Since their unbeaten streak ended there has been a wide belief opposition teams have worked Brisbane Roar out.
Since their unbeaten streak ended there has been a wide belief that opposition teams have worked Brisbane Roar out.
Suddenly, losing games or stuttering form has resulted in a popular opinion that opposing teams have found the secret recipe on how to stop the Roar juggernaut. I doubt it very much.
I don-t believe it-s that easy tactically to defeat this Roar team who was so dominant last season and the start of this season – it-s more-so what the Roar are doing wrong as well as a combination of factors that need to take place to get a positive result against them, so to say ‘a perfect football storm- .
A lot has been spoken of their fitness, training methods, and positive, risky, attacking approach. Brisbane-s success had clearly a lot to do with them having belief in themselves, as well as doing things incredibly well at speed and high intensity, outthinking the opponent, using the space between the lines, grinding down packed defences and being clinical in front of goal.
Confidence and momentum play a huge role in football and sport in general – break it and not only does it give you and others belief, it also sends an air of doubt through the victims- ranks – especially after a long, successful stint at the top.
It turns invincibility into humanity in such a short space of time that it has the potential of planting a seed of doubt in the back of players- minds. All of a sudden a sense of doubt is present and has to be confronted and dealt with – a pesky disturbance to an all-conquering atmosphere.
The initial loss against Sydney at a wet Win Jubilee Stadium to break the unbeaten run, opened the door for other teams- belief more than anything else.
Sydney landed punches that hurt and caused Brisbane pain; pain that hadn-t been seen in many, many months and enough for other teams to prey on. Of course, discounting opposition tactics completely would be naive, but talk of Postecoglou having to evolve and take his coaching to a new level in such a short space of time to start dominating and getting results again are ridiculous.
My view is that Postecoclou-s tactics have always been about what his team does, always having belief in his own players – the pro active team.
It-s a philosophy that has been successful if carried out by the players and I don-t believe with the quality of players at his disposal that he has to look for new ways to change if beaten- the problems and answers are in-house.
Postecoglou’s tactics and philosophy require players who possess excellent individual qualities and character to implement them to a maximum.
Intense movement, timing of passes, accuracy, and finishing off build up play ruthlessly – that hasn-t been the case in many games this season and that has been the difference.
Injuries have played a role, but only in the sense that a player like Thomas Broich who possesses the quality to create and score went missing and others don-t have those qualities in spades.
The issue was also going to be how much time injured players needed to get back to normal form.
Presence of star players on the park will grant you more respect from the opponent, but will not be enough to improve the contents immediately and consistently due to a long injury lay off.
Movement off the ball is vital and requires top fitness and as soon as that diminishes or is not on the same level it becomes easier for the opponent.
Big teams in world football are successful due to the individual brilliance they possess on the ball, but only if their movement off it is of equal quality as well.
A certain arrogance crept into Brisbane-s game too, where risks were taken to a whole new level, almost to a level of trying to toy with the opponent. I-m sure Postecoglou-s analysis of constantly improving their game did not mean pushing the limits of risk to craziness.
It-s more about raising intensity and movement on and off the ball – something the Spaniards and the Germans have taken to new levels in recent years.
The recent win over the Mariners will give the Roar the huge boost to their confidence they so sorely need, and one which is dangerous for the other nine A-League clubs.
No disrespect to the other teams, but if Brisbane can stay injury free and recapture and maintain the same belief they had at the start of the season, then stopping them from winning more silverware will need a ‘perfect footballing storm-.
