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Opinion
The Crowd excelled last week in what was another enormously difficult tipping round to navigate. There is little chance of things getting any easier across the next seven days, with a full round slated and an additional match to be played between Melbourne City and Western Sydney next Wednesday night.
Adelaide United will be desperately trying to break their duck against the high flying Western United, Central Coast could potentially end Carl Robinson’s reign at Western Sydney and Saturday night’s Melbourne Derby has more potential than it has had in recent times.
Brisbane will attempt to move off the bottom of the ladder, two form sides meet when the Bulls tackle the Jets and Sydney FC simply must win at home against Wellington or potentially find themselves eight points away from a finals berth and miles off the pace.
Good luck with your tips for the round and be sure to enter them in the sheet below to have a say in the ladder-leading voice of the Crowd. Here is the way the panel sees all the action unfolding this weekend.
Mike Tuckerman
Western United, Central Coast, Victory, Draw, Macarthur, Sydney, City
Not that early-season form is usually much of a guide, but Western United have so far proved capable of grinding out results under John Aloisi.
They’ve now recorded three 1-0 wins on the trot and have only conceded only once during that run, and while the Reds are usually a tough side to beat, they might lack the firepower in a clash that sees the Aloisi brothers go head to head.
I’ll put my hand up and admit the Mariners are a much better side under Nick Montgomery than I expected them to be. They were good value for their 2-0 win over Sydney FC and in Marco Urena, they possess one of the shrewdest strikers in the league. I tipped the Wanderers to win last week and they let me down. I can’t tip them again here.
Melbourne City might be the defending champions, but at times they resemble real flat-track bullies. This is a litmus test for both sides and while City always give as good as they get in the derby, Victory showed in their 2-1 defeat of the Reds in Adelaide that they’ve got some real grit this season. Expect Tony Popovic’s side to make a statement.
There has to be a draw at some point, right? Brisbane Roar toiled tirelessly against Adelaide United a fortnight ago but didn’t quite have the quality up front to jag a home win. Perth Glory, meanwhile, have personnel concerns. With Brad Jones and Daniel Sturridge unlikely to feature, I suspect the points might be shared once again in Redcliffe.
Macarthur took a while to get going in their 2-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers last time out, but Ante Milicic has certainly turned them into a well-drilled unit. They don’t always play the most attractive football, but the question is whether they are solid enough to keep out an attacking but erratic Jets side. I’m tipping they are.
Look, I reckon this Sydney FC side is bang-average and the loss of Luke Brattan for the season is a game-changer. But after their worst performance in years under Steve Corica, and against a Wellington Phoenix side involved in midweek FFA Cup action, I fail to see how last season’s beaten grand finalists don’t respond. Surely they must win?
Will Carl Robinson be out of a job if Melbourne City beat Western Sydney Wanderers at AAMI Park? I reckon we might find out in this midweek clash.
Simon Hill
Draw, Central Coast, Draw, Brisbane, Newcastle, Draw, City
It’s a bit of a mystery as to why the Reds only have three points. They’ve been super-competitive, but the big moments haven’t gone their way. This is a tough trip – Western are very organised and even though they don’t score many, they don’t concede much either. I can’t split them.
I’ve gone for the Mariners to beat Wanderers, because form is the only thing you can base your judgements on – and in that regard, if Nick Montgomery’s team produce a first half like they did against Sydney, then Wanderers won’t be able to live with them either. However, the A-League Men has a way of making us all look silly – so don’t be surprised if the Wanderers put in their best shift of the season. Let’s be honest, they need to.
The Melbourne derby should be a belter. City should have beaten Perth by more last week, while Victory showed remarkable resilience to come away with the points in Adelaide. It could be a derby for the ages. Draw.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
At some point, it will click for Brisbane – and this might just be the game when it happens. Back on their home deck, against an injury-ravaged and travel-weary Perth. If Roar don’t win this one, then you fear for their season.
Tipping against the current league leaders might be seen as foolhardy, but I reckon the Jets showed more than enough against Wellington to cause Macarthur some problems. The Bulls are the only undefeated team left in the competition, but the movement of the Jets front four might just change that.
Wellington were poor against the Jets – defending like statues and generally bereft of inspiration further up. Ditto Sydney versus the Mariners. It has draw written all over it, while City should get the points on Wednesday night against the Wanderers.
