Brisbane Roar boss Warren Moon says he will continue to prioritise speed, mobility and high-tempo aggression after praising his side’s performance in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets.
Late goals from Henry Hore and Luke Ivanovic broke the resistance of a Newcastle side which was unable to register a single shot on target at Moreton Daily Stadium.
“We had eight games to go going into this match and we spoke about playing a more attacking, aggressive style of football, which is more in keeping with what we’ve wanted to do,” Moon said in his post-match press conference.
“With players coming back now we’ve been able to do that. Today was a much more aggressive approach from us. I’m really pleased with the performance.”
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Moon made seven changes to the team that lost to Wellington in midweek, with Rahmat Akbari among the inclusions on his return from an Afghanistan national team camp in Turkey.
The result rewarded his faith in a quartet of young attackers as Cyrus Dehmie, Eli Adams, Jez Lofthouse and Ivanovic all featured either from the outset or off the bench.
“The players selected can play the way we want to play,” the Head Coach said.
“A lot of them are younger players, but they can play. They have the capacity and the ability to play how we want them to play. Moving forward, I said to the group after the Wellington game: ‘Those who can do it will play, those who can’t won’t.’
“You saw tonight we brought young players on in key moments to expose them and see what they’ve actually got.
“I can’t be any more direct and clear in what I’m looking for with this group moving forward. I want speed, mobility, ability to work both ways with and without the ball. [Rahmat] provides that.
“The fact he has come back from Turkey and we’ve thrown him straight in says a lot about how we feel we look better as a team with him in it.”
One shining example of the club’s belief in homegrown talent has been the goalscorer Hore, who continues to impress in his first fully professional campaign.
“That’s his fifth goal of the season, so he’s a real find for us,” Moon said.
“He’s a Queenslander and we’re really proud to bring through players who have been at the club and are now getting their opportunity A-League level.”
