WILL DYER (@W2Dyer) loves the A-League and he’s mad keen on these four selections from Down Under this weekend.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory | Saturday 08.30 | BT Sport 2
The Wanderers have won six on the bounce and thrust themselves to the top of the A-League much to the shock of most fans.
A few people will tell you they expected an upturn in performance from WSW this season; their involvement in the Asian Champions League really restrained them last year, but it’s surely a surprise to see them above their opponents this week, Melbourne Victory.
Victory are still the best team in this league, hands down. They cruised past Sydney FC in last year’s final and their fearsome front three of Besart Berisha, Kosta Barbarouses and Fahid Ben Khalfallah is like taking a gun to a knife fight in this division (see what I did there).
Their defeat to Wellington last weekend was a bit of a disappointment but they still dominated possession and were perhaps unlucky not to get back into the game.
Victory have won their last four meetings with Western Sydney, three of those by two or more goals. I can see them bouncing back and bursting the Wanderers bubble here and at 2/1 (BetVictor) that might be the last time you see them at that price again this season.
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City | Sunday 06.00 | BT Sport 1
The poor old Jets. They are well and truly in the doldrums.
Newcastle have at least shored up that backline under new coach Scott Miller but I am not so sure they will manage to keep that stability going against the runaway top scoring team this season, Melbourne City.
Odds of 5/6 look about right for the money bags to take all three points back to Victoria. They’ve scored 10 goals in their last two games but they aren’t the finished article so there’s other bets I prefer.
Bruno Fornaroli has taken to this league like a duck to water and the big boisterous forward should really rattle that Newcastle defence but the real star of this City team is the Socceroo sensation that is Aaron Mooy.
The midfield maestro has four goals already this season, is the designated spot-kick taker and at 11/4 (Bet365) to get on the scoresheet I’m certainly on board.
Adelaide United v Sydney FC | Friday 08.40 | BT Sport 1
Adelaide have had a really poor start to 2015/16. In my season preview I waxed lyrical about their enjoyable style and creative Latin midfield but they really haven’t hit the heights in any of their games.
A -9 goal difference through nine games and just eight goals scored is a huge disappointment and points to a bad season.
The Reds won last time out but that was against the early basement club Perth Glory who themselves are struggling to come to terms with the hefty changes in personnel over the winter months.
Sydney FC haven’t hit the heights in front of goal either and they certainly look to be missing Austrian International Marc Janko.
However, they’ve conceded just six goals in eight games and not lost in the regular season away from home in a whopping 18 matches dating back to the end of the 2013/14 season. Seriously impressive stuff from Graham Arnold’s men.
All things considered it’s very strange that the Sky Blues are actually the outsiders here. This team made it to the A-League Grand-Final last season and they are very hard to beat. Draw No Bet looks to be a great call at 19/20 (BetVictor)
Alex Brosque is out with a hamstring which probably explains the drift on Sydney but I don’t see them getting beat and the good starts from Filip Holosko and Milos Ninkovic to their New South Wales careers should still see the away side come out on top.
Best Bets
Adelaide United v Sydney FC – Sydney FC draw no bet (19/20 Betvictor)
Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix – Over 2.5 goals and Both Teams To Score (11/10 Bet365)
Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory – Melbourne Victory to win (2/1 Betvictor)
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City – Aaron Mooy to score anytime (11/4 Bet365)
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TOPICS A-League Tips
