I thought pepper had a top game today , second half he was well on top and playing alone DM

Agree

You have might come back to score four goals, but you were still 3-0 at half time. I am still thoroughly unconvinced about Robbie Fowler and his Royal Brigade of British duds.

2-0 at half time. 

Holloway scored one and created a penalty ..yet you prefer DWH ?
I would like to see DWH get a good run as I think he has potential to be a regular scorer but after today and other days Amadi Holloway needs to be up front . He is a beast. I would prefer to see Amadi Holloway up front with Roy and then maybe with DWH with about half an hour to go . DWH is good at picking up scraps and running at defences. That is perfect for later in the game .
I was pleasantly surprised by Ingham today . I have never been a fan but I thought he added something today as he attacked down the wing and kept Jamieson very busy . Well  done Jai .
Agree that Courtney-Perkins should be left mid and Nevile right back in either a three man or four man backline .
I also think Gillesphey is a good defender but he is so slow when he is left to try and pick up speedy wingers . He is more suited to a more central role with a left back covering wingers ...not sure how that works in Fowlers formation though .If the wingback is doing his job he should cover fast wingers not Gillesphey.
Having said all that I am very happy with how we responded to going 3-1 down....and how good does that stadium work with a good crowd ...what a shame we had no Den singing ...that was all that was missing from today ....come back guys... we need you .

Both Pepper and Mauk were big contributors in the game - but as a midfield combination in the first half they were just not there (in the midfield).

My point was more that in the first half, our midfield seemed to do anything other than occupy the midfield.

They did not seem to even run through it on their way to somewhere else - which is also why I wonder if it was not a deliberate ploy of Robbie's to do nothing up the middle until the second half.

Robbie may publicly lament our slow starts to games (does he? I can't remember now I think on it) - but I wonder if he is not being a cunning tactician and deliberately setting the side to play wide and defensive in the first half then at halftime the opposition coach has nothing to say other than 'keep at them lads' - while Robbie delivers the second half game plan and forces the other team to pick it up on the fly.

We are seeing too many games of two halves - with so much changing between the halves that it can't be just a team pep talk.

That would make Plan A come with Part A and Part B - which I find a refreshing approach for all that those dour first halves are frustrating to watch.

But not unconvinced enough to actually bump the thread...

I think the strange result today showed a team playing their guts out for the team, playing to a system that can be effective despite noted weaknesses, showed a coach making changes in style and subs when they were required, and OUR Royal Brigade of British Duds knocking off yet another shiny aLeague outfit.

Another step towards success for Robbie in my eyes. Competitive, spirited, creative, and deserved winners. Sounds like a team to me.

There was a growing sense of ‘deja vu’ about this season and perhaps the most important thing to come out of this will be a feeling within the Roar players that they can make their own luck. 

Yep, agree. I like that Robbie's adjustments during the match paid off. This is that type of the game early in a season where you either get rolled and know the season will likely be a dud.. or the team mounts an amazing come back scoring goals and turns things around. Hopefully they can grab 6 points in the next two. 
 I enjoyed the atmosphere at the game too.. hated the drive 

Side note, anyone know why the hell the Rebel sport voucher doesn't work? Went to Rebel and they had no clue about it! 

Agreed. Have done the drive several times now and the journey time (door to door) is about the same for me as Suncorp Stadium even though I live 6km from sunny Suncorp. 

That has put an dampener on last night's celebrations for the team.  They came back from 2-0 down and beat the ladder leaders, but they still didn't convince you.  Hopefully they have some good psychologists on staff to help them deal with the disappointment.  

What a roller coaster ride of a game!  There were so many positives to come out of the game with a couple of negatives;

The bad

• Slow starts
• Conceding 3 goals
• Don't think Crocombie is a good shot stopper, I think Young may have stopped one of those goals

The good

• Holloway was awesome
• Pepper and Mauk
• RF prepared to adapt to games and make changes  when necessary, not wait until the magic 60 minute mark
• Chances were being converted
• O'Shea keeps getting better

Amadi-Holloway starting made a huge difference. JCP being brought on early made a big difference. Neville playing on the right made a big difference. It was good to see him make these changes, and make them early. 
I don't mind who starts between Inman, ROD and DWH, but I feel Amadi-Holloway needs to be starting up top. He just gives us something that no-one else can offer. The combination of ROD and DWH worked okay, as they were both able to keep the pressure on City for most of the second half. 
We were obviously very much on the back foot for the first half and looked like we would get smashed, which isn't great. As ROD said post game, we are a much better side when we are fighting for it, rather than sitting back and passing it around. Hopefully Fowler gets them playing that way from the start, and the team is fit enough to do it. There are some positive signs, mostly around the fight the team has, not so much around looking fancy and flashy. 
Moving forward, i'd like to see Pepper or Reardon replace Bowles at right CB, Neville wide right, JCP wide left, O'Neill at DM with Mauk and O'Shea completing the midfield, then Amadi-Holloway and (probably) ROD up top. 

well played 

Crocombe made a few very good saves. From recollection the one-handed save and a last second save with one of his feet. I think he's doing okay. Maybe not quite up to Jamie's level, but I don't know if you can say he isn't a good shot-stopper. Maybe we've been spoilt by Jamie in previous seasons. I feel Crocombe is still making up for that with the other aspects of his game. 

