Round 4 Preview

Western Sydney Wanderers vs Adelaide United - Friday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Western Sydney Wanderers (2nd)

Keep Up The Good Work: Shinji Ono had a spectacular match that will live on in Sydney Derby folklore for an eternity. A man of the match effort that saw him score a goal and provide a great cross for the first goal has the Japanese superstar pulling the Wanderers up to 2nd on the ladder.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: If there was one criticism of the Wanderers against Sydney it would have been not following in the footsteps of Brisbane Roar against Sydney the week prior and totally hammering home their advantage. Mark Bridge & Mateo Poljak among others had great opportunities to really bury Sydney FC but their composure was lacking.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Adelaide United (5th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Cirio was the best of a rather poor Adelaide squad. Lacking a number of players due to injury they made little impact on the match against Central Coast.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Adelaide did not managed to get a single shot on target after they conceded against the Mariners. Despite the addition of Jeronimo from his injury break, he has a horrible scoring record outside of Adelaide.

Prediction: 3-1. Juric to get a hat-trick against his former club. Tarek with a consolation goal for Adelaide in the dying minutes.

Perth Glory vs Sydney FC - Saturday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Perth Glory (6th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Sidnei performed admirably last week, sowing seeds of doubt and terror in the Melbourne Heart back line. He was the catalyst for the Glory winner with a neat flick-on to put the Glory striker McClaren through on goal.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Glory weren't really tested by the Heart, while they weren't overly impressive in attack. They can stand to do much better, against a weak Sydney FC squad.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Sydney FC (7th)

Keep Up The Good Work: ...

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Hired a new physio so Del Piero actually played. Otherwise they were total rubbish. They were abysmal across the park, they lost their only non-Del Piero good player, Rhyan Grant, to an ACL injury and their coaching staff is in a shambles. Frank Farina is set to risk Del Piero's major calf problem by flying him all the way over to Perth because another loss to Perth could be terminal for his job.

Prediction: 5-0. Smeltz & Sidnei will destroy Sydney FC, who will not have Del Piero to rescue them.

Newcastle Jets vs Central Coast Mariners - Saturday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Newcastle Jets (10th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Newcastle played a dismal 0-0 draw that they looked the more likely side to lose. New import Kew Jaliens along with keeper Mark Birighitti were the pair that kept their side in the match.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: The return of Heskey should enable the Jets to post an actual threat on goal, which they haven't done at all since the start of the season.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Central Coast Mariners (3rd)

Keep Up The Good Work: Mitch Duke didn't score, but he setup the goal in a man of the match performance in their 1-0 win over Adelaide. As Danny McBreen comes back from his loan spell in China the young striker will want to keep getting on the score sheet. A place in Rio is in the offing if he can pick up a dozen goals this year.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: The Mariners were totally untroubled by Adelaide, who couldn't manage even a single shot on target, they played their typical "score first and park the bus" tactic and it served them well. Part of that tactic is scoring more goals on the counter, but they weren't able to pull that off against Adelaide.

Prediction: This should be a massacre. The Jets are a shambles, not even Heskey returning is likely to save them. 4-0 Mariners. Could be the end of GVE.

Brisbane Roar vs Melbourne Heart - Sunday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Brisbane Roar (1st)

Keep Up The Good Work: Michael Theo pulled off numerous saves to keep his lacklustre side in the match.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Without Berisha the Roar looked toothless. They were dominated for long stretches of the match. Broich was extremely ineffective and needs to do better to inspire his team.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Melbourne Heart (8th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Two draws and this loss suggests that the Heart don't have much to crow about, they really need to step things up.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: They haven't managed to win a match so far. All round improvement is required, more goals scored and less conceded.

Prediction: Roar at home should win this match comfortably with the return of Berisha. 3-1 Roar.

Melbourne Victory vs Wellington Phoenix - Monday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Melbourne Victory (4th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Mitch Nichols tore the Roar apart on attack, with Adrian Leijer stoic in defence.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: This isn't really a 'could have done better last week' so much as a 'will they do better this week', under new manager Kevin Muscat. Melbourne's legendary defensive hit man has replaced Ange and looks to suit up on the sideline as the man in charge until the 2014/15 season. No-one ever really knows how a player will make the step up until they do it. Will Muscat be another Aloisi, or will he blossom into the next Popovic?

Team & Ladder Ranking: Wellington Phoenix (9th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Ernie Merrick has taken a much similar squad to the team that failed spectacularly last season and like the training montage in a Rocky movie, he has shaped and guided them into a solid compact unit at the back and flair on attack. They might not have the best squad but they are proving extremely hard to beat compared to their tame efforts last season.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: No goals. Against Newcastle. That says it all. At least they didn't lose.

Prediction: Melbourne should have the quality at home to overcome a tough Wellington outfit, but Wellington will spring a few upsets this season, will it happen on Monday? No. 2-1 Melbourne.