Yes. That is the first team training pitch. 

The juniors and women train/play on fields 2,3 and 4 over the road. 

So far zero goals against.
Defence killed us last season.So if we can get our average down from two per game to one per game ,that will make a huge difference.
Last year we lacked a playmaker.But still managed to score regularly.So we should have a team capable of matching last year in goals scored.
Enthusiasm and pace should be an improvement on last year,as should structure and discipline.This should help us regain some  home game advantage in summer.
Experience will be the main area we will be lacking on last year.
Overall ,if we keep our best team on the pitch,we are more than capable of making the top six.
All the unknowns,like injuries ,team cohesion ,and desire to never give up,will determine if we are a serious contender or lapse into mediocrity.

Crowd number for yesterday? 

Approx 1,500.

Yup. 1,560 although it looked more and probably was 

So more than a Nix regular season game? 🦐🦐

Not sure how they could have collated attendances (I’d say they didn’t) with the gold coin donation as possibly the only method but even that is inaccurate. I reckon there was a good 2,000 crowd.

That's a decent crowd for a preseason game against NPL competition. Interesting to see how crowd numbers go once the season starts...he'll, I might even finally renew my membership after 3 odd years...

Seen worse performances during preseason so I was quite content with their performance at this stage. If anything I think Fowler could succeed in having a well structured team going by this. No way they could be top 4 and maybe not even top 6 based on this but not at the foot of the ladder either. If we can get a skilful / tricky / smart forward it would make all the difference.

All opinion of course as it's too early to say until we see Roar play a HAL team or two.

I think the key indicator will be how RF approaches Sydney in the FFA Cup game. If he treats it like a preseason warmup, like pretty much every Roar coach has, then I will be disappointed. If him and the team try and actually win it, or at least play well, then maybe we might have some hope for the season...

Im intrigued as to how you can make such an assessment? 

I think mid table is just being realistic.
Our team is made up of players,the best of who are mainly league1/2 players.While some may over achieve ,it's doubtful they all will.
If any over achieve ,are they going to be better than top quality visa players in other teams,like Ninkovic,Castro,Fornoroli or top quality Aussie players ?
As PaulC said we need a quality AM.If O'Shay come up short then we may struggle to break teams down.
Perth and SFC have genuine playmakers in established teams.So it's unlikely we will be top two.
MC,MV will have strong teams,with the money at their disposal.
AU,with a quality dutch coach wont be easy.

To finish better than fifth we will have to beat the odds
A new manager with zero experience.
A new team.
Limited quality players.
A lot of players have never played HAL or summer football or travelled as much as they will for games.
A new system.
Last time finish of ninth.


If we finish fifth or better,that is a good result.

Conceded 71 goals last season, hoping our defence is up to it this season, midfield also needs to play a big part in that as well.

I can't make any ladder predictions after only two pre-season fixtures when we have only played 2/3 of one game with what is close to our starting line up; but what I can say is I have seen nothing that rules out a top 4 finish yet, and only a couple of questions over speed at the back against a fast break, and whether we can dominate defensively in goal mouth scrambles that would put doubt on the potential to win outright.

This is where I think we need to turn it round.

Obvious to say it, but if we had conceded less goals than we did last season we would have won a lot of games.

Does our attack this year look stronger than our attack last year (after Taggs left)? I think so.
Do we possibly have a better attacking coach than we had last year? I think so based on his experience and what I have seen of the structure in two games now.
Do we have a better defence than we had last year? So far it looks that way.
Can we play well enough at the back to keep teams to one or no goals? That's where I need to see more before calling it. I don't care what league someone comes from. If they can play as a tight, co-ordinated defensive unit, make good decisions and the team helps out they can limit opposition scoring.

Midfield has a big job and without a quality  experienced player we could struggle.
AON ,while having potential,played in the bottom team last year and couldnt stop the turnstyles spinning in front of the CB's.
Inman or Mauk is likely to be his partner in a defensive role ,with O'Toole and McGing next to them.
That's an inexperienced CCM type midfield that will be facing quality attackers of other teams.

I’m not one for being overly pessimistic in preseason, it kinda goes against the grain for a football supporter anyway.

that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for realism but anyone that thinks sides finishing 3-6 last season were anything special are having a laugh. 

Glory and Sydney looked a class above everyone else and that’s the challenge - finishing third won’t be that hard, first or second needs that magic that’s not evident (hopefully “yet”) in this squad. 

There is a Fan Forum tonight with David Pourre, 7PM, plan is to stream it here (technology permitting) :

https://m.facebook.com/roarsupporters/?tsid=0.46537851016872167&source=result

It is great that it is (hopefully) being streamed for those of us who have no hope of actually getting there, thank you Waz and RSF

A summary would be excellent if possible Waz.

Yup, can do that afterwards - not sure we can get the audio working but we’ll try tonight (again) but i’ll Give a summary tomorrow 

Can't get there but would love to hear what Pourre has planned for Academy/Youth League/NPL set-up for next year.

Summary of the fan forum here:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2538672849531705&id=1361064053959263

(I can’t paste the text due to formatting issues)

if youre not on FB then it will be on the web later today:

https://roarfans.com.au

Thanks for the link Waz.  A couple of intereting bits from the write up.

Pourre answered a question about the kits and said the training kit would not be Orange as per RF's instructions, and that the players have to "Earn the Orange".  A a nice touch and hopefully restores some pride in the jersey.

Pourre re-iterated attractive football was important and part of the promotional mix of the Roar

He also mentioned weekly media calls.  It would appear only C7 C10 and Fox rock up.  If true, the ABC, SBS and C9 should be ashamed.

Yeah, I liked those - especially the kit one. in addition:

The club lose around $2,500,000 each year but owners happy to carry it. 

And Roar are one of the clubs unhappy with the draw (he didn’t say last night but rumour is Roar were only given one home game in the first five rounds) 

Jacob Pepper gone. 

Six figure transfer fee involved. 

He's been a good enough squaddie but I've always seen him as deadwood. To clear him out and get money for him makes me feel even better about the squad now.

Holy shit :laugh:
Just stuck with Bowles, anybody want him?

I like Pepper but yeah, money is better lol. 

They said aid last night they were looking for 2 to 3 players so presumably this makes it 3 to 4 including one marquee. 

Haven’t seen Bowles in training of games ... he ain’t fit or he ain’t here.