Betfair Live Video: McClaren's exit leaves Twente tactics in double Dutch

1Mar 2013

Betfair

This Saturday Betfair Live Video offers up a crucial clash at the top of the Aussie A-League, whilst a struggling FC Twente side host Ajax in Enschede...

Central Coast Mariners vs Western Sydney Wanderers

Saturday 08:45

The Bluetongue Stadium has more than enough to whet your appetite this Saturday morning as the top two tussle for top spot in New South Wales. Can the A-League pace setters keep hold of their lead, or will the Sydney new boys extend their winning streak to an unprecedented eight on the spin?

The Mariners could be excused for having thoughts elsewhere this week. With an AFC Champions League goal-less draw midweek against Suwon Bluewings fresh in the players legs and minds, preparation for this weekends fixture has been limited to only a couple of days.

Lesser teams would struggle to cope with this added pressure going into such a crucial weekend, but with coach Graham Arnold's wealth of big game experience expect him to have his side both mentally and physically prepared for arguably their biggest contest of the season.

Having led the A-League since match day nine, the Mariners have found themselves stumbling towards the finish line and a possible back-to-back regular season title. Albeit with inconsistent recent away form, their home performances have been exemplary. By taking 28 points from a possible 30 at the Bluetongue Stadium - the Yellow Army will be confident in extending that unbeaten run and in the process bursting the Wanderers bubble that just keeps growing.

In striker Daniel McBreen, the Mariners no doubt have the A-League player of the year so far. Goalless in his last three outings however, a stubborn Wanderers defence will be confident of keeping the danger man out - something they failed to do last time the teams met.

The big question is whether the travelling Wanderers side will get cold feet when it comes to their biggest day of the season. Faultless in their last seven outing they have been the envy of the on looking league, and with the tightest defence of the campaign they have been well drilled by former Palace centre back Tony Popovic.

The only criticism that would dare to be uttered in the way of the Wanderers is their goal scoring potency. With ten of their fourteen victory's coming by one goal it could be argued that they lack that killer instinct to put teams away, which could be their undoing against stronger outfits.

Although considered overachieving by many, the Wanderers have had a small taste of success so far this season and will be hungry for the main course. A win on Saturday would put them on top of the pile going into the final few weeks of the season, on course for debut season silverware.

Recommended Bet

Back the draw @ 3.55

Back 2-2 @ 16.0

FC Twente vs Ajax

Saturday 19:45

The big news in Enschede this week was the departure of Twente boss 'Shteve' McClaren after an unsuccessful return to the Dutch outfit. Resigning from his contract that ran into 2014, the former England boss felt that he could do no more to turn around the current misfortunes of the club that has seen them go winless since mid December.

Last weekends loss to struggling Heerenveen appeared to be the final straw in terms of McClarens decision, with him jumping before many felt he would be pushed. Luckily for the caretaker boss Alfred Schreuder, the visitors this weekend to De Grolsch Veste are the little known Eredivisie Champions Ajax... nothing like an easy first day on the job.

Twente are in a dire run of form. Despite being joint top at the winter break a stretch of six league games without a win has seen them fall down to fifth spot, and more crucially out of the European places. With Utrecht hot on their heels in sixth, the Twente fans are under no illusions that whoever fills the big boots left by McClaren will have to hit the ground running in pursuit of salvaging this campaign.

Serbian winger Dusan Tadic has shown glimpses of brilliance in his first season at the club and is a sure bet to be a future Twente superstar at the age of 24. Signing for 7.7million Euros in the summer, he has already chipped in with eleven goals and eleven assists starting every fixture this season.

Frank de Boer's Ajax will travel to Enschede in unfamiliar circumstances. After being knocked out of the Europa League last Thursday by an un-fancied Steaua Bucharest side, they went on to lose in the semi final of the Dutch cup to a rampant AZ outfit at the Amsterdam Arena. These two shock defeats has put the importance of the Eredivise into perspective for the reigning champions, now more determined than ever to catch a free flowing PSV side that have set the pace all season in blistering fashion.

Without a proven goal scorer to rely on, this season has looked like a trial and error experiment in the Ajax striker department. With Derk Boerrigter having found the net only three times in 21 starts, the youthful arrogance of 18-year-old striker Viktor Fischer has been implemented into the side successfully seeing him bag six goals already, with a notable brace against rivals Feyenoord.

Star man Siem de Jong will always be a threat whoever the competition. In his sixth season with the Amsterdammers, the 24-year-old has once again proven his worth to the side putting in countless match winning performances that has seen him gather interest from teams such as Newcastle United. With eight goals and seven assists he is considered an 'untouchable' in the heart of the Ajax midfield and will take some stopping from controlling the game from the centre of the Twente turf.

Both sides have had a tough and eventful week, but how each one copes is the key to unlocking the secret behind this fixture. The hosts will fancy their chances against a leaky Ajax defence of late, but expect De Boer to rally the troops of the wounded Champions.

Recommended Bet

Back Ajax to win @ 2.38

Back both teams to score @ 1.64