A-League blog: Why this is the Roar’s defining moment

LAST Friday’s demolition job in Melbourne means this week’s clash with Adelaide United will show us what the Brisbane Roar are truly made of.

A- League Soccer - Melbourne Victory V Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park, Besart Berisha celebrate's his goal. Melbourne. 15th January 2016. Picture: Colleen Petch.

WE will know what Brisbane Roar are truly made of when they host Adelaide United on Friday night.

What do you think? Have your say or ask Marco a question in the comments section below

It’s often how a team responds to a thrashing that tells us whether they are the real deal.

Last Friday’s demolition job in Melbourne was a huge reality check for the Roar, with the comprehensive 4-0 scoreline not something Brisbane players will be able to forget about in a hurry.

But they need to be switched on against an Adelaide outfit who had found form in recent weeks.

The Reds are now a much better and undoubtedly more confident side compared to the state they were in when Brisbane beat them 3-0 at Suncorp Stadium in October.

Besart Berisha rubs salt into the wounds of his former club Picture: Colleen Petch.

Adelaide are on a seven-match unbeaten run, having won five of them.

Brisbane has been on a similar run until last Friday’s disaster. It’s no disgrace losing to the champions, but to be beaten in that manner is a concern.

The good news for Roar fans is that despite the mauling, their team is still on top. But that won’t be the case for much longer if they don’t improve on the other night.

Their lack of goals without Jamie Maclaren and Brandon Borrello is a worry. Henrique says he’s the man to fix the problem, but it was again shown on Friday night that he doesn’t have the same impact on a game when he starts, compared to when he comes on as a substitute.

Costa Rican striker Jean Carlos Solorzano needs to lift, although he still looks short of a gallop, having started just twice this season.

Jean Carlos Solorzano needs to lift in the absense of Jamie Maclaren and Brandon Borrello. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Dimitri Petratos, an unlucky omission against the Victory, deserves a recall to the starting side, either in the midfield or on the wing.

Steve Lustica is another player who must be close to a starting berth, particularly after Javier Hervas’s woes against the Victory, and the hip injury that threatens to sideline skipper Matt McKay.

One certain change is Corey Brown coming in at left back to replace the suspended Shane Stefanutto, who might have been dropped anyway such was the pasting he received from Victory star Kosta Barbarouses.

Brown really needs to make the most of this chance. He has had other opportunities in the past to cement the left-back role, but hasn’t grabbed them.

With Stefanutto retiring at the end of the season, Brown has another shot to show that he’s the Roar long-term answer at left-back. He also can prove that he should be playing ahead of Stefanutto for the rest of the current season.

Originally published as A-League blog: Why this is the Roar’s defining moment