The Premiership: 1-3rd Dec

[slick]

Runthrough of Saturdays games....

Chelsea v West Ham
Closer game than the odds suggest this I'd say as West Ham arent playing that bad lately abeit lesser teams in the Prem allthough the point away to Portsmouth was a good one, West Ham like Chelsea never seem to have a settled side due to injuries and suspensions and i don't recall them having the same team from one week to the next for a couple of yrs now.

Allthough the same can be said of Chelsea they do have a lot more strength in depth and the return of Drogba will be a huge bonus for them, same to for West Ham with Dean Ashton but at the moment Drogba is on a different level until Ashton gets a lot more injury free games under his belt.

Chelsea should be to strong for the hammers and i fancy them to win this either 1 or 2 nil.
Chelsea win

Blackburn v Newcastle
Big slip up for Blackburn on wednesday night against Villa where they would have expected to pick up six points in the two on the bounce home games against them and Newcastle, Hughes won't be happy only having picked up two points in November as they did look a solid outfit before then.
Whether his foreign players don't like the cold weather or as happened in the past they are missing Savage i don't know but they don't look the same side to the one that started the season.

Having said that Newcastle are fairing even worse and look dire away from home, form that is also starting to slip into there home matches too.
Would have thought this was a banker a few weeks back for Blackburn and allthough i'm not as confident now i would still expect Blackburn to win this as Newcastle as ever still have a lot of injuries on top of playing very badly.
Newcastle Win

Portsmouth v Everton
Should be a great game as both these teams are on song at the moment and barring Pompeys home form scoring for fun.

This should be a very similar game to when Man City played at Fratton park a couple of weeks back allthough i doubt this will end in a 0-0 as Everton have a lot more bite up front but i do expect a score draw.

Two pretty well matched sides with minimal injuries
Draw
or Everton on the half ball as Eddy and others have mentioned looks a good bet.

Reading v Middlesbrough
Reading seem to be improving of late even though a few results have gone against them but they are showing signs of having the fight in them, which cannot be said of Boro who seem to be going from bad to worse.

As I've mentioned i feel the writing will be on the wall for Southgate after this one after Reading continue to win their home matches against the teams that matter in the lower half of the Prem.
Reading Win

Sunderland v Derby
Have to fancy Sunderland here who will be still smarting after the drubbing Everton dished out to them last wee, b4 that game i ddint think Sunderland were playing all that badly and only looked to be missing a bit of bite up front, That result obviously shows otherwise but i would like to think it was just a one off as happened to City at Stamford Bridge.

Derby have a new manager but i doubt anybody will do better than Billy Davies who on the face of it was too successfull for his own good, I can't see Jewel making any real progress with the players he has and lets not forget he almost got relegated with Wigan last yr with a lot better squad.

Keanes wrath should wonders here after the heavy defeat last week and they should win this by a goal or two.
Sunderland Win

Wigan v Man City
Wigan showed a bit of fighting spirit last week with the return of Heskey and must be looking to get something out of this match, Bruce will have had a full week working with his new team now and Wigan will be up for this.

Elano being out for City will be a huge blow for them as he does pull the strings in midfield and they need his eye for goal as City lack any real threat from their strikers.
Petrov and Ireland can also score from midfield but i doubt they will be the same threat with Elano missing, Geovanni will no doubt be his replacement but with so few 90 min games under his belt i doubt he'll have the same impact.

Whether Wigan can actually win this game I'm not so sure but with Heskey being back they certainly look good for a goal and could possibly nick the win or at least a draw.
Wigan +0.5 @ 1.8

Aston Villa v Arsenal
Another match up that has the makings of a decent game, both teams are on form at the moment and home advantage to Villa should make this a pretty even match up so long as Agbonlahor is declared fit as Villa don't have the same luxuries on the bench as Arsenal and can ill afford to miss key players.
Allthough Fabregas if out will be a blow for the Gunners.

No bet for me but if i were to have a tinker I'd have to opt for Arsenal who will be looking for 3 points to put the Pressure on Man U who play on Sunday.

