Season Preview: Brisbane Roar

We preview the season ahead for Brisbane Roar as the side looks to return to the top of the ladder in the 2013/14 season.

Team
After back-to-back grand final victories in 2011 and 2012, the pack caught up with the Brisbane Roar last year as they slipped down to fifth on the ladder before bowing out in the semi-finals. The Roar will be looking to rise to the top again this season and will be boosted by the return of Queensland favourite and Socceroos regular Matt Mckay in the Roar-s midfield.

They will once again boast one of the competition-s most lethal attacks with the likes prolific scorer Besart Berisha, Brazilian Henrique and one of Brisbane-s most consistent performers in Thomas Broich all aiming to help their team improve on the 33 goals they scored last season.

The Roar-s defensive line will welcome the return of Matt Smith who spent the back half of last season out through injury and with his partner in crime Jade North the pair will be likely again create a formidable central defence that will be looking to be replicate last season’s achievement in finishing in the top three in terms of total goals conceded.

Other new signings in Liam Miller, Diogo Ferreira and Dimitri Petratos will add depth to the Roar squad while 19-year-old defender Corey Brown could see more time on the pitch as the season wears on after being elevated from the National Youth League side.

Coach
It will be Mike Mulvey-s second year in charge of the Roar following the departure of Ange Postecoglou and there is no doubt he will be trying to emulate the achievements of the last Roar manager. Mulvey has made some solid additions to his side for the season ahead but he will need to ensure that the core of the side in the likes of Broich, Berisha, Smith and North are all singing from the same hymn sheet if they are to taste success. It was no doubt a tough task to come in and takeover at the Roar with such high expectations, especially in your first full time A-League head coaching role, but the Roar fans are once again expecting their team to challenge for the title and Mulvey will be charged with ensuring this happens.

Star Player
Besart Berisha is one of the league-s most lethal attackers and knows how to finish in front of goal. Having played his entire career in Europe, the Albanian made the move to the Hyundai A-League in 2011 and made an immediate impact. The 28-year-old won the golden boot award in the 2011/12 season after scoring 20 goals in his 29 games. However he could not replicate his feats last season after scoring 10 goals in 27 appearances. Berisha will no doubt be looking to return to the top of the goal scorers list this season and with the likes of McKay, Broich and Miller ready to assist there is no reason why he can-t mount a challenge for his second golden boot in three seasons.

Fans
With one of the nation-s leading sports venues as their home in Suncorp Stadium the Roar fans create one of the most imposing atmospheres for visiting teams in the Hyundai A-League. The club-s active supporters in ‘the den- ensure that Suncorp is always rocking and know how to motivate their players to victory. Every one that graced the pitch in the orange and black throughout the side-s 36 game winning streak will tell you that their supporters helped push them across the line in every match. With the prospect of the season being as successful as their 2010/11 and 2011/12 runs there is no doubt the Roar fans will be out in force to support their boys.

Ins and Outs

In
Matt McKay (from Changchun Yatai)
Liam Miller (from Perth Glory)
Diogo Ferreira (from Melbourne Victory)
Dimitri Petratos (from Kelantan, Malaysia)
Corey Brown (elevated from youth side)
George Lambadardis (elevated from youth side)

Out
Massimo Murdocca (to Melbourne Heart)
Matt Jurman (to Sydney FC)
Mitch Nichols (to Melbourne Victory)
Ben Halloran (to Fortuna Dusselldorf, Germany)
Stefan Nijland (to PEC, Zwolle, Netherlands)
Steven Lustica (to Hadjuk Split, Croatia – loan expired)
James Meyer (released)