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Opinion
Match Week 3 of the A-League Men’s competition features the normal six matches, with next Wednesday’s clash between Melbourne City and Perth Glory from Match Week 4 also added to this edition of The Roar’s tips and predictions.
Last week was catastrophic for Mike Tuckerman, not much better for Simon Hill and relatively poor for yours truly and the crowd. Author Texi Smith showed the way with a commendable three correct selections.
Things look no easier this week. The Wanderers, Roar and Perth will be desperate in their fixtures, as will both Sydney FC and Newcastle when they meet in Sydney. I am seeing the Bulls and Mariners playing the potential match of the weekend and the Victory to continue its unbeaten run.
Good luck with your tips and be sure to enter them in the sheet below to have a say as part of the ever important voice of the crowd. Here is the way the panel sees this set of fixtures unfolding.
Mike Tuckerman
Draw, Brisbane, City, Draw, Macarthur, Victory, City
I’ve never been the most serious of tipsters, but my selections last week were an absolute disgrace, and the worst thing was I put some thought into them! So in the interests of redeeming myself on the back of my first-ever tip-less round, here goes nothing.
Wellington are one of best-drilled teams in the league, and the Wanderers are arguably the worst. But Carl Robinson’s side have plenty to play for and the Phoenix are on an eternal road trip. Points shared.
Brisbane Roar were ordinary to say the least against Melbourne Victory, while Adelaide United fought back to snatch a point off Melbourne City. But the Reds don’t always travel well and the Roar will be out to avenge last year’s final’s defeat in front of their home fans. I’m backing the home team.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
I reckon the weirdest thing about Melbourne City is that they never seem to play to their full potential. They’re well-coached, have as much depth as anyone and should arguably streak home with the premiership. But they’re just never that impressive. Still, they should beat the interlopers from the western suburbs.
On the back of a couple of insipid performances, Sydney FC don’t even look like they’ll be the best team in the city, let alone the A-League Men’s competition. You’d think they’d bounce back in a televised clash in front of their home fans, but I’ll sit on the fence and back Arthur Papas’ impressive Jets side to snag a point.
For a team with so much talent, Macarthur’s game plan of boring other teams to death seems like a strange one. Still, they should have too much firepower for the Mariners at Panthers Stadium, where it’ll be interesting to see how many fans turn out.
Look away now, Perth Glory fans, because Tony Popovic is back. Unfortunately for you, he’s coming for all three points. With Glory distracted by the will-he, won’t-he Daniel Sturridge saga, this should be three points in the bag for the resurgent Victory.
I suspect Melbourne City’s clash with the Glory will be closer than everyone might expect, but with City enjoying home advantage and Glory condemned to a lengthy stint on the road, it’s hard to back against the home team here.
Simon Hill
Wellington, Adelaide, Sydney, City, Macarthur, Victory, City
Wellington are making monkeys out of all of us again. Is Ufuk Talay the smartest coach in the competition? Wanderers need to set their alarm clock to shake the lethargy – if not, time might be almost up for Carl Robinson.
Adelaide showed remarkable fight to claw a point out of the game with Melbourne City. Brisbane looked jaded for all the travel to and from Melbourne. I think the hangover might continue.
Sydney have to come good at some stage – even though Luke Brattan is a big absentee, they still have a lot of quality. I like the look of the Jets, but this hasn’t always been a happy hunting ground for them, and I think the Sky Blues will get their first win.
Melbourne City will have faced the full wrath of Paddy Kisnorbo for allowing a 2-goal lead to slip against the Reds last week – surely they won’t do the same thing again?
Macarthur pulled off the result of the round last week. A very good acquisition in Adrian Mariappa too during the week. Home win against the Mariners – well, in Penrith anyway.
Victory look back to their best – demolishing Roar with ease. Perth missed chances against Western, but they won’t find them as easy to come by against a resurgent Victory. Home win.
And City to back up against Glory in midweek. Being away from Western Australia for so long could be a real issue for Richard Garcia and they’ll need to pick up points somewhere – but I don’t think it will be at AAMI Park.
Stuart Thomas
Wellington, Adelaide, City, Sydney, Central Coast, Victory, City
After the first half debacle that the Wanderers produced against the Jets last week, it is hard to tip them against what has been a consistent Wellington Phoenix over the opening rounds. Hooper to score again and Carl Robinson to be utterly under the pump after another in a long line of disappointing results.
The Reds are yet to lose and pushed City all the way last week. Brisbane failed to impress against Victory and Adelaide should get their first set of three points for the season on the road.
