Brisbane Roar coach John Aloisi won’t back down from ‘anti-football’ comments

BRISBANE coach John Aloisi has refused to back down from his “anti-football” comments despite being taken to task by Jets boss Scott Miller.

Coach John Aloisi. Brisbane Roar training at Griffith University at Mt Gravatt in Brisbane. Pic Peter Wallis

BRISBANE Roar coach John Aloisi has refused to back down from his controversial “anti-football” comments despite being taken to task by his Newcastle Jets counterpart Scott Miller.

A touch of spice has been added to Saturday’s Jets-Roar clash at Hunter Stadium after Miller questioned Aloisi’s decision to publicly bag Melbourne City’s style of play in their 1-1 draw with Brisbane last Friday.

Aloisi told the media, City’s style was “anti-football”, citing “cynical” fouls and spoiling tactics.

Miller said the “stress” of being a head coach had led to Aloisi’s outburst.

“You sometimes say things that are bothering you when you should probably keep them in-house,” the Jets mentor said.

However, Aloisi fired back, saying he had no regrets about speaking his mind.

“We need to be playing a positive brand of football in this country,” Aloisi told The Courier-Mail.

“We need to get our crowd figures up and playing positive football will help that.

“I’m very strong about seeing our game grow and played in the right way.”

Of the 10 A-League clubs this season, the Roar have received the fewest yellow cards, with their total of eight being 15 fewer than the Jets, who have also had a player — skipper Nigel Boogaard — sent off.

Before the start of Round 8, the Jets and Melbourne City topped the overall card count with 24.

The Roar named an extended 18-man squad for Saturday night’s clash, with Corey Brown and Devante Clut added to last week’s 16-man match-day squad.

Five-time A-League championship-winning goalkeeper Michael Theo will miss at least two more matches with a quad injury.

Theo has not played since the Roar’s 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners in Round 2, with his deputy Jamie Young set to line up for his sixth successive match.

Originally published as Brisbane Roar coach John Aloisi won’t back down from ‘anti-football’ comments