The A-League season continues, and Sydney FC remain unbeaten. So will their undefeated streak ever end? That’s just one of the questions our panel will try to answer in this week’s edition of expert tips and predictions.
Last week was a decent one for the panel, with the scores ranging from two out of five (Matt) to a very nice four (Vas). As a result, I’ve been joined at the top of the table by Vas, with both of us on 44 points for the season.
Mike (38) is the best of the chasing pack, and The Crowd (37), Matt (35) and Janek (34) aren’t too far behind.
This week gets underway with an Australia Day instalment of the Big Blue, when the Victory will be hoping to become the first team to knock off Sydney FC this year.
Melbourne City then travel to Newcastle to face the Jets, before the Mariners host the Glory and Brisbane welcome the Wanderers in a Saturday double-header. The round then draws to a close with Adelaide hosting the Phoenix.
As always, be sure to lend your voice to The Crowd in the form below to help every Roarer out-tip the experts. Voting closes at 4pm (AEDT) on Thursday, so make sure you check back after then to see the final results.
On to the tips!
Mike Tuckerman
Draw, Melbourne City, Perth Glory, Draw, Adelaide United
Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC
Draw. How different things could be if Victory had taken all three points at Allianz Stadium earlier in the season. They’ll be out for revenge in this Australia Day blockbuster, but it could finish all square at Etihad Stadium.
Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne City
City. Good things are happening on and off the field for the Newcastle Jets, but they’ll be in unfamiliar territory for this clash in Coffs Harbour. No doubt Tim Cahill will enjoy the trip to the Mid North Coast, and he could fire City to victory.
Central Coast Mariners vs Perth Glory
Glory. Not many things have gone right for the Mariners this season, but Central Coast have been better than their points tally suggests. They’ll hope to spring a surprise against Glory, but the visitors will have too much class in Gosford.
Brisbane Roar vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Draw. Which Roar side will turn up at Suncorp Stadium? Out or form and amid rumours of player unrest, the Roar will hope to steady the ship against a Wanderers side buoyed by a last-start win over Newcastle.
Adelaide United vs Wellington Phoenix
Adelaide. It’s been a disastrous campaign for Adelaide United, who were well-beaten by Sydney FC last weekend. Nevertheless, their first home win of the season came against the Phoenix at Coopers Stadium, and they could repeat the feat here.
Matt Connellan
Draw, Melbourne City, Perth Glory, Draw, Draw
Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC
Draw. A blockbuster encounter on Australia Day and I’m going for the classic fence sit, a draw. Home ground advantage will be crucial in this one, but I don’t think Sydney will lose, making it 17 unbeaten in the league.
Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne City
City. The Jets are plucky and motivated but a bit short on troops, although they’ll be able to welcome back Andrew Hoole from suspension in a welcome boost in the attacking third. But City’s embarrassment of riches will just be too much.
Central Coast Mariners vs Perth Glory
Glory. Perth were outstanding in coming from behind to overcome Victory last weekend. Their firepower should be too much for Central Coast’s famously flimsy defence and with Roy O’Donovan out suspended, who on earth is going to score the goal(s) they need for an upset?
Brisbane Roar vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Draw. The home ground monkey is off the Wanderers’ back after their win at Campbelltown Stadium on the weekend, so they’ll head north with added confidence. If Jamie Maclaren starts it could be another story, but I think it’ll be hard to split these two, with Western Sydney coming into a bit of form.
Adelaide United vs Wellington Phoenix
Draw. The ‘Nix are notoriously unreliable on the road while Adelaide’s struggles have been bemusing at best. At Hindmarsh, though, they should be good for a point, although if I had to pick one I’d pick Wellington. But I don’t, so I won’t.
Janek Speight
Melbourne Victory, Draw, Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar, Adelaide United
Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC
Victory. A draw looks more likely here, but if there’s a team to break Sydney’s undefeated streak it’s Victory at home. They have the quality to beat Arnie’s side and need a reaction after two disappointing losses last week.
Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne City
Draw. City have been frustratingly inconsistent and Newcastle are continuing to look like a solid side in need of just one or two quality players. Stalemate.
Central Coast Mariners vs Perth Glory
Perth. A nice win last weekend, the team is finally clicking, and Adam Taggart looks like he’s getting back to his best after a few injury-ravaged years.
Brisbane Roar vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Brisbane. After snapping their losing streak, Brisbane need to kick on. If Jamie Maclaren starts, it should be a home win.
Adelaide United vs Wellington Phoenix
Adelaide. The Reds have played well in many games without taking deserved points. At home they have the quality to see off a good Wellington side.
Vas Venkatramani
Draw, Newcastle Jets, Draw, Brisbane Roar, Adelaide United
Daniel Jeffrey
Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City, Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar, Adelaide United
Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC
Victory. Okay folks, this is it, the week Sydney’s undefeated runs comes to a shuddering halt against their fierce rivals. Melbourne will be hungry as ever for a win over the Sky Blues following two straight losses, and I’m tipping them to come out of the blocks firing and catch the visitors off guard.
Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne City
City. They still haven’t hit their straps since winning the FFA Cup, but City should have enough quality to account for the Jets.
Central Coast Mariners vs Perth Glory
Glory. Perth have been remarkably hit-and-miss on the road this year, but they’re coming off a heartening win over the Victory and should be too good for Paul Okon’s side.