Western United will match Melbourne City for much of the contest at AAMI Park on Saturday night and defend bravely, yet a touch of class from one of the big names in the City front three will snatch the points late in the game.
Connor Metcalfe (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Sydney FC should beat a Jets team looking much improved on last season, yet we also thought the Sky Blues would be too strong for both their opponents on the first two weekends. Sydney cannot afford to lose and the banana-skin nature of this match cannot be underestimated.
Macarthur FC and Central Coast looks like a cracker and both teams will have hopes of sitting high on the ladder come Sunday evening after a win. A little unlucky last week, the Mariners might just shade a Bulls team who were a little fortunate to hang on to the points against a sloppy Sydney FC.
Confidence is a wonderful thing and a fit and healthy Victory team should prove too strong for Perth at AAMI Park on Sunday. Likewise, the men in purple could well suffer their second loss in four days when Melbourne City slice them up convincingly next Wednesday night.
Texi Smith
Western Sydney, Adelaide, City, Sydney, Macarthur, Draw, City
The return of Tomer Hemed to WIN Stadium in Wollongong will provide the Phoenix with an opportunity to build on their fabulous win against the Mariners last week. With Reno Piscopo and Jaushua Sotirio the game-changing players, the home team will be confident of getting past the out-of-sorts Wanderers.
The visitors were unimpressive against Newcastle and failed to turn the screw when the game swung their way. However, with Jack Rodwell looking classy and Hemed knowing the way to goal, this could be the moment when Wanderers get it together.
Brisbane Roar’s Melbourne holiday is over and what a disaster it was. After showing good signs against City in Round 1, they were tepid against Victory and got what they deserved. This though is their first home game of the season at the Redcliffe fortress.
Jay O’Shea will need to step up and lead his men to a big performance against a team who showed resilience and desire against the champions last weekend, but my crystal ball says all three points will be heading back to South Australia.
The trio of Andrew Nabbout, Mathew Leckie and Jamie Maclaren have the chance to fill their boots here against Western United in another derby encounter.
Marco Tilio will make the starting line-up and pull the strings, as the visiting United struggle to stem the tide.
Alessandro Diamanti’s box of tricks will remain closed and City will cruise to a comfortable win.
The league’s new wooden spoon favourites Sydney FC have it all to do. The second-best team in the club will have to put on a show to eclipse the women who precede them in this double header at Kogarah. This is where last season’s grand finalists will need to step up.
They will dominate possession once again, but their lack of incisiveness will keep them goalless well into the second half. With Olivier Boumal proving an astute signing and Angus Thurgate on fire, Daniel Penha will open the scoring before Sydney equalise and go ahead soon after.
Another stressful day at the office for Steve Corica.
Macarthur FC pulled off a smash and grab at Sydney FC last week, but it was impossible to tell if they played well or not, the wild windy weather proving difficult for both teams.
Tommy Uskok was immense at the back, their astute signings were happy to run with the ball and in Filip Kurto they have a quality goalkeeper. This game at Panthers Stadium will be a collectors’ item, and the Mariners will be relishing playing the Bulls at a neutral venue.
Despite Central Coast pushing for victory in the second half, Ulises Davila will prove the difference yet again and send the Bulls to somewhere near the top of the A-League Men’s ladder.
For all the talk of Victory being a force under Tony Popovic, their brief stay at the top will be over after this one. Perth Glory will put aside last week’s troubles to give the league leaders a torrid afternoon.
Despite Daniel Sturridge missing out again, the more than able Daniel Stynes will step into his role and be the source of everything positive in Perth’s attack.
It looks like a hard fought draw and potentially a positive point for both teams.
Melbourne City’s super show on the weekend gives them all the momentum coming into an intriguing clash with Glory in this midweek fixture at AAMI Park. Perth will be buzzing from their performance at the same venue, and with their main man making a start in this one, there is the potential for fireworks.
Ultimately the class of City will win out, but it will be a high scoring game with many twists and an eventual win for what could be a makeshift City starting eleven.
| Match Week 3 | Mike | Simon | Stuart | Texi | The Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEL vs WSW | DRAW | WEL | WEL | WSW | WEL |
| BRI vs ADL | BRI | ADL | ADL | ADL | ADL |
| MCY vs WUN | MCY | MCY | MCY | MCY | MCY |
| SYD vs NEW | DRAW | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD |
| MAC vs CCM | MAC | MAC | CCM | MAC | MAC |
| MVC vs PER | MVC | MVC | MVC | DRAW | MVC |
| MCY vs PER | MCY | MCY | MCY | MCY | MCY |
| Previous total | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Last week | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| New total | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
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