Friday 16 December 2011

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 16

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of this weekend's Premier League games. I didn't do too well last week but I managed to climb one place to sixth in my predictions league, as most other players struggled too. I managed to get one correct score line, three correct outcomes, and six incorrect outcomes which isn't the worst week I've ever had.

My predictions league is still wide open though, and I'm hoping to make up some ground on the five teams ahead of me this week. Here's a look at how my predictions league stands.

 Pos Player
Week
Total
 1  ahujag  65  940
 2  b_red_devils  30  905
 3  nitin004  75  900
 4  GGooner  15  870
 5  gooner2194  45  800
 6  JamrockRover  35  770
 7  Smashit_Tuckit  -5  765
 8  lubu722  45  740
 9  Rutland Gooner
 35  675
 10  sanziano  30  665
 
Blackburn Rovers Vs. West Bromwich Albion

Saturday December 17, 3p.m., BST
Blackburn v West Brom
Blackburn have won only two of their seven home games so far in the Premier League. They are having no problems scoring goals this season, but only Bolton have conceded more than them. If they are going to get out of trouble they need to tighten up at the back.

Yakubu is Blackburn's best performing fantasy player, but his nine goals have come in only four different games which means he is rather hit and miss.

West Brom's chances of pulling well clear of the relegation zone were dealt a severe blow when they lost at home to Wigan last week. They're now only three points clear of the drop zone, and they have joined Wigan as the lowest scorers in the league. They have managed more points away from home though, and they will fancy their chances against a leaky Blackburn defence.

West Brom players simply aren't scoring enough fantasy points at the moment, but that might change for their attacking players against Blackburn.

I think Blackburn might just manage to outscore West Brom.


Prediction: 2-1 _______________________________________________________________________________
Everton Vs. Norwich City

Saturday December 17, 3p.m., BST
Everton v Norwich Everton fought hard to try to win a point against Arsenal last week, but they were undone by a wonder goal from Robin van Persie. They simply can't score enough goals to climb the table at the moment, but the arrival of Landon Donovan on loan in January might just be the boost they need.

Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka are slowly moving up the list of top scoring fantasy defenders despite Everton's lack of clean sheets.

Norwich had a great win over Newcastle last week, and it moved them up into the top half of the table. They have only been outscored by the top five so far, but they haven't kept a single clean sheet either. They play entertaining football and they are sure to have a go against Everton.

It's not easy to know which Norwich players to recommend, as their team changes so often.

I think Everton will finally get a few goals against a weak Norwich defence, and they will win.


Prediction: 2-1 _______________________________________________________________________________
Fulham Vs. Bolton Wanderers

Saturday December 17, 3p.m., BST
Fulham v Bolton

Fulham's exit in the Europa League on Wednesday night will have been hard for them to take, and they will have to be strong to bounce back. Their home form has been the main reason for their Premier League survival for the last few seasons, and they need to improve it this season.

Mark Schwarzer and Clint Dempsey are the best fantasy buys from Fulham at the moment, but Dempsey's penalty miss last week won't have helped any fantasy manager with him in their team.

Bolton are rooted to the foot of the table with 12 defeats in 15 Premier League games, and they need to turn things around very soon. They have conceded more goals than any other team in the league, but at least they are managing to score a few themselves. They have been slightly better away from home though, which might give them some hope in this game.

Both Ivan Klasnic and Chris Eagles continue to be Bolton's best fantasy footballers so far this season.

I think Fulham will manage to overcome the disappointment of Wednesday night, and take all three points.


Prediction: 2-1 _______________________________________________________________________________
Newcastle United Vs. Swansea City
 
 Saturday December 17, 3p.m., BST

Newcastle v Swansea

Newcastle have suffered a few defensive injuries, and Norwich took full advantage of them last week. They had a great start to the season, but it's in danger of falling apart at the moment unless they can tighten up at the back again. Their home form has been good so far this season though, and they have to be favourites to win this game.

Newcastle's defenders are probably best omitted from fantasy teams at the moment, but Demba Ba is still banging the goals in at the other end.

Swansea are doing well in the Premier League this season thanks to their excellent home record, but they have the worst away record in the league. They have only managed two points on the road so far, and they have struggled to score goals too.

Michel Vorm continues to excel in goal for Swansea, and both Scott Sinclair and Ashley Williams are worth considering too.

I think Newcastle will halt their slide for the moment at least by taking all three points.


Prediction: 3-1
_______________________________________________________________________________
Wolverhampton Wanderers Vs. Stoke City
 
Saturday December 17, 3p.m., BST

Wolves v StokeWolves are struggling to score goals this season like quite a few other Premier League teams. They were well beaten by Manchester United last week, but they will see a home game as a better chance of adding to their points tally.

Wayne Hennessey is doing pretty well in goal for Wolves, but they don't have too many other players doing the business so far.

Stoke have come back from their recent bad run by winning their last three Premier League games in a row. They were a little lucky against Spurs last week, but they are profiting from their "route one" football again. They have struggled to score away from home though, and no team has scored less goals on the road so far.

Jonathan Walters is doing really well so far this season, and he's a very good buy for any fantasy manager.