[arromyen]

Some other thoughts,

Chelsea vs West Ham

1.3 for HW? No thanks. West Hame is starting to play much better from the begin and have some important players back. But you can't hope for Carlton Cole to perform well week in week out, do you?

Likely home win, 1-0 should do

Blackburn vs Newcastle

If someone force me to pick a winner, I would say Blackburn, but then again now they're suffering from ITC curse with no win in 4 matches. Newcastle are no good at the moment either and one local newspaper indicates that Big Sam is losing control in dressing room and claims he has 2 next matches to prove his worth. I think both side might satisfy to share one point here.

Draw & Under option

Reading vs Middlesbrough

Two below par team meet which I have more faith in HW. Boro seem to be at lost and I think Southgate will lose his job if his side go back with no point. Despite being a shadow of last season Reading is still considered a decent side, well, I mean if you compare them with teams in same level like Boro. At least they have good manager in Coppell.

HW around 2.00 is worth a shot

Sunderland vs Derby

I felt angry for my beloved Keane when I found most of Sunderland fan criticized him after recent results. They should be realistic about their situation now. They are nothing than a Championship side. It's Keane that brought them here. Derby could put their name in hall of shame as a worst team in Premier history if they don't start to turn thing around. Jewell to works his magic one more time? Quite honestly, I can't see that coming. But for this match I can see new manager syndrome might do its trick, again.

No bet, or Derby(+3/4)

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Speakingof myself as a MU supporter I might be a bit bias. But I believe Arse will lose points on the road this time. Against in-form Villa who has been scoring for fun lately. Plus Cesc is out, a big blow. They used more or less most of their regular players in mid-week(1-3) so it could weaken them. A bit concern about Villa is that they always have problem when facing a team that can keep and pass ball around well, in which of course there're no other teams at the moment who're more capable to do that than Arse.

Draw or Hw

[slick]

looking at the Sun/Mon games (didnt realise Man u were playing on mon night, must be a couple of yrs since if ever they have played one ).

Liverpool v Bolton 1.28 5.00 13.00
Tottenham v Birmingham 1.44 4.20 8.00
Man Utd v Fulham 1.20 6.00 17.00

Short odds but i see no reason to oppose all three home wins here.

Liverpool v Bolton
Bolton after beating Man U last week could possibly throw up a surprise on the form book but I cannot them Out muscling liverpool at Anfield like they did the Rags @ the Reebok last week.

Liverpool are more that capable of looking after themselves and if anything should have took a leaf out of Boltons book when it comes to playing United in a fortnights time , allthough with Ronaldo back and possibly Rooney they will probbaly prove a different kettle of fish but thats for a debate nearer the time.

No Champs league fixture for either Liverpool or Man U this week so they can concentrate on the Prem fixtures ahead respectively, Liverpool are at virtual full strength whilst Bolton will be missing a couple of key players in Capitain Nolan and Hunt, and if thats not bad enough Danny Guthrie who has been a key player for Bolton this season since Megson took over won't be eligable for this match as he's on loan from liverpool will also be out due to contractual thingymebobs.

Sorry but without Nolan and Guthrie (Bolton can afford to lose Hunt as he's still a bit lightweight and still not filled out over the last couple of yrs) don't really stand a cat in hells chance of challenging liverpool.

Old players may come back and haunt you but but Anelka will have to play out of his skin to score with half his teams midfield missing.

Liverpool are to strong in all areas of the park and should win this with ease.


Spurs v Birmingham
Interesting game if anything else, rejuvinated spurs under Ramos v a bit of an unknown quantity in McLeish who may have worked miracles for Scotland but can he do the same with Birmingham or will his hands be tied with the quality of player he has at his disposal.

Ramos had some quality when he walked into White Hart lane that just needed a bit of shifting around whilst McLeish has a lot tougher task on his plate that will need a lot more than a bit of jiggery pokery.

If it was a home game for Birmingham than i'd give them a half a chance but Miracles don't happen over night and from Robinson to Berbatov Spurs look stronger in every position.

Shitty odds but Have to go for a Spurs Win.

