Friday 28 November 2014

A-League Round 8 Preview

Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Friday, November 28
6.40 PM (AEST)

Despite neither team recording a loss this season, Adelaide play at AAMI Park where they have a much better record than Etihad Stadium, the scene of their worst record in the A-League. In 14 games at Etihad, the Reds have only won once, whereas at AAMI they've only tasted defeat twice in nine outings. Adelaide have already equaled their total away wins of last season, but I think this will be a stern test against their traditional rivals. The last match up saw both teams share the points in a tight contest at the Adelaide Oval, but I’m leaning towards the Victory with the home ground advantage to continue their unbeaten run.
Pick: Melbourne Victory (H2H)
Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday, November 29
4.00 PM (AEST)

After a disastrous week off the pitch, the Brisbane Roar have a new coach and hope for a return to their proven “philosophy” of winning football games. In one of the most bizarre football sackings, Mike Mulvey was removed less than six months after delivering the Premiership double to the most successful club in A-League’s short history. Caretaker coach Frans Thijssen has an enormous task to prepare his side for the Glory, who defeated the Roar on the back of an Andy Keogh hat trick at nib Stadium in Round 2. Despite all the drama, Roar are clear favorites in TattsBet's ‘Head to Head’ market. I’m still unconvinced, so will go for the value of the draw in this highly anticipated clash at Suncorp Stadium.
Pick: Draw
Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
Saturday, November 29
6.30 PM (AEST

The second Sydney Derby of the season moves out to Parramatta as the Wanderers attempt to wake from their Asian Champions League slumber and get their domestic season back on track. Sydney on the other hand are enjoying one of their best starts to an A-League campaign. They are the surprising outsiders for this clash and great value for a team still unbeaten after seven rounds. If you’re lacking confidence in Sydney getting the win, then the Draw No Bet market is a good option to keep your multi legs alive and kicking.
Pick: Sydney FC (Draw No Bet)
Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Sunday, November 30
2.00 PM (AEST)

The Phoenix are one of the more underrated teams this season and are sitting well above the position that many pundits predicted. With ten goals scored and conceded, they need to improve their defence and lay claim to a top four position at the end of the 27 rounds. This should provide plenty of entertainment, with both teams looking to avoid back-to-back losses.
Pick: Wellington Phoenix (H2H)
Newcastle United Jets v Central Coast Mariners
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Sunday, November 30
4 PM (AEST)

With heaps of pressure on both coaches, the F3 Derby is shaping as a massive contest, with the Jets clear favorites. All the talk is whether Phil Moss still has the support of the Mariners' dressing room, but I think they can bounce back from the disappointment of the Adelaide defeat at home and get a much needed win. Newcastle will be full of confidence following last Saturday’s 1-all draw at Wanderland, but I feel they still have to improve sharply to have any hope of avoiding the dreaded wooden spoon.
Pick: CCM (H2H) or CCM (Draw No Bet) is also attractive odds

I’ll be on The TattsBet Brekky show @tattsbetbrekky every Friday and Monday morning around 7:45am AEST over the course of the entire @Aleague season with my previews and reviews of every game.

James ‘Hamez’ Clark

Wednesday 19 November 2014

A-League Round 7 Preview



Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Friday, November 21
6.40 PM (AEST)
The Roar finally broke their season duck as the coaching blowtorch on Mike Mulvey was eased down a degree or two (for a week at least). The reigning Premiers have a demanding schedule ahead until Christmas, beginning with the undefeated Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium. Kevin Muscat will have last year’s semi-final disappointment at Suncorp still fresh in his memory and will be looking for redemption. It was Besart Berisha who spoiled the party that night for the Victory, but against his former club he will be aiming to replicate what he did so often to opposition clubs in his more familiar orange shirt. Don’t be surprised if he is the first on the score sheet.
Pick: Melbourne Victory (Draw No Bet), Besart Berisha always a good choice in the "1st Goal Scorer" market
Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
nib Stadium, Perth
Friday, November 21
8.45 PM (AEST)
The ‘Glory Days’ have returned to the west and so have the crowds. A tough win over an inexperienced and committed Wanderers highlighted Glory’s ability to bounce back from a huge travel schedule that could now be a thing of the past. The two teams met in Round 1 for the opening “Distance Derby” and it was Perth prevailing courtesy of a late Jamie McLaren winner. Wellington has exceeded expectations by playing an attractive brand this season with three wins from six starts. They were very unlucky not to share the points with Adelaide at Coopers last weekend after a late winner to Sergio Cirio.
Pick: Draw
Western Sydney Wanderers v Newcastle Jets
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
Sat, November 22
4.00 PM (AEST)
The realities of the Wanderers' Asian Champions League win are starting to hit home as the club looks to replenish its points' drought on the A-League ladder. After a mid-week rescheduled Round 3 draw at home to the Mariners, the Wanderers take on a Jets team struggling to find form, and holding the mantle of the worst defensive record in the League. I think the Wanderers will be ruthless against a Jets team lacking in attacking potency, despite having the Argentine duo of Jerónimo Neumann and Marcos Flores on their roster.
Pick: WSW (H2H)
Melbourne City v Sydney FC
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sat, November 22
6.30 PM (AEST)
Melbourne City fans left AAMI Park last Sunday disappointed in sharing the points with the Mariners who played right to the final whistle. City looked the better for most of what was a skilful and entertaining arm-wrestle between the sides. City take on a Sky Blues team that have been a fortress at the back so far this season recording fourth clean sheets in as many weeks. Aaron Mooy’s return from Socceroos duties will be a big boost to City, but Sydney’s superior defensive record should be enough to see them get the three points.
Pick: Sydney FC (H2H), but good value in (Draw No Bet) given their unbeaten record this season

Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Sunday, November 23
4 PM (AEST)
Mid-week, the Mariners again battled out a hard fought draw against the Wanderers, who have finally registered their first point of the season. An attacking Adelaide will be a much tougher proposition adding to the fatigue of playing in another mid week fixture. The Reds have an appalling record in Gosford over the past ten seasons, losing 10 times in 13 attempts and only sharing the points on one occasion. This is a much more confident Adelaide team on the road under Gombau, but never underestimate the gritty determination of the Mariners to upset the rhythm of any side in the competition. The record in the shadows of the palm trees at Gosford does worry me, so I’ll look to hedge my bet if the Mariners can rally for their third draw in a week
Pick: Adelaide United (Draw No Bet)

I’ll be on The TattsBet Brekky show @tattsbetbrekky every Friday and Monday morning around 7:45am AEST over the course of the entire @Aleague season with my previews and reviews of every game.

James ‘Hamez’ Clark

Monday 17 November 2014

A-League Round 3 -Rescheduled match

Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners

Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
Wednesday, November 19
6.30 PM (AEST)

Surprisingly the Wanderers are one of just two clubs (Newcastle Jets) yet to record a win this season. The Mariners will take plenty away from a last gasp 2-2 draw with Melbourne City after being on the wrong side of the score sheet in their past four fixtures. Their record at Pirtek Stadium is less than impressive with only one win from four trips to Wanderland. Tony Popovic has shown plenty of faith in the youthful arm of his squad, but I’m guessing this will be a close to a full strength line-up as the Asian Champions aim to get their A-League season back on track. This is the Wanderers’ first home game this season so there should be plenty of ‘Red and Black’ on hand to help sway the result in favour of the home side.
Pick: Western Sydney Wanderers (H2H) or a 'Goal Margin' of WSW by 1 goal for more value

I’ll be on The TattsBet Brekky show @tattsbetbrekky every Friday and Monday morning around 7:45am AEST over the course of the entire @Aleague season with my previews and reviews of every game.

James ‘Hamez’ Clark


Wednesday 12 November 2014

A-League Round 6 Preview



Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Friday, November 14
6.40 PM (AEST)
A winless Brisbane Roar is on the road this week for Friday night’s clash in Newcastle and desperate to register its first points of the season. The Jets will be full of confidence following a 2-2 draw against Premiership favourites Melbourne Victory, as well as defeating the Roar in their two meetings at Suncorp Stadium last season. The Roar’s depth will again be tested with club veteran Matt McKay unavailable after a call up to the Socceroos squad taking on Japan on 18 November in Osaka. It is worrying times for Brisbane and their embattled coach Mike Mulvey.
Pick: Roar (Draw No Bet)

Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Friday, November 15
4.00 PM (AEST)
Adelaide continues to play an attractive confident brand of football under Josep Gombau. The skill level has ramped up a notch with Marcelo Carussca, Sergio Cirio and former Jets winger Craig Goodwin creating plenty of headaches for opposition teams down the left hand side. The crowds are flocking to Cooper’s Stadium with their side yet to record a loss this season. With three games in nine days, the Reds could battle fatigue and may miss the service upfront of star striker Bruce Djite as he battles a quad injury. Adelaide is in a fabulous headspace at present after qualifying for the FFA Cup Final and Phoenix need to bring their ‘A game’ if they are to take the three points back home across the ditch.
Pick: Adelaide United (Goal Margin 2+ Goals) for a little more value

Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Sat, November 15
6.30 PM (AEST)
This shapes as the match of the round with the Sky Blues and Victory yet to register a loss this season. Graham Arnold has managed to get Sydney doing something they’ve struggled to do in the past few seasons…play as a team, and it is working well. Goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic is in wonderful touch with the gloves recording three cleansheets and only conceding three goals all season. He will need to be at his best this Saturday as Besart Berisha heads a daunting attack for the Victory. In 14 matches at Allianz, there have been seven draws, and I’m guessing this could be close as the clock ticks towards the 90-minute mark.
Pick: Draw
Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers
nib Stadium, Perth
Sat, November 15
8.30 PM (AEST)
Perth Glory return home after an arduous road trip which netted their first away win at Gosford. The table topping Glory are brimming with attacking options, and a massive week was capped off with a memorable win over Bentleigh Greens as they booked a place in the inaugural FFA Cup Grand Final in Adelaide on December 16. Nebojsa Marinkovic has been devastating from the set pieces scoring three goals in two matches and is great value in the ‘1st Goal Scorer’ and ‘To Score a Goal’ markets. The Wanderers will be hoping for a change of fortune to rekindle their winning ways in the local competition. This will be close, but I think the ‘Frequent Flying’ Wanderers can sneak home and collect the three points to get their season going.
Pick: Western Sydney Wanderers (Draw No Bet)
           
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sunday, November 16
4 PM (AEST)
Irish born midfielder Liam Miller hasn’t allowed the grass to grow under his feet and joined Melbourne City this week after leaving Premiers Brisbane Roar by “mutual consent”. With Aaron Mooy (Socceroos) and Stefan Mauk (Olyroos) away on international duties, Miller will be hoping to fill the void and team up with countryman Damien Duff to take on a Mariner’s outfit that has so far struggled to set the world on fire. The Mariners are coming off the back of a disappointing though predicted FFA Cup semi final loss to Adelaide, but coach Phil Moss should be pleased with a more spirited performance.
Pick: Melbourne City H2H

I’ll be on The TattsBet Brekky show @tattsbetbrekky every Friday and Monday morning around 7:45am AEST over the course of the entire @Aleague season with my previews and reviews of every game.

James ‘Hamez’ Clark

Sunday 9 November 2014

A-League Round 5 Preview


Wellington Phoenix v Western Sydney Wanderers
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Friday, November 7
4.30 PM (AEST)
The Phoenix take on recent Asian Champions League winners WSW and will back themselves against a side mentality fatigued after a momentous week in its short history. The come down will be immense, but the task ahead just as important, as the Wanderers search for their first points of the season. The travel, together with dulling down the euphoria of the ACL success, will be a tough assignment for Tony Popovic to manage. But as they have shown all campaign their ability to rise for any challenge is synonymous with the WSW. Despite being on top of Asia, the events of the past week should catch up with them, and I feel the Phoenix can steal the three points. Nathan Burns as first scorer or to score a goal is good value.
Pick: Wellington Phoenix H2H
 Adelaide United v Sydney FC
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Friday, November 7
6.45 PM (AEST)
This is undoubtedly the match of the round between two of the top three sides. Sydney is only one goal ahead of Adelaide in goal differential, with both teams conceding the fewest goals of any side in the league (3). Sydney’s long term defensive question marks of the past look to have been answered, but the attack and speed down the flanks of a classy Adelaide will be the ultimate litmus test for Graham Arnold’s travelling Sky Blues team. This will be close early on, but as the match wears on, Sydney’s intensity for the 90mins may wane as was shown late in the Mariners game.
Pick: Adelaide United H2H
 Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Sat, November 8
4 PM (AEST)
The Jets' form woes continue after playing the first four rounds away from Hunter Stadium in a tough start to the season. They have shown glimpses of positive attacking play, but fail to convert the chances onto the score sheet. They will be up against a Melbourne Victory at the peak of their game, despite injuries and suspensions decimating the squad prior to Tuesday’s night’s impressive win over the Phoenix. Difficult to go past the Victory on current form.
Pick: Melbourne Victory H2H
  Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Sat, November 8
6.30 PM (AEST)
This game should be dubbed the #DesperationDerby as both coaches are under immense pressure to deliver their respective clubs a win for the season. With Liam Miller moving on from the Roar, the Premiers have had a week off to re-focus and fine-tune their attack and defensive pattern. Matt Mackay is a welcome return from suspension and he will be looking to gain the upper hand in the battle for mid-field possession. City have bid a hasty farewell to Spanish superstar David Villa, and his absence could be just what the coach is looking for to gain some control over a squad that has worked hard all off season.
Pick: Brisbane Roar (Draw No Bet)
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Sunday, November 9
4 PM (AEST)
Perth Glory are sitting comfortably in fourth place on the A-League ladder, but Manager Kenny Lowe may have some selection headaches ahead of Tuesday nights FFA Cup semi-final clash with Victorian giant-killers Bentleigh Greens. The Mariners have been far from impressive in their opening three games, but with a home ground advantage to help boost confidence, I think they can get the job done against a Glory team that could just get ahead of themselves.
Pick: Central Coast Mariners H2H

I’ll be on The TattsBet Brekky show @tattsbetbrekky every Friday and Monday morning around 7:45am AEST over the course of the entire @Aleague season with my previews and reviews of every game.

James ‘Hamez’ Clark