Another week down and another hurdle cleared for the Brisbane Roar, and after thumping second-placed Adelaide United 4-0 at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night coach Ange Postecoglou warned his side were only going to get better.
Brisbane have been by far the most impressive side in the Hyundai A-League and after returning from a testing road-trip to trounce their closest competitors it looks there will be no stopping last season’s easy-beats.
Now four points clear at the top of the table, Brisbane have lost just once this season in 14 games, overcoming a testing schedule and some notable injuries to earn their place on top. Yet for all their great strides taken and early success, Postecoglou assures there will be no complacency.
“It just goes to show that along with the good football and everything else we do there’s some real character and determination in this squad.”
“We want to keep building. My thing is that I want my players to improve, and I want my team to improve every week, and with that kind of philosophy you can’t get complacent.”
While Postecoglou is striving to stay grounded, Adelaide United coach Rini Coolen was more willing to tell it how it is, giving the Roar a glowing review post-match on Saturday night.
“They play a very high level, they’re definitely the best team we’ve played against and definitely the best team in the league,” said Coolen.
“They are getting better and better. The way they played, and the movement, and the transition moments, it’s a really high level. It’s the biggest level in the league and the kind of level that belongs in Europe.”
“We were not good enough today, and the most important thing was they were too good for us, and, at the moment, too good for the entire league.”
One of the keys to Brisbane’s success has been their potency across the park. When Matt Smith belted home the second on Saturday night he became the 12th Roar player to score this season.
But while everyone is chipping in, Kosta Barbarouses’ double made him the joint leading goal-scorer in the Hyundai A-League with five for the season so far.
Barbrarouses’ first goal came from a delightful through-ball from Mitch Nichols, but his second, a 25-meter strike with his non-preferred right-foot which went in off the post, was even better.
Understandably, the New Zealand born livewire is delighted with his success, especially having made the move to Brisbane after three years in Wellington failing to get minutes.
“That’s my role in the team and I was happy to get a couple of goals tonight, it was my first game where I scored goals back to back from one game to the next,” Barbarouses said.
“But it’s all down to the team. Mitch played a beautiful one-two with me to set up my first one and then Luke DeVere went on one of his Maradona runs (to set up the second), so I think it’s a reflection of the team and how we’re playing.”
“I just want to play games. As a young player I wanted to go somewhere where I was going to play games and improve as a player and I think I’m definitely at the right place.”
