Roar look to rebuild
BRISBANE Roar’s recruitment record has coach John Aloisi confident of assembling a feared attacking arsenal next season to replace Jamie Maclaren, Brandon Borrello and Thomas Broich.
The Roar’s 2016- 17 campaign concludes tonight with the Champions League clash against South Korean visitors Ulsan Hyundai at Suncorp Stadium.
Departing playmaker Broich won’t play due to an ankle injury, but Maclaren and Borrello are expected to start in what’s set to be their final match for the club.
Both have been linked with a move to Germany. While the prolific Maclaren’s departure has been tipped for several weeks after he rejected Bris- bane’s offer to re- sign him, speculation about Borrello’s future has only emerged in the past couple of days.
Aloisi yesterday would not confirm the 21- year- old winger’s exit, but it’s understood the German second division outfit closing in on Borrello’s signature is Kaiserslautern.
“He’s still a Brisbane Roar player,” Aloisi said of Borrello.
“Then after ( tonight’s) game, we’ll see. We’ve had a lot of interest in not only Brandon but a lot of our players, especially the younger players, that means that we’re doing something right.”
Aloisi tipped Maclaren, the scorer of 21 goals in all competitions this season, to continue his career overseas.
The Roar coach was in no doubt that Maclaren, Borrello and Broich were replaceable.
Yesterday’s UBET dividends
“Corona, who was our player of the season last year, left in the off season, and we found Thomas Kristensen,” Aloisi said.
“I needed a striker in preseason last season and I found Jamie Maclaren. There are players out there, it’s just making sure it’s the right fit.”
The recent trend of attacking weapons leaving the Roar started in February when Dimitri Petratos left to join Ulsan.
Petratos, who has made just five starts in all competitions for Ulsan, is hopeful of playing from the opening whistle tonight against his former club.
“I’m getting some game time here and there, I’ve just got to get used to the different culture and the way they play over there,” Petratos said.
“Each week, each month it’s getting better.”