A-League: Brisbane Roar need to spend more to compete at the top of the A-League

FANS with illusions of the Brisbane Roar repeating their success of the past five seasons can forget it, unless the team makes one significant change: Spend more money.

A-League grand final between Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers at Suncorp Stadium. Pic Jono Searle.

BRISBANE Roar’s past two performances have rammed home the fact the club is short of the necessary depth in attack to win the A-League and perform well in Asia.

It’s therefore up to the owners to loosen their purse strings and bring in a couple of players before next season. Another genuine goalscorer is required and a playmaker is also needed.

There’s money in the salary cap now, with the Roar having only spent just over the 90 per cent minimum requirement.

Brisbane also haven’t exhausted the multiple ways of being able to spend money on players outside the cap.

Brandon Borrello’s return from the Olyroos will be a welcome one. Picture: Annette Dew

Jamie Maclaren is back from Olyroo duty. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Compared to Melbourne City, who have taken advantage of every available option allowed by Football Federation Australia to use non-cap money, the Roar have spent about $2 million less on their squad.

Despite that, Brisbane have punched above their weight to be either on top or near the summit of the ladder for the entire season.

And by no means is this season a write-off despite the successive thrashings.

The return this week of Olyroos trio Jamie Maclaren, Brandon Borrello and James Donachie will give the Roar a much more threatening and hardened look about them.’

It was also allow Henrique and Javier Hervas to again do what they do best – come off the bench in the second half and have an effect on the game.

The Roar have won three A-League Grand Finals — this 2014 final being the most recent — but if they want more success, they’re going to have to splash some cash. Picture: Jono Searle.

But you can never have enough good players and the Roar need a couple more to be the finished product. Someone like a Tommy Oar, on top of another striker and a genuine No.10, would be a more than handy pick if and when he wants to come home.

The priority of Roar owners the Bakrie Group this season has been getting the club back on its feet after it had been run into the ground – under their watch - by the previous administration.

And that’s fair enough. The Roar had to walk again before they could start running.

But now that the club is back on its feet, it’s time to see how much ambition the owners really have to return the Roar to their previous status as the A-League’s best team.

Originally published as A-League: Brisbane Roar need to spend more to compete at the top of the A-League