Agree with you on all 3 counts. That said, as much as I want my club to do well, best not to hold a promising keeper back, better Redders be set free to chase #1 spot than hold him back. I'm sure Acton will step up.

Roar players visit mini-Ekka

As Ekka fever takes over the city, Brisbane Roar players Shane Stefanutto and Matt Acton were on hand to spread the festive cheer to those unable to attend.

Each year, Brisbane’s Royal Children’s Hospital hosts a mini-Ekka on the lawn aimed at entertaining young in-patients who can’t attend the full-scale event which takes place just down the road at the RNA Showgrounds.

In addition to enjoying the displays, games and face-painting with the children, Stefanutto and Acton also spent time visiting the wards to deliver Ekka showbags to patients who were unable to leave their beds.

“It was a fantastic mini-Ekka on the front lawn and hopefully the kids left with big smiles on their faces and some goodies in their showbags,” Acton said.

“Hats off to the Royal Children’s Hospital for putting on such a great event for all the children.”
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/brisbaneroar/news-display/Roar-players-visit-miniEkka/48453

Ipswich's orange invasion
PREPARE for an orange invasion - the Brisbane Roar is heading to Ipswich.

The two-time A-League champions will take on an Ipswich invitational team at North Ipswich Reserve on Sunday afternoon, and local kids will have a chance to get up close and personal with their sporting heroes.

It's no surprise the Roar has chosen Ipswich as host of a pre-season fixture for the third time, after 4000 fans turned out last year.

Ipswich Sports House senior sport and recreation officer Brendan Bowers said there was plenty on offer for kids and adults alike.

"There will be autograph sessions for the kids to get the signature of their favourite players," he said.

"We also have a rapid fire field set up for the kids and all the clubs will participate in a march past.

"In the lead-up, schools have been involved in a ball painting competition for the chance to win a trip for their school team to see the Roar play."

Football Ipswich chairman James Buchanan said the match was great for football in Ipswich.

"It's not every day you get a national championship team in your own backyard, so it's great for the profile of football in Ipswich," he said.
http://www.qt.com.au/story/2012/08/09/ipswichs-orange-invasion/

Vidosic reveals pre-season plan

In a conscious bid to push all his players to the same level of fitness, Brisbane Roar Head Coach Rado Vidosic has opted for two separate squad groups for their upcoming pre-season matches, starting with Ipswich Invitational on Sunday afternoon.

Vidosic, alongside conditioning coach Ken Stead and assistant coach Jeff Hopkins, has carefully devised the plan to ensure all of his players are capable of handling a full-length game at this stage in the pre-season.

Each player endured a 45-minute stint against Brisbane Olympic in the first pre-season game and in last Sunday’s intra-club match, they played two 30-minute halves as part of their build-up.

“The reason we are doing this is because we want to give each of our players 90 minutes and if we played one big group, we wouldn’t be able to do that,” Vidosic said.

“The ones that aren’t playing on Sunday will train on Sunday morning and will play on Thursday.

“The ones that are playing on Sunday, they’ll train on Thursday.

“We’ll do this for our next four games so that we can have our players having full 90 minute games.”

Vidosic admitted making the decisions on which players fell in which group was difficult, with a number of different factors considered in the process.

With his squad numbers sitting at just 20, each group will contain a number of the club’s National Youth League players as well.

“When deciding on these two groups, we had to look at a number of things,” he said.

“We had to look at who could play and for how long and considered that those who will play on Thursday will have a couple more training sessions under their belt before then.

“It wasn’t entirely easy, there was a lot of preparation that went into the decision-making and even just before, we were scratching out names and adding new ones in!”

But from a tactical perspective, both groups will be concentrating on the same thing, according to Vidosic.

With a plethora of talented midfielders in his squad, the Roar coach will place emphasis on their roles in Sunday’s match in Ipswich and next Thursday game against Peninsula.

“From a tactical point of view, we are now looking at the middle third,” Vidosic said.

“We are looking at how to bring the ball into the midfield and how we can distribute the ball from the midfield into the final third.

“That will be our focus for the next two games.”

Injured players Mitch Nichols, James Meyer, Thomas Broich and Do Dong-Hyun will not be risked while Ben Halloran will play but will be closely watched after sustaining a minor injury last Sunday.

Match details
Brisbane Roar vs Ipswich Invitational
North Ipswich Reserve, The Terrace, North Ipswich
3pm kick-off, gates open at 12 noon
Player signing session from 12.45-1.45pm
Admission: $5 adults, children under 16 free
For the kids: Roary, Rosie and Pauls Rapid Fire Fields from 12.15pm
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/brisbaneroar/news-display/Vidosic-reveals-preseason-plan/48489

I think the 4-2-3-1 might be the way to go this year. Bit more defensive stability that might stop us conceding some of the silly goals that we did last year. So much depth for the midfield though, If we do play the 4231 then i'd like to see Brattan and Paart sitting deep with

--------------Berisha/Meyer

Do/Fitz------Broich/Nichols-----Halloran/Henrique

ahead of them. That would still leave us with Mass, Lamba, Rocky and even people like Bush waiting in the wings.

