Nothing has changed…sinking to the bottom…..again!!
And now we lose O’Shea our best player in yet another loss….
So so so disappointing.
For a brief period there was high hopes earlier in the season but it’s long gone now. 

I think we ran too hard from the start of the season and that caused our injuries. We ran ourselves into the ground with high pressing and high intensity which would have continued to work if we had the legs and bodies for it.

From what I have seen so far, Ben Cahn is not looking for the same intensity and is going to work instead on smarter positional play and structure. My ignorance of technical structure and strategy (who goes where and when) blinds me to anything he has specifically implemented so far. We do not seem to be playing better yet so I call it a work in progress and will continue to look for the bits I like about what we do until the overall results come.

The style of play certainly improved when Hore and Majok came on - but that just makes us one injury away from dropping again until the team plays better together in both directions.

If we start with Neville, Hore and Burke-Gilroy against mariners I think we will look better than we have been and that will be enough for me to see progress at this moment. Just some better bits to latch onto please...

Yes I think Hore and Neville helps. You look at the team and it’s not bad really…just leaking too many goals…and it’s not to blame the defence on that so much, it comes down to the defensive midfield area as well.
Im no expert but I’ve done a lot of coaching and always looked at that area as integral at disrupting play before they become a chance in target.
We do need a Taggart like player to lead the line I believe.

Neville is very underrated and has been through this career. It’s impossible to tell if we need a Taggart-like player until we understand what style the coach wants to deploy. But we definitely need an experienced striker - it’s like we’ve just gone “oh, striker is not important, we’ll make do with youth players, and Parsons can fill in even though he’s never played there.” It’s a mystery to me how our Plan A includes a striker like Waddingham (who I don’t rate at all) and then when he’s off we have no other striker who plays remotely like him. 

As a Mariners fan I can sympathise with the Roar's plight.Our club had many dark years before Stajcic and Montgomery took over the coaching reins.
I think you have the right coach(Ben Cahn is well respected  by Mariners fans ) but he needs time to implement his strategies and tactics and obviously needs the squad to go along with him.It surprises me that the production line has petered out when there is a whole state to draw on.

Cahn works well with young players and Hore,Trewin,Waddingham ,etc should benefit.As for a striker maybe the Roar should look at Latin America( Brazil,Colombia,Costa Rica,etc) for young u23 strikers who are not getting chances at their clubs but could come on loan transfers to see how they adapted.Portugal is also a good league to look at for promising strikers.

However this Saturday coming you will be the enemy but apart from that game I hope your season can pick up.

Well put Booney. Thanks.
yes we need the points more than you but gotta say I like watching Mariners play.
You guys got some class acts and they new lease of life for Nisbet has been impressive.
What a champion player!!!

i was so happy with GF win last year for you guys and all the stars at MC couldn’t deal with it.
And you guys continue on without Cummings, but he played for the shirt while he there.!

Clockwork —today will be the test…is the ´squad really not that bad ´ or is it ´terrible.´

Is Rojas injured? Anyone know?

They said he had done a hammy in the chatter before the game.

Kai Trewin out.

Harry Van Der Saag in.

Trewin is a big loss. Hopefully Neville will be at full fitness for next season. He and Nikolovski would make a good start on a more resilient backline.

Van Der Saag looks to be better than Zabala and no doubt many will consider him better than Hingert.

Halloran in from Adelaide.

Mileusnic back to Adelaide.

I hope Zadkovich gets Halloran to concentrate on playing football and not playing wanker ball.

I have always liked Mileusnic. Sorry to see him go.

Ibusuki and Warland also possible targets from the latest FTBL article.

I'm very disappointed that we let him go so naturally I think he's a good pick up for you. I'm not fussed about losing Warland though who I assumed you've signed as a squad player.

I just read a month old Monteverde article saying Aldred was likely to leave Roar too. I missed that at the time.

If Aldred goes and Trewin is gone, with Neville a year older, I wouldn't be surprised if we signed him as more than just a squaddie. We have struggled for a few seasons when we lose one of our core centrebacks to injury so we need a stable backup to train from the start of pre-season.

So far we are possibly looking at Neville and Nikolovski as our centreback pairing so Warland could be on the books as a third CB if Zadkovich wants the option of 3 at the back.

