http://mobile.news.com.au/sport/football/a-league-brisbane-roar-learn-from-last-season-as-john-aloisi-improves-medical-program/story-fnk9a3dc-1227534021023

Nice non-financial crisis/Bakrie/problems at the club article above. Don't see many of these in the media lately ;)

Have the roar made any new signings this off season other than macclaren? Any rumours of trial ist? Any foriegners being looked at?

I just haven't heard anything from the roar this off season compared to the other clubs and there many signings. Just wanna hear from a brissy fan in the know.

Not a brissy fan, but given the financial situation they are in I don't think this is a priority for the club at the moment.

The answer is no, it's just MacLaren of note (which is a cracker of a signing if he and Broich click they will be dynamite). In terms of rumours it's been a bit light on - Michael Twait from Perth was a "shoe in" at one point but subject to the club being sold, as Brattan is gone that may well happen now. The BRFC web site had a blog post the club "are in preliminary discussions with Kostas Katsouranus about a one season spell at The Roar" but I've no idea if there's any foundation to that. Beyond that nothing really. Depending on who's doing the counting the squad is either 2 or 3 players short of the minimum HAL requirements so I would have thought they would be actively looking - the question is who now the transfer window is closed?

Two things there - they are below the minimum squad number under HAL regulations so I'm not sure what they'll do to address that, bumping up a couple of NYL players might fix it but I'm not sure that's in the spirit of the FFAs rules.

Secondly the financial situation is often misunderstood and is very much dependent on what the Bakries are Actually doing. The initial problem was caused by an accumulation of debt which was not managed at all it seems, the ACL ripping out $900k of cash, and then living beyond their means generally - CEO, Head Coach & Head of Football department all on $250k+ each (all now gone). At the moment the cost cutting they've undertaken has included the CEO, 3 admin staff and a couple of backroom coaches all of which will amount to a tidy saying close to $750k so operationally their losses should be modest ($400-600k?). The debt is to be cleared in its entirety this month (believe it when I see it but the $1m injected was supposedly to deal with the ATO who I suspect were agitating for payment) and then after that, the Bakries have committed an additional $100k every month to refinance the club. IF all of that is true and happens, it would seem illogical not to sign players! There's no doubt attendances will take a hit this season, the way to keep them above a 10k average is if Roar are playing well, scoring and near the top. Anything less may see a total collapse (some doomsayers are predicting a 5-7k average which is not impossible). Time will tell but aside from the two mentioned in my earlier thread I've heard no rumours on potential player signings ...

Edited by Waz: 19/9/2015 11:24:38 AM

Cheers for that excellent in depth post Waz. Thanks. I will say one thin, no matter what happens, I don't see Roar averaging less than 7k (Worst case scenario).

No problem. And neither do I on average crowds, I recon 10k would be our lowest average unless we end up with a large amount of extreme wet weather as happened last season. There is a fan rebellion going on against the Bakries, I sort of get it and the anger an' all but it comes down to what my old Ma used to call "cutting your nose off to spite your face" in so much boycotting Roar membership hurts the team you love and the owners you hate. Time will tell.

Edited by Waz: 19/9/2015 01:58:56 PM

Boycotting memberships is fine as long as you still turn up to the game.That message should be clear enough.We support the team not the owners.
I hope people don't follow the lead of the fans of the now defunct GCU ,whose stupid stay away behaviour achieved nothing but free weekends.

It's a case of each to his own I guess, I'm not sure there's a difference in boycotting membership as if everyone turns up that would normally buy a membership then the club would get more $$$ -

Double, should refresh before posting,

Edited by jlm8695: 19/9/2015 08:07:28 PM

Craig Moore was commentating on the game against the NPL All-Stars and he said theyre looking to pick up a few players over the next 2 weeks. Squaddies, a replacement for Bratts and a "versatile forward".

I wonder if Thwaite is still on the cards?

He doesn't seem to fit in anywhere.It would be a waste to put him in dm.
8-0 to Brisbane over NPL Allstars ..cough cough..
Defence solid .But poor opposition.One shot on goal.
Solorzano 90 mins,which was good as he gets better with time on the paddock.Lustica 3 goals,seriously knows where to position himself and how to finish more than any other player.But turned over the ball a lot.
Hingert good cameo on the left.Borrello and Petrat playing as we know they play.

I wonder what the budget is? Dario looks to be heading back from Switzerland and would be a great addition to the midfield, Thwait would probably be a luxury although DeVere looks to be a bit injury prone so maybe? I'm a bit suspicious about the term "versatile forward" -- the Broich/MacLaren combo could be real dynamite but a genuine No. 9 to lead the line would be beneficial (a Keogh style player) and then we come back to the obvious -- the transfer window is closed so what's the likely quality going to be?

Thwaite would be a CB. LDV is out until January.

North,Donachie and Bowles,with Steff.We have no DM.Unless Petrat stays there.:roll:

Lambo will be the backup to whoever we sign to replace Bratts. North and Steff are past it.

Brattan to Romania but dont know the club

Lustica is another option at DM.

He is better going forward and is our best scoring midfielder.As a DM he is a speed bump like the rest.We have noone who can win the ball in midfield duels.

Lustica's filled the DM role twice now and his distribution has been good and he's also getting further forward than Bratts typically did; like you the problem for me his can he anchor a defensive effort? I think not so if we're investing in any position it's got to be that one. When Thwaits name was first mentioned it was as a CB but with potential as back up for Bratts as DM so it wouldn't surprise me to see him signed this week.

So not England as reported in the press?

You have Litfin the youth league captain for the past 2 years who in my opinion was clearly the best teenager at the club playing 6. Although i would concede that he is a better 8 than 6.

Don't fall for it :lol: it's a joke man ;)

I figured ;)

I'd agree with your assessment actually - Roar have a predicament at the moment with an excess of young talent, how it develops that into regular first team players is going to be interesting. Personally much as I like Lustica I don't think he's the answer to Bratts departure and I think the position needs someone with a bit more experience than some of the youth coming through.

They released 11 youth squad players last week. I think you will see a more mobile midfield without a designated 6. Maybe 2 holders with either able to support higher up the field.

If they have two holders than one of them has to be tough if Lustica is the other.

For me, and I'm only going from what I saw a couple of years ago before he got injured, Lamba (keep misspelling his full name) is the most interesting prospect if he's fully recovered from the spate of injuries. Keep a close eye on this guy because he has the making of a stand-out.

I have a feeling we're going to see less of the traditional 4-3-3 and more of the 4-2-3-1 which supports your point

I agree on Lustica, he has the ability to do the more forward role Aloisi was asking Bratts to do but I'm not convinced on his defensive ability, that's where someone like Thwait would add some steel if we moved to 4-2-3-1

On Lama-what's-his-name; I really can't recall him before he got injured but those that can speak of him in the same glowing terms; I watched him against Jets last week and again yesterday and he's had two solid games ; as he did on his final appearance at the end of last season). If Roar take him on it will be interesting to see him go, I was a bit surprised City didn't take him on after his trial there but I guess they went looking for more a league experience. .

Lustica had no problems playing number 6 or brattens role. He played that in the europa league.
His performance against liverpool for the last 30 mins was class.
Against melbourne victory he was outstanding in that role. Victory only scored after lustica was rested in the last 15 mins.
What you will find is that he is more valuable in his attacking role and has shown that with his goslscoring feats. He covers more ground than any other player and those stats make him a very important cog in the midfield. In Craig moores commentary in the livestream against the npl side he said Lustica has a great ability as a midfielder to get into great goslscoring positions.
I think thats where Aloisi wants him.