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A-League preview and talking points: Round 8

Mike Mulvey has signed up with the Mariners. (Image: AAP)
Roar Guru
27th November, 2014
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Mike Mulvey axed and trouble on the Coast. Round 7 of the A-League was one to savour, with Brisbane certainly setting the tongues wagging, and we take a look a look at the new round ahead.

The Roar made a huge decision forcing their double-winning coach out, to the surprise of most, while Victory, Sydney FC, Adelaide and Perth just keep on winning. The Wanderers and the Jets scraped out a draw and both remain winless this season.

Round 8 kicks off at AAMI Park on Friday.

Melbourne Victory versus Adelaide United: Battle of the big guns
Both are unbeaten, both have played some fantastic football this season. Victory and the Reds have set the standard so far this year and this should be a cracker of a match.

The two teams met back in Round 2 at the Adelaide Oval, sharing the spoils with a 1-1 draw. There wasn’t much between then them and little hasn’t changed since.

Josep Gombau has become a target for overseas sides and livewire winger Awer Mabil could be off in January to trial with some European clubs. Bruce Djite has missed a few matches with injury but Adelaide has kept trucking along nicely without him.

It’s a similar situation with the Victory. Injury, international duties and suspensions have robbed them of several players over the past few weeks but the Melbourians keep getting the job done.

Kevin Muscat has great depth at his disposal and he is using it wisely. Victory played a defensive-minded Roar off the park last weekend but will face a much tougher, more confident opponent on Friday night.

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Brisbane Roar versus Perth Glory: Mulvey madness
It’s been the week of hell for the Roar but they only have themselves to blame. With Mulvey and his assistant Ron Smith leaving the club, after Mulvey shockingly found out first by the media that he had been removed, Dutchman Frans Thijssen has stepped in to take the reins for the rest of the season.

Hopefully he’s been studying the works of Plato and Scorates to get the ‘philosophy’ down pat. How Brisbane’s playing squad reacts will be interesting. Often a team responds positively when a manager departs and picks up a win.

The Roar certainly could do with one – a sole victory from six matches hasn’t been a great start for the 2014 champions. Their opponents are on a roll, with a FFA Cup final to look forward to and six wins from seven games.

Kenny Lowe is trying to keep everyone calm in the west, as titles aren’t won in November, but it’s hard not to be excited after a lean few years at NIB Stadium.

Brisbane might have only won one game this season but they haven’t been far off the pace, or pumped by any of their opponents with a series of one goal loses. This encounter should be closer than many expect.

Western Sydney Wanderers versus Sydney FC: Derby dance
The return of the Sydney derby should provide us with goals, cards, controversy and drama of course. Western Sydney are desperate for the full three points, after a disappointing start to the season apart from their Saudi success in Asia. News that Labinot Haliti and others want to leave the club has not come at a great time.

The Wanderers have shown signs in their past two games against Newcastle and the Mariners that things are starting to click. The westies will be primed for a good showing at Pirtek.

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The last time these two teams met was six weeks ago, when Sydney FC fought back from two goals down to win 3-2. The Sky Blues have displayed resilience this season and are unlikely to be as shaky at the back this time round.

No Corey Gameiro is certainly a loss, but Marc Janko is finding his feet and no team has found a way to beat Graham Arnold’s men yet.

Wellington Phoenix versus Melbourne City: Timely homecoming
Wellington will be glad to be home after a very tough road trip. The Phoenix went down to Perth and lost to Adelaide, both times by just one goal, and always seem to be stronger on their home turf.

The back-to-back defeats mean they have slumped to down to fifth spot, six points behind fourth-placed Sydney FC, after a good start. Michael McGlinchey will be back for Wellington after the birth of his child and he could be the difference in this one, such is his value.

Melbourne City are another team in want of a victory. One win, three draws and three losses means they aren’t bottom, but they are also a fair off the top four. It’s been a one step forward, two steps back middling kind of campaign so far.

Still without Robert Koren and Josh Kennedy not due to arrive for a few more weeks, a result in New Zealand would be a fair one if they can manage it.

Newcastle Jets versus Central Coast Mariners: F3 fight
When you talk of wins, they’ve been as rare as hen’s teeth for these two sides. Phil Stubbins managed to silence some of the critics with an improved Jets’ performance against Western Sydney, coming back from a goal down to grab a point.

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It was great to see Marcos Flores back of the scoresheet with a tidy finish and he’ll want to put on a show against his old team. Newcastle fans would love nothing more than getting one over their close neighbours.

Central Coast’s only victory this season came in Round 1 agains the Jets, with an injury-time winner stealing the full three points. Since then they’ve had two draws and four losses, coming back from 2-0 down against City to draw 2-2.

The Mariners have always been fighters and they won’t back down from the Jets. John Hutchinson’s substitution and spray against Adelaide was not a good look, and on the outside looking in, everything doesn’t look rosy in the Coast camp.

Phil Moss is under a bit of pressure, like Stubbins, as the Mariners’ crowds are down and more of their home games are to be moved to Sydney. If either of these two teams wants to make the top season next year, the time to turn it around is now.

Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson

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