Sydney FC vs Newcastle Jets
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Today’s (Saturday’s – posted early because of the kick-off time) free tip is in the Australian A-League encounter between Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets
I’m still not blown away by The Sky Blues but they do look a lot better now that they’ve actually got a point of reference up front in Bobo. The form guide may not have been all that kind to the reigning champions recently, but they have performed better. They’ve controlled games, creating chances, and should have won more than they have. I still think they need to address the situation in defence because they’re seriously lacking in pace there, not to mention a midfield terrier, and a backup striker. There’s a chance that young Wood could be their backup striker because I like the way he presses and moves, although his finishing still needs a bit of work. This is not the complete squad that it used to be though, and I don’t think that Corica has the tactical acumen of his predecessor Arnold.
That said, Sydney are in a decent place at the moment. They have played a lot of games lately, but unlike most A-League teams, they do have good rotation options in most areas. Luckily, it takes a lot to keep Grant out of games at right-back because his understudy (van der Saag) is pretty bad. King has started to cover really well for Zullo on the left side of defence though, and Warland has looked decent enough in central defence this season when called upon. They’ve got alternatives in every other position so I won’t read too much into any fixture congestion here because Sydney should be able to handle it, especially if the Jets don’t press them today.
They’ve got plenty of goal-scorers, the best array of creators in the division, boatloads of experience, and have been propelled into today’s fixture with a win, which is always beneficial. I just can’t find any reasons to doubt Sydney winning today, you know? My newest concern with The Sky Blues is goalkeeper Redmayne, bizarrely enough. He’s been a very steady pair of gloves for them over the years but this season has dropped more than a few clangers. Aside from that though, the home team really should pick up three points today.
I’d be more concerned about this selection if Jets boss Deans had been making his team play lately like they did at the start of the season i.e. always trying to be on the front foot. If they actually pressed Sydney, realising that they won’t lose too many foot races with a high defensive line (for a change!), I’d be worried about my pick because Sydney would really struggle to deal with the Jets’ fitness and speed. However, because that approach saw the Jets lose a few times (all to do with luck, lack of new faces, question marks over the club continuing etc.) they’ve reverted back to their old style of sitting back and countering. That approach has seen them win a number of games, they’re sticking with it. If they do that against Sydney though, I fear that the sheep are merely inviting the wolves to dinner.
I wonder if that approach will switch back in the near future though, now that Krasniqi is out of quarantine. They brought him in to be the new, hopefully-less-injured Vargas – and he looks a real talent. For a big bloke, he’s got a remarkably good turn of pace (over a short distance) and he’s incredibly comfortable on the ball, not to mention skilful. He always wants to play the ball forward too – that’s what I like about the Kosovan midfielder. He could be a really good addition to their squad in due course because that is the weakest area that the Jets have right now – the final third. If he and Millar can bring their “A” games though, the Jets should become far better in the final third.
For now though, I expect business as usual from the Jets. I really don’t see Krasniqi starting this one. I believe the Jets will sit back, soak it up, and hope to break through Yuel, who has done remarkably well this season. He and Thurgate have a very good understanding, and with Millar’s speed on the right, Sydney are going to have to be careful here. Still, they’re very good at keeping the ball, and with the Jets having made too many individual errors lately (no pressing for Waine’s strike against Phoenix, two poor passes from Ugarkovic against Adelaide), I can’t see that pristine performance (that’s required away from home against Sydney) coming today.
Therefore, I’m on the home win at 19/20. Do keep an eye on the Jets, though – they’ve got a couple of games coming up where a style switch could see them pick up six points instead of the expected three or less.
Verdict: Sydney FC to win at 19/20.
Saturday’s Thoughts
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts. For confidence ratings, you’ll need to go to the members section here.
