2007–08 Queensland Roar FC season

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.

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

2007–08 season

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

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

Trialists

Position Name Current club
FWVictor FenehiaMitchelton FC
DFBlake CharityAIS
DFJoel PeachAIS
FWGareth MussonMitchelton FC

Transfers

In

Name Position Moving from
Danny TiattoMidfieldLeicester City
Tahj MinnieconForwardAIS
Robbie KruseForwardAIS
Chris GrossmanMidfieldAIS / Rochedale Rovers
Mitch NicholsMidfieldPalm Beach
Matthew HamGoalkeeperBrisbane Wolves
Griffin McMasterGoalkeeperMount Gravatt Hawks
Michael ZulloMidfieldBrisbane City Soccer Club
Marcinho ForwardSão Paulo FC
Craig MooreDefenderNewcastle United FC
Zoran PetrevskiForwardPreston Lions

Out

Name Position Moving to
Chad GibsonDefenderReleased: contract not renewed
Remo Buess DefenderReleased: contract not renewed
Yuning Zhang ForwardReleased: contract not renewed
Dario VidosicMidfield1. FC Nürnberg
Spase DilevskiMidfieldFC Universitatea Craiova
Marcus Wedau MidfieldReleased: compassionate grounds
Tom WillisGoalkeeperReleased: contract not renewed
Ante MilicicForwardFree Transfer: Shahzan Muda FC (December 2007)

Foreign player

Marquee

Pre-season

DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamStadiumScorers
30 May 2007Palm Beach Sharks0–5Queensland RoarRunaway Bay Sports Super Centre, Gold Coast, QueenslandMcCloughan  7', Marcinho  30', Minniecon  44', Murdocca  60', Peach  66'
5 June 2007Queensland Roar3–0Brisbane CityLuxury Paint Stadium Richlands, Brisbane, QueenslandReinaldo  4', Milicic  50', Murdocca  65'
12 June 2007Queensland Roar13–0Souths Utd, BrisbaneLuxury Paint Stadium Richlands, Brisbane, QueenslandReinaldo , Milicic , Murdocca , Nichols, McKay, Fenehia, Wedau, Kruse
19 June 2007Queensland Roar5–1Mt Gravatt HawksLuxury Paint Stadium Richlands, Brisbane, QueenslandMilicic  26', McKay  45+1', 55', Volker (Hawks) , Musson 89', Zullo 90+1'
27 June 2007Queensland Roar5–0Brisbane StrikersLuxury Paint Stadium Richlands, Brisbane, QueenslandMilicic  18', Kruse  43', Marcinho  55', 78', Reinaldo  62'
1 July 2007Queensland Roar4–1Supersport United FCSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane, QueenslandReinaldo  12', 37', Lynch  52', Minniecon  70', Mashego (Supersport)  39'
7 July 2007Capricorn Cougars0–6Queensland RoarJardine Park, Rockhampton, QueenslandReinaldo  10', 85', Lynch  13', Milicic  44', Marcinho  61', Kruse  73'
17 August 2007Queensland Roar1–1Solomon IslandsLuxury Paint Stadium Richlands, Brisbane, QueenslandMenapi (Solomons)  19', Milicic  48'

Pre-season Cup group stage

RoundDateHome TeamScoreAway TeamCrowdStadiumScorers
1 14 July 2007Queensland Roar0–0Sydney FC4,892Maroochydore Soccer Club
2 21 July 2007Central Coast Mariners1–1Queensland Roar3,531Wade ParkBoogaard (CCM)  6', Lynch  60'
3 27 July 2007Wellington Phoenix1–2Queensland Roar4,081Queen Elizabeth II ParkLynch  41', Ognenovski  50', Old (Phoenix)  47'

