Opinion
Respected football journalist Mike Tuckerman continues to chip away, making incremental moves on the tipping ladder the longer the A-League season runs.
The Brisbane resident snared both the Roar and Western United in Round 22 yet hitched his wagon with a disappointing Perth to round out the weekend. Round 23 looks quite predictable with Brisbane, Melbourne City, Wellington and Adelaide likely to start as strong favourites.
The Sydney FC versus Perth clash looks the juiciest of the weekend and holds considerable ramifications for the visitors should they fall further behind City and the Phoenix with a loss to the champions.
Good luck with your selections and be sure to enter them in the sheet below to have your say as a part of the ever-important voice of the crowd. Here are the thoughts of the panel on all the upcoming action.
Mike Tuckerman
Tips: Brisbane, Sydney, City, Wellington, Draw
Brisbane Roar turned in their best performance of the season in their 3-1 win over the Wanderers last weekend, and Robbie Fowler’s side are aiming to push on and take a run at the top four. They’ll go into this game full of confidence, even if the desperate Mariners have their backs to the wall. It’s hard to see how the hosts don’t record another victory.
I was tempted to tip a draw, if only because I reckon the uncertainty around Sydney FC’s Asian campaign is weighing on them a bit. But the Sky Blues have a point to prove after their recent derby defeat at Kogarah and they remain a tough side to beat at home. They should step up a gear and see off a Glory side rarely at its best on the road.
After failing to tip City last week, they go ahead and comfortably account for the Glory in Perth. They’re the ultimate rocks-and-diamonds team, but having set their sights on second, they’ll want to keep their distance with the chasing pack. Every now and then they fail to turn up for games at AAMI Park but they’re a better side than the visitors.
Would anyone else love to see Wellington Phoenix run rings around Marco Rojas in the Kiwi capital? Maybe it’s just me. The Phoenix eased into this clash with a comfortable win over cannon fodder Central Coast last weekend, but there’s little doubt this is a Sunday afternoon bell-ringer across the ditch. I’ve got the hosts just shading proceedings.
(Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
The wheels have fallen off in Adelaide and after a promising start to the season, the Reds are now in serious danger of missing the finals entirely. They were simply diabolical in that 5-1 loss to Western United last weekend and they’ve now conceded 12 goals in their last three games. Newcastle are unbeaten in five, making it hard to split these two.
Stuart Thomas
Tips: Brisbane, Sydney, City, Wellington, Newcastle
Short and sweet from me this week, in what appears the easiest round of the season for tipping thus far.
Central Coast look shot and they are beginning to show signs of being disheartened. Sorry Roar fans, but there is no way I can look past the men in orange this week. Brisbane 4-2.
Sydney showed all the backbone they possess in a come-from-behind victory in the Big Blue last weekend. The second half was clinical. Perth were MIA early against City. Sydney to win 1-0 and Perth to begin looking quite shaky, as Brisbane and Western United apply some heat from behind.
After backing the Wanderers last weekend, I am jumping off them just as quickly. City are the most unconvincing of teams yet continue to accumulate points. They will do say again here in a match that will effectively end the run of Western Sydney.
(AAP Image/Sean Garnsworthy)
Wellington will dish out the 11th loss of the season to the Victory and continue their surge towards second place on the ladder. Should City slip, the Phoenix would claim that spot this weekend and Ufuk Talay would draw ever closer towards receiving the keys to the city.
After the most appalling of performances against Western United in Round 22, there isn’t a hope in Hades that I’ll be tipping Adelaide against the improving Newcastle. The week off would have continued the changes that Carl Robinson hopes to implement and the men from the Hunter should pinch the points on the road. If they do, my prediction of Adelaide missing the finals will be starting to look ever likely.
Paul Nicholls
Tips: Brisbane, Sydney, City, Wellington, Newcastle
Thanks to a great performance by Scott McDonald, Brisbane Roar played their best game of the season against Western Sydney last week. Central Coast on the other hand, hit a new low against Wellington. In the last three weeks the Mariners have scored three goals and conceded 12. More pain for the Central Coast this week.