Couldn't make the game as had other things on, but watching the replay yesterday afternoon, while waiting for ROD to take that first penalty, I thought to myself "If he misses this, it's just going to be one of those seasons. If he puts it away, we'll be alright". Glad it was the second and not the first. 

Crocombe scares me when he starts jumping to punch or should I say flap the ball away in the box, been quite a few times where it has nearly cost us a goal, not as good a shot stopper as young but can control the ball under pressure.

That is where I think Young would have a hard time with, so many times yesterday when Roar were passing around the back under pressure, always going back to the keeper, this is where Young would make a blooper I think. 

Have Roar used all the visa spots?

should look at 

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/johannes-hopf/profil/spieler/110941

i remember watching him on fan tv saying he was on holiday in Brisbane and loved it and would like to live there. Was a few years ago but he has made his money in Turkey and could be available on a cheap contract.

(or ditch a dud visa player)

I hear what you're saying, maybe I should modify that to - I don't think Crocombie is as good a shot stopper as Young.

100% agree! 

I prefer Crocombe to Young . Love Jamie to bits but he is weak on crosses and very poor with the ball at his feet . Crocombe is very good with his feet and is tall . Barring injury or Crocombe having a few howlers I can't see Young getting another go this season.

You're right, it's Crocombe's spot to lose, he just makes me a little nervous at times.  And yes, Jamie is horrible with his feet and even seems slow when distributing with his hands, one of the most awkward actions I've seen in many years.

If we keep winning 4-3 for the rest of the year, I'll be happy.

I agree Crocombe is better with his feet, although he looked a bit dodgy at times in the first half yesterday, but the wind had an effect on that.
However I think Young is quite effective with crosses. I can't remember too many times in the past when he has come for a ball and didn't either catch it or get in a good punch. He makes up for his lack of height with strength, he rarely gets pushed off the ball. In contrast I haven't been overly impressed with Crocombe on crosses. Although he is tall, he does tend to flap at the ball sometimes.
I certainly think Young is a better shot stopper. I think Young would have done better with the first goal yesterday, where Crocombe really just fell away to the wrong side and didn't make himself very big.

IT has been obvious that Fowler has the team playing a very cautious first half and tries to continuously up the pressure throughout the game. however yesterday was the first time he actually scrapped the game plan on the fly. all the previous games he has played the same game plan and formation all through the game and has just given players more attacking freedom or replaced one player with a slightly more attacking option but still in the same formation. 

yesterday fowler threw out the game plan at about 27 mins just before the second goal when he called for JCP i am sure that he was already convinced then to change to a 442 but wanted to wait to half time to to complete it to keep city on the back foot and let him go through it with all the players. 

5 games in and the 3412 has proven to be not only unsuccessful but outright dire most of the time. I was thinking that Fowler would have to change to a 442 like he played in the second half yesterday but thinking about it now he may want to just tweak his starting formation to be a little more attacking at the start (while maintaining his conservative start and ramping up pressure) and that leaves the option of changing formation if we still are chasing the game later on.

i would start 

----------------------- Crocombe ---------------------
-------Reardon-------Aldred-------Gilesphie------
Neville-----------------O'neil---------------------JCP
---------------Mauk--------------------------------------
-----------------------------------O'shea----------------
--------------ROD---------------------Holloway-------

reardon could be taken off for an attacker if chasing the game. 

Some of you guys must have strong medication.
If we continue with the crap first halves ,im going to need a medic.Lol

I dont want a continuation of the shit first halves, but it definitely looks like it is Fowlers game plan to try and choke (maybe even bore) the opposition early and then start attacking later in the game. I thin fowler will be tempted to continue along this sort of game plan where the pressure gets ramped up towards the end of games (so i dont imagine we will be going hell for leather from the first whistle anytime soon) but i do think there will be a smaller tactical change so we are at least a little more attacking earlier while maintaining solid defensive lines. mostly by starting mauk higher up the pitch and dropping Mcging  in favour of JCP. 

Just to be clear - when we say JCP we mean Courtney-Perkins and not JaCob Pepper.

Making sure he hasn't snuck on here so when Robbie gets his ideas on what to do next he puts Pepper on the left wing instead.

I found the second half more intense - especially after we got that last goal to go ahead.

Adjust your expectations and you might be able to cut back a bit on your dosage levels :)

Pre-season we were shaping as contenders with a couple of weaknesses.
Start of season we proved competitive and promising, but not competition leaders yet.
Yesterday we showed more of what we have been missing as we fought back, and started to get our front end working.

Robbie has them deliberately setting up for struggling first halves - we may have to accept that and look to the final whistle rather than halftime as a meaningful gauge. No game is won in the first half as they say.

If we target a top 6 finish but coming home strong and into the finals as genuine contenders our season is well on track.

Not according to the experts from some of the opposition teams (which have been conspicuous by their absence yesterday and today).  The first half is all that matters;)

It's great to see the Roar are back to playing a full 90 minute game and not fading away.  I would much rather watch a team storming to the finish than a team that grabs early leads only to surrender them (like our team of the last 2 year).

We cant forget McClaren went off after 60mins and probably would have scored some of those Noone misses..But a win is a win..
The games against WP and CCM will see if this is the start of something.

If RF is going to persist with defensive first half tactics,then he has to change the players up front.
Add more pace to give counterattacks a chance.

That means Ingham and /or DWH into the starting line up.
Any other  pacey youngsters?
No team will want to push too high with those guys hovering around the defensive line..