Aloisi's gamble to pay huge Roar dividends
Feb 10, 2017 - 4:08 AM John Aloisi's bold gamble in leaving four Brisbane Roar players at home to prepare for Saturday's A-League battle against Melbourne City instead of their AFC Champions League qualifier in China looks set to pay off big time.The drain of a long journey home after Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Shanghai Shenhua will be softened upon arrival in Melbourne on Friday as midfielder Brett Holman, winger Manuel Arana, goalkeeper Michael Theo and utility Jacob Pepper link up with the rest of the squad.
With defender Jack Hingert injured and attacker Dimi Petratos gone, the four fresh additions will all come in handy as Aloisi rotates his team for the crunch encounter, the winner of which will move into third on the A-League ladder.
But with City to be without an unprecedented seven players through suspension alone, the decision is beginning to look like an absolute masterstroke.
"You're always going to get scrutinised if it doesn't go well," Aloisi said.
"When it does go well, everyone's going to say 'you did the right thing'.
"I have to go off what I see every day, what I'm working with and I've got to be careful to make sure for games coming up, we're going to be feeling fresh enough to do well.
"That was the reason why I had to leave those players behind and I know they'll be ready to go on Saturday."
Dean Bouzanis, Tim Cahill, Bruno Fornaroli, Fernando Brandan, Luke Brattan, Manny Muscat and Osama Malik are City's suspended seven for the AAMI Park clash.
The only two recognised A-League players coming in are Josh Rose and Nick Fitzgerald - the others are from City's National Youth League team - although coach Michael Valkanis still has the option of fielding a first XI of comprised entirely of senior players.
"Even if they had their strongest team, we'd be confident we can go get a good result," Aloisi said.
One player who looks more than capable of backing up from China is the red-hot Brandon Borrello, who scored and provided an assist against Shenhua a week on from bagging four goals against Global FC.
Aloisi said it was clear the 21-year-old was in untouchable form.
"Not only this game, but the last few games he's been looking really good - strong, causing issues, getting into goalscoring positions," he said.
"The goal was sensational, it was just great football and a great finish."
Source: AAP
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