Basically Lowy is very suspicious and keeping a careful eye on developments, that a consortium doesn't exist but that Cobb is trying to form one, three weeks in and the FFA have heard nothing back about plans and with the new season approaching they're starting to get nervous.

Looks like we've swapped Lustica for Pepper:

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3999634/jacob-pepper-in-talks-with-brisbane-roar/

How old is pepper. Feel this is a down grade

24. And he's only a squad player so "downgrade" is a bit OTT - the midfield will be picked from Mckay, Corona, Petratos, Oar and Broich so with only three specialist first team midfielders is expect this and possibly one more signing in midfield.

From all accounts Peppers was lousy at his last two clubs. WTF are we bringing in very ordinary outsiders when Qld has football riches to choose from?

What accounts? (excluding postings on this site?). And didn't people say the same about a few other players that joined up in the past who turned out OK? It's not like he's signing as a starter, he's a squad player only - cheap!

Got to agree, must be half a dozen players in NPL/BPL at the same level as Pepper. without the full time professional environment.

I'm neutral on the Pepper thing, I can't disagree that there aren't equivalent players in the NPL but it's also true that fringe players like Pepper are a function of this league and are there really to make up the numbers so sweating one way or another is largely pointless - whether it's Pepper or someone from the NPL they're gone again in 2 years at best, at worst they're moving on this time next year. There's only been two names linked with Roar this winter, one at the lower end of the scale and one at the upper, I'll feel s lot happier when we start to fill the 6-7 available slots with a bit of quality.

Very difficult to judge the level the npl/bpl players could reach in a full time environment compared to Pepper, however has to be better in terms of engaging with the local football community.

I'll just be happy when we finally get some news about what is happening with the club.

The fact that it has been allowed to drag on this long is an utter joke.

The lifeblood of the club, the fans, are in the dark. No one is being notified of anything whatsoever. No memberships (by the way plenty of other clubs are well ahead in these stakes), ownership situation, playing roster additions, training ground, playing kits, etc etc. The only information we're getting is from a local journo who has had a checkered history.

Please tell us what's happening BR, your fans want to know.

Exactly my point. What type of message is the one and only Qld club sending to all the other lower league clubs in Qld and its players................................that "even if you are as good we can't be bothered as we're lazy as fuck"?

Pathetic really.

The consequence of being a one club town.

I think you're over reacting, I don't see any other A League clubs sucking up QLD NPL players at Roars expense, maybe the talents not there? Nor do I see anyone on this forum trotting off a long list of names of NPL players that would make the grade, and with a bit of evidence as to why? As for the "message" Roar are supposed to be sending the NPL clubs, what message are they meant to be sending them?

That and having idiots for owners and an idiot as MD lol

The weight in obligation for a Qld to look after its own area or region far outweighs that of interstate clubs. We've had great players come from lower leagues but if you don't look of course you won't find them. Interstate clubs do not have a priority in scouting for ordinary squad players interstate.

The message should be that if you're good enough we will give you the opportunity at playing professionally at the Roar. A supportive message to match words with actions is what is needed. Amazing the positive effect it will have for the Roar across the football community.

Yes the idiot part moreso.

There are clearly to many young players in seq with the potential to play A-League than can be accommodated by one club, the roars failure to recognise this has been noticed and the slack will be taken up by someone with more brains and ambition.

Looks like we've lost poor old Luke DeVere to premature retirement, that's gonna hurt:

http://lm.facebook.com/lsr.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Ffootball%2Flist%2Fthe-secret-agent-mark-milligans-millions-up-in-smoke-western-sydney-wanderers-a-league%2Fxsuea76pbilx1wqnf7w9u38g4%2Fslide%2F1&ext=1467635306&hash=AcmEji9XzgfmpJ0Piz1WelBxWHlBpkdYI7ZQqmfaSFe1DQ&_rdr

So we're then left with North and Bowles. Rowles is probably not ready yet either. Scary.

Sad , if true ?
Another young player lost to the game.

Pretty much. I would have said a CB signing might have been on the cards anyway but now, along with LB it becomes a priority. Roars defence was our undoing last year and mass thd difference between 1st and 3rd so some thinking fof JA to do

Letting doncs go looks even worse now. Bowels is a very poor CB.

???? Doncs wasn't "let go", he took the club to court over an administrative technicality on his contract and successfully fought to have his contract voided. Doncs v Bowkes for me is much of a muchness, Doncs is a more natural CB than Bowles but then he struggles when playing out of position, whereas Bowles is a competent CB and decent right back. But if true, Roar have a recruitment issue at CB now, the only upside is - if it's true about DeVere retiring - then it frees up a lot of cash as he was one of the top paid players.

Roar to play Perth in the FFA cup at Ballymore. Good choice.

Most definitely. In a one club city one would expect or even demand that the club leaves no stone unturned to pick the best from it's immediate family, not securing an ordinary foreigner that adds little value to the first XI. A second club will teach them a lesson.

Agree about Bowles and Donks are on par but both are good back ups only, not champion quality.
Having kept Donks would not have helped Roar's defence from last season either. A North / Devere CB partnership was the best solution but now back to square one without Devere. At this point I'm not hopeful or confident of Roar's ability to find a quality CB or anyone else of good first team value for that matter.

Ekka day................Parking should be fun

lol. It's fun anyway at Ballymore

Fireworks at kick-off

Been ages since Ballymore for me, should be nice.

Crowd will be poor as the result for Roar given preseason just recently started and the distractions.