Ange Postecoglou and Brisbane Roar are glad to finish the year in a deserving fashion, complimenting their Hyundai A-League double in 2011-12 with a return to form against Melbourne Victory on New Year’s Eve.
Ange Postecoglou and Brisbane Roar are glad to finish the year in a deserving fashion, complimenting their Hyundai A-League double in 2011-12 with a return to form against Melbourne Victory on New Year’s Eve.
Brisbane fell behind early – who can argue when Harry Kewell exhibits his world-class attacking calibre – before building into the form that has eluded them through a five-game losing streak.
Young guns Mitch Nichols and Ivan Franjic broke from disparate form, recording a goal each in magnetic performances.
Postecoglou praised both and admitted his relief at breaking the drought.
“It’s great to win. you feel good about that and it’s great to see smiles on some people’s faces. It’s been a tough little grind this one,” said Postecoglou.
“It’s a good way to end the year because it’s been a great year for us. it would have left a bit of a bitter taste if we didn’t see out the year as winners, as we have been all year.”
“We played some good football, we scored goals, and that’s the kind of team we want to be.”
The Roar mastermind and reigning Hyundai A-League Coach of the Year had played a pro-attack 3-4-3 formation, pushing back-four regulars Ivan Franjic and Shane Stefanutto into the midfield.
Both excelled. Franjic finished with man-of-the-match honours, befitting his hearty all-ends performance.
Postecoglou said that he had implored several of his waning young-studs to go full-throttle, and Franjic ended as the posterboy for improvement through liberation.
“We adjusted things a little bit, but the key thing was we didn’t change the way we played. We still knocked it around, we kept position and we were a lot more threatening tonight than we have been over the last few weeks. The boys are determined to get it right,” said Postecoglou.
“Ivan was immense; he really got in behind them… we really looked a more threatening team tonight and that was a big factor.”
“He was really good tonight. we changed his role a little bit and told him to take the game to the opposition.”
Roar skipper Matt Smith thought the win would help the unit bring in the new year with smiles on the dials.
“We’ll be at the pool session tomorrow smiling as opposed to heads down, so it’ll be good for the players,” he said.
