Bonjour scorers, hello and welcome to the first week of my prediction tournament. I've only got one competitor for this week, Del of Nottingham university, so I'm feeling optimistic I might be able to get second place.
This week, we've got some interesting games; league leaders Chelsea go to in-form Tottenham, the two Manchester clubs are aiming to put their title bids on track against two Midlands clubs, West Brom and Stoke, Martinez returns to Swansea, Mark Hughes fights for his job against Everton and we've got a north-east derby classic!
Here goes...
Tottenham
vs. Chelsea
Both
of these teams are in-form, high on confidence, and both are capable of
creating chances and neither are especially strong defensively. I think this
has the makings of an exciting game. Tottenham are hitting a streak under
Andre-Villas Boas and the comfortable win over Aston Villa last week proved
that the dramatic win at Old Trafford wasn’t an anomaly.
The
Portuguese’s successor at Chelsea, di Matteo, has found a real winning formula
though and the effects of Hazard, Mata and Oscar combining to provide for
Torres have been devastating. The knowhow of Lampard and the dynamism of
Ramires has also given Chelsea the platform they need in midfield to give these
quality players time on the ball. For the time being, I just can’t see the
Blues being knocked off their perch. I think Chelsea have it in them to nick
this game 3-2.
Del says: I think Spurs will up their game for their London rivals. 2-2.
Fulham
vs. Aston Villa
Fulham’s
positive start has stuttered, if not unpredictably, in their last couple of
games. They probably expected to lose to Man City, but they will have been a
little miffed that they dropped two points in injury time at Southampton last
time out. Their home record always seems to provide doubters with the answers
though, and Aston Villa look like a squad that needs time for their young
players to acclimatise to the Premier League level, and to become familiar with
playing under new manager, Paul Lambert. I think Fulham have the quality and
experience going forward to put a couple of nigglingly disappointing results
behind them and record a fairly comfortable win. 2-0.
Del says: 2-0
Liverpool
vs. Reading
Once
they had won 5-2 at Carrow Road a few weeks back, it looked like the Rodgers
revolution of the reds was all in place. In their last couple of results though,
a home defeat to Udinese in the Europa league and a goalless draw with Stoke
has somewhat stalled the revolution for the time being, they need a win to put
themselves back on track.
For
Reading, it won’t do the mind-set of their fans any harm to see that 2-2 draws
with Newcastle and Swansea have seen them climb out of the relegation zone,
even if in both of those games the win was within their grasp. With Fulham, QPR
and Norwich coming up for the Royals, I’m confident they can get their first
win sooner rather than later, but Liverpool’s need for the points is probably
greatest on Saturday. 2-0 Liverpool, and possibly a couple of goals from
Suarez.
Del says: Liverpool should be winning ties like these but I think they'll struggle with Reading. 1-0.
Man
Utd vs. Stoke City
In
recent weeks, Stoke’s 1-0 loss and two draws against Chelsea, Man City and
Liverpool respectively suggest that they are capable of competing with some of
the top teams in England (and also Liverpool), and that this won’t be an easy
game for Fergie’s men. Charlie Adam and Steven N’Zonzi will provide quite a
physical threat in the middle of the park that I’m not sure Carrick and Scholes
will be able to compete with when they haven’t got the ball, meaning Rooney
will have to work hard tracking back- it just makes me wonder whether the
service to van Persie will be good enough.
This
could be one of those games that proves another stern test of Manchester
United’s mental strength and ultimately, title credentials- if it’s 0-0 with 20
minutes or so to go can they find that goal to pick up the win? They usually
do. For that reason, I’m going to say the Red Devils can pass this test and nip
the game in the bud with a 1-0 win.
Del says: 5-1
Swansea
vs. Wigan
Roberto
Martinez will return to the Liberty Stadium in a game where Swansea need to
win, but Wigan can’t afford to lose if either of these sides want to distance
themselves from a relegation battle. The thinking behind this being that Swansea,
in their next few games, I think have got to play the likes of Chelsea, Man
City and Liverpool. Whilst they will be happy to sit 12th at the
moment, I’d expect their track in the league table to lead them downwards
rather than upwards in the coming weeks. Although it can’t have felt like it,
it was more of a bonus than anything else for Wigan to get a point against
Everton last time out despite the late penalty- their next three home games are
against West Ham, West Brom and Reading. It will be those matches for the
Latics that will define the course of their season, but I think Swansea might
have the edge in this one. 2-1.
West
Brom vs. Man City
West
Brom are playing full of confidence at the moment- you’ve got to give a lot of
credit for that to Steve Clark. The lively, buoyant and rampant attacking
performances this Baggies team seem to be putting in owes a lot to what the
manager has done. There is also a healthy competition for places going forward.
Another
tricky encounter then, for Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City. They did manage a
clean sheet against Sunderland last week despite the absence of Vincent Kompany,
the return of Lescott played a big part and I think him and Kompany at the back
is the best way forward for Man City in future. Given that the Citizens aren’t
quite in flying form, I’d be inclined to say West Brom could sneak a draw but
the competitive child in me doesn’t want to lose any points on the predictions
game no matter how much credit I’d get for forecasting an unexpected result!
Because of that, I’ll say Man City will win 2-1.
Del says: West Brom have had a great run so far this season but I think Man City will overpower them. 1-3.
West
Ham vs. Southampton
The
good thing about the local derby against Arsenal for West Ham, was that they
had such a good start to the season they could afford to lose it- a draw or
better would only have been a bonus. I don’t think it will have affected their
confidence this much and would still fancy them to win this game.
Southampton
showed quite a bit of spirit to snatch that point against Fulham so late on-
many teams would have given up at that point and I think the steely
determination they showed could prove crucial in the relegation dogfight. I do
get a feeling as well it’ll be their home form rather than away, that’ll be
most important for them this season, which is why I’m going to say West Ham
will win this 2-0.
Norwich
vs. Arsenal
I
can’t see past a convincing Arsenal win for Saturday’s teatime game. The
Gunners do beat Norwich for quality all over the park, but most notably in the
attacking midfield areas, so I could see them scoring about three goals in the
closing stages of the game. Cazorla looks a real player for them, the passing
quality and movement from out wide in this Arsenal team would be too much for
most teams to handle, not least Norwich who have severe defensive problems.
Chris
Hughton’s side have lost their last three Premiership matches, albeit against
good attacking teams, but you’ve got to place Arsenal in that category as well.
I could be eating humble pie on Saturday night watching Chris Hughton
celebrating his side’s first win of the season thanks to a fine defensive
display and a 1-0 win, but I just don’t think I will be and once the first goal
goes in, Arsenal can run rings around Norwich. 5 or 6-0 would probably be too
much, so I’ll say a 4-0 away win for Arsenal.
Del says: 0-2
Sunderland
vs. Newcastle
I
think there could be an element of fear and anti-climax about this north-east
derby. Both teams have prolific strikers in Cisse and Ba, for Newcastle, and in
Steven Fletcher for Sunderland but I worry that the service to these players
could be reduced by what could be a tightly fought battle in the middle of the
park. Sunderland have been little more than steady in their last few games,
they were expected to lose to City so no real surprises there and getting four
points from games against West Ham and Wigan makes me think they won’t be in
the relegation mixer come March/April time. Newcastle will have been
disappointed at being almost out of the game after about 10 minutes against Man
United a fortnight ago; they might have hoped to snatch a draw in that
game. Whilst it’s not been a great
opening 7 games for them, the Geordies will be relieved that they don’t have to
worry about a ‘continental hangover’ effect for this one. I’d say a draw is
probably the best shout,
1-1.
Del says: the north-east derby is one of my favourites and I see plenty of goals in this one.
3-2.
QPR
vs. Everton
Del says: the Toffees are in the Champions League position whilst QPR paddle at the bottom of the table, I can only see an Everton win here. 0-2.
Cheers Del, we shall see who will emerge the victor! Don't forget, if anyone wants to have a go at the predictions game for next week, get in touch, either by commenting on the blog, tweeting me (@_thescore), or giving us an email: sutton.thescore@gmail.com
That's all for this week, and looking at the fixtures, I know exactly where I'll be at 10:30 on Saturday night!
Thanks to all for reading, and for all the support with the blog thus far.
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