A-League blog: Are the Brisbane Roar still title contenders?

THE Brisbane Roar had another reality check at the weekend, and Marco Monteverde says we’ll find out soon if they’re still title contenders. Live blog at noon!

Jamie Maclaren of the Roar celebrates his goal against the Wanderers during the round 9 A-League match between Western Sydney Wanderers and the Brisbane Roar at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

HAD you said to Brisbane Roar fans at the start of the season that their team would be on 15 points and in fourth place a third of the way through the campaign, they would have been jumping for joy.

After all the off-season uncertainty about the club’s future and concern about some pre-season results under a coach about to embark on his second A-League stint after a failed first foray, the majority of supporters didn’t have high hopes.

But after Brisbane’s better-than-expected opening month to the season under the guidance of John Aloisi and the form of players such as Jamie Maclaren, Brandon Borrello and Corona, expectations changed.

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Maybe a shot at the title was not as unrealistic as some of the Roar faithful had first thought.

However, the hype created from three Roar wins in their first four weeks has been tempered by just one victory in their subsequent five matches.

The Roar’s Jamie Maclaren celebrates his goal against the Wanderers at the weekend. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

While being far from disappointing, the Roar’s 15-point total could have been at least five points better had they made the most of their goal-scoring opportunities.

Their good football isn’t being rewarded at the moment.

And while Maclaren is still scoring goals, Borrello’s form has dipped and Corona has become a marked man such was his impact early in the season.

Live chat with Marco starts at noon. Comment below

All teams go through such dips during a season.

But it’s how they respond that shows if they are the real deal.

The Roar have a great chance to hit back in their next five matches, which are all against teams currently below them on the table.

Anything less than 11 points from a possible 15 in these next handful of games would be unsatisfactory.

Originally published as A-League blog: Are the Brisbane Roar still title contenders?