2007–08 Queensland Roar FC season

Queensland Roar FC
2007–08 season
ChairmanJohn Ribot
ManagerFrank Farina
A-League4th
Pre-Season Cup3rd
Top goalscorerLeague: Reinaldo – 6 Goals
All: Reinaldo – 9 Goals
Highest home attendance36,221 v Sydney FC
Lowest home attendance8,815 v Central Coast Mariners
Average home league attendance18,556

The 2007–08 Queensland Roar season was the club's third season participating in the A-League where they would finish in fourth place in the regular season.

2007–08 season

[edit]

Failure to qualify for the 2006–2007 finals series resulted in the release from contract of defenders Chad Gibson (the club's first captain and A-league pin-up boy) and Swiss import Remo Buess. Both left on good terms with the club during January 2007 stating that the team had to be altered to make it more competitive in the future.

In further evidence of "spring cleaning" in preparation for Season 3, Chinese signing Yuning Zhang was released from an inauspicious contract with the Roar. Billed as the Chinese David Beckham, Zhang underwhelmed Roar supporters and will return to China in search of a club within the local scene there.

Danny Tiatto has signed a two-year contract with Queensland Roar, becoming Frank Farina's first 07/08 signing . Tiatto, who has played in England for the past 11 years for Leicester City and Manchester City, agreed to terms with Queensland after Melbourne declined to sign him.

Farina has highlighted his favoritism toward young Queensland and indeed Australian players with the signings for the 2007–08 season of highly rated Queenslanders and Youth International Strikers Robbie Kruse and Tahj Minniecon, as well as attacking Midfielder Mitch Nichols. Also, the contracts of highly rated 20-year-olds Chris Grossman and Ben Griffin have been renewed, while Farina has given two-year contracts to Queenslanders Under-17 International Striker Tahj Minniecon and Under-20 and AIS Scholarship holder Robbie. These signings have all made the Roar a team of bright, young talent, predominantly Queenslanders which is Farina's focus.

Queensland Roar's German import Marcus Wedau has been released from the remaining year of his contract by the A-League club on compassionate grounds. Wedau, 31, will return to Germany to be with his pregnant partner who is expecting their first child in October.

On 25 July 2007, Craig Moore was unveiled as the new marquee player for the Roar, returning to his native home state of Queensland, Australia, to play in the 2007/2008 Hyundai A-League Season and the 2008–2009 season[1][2]

Squad

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Australia AUS Liam Reddy
2 MF Australia AUS Andrew Packer
4 DF Australia AUS Craig Moore (marquee and captain)
5 DF Australia AUS Josh McCloughan
6 DF Australia AUS Stuart McLaren
7 MF Australia AUS Michael Zullo (youth)
8 MF Australia AUS Massimo Murdocca
9 FW Scotland SCO Simon Lynch
10 FW Australia AUS Ante Milicic
11 FW Brazil BRA Reinaldo
12 FW Australia AUS Tahj Minniecon (youth)
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 FW Australia AUS Zoran Petrevski
14 DF Australia AUS Ben Griffin
15 MF Australia AUS Matt McKay
16 MF South Korea KOR Hyuk-Su Seo
17 MF Australia AUS Mitch Nichols (youth)
18 MF Australia AUS Danny Tiatto
19 DF Australia AUS Sasa Ognenovski
21 MF Australia AUS Chris Grossman (youth)
22 FW Australia AUS Robbie Kruse (youth)
23 MF Brazil BRA Marcinho
30 GK Australia AUS Griffin McMaster (injury cover)

Trialists

[edit]
Position Name Current club
FW Victor Fenehia Mitchelton FC
DF Blake Charity AIS
DF Joel Peach AIS
FW Gareth Musson Mitchelton FC

Transfers

[edit]

