It’s already another week – seems the days are crammed closer together than the table; just a quick glance at the table shows that the gap between 1st and 2nd is the same as the gap from 4th to 17th. Crazy.
We’re still early days and there’s a lot that will change: West Ham will not finish in a European position, Everton won’t be in the basement half of the division, Watford will have a new manager (perhaps). A lot of things won’t change: Chelsea and City dominating the top of the table with the only question being which one of them clinches the title. Chelsea in particular have been dominant and I’m sure many have Costa winning the golden boot and the team striding away like Arkle (even carrying the extra weight of José’s antics).
So it’s very late and I want to make the picks nice and quick today.
| 24-October 2014 | ||
|---|---|---|
| West 'am | 0-2 | Manchester Citeh |
| West Brum | 2-2* | Crystal Palace |
| Soonderland | 1-2 | The Arse |
| Liverpool | 2-1 | Hull City Tigers |
| The Saints | 1-1 | Stoke |
| Swansea | 2-1 | Lester |
What does the Championship and a workman’s tool belt?
Both should have Hammers in them.
Unfortunately, we have to see the claret and blue struggling in the Premier League. What’s that you say? They’re 4th? Well that’s going to come to a quick end in this week as they face the Citeh. Aguero is not playing like he wants to be the PFA Player of the Year and the team around him seems to be happy to play along with it. West Ham, it’s just one loss, but a couple of those on the bonk will see you where you belong… alongside teams that share your eye for colour. 0-2
West Brom will win this week against a Crystal Palace team that is experiencing the end of a long honeymoon. 2-1
It is shocking to realize that despite the early season promise of Arsenal and the predictions of Man United’s demise that Arsenal behind the Devils and are only 3 points ahead of Sunderland! A total of 11 points in 8 games is dismal and I crown Wenger as Prince Pardew… the next man to have his head on the chopping block. Arsenal charge a fortune for their fans to watch just-good-enough-ocrity and it’s finally reaching tipping point when the win rate is well under 50%. Sunderland got thwacked 8-0 by a rampant Southampton next week. There’s no indication that was anything but an anomaly but that doesn’t mean they have a chance, either. 1-2
I should point out that picking any results other than a draw when two teams have combined for 10 in their first 16 games is not paying attention to statistics.
Livi wanted me to pick Hull. I won’t do it. I can’t do it. Not because Liverpool are good. Because I don’t think Hull are anything much to worry about, especially at Anfield. 2-1 but it could be more if Balotelli shows up this week after I spend the week discussing how overrated he is based on performances thus far. Rodgers has hinted at a January sale – but who would want him? Think he would work in the Championship, so maybe Watford will use him – he’s at least as good as Deeney, right?
The Saints scored 8 against Sunderland last week. Won’t happen again. There’s a cliche that says winning makes you complacent – maybe that will hold true, maybe it won’t. What I do know is that Stoke are a tough side that scare people with their mean play – winning about the same number of games that they lose and draw. That’s a bad joke about being average/mean. 1-1.
Swansea are high up the table where they seem to think they belong. Leicester beat Manchester United this year which is enough for me to like them a little; however, that has no impact on my selection: Leicester just ain’t no good.
| 25-October 2014 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tottenham Hotspurts | 2-1 | Newcastle Un-United |
| Burnley | 0-2 | Everton |
| Manchester United | 2-1 | Chelsea |
Spurs are mid table and they will win against the current Pardew team that seems to be over-performing and trying to keep him employed. Every week Spurs has issues – whether it’s hapless marking in the box, failing to score, failing to pass to people on the same team… but this week? This week they will dominate the game and win 2-1 with a goal that is as spectacular as this:
But that’s nothing new
Everton played in their silly Euro Trash competition while Burnley had the opportunity to sit it out and drink a cuppa tea. Everton started poorly but they should win 2-0.
Manchester United against Chelsea should be a good game but it won’t be. General consensus is that Chelsea will dominate but I don’t see how they can win when they are going to shut-down and play counter football. Man U will just park in their half next to the Chelsea bus. Boring Boring Chelski! They’ll equalize but Manchester will press and score.
This is my least favorite game of the year.
| 27-October 2014 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Q.P.R. | 0-0 | Aston Villains |
Finally Aston Villa area heading in the direction I predicted, down.