Perth are top and Brisbane still can’t find a win. Round 5 of the A-League had its moments and now we look to this weekend’s course of football.
The Glory has four wins from five matches and will want to wreak more havoc on a weary Western Sydney. The Jets enjoy back-to-back home games while we also have the Big Blue and Adelaide at home to the Phoenix.
Round 6 kicks off on Friday night in Newcastle.
Newcastle Jets versus Brisbane Roar: Brownbeat Brissy
There’s nothing like a win to cure all ills, and the Roar certainly need a one. It was more misery last weekend, with Melbourne City dishing out a 3-1 victory.
Even more disturbing was the on-field bust-up between Shane Stefanutto and Jamie Young. It was a terrible look and the pressure on the defending champions has ramped up several notches.
They travel to Newcastle knowing it will ramp up even more unless they beat the Jets. The Hunter boys grabbed a draw against the Victory, after leading 2-0, but remain frail at the back.
Still, it was a better performance and the return of Adrian Madaschi and Billy Celeksi is timely. Newcastle always seem to do well against the Roar – for some ungodly reason – and with being at home and after an improved performance last weekend, could snatch their first victory of 2014-2015.
Adelaide United versus Wellington Phoenix: Red delight
There’s no stopping Adelaide United at the moment, as the Mariners found out on Wednesday night. The Reds booked their place in the FFA Cup final and kept their unbeaten run going. The second year of Josep Gombau’s project is on track and the Spaniard is also developing some nice depth in his squad.
The Phoenix were good for their 1-0 victory over the Wanderers in Round 5, bouncing back from a disappointing display in Melbourne on Monday. But Wellington never travels well and there are few harder tests at the moment than Adelaide.
Speculation surrounds Jeremy Brockie’s status at the moment, with some linking him to a move overseas. The Phoenix are desperately low on strikers so it would amaze to see Ernie Merrick allow him to leave now.
Sydney FC versus Melbourne Victory: Depleted Big Blue
Normally one of the biggest clashes of the season, the squads for this encounter have been ravaged by international duties and Olyroo call-ups. Melbourne Victory are particularly under-strength, with injuries and selections combining to mean they will miss nine first-team players.
Kevin Muscat’s side are particularly stretched, while Sydney FC will have to do without a few players like Corey Gameiro and Terry Antonis. It’s a shame circumstance has robbed these two teams of a full quota of players, as both are travelling along well.
Victory are unbeaten and so are the Sky Blues, it’s good to see the two traditional powerhouses back at the top. Kevin Muscat and Graham Arnold, former Socceroo teammates, are really making their mark with their teams. Considering the missing talent from Victory’s squad, Sydney FC have to be favourites in this one.
Perth Glory versus Western Sydney Wanderers: Wild wandering
Perth, top of the competition after five matches, are at home with the Asian Champions League winners visiting. The Wanderers might be the champions of Asia but that means little to their A-League rivals, and with no points from three games they have some room to make up. The speculation is that Tony Popovic will rotate most of his squad, after an arduous travel schedule, so it will be interesting to see the team he puts out.
With the FFA Cup Perth have also been busy, so Kenny Lowe might go for some rotation of his own. One who has certainly been catching the eye is Glory midfielder Nebojsa Marinkovic. The Serbian playmaker was quiet last season when he arrived in WA but he is certainly making an impression this season.
He efforts from dead-ball situations have become a real treat and he is starting to rival Gui Finkler as the best free-kick exponent in the A-League.
Melbourne City versus Central Coast Mariners: Mariners malaise
What’s going on at Gosford Stadium? The Mariners have one victory from their first four A-League matches, and that was a very lucky 1-0 result in injury-time in week one in the F3 derby.
In all competitions, they have lost four in a row and questions are being asked about some of Phil Moss’s selections. Central Coast’s foreign contingent – Malick Mane, Kim Seung-young and Richard Vernes – have yet to convince and the side’s performances have lacked spark and commitment. Like the Roar, the Mariners need a win.
Melbourne City were in the same boat last weekend and earned a deserved 3-1 victory in Queensland. There were concerns about where the goals would come from without David Villa, but David Williams stepped up in the eight minute and Mate Dugandzic popped one in two minutes later.
City are back at home for this game but will be without the services of Aaron Mooy, who is on international duty. The Mariners have a fantastic record against Melbourne Heart/City going back to August 2010, with eight wins, three draws and just one loss in their past 12 meetings.
Central Coast are undefeated against the Melbournians since February 2012, but I’ve got a feeling that will change at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
AZ_RBB
Guest
Bring on Round 6 and more glorious football. 3 points would be much appreciated.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I feel for the 'Nix. They have 5 or 6 of their starting XI on international duty and go to Coopers to play an in-form Adelaide who are basically at full strength. Says something about the evenness of Gombau's squad given the performances displayed despite no regular internationals amongst them.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I wasn't being serious lol yes I'm aware of the turf but the word 'laid' should be used very loosely here. The grass has barely settled in.
Franko
Guest
Bad news for them. Those tactics you mentioned earlier of closing BR space work better when playing on a paddock. They did the same to AU in the final round of the season last year.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Yes, but aren't you aware they've just had new turf laid?
AZ_RBB
Guest
From memory on two occasions (or at least one) where Newcastle beat Brisbane, the pitch was in dire condition making it less than conducive to Brisbane's style of play. I think one was after the Taylor Swift concert at Lang Park and the other was a bog at Hunter Stadium.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Why do you say that?
AZ_RBB
Guest
I wonder if there will be any grass on the surface at Hunter.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Newcastle for some reason are able to employ the right tactics to counter Roar's possession based football but they're not able to do as such to other sides. Newcastle if employing the same tactics used will attempt to play high pressure tactic to create more turnovers and errors out of defence. When Roar get close they will press, they'll force a turnover and play counter attacking football. It's not ongodly if you look as to how they do it. Adelaide should win but I would like Phoenix to knock them off. The positive for the Big Blue, despite the losses incurred, is the decent crowd expected to turnout as reported by Sydney FC. I would love for Perth to continue of their hot run and Wanderers to bounce back but I have a feeling this may end in a draw as Wanderers will them come out of the blocks firing when they begin their run of four matches at home. If Matt Simon had of stayed fit, I would have tipped Mariners just based on their second half performance against Adelaide, but I'll stick with City.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Now that the Villa curse has been lifted and the lads recognise they all have to do their bit, I'm expecting a win at AAMI but Moss will have Marinators park the bus so it ain't going to be easy. Looking forward to PG v Wanderers and expecting a good crowd.
Franko
Guest
NJ v BR Draw 1-1 Brisbane still a shambles, NJ somewhat plucky. Haven't heard from Jeronimo yet, how is he doing? AU v Nix AU comfortably 3-0, Nix are without most of their first XI. AU's biggest problem will be complacency SFC v MV SFC 2-1 against a depleted MV PG v WSW Keogh and DaSilva to grab one each 2-0 @home MC v CCM MC starting to show a little promise and should pick up a 1-0 win. Would love to have delayed the big blue until a mid-week festive period game where both sides could be closer to full strength. Also not really fair on Nix that they should be so depleted, but thems the luck in this comp. Also a bit of a strange Friday night choice.