Man Utd v Fulham
Odds themselves just about sum up Fulhams chances here, no Ronaldo or Rooney like last week may have gave some hope to Fulham like Bolton shown last week and Uniteds form earlier on in the season but when either are in the squad uniteds fortunes change.

Both are vital as without them united as proven struggle to score and if as expected Arsenal get a result this weekend @Villa then Its crucial united get something from this match.

Fulham never having won on the rd all season won't be expecting to much here.

Man U win

[ONEDUNME]

Derby last beat the Black Cats back in Feb 2001: 9 matches ago. These meetings are rarely goalfests, with 6 out 8 being Overs, and again I se it being tight.

I don't. Keano will be looking for his guys to be chomping at the bit and wanting to impress after last week's drubbing and Derby need to be gaining ground on those above them and that means winning against the half dozen teams above them.

I see goals (and dead people - but that's another story)


Oh...and I see an Sunderland win

Reading V Boro

This might sound crazy....in fact, being Boro's biggest critic this season (despite fierce competition for that accolade) it even sounds a bit crazy to me but I see Boro getting at least a pont from this one and the 7/2 on betfair for the win is too big to resist for me.

Even teams on the worst runs pop in a shock performance every now and then. Boro haven't won for three months and for me Reading are just the sort of team they can break the trend against.

Reading have drawn less league games than any other team in the top four divisions (well, along with MK Dons). I haven't got a clue how that helps. Just thought I'd mention it

[JoseRules]

I've just heard that Middlesbrough will be playing with their third choice keeper as the first two are injured.

Southgate has learned he will be without goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and striker Mido for an extended period at the end of another difficult week.
Ross Turnbull, 22, is set to deputise at the Madejski Stadium with Brad Jones also injured, as Boro attempt to end a run of nine league games without a win.

This has just confirmedcmy thoughts on Reading being the banker of the day.

[william8394]

Ross Turnbull isn't too bad, had some decent performances on-loan at Cardiff earlier in the season.

Middlesbrough have been very unfortunate with injuries all season. After losing Viduka and Yakubu the last thing they needed is Mido to barely play a game. Huth is back in the squad today though, no idea whether he will play, and Arca too. If Middlesbrough can get all their players fit, they're just a good striker short of being a decent mid-table team IMO. Just don't look like scoring at the moment though, odds against on Reading seems a fair enough bet.

[Quandram]

I'm struggling this week, can't feel good about a position on any of the prem games really (till monday night anyway).

Could be tempted with unders in the Chelsea vs West Ham game.

Maybe a lay of Arsenal in the late kick off as i feel with what is likely to be far from a first choice midfield they could be rocked here.

The rest is all tight as a ducks for me or the odds just make it unattractive (Sunderland i think can win but they aren't 4/6 vs anyone for my money).

[rockshark]

Mancity+05 @ 1.44

Wigan are in a disastrous run. Defeats are counting one after another and after 8 points won at the beginning of the season and haven’t got even a point. That kind of results brought them on the bottom of the table and they are now the major candidates for relegation along with Derby.
City are still on the 3rd place with only point behind Manchester United. Although they have made a lot of investments during the summer, almost no one thought that City would have such a flying start of the season. Led by, above all, the fabulous Brazilian Elano, the Citizens have the astounding home score of 8 wins in 8 games.

Wigan striker Emile Heskey is pushing for a starting spot at the JJB Stadium.
Winger Antonio Valencia sat out the defeat at Arsenal because of a knee problem but is expected to return for Steve Bruce’s first match in charge.
City midfielder Geovanni could return to the starting line-up with Elano out because of a hamstring injury.
Darius Vassell, Michael Johnson and Nedum Onuoha are all sidelined through injury but Vedran Corluka and Emile Mpenza have shaken off knocks.

[Bigkegman]

Originally Posted by slick

looking at the Sun/Mon games (didnt realise Man u were playing on mon night, must be a couple of yrs since if ever they have played one ).

Liverpool v Bolton 1.28 5.00 13.00
Tottenham v Birmingham 1.44 4.20 8.00
Man Utd v Fulham 1.20 6.00 17.00

Short odds but i see no reason to oppose all three home wins here.

