Football Season Guide

Brisbane Roar’s coach Aloisi was sad to lose practically his entire starting forward line in the summer and, with huge rebuilding needed, the Tangerines took some risks that could backfire in the long term. To replace their star striker Maclaren, he had been hugely influential up front for two years, the gaffer chose the 38-year-old Italian veteran Maccarone as his new centre forward. Despite being a seasoned warrior with bright career in Serie A, his age suggests that he will struggle to be starting week and week out and also it is hard to see him replicating Maclaren’s 20 goals from last season. Gameiro could be an option, but he is a risky signing as he spent most of the last three campaigns out injured. This means that youngster D’Agostino is very likely to be given much more playing time during the course of the season, but he is hardly a goal-machine, at least not yet. With all of Oar, Arana, Borrello and Broich also leaving, Brisbane had to look for new players for the wings too and despite being experienced both newcomers Ben Khalfallah and Bautheac are also near the end of their careers and it seems that this year Roar’s camp will be a bit of an Old Men’s Club. With the 36-year-old Theo on goal, although the 32-year-old ‘youngster’ Young could be starting some games too, plus two centre-backs aged 33 and more Roar have huge experience at the back and, if nothing else, they should be a really tough nut to crack. The pair of 34-year-olds Kristensen and McKay will be once again very effective in the double-six role, while practically every forward move is expected to be directed through the 33-year-old playmaker Holman. Aloisi is a manager that likes his team to dominate the possession and he prefers slow build-up play, which is understandable considering the obvious lack of speed in his squad. Apart from the two very lively full-backs and possibly Bautheac when he gets in shape, Roar don’t have players able to run at people and outpacing them.