The Roar's A-League Men tips and predictions: Round 11

Novelist and Newcastle United fan Texi Smith went wham, bam, thank you ma’am last week, with five correct tips leaving the panel in his wake.

He will do well to back it up with a similar performance in Round 11, with Perth and Brisbane engaged in action twice, in what is a busy week for them and the Central Coast versus Adelaide match-up looming as the best of the bunch.

Melbourne City tackle an improving and recently unbeaten Western United in another key encounter, whilst Macarthur and Newcastle Jets will both be looking for a bounce back after poor results in Round 10.

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 believes all the Round 11 action will unfold.

Mike Tuckerman

Draw, Western Sydney, Sydney, Central Coast, City, Macarthur, Draw

Melbourne Victory had no real answers in their most recent 2-1 loss to the Central Coast Mariners, in a match where they were second best throughout. The lack of atmosphere inside AAMI Park may work in their favour here, but Tony Popovic needs to find some goals, quickly.

Victory have scored just nine all season and they won’t find the going easy against Warren Moon’s well-organised side. The Roar remain tough to break down, so this one could finish all square.

Perth Glory have looked good in patches under rookie coach Ruben Zadkovich, but they’ve never really dominated an opponent to date. They’ll be annoyed at having let Wellington Phoenix back into the game in their most recent 1-1 draw, and won’t relish coming up against an in-form Western Sydney Wanderers. Marko Rudan will be desperate to see his side replicate their decent home form over in the west.

Mark Rudan. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Sydney FC came away with all three points, despite being largely second-best in their 2-0 win over the Newcastle Jets last weekend.

They’ll be looking to put a recent 3-0 mauling at the hands of Macarthur behind them when they run out against the Phoenix in their brand-spanking new stadium, and they’ll be grateful for a return to goal-scoring form from Adam Le Fondre. Ufuk Talay always fires up for a clash with his former club, but it should be the Sky Blues who bag a much-needed home win.

The Central Coast Mariners continue to confound the critics and they were much the better side in their 2-1 defeat of Melbourne Victory on New Year’s Eve.

Jason Cummings scored twice in that one, and the Scottish-born striker will be keen to pick up whatever slack exists from Garang Kuol’s departure. Adelaide United remain a tough side to beat under Carl Veart, but their away form is never anything to write home about. You’d have to back the Mariners on form in this one.

The grand final rematch will take place in strange circumstances at AAMI Park, with Melbourne City having unilaterally decided to sanction their own home end after that fractious Melbourne Derby.

It hasn’t stopped Jamie Maclaren from looking capable of scoring with every touch and City will go into this game with their confidence sky high. The same can’t be said for the reigning champions, who were lucky to jag a 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar. The City juggernaut should roll on.

Jamie Maclaren of Melbourne City celebrates a goal. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images)

You win some, you lose some might well be Macarthur’s mantra. They followed up an excellent away win over Sydney FC with a surprisingly dismal 4-0 defeat away at Western Sydney Wanderers last time out. Still, Dwight Yorke’s team possess plenty of quality across the park, and they’ll fancy their chances against a Newcastle side that just haven’t quite clicked under Arthur Papas this season. The Novocastrians remain a dark horse, but the Bulls should just about sneak home.

Macedonia Park looks like a fun little venue, and it’d want to be, given Perth play seven of their next eight fixtures at home. The Glory have only won two games so far this season and those were both backs-to-the-wall victories against arguably superior opponents. Brisbane Roar are hoping to keep pace with the top six, but Charlie Austin’s departure means they lack an out-and-out goal scorer. They’ll turn to Carlo Armiento for inspiration against his old club, but it could finish all square.

Stuart Thomas

Victory, Western Sydney, Wellington, Adelaide, City, Newcastle, Perth

Since the unthinkable happened at AAMI Park during a Melbourne Derby, Victory have looked a spent force. But surely that will turn at some point? No team in the A-League has won on fewer occasions than Brisbane, despite their ability to eke out draws when needed. Popovic’s men to finally show something.

A change in midfield structure made all the difference for the Wanderers against a poor Macarthur in Round 10. Expect more of the same and the team that I predicted to finish top four to continue its run and maintain second place on the ladder.