Brisbane Roar vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Brisbane. The Roar have a hectic schedule coming up in the next week, so they’ll want to start things off on the right foot. A match against the inconsistent Wanderers is the perfect opportunity for that.
Adelaide United vs Wellington Phoenix
Adelaide. United managed a home win a couple of weeks ago, and the Phoenix, fresh off a home loss last week, provide an excellent opportunity for the Reds to claim another one.
| Round 17 | Mike | Matt | Janek | Vas | Daniel | The Crowd |
| MVC v SYD | Draw | Draw | MVC | Draw | MVC | MVC |
| NEW v MLC | MLC | MLC | Draw | NEW | MLC | MLC |
| CCM v PER | PER | PER | PER | Draw | PER | PER |
| BRI v WSW | Draw | Draw | BRI | BRI | BRI | BRI |
| ADL v WEL | ADL | Draw | ADL | ADL | ADL | ADL |
| Last week | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 38 | 35 | 34 | 44 | 44 | 37 |
That’s just what we think, though. If you’ve got a different set of predictions, be sure to add them to The Crowd’s tips. Crowd tipping closes at 4pm (AEDT).
TK
Guest
Apologies for the crappy typing..i hate my phone keyboard.
TK
Guest
Waz, he isn't getting the service of last year. The team are too slow to get the ball to him or expect him to beat three players in a crowded box with a hail mary cross. Id like to see him getting more quick ball from midfield in central areas and i think he needs a partner up frony to create uncertainty in defence. At the moment everyone has brisbane worked out. Dou le mark the lone striker and push the plodding midfield to the flanks and crowd the box defensively when the inevitable cross finally comes in. They need two up front, quicker central balls from midfield and use pace to put the opposition under pressure and backpedalling. Macca is no berisha who could bulldoze through a crowded defence with the ball bouncing off knees and feet and still end up in the net. He needs some space to work in and i think hell be fine. But the type of ball hes getting is not suiting his strengths. I hope he starts and plays for 90. They need to back him. Benching him is not going to help him. Not like its helped out results either. Most strikers would struggle to s ore IMO with the service macca gets. .
Griffo
Roar Guru
Sydney, Jets, draw, draw, draw. Would love for SFC to lose this week but it just feels like MV are still coming through a bad patch. An away from home game for the Jets. Hole and maybe Nordstrand back and City still have to travel. Maybe a draw here, too.
Waz
Guest
TK, it is unfair to target Maccers as it's normal a striker will go through form dips; but he's been getting the service he's just not been scoring. His conversion rate is way down on last year. He's like Solorzano, a real confidence player, and he's not got it this year sadly.
Waz
Guest
The reporting on this is frustrating the hell out of me. He's just not been playing very well this season, it's not that hard; and you can see he's trying and he's getting frustrated, time on the bench is exactly what he needs that, and a start against Global FC At some point it will all click again for him, he's too good not too, but playing him through a bad patch hasn't worked so use him off the bench
TK
Guest
Sydney City Glory Draw Nix If mclaren got decent service he would score more goals. Did he not win ud the game last week regardless of how got the ball in the net? Next itll be how crap fornerolli is cos hes not scored for a while. There are problems with the whole roar team i think it's unfair to target macca. He needs a good striking partner and clean ball. But i think the roars season is going backwards the way they are playing. Impotent in the front 2/3 too slow too slow too slow. Sydney by contrast move the ball around much more quickly and so create much more.
Chris
Guest
Waz totally agree. I don't see anything in Maclaren that says he is something special. A little bit like Scott McDonald. Will score some goals and then disappear for the next 5 or 6 games. Would love for him to prove me wrong :)
Waz
Guest
I just noticed the comment from one of the experts "If Jamie Maclaren starts it could be another story" .... seriously, it's as if some people don't watch games; Maclaren is not performing anywhere near the level he was last year, it's a combination of things no doubt but that's the reality. He's still a good player, he's still got talent, but his self-confidence appears shot to pieces and it's evident in the way he's been playing. When he's started for Roar this season it's been like playing with 10 1/2 men, Aloisi and fans have waited for him to click and he just hasn't so a spell on the bench is warranted before his confidence falls off a cliff. Even last week when he came on, he's getting a lot of plaudits for the winning goal but in the build up to it it's actually Maclaren that miscontrols a relatively simple ball which subsequently bounces through the defenders legs to set the goal. That mistimed first touch is common this season and it's been getting worse in recent weeks. The kid needs a break, normally you'd say that means goals but he's been gifted four goals from the spot this season and bagged another 5 in open play - that should be enough to fire his confidence but it obviously isn't and it looks like he needs a good 90 minutes as well as scoring goals? Fox Sports could do us all a favour and analyse his play this season but instead all we get is Bozza's popcorn commentary. rant over.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Victory 1 SFC 1 Jets 1 City 1 CCM 0 Glory 0 Roar 1 WSW 1 AU 0 Nix 0
Waz
Guest
Draw - just can't see SFC losing this one Draw - but only if Jets defence improves Draw - CCM will punish glorys weak defence, Roar - but only just unless they find their goal scoring knack Adelaide - not sure why, just can't believe they can play rubbish all season
jeff dustby
Guest
i think the good guys (Victory) are specials this week. the run of sydney FC is coming to a halt