The Run Home – Four weeks to go
Four weeks to go and only one team are assured of their place in the finals, Brisbane. Seven other clubs have realistic chances of filling the remaining five positions; for Melbourne Heart and Perth Glory the season appears over. This season has been very unpredictable and runs of form, injury and suspension will play their part over the final month. A top two spot appears crucial to gain the best possible chance for Championship success but in finals anything can happen.
Let’s look at the final month of the eight clubs in contention.
Brisbane Roar
Melbourne Victory (HOME) – Draw
Melbourne Heart (HOME) – Win
Western Sydney (AWAY) – Loss
Central Coast (HOME) – Win
Will miss their star striker against Victory this week but will claim the Premiership in the coming weeks. Mike Mulvey’s team have been extremely professional over the season and will be rewarded with both the top spot and a week off in the first week of the finals.
Currently: 1st Predicted Finish: 1st
Melbourne Victory
Brisbane Roar (AWAY) – DRAW
Sydney (HOME) – WIN
Newcastle (AWAY) – Draw
Wellington (AWAY) – Loss
Kevin Muscat will see his team slip from second spot after tough domestic and AFC campaigns. With quality players such as Troisi, Milligan, Thompson and Traore the finals format should suit Victory who are capable of producing excellent one off results. Don’t be surprised to see key players rested before a crucial elimination final in the first week of the finals.
Currently: 2nd Predicted Finish: 3rd
Western Sydney
Perth (HOME) – Win
Central Coast (AWAY) – Draw
BRISBANE (HOME) – Win
Melbourne Heart (AWAY) – Win
A strong finish for Popovic’s men will see them grab the double chance ahead of Victory. Keen to make up for last season’s grand final failure the team may well be hungry but I’m afraid for the fans the team will come up short once again, this time to Brisbane.
Currently: 3rd Predicted Finish: 2nd
Central Coast
Melbourne Heart (AWAY) – Draw
Western Sydney (HOME) – Draw
Perth (AWAY) – Loss
Brisbane (AWAY) – Loss
Three road trips and some ACL games makes this week’s trip to Melbourne vital. On paper they play the top two and bottom two teams and should make the finals comfortably but I suspect the Mariners will just squeeze into the finals in sixth place. My predictions may seem harsh but Mile Sterjovski cannot continue to carry this team in his final year. Fans might consider sending Mark Birighetti a Christmas card in 2014.
Currently: 4th Predicted Finish: 6th
Sydney
Adelaide (AWAY) – Loss
Melbourne Victory – (AWAY) Loss
Wellington (HOME) – Win
Perth (HOME) – Win
Even with the best central defender in the competition I cannot see Sydney securing a home final. The pressure will be turned up on Coach Frank Farina over the next fortnight as the team travel to Adelaide and Melbourne. A favourable final two weeks should see BlingFC finish 5th in ADP’s final season but as always fans will demand answers, but some have forgotten what the question is.
Currently: 5th Predicted Finish: 5th
Adelaide
Sydney (HOME) – Win
Wellington (AWAY) – Loss
Melbourne Heart (HOME) – Win
Newcastle (AWAY) – Win
No wonder Josep Gombau was relaxing eating Twisties watching the A-League last week, his team have the easiest run home. I’m predicting three wins for the reds as they secure a home final. Home games against Sydney and Melbourne Heart should get the crowds rocking at Hindmarsh and an exciting finals campaign is ahead. Adelaide could be the danger team for Brisbane.
Currently: 6th Predicted Finish: 4th
Newcastle
Wellington (HOME) – Win
Perth (AWAY) – Draw
Melbourne Victory (HOME) – Draw
Adelaide (HOME) – Loss
A stunning win against Western Sydney followed by a loss to rivals Central Coast sums up the season for the Jets. Unpredictably disappointing without a solid contribution from key player Emile Heskey has cost the Jets dearly over the course of the season and I predict they will fall agonisingly short and give their fans plenty to think about during the winter. The next two weeks are crucial and could possibly book a finals appearance for the club.
Currently: 7th Predicted Finish: 7th
Wellington
Newcastle (AWAY) – Loss
Adelaide (HOME) – Win
Sydney (AWAY) – Loss
Melbourne Victory (HOME) – Win
After the courage Ernie Merrick’s men showed on Sunday a finals spot isn’t beyond the squad. The fitness of Carlos Hernandez will be a talking point over the next few days and he will be a vital cog in the run home. A hectic International schedule and a horror injury run has seen the club sit outside the top six during the season and I’m afraid that is where they will stay.
Currently: 8th Predicted Finish: 8th
Melbourne Heart: Central Coast (H) draw, Brisbane (A) loss, Adelaide (A), loss, Western Sydney (H) loss.
A disappointing season will finish in a disappointing manner with a winless final month. Fans will be buoyed by the re-signing head coach John Van’t Schip.
Currently: 9th Predicted Finish: 9th
Perth Glory: Western Sydney (A) loss, Newcastle (H) draw, Central Coast (H) win, Sydney (A) loss
Internal fighting, poor results and an injured Shane Smeltz sum up the Glory season. A win over Central Coast should erase a poor two months from the club but the clubs first ever wooden spoon seems unavoidable.
Currently: 10th Predicted Finish 10th (on goal difference)
Current Table Predicted Finish
- Brisbane 45 (+18) 1. Brisbane 52
- Melbourne Victory 36 (-3) 2. Western Sydney 44
- Western Sydney 35 (+2) 3. Melbourne Victory 41
- Central Coast 33 (-5) 4. Adelaide 40
- Sydney 32 (0) 5. Sydney 38
- Adelaide 31 (+8) 6. Central Coast 35
- Newcastle 29 (-3) 7. Newcastle 34
- Wellington 28 (-3) 8. Wellington 34
- Melbourne Heart 25 (-3) 9. Melbourne Heart 26
- Perth 22 (-8) 10. Perth 26
John van ‘t Schip resigned? But he only just re-signed!