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The Jets were shot down and we had Big Blue stalemate. Round 6 of the A-League gave us plenty to natter about and now a new set of matches is upon us.
Brisbane finally got off the mark, Melbourne City were denied a win at home and the Wanderers A-League drought continues. Western Sydney and the Mariners met on Wednesday night at Pirtek, as a midweek make-up game, and left with a point each after a 0-0 result.
Round 7 gets underway in Melbourne on Friday night.
Melbourne Victory vs Brisbane Roar: Roar finds it voice
Finally, finally a win. It was only four games but victory came as a huge relief last weekend for the defending champions. Brisbane slaughtered Newcastle but they won’t find such a willing opposition to bend over and receive when they face Victory.
Undefeated, back to full strength, Victory at home are a scary proposition. With a big, vocal crowd behind them, the Roar will need to improve a notch or two to match the talented home team.
This will be a good test to see how much Brisbane has recovered, how much they can push on and really go far this season. Can they still challenge for the title? Is a top four spot still possible? Will they make the six? Beating Victory, on their own patch, would really send a statement. However, it won’t surprise to see honours shared in this one.
Perth Glory vs Wellington Phoenix: Wild wild west
Table-toppers after seven rounds, who would have thought it? Apart from the loss to Adelaide, Perth have a perfect record and there is real warranted optimism out west.
Wellington were brave in South Australia last week but left without any reward, much to Ernie Merrick’s chagrin. Merrick is doing a good job with the Phoenix and they won’t be pushovers at NIB.
But it’s hard to see past Kenny Lowe’s boys at the moment. They haven’t hit their peak yet and when you have Scott Jamieson scoring free-kick pearlers, not just Marinkovic, you know things are going well. With Jamie Maclaren to come back into the side, killer Keogh up front and Hersi patrolling the flanks, the Glory should have too much up front for the Kiwis who will gladly welcome back their All Whites contigent.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Newcastle Jets: Shakey Stubbins
Phil Stubbins out? That was the cry from many a Jets fan after the Roar spanked them 4-0. It has been described as one of Newcastle’s performances in its 10-year history, and it’s hard to remember a more listless, disjointed display from the Hunter region club.
No Marcos Flores, Kew Jaliens at right back, Stubbins’ selections have been under the microscope. It is perhaps harsh to say the coach’s job is under threat just six rounds in, but with four losses and two draws, the pressure on him is rising steadily. With the club for sale, it really could do with a morale-boosting win.
Like the Jets, Western Sydney have yet to register an A-League win this season but they are Asian Champions League winners. The Wanderers showed some signs they are starting to shrug off some of that Asian hangover with an improved 90 minutes against Central Coast midweek, a game they were unlucky not to win in the final minutes. With Tony Popovic’s new troops Romeo Castelen and Seyi Adeleke really starting to settle in, I fear for Newcastle in this one. Western Sydney has too much quality not to turn their season around and it could be another difficult night for Stubbins and co.
Melbourne City vs Sydney FC: Arnie assault
Melbourne City got off to another good start last weekend, going two goals up early just like they did against the Roar, but couldn’t hold on against the Mariners. To concede a goal like they did in injury time will haunt them, and they will need to be much more vigilant when lining up against Sydney FC.
The Sky Blues are still undefeated and welcome back Terry Antonis and Corey Gameiro. Both are in great form and can produce goals. These two teams meet in Round 1 in Sydney and it ended up 1-1. But this time there is no David Villa to save City’s bacon. Life after Villa is going OK though for John v’ant Schip and his team, with less media scrutiny seeming to help. Still, the Sky Blues will go into this match as favourites and should claim the full three points.
Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide United: Great Gombau
The Adelaide machine rolls on. Ten games so far this season in league and cup and the Reds have won eight of them, with two draws. No one seems able to stop Adelaide United at the moment and the Mariners certainly couldn’t in the FFA Cup semi-final.
In fairness to Central Coast, they seemed to have turned things around a little bit since then with draws against Melbourne City and Western Sydney. The outpouring of emotion and fire that John Hutchinson’s injury-time equaliser, and his embracing of Nick Montgomery after the goal went in, was revealing. It’s not an entirely happy camp on the Coast it appears, and Phil Moss’s selections remain slightly baffling.
Zac Anderson has been shuffled around, Eddy Bosnar hardly sighted and Josh Rose featuring strangley in central defence. Glen Trifiro has been one of the Mariners best this season but he continues to come off the bench. It’s hard to know what he needs to do to deserve a starting spot. With Malick Mane on his way out of the club, the Mariners really need Mitch Duke and Nick Fitzgerald to bag a few up right. Duke, who has played for the Socceroos in the past, has been quite.
Josep Gombau is in-demand from overseas clubs and it’s not hard to see why. His teams play exciting football and he seems to improve the players he coaches, like Tarek Elrich and Nigel Boogard. The Mariners will battle hard at the moment but Adelaide has too much and momentum at the moment, evwn without the injury Bruce Djite.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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