I can't see this game being a thriller, and I think it will end all square.


Prediction: 1-1
_______________________________________________________________________________
Wigan Athletic Vs. Chelsea
 
Saturday December 17, 5.30p.m., BST 
Wigan v ChelseaWigan bounced back from their thrashing by Arsenal to win away to West Brom last week, and it was their second away win in a row. A few weeks ago they looked destined for relegation, but if they continue to take points off the other teams at the wrong end of the table they might just make it. They are still the lowest scorers in the league, and only the two teams below them have conceded less goals.

Victor Moses had a slow start to the season, but he looks like he might be coming good at the moment.

Chelsea's mimi crisis looks like it might be over after they beat leaders Manchester City last week. They may have been a little fortunate, but it won't have done their confidence any harm at all. They have a chance to put pressure on the teams above them who don't play until Sunday, and they cannot afford to slip up against Wigan.

John Terry, Juan Mata, Daniel Sturridge, and Frank Lampard are all performing very well and worth considering for any fantasy team.

I think Chelsea should win with a bit to spare.


Prediction: 1-3 _______________________________________________________________________________
Queens Park Rangers Vs. Manchester United 
Sunday December 18, 12.00p.m., BST

QPR v Man United
QPR have scored less goals at home than any other team in the league, but their away form has left them in mid-table. If they can improve at home they should keep themselves away from the relegation dogfight. They will have a tough task getting anything from this game though.

Heidar Helguson has been in good form recently, but QPR don't score a lot of goals.

United have been on a very good run since their 6-1 thrashing at home to City, and they will take over at the top of the table for a while at least if they win. Their defence might not be as strong with Nemanja Vidic out for the rest of the season, but at least both Wayne Rooney and Nani started scoring again last week. I think United have to go all out for a win in this game as they have to put pressure on City who play later in the day.

If Rooney and Nani are back in form they are worth buying, and Phil Jones is worth a punt too.

I think United will just about have enough to squeeze past Rangers.


Prediction: 1-2 _______________________________________________________________________________
Aston Villa Vs. Liverpool 
 
Sunday December 18, 2.05p.m., BST
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Villa are far from attractive to watch this season, and they will struggle without the suspended Gabriel Agbonlahor. They are not an easy team to beat, and they have drawn seven of their 15 Premier League games so far.

With Agbonlahor suspended I can't see any other Villa players who will perform well in the fantasy stakes.

Liverpool aren't exactly setting the world alight either, and they have scored only 18 goals in 15 Premier League matches so far this season. Their have been less goals in games involving Liverpool than any other  Premier League team, which makes them the least spectator friendly team at the moment. They need to find a way to start scoring more goals quickly, or they will drop out of the race for a Champions League place.

Jose Reina, Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson are all doing well defensively for Liverpool, and Charlie Adam and Luis Suarez are worth considering in attack.

I think Villa should be slightly more boring than Liverpool, and they will get a point from them too.


Prediction: 1-1 _______________________________________________________________________________
Tottenham Hotspur Vs. Sunderland
 
Sunday December 18, 3.00p.m., BST
Tottenham v Sunderland
Spurs great run came to an end when they were a little unlucky to lose to Stoke last week, and they were knocked out of the Europa League on Thursday too. They need to bounce back, and a home game against a struggling club is just what they need. Their aim is to finish in the top four, and they simply have to win games like this to do so.

Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart, and Emmanuel Adebayor are all worth buying for any fantasy manager at the moment.

Sunderland had a very important late win against Blackburn last week to get Martin O'Neill's reign off to a great start. This game will be a much tougher test though, and they will do well to get anything out of it. There have been very few goals in their way games so far, and they will be hoping to keep this game as tight as possible.

Seb Larsson is playing out of his skin this season, and he is a must buy for any fantasy manager.

I think Spurs will win, but Sunderland will be no pushover for them.


Prediction: 2-1 _______________________________________________________________________________
Manchester City Vs. Arsenal 
 
Sunday December 18, 4.10p.m., BST
Man City v Arsenal
City saw their lead at the top of the table cut to only two points last week when they lost to Chelsea. They were more than a little unlucky to lose, and they need to bounce back with all three points in this game. They have won all of their home games so far, and they are by far the highest scorers in the Premier League.

Micah Richards, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero are all performing really well, and will get plenty of points for any fantasy manager.

Arsenal are the in-form team at the moment with 25 points from the last 27 available to them. They have won their last three away games, and only City have more away goals so far this season. They won at Chelsea a few weeks ago, but this will be a much tougher test for them.

Robin van Persie is an absolute must for any fantasy manager at the moment, and Thomas Vermaelen isn't fr behind him.

I'm a lifelong Arsenal fan and I only ever predict a win for them, but it won't be easy in this game. They are capable of winning, but they have defensive problems with no full backs available to them at the moment. I think they will pull this one out of the bag though with a narrow victory.

Prediction: 2-3 _______________________________________________________________________________

That's it for today, but feel free to tell me where I have gone right or wrong as the case might be. I'll be back with my next round of predictions on Monday or Tuesday, as there's a full round of midweek games in the Premier League.

It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league, and there are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.

I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.

See You Tomorrow.

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