I think you might be over-analysing. The wide players just look like regular wingbacks (up and down the whole touchline, attack and defend), with a #6, #8 and #10 in centre midfield. Not necessarily negative, if you've got more possession of the ball the wingbacks can stay higher and be more of an attacking outlet.

I don’t think the wide players are behaving like wingbacks and that’s kinda the point. its a 3 man defence supplemented by a 5 man midfield but we’re as likely to see two of the central midfielders taking up defensive slack as we are the wide mids. 

If Hingert wont be ready until Xmas,i would draw a line through him.
He is coming back from a major injury,into a new team and new manager,with zero confidence.That's if he gets back.Historically for Roar ,injured players dont come back with any success.....Holman,DeVere,Gameiro,Kristensen,Avram,etc.etc..
We need some backs.

Just as an aside, I heard the offer is for Pepper (not Mackay lol) and it was an unsolicited approach with a “tasty” six figure transfer fee. Pepper travelled to Gladstone anyway and we’ll know if he plays he’s not going .. 

I see Neville being better as a right wingback than a defender in a back 3. I think he could cover a CB position, but first preference would be right wingback, similar to how he mostly played for Glory last season, particularly when he replaced Franjic. From what I have seen over the past few seasons I would start him as a wingback ahead of McGing. In fact I would like to think that at this stage McGing would cover for starting wingbacks and centre backs, rather than being a first choice player himself.

Still leaves Roar needing another back 3-type defender.

Too good to be true I guess :laugh:

It’s not clear what’s going on tbh. The offer came in before they departed and although MU have announced his signing anyone that would know at Roar is up in Gladstone so I guess we wait. 

What is it??? 

It would seem that the Roar fans are possessed 

Sorry,I thought the screen shot would paste.
It's a twitter from Madura United,announcing Pepper signing .
fake ? I dont know.

As much as I can dream of a season where we have a fortress defence, I am also wondering how the game will unfold the first time we go a goal or two down against quality opponents.

SFC will be such an interesting game for us as fans - I bet the team are dying to prove themselves too..

Teams have to defend from front to back, not just the back three or four. 

Aloisi had both wrong - couldn’t get a back 4 with the right players nor could he organise midfield and attackers to defend. 

So Fowler has to get that right. The SFC Cup game will be an important test, as will the upcoming games against Glory, SFC (again), WSW and Western United. 

Jeez we are going to be screwed if Aldred gets injured. 

i am sure they would be targeting Doncs if he cant find a Euro club. There are not many other free agent aussie defenders maybe they could convince one of the asian bassed aussies Sunsjar or Jovanovic to come home or perhaps a loan deal for one of the younger uk bassed aussies like Callum Elder, Jack Iredale, Harry Souttar but center backs are thin on the ground. 

Hopefully selling Pepper builds up the cash for a good CB.

People keep saying that but it makes no sense. Aldred IS a good CB, in a system that has one CB you don’t sign another good one and sit them on the bench. 

Are Bowles and Reardon good enough back ups - absolutely not. So there is a huge dilemma. 

Gillesphey is a CB and will be played slightly out of position at LB so most probably he is the backup should Aldred get injured. 

Souttar has signed for the season on loan with Fleetwood Town. 

I would have thought at the moment the starting back 3 would be Neville aldred Gillespie. With back up reardon and bowles. I would pick otoole in the left wb role over reardon  starting. 

I haven't seen mcging yet but unless he has improved significantly since last time he was in the league then I would have Neville and hingert fighting for the rwb position with mcging cover, that still leaves one starting CB we are short. 

I haven't seen Neville this preseason but he was not starting quality at Perth and I don't think he is here.

If we are playing 3 at the back with 2 wingbacks you want 5 starting quality defenders and 2-3 pushing them for their positions and 2 depth. 

Starters are aldred, Gillespie,  pushers (or starters if they have a good year) neville, hingert, O'Toole, then mcging, reardon as pushers then bowles and powel as depth. 

We are 1 starting quality defender short or we are relying on pushers to have outstanding years and out performing. 

I always think there’s two characteristics about really good A League sides:

the first is, before they are recognised as good several of the players aren’t  .... think Roar under Ange, it was only after we won the damn thing that players were thought of as good. 

.... Neville couldn’t break in to the best defence last season so granted, he’s unproven. Fowler needs to lift him in to starter material or he will be the weak link. 

The second is, due to the cap every good side has at least 2 players in it that actually aren’t that good and there’s better players elsewhere in the league. 

.... So let’s say Neville can’t be brought up to starter level and a replacement is signed as a starter over him - that just transfers the problem elsewhere and right now the obvious weakness is the left side of midfield. 

So so if I’m RF I’d be looking st splashing the cash there. A left sided defender for big $$$ then two squad fillers - most likely a right sided winger/offensive player and now a replacement for Pepper and possibly one who can cover CB as well. 

Ive said it before but I think this is a side built for 3rd at best, beyond that would take several players (Holloway, O’Shea and Neville even) to punch well above their weight. 

The season after is probably when well we’ll see the best from this side. 

Pepper deal is not done. Apparently the player hasn’t given a decision yet and the reports out of Indonesia are a little baffling. 

Lol maybe Pepper wants to see the cash first.

It’s bizzare. Got an Indonesian friend who’s confirmed the tweets are saying he’s been signed ... but DP confirmed the player has not signed and both Roar/player are considering options. 

Its kinda the polar opposite of BRFC who won’t even announce a player until they’re here, training and have a 3 year rental appartment agreement in place lol 

Roar’s game is being live-streamed,kicking off at 3PM. Go to

https://m.facebook.com/GladstoneRegionalCouncil/

for the stream 👍

You'd certainly want to be sure that it's legit

Cheers! :D

Roar up 6-0 and first half is still going. Not much of a challenge for the Roar I'm afraid.

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Works for me. Are you using the mobile site? Stream doesn't work from that site if you're on a PC, try this: https://www.facebook.com/GladstoneRegionalCouncil/videos/748933392193061/

Not much of a challenge and you’d expect to put double figures on these select sides (like we used to although I seem to remember Aloisi only winning the last couple 4-0)