Brisbane Roar playmaker Thomas Broich is confident that his club’s playing group is in a good head space heading into the final three matches of the Hyundai A-League regular season, beginning this Sunday with Central Coast Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium.
Brisbane Roar playmaker Thomas Broich is confident that his club-s playing group is in a good head space heading into the final three matches of the Hyundai A-League regular season, beginning this Sunday with Central Coast Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium.
The defending Australian football champions- current season has been plagued with inconsistency, winning eight matches, securing five draws and suffering 11 losses so far in the 2012/13 campaign.
But with new Head Coach Mike Mulvey at the helm, Broich is pleased with the way things have turned around in recent weeks.
The team is undefeated in four matches with two wins, two draws and three clean sheets and sit just one point out of the competition-s top six and off fifth-placed Newcastle Jets, who have played one more game than the Roar.
“We-ve got a good structure in place now and we-re playing good football and entertaining football as well,” the German midfielder said.
“All the new boys have really stepped up – Jade, Steven, Stefan and especially Brattsy in particular.
“It-s almost a new team and to see them play like this from the start is very pleasing.”
Mulvey echoed Broich’s claims, saying the coaching staff were pleased with the squad’s recent development as well.
After the Mariners match on Sunday, the Roar will finish the Hyundai A-League season with two home matches against Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC in the space of five days and Mulvey said they were more than ready to make a late push into the finals.
“We’re in a really good place at the moment,” the Brisbane boss said.
“We’re on a bit of a roll and it feels good but we’re not being complacent, we know we’ve got a very tough match ahead on Sunday.
“We’re getting them at the right reason – not because they had to play Champions League during the week – but because we’re playing well.
“It doesn’t matter what’s happening with them, I don’t mind where we go at the moment because of the way we are playing.”
Broich has played an important role in Brisbane-s recent form and it’s coincided with Mulvey’s decision to appoint him to stand-in skipper after club captain Matt Smith was ruled out for the rest of the season with a hip injury.
However, Broich was quick to downplay the claims and said he-s been careful not to impede on what he sees as the most important roles at a football club.
“I-m wearing the armband on the weekend but everything else is still Smithy-s job,” he said.
“He still comes to every training session, he-s with us in every team talk and every meeting.
“Having responsibility doesn-t change with wearing an armband, it doesn-t mean I-ll work harder because you should always be working as hard as you can.”
Finals football is still yet to be confirmed for the Roar but no matter where his club ends up on the competition ladder at the end of the regular season, Broich said he-s feeling positive about what lies ahead.
“It looks promising for the future,” he said.
“This year has been tough and I-m still not sure what we can still achieve but we-re still going for it.
“It may or may not be too late but leading into next season, we know we-re on the right track and to me, that-s more important than anything else.”
Brisbane have a good record in Gosford, having lost just once in 14 outings at Bluetongue Stadium.
Sunday, March 17
Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Kick off: 5pm local time, 4pm Brisbane time
Referee:Alan Milliner
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1HD and Sky Sports 2
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Mathew Ryan (Gk), 2. Daniel McBreen, 3. Joshua Rose, 4. Pedj Bojic, 5. Zachary Anderson, 6. Patrick Zwaanswijk, 7. John Hutchinson (c), 8. Adriano Pellegrino, 9. Bernie Ibini, 11. Oliver Bozanic, 13. Brent Griffiths, 14. Michael McGlinchey, 15. Brad McDonald, 16. Trent Sainsbury, 17. Anthony Caceres, 18. Nick Montgomery, 19. Mitchell Duke, 20. Justin Pasfield (Gk), 21. Mile Sterjovski, 29. Nick Fitzgerald (Five to be omitted)
Ins: 8. Adriano Pellegrino, 13. Brent Griffiths, 15. Brad McDonald, 17. Anthony Caceres, 29. Nick Fitzgerald (all promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 23. Adam Kwasnik (knee – season)
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Michael Theo (gk), 3. Shane Stefanutto, 4. Matt Jurman, 5. Ivan Franjic, 7. Besart Berisha, 8. Massimo Murdocca, 9. Stef Nijland, 10. Henrique, 11. Ben Halloran, 13. Jade North, 14. Steven Lustica, 15. James Donachie, 17. Mitch Nichols, 18. Luke Brattan, 19. Jack Hingert, 20. Matt Acton (gk), 22. Thomas Broich (c), 25. George Lambadaridis, 26. Corey Brown (Four to be omitted)
Ins: 8. Massimo Murdocca (returns from injury), 4. Matt Jurman (promoted), 25. George Lambadaridis (promoted), 26. Corey Brown (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 2. Matt Smith (hip – season)
