After the disappointment of missing out on the premiership, Brisbane Roar coach Ange Postecoglou had no choice but to turn to youth for his side’s 2-1 win over Gold Coast United.
After the disappointment of missing out on the premiership, Brisbane Roar coach Ange Postecoglou had no choice but to turn to youth for his side’s 2-1 win over Gold Coast United.
Postecoglou admitted his men were “flat” following Central Coast’s victory over Wellington earlier in the day, which meant the Roar were no chance of taking top spot no matter the result at Skilled Park.
But with a match against their embattled arch-rivals looming, the coach chose to rest six of his best players and injected some youthful exuberance into the mix.
Forward Nick Fitzgerald had an impressive game, particularly in the second half when he bagged his first ever senior goal with a curling lowball that went in off the upright midway through.
But substitute George Lambadaridis showed him up in added time as the National Youth League product made his presence felt with an unstoppable top-corner drive from distance that broke Gold Coast’s hearts.
Their emergence, combined with the opportunity to rest players like Thomas Broich and Mitch Nichols ahead of the balancing act of twin campaigns in the AFC Champions League and Hyundai A-League finals, made for a fruitful night for Brisbane.
“We had to refocus the boys and make sure we finished the season off positively,” Postecoglou said.
“Obviously we were pretty disappointed we didn’t get the chance to defend the Premier’s Plate. That was one of our objectives at the start of the year and we failed.”
“(But) some of the young players today took their first tentative steps and it was pleasing to see that they coped.”
The Roar’s schedule is about to get hectic, if it wasn’t already. They face Central Coast at home in the first leg of the major-semi final on Saturday, then travel to South Korea to battle Ulsan Hyundai Motors in the ACL.
Then it’s back to Gosford four days later to take on the Mariners once again, with another continental match in mid-April likely to hinder their finals preparations.
It means that Postecoglou and Brisbane can’t expect to field their preferred starting XI in each of those games. A rotation policy is needed, and for that to work the squad needs to show greater depth.
Judging by the manner of their win over United, the signs so far are good.
Fitzgerald has proven to be a solid attacking contributor, while the fact Lambadaridis felt confident enough to wind up for his shot surely indicates that the Roar’s next generation doesn’t feel out of place in the top tier.
“The one thing the last month’s taught us is that it’s hard, and with finals and ACL it’s going to be even harder. We’re going to need some extra bodies,” Postecoglou said.
“There’s no way we can go through this whole month with 11 players.”
“The fact that we got 90 minutes into some guys today and some did really well, we got confidence out of that.”
“If we need to toss it around a bit we can, with guys who are match-fit and feeling good about themselves.”
“We’re always thinking about the future as well. It’s that kind of league where, as we found out at the end of last year, you don’t know which players you’re going to lose.”
“As much as you try and build a side, the reality of it is that there’s always an attrition rate and it’s greater when you’re successful. We’ve got to be ready so people can step up.”
