Fit and ready to Roar
BRISBANE coach Robbie Fowler believes tonight’s first home game of the A-League campaign against Melbourne Victory will be significant in shaping opinion about the Roar.
It conceded a record 71 goals last season but was impressive in splitting the Round 1 points with last season’s Premiers Plate winner Perth a fortnight ago.
Nine players made club debuts in the Roar starting XI and while Fowler said that introduction was a glimpse of what fans could expect, he argued that they had already changed perceptions since he’s taken charge.
“How important’s tomorrow? It’s massively important, but it’s as massively important as the first week as well,” he said.
“Performances and results last year they weren’t great but we’re a new team, new squad of players and everything about this current setup is brand new.
“We can’t dwell on last year, just focus on what we can do to maybe alter people’s perceptions and … in the pre-season games, in the (FFA) Cup and the game last week I think people’s perceptions about where we are now has totally changed anyway.”
Fowler has a point if you ask Victory coach Marco Kurz, who described the Roar as “well organised, very solid and strong” this season.
“They are compact, they are disciplined, they look much fitter than last season and it’s for me a good team,” he said.
“They performed in a good way against Perth; also in the Cup they made a couple of good games and we must be well prepared to get some points from Brisbane back to Melbourne.”
The Victory will arrive under a degree of early pressure after a draw and a loss.
But it enjoys a stellar recent record at Suncorp Stadium, tallying 11 goals in wins from its past three visits.
Roar’s overhaul means Fowler can afford to disregard any historic form lines and he’s confident it will show plenty after a second-round bye.
“You want to do well, put on a bit of a show if you like,” he said. “I want to be a team that gets results, quite simply … we can all sugar-coat performances but it is a results business.”
Journeyman Scott Neville will celebrate 200 A-League games in just his second appearance for the Roar, having shifted from Glory last season.