Central Coast v Melbourne VictoryMelbourne Heart v North Queensland
Adelaide United v Brisbane Roar
Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC
Gold Coast United v Perth Glory
Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory
Friday, December 31
Central Coast v Melbourne Victory
Verdict: Both sides are currently in fine form with Central Coast almost certainly assured of finals football, whereas fifth-placed Melbourne Victory find themselves in a battle (with three other sides) to finish in the top six. On Sunday, Central Coast defeated a stuttering Adelaide United 2-0 to stretch their unbeaten run to four games. The Victory stretched their respective unbeaten run to six with a hard-fought 2-1 win over in form Newcastle Jets.
Central Coast has been doing just enough in recent games against poor opposition or teams out of form. The visit of Victory will be by far their toughest test since the 1-5 mauling at the hands of Brisbane, just over a month ago. Melbourne is currently the form side of the competition and are personally my dark horses for the title. The Victory are missing speedy striker, Archie Thompson, for this game in addition to wing-backs Kemp and Sukha but showed on the weekend they can cope without the aforementioned. In good news for the visitors experienced central midfielder, Grant Brebner, returns from suspension. In contrast, Central Coast has two key absentees for this game as defensive midfielder Rostyn Griffiths serves a one match suspension while wing-back, Pedj Bojic, is suspended for two games.
Pick: Melbourne Victory +0.5ah @1.89 (12bet, 10 units)
Central Coast 1 - 2 Melbourne Victory
Sunday, January 2
Adelaide United v Brisbane Roar
Verdict: Second meets first as Adelaide United attempt to snap Brisbane's 17 match unbeaten record. It won't be easy though as Adelaide United tackle their fifth game in just over a fortnight whereas the high flying visitors play just their third game (in this period of time) respectively. On Wednesday, Adelaide defeated bottom side Sydney FC 2-0 and consequently brought an end to a 3 game losing streak. Three days prior, Brisbane were held to a 2-2 draw by Gold Coast United following second half heroics by visiting keeper, Glen Moss.
Adelaide United has not been impressive at all this month with four losses and two scratchy wins against bottom clubs, North Queensland and Sydney FC. Brisbane has not been firing on all cylinders either and the loss of midfielders McKay, and Broich will test the depth of the league leaders for this encounter. In better news, speedy Brazilian winger Henrique returns to the squad since dislocating his shoulder in the club's only defeat of the season at Melbourne Victory. The 2-0 win against Sydney FC was rather flattering to Adelaide United as the game was in the balance at 1-0, before Cassio's deflected cross fortuitously found the back of the net. Adelaide United will need to raise their game a notch or two (on recent form) to get a win from this game but I have my doubts that they can do it. Brisbane has capable replacements for McKay and Broich with all of Murdocca, Nichols, Visconte, and Henrique capable of filling the void.
Pick: Brisbane Roar dnb @1.81 (stanjames, 10 units)
Adelaide United 0 - 1 Brisbane Roar
Monday, January 3
Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC
Verdict: Newcastle will aim to get back to winning ways at Energy Australia Stadium when they face bottom of the table, Sydney FC. A week ago, the Jets were unfortunate to lose their second game on the bounce after going down 2-1 to Melbourne Victory despite controlling large portions of the game, and creating the better opportunities. Sydney's hope of making an unlikely appearance in the finals became mission impossible after their fifth consecutive loss, a 2-0 defeat at Adelaide United, left them rooted at the bottom of the table.
With both Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory winning their most recent matches, Newcastle sit 5pts outside the top six but has several games in hand. Even so, they must make these games in hand 'count' and they won't get a better opportunity to do just that against an out of sorts Sydney. The visitors have not scored during their 5-game losing streak and their away record of 1-1-8 (6-18) is no source for optimism either. Sydney's main focal point and best player, Alex Brosque, remains out through injury so the visitors may give new Finnish signing, Juho Makela, a chance to impress. Newcastle lose the services of Jeffers (through injury) but are compensated by the fact that Abbas will not be going to the Asian Cup, in addition to the possible introduction of new signing Ryan Griffiths (pending international clearance).
Pick: Newcastle Jets -0.5ah @1.73 (ibcbet, 10 units)
Newcastle Jets 1 - 2 Sydney FC
Gold Coast United v Perth Glory
Verdict: Following Central Coast's heart breaking loss to Melbourne Victory on the weekend, Gold Coast has the chance to move to third with a win here. It's probably easier said than done after Perth ended their 5 game winless steak in emphatic fashion, recording a 4-2 victory over second placed Adelaide United. That win just about kept Glory's hopes alive, trailing sixth placed Melbourne Heart by 10pts with eight games to play. Just over a week ago, Gold Coast United snatched a creditable 2-2 draw at Brisbane thanks to some heroics from keeper Glen Moss.
Gold Coast United's form has dipped in the last month or so with just two wins from their last six encounters. The loss of their most influential players in Jason Culina (away on international duty) and Michael Thwaite (suspended) will not help their cause either. In contrast, Perth's performances have improved since the narrow 3-2 loss to Brisbane in late November with only a single defeat since then. The return of defender, Chris Coyne (subject to international clearance), from his loan move to Liaoning Whowin will be a boost for the revitalized visitors who have recently introduced youngsters Risdon, Pearson, and Skorich with great success. Perth has been playing like a side belying their current position on the table and I give them every chance of getting something from a weakened Gold Coast United.
Pick: Perth Glory +1ah @2.01 (12bet, 5 units)
Gold Coast United 0 - 0 Perth Glory
Wednesday, January 5
Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory
Verdict: Following a 9 day break, a refreshed and near full strength Wellington side embark on the most crucial part of the season. Currently in seventh position and 6pts behind Melbourne Victory (same games played), Wellington must make the most of their remaining home fixtures with just 8 games remaining. While their home record of 6-3-2 is one of the best in the league, Wellington's dismal away form (1-2-8) continued last time out as they were fortunate to earn a 1-1 draw at bottom club North Queensland. Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory stretched their unbeaten run to 7 games following a 1-2 win over a 10-man Central Coast Mariners.
Melbourne has ridden their luck in the last few encounters with a combination of late goals and keeper errors working in their favour. They can only get away with this for so long until their luck runs out. In team news, ageing Victory captain Kevin Muscat sits this game out (rest) while top scorer Robbie Kruse is on duty with the Australian national team. With fellow striker Archie Thompson also out with a hamstring injury, the scoring burden will fall on the shoulders of out of sorts Brazilian marksman, Ricardinho, and midfielder Hernandez. Melbourne has re-signed former striker, Danny Allsopp, from the MLS but his participation is likely to be minimal after four months without competitive football. Wellington also has their absentees with striker Paul Ifill still sidelined and central defender Jade North joining the Socceroos camp in Asia.
I feel that Wellington are better equipped to deal without the aforementioned as Sigmund is a straight replacement for North while Greenacre joins in-form Macallister up front. Young Phoenix winger, Marco Rojas, has been a revelation this season and he along with Nick Ward on the other wing will cause an unsettled Victory defence (with regular defenders Muscat and Sukha out, and an underdone Kemp) a host of problems. This, in addition to Melbourne severely bereft of attacking options, leads me towards the home side earning maximum points here.
Pick: Wellington -0.25ah @2.31 (sbobet, 10 units)
Wellington 2 - 0 Melbourne Victory
No comments:
Post a Comment