The second (and final) update whilst on holiday, Footie Frog fans will once again have to settle for the ‘diet’ version of my weekend preview. And, after being remarkably correct last weekend (I’m pretty too, you know,) with 8/10 opinions bang on, I’m going to see if I can keep it up this weekend. Of course, nothing is as simple as it seems, and even what seem to be the most straightforward of predictions can be turned on their head when Premier League lives are on the line… Sunderland could pull off a great upset and beat United, Newcastle could wither under the pressure at Stoke… Middlesbrough could even score a goal or two. Ok not everything can be turned on its head!!
Of course, the weekend’s fixtures for the top of the table are made more interesting by the midweek European results, with Liverpool and Man United failing to get the result they required in the first leg of their respective quarter finals. Only time will tell as to how their confidence will be affected by an unusually uninspiring week in Europe, and whether nerves are getting the better of both teams at the top. Chelsea’s sensational victory at Anfield could now spur them on to a powerful title-challenging run-in, so both United and Liverpool will need to focus on the job in hand, ignoring their royal blue shadow.
Arsenal managed a decent result away at Villarreal, playing some smooth, flowing football in the process, and with their team now nearly entirely recovered (barring Gallas – out for the remainder of the season) Aston Villa will be kicking themselves at their earlier poor form, as Martin O’Neil and crew will know, like the rest of us, that Wenger’s men won’t drop many points before the end of the season. Villa now cannot drop any, and must hope that Liverpool and United both beat the Gooners…
This seems to be a running theme this year. Everyone seems to be just watching the games around them, hoping others do them a favour, rather than concentrating on winning their own games. Every team has been guilty of it, from Newcastle United to Manchester United, and as soon as they take their eye off the ball, something goes wrong. Top to bottom need to concentrate hard on the remaining few games, because let’s be honest, if everyone relied on everyone else, nobody would win anything…
Chelsea v Bolton – Megson’s men will try to set-piece them to death, but in vain, home win.
Liverpool v Blackburn – Midweek misery melts away as backlash beats Blackburn, home win.
Middlesbrough v Hull – Goals haven’t been easy to come by for either of these two, the odd one will win it, which, bizarrely, Boro will get… home win.
Portsmouth v West Brom – Baggies will battle hard and prise a precious point… draw.
Stoke v Newcastle – Pressure too much for the Toon, who can only muster a draw.
Sunderland v Man Utd – No upsets here, as United put Porto in the past. Away win.
Tottenham v West Ham – A very London affair, a very exciting draw.
Wigan v Arsenal – Arsenal scintillating, Wigan scrapping… the former, just… away win.
This seems to be a running theme this year. Everyone seems to be just watching the games around them, hoping others do them a favour, rather than concentrating on winning their own games. Every team has been guilty of it, from Newcastle United to Manchester United, and as soon as they take their eye off the ball, something goes wrong. Top to bottom need to concentrate hard on the remaining few games, because let’s be honest, if everyone relied on everyone else, nobody would win anything…
Chelsea v Bolton – Megson’s men will try to set-piece them to death, but in vain, home win.
Liverpool v Blackburn – Midweek misery melts away as backlash beats Blackburn, home win.
Middlesbrough v Hull – Goals haven’t been easy to come by for either of these two, the odd one will win it, which, bizarrely, Boro will get… home win.
Portsmouth v West Brom – Baggies will battle hard and prise a precious point… draw.
Stoke v Newcastle – Pressure too much for the Toon, who can only muster a draw.
Sunderland v Man Utd – No upsets here, as United put Porto in the past. Away win.
Tottenham v West Ham – A very London affair, a very exciting draw.
Wigan v Arsenal – Arsenal scintillating, Wigan scrapping… the former, just… away win.
Aston Villa v Everton – the clash of the pretenders to fourth place, in reality this is a fight for fifth, and Everton are stronger, away win.
Man City v Fulham – City dire in midweek, Fulham poor away, there’ll be zombies on the pitch, but it won’t be a thriller… a sneaked home win.
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