Brisbane Roar Head Coach John Aloisi says it’s important that the Roar bring the same intensity seen in recent weeks to Friday night’s clash with Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium (6:50pm KO QLD time).
The Roar sit in second position with 10 points from five matches and Aloisi expects a tough test from the defending Hyundai A-League Champions.
“Adelaide have a good squad so we have to be in top form because we know it won’t be an easy game. We have to be switched on defensively because they have good players going forward,” he said.
“We know that we have to go there and perform with the same intensity that we have in the last three games.
“They’re still the Champions, they’re going to be tough and we’re ready for that.”
Friday night’s Remembrance Day match will see the Roar wearing commemorative kits (pictured below) in recognition of the sacrifices made by Australian service men and women, past and present.
Coopers Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for the boys in orange with seven wins in their last nine matches at the venue.
The match will also be the first time this season that striker Jamie Maclaren does not lead the line due to international duty in Thailand.
Aloisi has a number of options to use as Maclaren’s replacement with Brandon Borrello, Brett Holman (above), Joey Katebian and Dimitri Petratos all capable of filling the void.
“Whenever you’re missing a player it’s a loss but it’s also an opportunity for other players to stand up and do well,” he said.
“We’re confident with the depth that we have and we’re prepared because we believed that Jamie would get picked for the national team during the season.
“We’ll have someone who makes the forward runs just like Jamie [Maclaren] (pictured below) does because it’s important that we have someone to stretch their defence.”
Brisbane have won their last three matches, consistently creating good scoring opportunities and dominating in attack whilst conceding just one goal in the process.
The past fortnight’s victories over Perth Glory and Melbourne City have come in contrasting styles, but the Head Coach says the Roar will always look to play the attacking brand of football the club has become synonymous with.
“You have to adapt to the opposition sometimes but it doesn’t mean that we’ll change our brand of football,” Aloisi said.
“We’ve got players who are quite versatile. Against the Glory we kept a majority of possession and still created a lot of chances and against City it was a bit different.
“One thing that you’re going to get from the Roar is attacking football to win football games. That doesn’t mean keeping more possession it means when you do attack that you do so with purpose.
“We’re always looking to improve and there’s still improving to do.”
Adelaide United v Brisbane Roar FC
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide, Friday, 11 November 2016 (6:50pm QLD time)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk) (c), 3.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 8.ISAÍAS, 9.Sergi GUARDIOLA, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 13.Marc MARINO, 14.George MELLS, 15.Ben WARLAND, 16.Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIC, 18.Riley McGREE, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.John HALL (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Ryan KITTO, 24.Jordan O’DOHERTY, 25.James HOLLAND **two to be omitted**
Ins: 17.Nikola MILEUSNIC (promoted), 18.Riley McGREE (promoted), 25.James HOLLAND (return from injury)
Outs: 12.Mark OCHIENG (not selected)
Unavailable: 2.Michael MARRONE (Achilles – 4 weeks), 7.HENRIQUE (knee – 4 weeks), 11.Sergio CIRIO (knee – 6 weeks), 23.Jordan ELSEY (knee – season), 45.Danny CHOI (contract expired)
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 3.Luke DEVERE, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 5.Corey BROWN, 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 10.Brett HOLMAN, 11.Tommy OAR, 13.Jade NORTH, 15.ARANA, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 28.Brandon BORRELLO, 33.Joey KATEBIAN **two to be omitted**
Ins: 8.Jacob PEPPER (promoted), 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS (promoted), 33.Joey KATEBIAN (returns from illness)
Outs: 9.Jamie MACLAREN (international duty – 1 week)
Unavailable: Nil
Referee: Chris Beath Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cetrangolo Fourth Official: Daniel Elder
