UPDATE: Brisbane Roar is gearing up for an intense January, facing six A-League Women matches in just 24 days. Coach Alex Smith expressed confidence and determination as the team prepares to take on the Central Coast Mariners away on January 3, 2024, followed by a home match against Wellington just three days later.
The Roar’s challenging schedule includes another four matches over the following 20 days, creating a critical period for the team as they aim to improve their position in the league. “The month of January is really crucial for us this season,” Smith stated. “We have pretty much half our games in the next six weeks for the season, so it is a different sort of challenge and not one I am used to.”
With the Roar currently sitting in sixth place on nine points after just five matches, the team faces a unique challenge with a lopsided league table. Second-placed Melbourne City has already played 10 matches. Smith emphasized the need for tactical preparation and consistency, stating, “The key is going to be finding consistency. The silver lining is that a lot of the teams have been beating each other, so the (ladder) gap is quite small.”
The loss of captain Tameka Yallop, sidelined for several months due to a hamstring injury, is a significant blow. However, Smith remains optimistic about the team’s depth. In Yallop’s absence, Momo Hayashi will take over as captain, with Kijah Stephenson and Bente Jansen expected to provide crucial offensive support.
Smith highlighted Jansen’s outstanding performance, noting she has scored five goals in five matches since her arrival. “Bente is someone I went after pretty hard in the off-season,” Smith remarked. “She has played in a pretty good league for 10 years, and her technical ability is evident.”
As the Roar prepares for their upcoming matches, they are determined to embrace the hectic schedule, focusing on recovery and tactical details. “The next four weeks will be play, recover, train, play… so we’ve got to be detailed in our tactical prep,” Smith concluded, emphasizing the importance of each training session.
Fans are encouraged to rally behind the Roar as they embark on this demanding stretch, with the first match kicking off in just hours.
