The A-League is back for another week, and with it comes the usual dose of our expert tips and predictions.
Last week was far from plain sailing for everyone, with Western Sydney’s come-from-behind win in Adelaide and Newcastle’s surprise demolition of the Roar stumping everyone, while only The Crowd and yours truly correctly tipped Melbourne City to get the better of their cross-town rivals.
Having said that, I don’t think anyone was expecting the nature of City’s win to be quite so convincing.
As it currently stands, Mike and Matt are leading the pack with six points apiece, myself and the Crowd are next with five, and Vas and Janek are just a point behind, both with four points.
This week is shaping up as a one which will be just as difficult to tip. Will the mid-week FFA Cup exploits, coupled with the trip to Wellington, stymie Sydney’s perfect start to the season?
Will City follow up their derby day demolition with a win over the Glory? Can either the Victory or Adelaide break out of their early-season slump? And who on earth wins between the Wanderers and the Jets?
Let’s find out.
Melbourne City, Brisbane Roar, Draw, Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers
Melbourne City vs Perth Glory
Glory were impressive last week, but all the momentum is with the hosts after their recent derby demolition. City win.
Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar
Both teams were dreadful in Round 2, but the Roar should have the quality to prevail in Gosford. Brisbane win.
Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory
This should be a fascinating clash between two teams looking to kick-start their campaigns. Tough to separate. Draw.
Wellington Phoenix vs Sydney FC
A litmus test for the high-flying Sky Blues, they’ll hope to have enough in reserve after their midweek FFA Cup exploits. Sydney win.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Newcastle Jets
Both are coming off last-start wins, but the Wanderers will be keen to make a mark in their new Spotless Stadium home. Wanderers win.
Melbourne City, Brisbane Roar, Draw, Sydney FC, Draw
Melbourne City vs Perth Glory
Melbourne City were irresistible at times last weekend. It will be close and Perth will give a good account of themselves, but City at home for me.
Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar
Brisbane will bounce back from their indifferent showing against Newcastle. The Mariners are just short on defensive quality, for all their enterprise in attack. Brisbane win.
Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory
The original rivalry – the Victory won’t be as bad as they were last week but Adelaide are missing Cirio. A score draw here.
Wellington Phoenix vs Sydney FC
Wellington are strong at home but Sydney have been superb this season. Milos Ninkovic will be fresh after resting during the week and with Alex Wilkinson and Michael Zullo to come back in, I can’t see them getting beaten. Sydney win.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Newcastle Jets
I can’t bring myself to tip the Jets to actually win, even though the Wanderers won’t be at their fortress in Parramatta. They just have a way of scrounging results as we saw last weekend but I think the Jets are good for a point. Draw.
Melbourne City, Brisbane Roar, Adelaide United, Draw, Draw
Melbourne City vs Perth Glory
Perth bounced back from their collapse in Round 1 but this City side is looking the goods. City win.
Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar
Brisbane’s off-field management problems, as well as their shocking PR, continue. But against the Mariners, they have a perfect chance to show they can still perform on the pitch. Brisbane win.
Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory
Both teams are coming off disappointing home losses. The Victory are still yet to impress, so I’m leaning towards the hosts. Adelaide win.
Wellington Phoenix vs Sydney FC
Eight goals in just two games for the Sky Blues, which despite being slightly flattering, is mightily impressive. But Wellington have quality in their squad and they need a result. Draw.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Newcastle Jets
There were big wins for both teams in Round 2, especially for Newcastle. Their first away game will end in a hard-fought stalemate. Draw.
Melbourne City, Central Coast Mariners, Draw, Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers
Melbourne City vs Perth Glory
Two from two, and now playing their first ‘home’ fixture of the season, Melbourne City are primed to make a statement this season. Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen returns for City after serving a one-game ban, but the attention is up top, given the four goals they put past a hapless Victory last week. Perth restored pride with a 2-0 victory over Wellington following their opening week defensive implosion. Their first away game comes against the high-flying City, and any result will be viewed favourably for the Glory. City win.
Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar
What is the response when two teams that lost 4-0 in their last game meet together? That is the paradigm for the Mariners and the Roar, who were both humbled on their travels last week. The Roar remain in the Hunter region for this clash, and while both teams remain at the bottom end of the table, desperation will be on show, even if the quality won’t necessarily match. At home, the Mariners should win.
Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory
This is a derby of historic proportions, yet both teams will be unaccustomed to their average starts this season. The Victory should be primed for a response following their humiliation against Melbourne City last week, while the champions Adelaide United are again at home awaiting for their season to truly kick off. Draw.
Wellington Phoenix vs Sydney FC
It’s a case of the bottom team versus the top. Wellington will be strong at home, but Sydney FC have been dominant. The ‘Nix need their midfield to operate with more fluidity against the early-season pacesetters. Fresh from entering the FFA Cup final midweek, Sydney FC look primed, but this will be their toughest challenge thus far, despite what the table suggests. They should get the win though.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Newcastle Jets
The Wanderers have their second home game at Olympic Park, and on the evidence of their showing against Sydney FC two weeks ago, it may take some getting used to. The Wanderers scraped a crucial win in Adelaide last week, while the Jets were rampant against Brisbane. Tony Popovic will need to rally his side in order to recapture the spirit of Parramatta Stadium while they call Olympic Park home, and central to that is the boisterous home support. Wanderers are favourites, but Newcastle may again spring a surprise. Western Sydney to win.
Melbourne City, Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC, Draw
Melbourne City vs Perth Glory
Perth bounced back from their opening-round disaster nicely, but City looked scary last week. That Tim Cahill bloke looks like a decent signing, doesn’t he? City win.
Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar
Surely the Roar won’t be as poor as they were last week? I’ll tip them to get the better of Paul Okon’s side. Brisbane win.
Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory
This is a tough one to call, given both sides’ poor starts to the season. However, Victory have too much quality in their side to remain mired in the wrong half of the table. Victory to win.
Wellington Phoenix vs Sydney FC
There are a couple of hurdles for the Sky Blues to overcome in this one – they’ll be a little weary from their mid-week FFA Cup clash, and the journey to Wellington is never easy to make. That said, they’ve been looking the goods so far this season. Sydney win.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Newcastle Jets
The Wanderers can consider themselves pretty fortunate to have come away from Adelaide with three points, and the Jets were very impressive last week. They should cancel each other out in Sydney. Draw.
| Round 3 | Mike | Matt | Janek | Vas | Daniel | The Crowd |
| MLC v PER | MLC | MLC | MLC | MLC | MLC | MLC |
| CCM v BRI | BRI | BRI | BRI | CCM | BRI | BRI |
| ADL v MVC | Draw | Draw | ADL | Draw | MVC | ADL |
| WEL v SYD | SYD | SYD | Draw | SYD | SYD | SYD |
| WSW v NEW | WSW | Draw | Draw | WSW | Draw | WSW |
| Last week | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Well, that’s that for another week of Crowd votes, and draws certainly aren’t the flavour of the round. Plenty of you reckon City will get the job done over the Glory and a majority of Roarers gave Brisbane the edge over Central Coast.
Adelaide have been tipped in the closest fixture of the round (41 per cent of you opted for the home side, 36% opted for the draw and 23% went the way of the Victory), and Sydney FC and the Wanderers were also both given the nod for the Sunday evening games.
Despite the short nature of his tenure as a professional manager, Arne Slot has established himself as arguably the most impressive manager outside of…
Everton won the Merseyside derby 2-0, with Toffees supporters taunting Liverpool after the game at their home ground Goodison Park.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have blasted a hole in Liverpool's Premier League title challenge as Everton powered their way to a priceless derby…
The real concern comes down to football's growing trend of big corporations taking up slices of the world game at the expense of smaller teams.
Round 25 was a weekend of football that had plenty of action. There were five games due to the Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide…
Arsenal fans were outraged that Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson got off scot-free for this challenge in the Gunners' 5-0 win.
