The results speak for themselves. One win against five losses this season. Brisbane Roar is far from what it was just six months ago.
Speculation has been rife for weeks on what is causing the team so many problems.
The first casualty from the Roar’s abysmal results came after management moved to sack their championship winning coach, Mike Mulvey, on Sunday.
Roar’s managing director says a change in ideas and opinion with regards to the A-League club’s footballing philosophy was behind Mike Mulvey’s exit as club coach.
“There were changes of ideas and changes of opinion, and the result is where we find ourselves today,” Sean Dobson told ABC Grandstand.
While many have been quick to point out that Roar’s saving grace last year, Besart Berisha, is now carving goals at Melbourne Victory, Dobson says losing key players should not be an excuse for bad performances.
“[Losing those players] does make it tough, but if you take a look last year, two of the clinical performances of the team against Sydney and against Melbourne were without Berisha and Ivan Franjic,” Dobson said.
Time had run out for Mulvey, since the club was looking to get surer footing ahead of their Asian campaign in 2015.
The team entering its home match today against league leaders Perth Glory will be coached by Frans Thijssen.
The former Dutch international has taken the posting as interim coach for now, but has management’s support.
As Roar enter the home match against Perth Glory, Thijssen won’t be able to show a lot of his philosophy. He will at least get the chance to assess the team with fresh eyes, hopefully giving rising youngsters like Greek Australian Dimitri Petratos more chances.
The team is still reeling from a 1-0 loss to Melbourne Victory, just when fans were buoyed by a 4-0 victory against Newcastle Jets.
Against Perth, Roar fans can only be expecting a bloodbath as morale reaches new lows and players adjust to a new style under Thijssen.
After the match, Sydney fans will be marching to a packed Parramatta Stadium to watch Sydney FC take on Western Sydney Wanderers.
In the second derby of the year, Sydney will be hoping to snatch another win, this time in foreign territory.
Sitting on equal points with Melbourne Victory but in fourth position, coach Graham Arnold will be expecting to field an airtight team against the well-travelled Wanderers.
With one game less, the Asian Champions are on the bottom of the ladder, with no wins to their name.
Melbourne City will be keen to keep the momentum going from their win last week, but have to face a trip to New Zealand to do it.
Wellington Phoenix has had some tough fixtures lately, having to face Adelaide United and Perth Glory, so they will be thankful they’ll be taking on City at home.
Finishing proceedings on Sunday will be an improving Central Coast Mariners against an inconsistent Newcastle Jets.
Central Coast couldn’t fend off Adelaide United last week, when the South Australian club handed the Mariners a 2-0 loss in front of home fans.
Newcastle at least drew 1-1 with the Wanderers, still unable to get out of its winless streak.