Liverpool v Bolton
Bolton after beating Man U last week could possibly throw up a surprise on the form book but I cannot them Out muscling liverpool at Anfield like they did the Rags @ the Reebok last week.

Liverpool are more that capable of looking after themselves and if anything should have took a leaf out of Boltons book when it comes to playing United in a fortnights time , allthough with Ronaldo back and possibly Rooney they will probbaly prove a different kettle of fish but thats for a debate nearer the time.

No Champs league fixture for either Liverpool or Man U this week so they can concentrate on the Prem fixtures ahead respectively, Liverpool are at virtual full strength whilst Bolton will be missing a couple of key players in Capitain Nolan and Hunt, and if thats not bad enough Danny Guthrie who has been a key player for Bolton this season since Megson took over won't be eligable for this match as he's on loan from liverpool will also be out due to contractual thingymebobs.

Sorry but without Nolan and Guthrie (Bolton can afford to lose Hunt as he's still a bit lightweight and still not filled out over the last couple of yrs) don't really stand a cat in hells chance of challenging liverpool.

Old players may come back and haunt you but but Anelka will have to play out of his skin to score with half his teams midfield missing.

Liverpool are to strong in all areas of the park and should win this with ease.


Spurs v Birmingham
Interesting game if anything else, rejuvinated spurs under Ramos v a bit of an unknown quantity in McLeish who may have worked miracles for Scotland but can he do the same with Birmingham or will his hands be tied with the quality of player he has at his disposal.

Ramos had some quality when he walked into White Hart lane that just needed a bit of shifting around whilst McLeish has a lot tougher task on his plate that will need a lot more than a bit of jiggery pokery.

If it was a home game for Birmingham than i'd give them a half a chance but Miracles don't happen over night and from Robinson to Berbatov Spurs look stronger in every position.

Shitty odds but Have to go for a Spurs Win.

Man Utd v Fulham
Odds themselves just about sum up Fulhams chances here, no Ronaldo or Rooney like last week may have gave some hope to Fulham like Bolton shown last week and Uniteds form earlier on in the season but when either are in the squad uniteds fortunes change.

Both are vital as without them united as proven struggle to score and if as expected Arsenal get a result this weekend @Villa then Its crucial united get something from this match.

Fulham never having won on the rd all season won't be expecting to much here.

Man U win

[FC Basher]

I cant believe it hes starting with Zakora when hes got Huddlestone and Boateng on the bench

[Bigkegman]

my post above was supposed to agree with slick saying from keeper to strikers - Spurs should be too strong but poor odds

[slick]

Aye but Spurs seem to be throwing away what should have been a pretty easy win, they have dominated totally but keep leaving themselves open to the breakaway and Birmingham are making the most of it, still 10 mins to go so all not lost but apart from that not a bad weekend really with only Reading letting me down.

[Bigkegman]

Well you cant argue about the 3rd Birmingham goal - what a strike.

Spurs looked great going forward but are hopeless at the back. The defending for Birminghams 2nd was woeful. Granted he got the break of the ball twice but nobody was going in with any real conviction to clear the ball - all they wanted to do was to stop the individual going forward.


I was wrong yesterday but surely there is only one team picking up the 3 points tonight but again odds are way too low on Man Utd. Don't know what the Asian Handicap is but I think they'll win by 2 clear at least. With them slipping up last weekend and the other teams Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all recording wins at the weekend - I think they'll be very professional about it and get the 3 points.

[jimmyt]

I agree with everything above Kegman anyone got the Asian HcAp odds to hand ??

[ExEr]

My retrospective view on Totenhem-Birmingham match, Totenhem much much better, Bgham from 4 shoots on goal give 3 goals, than first penalty for Birmingham is fabricate by arbiter, than pressing and freeze for Totnhem, diqualification of Kean, again fabricate arbitrament of arbiter, yellow card was enough for start of Kean, BUT RED CARD.....Funny...And than....disaster...
Stupid arbiter, stupid lost