Adelaide’s test of credentials

“A potential grand final preview,” was how one Adelaide media outlet described Friday night’s visit by Adelaide United to Melbourne Victory. Certainly this is one of the great A-League fixtures, and one that invariably produces drama.

The 6-0 grand final scoreline of 2007, and Kevin Muscat’s strange inability to avoid barging through seated Adelaide coach John Kosmina will forever be inclusions on the A-League’s all-time highlights reels.

History, however, provides little encouragement to Adelaide who have won on just one of their past 16 visits to Melbourne.

United coach Josep Gombau is undoubtedly intent on changing his side’s status from merely consistent to genuine championship material. His sledging of Muscat in last month’s meeting was perhaps also a little stake in the ground. Of course telling Muscat to pipe down back when he was still wearing his screw-ins would have been more impressive.

This match-up brings together the best attack (Melbourne – 16 goals scored) against the best defence (Adelaide – four goals conceded). Melbourne have, depending how one measures it, equalled their best start to a season, while Adelaide have surpassed their best opening. In 2006 and 2007 Melbourne Victory were undefeated in their first seven games but went on to lose their eighth fixture both times. Both of those defeats came at the hands of Adelaide United.

Brisbane’s orange crush

So often a coaching change brings about an immediate response, albeit sometimes only short term. This, however, is an unusual scenario as Brisbane Roar were crowned champions just seven matches ago.

They prepare to host Perth Glory following the appointment of Frans Thijssen as interim coach. Normally a coaching change follows a team being at a low ebb.

While results may suggest otherwise, that is not the case with Brisbane. They demolished Newcastle Jets a fortnight ago in possibly the most one-sided match of the A-League season, while it took an own goal for high-flying Melbourne Victory to see off the Roar last weekend.

From a distance it appeared the Roar were on the verge of rediscovering some serious winning form. Most reports from Brisbane indicate football director, Ken Stead, was a pivotal figure in the unexpected exit of reigning A-League coach of the year, Mike Mulvey. It is a rare event that such a role would wield so much power. Suddenly the league’s most stable club is suddenly looking its most vulnerable.

The selection of former Netherlands international Thijssen, without a senior coaching role in over a decade, may delight old-school Ipswich Town fans, and even older Oranje-tinged fans from the Roar’s predecessor (Brisbane Lions) to continue a curious Dutch theme from years gone by.

But history may well view the current Roar senior management in the dimmest light. Mulvey’s “stepping down” was followed on Wednesday by the news that assistant Ron Smith had “resigned” from the Roar. Roar management used the word “philosophy” more than any other this week. Much focus will be on how Thijssen lines up his side and their playing method.

Perhaps more than any other team in the league, the Roar players have become accustomed to a particular playing style in recent years. Any significant changes in the short term will add further pressure to a playing group already sidetracked. For visiting Perth Glory, who are surprise leaders at the top, it will be a rare chance to seek revenge on Brisbane’s home turf for a certain grand final defeat.

Fibros v Silvertails

“Form doesn’t matter in a derby,” according to the Western Sydney Wanderers coach, Tony Popovic. If true, that is welcome news for Wanderers fans, because form suggests Sydney FC will win at a canter. But Popovic tends to be pretty much correct with his football observations.

The matches between the pair are almost always tight, disjointed affairs, last month’s see-sawing 3-2 win for Sydney FC aside.

The Wanderers are on their worst ever run in their short A-League history (six matches without a win). The Sky Blues, for their part, have gone the first seven games of an A-League season unbeaten for the first time.

This however is different. The Sydney derby creates an atmosphere arguably unique in Australian sport. The Fox Sports team last month, if you believe them, suggested the Sydney derby had surpassed its Melbourne counterpart for atmosphere, even if only marginally.

For all their poor form, the Wanderers go into the match having conceded just one goal in their past six home matches, including the AFC Champions League. One thing is for certain. Marc Janko, Sydney’s match-winner against Melbourne City, will not be allowed anywhere near as much as latitude by Nikolai Topor-Stanley and his Wanderers’ backline as he was last weekend.

Key contest in Kiwi capital

Calling Wellington Phoenix against Melbourne City a six-pointer might be overstating things a little. But both teams will undoubtedly consider their respective opponents as direct rivals for a top-six berth.

After a bright start to the season Wellington have levelled out somewhat. They have netted just three goals in their past four matches, but nevertheless have shown signs of turning promise into something more tangible. Coach Ernie Merrick indicated at the start of the campaign that this was the season for a New Zealand club to deliver.

If that is to happen, then a visit by the sometimes flaky Melbourne City is surely a must-win for the Phoenix. Goals tend to follow Melbourne City matches … at either end. Both teams have netted in each of Melbourne City’s last 12 matches, a run which dates back to early March. Surprisingly for a team with a porous defence, they have conceded a lower percentage of goals from set-pieces than any other team in the league.

Learning how to win

The Newcastle Jets welcome the Central Coast Mariners this weekend, and this edition of the so-called F3 derby looks likely to live down to its dry and dusty moniker. The pair have won just once between them this season across their 14 matches. And that win for the Mariners was over the Jets, as Mitchell Duke almost inadvertently turned in an injury-time winner to separate the teams at the end of a largely sterile contest.

The Mariners face a test of character this week after captain John Hutchinson ill-advisedly headed straight up the tunnel last week following his substitution. They will be without fellow midfield worker bee Nick Montgomery through suspension.

They face a Jets side who are finally showing genuinely positive signs of improvement under new coach Phil Stubbins. In truth, Newcastle desperately need a win in this one to kick-start their season ahead of a tough upcoming schedule.

FIXTURES

Friday: Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 7.40pm

Saturday: Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory, Suncorp Stadium, 5pm (AEDT)

Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC, Pirtek Stadium, 7.30pm

Sunday: Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City, Westpac Stadium, 3pm (AEDT)

Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners, Hunter Stadium, 5pm