To say that is was funny to watch Texi Smith clock up zero from six last week is a serious understatement. The nudie run was even funnier!!!!
He is fumbling and bumbling his way through the middle part of the season and the charge from behind has seen him all but caught. No doubt he will pick against the Phoenix and back the Victory on Friday afternoon; disrespecting the New Zealanders.
Good luck with your tips this week – as always, much like the FIFA ballot for World Cup tickets, it’s a complete lottery.
Stuart Thomas
Wellington, Macarthur, Auckland, Brisbane, Western Sydney, Newcastle
Shorter and sweeter from me again this week. After Wellington do the business in the early game, all eyes on Campbelltown. Macarthur are still the smokey for the title and they have Perth’s measure in the later match. Auckland is sick of losing and the Sky Blues, despite the Sydney Derby win, still have something to prove. Brisbane aren’t going too bad and should beat Central Coast up north.
Western Sydney were thumped last weekend but have the chance to beat a still aimless City side that is not a serious contender at this point of the season. The final match of the round sees the Reds and Jets do battle in Adelaide. It should be a beauty. I tipped the Reds and then changed my mind, based on the fact that Newcastle can win the A-League championship this season.
Andrew Prentice
Draw, Macarthur, Auckland, Central Coast, City, Newcastle
The Phoenix have quietly accumulated a decent run since Round 10. Their only loss in that time was a heavy one to the Jets. The one before that was even heavier, to Friday’s opponents. Victory seem to run according to how well the opposition let Juan Mata play. They couldn’t break down a resilient 10-man Mariners last week. It’s a veritable 6-pointer for both sides (no, it’s really not, the most they can get is 3 point – stupid concept!) So I’m going all party pooper and predicting a 1-1 draw.
The Bulls are still hanging in the top 4 and with a series of results in other games could be 1st if they beat Perth. That’s how crazy this competition is. 7 different sides have led at various points – they could be the 8th. Perth beat Auckland last week but this time it’s they who are racking up frequent flyers. Mitch Duke is making the Bulls attack look like it has a point at last. They should win this.
Was that the real Sydney FC who stood up and put their noisy neighbours to the sword last week? I’m thinking they’ll run into a very different opponent this week, despite Auckland’s patchy recent form. Old mates Corica and Talay are set to bang coaching manuals with the former mindful of proving himself to his old home. A lot will hinge on the minutes afforded Joe Lolley, but Auckland will be desperate enough to grab their first win in a month.
It’s almost 15 years since the Roar and the Mariners gave us one of THE great A League grand finals. They renew that rivalry in vastly different mindsets. The Mariners are doing the Ted Lasso goldfish drill and forgetting their worries off-field while performing on it. The Roar seem to have settled their off-field dramas but have crashed and burned on the pitch. One win this year – since their New Years Eve smash and grab in Gosford – have seen them sink from title chasers to tail-chasers. The Mariners will be keen to repay that NYE favour.
The APL and TV execs clearly think only Sydney and Melbourne people watch the A League. How else can you explain the prime time status of Wanderers-City, two teams who aren’t setting the league alight. Maybe GVE’s third week will have given him time to work on Western Sydney’s anaemic attack. However, City will be in no mood for charity, and seem to be resolving their own attacking woes of late. They should win this.
How on earth the A League decided to bury this game in the Sunday 5pm slot is mystifying. The two top scoring teams in the comp, both on delicious runs of form, both playing entertaining, exciting football. Required viewing. The Jets roll into Adelaide with 8 goals in their last 2 games. The Reds are not noted defenders so expect goals at Hindmarsh, with the visitors scoring one more than the hosts.
Texi Smith
Phoenix, Perth, Auckland, Central Coast, Wanderers, Adelaide
The round begins with almost a carbon copy of last weekend. Wellington Phoenix threw it all away against City last week, and host Victory tonight, who somehow lost in Gosford. Another draw seems likely, but that’s not in the spirit of the A-League – Phoenix to make amends for last week with a thumping win to get back on track and keep the middle of the A-League pack glued together in a sticky mess.
Echoes of last season’s 6-1 flogging on the opening weekend, Macarthur FC could turn on another six-goal bonanza for their home fans as the stuttering Perth Glory visit Campbelltown. The Bulls though are themselves failing to show consistent form, and this is Glory’s chance to exact revenge. Adam Taggart on the mark for the visitors, Mitch Duke with the equaliser, this seems like a game from yesteryear, and when Tom Lawrence drives Perth into an unlikely lead, the visitors have enough to hang onto.
Steve Corica has nothing to prove after taking out the Premiership last season after leaving Sydney FC, but he would love to underline his authority over his former club at Mount Smart on Saturday afternoon. Auckland FC will take the lead early in front of a bumper crowd, only to gift an equaliser by half-time, Piero Quispe rolling into an empty net after an Oli Sail clanger. The second half is a battle, Jese Randall restoring the home team’s lead and they hang on to record a priceless victory in the race to a second league title in two seasons.
Brisbane Roar have a great chance to put things right against Central Coast Mariners, but the visitors are showing a never-say-die attitude that could keep them off the bottom of the ladder come the end of the season. The crowd today to watch a team with four defeats from five will be well shy of the 52,500 capacity at Suncorp, but they will be treated to an absolute humdinger of a game. The Mariners play with no pressure, and Miguel Di Pizio will have them in the lead with a mazy run and shot in the first half. Brisbane are level when they storm upfield, Justin Vidic with the equaliser, but it’s Sabit Ngor with the winner as Brisbane themselves go looking for the killer goal and leave the door wide open in the final stages. What a result for the Mariners!
Melbourne City can really undo their early season promise on Saturday night when they visit CommBank Stadium. The hosts Western Sydney Wanderers are smarting after their derby thrashing, and their temporary stay at the bottom of the ladder should be brief. City came good in Wellington last week, but they’ll need to be alert to keep the Wanderers at bay. Brandon Borrello scores, Aydan Hammond curls in a second and City are well beaten in a no-show against the basement club. While the increasingly dishevelled Aurelio Vidmar contemplates another meek loss, this is an important morale-boosting win for West Sydney and as comprehensive a performance as we’ve seen at home this season.
The box office Jets step into the Coopers cauldron for a Sunday afternoon fixture to complete the round, and this could be the bridge too far for the in-form free-scoring table toppers. Adelaide United’s new year aberration against Central Coast Mariners is long forgotten and their run of four games without a defeat has kept them in the mix at the right end of the table. Ryan White and Johnny Yull star in midfield for the Reds and they grind down their opponent, running out two-goal victors and having kept the exciting Newcastle attack at bay. A small hump in the road for the Jets, but a big statement win for Adelaide as the A-League ladder continues to surprise and delight in a marvellous season.
Good luck with your tips! The comment section works, don’t be shy! If you see Leave A Reply below, join the banter – who knows where our tips and predictions will end up next week, let’s hope and pray for some movement back at The Roar.
Thomas tipping Roar is the kiss of death. Hurts after we’ve shot ourselves in the foot so many times recently.
Did I tip Roar? Shoot, that seems silly. Might have had a few too many ginger beers when I did that.
I tip The Roar to be taken over by Paramount plus and the sports section only NRL and Football/Socccer!
That’s paying 10,000,000 to 1… worth a punt
Box office Jets are in town Sunday…go you Reds, sort of!
Look at Smith……zip from 6!!!!! Made my week, despite the current situation.
City draw with the cellar dwellers. Our goal scorer is our left back. Wow, as I’ve been saying for sometime now, season over. City is dead to me 🙁