Texi Smith continues to hold a comfortable lead in the 2022 tipping, as we enter a month of action that will decide the next A-League Men champions.
It is a busy week ahead for Perth, Central Coast, Wellington, Macarthur, Newcastle, Western United and Western Sydney, all with two matches slated and crucial points on offer, that could well decide some teams’ semi-finals fate.
The Wanderers and Mariners fight for a crucial three points tonight, Newcastle does the same up against the Victory on Friday, and by the time next Wednesday arrives, both the Jets and Western Sydney could be in do-or-die situations.
Good luck with your tips for the round and be sure to enter them in the sheet below to have a say in the improving voice of the crowd.
Here is the way the panel sees all the action unfolding over the next eight days.
Mike Tuckerman
Wellington, Western Sydney, Macarthur, United, Victory, Wellington, United, draw
Perth Glory are an absolute rabble right now and desperately need a clean-out at the end of the season. They’ll come up against a Phoenix side with a spring in their step and every reason to dish out another mauling in the neutral confines of Kogarah.
How much will Daniel Margush’s inexplicable error end up costing the Wanderers? They should be two points better off going into this game but even with the unreliable Tomas Meijas in goal, they could be too strong for a Mariners side aiming to bounce back from last weekend’s thumping at the hands of Sydney FC.
Macarthur continued their Jekyll and Hyde-like campaign with a narrow defeat to Adelaide United last time out and they desperately need to return to the winner’s circle here. The clock is ticking on Brisbane Roar’s finals hopes, but it should really be the Bulls who prevail in front of their home fans.
John Aloisi will want to bounce back quickly from that unexpected 4-1 defeat to the Phoenix in Ballarat. They’re back on the road again in Launceston, where they downed the Glory 2-0 the last time these two sides met. Expect a similar result here.
John Aloisi (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
A 6-1 win over the hapless Perth Glory has rekindled Newcastle’s faint finals hopes and they’ll be well up for a clash with Melbourne Victory. The visitors are coming off a high of their own following that comprehensive Melbourne derby win and Tony Popovic’s side should just about edge a tight contest in the Hunter.
Wellington Phoenix are finally back at home and looking forward to playing in front of a decent crowd at Sky Stadium. They’ll come up against a Mariners outfit still battling for a finals position, despite their 5-0 at the feet of Sydney FC last time out. There’ll be plenty of emotion in this one, but it should be the hosts who claim all three points.
Another spin of the venue bingo wheel sees Western United run out at UTAS Stadium in Launceston for the second game in a row. Macarthur unfollowed me on Twitter because I bagged them for their exorbitant ticket prices, so I’m backing the Victorians in their home away from home away from home here.
Mark Rudan versus Arthur Papas is the sort of coaching match-up we’ve been crying out for. The Wanderers go into this game on the back of a couple of draws and both sides simply must win here to keep their finals hopes alive. I’m tipping they’ll cancel each other out instead.
Simon Hill
Wellington, Draw, Macarthur, United, Victory, Central Coast, United, Western Sydney
Stuart Thomas
Wellington, Central Coast, Macarthur, United, Victory, Wellington, United, Newcastle
I’ll be extremely surprised if anyone tips Perth against the Phoenix, after last week’s stunning win against Western United the men in yellow have moved into the top six with a few games in hand of most of the teams above them. They will be playing finals and the Glory will not. An easy win for the visitors.
Central Coast at Western Sydney is something of a stab in the dark, neither have been in sparkling recent form yet the Mariners have more class and might just pinch this one on the road.
Macarthur are well out of sorts, need a win and face a still unconvincing Brisbane in Campbelltown on Friday. Surely they get the points they need?
Western United might rest a few against the Glory on Saturday night during their 4-0 win and if the Jets’ A team turns up against the Victory, they could claim a valuable win. Should the B team arrive, Victory will win well. Tony Popovic’s men to triumph in a canter.
(Photo by Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images)
Wellington and Central Coast on Sunday afternoon could be a belter and vital for both at that stage of the round. With tired legs certain to take to the field, the Sky Stadium home fans will lift their boys to the win. It will be an emotional day for the Phoenix and one the Mariners will fail to ruin.
United and Macarthur back up on Tuesday and Western will grab the points at ‘home’.
The final fixture sees the Wanderers still in with a shot at the top six if they have won tonight’s clash with the Mariners. Otherwise, their season is dead and buried. Newcastle will have a little more to play for and rediscover the form that is capable of beating any team in the league.
