After Nick Mrdja smahed Andrew Durante's leg in the Club World Championship and the Mariners knocked the Jets out of the competition, will it be payback time? But wait, there's more! It could be brother vs brother as Nick and Leo Carle, supposedly not on speaking terms, lineup on opposite sides of the field. Will McKinna give the mohwaked-one a run before the 90 mins draw to an end? Will the first exchange of words between the siblings involve Leo serving up a savage aesthetic critique of Nick's so far less than useful heel-flicks? Will Kevin Muscat enjoy watching Nick enter a challenge on Leo with studs up and stomping action primed?
The Mariners are on a huge high after winning the Pre-Season Cup and emerging victorious from a tepid encounter with Perth, a match with few highs that nevertheless produced one of the greatest on the league's opening weekend: Noel Spencer's stunning goal from the deep.
Newcastle are already reeling after an ordinary performance at home to Adelaide saw them drop valuable points. Big guns Zelic, Milicic and Carle are yet to fire. Novocastrians want them to, need them to, demand that they do.
The smart money is on the Mariners, but indications are that this is going to be a league full of first-year surprises. My conservative tip is a toughly fought draw, but hopefully one with an early goal to open up the game. And let's hope the brothers Carle can sort things out and show us some of the sublime football talent they both possess!
1 comment:
The round's opening game was top notch. An entertaining away win from Sydney FC and a solid if unlucky performance from the Knights. If the quality continues into the other matches, then the A-League is set!
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