FTS A-League Round 1 Preview: Brisbane Roar vs. Adelaide United
Finally, after an offseason of World Cup theatre and a Western Sydney Wanderers rise to the top of Asian football it’s time for the real exciting stuff to begin! Brisbane Roar will face Adelaide United in their first home game since they completed the domestic double at Suncorp Stadium in front of over 50,000 screaming fans.
The Roar will be seeking to go again this season with dreams of stepping it up in their ACL campaign. Roar have recruited Mensur Kurtishi and Adam Sarota to try to offset the departures of one Besart Berisha and Ivan Franjic, whose experience translates to 5 a-league trophies between them.
Adelaide will be looking to finally get their hands on silverware this season after such a hiatus in the City of Churches. Season 10 brings with it increased quality across the league both teams will have to imbed that winning mentality and drive into that silky smooth systems they’ve become famous for.
Gombau’s men have had another pre-season to bed down that tika-taka football that has become vogue amongst the league the last couple of seasons. Along with the inclusion of Pablo Sanchez, Gombau has looked to strengthen his squad depth with the recruitment of Jimmy Jeggo and Dylan McGowan. A-League teams beware! Adelaide is looking to leave a massive Gombau sized footprint on the league this season. The expectations of this club were sound loud and clear by their fabulous playmaker Marcelo Carrusca this week, via Goal.com:
This club deserves to win one trophy this year. We have to play good, work hard to win one of the trophies… “I believe in this team, I believe in this style, I believe 100 per cent in the coach. So we have all the [ingredients]”
Because these two teams are heavily focused on dictating and passing through the other team expect this game to come down to the midfield. There may be fireworks in the middle of the park as each team tries to press and put pressure on the other, anticipate a lot of tackles disrupting the flow of the game from both teams as they fight to be crowned possession kings this Sunday. Unlike the last game these two played which was only a few weeks ago in the FFA Cup where Brisbane was bundled out with a 2-0 loss expect Mulvey’s men to put up more of a fight with the inclusion of Matt Smith and Matt Mckay into the first team. Matt Mckay will bring mongrel and harassment to the side that wasn’t apparent in their 2-0 defeat at Hindmarsh.
Eyes On…: Luke Brattan (Roar): From all accounts this bloke has left off from last year and has been killing it in pre-season dictating and bullying entire midfields by himself. His role in this highly contested midfield will be key if Brisbane is to succeed this time around.
Bruce Djite (Adelaide): This mans ability to hold up the ball and set up players around him is a key reason why Gombau loves him so much. If Djite is alowed to be given space and be that focal point of attack be prepared for plenty of goals to be scored off the back his hard work.
Head to Head: Played: 29 Brisbane: 11 Draws: 8 Adelaide: 10
Last time they met: Adelaide United 2 – Brisbane Roar 0 (FFA Cup)
Brisbane (probable): Young; Hingert, North, Smith, Steffanutto; Bratten, Miller, McKay, Petratos, Kurtishi, Broich
Adelaide (probable): Galekovic; Marrone, McGowan, Boogard, Goodwin,;Sanchez, Jeggo, Carrusca, Ferriera, Cirlo, Djite
Absentee List
Brisbane Roar: Michael Theo (wrist 2-months), Corey Brown (rib- 1 week)
Adelaide United: Mark Ochieng (international duty), Ben Warland (international duty), Awer Mabil (international duty), Paul Izzo (international duty), Cameron Watson (toe – 3-4 weeks), Osama Malik (calf – 2 weeks), Jordan Elsey (wrist – 6 weeks)
Prediction:
Like most games in the A-league you don’t always know what you’re going to get. Considering both Adelaide’s impressive form and Brisbane’s uncertain run up to Season 10. My prediction is 1-1 draw, Brisbane success at home ways it up evenly.
FTSAUS Fact
Adelaide United have only lost 3 times at Suncorp Stadium.
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