Pre-season Cup semi-final

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

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

Hyundai A-League fixtures

Home and Away

25 August 2007 1 Queensland Roar 2 : 2 Adelaide United Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
19:00 UTC+10 McKay  45'
Moore  63'  68'
Ognenovski  76'
Report
Summary
Burns  8'
Djité  47'
Attendance: 16,828
Referee: Ben Williams
2 September 2007 2 Newcastle Jets 1 : 1 Queensland Roar EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
17:00 UTC+10 J. Griffiths  89' Report
Summary
Reinaldo  70'
McLaren  42'  85'
Attendance: 13,144
Referee: Simon Przydacz
16 September 2007 4 Perth Glory 1 : 2 Queensland Roar Members Equity Stadium, Perth
17:00 UTC+8 Harnwell  14' Report
Summary
McCloughan  21'
McKay  84'
Attendance: 7,203
Referee: Ben Williams
22 September 2007 5 Queensland Roar 0 : 1 Sydney FC Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
19:00 UTC+10 Report
Summary
Patrick  69' Attendance: 16,582
Referee: Mark Shield
28 September 2007 6 Melbourne Victory 2 : 0 Queensland Roar Telstra Dome, Melbourne
20:00 UTC+10 Muscat  68' (pen.)
Thompson  85'
Report
Summary
Attendance: 25,622
Referee: Ben Williams
5 October 2007 7 Queensland Roar 2 : 1 Wellington Phoenix Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
20:00 UTC+10 Zullo  4'
Kruse  45+1'
Report
Summary
Smeltz  90+5' Attendance: 12,458
Referee: Craig Zetter
19 October 2007 9 Newcastle Jets 1 : 1 Queensland Roar EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
20:00 UTC+10 J. Griffiths  49' (pen.) Report
Summary
Kruse  1' Attendance: 12,326
Referee: Mark Shield
27 October 2007 10 Queensland Roar 3 : 3 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: Ben Williams
11 November 2007 12 Queensland Roar 3 : 0 Wellington Phoenix Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
17:00 UTC+10 Reinaldo  67' (pen.), 79'
Marcinho  83'
Report
Summary
Elrich  34' Attendance: 13,808
Referee: Matthew Breeze
16 November 2007 13 Queensland Roar 1 : 0 Melbourne Victory Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
19:00 UTC+10 Kruse  10' Report
Summary
Attendance: 17,207
Referee: Ben Williams
25 November 2007 14 Sydney FC 0 : 0 Queensland Roar Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
19:00 UTC+11 Report
Summary
Packer  43'  83' Attendance: 16,569
Referee: Matthew Breeze
30 November 2007 15 Queensland Roar 0 : 1 Newcastle Jets Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
19:00 UTC+10 Report
Summary
J. Griffiths  90+2' Attendance: 14,193
Referee: Peter Green
9 December 2007 16 Queensland Roar 2 : 1 Central Coast Mariners Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
18:00 UTC+10 Vidmar  21' (o.g.)
McKay  28'
Report
Summary
J.Aloisi  13' Attendance: 16,442
Referee: Ben Williams
14 December 2007 17 Wellington Phoenix 1 : 1 Queensland Roar Westpac Stadium, Wellington
19:30 UTC+12 Smeltz  24' Report
Summary
Reinaldo  5' Attendance: 9,384
Referee: Ben Williams
30 December 2007 18 Perth Glory 1 : 4 Queensland Roar Members Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC+9 Rizzo  57' Report
Summary
Kruse  34'
Reinaldo  42'
Minniecon  59'
McCloughan  74'
Attendance: 9,614
Referee: Peter Green
5 January 2008 19 Queensland Roar 1 : 2 Melbourne Victory Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
19:00 UTC+10 Marcinho  73' Report
Summary
Allsopp  56'
Thompson  63'
Attendance: 21,475
Referee: Matthew Breeze
13 January 2008 20 Queensland Roar 0 : 0 Sydney FC Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
18:00 UTC+10 Report
Summary
Attendance: 31,933
Referee: Mark Shield

Finals

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

Ladder position

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Central Coast Mariners 21 10 4 7 30 25 +5 34 Finals Series and 2009 AFC Champions League Group stage[lower-alpha 1]
2 Newcastle Jets (C) 21 9 7 5 25 21 +4 34
3 Sydney FC 21 8 8 5 28 24 +4 32 Finals Series and 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship
4 Queensland Roar 21 8 7 6 25 21 +4 31 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[lower-alpha 2] 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) Champion.
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

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