I agree wee need another defender for additional depth, but in saying that i'm pretty confident in Jurman, For a young defender he was excellent in the first half of last year, but his performances in the second half were average due to getting inconsistent game time. but it was more or less his fist aleague season. I think he will really have a break out year this season..

And a few above have highlighted the abundance of Mids , if we do get desperate or suffer injuries there is o reason Paartalu couldn't line up a CB with Brattan or Mass ahead of him.

Hmm Proia and Bes in the same team.

?

Both are out an out strikers.

14 min: GOAL! Henrique cuts the ball back for Proia to side-foot it into the goal! 1-0.

Two Roar substitutes - Visconte and Proia off, Lambadaridis and Yeboah on.

65 min: GOAL! He's been on the field less than five minutes but Lambadaridis manages to find the back of the net.

72 min: GOAL! Berisha finally gets his goal after a heap of chances in the front third. 4-1.

Crowd here at North Ipswich Reserve is 2,431. Thanks for your support!

80 min: GOAL! Henrique caps off a magnificent performance with a well-deserved goal. 5-1.

A classy performance from Brazilian import Henrique was the highlight as Brisbane Roar beat an Ipswich Invitational side 5-1 in their second pre-season fixture at North Ipswich Oval.

Henrique set up the Roar’s first, had a second-half effort ruled out for offside and scored his team’s last goal, relishing in the freedom of the number 10 position given to him by Head Coach Rado Vidosic.

In the 14th minute, National Youth League player Corey Brown picked out the run of Henrique, who in turn cut the ball back for striker Anthony Proia to tap the ball into the net and give his side the lead.

While the Roar dominated proceedings, the unfamiliar pitch made for some awkward moments for the defending Hyundai A-League Champions and Ipswich took advantage nine minutes later through Matty Taylor.

The goal was the first scored by an Ipswich Invitational player in the three years the Roar have taken their pre-season campaign to the North Ipswich Reserve.

The home side were boosted by their early efforts and continued to push forward as the second half began but Brisbane soon kicked into gear and were rewarded for their perseverance.

Besart Berisha netted a hat-trick in the club’s first pre-season match against Brisbane Olympic two weeks ago and could’ve had another if not for a last minute goal-line clearance from an Ipswich defender after bagging a brace just after the hour-mark.

Youngster George Lambadaridis found the back of the net just five minutes after coming on as a substitute while Henrique capped off his man-of-the-match performance with a goal 10 minutes from full time.

Ipswich had a chance to reduce the deficit in the 77th minute when referee Matthew Gillett pointed to the spot but Ben Hunt struck the post.
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/brisbaneroar/news-display/Brisbane-roar-past-Ipswich/48490

Lamba is going to be a star for us.

Ipswich praised after Roar clash

BRISBANE Roar captain Matt Smith praised Ipswich's spirit on and off the football field after the A-League champion stood tall again in the city.

With Ipswich scoring its first goal in three years against the national title winner, Roar stars Besart Berisha and Henrique had to turn it on to secure a 5-1 win.

"I think it's been a great day," Smith said as he prepares to lead the A-League champion into a new season.

"It's probably the best Ipswich side we've played over the last three years. They worked very, very hard and certainly made it very difficult for us at times.

"It was great that the club comes out here.

"We've got thousands of people and the kids get a good show. They got some goals, they got some autographs and we're very pleased to be here."

Having also played an Ipswich Invitational team in 2010 and last year, Smith was impressed to see a younger team fielded at the North Ipswich Reserve.

"This year is the first year that I've seen a group of say 18-25, which is a good game for them," he said.

"It shows them the level that we play at and it's a great hit-out for us during our pre-season.

"It's always a great occasion. There's always great support."

Ipswich captain Matt Christensen was nursing a sore cheek after copping an elbow in the face early in the match.

However, he was proud of his team's performance.

"It was pretty much what we expected," Christensen said.

"We played well in the first half, then the flood gates opened in the second.

"They train every day.

"It was tough. We (the Ipswich players) played Friday night and you've got to play two days after.

"I was happy with all the boys. They played well."

Roar had held Ipswich scoreless in previous encounters, winning 5-0 in 2010 and 3-0 last year.

Playing the national champion for the first time, striker Matt Taylor created history by netting an equaliser.

"It was a good feeling," Taylor said.

"Dropping off in the second half was disappointing. We got tired, starting fatiguing, and that's when they tore shreds around us."

Fresh from a five-goal haul for the Ipswich Knights on Friday night, Peter Drager was unable to find the net yesterday.

However, he was heartened by how Ipswich threatened the Roar defence this year.

"I think that's the best we've played against them," Drager said.

"We actually got the ball on the ground and knocked it around pretty well.

"Even though in the second half they rolled over the top of us, we had some pretty good attacking moves.

"I'm stoked with how the guys went. They did really well."

Drager said Ipswich football was improving.
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2012/08/13/goal-of-hope-for-city-team/