Words: Staff Writers
Image: Andrew Shaw/Visible Focus Photography

Star Brisbane Roar Youth striker Nicholas D’Agostino says he and his teammates will come out firing against Western Pride this weekend.

D’Agostino’s statement of intent follows a stinging post-match assessment from Young Roar coach Josh McCloughan, who described last Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Sunshine Coast FC as “one of the worst first halves of football I have had to watch in a long time".

As such, Young Roar will be looking to show their coach precisely what they are capable of at home against a Pride outfit that has won their past two PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues matches.

"(The performance against Sunshine Coast) wasn't up to Brisbane Roar standards" agreed D’Agostino, who was the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2015 Young Player of the Year and has also represented the Joeys and Young Socceroos.

"We didn't stick to the structures, we especially couldn't break them down in the final third and it cost us dearly.”

"What he (McCloughan) is saying is fair because training all week wasn't where it should have been and it showed at the weekend.”

"We moved the ball around well and had good possession (against the Fire) but we got into too many personal battles and we didn't win those battles.

"It cost us but (against the Pride) we will come out firing. We will go back to our Brisbane Roar structures and put away a few goals and get a result."

McCloughan didn’t shy away from his post-match assessment but did offer context for his young side as they continue to come to grips with the differences between PlayStation 4 National Premier Leauges and Foxtel National Youth League opposition.

"A lot of teams we play are happy to concede control of the football game and purely set a plan that works around being able to work off, or capitalise on, us not completing our structures,"

"Some teams play a different style of football and they are difficult to play against and you will come up against those teams at various times,” McCloughan explained.

"It is really important for our boys in their development to understand not only how to play them but also how to find solutions when you play teams like this.”

"When we are presented with the odd opportunity (to score) we have to be better at dealing with that."

Roar have also confirmed that Ajdin Fetahagic has been released by the club, with reports the former Pride player has linked up with Pride’s Westfield FFA Cup opponents Lions FC.

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 - Round 6
Saturday, April 9
Brisbane Roar FC Youth v Western Pride FC
Cleveland Showgrounds, Redland City
Kick-off at 6PM