The Brisbane Roar are building towards a return to A-League glory in 2020/21. Can this squad improve on last year’s early finals exit?
Last season…
A-League: 4th
Finals: Elimination Final
FFA Cup: Round of 16
They’ll win the league because…
The Brisbane Roar were a fortress at the back conceding only 28 goals throughout the 2019/20 A-League season, making them the second best defensive unit in the competition behind champions Sydney FC. The partnership between 24-year-old Macaulay Gillesphey and club captain Tom Aldred helped fortify what had been a leaky defence in previous campaigns.
Recently appointed head coach, Warren Moon has a big job ahead of him to ensure the team continues their improvement. The former Brisbane Roar player has been an advocate for Queensland football and has been involved with the Roar development program for many years.
Moon holds a passion for the club which could facilitate a positive response from the playing group and act as a catalyst for results.
They’ll be cellar dwellers because…
While their defence was one of the best in the league, their attack was one of the worst. Scoring only 29 goals in 26 league games which was the worse of all finals teams, and the second worst in the entire competition. Marquee signing Roy O’Donovan struggled to make an impact scoring only six goals and found himself out of favour with then coach Robbie Fowler.
The Roar will be hoping that the new signings of Joey Champness, Riku Danzaki and four-time Japanese international Masato Kudo will bring more goals in the upcoming campaign.
However, if these signings can’t get firing then the Roar may find themselves missing out on finals all together.
Talk around the water cooler… look smart in front of your colleagues with this valuable piece of information
Brisbane have only missed the finals once in the last nine seasons: this occurred back in the 2018/19 A-League campaign when the side finished 9th. That’s a pretty good record
The off season brought
The signing of two Japanese footballing superstars: a young creative talent in Riku Danzaki and an experienced goal scorer in Masato Kudo. The J. League signings will hope to hit the ground running in the A-League and strike up an attacking partnership that will deliver goals for the Roar.
Key player
Masato Kudo. The experienced Japanese attacker has played at the top level for many years and has represented his country on four occasions. The 30-year-old scored a record 92 goals across 263 appearances for J. League club Kashiwa Reysol.
Kudo will be looking to make an impact as the Roar’s main strike weapon and will join the likes of Scott McDonald and fellow countryman Riku Danzaki in Brisbane’s attacking ranks. Kudo’s wealth of experience in the J. League will be an asset to Warren Moon’s side who struggled for goals in the 2019/20 campaign.
One to watch
Former Lions FC left back Josh Brindell-South has joined the Brisbane Roar for the upcoming campaign. The 27-year-old played under coach Warren Moon in the NPL Queensland and will be challenging for a regular starting spot. Brindell-South has already shown his capability in pre-season friendlies, scoring against both Rochedale Rovers and NPL QLD premiers Peninsula Power.
INS:
Masato Kudo (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Joe Champness (Newcastle Jets), Joshua Brindell-South (Lions FC), Riku Danzaki (Consadole Sapporo, Japan), Jesse Daley (Tacoma Defiance, United States), Danny Kim (Lions FC)
OUTS:
Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Aiden O’Neill, Max Crocombe, Brad Inman, Jake McGing, Aaron Reardon, Matthew Ridenton, Daniel Bowles, Mirza Muratovic, Scott Neville
Full squad list
Goalkeepers: Macklin Freke, Jamie Young
Defenders: Corey Brown, Tom Aldred, Macaulay Gillesphey, Joshua Brindell-South, Jack Hingert, Kai Trewin, Izaack Powell, Jordan Courtney-Perkins
Midfielders: Danny Kim, George Mells, Jesse Daley, Rahmat Akbari, Jay O’Shea, Jesse Daley
Forwards: Jai Ingham, Masato Kudo, Riku Danzaki, Joey Champness, Dylan Wenzel-Halls, Scott McDonald
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