Texi Smith
Wellington, Central Coast, Macarthur, United, Victory, Wellington, Macarthur, Newcastle
An absolutely abject Glory have only personal pride to play for this season, while we’ve no idea what Phoenix are going to do from week to week, as they continue their rollercoaster ride to finals football. Whilst this could be the game that kick starts Perth’s recovery, the quality is lacking, and Daniel Stynes will be a forlorn figure as he sees his side fall victim to the hard-running battlers from New Zealand in this distance derby.
A spicy encounter at CommBank Stadium this Wednesday night sees a damaged Mariners team look for a quick bounce back against a faltering Wanderers side. Both teams were handed poor results on the weekend and home fans will be tiring of the same old problems, as Mark Rudan tries to turn around the ailing club. Jason Cummings wil fire in this one and Beni N’Kololo will be given a free role to terrorise the static Wanderers defence.
Brisbane Roar’s escape last weekend was as crucial as it was comical and we’ll see that same battling performance at Macarthur in the Friday night game. Jay O’Shea is proving to be a shining light in a tough season for the visitors, but he will be powerless against a big-hitting Bulls who will be firing on all cylinders.
Western United’s capitulation against Phoenix was a one-off. Back in Tasmania for this one, they will be back to their best. Whipping boys Perth Glory will at least show some fight and match their opponents in a tense first half, before the scoreboard eventually becomes grim reading for the Glory boys.
Newcastle’s form, especially at home, is keeping them in the hunt for finals football. In Daniel Penha they have a match winner and there is quality across the park. That all came together in the demolition of Perth last week, while Melbourne Victory were dishing out a hiding of their own against champions, premiers and local rivals Melbourne City. This is a blockbuster and a high profile standalone game for the casual live TV football viewer. Unfortunately for home fans, they will be getting caught up in the hype and this will be a slick performance from the visitors.
Wellington’s triumphant return to the Cake Tin is massive news for the league. Central Coast will be the sacrificial lamb at this cauldron. An expectant home crowd, starved of top-flight football for so long, will be out in force to welcome home their heroes. There can only be one winner today and it is the home team; Walter Sandoval and David Ball on the scoresheet in a solid 2-0 win to enhance the Kiwis’ finals chances even further. Welcome home Phoenix.
The Tassie adventure continues for Western United against Macarthur at the inexplicable time of 5:05pm. Not only too early for most to watch on TV, but unpleasant for those who are actually going. I know it’s Easter school holidays, so that might be the idea, but it’s a crazy timeslot. The home domination will be smashed here as Craig Noone enjoys a night to remember, smashing in a worldie from distance and then teeing up Lachie Rose for a devastating second goal to wrap up the points.
Following on from their difficult assignment against Victory, the Jets travel to Western Sydney for a very winnable game. Beka Mikeltadze will sparkle again and Valentino Yuel will be back to his scintillating best in a smash and grab at CommBank Stadium. The sight of Bernie Ibini walking off, head down, after a late red card will be a reminder of what Mark Rudan has got himself in to at this troubled club.
| Match week 23 | Mike | Simon | Stuart | Texi | The Crowd |
| PER vs WEL | WEL | WEL | WEL | WEL | ? |
| WSW vs CCM | WSW | DRAW | CCM | CCM | ? |
| MAC vs BRI | MAC | MAC | MAC | MAC | ? |
| WUN vs PER | WUN | WUN | WUN | WUN | ? |
| NEW vs MVC | MVC | MVC | MVC | MVC | ? |
| WEL vs CCM | WEL | CCM | WEL | WEL | ? |
| WUN vs MAC | WUN | WUN | WUN | MAC | ? |
| WSW vs NEW | DRAW | WSW | NEW | NEW | ? |
| Previous total | 51 | 46 | 51 | 55 | 53 |
| Last week | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| New total | 55 | 51 | 56 | 61 | 57 |
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I can take that if that’s what’s happening. Hopefully they have more regard for the rest of their readership. Or maybe they have bigger fish to fry. Who knows?
chris
Guest
I think the Roar "editors" are ghosting you Stevo. You are not worthy of their response.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
Pretty salty
Grem
Roar Rookie
Doesn’t mean it will happen, but James Johnson will be attending an AFC meeting about a possible Asian Super League involving 4 teams from each of China, Japan, Australia and Korea. There could be an Eastern and Western conference. Thoughts on this? The Super Rugby series seemed to start with a bang and fizzle out and Coronavirus really smashed that competition. While I see football in Australia as Tier 1, this would definitely have it as a Tier 1 sport in the eyes of the media/general public. Obviously the impact on the A League and proposed 2nd division and the thoughts of the APL and supporters need to be considered.
josh
Guest
It wasn't an amazing comeback, the game was gifted to them by WSW players who have stopped caring.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
followed by another amazing come back with 10 men
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Yet another amazing VAR decision against the MAriners.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Great news for FA - a seven figure a year sponsorship for our national teams until 2024. That should help them attract the right coach for our Socceroos when this World Cup campaign is complete and the new 2nd division.
