I have better things to do on a Thursday night than make picks for a game that is going to happen on a Friday night, seriously. Who wants to watch games on Friday? Who can watch games on a Friday? Why are we taking cues from the NFL in all that is wrong and duplicating it ? If you have an answer other than “money” I’d love to hear what it is.
So it’s Friday and I fully expect Manchester United to win. Not because they looked in any way dominant last week but because I’m still not 100% convinced tactics Tim has his team all together and playing like a team. I fancy them to struggle early and come on towards the end and free themselves from the thread of relegation.
| August 14, 2015 | ||
| Aston Villa | 1-2 | Manchester United |
Meanwhile in the 1st leg of the Supercup we had this goal. What a nice clean strike! Hopefully we’ll see similar goals in the EPL this week…..
https://vine.co/v/edLQXYuFZH7
The beloved Hornet Moose of Watford played quite well last week and earned a good away from home draw; however, one wonders if the result had more to do with Everton’s apparent lack of class and the fear I have that Roberto Martinez will be fired first this year. As good as he is an analyst and as good as Everton were two seasons ago, we should remember he didn’t take Wigan out of the premier league (which is not as hard as it sounds). Can Southampton surprise as all by playing solid football and staying on the high and dry side of the premier league table? I fancy them to start the season well.
Allegedly Spurs could have beaten the Reds last week; unfortunately, that kind of discussion leads to a mediocre season. It’s winning the games that you don’t dominate that makes the difference. Spurs will be fighting with Liverpool for one of the top five spots and while one had a wonder strike to seal an unlikely win…. the Spuds had a calamitous own-goal that sent them down in flames. Spurs need Harry to score and to win the games they look like they shouldn’t. This week they turn it around and outshine Liverpool’s performance of last week in a victory over Stoke.
Sunderland and Norwich reads like a Championship feature game.
Watford and West Brom also seems like a Championship game but I support the Golden Mooses so I care!
Last week Tony Pullis setup a terrible defensive posture against Chelsea and based on his interview I don’t expect him to try the same. Hopefully, a great open game to enjoy with the Hornets stinging the Baggies with a later winner through the substitute Ighalo who made Mr Stones look like an amateur last week.
Swansea looked great against Chelsea, and that was before the incident that might lead to one of my predictions being true (Begovic being the starter this year ahead of Courtois) so I fully expect them to beat a surprisingly better looking Newcastle.
West Ham started and played fantastic last year and then dramatically tapered off. Was last week a fluke? Good time to find out as they play a lower class team at home. I fully expect the Hammers to make light work of Leicester. The other way to determine if it was a fluke? To see whether Arsenal rebound or start to take off a little. I’d like to think they could beat Crystal Palace at home or away but for all of the talent that Arsenal has you still look at the final forward position and wonder if Giroud is good enough. Arsenal will win, West Ham will win so we’ll have to reserve judgement on the ‘Ammers.
Early season gets a major fixture with Chelsea who haven’t looked good so far against a Man City team that won one game and are all of a sudden everyone’s favorite again. I think the team from the rainy North will beat Chelski. It won’t be pretty but it’s time that Manchester City prove that without injuries they can dominate. Aguero is fit. Kompany is fit. Silva is fit. I think everyone is fit. Time to put Chelsea into the relegation zone, even if’ts just for a couple of weeks.
Liverpool won a game that Stoke didn’t deserve to lose so this week I predict that they will win a game they deserve to win… and moreover, Rodgers will teach his team how to actually get Benteke involved. For the amount of money he cost, I would hope sooner or later he will play in a style that supports the big man, or he might find himself looking for a new gig before Roberto Martinez.
| August 15, 2015 | ||
| Southampton | 1-0 | Everton |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2-1 | Stoke City |
| Sunderland | 1-0 | Norwich City |
| Watford | 1-0 | West Bromwich Albion |
| Swansea City | 2-1 | Newcastle United |
| West Ham United | 2-0 | Leicester City |
| August 16, 2015 | ||
| Crystal Palace | 1-3 | Arsenal |
| Manchester City | 2-1 | Chelsea |
| August 17, 2015 | ||
| Liverpool | 1-0 | AFC Bournemouth |