When Adam le Fondre finished a superb counter-attacking move to score Sydney’s fourth goal against Melbourne Victory, the Sky Blues mini form slump was officially over. They won’t have it all their own way against Perth, who with Diego Castro in top form, finished well against Melbourne City. However, I can’t see anything other than a home win for Sydney FC.
Hats off to Melbourne City for a strong away win against Perth Glory last week. Despite being on the back foot for most of the second half, three goals and three points was a great return, and coach Erick Mombaerts will be happy with the form of gloveman Tom Glover. Western Sydney were outclassed by Brisbane and will struggle on their trip south. City by two.
Wellington were back to winning ways and have now won four of their last five games. With a bunch of teams vying for second place, Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay won’t want to be taking Melbourne Victory too lightly, especially with an in-form Marco Rojas in the navy blue. Victory slowly unravelled against Sydney FC and across the Tasman I can’t see them getting a sniff. Phoenix to win 2-1.
Adelaide and Newcastle is a tough one to pick. The Coopers Stadium fortress well and truly crumbled against Western United and with three losses on the trot, Adelaide are on the ropes. Newcastle have played with more confidence under Carl Robinson and despite playing it low key, he must be over the moon with their form. Newcastle to win.
Tom Williamson
Tips: Brisbane, Sydney, City, Wellington, Draw
As I begin a late chase on Paul, I have to build upon an above-average round with another solid week.
We open with Brisbane hosting the incredibly wayward Mariners in a crucial game for the Roar, that could see them lock up a top-six spot in Robbie Fowler’s inaugural season. I predict the orange freight train to steam through the hapless Mariners as the Roar further cement a spot in the six. Brisbane 3-1.
Saturday has two massive games, opening with Sydney FC hosting Perth Glory in what could very well be a preview to the grand final.
Sydney are going to lift the premier’s plate, that’s a near certainty. The next race is who hosts a semi-final, clinching Asian football for next season: City or Perth? This game has massive ramifications for that battle and could very well make or break Popovic’s chances at second place. I think it’ll break it, Sydney to win in a thriller 3-2.
(Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Melbourne City can further consolidate their spot in second place after their nail-biting victory in Perth last Sunday night.
The Wanderers are in desperate need of three points as they risk falling out of reach of the top six. Are they good enough to get an upset when they travel south of the border? No, City to thrash Western Sydney.
Sunday opens with Melbourne Victory in unfamiliar territory, seemingly destined to miss out on the top six for the first time since 2012. Their only hope is a must-win game across the ditch in windy Wellington. The Phoenix, on the other hand, are flying like the wind, coming off a comprehensive win against the Mariners in Gosford.
The home-ground advantage will prove incredibly beneficial to the Nix, who I predict will dispatch of the Victory with ease.
The only consistency Adelaide has shown this season is being consistently disappointing. Luckily for such an up-and-down season, they’re still in the hunt for a top-six spot and if they’re to keep pace with the rest of the pack, a win at home, against Newcastle, is a necessity. I think they’ll falter, and this one will end all square.
| Round 22 | Mike | Stuart | Paul | Tom | The Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRI vs CCM | BRI | BRI | BRI | BRI | BRI |
| SYD vs PER | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD |
| MCY vs WSW | MCY | MCY | MCY | MCY | MCY |
| WEL vs MVC | WEL | WEL | WEL | WEL | WEL |
| ADL vs NEW | Draw | NEW | NEW | Draw | DRAW |
| Last week | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 54 | 57 | 51 | 47 | 55 |
Morocco is not the only nation to find success with a large contingent of foreign-developed players - and the Socceroos can join that list.
Former Premier League striker turned pundit Michael Bridges has launched a staggering attack on Manchester United manager Eric ten Hag in the wake of…
Former Socceroos defender Patrick Kisnorbo will make his return from the coaching wilderness when he leads the A-League Men All Stars against Newcastle United.…
A win for Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham against Manchester City this week could hand the Premier League title to Spurs' arch rivals Arsenal. So be…
There were many disgusted by the overall spectacle at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon when the Phoenix and Victory played out a cagey 0-0…
Leandro Trossard scored the only goal after 20 minutes, to keep the pressure on Manchester City.
