Adelaide United $1.62
Draw $3.75
West Sydney Wanderers $5.00
Adelaide come into this game after a somewhat surprising win away against a normally
resilient home team at Newcastle. Surprising considering the fact that they had barely slept for 3 nights and done so much travelling to and from Uzbekistan before arriving in NSW.
I didn't see that match but they were apparently by far the better team and had the game gone for another half hour or so they were the only one that was going to score again.
A fairly quick turnaround here for them so it is possible that their recent exertions could actually catch up with them here. Even more bad news for them is the absence of Dario Vidosic who scored one and provided one for them last week in that 2-0 win. Without him they may not have troubled the scorer.
Last year Adelaides' home form totally deserted them winning only 3 from 15, the majority of those matches played on a Friday night as this will be. Quite possible they have turned the corner in this regard looking at their AFC heroics but I'm not quite prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt just yet.
Western Sydney Warriors on debut were very good value for their draw against last seasons champions Central Coast Mariners at their home base in Parramatta. They were very well organised, disciplined, and with Aaron Mooy calling the shots in midfield they created more than enough chances to win the match. Problem was they never really looked like scoring due to a woefully profligate strikeforce. They should get better however and marquis player Shinji Ono should get a bit more game time here. On what he showed last week it can only spell trouble for Adelaide.
This team look to have formed a pretty tight knot group already so perhaps that augurs well for their first trip away and they have plenty or experience amongst their ranks.
There is a massive disparity in the odds of these 2 teams and the absence of Vidosic gives WSW a legitimate chance of sneaking a win here.
Hard to be confident given results of last week and the profligacy shown by the debutantes but at the prices quoted their is only one team I would be backing, and that is the new boys. No sense in dying wondering!
Sydney FC $2.00
Draw $3.35
Newcastle Jets $3.50
These two teams come into this match as the cellar dwellars after similar 2-0 defeats in their first game, the major difference being that Newcastle were at home opposed to Sydney who were forced to travel across the Tasman. That in itself probably suggests that Sydney deserves it's favoritism here and at least they did look like scoring last week, and possibly could have made a game of it had they done so. Winning an away game in this league after a home loss is a bit of rarity which isn't a positive for Newcastle Jets today.
Overall Sydney has far the better of these 2 teams in a head to head to situation winning nearly 57% of clashes with Newcastle only 18%. 25% of matches between them have ended in draws and that is identical to the avearage % of draws in all Soccer matches world wide.
Unfortunately there is not the required $4.10 available anywhere which is the prerequisite for betting on a draw, and is very rarely available in any match. Hence just why the Corprorates and Totes around the world would find it very hard to lose betting on Soccer matches,
Anywhow back to the game which could be a very tense encounter given the fact that neither are on the board yet and probably too anxious to do so given the spotlight is right on both today with their 2 big name signings (Del Pierro & Heskey) and a possible record attendance to bear witness. That is especially so for Sydney being the home side and hopefully it won't weigh too heavily on them.
Judging by respective performances first up neither team would seem capable of a stellar peformance but hopefully a a close tussle enuses which would go a long way to leaving media and Spectators satisfied with the outcome.
From a head to head betting perspective there is little value here given the most likely result is either a Sydney win or a closely fought draw.
Just noticed though that one betting agency is offering $3.80 about a Newcastle win which is just enough for an away team from a long term betting strategy point of view.
I'm tipping a close one with few goals that ends in a draw. Perhaps a 1-1 outcome.
Brisbane Roar $1.75
Draw $3.50
Melbourne Victory $4.40
Possibly another tough encounter here given that there are high expectations of both teams with neither unable to win in their first match of the season. This game has the potential to be a real grudge match too given that former Roar Coach Ange Postecoglou left in slightly acrimonious circumstances at the end of last season, announcing one moment that he was keen to win 3 consecutive championships with Brisbane, and just hours later handing in his resignation. The fact that a couple of Brisbane players have spoken up during the week, one stating that current mentor Rado Vidosic was the brains behind the success of the past 2 years, has only added fuel to the fire.
On paper this is definitely not a good match up for the Victoryans with Postecoglou looking to cement his ideals on his new look side, who now have to play a team who is already well versed in them off the back of 2 consecutive championships under his tutelage!
And they do so without the services of the potent Archie Thompson and the gifted Marco Rojas both away on international duty. Ironically they were the 2 players who combined to score their only goal last week against arch rivals Heart, and they are probably the 2 quickest players in the team. Pace up front is probably the thing they need most today as Postecoglous' sides needs it in spades to hasten what can sometimes be a very 'plodding' style of play, with the necessity of playing out from the back.
Speed in transition has often been the catchcry from the master coach but you also need quick players in the final third to make things count and the 2 absentees will be sorely missed today.
Conversely Brisbane are at full strength and really should to take full advantage of the fact that Victory are decidedly vulnerable today. The motive is there and so is the understanding between their players after a considerable amount of time together.
They really should win this one given that. although I do expect some strong resolve from the visitors.
Betting strategy dictates that we take Melbourne Victory here at the $4.40 on offer for an away team.
I can't recommend doing so but funnier things have happened and what a coup it would be for Ange if his team could pull it off.
