Brisbane Roar gives coach Robbie Fowler positive performance review
Brisbane Roar are knocking on the door of the top six but can Robbie Fowler’s stint as manager be considered a success?
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Brisbane Roar’s owners are pleased with the progress of the team under Robbie Fowler, saying the Liverpool legend was working towards a “long-term plan”.
After a slow start to their maiden A-League campaign under Fowler, the Roar are unbeaten in their past four matches and knocking on the door of the top six.
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Roar vice-chairman Chris Fong, who is also the advisor to the club’s Indonesia-based owners the Bakrie Group, insisted all was going to plan in Brisbane’s recovery from their shocking 2018-19 season when they finished second last with just four wins from 27 matches.
“We wanted to take our time finding a new coach, and we made a decision with Robbie because we liked his plan and his thoughts,” said Fong, who was at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday to watch Brisbane’s 1-0 win over Wellington Phoenix.
“We also wanted to give someone an opportunity, and we wanted him to bring his connections in, and it’s worked.
“We’re very happy with where things are going and we’ve got a long-term plan.”
Fong said the Bakries never expected immediate results under Fowler.
“We knew it would take him a while. He needed to make some adjustments, which at the moment are still going on when you see that we have just signed Corey Brown and Scott McDonald in this transfer window.
“It’s about rebuilding the squad and it takes time to do that. We’ve changed the way we’re playing and it takes the players a while to get used to that as well.
“We could have gone with a younger Australian coach but we didn’t feel we were ready for that yet.
“In terms of Robbie’s background, his pedigree, his football experience … it’s been very helpful.”
Fowler’s recruitment has come under the microscope, having brought to the club a host of players from the lower leagues of British football.
However, Fong said Fowler had the trust of the owners.
“It doesn’t mean he gets everything right all the time. I don’t think any coach has,” Fong said.
“It’s always a work in progress and it’s going in the right direction.”
Fong also defended the club’s decision not to sign any marquee players who are paid outside the salary cap.
“We don’t have a marquee player but that was also the way Robbie looked at it,” he said.
“We’re not necessarily agreeing with that philosophy of a club built around one player.
“We don’t feel like we’re the right club to bring in a big-name player near the end of their career, like (Sydney FC did with Italian great) Alessandro Del Piero.”
Originally published as Brisbane Roar gives coach Robbie Fowler positive performance review