A-League Men’s Round 2 Predictions
Going into Round 2 I figured I’d try something a little different. I’ve been finding it difficult to come up with original or outside-the-box thoughts when it comes to A-League matches.
There are folks much smarter than myself who are capable of breaking down individual player matchups, team tactics, coaching styles, etc. I’m just not there. I truly don’t understand the game at that level yet, and I haven’t been watching The A-League long enough to provide context for years of play. So I’ll leave those write-ups to the professionals, and do my best to stay in my lane.
So, what exactly is that lane? Well, that’s where my amazing partner, Cassy, comes in. I rant to Cassy about anything and everything. I’ve often joked that I have incredibly strong opinions on nothing in particular, and I know a lot about very little.
Over the past year, I’ve spent hours talking at her about soccer while she listens and pretends to understand anything I’m saying. You should have seen the night I attempted to break down the Australian football pyramid, there was a whiteboard and plenty of drinks involved. It took over an hour and at the end of it all, she told me I should have just written it all down. So that’s what I’m going to start doing.
My write-ups, whether it be pre or post-match, will be directed at Cassy now. I’m going to do my best to explain my thoughts on upcoming games to her, through these. If you’re an avid A-League fan you’ll probably want to tear your hair out, yell at me, or simply stop reading here. I encourage it. I’m a goofball with a low football IQ and more opinions than I know what to do with.
This won’t be anything groundbreaking or EXCLUSIVE. It’s just me rambling to my partner, hoping to provide some context into my weekly viewing activity. I also think it would be fun to get her predictions on these matches before reading this, so I’ll add her’s under mine each time.
Match 1: Macarthur v Newcastle Jets
Game one of round 2 is a battle between a bottom-of-the-pack squad (Newcastle) and a team still looking to prove they’re a legitimate threat (Macarthur). Unfortunately, it’s another week where we won’t know how good Macarthur actually is. Last week they obliterated a lifeless Perth Glory team and had a 5-0 lead at halftime. That was the match I came home from work and called a “soccer murder”.
Unless they manage to pull off a feat as impressive as that 6-1 win, all the same questions we had going into the season and after round one will still be asked. Is this Macarthur team the real deal? Can they compete for a top 6 spot, or are they simply products of the moment, destined to crash and burn as soon as their spotlight is too bright? Did they win the Australia Cup, or did the Victory lose it? I don’t know, and after this match, I still won’t know.
It’s a match they absolutely should win, and I fully expect them to. On the flip side, this is a chance for Newcastle to announce their arrival, and put some of the doubts aside. A win over Macarthur would raise even more questions than it would provide answers, and what’s more A-League than that?
Neither of these teams should be looking for or feel satisfied with a draw. Both sides have a lot to prove, and I think one side will do just that.
Prediction: 3-1 Macarthur.
Cassy’s Prediction: 2-0 Macarthur
Match 2: Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners
In case you forgot, Adelaide exists! I admittedly haven’t done nearly enough research on them this year, and sort of just placed them directly in the middle of my power rankings as a result. This will be Adelaide’s first match of the season after having a bye last week for the opening round.
I don’t know what to expect from this game, and that’s what makes it so interesting to me. The Mariners are a team without a real identity right now, after a very successful last few seasons, they have a roster full of new signings who haven’t had a chance to prove what they are capable of as a team yet.
Most predictions will have them somewhere towards the bottom of the table, I had them near the top going into week one. I may have been very wrong. Are CCM as bad as I think they might be, or can the glimpses of promise they’ve show become a consistent part of their game?
Unfortunately, I’ll be at work for the first half of this one, but I should be home just after halftime.
Prediction: 1-1 Draw
Cassy’s Prediction: 3-1 Mariners
Match 3: Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Derby time! I’ll be home from work and ready to wake up all the neighbors singing Victory chants in the living room. Sorry in advance.
Both teams will be missing key players this week after a couple of silly red cards last round. That being said, I’m still going into this one expecting it to be electric! I do have a few questions though. Will the Victory break their streak of looking dominant, yet having no goals to show for it, or will City’s talented new keeper have another great outing?
I’m extremely hopeful of the former, and fully expect the latter. This Victory squad has all the right stuff on paper, I have just yet to see the system click. After last week's nil-all draw against the Mariners I don’t know what this team is capable of, we’ve seen flashes of brilliance, followed immediately by poor judgment or misplays. Like I’ve been saying, it’s just frustrating to watch.
City, on the other hand, are coming off a 1-0 win against a Newcastle Jets team I’ve already made my stance on pretty clear. City looked dominant in the first half and their defense was sharp all game. I’m curious to see if the Victory will do a better job of breaking it down, but wouldn’t count on it in the first half. I’d imagine it’s going to be a scoreless game and then the floodgates will open in the second half.
Seems like everyone is calling a draw here, so I’ll go against the grain for the sake of it.
Prediction: 2-1 Victory
Cassy’s Prediction: 4-0 Victory
Match 4: Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
I have very little to tell you about this one. There’s a 90% chance I won’t be awake long enough to watch anyway. It’s the third match of the night, doesn’t start until 3:45 am and I have as low of expectations as possible.
Ok that’s not entirely true. I think this game has incredible “peak a-league” potential. It’s a feeling I can’t explain, but know exists. This is one of those matches that’s going to either be a snooze-fest or the match of the round.
Are the Glory going to show up to play this week? I doubt it. I just don’t know if the Nix are a team capable of thrashing them. I would love to be wrong.
Prediction: 0-0 draw, or Nix win 15-0.
Cassy’s Prediction: Perth 2-1
Match 5: Auckland FC v Sydney FC
This is my match of the week. The one I’m easily the most excited for. I’ve been high on this Auckland team since the beginning and after their 2-0 win at home last week, we’ll get our first real chance to see them against “top-tier” competition.
They are going up against Sydney FC, and lemme tell you, Sydney is legitimately scary. The way they play is so fluid and every pass seems to have a purpose. They signed a guy named Douglas Costa this off-season and he’s been the talk of the town.
From what I’ve learned there’s been a bunch of marquee signings in the league over the last decade or so. A big name who comes to the A-League later in their career to be a big fish in a small pond or prove they still have what it takes to play the game at a professional level. A butts-in-seats kind of guy, with name recognition and a skill set that should allow them to succeed at this level.
These types of players can be very hit or miss, but with Costa, it appears to already be a resounding success. He just looks so comfortable on the pitch. Fully in control at all times, rarely making a bad decision or mistake. He’s going to have a ridiculous season and has all the potential in the world to make an already very good Sydney team, special.
Can Sydney continue their dominant play, or will the scrappy newcomers derail the hype train?
I can’t wait for this one.
Prediction: 2-1 Sydney FC
Cassy’s Prediction: 3-1 Sydney FC
Match 6: Western Sydney Wanderers v Western United
This is another match I don’t have too much to talk about. I don’t know enough about either of these teams to speak on them confidently, and I’ll be at work for the entire duration of this one. I would expect the Wanderers to take a scrappy win.
Western United is, in my uneducated opinion, the second-worst team in the league, but they feel like a team that will be constantly playing for draws and could frustrate some very good opposition.
That’s all I got, sorry.
Prediction: 1-0 WSW
Cassy’s Prediction: 1-0 Western United