In

[edit]
Name Position Moving from
Danny Tiatto Midfield Leicester City England
Tahj Minniecon Forward AIS
Robbie Kruse Forward AIS
Chris Grossman Midfield AIS / Rochedale Rovers
Mitch Nichols Midfield Palm Beach
Matthew Ham Goalkeeper Brisbane Wolves
Griffin McMaster Goalkeeper Mount Gravatt Hawks
Michael Zullo Midfield Brisbane City Soccer Club
Marcinho Brazil Forward São Paulo FC Brazil
Craig Moore Defender Newcastle United FC England
Zoran Petrevski Forward Preston Lions

Out

[edit]
Name Position Moving to
Chad Gibson Defender Released: contract not renewed
Remo Buess Switzerland Defender Released: contract not renewed
Yuning Zhang China Forward Released: contract not renewed
Dario Vidosic Midfield 1. FC Nürnberg Germany
Spase Dilevski Midfield FC Universitatea Craiova Romania
Marcus Wedau Germany Midfield Released: compassionate grounds
Tom Willis Goalkeeper Released: contract not renewed
Ante Milicic Forward Free Transfer: Shahzan Muda FC (December 2007)

Foreign player

Marquee

Pre-season

[edit]
Date Home team Score Away team Stadium Scorers
30 May 2007 Palm Beach Sharks 0–5 Queensland Roar Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre, Gold Coast, Queensland McCloughan 7', Marcinho 30', Minniecon 44', Murdocca 60', Peach 66'
5 June 2007 Queensland Roar 3–0 Brisbane City Luxury Paint Stadium Richlands, Brisbane, Queensland Reinaldo 4', Milicic 50', Murdocca 65'
12 June 2007 Queensland Roar 13–0 Souths Utd, Brisbane Luxury Paint Stadium Richlands, Brisbane, Queensland Reinaldo , Milicic , Murdocca , Nichols, McKay, Fenehia, Wedau, Kruse
19 June 2007 Queensland Roar 5–1 Mt Gravatt Hawks Luxury Paint Stadium Richlands, Brisbane, Queensland Milicic 26', McKay 45+1', 55', Volker (Hawks) , Musson 89', Zullo 90+1'
27 June 2007 Queensland Roar 5–0 Brisbane Strikers Luxury Paint Stadium Richlands, Brisbane, Queensland Milicic 18', Kruse 43', Marcinho 55', 78', Reinaldo 62'
1 July 2007 Queensland Roar 4–1 Supersport United FC Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland Reinaldo 12', 37', Lynch 52', Minniecon 70', Mashego (Supersport) 39'
7 July 2007 Capricorn Cougars 0–6 Queensland Roar Jardine Park, Rockhampton, Queensland Reinaldo 10', 85', Lynch 13', Milicic 44', Marcinho 61', Kruse 73'
17 August 2007 Queensland Roar 1–1 Solomon Islands Luxury Paint Stadium Richlands, Brisbane, Queensland Menapi (Solomons) 19', Milicic 48'

Pre-season Cup group stage

[edit]
Round Date Home team Score Away team Crowd Stadium Scorers
1 14 July 2007 Queensland Roar 0–0 Sydney FC 4,892 Maroochydore Soccer Club
2 21 July 2007 Central Coast Mariners 1–1 Queensland Roar 3,531 Wade Park Boogaard (CCM) 6', Lynch 60'
3 27 July 2007 Wellington Phoenix 1–2 Queensland Roar 4,081 Queen Elizabeth II Park Lynch 41', Ognenovski 50', Old (Phoenix) 47'

Pre-season Cup semi-final

[edit]
Adelaide United3–2Queensland Roar
Djite 1'
Petta 45'
Cássio 64'
(Report) Lynch 16'
Milicic 73'
Attendance: 5,221
Referee: Angelo Nardi

Pre-season Cup third place playoff

[edit]
Central Coast Mariners1–3Queensland Roar
Simon 9' (Report) Milicic 30'
Nichols Red card 33'
Marcinho 48'
Seo Red card 76'
Reinaldo 86'
Attendance: 3,500 (estimate)
Referee: James Lewis

Hyundai A-League fixtures

[edit]

