Two weekends down and we’ve not won anything on our weekly accumulator just yet, however we got a couple of big shouts last week which gives me confidence going forward. I was pleased the bold calls of Fulham 2-2 Man Utd and Bolton to beat West Ham away were accurate. This weekends games, on paper at least, look a bit easier to call. All the “big” teams have what appear to be fairly straight forward fixtures. It’s the less glamorous ties that will be tough to get right this week.
Blackburn vs Arsenal – Saturday 12.30pm
The media went into false headline frenzy midweek when Wenger cited Stoke as having been particular dirty last weekend. The headlines read “Wenger fears Rugby match at Blackburn” – which is nothing like what he said, but that doesn’t stop the papers. That said, I imagine “Big Sam” will employ his rather unattractive tactics of long ball football and crowd the box. Arsenal should be full of confidence after last weekend, however they have still failed to sign a new keeper this summer and if one game demonstrated the need for a better #1 last season, it was this fixture. I don’t think Arsenal will make the same mistakes as last season though and with an almost fully fit squad should be too much for a resilient Blackburn.
Arsenal to win. 8/13 @ Sky Bet. (score guess 1-3)
Blackpool vs Fulham – Saturday 3pm
Having been humbled last weekend, Blackpool chipped away at their confidence mid week with a poor defeat in the league cup at MK Dons. Having despatched of Wigan so comfortably in week 1 we have seen that, given the right day, this Blackpool team is capable of a good performance. Fulham’s away record under Roy Hodgson was woeful, however Hughes has already looked impressive in the hot seat and has earned a few good results so far. I think it’ll be a scrappy match but Fulham’s superior players will have enough in them to grab the 3 points.
Fulham to win. 5/4 @ Sky Bet. (score guess 2-3)
Chelsea vs Stoke – Saturday 3pm
30 unanswered goals in the Premier League… that is how deadly Chelsea have been recently. Stoke City got battered here last season and given the gulf in class between the two sides the only thing on the table is a Chelsea win. I don’t think they’ll score 6 again though… (may be my boldest shout of the day!)
Chelsea to win. 1/9 @ Sky Bet @ Sky Bet. (score guess 4-0)
Tottenham vs Wigan – Saturday 3pm
Memories of their embarrassing 3-2 defeat at Young Boys were put to bed on Wednesday as Spurs beat them 4-0 in the return leg. Following last weekends scrappy (and very fortunate) victory over Stoke, Spurs return to “The Lane” full of confidence and safe in the knowledge that this Wigan side is playing some god awful football at the moment. Ripe for an upset then right? I would normally agree, but Wigan have been so utterly terrible I can’t see them getting a point here… they might just grab their first goal of the season though. Maybe.
Tottenham to win. 1/4 @ Sky Bet. (score guess 4-1)
Wolves vs Newcastle- Saturday 3pm
On their day both these teams are capable of causing problems for any team in attack, those days however appear to come around once every so often and never predictably. Neither is particularly solid at the back and I imagine both managers would settle for a point at this stage in the season, even if Mick might be less happy than his counter part about it. Newcastle will obviously be buzzing after last weeks 6-0 humiliation of Aston Villa, however more fool them if it goes to their heads because the quality just isn’t there in that squad for it to happen again this week. A few goals, but ultimately they’ll cancel each other out.
Draw. 11/5 @ Sky Bet. (score guess 2-2)
Man Utd vs West Ham – Saturday 5.30pm
Alex Ferguson had the cheek to bemoan “throwing away” 2 points “like that” last weekend. This coming from the manager of a team that thrives on stealing points from people deep into stoppage (or “Fergie”) time. The 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage clearly hurt the Utd manager, and I imagine he has been drilling home just how pissed off he is all week to his players. Expect a committed and ruthless performance from them against a weak looking Hammers side.
Man Utd to win. 1/7 @ Sky Bet @ Sky Bet. (score guess 4-1)
Bolton vs Birmingham – Sunday 1.30pm
Owen Coyle has done something good at Bolton, he’s put a stop to the hoof ball, overly aggressive anti-football that Megson and Allardyce had plagued the Reebok with. He has been rewarded, so far, this season with a win and a draw to start the season. Over at St Andrews Alex McLeish has been busy trying to build on last seasons impressive showing, they’ve also started with a win and a draw, however their 2-1 victory over Blackburn at home last week was not entirely convincing. I think Bolton have what it takes to grab another three points on Sunday.
Bolton to win. 11/10 @ Sky Bet. (score guess 2-1)
Liverpool vs West Brom – Sunday 3pm
Roy Hodgson is probably starting to wonder what he has let himself in for by now. Since arriving the club has loaned out the skillful Aquilani (brought last season for circa £20m) and have, as of Friday, sold their one quality defensive midfielder, Mascherano, to the irritating Barcelona following the public pursuit of yet another player. Roy has some major work to do in the transfer market if he is to have a chance of getting Liverpool back into the Champions League this year. They still have far more quality in their squad than West Brom, however, so Sunday should see them pick up their first win of the season. West Brom showed major improvements on their opening day mauling at Chelsea when they beat Sunderland last week and I think they’ll be content with simply not being embarassed at Anfield.
Liverpool to win. 1/5 @ Sky Bet @ Sky Bet. (score guess 3-0)
Sunderland vs Man City – Sunday 3pm
Man City’s mercenaries have more than enough to see off a feeble looking Sunderland side. Steve Bruce’s team have started the season poorly, and the visit of Roberto Mancini’s men is probably one of the last things he wanted right now. The unrest (Adebayor, Given) in the City camp could cause some problems further down the line but right now they are playing well and the fans are happy, a comfortable victory for them Sunday.
Man City to win. 5/6 @ Sky Bet @ Sky Bet. (score guess 0-3)
Aston Villa vs Everton – Sunday 4pm
Both Everton and Villa have started the season poorly, both had hopes of pushing into the CL spots this season but defeats Blackburn and Newcastle respectively have not filled their fanbase’s with confidence. I imagine they’ll both play cautiously on Sunday, wanting to avoid a defeat at the cost of the spectacle. A bore draw.
Draw. 11/5 @ Sky Bet. (score guess 1-1)
Gerald’s predictions for this week:
Blackburn v Arsenal – 1-2
Blackpool v Fulham – 2-3
Chelsea v Stoke City – 5-0
Tottenham v Wigan – 2-0
Wolves v Newcastle – 0-0
Man Utd v West Ham – 3-0
Bolton v Birmingham – 1-0
Liverpool v West Brom – 1-0
Sunderland v Man City – 1-4
Aston Villa v Everton – 1-1
Interesting shout on Liverpool – you really don’t rate them do you?