Australian A-League:
Sydney FC vs Newcastle Jets
Melbourne Victory vs Adelaide United
Austrian Bundesliga:
Salzburg vs Admira Wacker
Belgian Cup:
AS Eupen vs Standard de Liege
Bulgarian A PFG:
Slavia Sofia vs Montana
Botev Plovdiv vs CSKA 1948 Sofia
Botev Vratsa vs Levski Sofia
Croatian Prva Liga:
Lokomotiva Zagreb vs Istra 1961
Gorica vs Hajduk Split
Czechia Liga 1:
Opava vs Pardubice
Zlin vs Ceske Budejovice
Banik Ostrava vs Marila Pribram
English Premier League:
Leeds United vs Chelsea
Crystal Palace vs West Bromwich Albion
Everton vs Burnley
Fulham vs Manchester City
Estonian Meistriliiga:
FCI Levadia Tallinn vs Legion
Kuressaare vs Tammeka
Faroese Betrideildin:
07 Vestur Sorvagur vs B68 Toftir
Finnish Suomen Cup:
VPS vs FC Honka Espoo
PEPO vs PK-35 Helsinki
Gnistan vs Ekenas IF
French Ligue 1:
Angers SCO vs AS Saint-Etienne
Olympique de Marseille vs Stade Brestois
German Bundesliga:
VfL Wolfsburg vs Schalke 04
Union Berlin vs Koln
Mainz 05 vs SC Freiburg
Werder Bremen vs Bayern Munich
Bv09 Borussia Dortmund vs Hertha Berlin
German Bundesliga 2:
Darmstadt 98 vs Erzgebirge Aue
SV Sandhausen vs Fortuna Dusseldorf
Hungarian Liga 1:
Ujpest vs Varda SE
MTK Budapest vs Zalaegerszegi TE
Diosgyori VTK vs Budapest Honved
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Hapoel Tel-Aviv vs Bnei Sakhnin
Maccabi Netanya vs Hapoel Hadera
Hapoel Haifa vs MS Ashdod
Ironi Kiryat Shmona vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv
Italian Serie A:
Sassuolo vs Hellas Verona
Benevento vs ACF Fiorentina
Genoa vs Udinese
Italian Serie B:
Frosinone vs Brescia
Lecce vs Chievo Verona
Reggina vs Monza
Pordenone vs Pescara
Cremonese vs Reggiana
Ascoli vs Venezia
Salernitana vs Cosenza
Vicenza vs Empoli
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Zalgiris Vilnius vs Dainava
Dutch Eredivisie:
Willem II vs SC Heerenveen
ADO Den Haag vs Heracles Almelo
AZ Alkmaar vs FC Twente Enschede
FC Groningen vs FC Emmen
Sparta Rotterdam vs RKC Waalwijk
Portuguese Liga 1:
Farense vs Belenenses
SL Benfica vs Boavista
Santa Clara vs Portimonense
Tondela vs Sporting Clube de Portugal
Portuguese Liga 2:
Academica de Coimbra vs Vizela
Leixoes Matosinhos vs Cova de Piedade
Casa Pia vs Vilafranquense
Romanian Liga:
Academica Clinceni vs Voluntari
Hermannstadt vs Viitorul Constanta
UTA Arad vs FCSB
Russian Premier League:
Ural Sverdlovskaya Oblast vs Rotor Volgograd
Arsenal Tula vs CSKA Moscow
Zenit St. Petersburg vs Akhmat Grozny
Dinamo Moscow vs Spartak Moscow
Spanish Primera Liga:
Deportivo Alaves vs Cadiz
Real Madrid vs Elche
CA Osasuna vs Real Valladolid
Getafe vs Atletico Madrid
Swedish Svenska Cupen:
Hammarby vs Trelleborg FF
IFK Norrkoping vs BK Hacken Goteborg
Swiss Super League:
FC Zurich vs Lausanne Sport
FC Basel vs Luzern
Swiss Challenge League:
Stade Lausanne-Ouchy vs Chiasso
Aarau vs FC Wil
Turkish Super Lig:
Sivasspor vs Fatih Karagumruk
Rizespor vs Hatayspor
Alanyaspor vs Antalyaspor
Kayserispor vs Galatasaray
Enjoy your free betting tips!