Wellington will beat Sydney FC in order for the inconsistent form of the Sky Blues to become increasingly apparent and the Reds will get the job done on the Central Coast when they face the Mariners in the Saturday twilight, in what does loom as the match of the round.

As Western United improve, as do the memories of last season come into focus for the teams they face. However, are they good enough to knock off a City team that looks certain to score at least two every week, with Jamie Maclaren permanently on the scoresheet? Probably not.

Macarthur were rubbish against the Wanderers last week and the Jets a lot better during their clash with Sydney FC. If the Bulls do manage to get a few troops back they could well be too strong, yet something tells me the rocks or diamonds Newcastle may well be about to have an ‘on’ week.

Tuesday’s clash between the Roar and Perth in the west could be crucial, with the winner pleased as punch and the loser potentially facing the reality that top six hopes could well be slipping away. Perth to stun at Macedonia Park.

(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Blayne Treadgold

Victory, Western Sydney, Wellington, Draw, City, Draw, Perth

It is a must win for Victory if the predicted points deduction is implemented next week. In saying that, Brisbane will be looking to see if they can capitalise on their woes. The home side should just do enough to win this narrowly. 2-1.

Last chance saloon for Perth to move up the table as they enter this long patch of home games, goal scoring though will still be an issue for Perth especially against a resolute Wanderers defence.

Wanderers 1-0 in a cagey affair. It is a huge opportunity to break into the six for the Nix against an up-and-down Sydney side. Both teams with plenty of goals conceded thus far, expect a goal fest – 3-2 to the Nix.

With Garang Kuol gone to the Premier League, Jason Cummings needs to be the double x-factor for the Mariners. Adelaide should however do enough for an away point. 1-1 in this one. Western United will come back to reality this week after being unbeaten in their last 3. City to be far too good. Jamie Maclaren to keep his streak alive. 2-0 to City.

I am still unsure what to make of Macarthur and Newcastle, both have gone from box-office straight to DVD. It’ll either be a belter or a drab 0-0, I’m going glass half-full. 2-2 draw. The replay from Round 6 becomes a massive match for Perth and one where they should sink Brisbane in a tricky mid-weeker. 2-1 to Perth.

Andrew Prentice

Brisbane, Draw, Sydney, Central Coast, City, Macarthur, Brisbane

Victory were lucky to get within a goal of the Mariners last week. The hole they are in is becoming a chasm, and it doesn’t get easier this week.

The Roar are unbeaten since Round 2 when Melbourne City inflicted their only loss so far this season. The inverse of this is they can’t win either – 6 draws in 9 games is testament to their intractability, if not their flair. In the past, this was a match with goals and action assured. Not so sure this time around.

Are last week’s results indicative of a “settling” of the fluctuating A League form? The Wanderers were dominant and the Glory were dominated in their respective matches. However, Perth are unbeaten since their return to home fixtures at their temporary shoebox of Macedonia Park. The Wanderers haven’t won back-to-back games all season, despite lying 2nd on the ladder so those stats alone throw some shade on a clash that might otherwise look straightforward for them.

The Sky Blues are another yo-yo team who so far have performed better away from home than at their shiny new stadium at Moore Park. Their only home win came against Melbourne City – yeah, digest THAT one. They’re still without Joe Lolley for this weekend’s clash with the Phoenix, who must feel totally aggrieved at losing 3-1 at home to City, despite dominating the match and chances.

Sometimes, a result like that plays on a team’s psyche. As good as Wellington are, it might count against them at the SFS, and Sydney might actually start enjoying the new place.

The post-Kuol era is upon the Mariners (don’t despair, fans, there are three younger brothers ready to come through!). There are few certainties in life but one of them is that Jason Cummings will have a goal disallowed via VAR, and that Nick Montgomery will look like he wants to murder someone as a result. The Mariners have the attacking prowess to overcome all of that.

Adelaide have sputtered since the competition resumed, but eased past Perth last week without their usual reliance on Craig Goodwin. The Mariners are not models of consistency either (who is in this league?) but they may have the firepower to win this one, which is the game of the round.

