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The Roar's A-League Men tips and predictions: Match Week 7

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Expert
29th December, 2021
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As I compile this version of the A-League Men tips and predictions, there are four matches still slated to go ahead in Match Week 7 of the competition.

Rather interestingly, two matches will take place on Saturday night and the others mid-week, when the Phoenix face the Roar and Melbourne City take on Adelaide United next Wednesday.

It will be a busy few days for the Reds and Wellington, should their Saturday night fixture go ahead, and Western Sydney will do battle with Western United at precisely the same time.

We do indeed live in crazy times and this match week of A-League Men play perhaps best sums things up.

Good luck with your tips for the round and be sure to enter them in the sheet below to have a say in the ever improving voice of the crowd.

Here is the way the very confused panel is predicting all the action will unfold.

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Mike Tuckerman
Adelaide, Draw, Brisbane, City

While the fixture changes haven’t helped, the Reds weren’t in the best of form before this clash. They need a win and they should just about eke one out against the Phoenix.

Carl Robinson has enjoyed a stay of execution, but Gary van Egmond’s arrival won’t help his cause. The Wanderers will dig in for a point and no more against Western United.

Carl Robinson

(Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)

Brisbane Roar face the prospect of plenty of midweek football in the future. They aren’t the best of travelling sides, but they should claim a much-needed win in Wollongong.

While Melbourne City have flattered to deceive so far this season, it shouldn’t be long before they start to click into gear. Look for Mat Leckie to have a stormer against his old club – provided, of course, that he’s fit.

Simon Hill
Adelaide, Draw, TBC, TBC
Adelaide have had a long wait for their first win of the season, but I think it will come against Wellington, who have had an alarming dip of late.

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Gael Sundaval’s arrival will help, but he’s not available for this one and I think the Hindmarsh roar will finally get the Reds across the line.

Adelaide United fans celebrate

(Photo by James Elsby/Getty Images)

I am not sure there will be too many goals in Parramatta – but if there are any, I think they will be equally shared.

Western came undone against Victory and will be looking to regroup. Wanderers are desperate for a win – but I still don’t think the balance is quite right. I’m sitting on the fence.

Stuart Thomas
Adelaide, United, Wellington, City

I am seriously not sure whether I am Arthur or Martha with all the postponements occurring, but here we go.

Adelaide are a far better team than their ladder position suggests and should snatch a must needed win against the Phoenix on Saturday night.

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Neither team has produced its best thus far and Saturday’s home fixture presents a golden chance for the Reds to do so.

Bernardo

(Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

Anyone picking the Wanderers right now is mad. The arrival of Gary van Egmond is nothing but a disturbing and ominous presence making Carl Robinson’s job even more difficult than it already was.

United have the most solid of defences and Western United have limited attacking options. 1-0 to the visitors.

Much like the Wanderers, Brisbane are a tough team to select with any confidence right now and I will continue to go against them when they face Wellington on a short turnaround from a Saturday night fixture this coming Wednesday.

Sorry Roar fans, yet a point from four games is hard to hitch one’s wagon on.

The Reds will also endure a quick turnaround against City next Wednesday and the champions look almost sure things to grab another three points and remain close to the early season A-League Men front-runners.

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Texi Smith
Adelaide, United, Wellington, City

My big tip for this week’s fixtures is that a good chunk of them will be cancelled for one reason or another, all related to COVID.

Having said that, the A-League Men is well practiced at dealing with whatever is thrown at it and we’ll have plenty of entertainment.

Reno Piscopo of the Phoenix runs with the ball

(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Phoenix will be lambs to the slaughter at Adelaide in a Saturday night spectacular.

The goalkeeping exploits of James Delianov will keep the home team level after a surprisingly sprightly opening for Wellington, Reno Piscopo proving to be a tricky customer, and that will be the springboard for a big performance from the Reds.

Once Craig Goodwin scores on the rebound from a free kick, there will be no stopping them, and Mohamed Toure’s hat trick will give the home side a handsome start to 2022.

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Western Sydney Wanderers are hard to love at the moment. They have established A-League Men names in Bernie Ibini, Terry Antonis and James Troisi, but names will get you nowhere in this league.

COVID-hit Western United will be smarting from the manner of their loss to Victory on Boxing Day, especially after the chances they spurned and this will be the perfect opportunity to right those wrongs.

Dylan Pierias will latch on to a Connor Pain through ball to lob Tomas Mejias for the only goal on the hour and Wanderers will throw everything at the visitors to no avail. Tomer Hemed will be guilty of a miss-of-the-season contender when he rounds the keeper and shoots wide.

Tomer Hemed

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

A first game of the new year at WIN Stadium and a visiting team lacking knowledge of how to win. The Phoenix will lift their game and give themselves a lift up the table in this midweek encounter.

The Roar’s defensive woes will continue despite all their attacking intent, with Luke Ivanovic looking lively.

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A game that looks like going to a draw will explode into life with ten minutes to go, with Jaushua Sotirio drilling home a screamer on the half-volley before David Ball bundles in the clincher at the death to anchor Brisbane to the bottom of the league.

The Wednesday evening game at AAMI Park will be a pulsating affair and a shoot-out between an attack bursting with goals and an attack so far frustrated this season.

City will boss the game from the start, Marco Tilio causing mayhem every time he receives the ball. The teams will trade goals to go in level at 2-2, Isaias Sanchez will give Adelaide a shock lead midway through the second half before City come home strongly.

Substitute Stefan Colakovski will score twice to secure the points for the home side. A flex of the muscles from the reigning premiers.

Match Week 7 Mike Simon Stuart Texi The Crowd
ADL vs WSW ADL ADL ADL ADL ?
WSW vs WUN Draw Draw WUN WUN ?
WEL vs BRI BRI TBC WEL WEL ?
MCY vs ADL MCY TBC MCY MCY ?
Last Week 1 1 0 2 1
Total 11 11 10 15 12

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