Stuart Thomas
United, Central Coast, City, Perth, Newcastle, Wellington, City
Adelaide keep doing a lot right, yet are still to find a win in season 2021/22. Something tells me that situation will continue against a Western team full of confidence and one riding high on the ladder under new manager John Aloisi.
I was bullish about the Mariners last week against the Sky Blues and pocketed the fruits of that view. Their only danger against the Wanderers in Gosford will be failing to produce the same intensity and missing out on what should be a relatively easy three points, especially considering what the Wanderers have been producing lately.
What a Melbourne Derby this could be. The electric City with all its firepower up front, against a Tony Popovic lead Victory who will no doubt attempt to stifle and blunt. It reeks of a draw yet I’ll back the champions to put their once big brother in his place with a comfortable win.
As much as we would all love to see Brisbane Roar snatch a win and move off the bottom of the ladder, Perth have far too much for which to play. Richard Garcia knows the value of another win on the road, despite still being unsure as to when and if they will ever make it home. Perth in a very tight contest.
Macarthur are doing everything right and are packed to the gills with talent. Newcastle look like the big improvers at this early stage of the season. This has the makings of a ripping affair. The Jets could well win this, with Ulises Davila’s absence destined to catch up with the Bulls at some point.
Anyone tipping Sydney FC this weekend is not watching their play. Wellington should beat them comfortably on Sunday afternoon and next Wednesday’s fixture will be a walk in the park for City, with Carl Robinson possibly on a long haul flight back to Wales immediately after.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Texi Smith
United, Central Coast, City, Perth, Macarthur, Sydney, City
Western United won’t squander as many chances as they did last week in their win over Brisbane. Dylan Wenzel-Halls and Connor Pain could have filled their boots, but perhaps they’ve been saving it for this Friday night spectacular.
The visiting Adelaide were outplayed for large parts of their last game, Victory weathering a late storm to condemn them to a home defeat. Their inability to convert good positions into wins will haunt them and Alessandro Diamanti will lead the home team to a handsome win by three.
That winning feeling is enveloping Central Coast Stadium. The Mariners took their chances, hassling and bullying their illustrious opponents Sydney FC last Sunday.
They come up against a Western Sydney Wanderers team full of stars but low on confidence. If Bernie Ibini remains their top goal threat, the Mariners should have a field day.
The Melbourne derby is going to be an absolute humdinger. Victory were terrific in Adelaide last week and to see such a big contingent of travelling fans is a great advert for the A-League. The midfield of Broxham, Brillante and Brimmer will be key to this fascinating fixture.
If they can get hold of the game and dictate the pace, the away team have a chance to revenge past maulings, but today will belong to the fizzing home attack, fresh after a few extra days rest.
Viewing figures for Roar vs Glory will be interesting, up against the derby, but it will be a pulsating game nonetheless. With both teams misfiring early on in the season, fortress Redcliffe will be a tough place to visit for the often travel-shy Glory. Yet they will get the job done with Daniel Sturridge making his first meaningful on-field contribution.
(Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
League leaders Macarthur host a rampant Newcastle Jets, both teams on the back of great wins. The luscious playing surface at Campbelltown will give both the chance to play quality football and it will be a slender victory for the home side on their return to the Bull Pen.
What a great time for Phoenix to play Sydney FC, with the home side under immense pressure to avoid another embarrassing performance. I’m tipping a nail-biter and a 3-2 Sydney win, in what could be one of the most dramatic games of the season.
There’s a bonus match this week and an ill-timed pre-Christmas trip to Melbourne for the Wanderers. Melbourne City will be expected to demolish their opponents and most probably will.
Wanderers will eventually finish the game with nine, their miserable display capped off perfectly when coach Carl Robinson gets his marching orders after the final whistle.
| Match Week 5 | Mike | Simon | Stuart | Texi | The Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WUN vs ADL | WUN | Draw | WUN | WUN | WUN |
| CCM vs WSW | CCM | CCM | CCM | CCM | ? |
| MCY vs MVC | MVC | Draw | MCY | MCY | ? |
| BRI vs PER | Draw | BRI | PER | PER | ? |
| MAC vs NEW | MAC | NEW | NEW | MAC | ? |
| SYD vs WEL | SYD | Draw | WEL | SYD | ? |
| MCY vs WSW | MCY | MCY | MCY | MCY | ? |
| Last Week | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |