Friday 30th November 2012

Well, I well and truly got creamed in my predictions during the week (2/8 correct) so I really need to get back on track this weekend. Here is what I think will happen.
It is half time at the 3pm games so let us see where we are. If things were to finish now we would have 5/9. The predictions most in danger are my over 2.5 with Fulham & Tottenham and my under 2.5 with QPR and Villa.
After 90 minutes in the 3pm games it is 5/9 giving us a score of +1
This gives us an overall score of -2 with the United game still to come and cause for optimism that this score can improve. United winning in that crazy 4-3 win means 6/10 and a score of +2 for the day and -1 as our overall score for the season.
West Ham vrs Chelsea:

This is a hard game to call. West Ham are good at home and Chelsea have been rocked by the recent changes in management. I don't think they will have got themselves in order well enough to get all 3 points so it will be a Hammers win or a draw. Torres has become a figure of riducule recently. Abramovich has brought in Benitez purely for the reason to try and get him firing but it is a futile effort. Abramovich demands return from his 50m man but Torres looks so uncomfortable on the pitch now that I seriously worry for the Spaniard's mental health. Then there are the 3 amigoes who started the season so well but could never be expected to keep the same standards over a whole Premier League season. Now it is the English winter they are showing signs that they would rather be somewhere else. I am expecting a dour low scoring game as West Ham will be happy to just contain Chelsea and try to hurt them with set pieces and long balls over the top. Benitez has tightened up Chelsea's defence but West Ham's offence is much more direct and comes down to physicality. I am expecting a lot of bookings in this game possibly even a red card.

Prediction: West Ham win
Doesn't look good. Chelsea 1-0 up. The best I would expect from here is a draw. West Ham look tired after their weekend exploits against Man Utd. I should have thought of that :(
Into the 2nd half and the Hammers look good for an equaliser. 1-1 Game on. It could go either way now. Two glourious chances for West Ham with 10 minutes to go. First Jarvis one on one with Cech and then Collins with a header off the line by Cole. 2-1 West Ham!! Diame blasts it in with 5 minutes to go. West Ham are good value for it but can they hold on?Chelsea fall to pieces at the back and it is now 3-1 West Ham!! I never really had a doubt :) Benitez for the sack in the morning!?And that is the final score. Not as physical a game as I was expecting with only 3 cards. Good start to the day. Hopefully will have as much look with the 3pm kick offs. Will keep you updated.
Actual 3-1 (+1)
Arsenal vrs Swansea:

Swansea were amazing during the week when, in the first half especially, they tore West Brom apart. The key to this was Laudrup's decision to play Routledge, Dyer and Pablo together in the same line-up where previously it was 2 of 3. He also returned the attacking midfielder Michu to the strikers role and these changes paid dividend. It will not be possible to repeat this formation this weekend as Pablo is out with a thigh strain. This should see De Guzman or Shechter being recalled.
Arsenal are still floundering and will start the game short on confidence and attacking direction. They look like a team that are not united in the dressing room. Walcott's contract saga and his comments along with Podolski's in that they want to play through the centre speak of disharmony. However, as Arsenal are playing at home i am going to opt for a draw in this game.

Prediction: Draw
Glad to see Jenkinson starting ahead of Sagna. I hear the Frenchman is on the way out of the club. Similar to Alex Song - good riddance! Not much to comment on in the first half here in a pretty uneventful affair greeted by boos from the home fans. What has happened to Oxlade Chamberlin? Have not heard anything about him for a long time. Looking very much like a draw here with 5 minutes to go. And then Swansea pull Arsenal's pants down with 2 late Michu goals! Not that Arsenal deserve anything for their lacklustre performance. They are a team of Kittens! Close with the prediction but no cigar.
Actual 0-2 (-1)
Fulham vrs Tottenham:

Fulham are currently going through a sticky patch as they have not won their last 6 Premier League games. They are always good at home though and I am expecting goals in this game. There are some side stories to this game as well with Jol, Dembele and Dempsey all returning to their former clubs and will be eager to make an impression. Spurs have won their last 2 and that has been down to the return to lethal form of Bale and the return from injury of Dembele. I feel both sides will go at each other hammer and thongs and it should make for an exciting game of football.


