Ins
Tim Smits, David Dodd, Thomas Oar, Sergio van Dijk and Luke DeVere.
One of the league’s youngest teams just got younger during this transfer period. A lot has been said about teen prodigy Thomas Oar while Tim Smits has carried his hot state league form into the pre-season games for his new club, bagging a goal against Palmeiras. These new additions can probably be best described as ‘unknown’ as Smits, Dodd, Oar and DeVere are only just starting their professional careers while probably only a handful of people in Australia have seen van Dijk play in the Dutch second division.
Outs
Sasa Ognenovski, Justin Pasfield, Reinaldo, Simon Lynch, Marcinho and Ante Milicic.
A lot of experience was lost during the off-season. The losses of Ognenovski and Reinaldo will undoubtedly be felt while Marcinho was also a regular during season three.
Likely Formation
Reddy
Seo – Moore – McClougham – Packer
Tiatto – MaKay
Minniecon – Kruse – Zullo
van Dijk
Murdocca could easily be in the starting line-up while a 4-4-2 could see Smits start alongside van Dijk. The team also has some fire-power of the bench, most notably, the highly rated Oar.
Strengths
There is a lot of experience in defence with Moore and McCloughan in the centre while Seo Hyuk-Su is also a veteran. Add Tiatto in the centre of midfield (and possibly Charlie Miller as attacking midfielder) and van Dijk up front, it becomes apparent that the squad is experienced down the spine. Having experience through the middle and the flair and exuberance of youth up front and on the flanks could work well.
In Zullo, Minniecon, Kruse, Mitch Nichols and now Oar and Isaka Cernak, the Roar undoubtedly have the most exciting squad of youngsters in the league, probably only rivalled by Newcastle in this department. The likes of Zullo, Minniecon and Kruse proved last season that they are willing and able to take on and beat their direct opponent, traits which are still relatively rare in the league. These qualities can send defenders scrambling and cause absolute chaos in the final third. The wide positions are the areas of the park that the Roar is most dangerous and they probably lead the league in this department.
How well Sergio van Dijk fills the void left by Reinaldo will be critical in determining whether Queensland’s attack will be as effective as last year. Reinaldo was actually lambasted at the start of season three for his inability to finish but he was never lacking work-rate, an essential characteristic for any lone-striker. The direct replacement for Reinaldo could be a real strength of the team if he can provide better finishing than the Brazilian and given that he has already bagged a goal against Sydney, the signs are looking good.
Weaknesses
The squad already has 21 players signed up for next season so the club can only sign 2 more players max. There could be an issue of inexperience and having too many unproven players. Tim Smits and David Dodd are both from the Brisbane Premier League and will need to prove that they can make the step-up. The Roar has also signed two more kids in Luke DeVere and Thomas Oar. In total, there are 9 under-21 players, well over a third of the squad. Teams that have a very young squad tend to blow hot and cold. The Roar could go on a run if all the youngsters hit form that will make them irresistible. However, you would suspect that sometime during the year, there will be a slump. Adelaide’s young team were running hot at the start of last season before a massive slump saw them miss out on the finals. The magnitude of this arguably inevitable slump will determine of success of the Roar this season.
Given the above, Charlie Miller, a well travelled veteran, could be just the tonic for this young team. Miller made quite an impression during his short thirty minute cameo against Palmeiras. However, it is also apparent that he needs a shed a few kilos.
There are also concerns about ‘second year syndrome’ for the likes of Kruse, Zullo and Minniecon. Only time will tell whether these youngsters will suffer this common curse. One thing is for certain, they are no longer unknown and defences will be trying to keep them on a short leash, through both lawful and unlawful means.
Key Players – Moore, Tiatto, Zullo and Sergio van Dijk.
Breakout Player To Watch – Tim Smits – Everyone is talking about Tommy Oar. However, he is only 16 and the fact that he is not coming in under the radar like Zullo and Kruse could make it difficult for him to make an impression. Could Tim Smits continue his good state league and pre-season form? This is Smits’ second stab at the A-League after not being offered a contract by Bleiberg in 2006. With few out-and-out strikers at the club, Smits will get chances during the course of the season, either off the bench or alongside van Dijk.
Season Outlook – For me, the Roar is one club that is trying to strike the balance between results, youth development and entertaining football that is essential for a developmental league like ours. Because of that, I hope that they have another good season. A top four finish is probably what the fans expect. However, while Queensland has once again added youngsters to their team, other contenders such as Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide have all gone for experience. The Roar may just scrape into the finals in fourth place, a position which I think will be hotly contested with Newcastle and Central Coast.
4 Comments
July 23, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Being a big Roar fan I have to disagree on a few things!
Prediction: The Roar should easily make the finals with the form that the team have produced. They are currently playing at 70% potential.
Reddy
Se0–Moore–De Vere / McClougan–Packer
Murdocca–Tiatto–McKay–Zullo
Smits–Van Dijk
That is my fav formation
All in all great preview!
July 23, 2008 at 10:50 pm
i hope frank is asking for more from kruse, minniecon and zullo.
2nd year syndrome is a possibility, but the sky is the limit if any of these three can make the a-league forget about nathan burns.
July 28, 2008 at 9:31 pm
No doubt Roar have taken a gamble with thier reliance on youth. Farina is a good team builder and I think that the inclusion of Van Dijk and Miller to join Tiatto and Moore gives the squad a more ballanced look.
My bet is that last season’s heros Zullo and Kruse will start the season on the bench. This way Farina avoids second season hangover by protecting them from the expectation that they will carry the team and forcing them to work extra hard to get back in the first team.
Both are young and have a lot to learn, but both are good enough to lift their game and force thier way back in.
The team have looked very good preseason and it would not suprise me if they did very well. However most teams have strengthened and it is really impossible to predict who will be up there at the end of the season.
August 5, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Woot!
Reinaldo Elias Da Costa (Reinaldo) has rejoined the club.