Having enjoyed another good display of football from Brisbane Roar this week in their matches against Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners and being half way through the A-League season , it is worth analysing why the Roar are having success particularly with their attacking play.
What qualities do they possess? What are the actions they do well and consistently as a team?
It is clear Roar have good athletes, that are quicker around the park with better engines to get forward and back. This immediately puts them at an advantage. I suspect as a team they have the best athletes in the competition (good recruitment here). This in itself doesn't guarantee success but combine it with a strong work ethic, good technical ability, sound organisation and you have a strong foundation for success.
They are extremely enthusiastic, have an attacking mentality and have an appetite for the battle. They believe they can win every game and often overpower opponents in the final minutes of a game.
Technically, the Roar are very good at moving the ball early and keeping it moving, rarely taking it near the oppositions' feet which enables them to keep possession and control the game. This requires good technique and most importantly team discipline.
Not only do they string passes together, but they look to make forward progress.
They play a lot of passes on angles to players making forward runs or they will come back on angles to the ball to receive passes. What they do with those passes depends on the situation. They will look to face and play forward if not under immediate pressure. If under pressure they will play back to support players or keep the ball moving and look to switch play.
They will play straight balls into the central striker but usually when they do this he has immediate support to lay the ball off first time, so they keep the ball moving.
Importantly, these actions are performed consistently and successfully.
In the first two thirds of the pitch they will play out by spreading and offering width if needed. The fullbacks push forward, the centre backs split, Paartalu always sits central and midfielders drop deep if necessary to receive the ball. They are also well drilled and patient.
In the front third around the opposition penalty box they get numbers forward quickly and "in touch", providing close support to the ball carrier allowing for quick one touch play which is difficult to defend against.
The wide players and two midfielders consistently offer close support to the striker around the box, creating a lot of combination play opportunities which they execute well.
The central strikers are quick and mobile. They look to make forward runs when the ball can be played forward or will come out offering themselves for passes. They do this consistently and easily set up the most passes in the league. Solazano is also a decent dribbler. Good dribbling around the box is dangerous because it moves and commits defenders, and/or creates goal scoring opportunities. Roar has a number of attackers in Mckay, Broich, Murdocca and Barbarouses, who provide good dribbling options.
Roar will use the width if it is too crowded in the middle, where Broich and Baabarossa will look for crosses or cut inside to shoot or for more pass opportunities. If they are already inside supporting the striker, the fullbacks are always keen to provide width and often get in behind the defence with their pace where they supply good crosses or score.
Few teams, in the A-League this season, have shown they are capable of maintaining possession in the front third to consistently create goal scoring opportunities. Roar are capable of controlling play in this crucial part of the field. It requires good technique, movement and team understanding.
It is the consistency and quality of the actions that allow Brisbane Roar to have continued success in this part of the field. Defensively, because they get numbers forward in the front third they are immediately able to press opposition defences when the ball is turned over, they have the numbers there and a willingness to press. If opposition teams play out of this area the Roar get numbers back quickly and on mass and defend close together.
Opposition teams rarely get in behind them as their back four or five drop and have pace. If you want to beat them you must first match them physically in terms of work ethic and enthusiasm and then have the right defensive organisation. Because of their willingness to press the ball, if you get support players around the ball carrier quickly they can be picked off. But I have not seen any teams do this to date.