Prediction: Draw & over 2.5 goals
0-0 at half time to what has been an entertaining 45 minutes. The draw looks still on but will there be 3+ goals in the second half?
And we are off and running. Sandro puts Spurs 1-0 up. Is there 2 more goals in this game? Big blow to our objective as Bale has gone off with a pulled hamstring (not good for my fantasy team). Defoe makes it 2-0 to Tottenham. No chance of a draw now it seems but still on for over 2.5. Defoe obliges 3-0 to Tottenham. This is a good win away from home in the battle for Champions League positions. Compare this to Arsenal at Swansea. All this done without Bale.
Actual: 0-3 (-)

Liverpool vrs Southampton:

Going to Anfield used to be a day out for the visiting team and fans. A chance to savour the hallow halls of The Reds. One did not expect to get much else from the game. That has all changed now. This year alone there has only been 4 wins for the Anfield faithfull out of a possible 16. Visiting this week are the rejuvinated Saints who have rediscovered their own faith. They have really impressed me over the last couple of weeks and if they get at Liverpool today I think they can cause problems. Liverpool will be boosted by the news that Lucas Leiva is available for the first time since August. Brendan Rodgers will be eager to get him back as it will allow Joe Allen to push further up the field into the position that he was originally bought for.Southampton's goalkeeper is bound to make his weekly mistake so I fancy Liverpool to score as Southampton's defence has a very soft core. Southampton were around when the Reds were invincible and I have a feeling that it could be just like those early days in the eighties for the Saints players and fans today.


Prediction: Liverpool win
Looking good, Agger puts Liverpool in front. And that is the way it stays.
Actual (+1)

Manchester City vrs Everton:


If the 'good' Everton turns up at the Etihad today then we could be in for a great game. A lot will depend on the fitness of Baines who from left back has been the sides playmaker. So much of Everton's play is link up between Baines, Piennar and Fellaini down the left side. What makes this game even more interesting is that Everton have been Mancini's bogeyteam. Everton have won 5 of the last 6 meetings! I don't think that Everton will win this one though. Their form has dipped since their great start.They have now won only once in their last 8 league games. It could be that their small squad is starting to feel the toil of the Premier League. They will get no respite from City and I am going for a home win.


Prediction: Man City win
The Everton hoodoo strikes again! Fellaini puts the Toffees ahead just after the half hour. Back on track for our predictiction with Tevez converting a penalty (that is also good for my fantasy team). Nothing of interest in the 2nd half and 1-1 it ends.
Actual 1-1 (-1)

QPR Vrs Aston Villa:

Enter Harry the Wizard! Does he still have the magic charm to turn sulking overpaid footballers into winners? If anyone can 'Arry can. This is a week that Harry will have revelled in. The winless QPR looking to stem the tide of their inexorable descent into the Championship. He has nothing to lose as noone expects the R's to turn around so quickly but if they win then well...let's just say Harry has been daydreaming of himself basking in the glory of the Sunday headlines proclaiming the second coming of the Messiah! Both these teams have found it hard to score goals. QPR have only scored 10 goals in 13 matches while Villa have not been exactly prolifigate. Neither manager will want to lose this game. Victory will be a bonus. I am going for a low scoring draw.


Prediction: Under 2.5 goals & Draw
Oh  no Harry! Villa 1-0 up. Not the start you were looking for. Then again we were not expecting Green to be in goal. Is there anyone with less confidence than this man...besides Torres of course? 1-1 Mackie strikes back. Harry has opted in his last 2 games for more of the players that got QPR promotion. Looking for more honesty in performance. I hope the 2 teams calm down a bit as my under 2.5 is looking very vulnerable. 15 minutes to go and no change from half time. Still on course for a double in this game. Famous last words?
Actual: (1-1) +2

West Brom vrs Stoke:

West Brom have been flying this season and it was a surprise to even them I feel that they were beaten by Swansea mid week. At home today though I don't see any slip ups. man City are the only team to have won at the Hawthorns this season. People are still expecting the Baggie's bubble to burst but I believe that it will continue til at least the New Year then I can see them fading as the exertions take their toll on a small squad. Stoke will be without their Target man Crouch so Kenwyne Jones should deputise. He has not hit the same type of form that we were used to seeing every week when he was at Sunderland so he will have a big point to prove today. However, Olsson and McAuley should have enough to keep him and Stoke quiet. Stoke have claimed 10 of the last 12 available points but have not won away from home in their last 16 attempts! I don't see that record ending today especially without Crouch.

Prediction: West Brom win
0-0 at half time in a 45 minutes that has been largely uneventful. Still a good chance that West Brom can win this. Not looking good now though with Dean Whitehead putting the Potters ahead with 20 mins to go.And that is the way it stays. Is this the baggie's bubble burst? I thought they would last longer..at home especially.
Actual (0-1)-1
Reading vrs Man Utd.

A frightening stat is that Man Utd have only lost 6 games in the last decade over the month of December winning 77% of the games! It is a testimony that they know what it takes to win the league. Prior to December the goal is to stay in touch with the leaders and ensure Champion's league progression. With that assured the next goal is to blitz the league over the winter months to maximise points and put them in as comfortable a position  as possible come the business end of the season when important games come thick and fast. Ferguson will be aware what month it is now and he will be passing this message to his players. Now is the time to move up the gears. Reading will have winced when they saw the fixture list back in August. Reading are unbeaten in the last 4 but I see this as a mild surge of effort before they slip back into results that are in line with their destiny this season i.e to be relagated.

Prediction: Man Utd win
Actual: 3-4 (+1)