Home and Away

[edit]
25 August 2007 1 Queensland Roar Australia 2 : 2 Australia Adelaide United Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
19:00 UTC+10 McKay 45'
Moore Yellow card 63' Yellow-red card 68'
Ognenovski 76'
Report
Summary
Burns 8'
Djité 47'
Attendance: 16,828
Referee: Australia Ben Williams
22 September 2007 5 Queensland Roar Australia 0 : 1 Australia Sydney FC Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
19:00 UTC+10 Report
Summary
Patrick 69' Attendance: 16,582
Referee: Australia Mark Shield
5 October 2007 7 Queensland Roar Australia 2 : 1 New Zealand Wellington Phoenix Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
20:00 UTC+10 Zullo 4'
Kruse 45+1'
Report
Summary[permanent dead link]
Smeltz 90+5' Attendance: 12,458
Referee: Australia Craig Zetter
27 October 2007 10 Queensland Roar Australia 3 : 3 Australia Perth Glory Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
19:00 UTC+10 Marcinho 45+3'
Lynch 69' (pen.), 86'
Report
Summary
Moore 18' (o.g.)
Harnwell 43'
Coyne 90+3'
Attendance: 16,715
Referee: Australia Ben Williams
25 November 2007 14 Sydney FC Australia 0 : 0 Australia Queensland Roar Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
19:00 UTC+11 Report
Summary
Packer Yellow card 43' Yellow-red card 83' Attendance: 16,569
Referee: Australia Matthew Breeze
13 January 2008 20 Queensland Roar Australia 0 : 0 Australia Sydney FC Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
18:00 UTC+10 Report
Summary
Attendance: 31,933
Referee: Australia Mark Shield

Finals

[edit]
25 January 2008 Minor SF Leg 1 Sydney FC Australia 0 : 0 Australia Queensland Roar Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
20:00 UTC+11 Report
Summary
Attendance: 23,450
Referee: Australia Mark Shield
8 February 2008 Minor SF Leg 2 Queensland Roar Australia 2 : 0
(2 : 0 agg.)
Australia Sydney FC Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
20:07 UTC+10
(Delayed Kickoff)
Reinaldo 13'
S. Ognenovski 84' (pen.)
Report
Summary[permanent dead link]
Middleby Red card 20' Attendance: 36,221
Referee: Australia Mark Shield
17 February 2008 Preliminary Final Newcastle Jets Australia 3 : 2 (a.e.t.) Australia Queensland Roar EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
18:00 UTC+11 Thompson 40'
J.Griffiths 104' (pen.)
Elrich 111'
Report
Summary[permanent dead link]
Reinaldo 90+2' (pen.), 118' (pen.)
Moore Yellow card 77' Yellow-red card 112'
Attendance: 16,021
Referee: Australia Peter Green

Ladder position

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Central Coast Mariners 21 10 4 7 30 25 +5 34 Qualification for 2009 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series[a]
2 Newcastle Jets (C) 21 9 7 5 25 21 +4 34
3 Sydney FC 21 8 8 5 28 24 +4 32 Qualification for 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship and Finals series
4 Queensland Roar 21 8 7 6 25 21 +4 31 Qualification for Finals series
5 Melbourne Victory 21 6 9 6 29 29 0 27
6 Adelaide United 21 6 8 7 31 29 +2 26
7 Perth Glory 21 4 8 9 27 34 −7 20
8 Wellington Phoenix[b] 21 5 5 11 25 37 −12 20
Source: ultimatealeague.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ First place qualifies for the 2009 AFC Champions League group stage.
    Winning the 2008 A-League Grand Final earns qualification for the 2009 AFC Champions League group stage, unless the Grand Final winners are also first place, in which case the Grand Final runner up qualifies.
  2. ^ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for the AFC Champions League as they are not recognised as an AFC club.

References

[edit]

27°27′53″S 153°0′34″E / 27.46472°S 153.00944°E / -27.46472; 153.00944 (Suncorp Stadium)