Tekkers
Roar Rookie
Do you reckon Oli has a fey years in him? I love him as a CCM fan but if you look closely at his game especially when it gets passed the 60min he almost dies on the pitch and can't be bothered to track back. I get that maybe his distribution and ability to control a game may outweigh that but I would honestly rather them have sold him and keep on playing balard and Steele alongside Nisbet. I think what led to Oli being pissed off though is that he had no intention last year of signing with the mariners and only did so because of Covid and wanted a move back overseas hence a two-year contract whereby they could sell him after last season except that didn't happen. Now whether the overseas offer was to little for the Mariners to accept who knows all we know is that Monty has some big balls keeping him out of the 11 and expecting their to be no divide in the changing room.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Just like me with Sydney FC.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It won’t be the same squad. Sydney will rebuild, but losing Van Der Saag and Talbot, if that happens, is dumb. I agree about Wood. He has speed and talent. He just needs more encouragement to run at the defence and take on players. The potential is definitely there. I like the idea of a Sydney rebuild with some new and exciting talent, perhaps a couple of real marquees and then mix this with Talbot, Van Der Saag, Yazbeck, Nieuenhaus, Wood, Heward Bell (he’s a very good young keeper), etc.
Grem
Roar Rookie
That's a real loss. He has cemented the left back position as his. He moves up and down the sideline well and has a decent pass and cross. Sydney are crazy not to keep him. They need to let players go, but Talbot isn't one of them!
Grem
Roar Rookie
And they are taking a lot of young players. No Ninkovic will make things harder. Hopefully Burgess and Caceras are at their creative best.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Patrick Wood has been playing in the NPL last few weeks 4 games 6 goals. Narsingh his effort is at Bobo levels, why isnt Wood in the squad. The leakiness in defence , Amini is a big contributor there , look at his defensive effort against City, Wilkinson against Adelaide two goals. No point having a new stadium if its the same players next year .
Waz
Roar Rookie
“ Why would anyone chose to watch a match involving Roar” …. because some people are not fair-weather fans and will stick by their team when things aren’t going well?
Tigertown
Guest
Sydney absolutely put the Mariner’s to the sword last week. I was a little shocked. The first 20 minutes was all FC. Over 5,000 punters turned up to Gosford too. Oil’s probably got a few more years left in him, but I don’t think he can last the full 90 minutes, which is understandable. I’m hoping Sydney can achieve great things in the AFC.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
Callum Talbot is likely to join the exodus out of sydney as well. His contract is up at seasons end and looks to be melbourne bound, there is interest from westen united and surprisingly, city for his signature. he's a player i thought had a lot of potential when he was younger, but lost a couple years of crucial developement due to sydneys reluctance to fully intergrate youth into there first team. i actually could see city snagging this deal - jenkos loan wont get extended and talbot will be a cheap australian option, (it looks surprisning, but it actually makes a lot of sense; if city can complete the signing before western united)
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Arzani, over paid and under worked. If he wants a professional career he may want to trade some dollars for some game time.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Van Der Saag, he could play anywhere on the field, both tall and fast, but I would favour right wing, I have seen him score and setup goals the few times he has played right wing. Given the tired nature of Sydneys squad I thought the only reason he has not been seen was an injury, because Sydney should be absolutely desperate for fresh players. Would he work as center back, well he certainly couldn;t be worse than Donachie and Wilkinson, who have been busy burying Coricas tilt at the finals and Wilkinson in particular against Adelaide, just incapable of any movement, floated ball over the top for the first goal over Wilkisons head, and the second bounced a meter in front of him and he was just incapable of getting to it. Its not like he is playing like a 37 year old, let alone a good 37 year old like Zwansjikk, Wilkinson plays like a 45-50 year old the way he moves. Bozanic the main thing the Mariners will miss is his shooting, he was good early last season for the Mariners but not as good workrate since. I cant believe that the Mariners turned down a transfer fee usually they will sell anyone at any price they can get which ironically was how Bozanic left the club after his first stint there. Arzani well the money explains everything, he can buy any substance he wants with that money in Europe. Physically he looked in good shape at the Olympics, maybe no fitness was moving quite well. Plenty of A-league players that play while looking dodgy Nabbout on occasions, Moonshines boy at Roar, Arzani gets the money either way why would he want to move back to the A-league, he is on a paid holiday in Europe it seems.
Grem
Roar Rookie
He's a little inexperienced for Sydney to make an offer! I hope he stays in the A League as he has been a wonderful leader and player for the Mariners. I actually thought Arnold should choose him to fill the role of defensive midfielder and captain like Mile did.