Richie Nkomo is a left footed leftback/centreback so it makes sense he is on the radar too.

I really liked Nikolvski when we got to see him this season.

Yes sorry to see Mileusnic go too…

And now we have Marcus Ferkranus - a 21 year old, 6 ft, right footed central defender.

Developed through the LA Galaxy Academy, he has been signed to LA Galaxy in the MLS for about 3 years, but does not appear to have actually played a game for them - having being loaned to Phoenix Rising in a lower competition for only 5 appearances. Previously made 12 appearances for the US U20s side. Has played for LA Galaxy II in second division and Phoenix Rising is third division.

I am guessing he is a scouted gamble by Zadkovich to make sure we have plenty of defence in the coming season.

I have no feelings either way with his signing - have to wait and see what he brings - but unusual to sign a 21 year old central defender from overseas.

Aussie mum and passport so not a visa spot.

We have signed Hosine Bility, right footed Central Defender and Aussie U23 last year, on loan and Tom Aldred's departure is confirmed.

I am sad to see Aldred go but he did not have the pace to be effective enough so good for the team. I saw a bit of Bility through the U23 Asian Cup coverage and from memory he made an impact.

Zadkovich is showing a very clear focus on tightening up our defensive stocks.

Halloran in and Mileusnic gone are the only changes so far in the front half of the field. We are looking for a striker, given our attempts to get Ibusuki, so maybe our squad is good enough through midfield in Zadkovich's eyes and he is concentrating on the back half. I don't have a problem with that given how poor we were defensively last season - letting in a lot of weak goals - but we do seem to be accumulating a lot of central defenders.

"Brisbane Roar are excited to confirm the signing of Lebanese international midfielder, Walid Shour on a two-year deal ahead of the 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League season. 

The 27-year-old, who stands at 6 ft 1 operates primarily as a defensive midfielder has 27 caps for Lebanon including both of his nation’s World Cup qualifiers against Australia in March this year as well as all three group games at the 2023 Asian Cup."

So now we have a true Defensive Mid - which was one of the positions we did not fill well last season. This should complete our defensive signings (surely) and allow O'Shea to move further forward again.

Looks like a decent signing.

Corey Brown again….probably cost Bris the game. 

And not let it happen 

Bloody hell - hadn't even heard it was on.

No email from the club - which is unusual.

Was on socials a bit, but not helpful for people who don't use it.
Defense not great, but hopefully with Neville back it will improve. Still feel we need someone else ahead of Warland.

Brisbane Roar v NPL All Stars tomorrow night (Friday 13 September at 7pm) at Underwood Park, Rochedale if anyone is interested and did not hear about it.

Adult tickets $19.90 or thereabouts.

You can find it on the Roar site (https://brisbaneroar.com.au/) following the Venue Update story to get tickets.

It was a pretty good hit out last night, but without the big screen and with so many 'new' faces the furthest parts of the game were a lot more moving parts than individuals I am afraid.

The Qld State side were very sharp with their close passing and had a real direction and focus to their attacking methods. We struggled a bit to get the ball off them at times and had to defend solidly against both pace and skill until we got our chance to win it back. The goal to the State side was far too easy, with a fast run between two CBs combining with a pass into space to the right of the goal square. Striker who had just come on (Francis?) put a very well hit shot to the far post and in. Any team could use that same attack so it was a bit concerning although it was straight after half time so maybe we were lazy or unfocussed after the break.

We looked a bit off for some of the game with heavy touches giving a well won ball back to our opposition at times. Given our recent outing to India, but not seeing anything of the games and not hearing much more than that we made the semi final and Waddingham scored, I don't know how much these players have actually played together. Van Der Saag on the right and Halloran up the wing seemed to be most disconnected with some frustrated gesturing and words suggesting and they weren't on the same page yet.

Might read a bit gloomy so far, but I was actually pleased with the positives in the game and how we are shaping up.

Our first goal was a combination of a diagonal pass to Jelacic wide on the left, a well directed centring pass to a running Halloran and into the net.

Keegan Jelacic has increased his body mass since last I saw him and his speed, ball control and vision were impressive. He had a great first half before running out of legs - taking on players with speed, a bit of strength and trickery. I am looking forward to seeing him bring that into our aleague games. He played mostly on the left up front ahead of Burke-Gilroy.

Burke-Gilroy has continued where he left off last season. Fast and effective going forward and equally so defending and coming back to break up play. There is some real quality in those two.

Zimarino I am afraid I am pretty useless reporting on. He played the far side and furthest distance from me and it was only after the game that I found out who he was. He was involved in a lot of our traffic that way and I think he had a good game. I will just have to say he played the game last night and I am looking forward to being able to see what he does much better. I'd love to hear from anyone else who watched what they thought.

We had O'Shea and Berenguer basically as two 6s with Berenguer moving a little further forwards than O'Shea. I do not like that idea - using two of our creative AM options in the defensive role. It did not look to be playing to Berengeur's strengths so I would count that as something to watch. O'Shea was pretty much his usual capable self playing the 6 role - not involved in much of our attacking play but providing options into the midfield in traffic to keep the opposition wary.

Warland, and whoever we had as the other CB, looked pretty solid although seeming to lack a little pace against very nippy forwards. The State goal aside they held well and I did not see any confusion in our backline. We have Longbottom to come back in and I am keen to see his form after his injury break and off season.

Caletti was as busy as ever but did not appear to be hugely effective when he came on in the second half. The brief appearance by Ozzi up front was a tasty morsel. Tall, lightning fast and hungry. His involvement in a couple of pieces of play made an impact especially when he strolled casually to close the distance between himself and the opposition goalkeeper and pinched the ball off him.

No idea how close to Zadkovic's first team this was, but I really enjoyed watching us play. Credit to the State side - they were not embarrassed or dysfunctional and made it a proper game.

Looking forward to the season and watching our new acquisitions mix it in with our regulars!

Anyone interested, the game is at: https://brisbaneroar.com.au/news/match-wrap-brisbane-roar-2-1-queensland-state-team/#:~:text=Brisbane%20Roar's%20preparations%20for%20the,Underwood%20Park%20on%20Friday%20night.

Have been so out of touch with this club of late. They have such a bad reputation at Suncorp Stadium, and there seems no change possible to bring the club up to its high level standards. 

It annoys me that the FA can allow the only club in QLD to stay under incompetent leadership and fall so  low. 

What's happened?

We have just signed 21 year old striker Rafael Struick (Indonesia/Netherlands) and 21 year old winger Neicer Acosta (Ecuador).

Do you see that as wasted visa places? Loss of opportunities for Aussie footballers in our national competition?

Suncorp to me is a lost cause. I love going there for the excitement I feel walking to the stadium and taking my seat - but it will take a decent run before we see enough numbers turning up to make it profitable and atmospheric. Can't see Suncorp changing without the Government spending on a new/updated stadium (not economically possible in this state's budget situation) so I ignore that factor myself and look to the football instead.

I am not on social media as such so I may miss news, but I do not recall hearing anything damning lately for the club. Ruben seems to be getting a lot of new players and watching that pre-season game last week we have promise and excitement in our squad.

Nothing major. Just the reputation as boring, no fun to watch, waste of space. Along those lines in general. 



They are obviously no Mata or Douglas Costa, but then again we probably don't have $5 in the bank account. 'm firmly in the camp that if an international player adds value and quality to the squad, then it is not a wasted spot. I don't know these players, so can't really judge. If there are no Aussie talents breaking through (and there doesn't really seem to be) then no harm in bringing in foreigners to take the spot. Force the aussie kids to up their game and challenge for the spot if they really want it. 

There hasn't been anything damning, it's just purely frustrating that the Roar do not hold the same stature they once did. We are the only club in QLD and we can barely get the state behind us. We had a very strong following and then the FA just kind of ignored us and let the Bakries run us into the ground. The sport should not be purely for NSW and VIC, it should be for all the states. 

You need all the states to have at least one strong side to have a strong league. 

Oh god…here we go again….first up loss to a team that has never played a competitive game before, another crap year year coming g up.
no one will be going to games soon…I can’t bear this again. 

Would love to have you at greenandgoldfc.com 

it’s where most of us have migrated. 

Out of town at a wedding and came home to the scoreline and quick highlights - which tell you nothing really about how the game went.

Will watch the replay tomorrow to find out who played and how we went other than goals.