It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I managed two perfect scorelines last week long with four correct outcomes and four incorrect outcomes. It leaves me in fourth place in my predictions league with seven rounds of games to go.
Here's a look at how my predictions league stands.
Pos Player Week Total
1. GGooner 120 1510
2. ahujag 45 1475
3. b_red_devils 10 1435
4. JamrockRover 70 1315
5. nitin004 20 1260
6. gooner2194 115 1205
7. ABlockGooner 15 1160
8. Rutland Gooner 140 1115
9. nawa87 35 1105
10. sanziano 0 1085
Swansea City Vs. Newcastle United
Friday April 6, 4.30 pm, BST
Swansea have been really impressive since their promotion to the Premier League, and they are a tough team to play at home. Their current run of two defeats in a row is their worst run of the season, and I don't imagine it will last for too long. Swansea still have the second best defensive record at home in the league.
Michel Vorm and Scott Sinclair have done really well for fantasy managers this season, but Gylfi Sigurdsson seems to be the in form player for Swansea at the moment.
Newcastle have had a great season by their standards so far, and if Chelsea can be considered as contenders for fourth place they must be too. They have done well to win six times on their travels, but they have conceded a lot of goals away from home too.
Both Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse are in great form at the moment, and Tim Krul is a pretty good buy too.
I think Swansea will give Newcastle a good game, and take a point from them.
Prediction: 1-1
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Sunderland Vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday April 7, 12.45 pm BST
Sunderland almost won away to City last week, and they were the first team not to lose at Maine Road in the league in over a year. Their reaction to their FA Cup exit was excellent, and they will be looking to give Spurs a tough time too. They are very strong defensively at home, and they possess a very real goal threat too.
Stephane Sessegnon and James McLean remain the best fantasy bets among the Sunderland players.
Spurs finally got back to winning ways against Swansea last week, and anything from this game will put them above Arsenal into third place before Arsenal play City on Sunday. Their five games without a win really hurt their chances of finishing third, but they have the supposedly easier run in of the teams challenging for third spot.
Gareth Bale is still the best performing fantasy player for Spurs, but Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael can der Vaart can't be overlooked either.
I have a feeling Sunderland's Arsenal connection will give Spurs a very tough time, and they will edge out a narrow victory.
Prediction: 2-1
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Bolton Wanderers Vs. Fulham
Saturday April 7, 3pm BST
Bolton have won their last three Premier League games in a row, and moved out of the relegation zone. They have a game in hand on the other teams in relegation trouble, but they are still only a point above the bottom three.
David Wheater has done very well for Bolton in recent weeks, but it's a big risk to buy a Bolton defender.
Fulham are in a safe position in the league, but their away form continues to disappoint. They have only two wins and eight goals in their 15 games so far, and they need to improve on it if they are ever to rise above mid-table.
Clint Dempsey is by far the best fantasy choice among the Fulham players.
Despite Bolton's need for points and Fulham's woes on the road I think this game will end all square.
Prediction: 1-1
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Chelsea Vs. Wigan Athletic
Saturday April 7, 3 pm BST
Chelsea are still in the hunt for a Champions League place for next season, but they are still struggling to find any consistency in the league. They have only won five of their last 16 league games despite reaching the semi finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League too. This could be a very good season for them, but it could just as easily still end in disaster.
Gary Cahill had performed very well for Chelsea in recent weeks and so has Boran Ivanovic, but Juan Mata and Feank Lampard are probably still their best fantasy bets.
Wigan have managed to win their last two games in a row, but they're still in the relegation zone. They had a great win at Liverpool in their last away game, but it will be a tougher task for them against Chelsea. They have only lost one of their last eight league games, and they have won more away games than home games.
Victor Moses is probably the only Wigan player worth considering at the moment for fantasy managers.
I can't see anything other than a win for Chelsea in this game.
Prediction: 3-1
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Liverpool Vs. Aston Villa
Saturday April 7, 3 pm BST
Liverpool are in free fall in the league at the moment, and they have lost six of their last seven games. Their cup form has held up though, and it's probably keeping Kenny Dalglish in a job. They have only won five of their 15 home games so far this season, and it's just not good enough.
It's very hard to recommend any Liverpool players to pick for fantasy managers at the moment.
