the same but as Logan tired they dropped deeper and deeper and finished in a kind of 5-5-0 formation not threatening the Roar goal at all in the second half.

The second half standout players were Bautheac who looked to be in second gear and a class above everyone else bagging two goals and Mauk who when he got the ball seemed to always get us going forward with real purpose.

Roars fitness looked good, passing was slick, just a bit wasteful in front of goal. Next up is the Magpie Crusaders in Mackay then Lions FC/City in the Cup (not sure which way around they fall).

They’ve also got a game v Wanderers and Sydney lined up and plan about 10 preseason games in total.

I think you meant "after missing" but I'm not sure 😂
Any word on filling those last two squad spots/marquee DM?

Nigro/Alex Song are still the dream!

@ BrissyRoo

Hopefully edited the original (“amongst several changes” lol).

No word on those two new signings I’m afraid - the European transfer window opens next week so I’m guessing they’re expecting the shuffle of players to begin.

wonder if we will indeed sign de silva. He might be getting desperate for a club 

@ grazorblade

Mauk and Holman at 10 are surely it? If Mauk could play as one of the 6’s that would make room for DDS though ..... but it’s looking like the boy and/or his reps are too high maintenance for most clubs.

Is it true TK and Bowles went off injured last night?

@ BRFC_92

Not that I’m aware. They clearly had one team for the first half and made a mass of substitutions at half time, about 6 or 7 changes, for essentially a new team in the second. I don’t think there was one substitution in normal play and both “teams” played a full half each.

At half time there were about 10-12 Roar players on the pitch going through drills which included those players going off. I don’t recall seeing those two in that group but they were way down the opposite end of the ground and I wasn’t really paying attention, too busy trying to stay warm.

No worries. Thanks.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/stadiums-queensland-board-kicked-out-over-claims-of-price-gouging/news-story/0cf6a1b81c775f7c7de1d7904eef9615

@ lukerobino

Can’t see behind the pay wall but presume it says something similar:


The board of Stadiums Queensland has been replaced after it was criticised for its management and the costs imposed on the state's major sporting teams.

Sport Minister Mick de Brenni on Sunday announced the new board to operate the state's stadiums, including The Gabba and Suncorp Stadium, on behalf of the Queensland government.

"These assets belong to Queenslanders, and I want to make them work for all of Queensland," Mr de Brenni said.

Sophie Devitt will continue as the board's chair during the transition period before stepping down, Mr de Brenni confirmed.

Queensland's opposition leader Deb Frecklington labelled the move "belated action at best" saying the positions were all up for replacement because their terms ended.

Ms Frecklington says whoever is on the board doesn't solve the issue of heavily- criticised stadium deals.

"We have fallen behind the other states in the sporting arms race," she said.

"We are losing out on the big games like the first Test at the Gabba, the State of Origin to Adelaide and the 2020 NRL Grand Final."

The new board members are:

Sophie Devitt (Chair - transition)
Cathy McGuane
Therese Smith
Amanda Shircore
John Grant
Gregg Webb

AAP

https://www.google.com.au/amp/...

Rumour is all the clubs have their fixtures with only minor tweaks to come, Roar apparently have a couple of “special fixtures” at Suncorp, whatever that means.

Rumour of 1 possibly 2 imminent signings as well, both defenders and Avraam returns to Logan next week for training.

Both defenders? That's a bit weird. Unless we count defensive midfield as a defender... We really need a DM and a defensive utility (still hoping for Nigro here).

Honestly still very worried we are going to see Holman and McKay in the starting line up. Did Tobi play last week in the friendly Waz? Any early insights into how he looks?

If these "special fixtures" involve foreign clubs, they better get their skates on and advertise them quickly as there isn't much time before the O/S leagues kick off. Or am I overly hopeful?

You are overly hopeful.

“Special fixtures” I took to mean HAL fixtures not preseason.

Tobi - he flys in next week, rumours of him signing autographs at last weeks game were false, he completed his European season later than most, flew in for his medical and then back him me and got his mandatory holidays in, so starts training next week.

Signings - if I understand it correctly it’s a DM plus a utility defender to cover Franjics loss (and yes, I md take Stefan Nigro as well)

Pretty keen to see the draw come out. Would love to organise some away trips.

Special fixtures at suncorp..  Knowing how the FFA like to screw us with scheduling, FFA trialling the 9am tuesday morning time slot to see how we pull against people going to work? or maybe back to back sydney games where we play SFC on Saturday night then the next day against WSW... 

9 AM Tuesday morning kick offs 😂😂😂

We shouldn’t be laughing, it’s the sort of thing the ffa might do.

After his release, I would be happy bringing Halloran back home with Nigro at this point.

4231
Young
Jack-Papa-LDV-Connor
TK-Mauk
Halloran-Eric-Tobi
Tagz

433
Young
Jack-Papa-LDV-Connor
TK
Mauk-Eric
Halloran-Tagz-Tobi

Would win some games and have a pretty strong bench as well.

if we are looking at a marquee DM, Milligan has just been released by his middle east club. i reckon he could be the one we are going after.

Don't want him. Was awful at Victory and I'd rather some new blood both for our team and the league. #alexsong

Would take Milligan at Roar. Don't see it happening. He'll go back to MV.

Wouldn't have Halloran back imo. Just a speed merchant and had a knee injury about a year ago, maybe his speed is gone which is why his German club and Nagasaki have both let him go in the last 6 months. 

Any news Waz?

@ BrissyRoo

Nope. But there’s rumours they’re closing in on a Franjic replacement and that DM were all hanging out for.

I’m guessing they’re all up in Mackay do probably no news until next week.

Fixtures are out on Thursday; believe Roar are happy with them.

Start at home on the first weekend apparently and supporters Groups have been told to expect a (good) surprise fixture, one that they seem pretty excited about but wouldn’t say more 👍

where did you exactly hear that the 2018/19 Hyundai A League fixtures are released on Thursday mate and what time will that be announced.

From Roar themselves, it’s down to the FFA though on exactly what time and if they get released.