The final match-day before the break has a number of ‘close-to-call’ fixtures, with international managers praying that they find their star players in one piece on Monday.
– Villa vs Wolves
Villa were impressive last weekend, albeit against a hopeless Blackburn side. Darren Bent is yet to remove his preseason rust but still conjured up an assist and could trouble the Wolves’ defense. With a creditably draw at Craven Cottage in the first matchday, Villa’s start has been impressive. Wolves on the other hand are quick out of the blocks themselves with two wins out of two. However the bad news is that Ebanks-Blake’s impressive performance last week has been overshadowed by his knee ligament injury which will keep him out for a month.
Prediction: 2-1
– Wigan vs QPR
Alcaraz is out for two months and Moses is a doubt for Wigan, however the good news for Latics’ fans is that Rodallega might start and will provide much needed goal threat. DJ Campbell will be back providing goal threat for QPR, who must be buoyed by last week’s triumph at Goodison. Defensive problems on both sides and returning attackers should see goals in the game, but the lack of creativity might hinder a goal-fest.
Prediction: 1-1
– Blackburn vs Everton
Two sides with zero points between them and in need of a morale boosting result. Blackburn’s problems know no bounds at the moment as Emerton completes his move to Sydney FC. Everton must be down themselves after the uncomforting loss against QPR. Cahill is a doubt, but Moyes might look to amend mistake and start with Saha instead of Beckford and the move could well reap its reward.
Prediction: 0-1
– Chelsea vs Norwich
New signing Juan Mata could make his debut for Chelsea this Saturday. Mata’s inspiring wing-play and creativity make him an exciting prospect for the Blues, who should complement this with acquiring creativity in midfield – since Lampard doesn’t have the yards to be his box-to-box self anymore. For all his impressive movement Torres did not have a shot at goal vs. West Brom, although a home game against a promoted side might just be the tonic he needs. This game could be his last chance before Drogba usurps his place in the starting XI. Although Norwich are showing guts in their performances, they don’t have enough quality to trouble Chelsea.
Prediction: 3-0
– Swansea vs
Sunderland
Swansea are too soft to bother the league. They try to play an attractive brand of football, but seeing the likes of Sinclair trying out the Championship moves and failing miserably at this level is not a pretty sight. Sunderland on the other hand have given us two very different performances at Anfield and in the Tyneside derby. Nevertheless Sessegnon and Gyan must be licking their lips with the prospect of facing an open Swansea backline.
Prediction: 1-3
– Liverpool vs Bolton
Liverpool made a statement at the Emirates -they mean business this year. While the performance wasn’t seamless at all, the result was mammoth. However preferring the industry of Kuyt to Suarez’ eye for goal isn’t the way to go even in away matches. Liverpool have a decent array of attacking threats and should back themselves outplaying their opponents. Bolton meanwhile are flattered by both of their results thus far, and could fall prey to the Reds’ attacking talent.
Prediction: 3-1
– Newcastle vs Fulham
Newcastle have had a surprisingly quick start, and with Barton’s imminent exit, the club should stay clear of off-field controversies in the foreseeable future. If Pardew lines up Ba and Ameobi up-top with Obertan on the wing they could take the game to a Fulham side that might well be without Zamora. Fulham will undoubtedly have the euphoria of going through in the Europa league, but away matches in Europe do take their toll.
Prediction: 2-0
– Spurs vs Manchester City
City’s new boy Nasri takes a quick trip back to North London in this tasty encounter. Spurs had a convincing Europe triumph in their tie against Hearts but the Modric saga is all set to linger on till deadline day and in turn damage the team harmony for the time being. Spurs were thrashed at Old Trafford on Monday, but they did have their moments and could halt the City locomotive. Man City have had an explosive start, but this is their first real test. Nasri could start immediately and would look to make an impact. Clichy being comparatively more defensively sound could replace the more attack-minded Kolorov at left-back, especially with Lennon marauding in that particular wing. The sides have played quite a few pivotal matches, and while it’s still early to label the game as massive, it’s still as close to call as ever.
Prediction: 1-1
– West Brom vs Stoke
Long has had a notable impact on the Baggies by scoring against both Man Utd and Chelsea. Odemwingie might be back to partner him and that’ll be one rousing strike partnership. Stoke could be caught off-guard as they let their European success sink in. They’ll also be without their javelin thrower Delap, who’s out with a hamstring injury.
Prediction: 2-0
– Man United vs Arsenal
Having ripped apart a rusty Spurs side on Monday, United undoubtedly is the team to beat. The word is that Rio Ferdinand could be fit for Sunday. United’s youthful look with Smalling, Jones, Anderson, Cleverley and Welbeck all putting on an exhilarating show has been awe-inspiring. Young looks like he’s been a part of the team for ages. However Nani’s performance is typically affected facing competition. Amidst all the wax lyrical, De Gea’s ham-fisted performances are being veiled. United’s hierarchy seems to have got this one wrong. To say that Arsenal have had a stuttering start to the season is an understatement. Midweek’s Italian job might have saved a few blushes but clearly all is not well. The silver lining is that Van Persie has opened his account and he must put in a strong show at Old Trafford for the Gunners to come out with anything. This match would define where Arsenal’s season is headed.
Prediction: 2-0
– Not the greatest
news for Gunners
Arsenal might’ve beaten mighty Udinese, a team that finished 16 points behind Milan last year and has had a big dip in quality in on-field personnel, but this is exactly what the club didn’t need. Wenger has made Arsenal FC his personal laboratory for figuring out the validity of his footballing experiment and the fact that Arsenal find themselves in the Champions’ League season in season out, provides ostensible vindication to his scheme. There is not much that the Arsenal boss is doing in terms of plugging holes. The club needs a convulsion, a massive jolt to wake them up from the slumber – like the one Man United had in December 2005 with their embarrassing Champions’ League exit, or like the ‘8-games-2-points’ shambles that saw Juande Ramos being replaced by Harry Redknapp.
United’s catastrophe saw Fergie transform his ideals to match the modern day requirements and that resulted in four league titles in five years. Spurs’ relegation menace saw them evolve into genuine top-4 contenders and resulted in last season’s European escapade. Failure to make the group stages would’ve brought an upheaval at the Emirates – either with a managerial change or with a philosophical transformation on Wenger’s part (highly unlikely). With Fabregas gone, selling Nasri to one of your rivals (I’m assuming Arsenal have title winning aspirations) doesn’t quite make the right noise even with his contract expiration looming. It seems as if Wenger has already prepared his ‘you must appreciate how the club dealt with the loss of two stars’ excuse for his team’s habitual end of season detonation. Unless he reinvests the transfer fees into the team, the club might not even be in a position for their annual March collapse.
– United get the
usual cakewalk
The English clubs had mixed fortunes coming out of the UEFA hat. Arsenal have a stern test ahead of them with Marseille, Greek Champions Olympiakos and Borrusia Dortmund in Group F. Chelsea will face Mata’s former club Valencia, Bayern Leverkusen and Belgium’s Genk in what looks like an interesting Group C. Man City didn’t have the rub of the green – understandable since they were the only third seeded English side. City were pooled in with German Giants Bayern Munich, Villarreal and Napoli in Group A.
Man United meanwhile, were typically served the passage to the knockout stages on a platter by UEFA. They face Benfica, Basel and Otelul in a lopsided Group C. While the fact that the EPL fixture computer seems to “throw up” big head-to-heads on the same ‘Super Sunday’ every now and then is understandable, considering the finances generated by television ratings; how United get a trouble-free early route in UCL draws every single year is perplexing. Is there something fishy going on the UEFA headquarters? I hope not.