Pedro Prediction
West Ham United v Manchester United
After a horrific start to their season, things have started to improve for West Ham and their ridiculously highly paid coach Manuel Pellegrini, with the Hammers picking up an unexpected 3-1 win away to Everton and a solid point at home to London rivals Chelsea, before going out and marmalising Macclesfield 8-0 in the Carabao Cup midweek.
The once mighty Manchester United are an absolute shit show at the moment, with the self-proclaimed biggest club in the World a right old mess from top to bottom. The ongoing feud between Jose ‘Not so special anymore’ Mourinho and Paul ‘The Ultimate Snowflake,’ Pogba is a farce that shows no sign of letting up anytime soon.
United fans would be wise to not to get drawn into taking sides between manager and player, and admit to themselves that they are both clowns with no respect for their club and demand the Old Trafford hierarchy get rid of not one, but both and sharpish.
I reckon this one will be Jose’s Leicester away in the season he got sacked by Chelsea.
West Ham 7/2
Arsenal v Watford
Arsenal are great fun, aren’t they? I mean how many teams can win six in a row and still be about as useful defensively as tits on a nun. Emery’s side are currently, of course, being bailed out by their superb talent in attacking areas, but how long can that last? Not long lads, not long at all.
While it’s unlikely Javi Gracia’s Watford side will retain their place in the top four for that much longer, there is little doubt that few teams that will be looking forward to playing against the Troy Deeney inspired Hornets, and I fancy them to cause an upset at the Emirates tomorrow.
Watford 13/2
Everton v Fulham
You really do have to laugh at Everton a bit, in both of the last two seasons they have gone into each campaign hopeful of hunting down the top six, only for things to unravel sharpish. While everybody was fawning over Marco Silva after the dismissal of the universally unpopular Big Sam – I’m serious even extraterrestrial’s hate Fat man Allardyce – few actually realised the man given the keys to Goodison Park actually has a worse defensive record in the Premier League than the much-maligned Roberto Martinez.
Silva’s Toffees still have plenty of decent attacking talent, but their failure to properly replace Romelu Lukaku combined with their porous defence mean it may be a long hard season for the Merseyside club.
There is plenty to be admired about the brand of football that Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham play, but the Cottagers still haven’t kept a clean sheet since their return to the top flight and that simply isn’t a good look – even if you have future Ballon d’Or winner Aleksandar Mitrovic in your side.
It’s about the goals in this one lads.
Over 2.5 and both teams to score 20/21
Huddersfield Town v Tottenham Hotspur
Huddersfield have played 44 games since their promotion to the top flight last season and have failed to score in 25 of those matches, which is why lads and lasses the Terriers will not be coming out of the relegation zone anytime soon. Obviously, this is really sad news for anybody like me who has a massive, and slightly disturbing fetish for managers who wear magic hats, but at least there’s a chance that Don Pulis will pass David Wagner in the Premier League to Championship revolving door at the end of the season.
Spurs have steadied the ship a bit after three consecutive losses and the North London outfit will be delighted that Harry Kane is starting to show signs that he remembers how to run and kick a football.
Poch’s side will have far too much class in this one.
Spurs win and over 2.5 goals.
Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion
I know it was only Cardiff but Guardiola’s men looked mustard during their 5-0 victory in South Wales last weekend and with £60 million summer signing Riyad Mahrez starting to find his feet within the Champions supremely talented side, it could be an ominous sign for the rest of the Premier League’s title contenders.
Brighton may not have won since their humbling of Manchester United in August but they look to be a side that has improved from last season and they can count themselves unlucky not to have picked up at least a point against Spurs last weekend.
Chris Hughton’s side looks more than capable of staying up again this season, but they’re gonna get smashed at the Etihad tomorrow.
Penalty to be awarded in game 9/4
Newcastle United v Leicester City
After a pretty horrific run of fixtures at the start of the season, Newcastle sit second bottom of the table with just two points and in desperate need of their first win of this campaign. Sadly for Rafa Benitez there are few easy games in the Premier League and with Man United and Watford up after this fixture it’s probably not too much of an exaggeration to say this is a must-win for the experienced Spanish coach.
It’s hard not to feel sorry for Claude Puel, despite having a hugely respectable record during his managerial career, because the French coach isn’t as charismatic as some fans and the media would like he seems to be constantly being linked with the sack. Leicester should just hire Tim Sherwood, he knows jack shit about tactics or how to set a team up to compete in the Premier League, but sure he’ll give everybody loads of quotable soundbites, as that’s all that matters, isn’t it?
Draw 23/10
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Southampton
Are Wolves the best-promoted team to ever come up from Championship? I certainly think so. Who cares if they’ve got the backing of super agent Jorge Mendes, putting a squad together with such a perfect blend of youth and experience in such a short space of time is no easy feat. Mark my words Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will finish in the top ten this season.
Southampton and their moany git of manager Mark Hughes may have solved their long-lasting issues in front of goal with the signing of Danny Ings, but it’s hard to see anything but a long hard season for the South Coast outfit. Whatever promise Hughes showed as a young manager has long since faded and his win record of 28% since taking over at St.Mary’s means the Saints may well be heading for another relegation battle this term.
Wolves win – evens
Chelsea v Liverpool
It’s hard to read into these two clubs Carabao Cup game midweek too much, although a couple of things did become clear, (A) Jurgen Klopp is a couple of injuries to his first choice defenders away from being goosed and, (B) Eden Hazard is truly World Class and is entering the prime of his already impressive career.
Liverpool been ruthlessly efficient so far this term and have undoubtedly lived up to their billing as the team to challenge Manchester City for the title. Chelsea, on the other hand, weren’t given much of a chance by most of us to fight for the Premier League this season, but after an excellent start and with Hazard in red-hot form completely ruling them out of the equation would be a foolish move.
All in all, this should be an absolute cracker between two teams whose managers rarely like take a backward step. Who’s going to win you ask? I’m not sure, to be honest, but this I do know …
Hazard score anytime 11/8
Cardiff City v Burnley
Seriously who cares. If Sky tries to market this one as a Super Sunday clash we should all get together and sue the cheeky buggers for false advertising. I advise you to do the same as myself, back the draw and use the rest of the day as a brownie point building exercise with the missus for later on in the season.
Draw 2/1