The “other” Melbourne derby was the league’s season opener in October. Since then, City have looked comfortably the best side in the league, while the reigning champions looked like they were disappearing down the S-bend until a recent form resurgence.

Unbeaten in three, this assignment looks tougher than any they’ve tackled since the re-start. City ended up winning comfortably in Wellington but the score line flattered them. They’ll get better as new coach Rado Vidosic settles into his role.

The scenario for this game is simple; Macarthur need to give the ball to Ulises Davila, Newcastle needs to stop that happening. Touted as an attacking force earlier in the season, the Jets are averaging less than a goal a game. If they can’t stop Ulises, they will have a long trip home from Campbelltown on the Sid Foggs coach.

A bonus game to tip – why are you doing this to me, Stuart?? Having tipped the Roar already this round, and given they’ve only won twice all season, am I crazy for thinking they’ll double their output in the space of a week? Maybe this is the Glory’s first home loss. But I wouldn’t listen to me.

Texi Smith

Victory, Western Sydney, Wellington, Adelaide, City, Macarthur, Perth

Melbourne Victory could have lost by more at Central Coast last weekend, while Brisbane Roar will feel that a point was a disappointing return in their game at Western United. For a team that has lost only once all season, though the Roar will crumble alarmingly in this one.

Victory will have Nick D’Agostino back in the side and it will be his hard running that carves the Roar defence apart, goals to Josh Brillante and Jason Geria rounding off the perfect second half performance from the home team.

The form book goes out of the window when Macedonia Park comes into the equation. Perth were well beaten at Adelaide last time out, while the Wanderers put Macarthur FC to the sword in a 4-0 thumping at Commbank Stadium.

The Friday night crowd will be roaring on their team, and the home side will do everything but score in the first half, before the Wanderers stroll away from Perth with an impressive win to maintain their lofty position in the league.

Sydney FC at home is not the home banker it has been in the past and Wellington Phoenix will be no easy pushovers. The visitors were punished by a quality Melbourne City side last week, while Sydney FC shocked everyone with a good display at Newcastle.

The unpredictability of the A-League suggests that Phoenix have a very good chance to win here, Ufuk Talay back in Sydney, perhaps making a statement about his future, and after a slow first half, a quick-fire double from Oskar Zawada and Bozhidar Kraev will turn the game on its head in the second.

A late rally from the home team will be too late. Back to the drawing board for Sydney FC.

The Central Coast Mariners have a team filled with stars and even without their dearly departed Garang Kuol, have tasty options across the board and an embarrassment of attacking weapons.

Adelaide United will be up for a fight, but it is their lack of clinical finishing that seems to let them down – they do create a lot of chances. Today will belong to the Coasties though, and with Sam Silvera in, the flair of the home team will brush aside any threat from the visitors.

The Western United slump is over, but it’s a slow recovery. With Alessandro Diamanti back in the team and the mighty Tongo Doumbia making noticeable contributions all over the park, this clash with Melbourne City should be a fascinating encounter.

Alessandro Diamanti of Western United (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

The reigning premiers were superb against Phoenix last week, and they will continue that rich goal scoring form, ahead at the break with yet another Jamie Maclaren finish. A topsy-turvy game will see United equalise yet City exert their dominance late in the match.

Macarthur FC at home to Newcastle Jets is a tough one to call. The home team were humiliated by the Wanderers last week, while Newcastle were toiling in the sun against a low quality Sydney FC side on New Year’s Day. The recall of forgotten man Daniel Arzani will have tongues wagging, and it will be his clever pass that sets Bachana Arabuli away to open the scoring early on.

The Jets will react, but fail to score against a resolute Bulls defence. Anthony Carter will eventually add a second for the home team in a comfortable win.

Perth’s catch-up game will be a cracker against Brisbane Roar. With both teams on the end of defeats from the weekend, it will be Perth who recover the quickest, and the shift in hours and the travelling will take its toll on the visiting team.

Jay O’Shea will miss a penalty and a glorious chance to be ahead at the break, and the rest of the evening will disintegrate, after Ryan Williams dribbles his way through the static Roar defence to tuck home a beautiful opening goal.