Villa are another team playing poorly at the moment, and they have a lot of injuries too. Only United have lost less away games than them, but they have drawn too many games for their own good. If they're not careful they will be drawn into the relegation dogfight.
There are no Villa players worth considering for fantasy managers at the moment either.
Prediction: 3-1
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Norwich City Vs. Everton
Saturday April 7, 3 pm BST
Norwich have been a bit like Swansea this season, and they deserve their place in the Premier League next season. They're comfortably in mid-table, and they gain enough points at home and away to easily survive. The big question is whether they can do it again next season.
Norwich use their whole squad and it's never easy to predict their team which makes it tough to pick their players for fantasy managers.
Everton have moved above Liverpool into seventh place, and yet again they are finishing the season strongly.Only the top two have conceded less goals than them, and they still have an FA Cup semi final against Liverpool to look forward to as well.
Everton defenders are looking quite good at the moment with Leighton Baines and Tim Howard looking the best bets.
I think Everton might just about manage to get another three points on the board.
Prediction: 1-2
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West Bromwich Albion Vs. Blackburn Rovers
Saturday April 7, 3 pm BST
West Brom have slipped in recent weeks, but they will fancy their chances against a team in the relegation zone. Since beating Chelsea they have managed only two goals and one point in four games. Their home form has let them down so far with only four wins in 15 games.
It's not easy to pick West Brom players for fantasy managers, as their form is so up and down.
Blackburn are back in the relegation zone after losing at home to United on Monday night. Their form has been very good recently, but so has the form of a few others at the wrong end of the table. A couple of weeks ago they looked like they were heading to safety, but back to back defeats have proved costly.
Both Yakubu and Junior Hoilett are doing very well for Blackburn, and are worth considering for fantasy managers.
I think Blackburn will fight hard to earn themselves a point.
Prediction: 1-1
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Stoke City Vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Saturday April 7, 5.30 pm BST
Stoke are never an easy team to beat at home, and they will be clear favourites to take the three points in this game. They haven't won in four games, and the defeat at Wigan last week was a poor performance from them.
There are no Stoke players setting the fantasy world alight at the moment.
Wolves must be regretting sacking Mick McCarthy, as they have only taken one point in six games since his exit. They look like certainties for relegation, and I would be surprised if they won any of their remaining seven games. They have conceded more goals than any other team, and haven't kept a clean sheet in their last 28 games.
I can't see anything other than a win for Stoke against a Wolves team that look doomed.
Prediction: 3-0
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Manchester United Vs. Queens Park Rangers
Sunday April 8, 1.30 pm BST
United are now five points clear at the top of the Premier League with seven games left, and odds-on to retain their title. They have the opportunity to open an eight point gap before City play Arsenal later on Sunday, and it would take a brave or foolish person to bet against them. I can't say I'm impressed with the current United team, but they certainly know what needs to be done to win a league title.
The best fantasy bets among the United players are probably Johnny Evans, Wayne Rooney, Antinio Valencia and Ashley Young.
QPR had a great win at home to Arsenal last week, but a trip to United will be a lot tougher for them. They have a very hard end to their season, and relegation is a very real prospect for them. They have found some form at last though with two wins in their last three games.
I can't see any QPR players worth considering for fantasy managers at the moment.
I think United will have too much for QPR, and move ever closer to their 20th league title with a comprehensive win.
Prediction: 3-0
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Arsenal Vs. Manchester City
Sunday April 8, 4 pm BST
Arsenal lost away to QPR last week to end their run of seven league games in a row. They are only ahead of Spurs on goal difference in the battle for third place, and they need to take all three points in this game. They have won 11 of their 15 home games so far, and only City have conceded less goals than them at home.
Robin van Persie is still the best performing fantasy player this season, and Theo Walcott is in fine form at the moment too.
City look to have blown their chances of winning the league, and they will probably be eight points behind United when this game starts. Their away form has been their downfall with only two wins and five goals in their last nine away games. If United win and they lose their season will be all but over, and Roberto Mancini could find himself out of a job very soon.
There were so many City players performing so well until a few weeks ago, but it's hard to know which players will be the ones to shine if they are going to turn things around.
I think Arsenal will manage to take all three points in a very close match.
Prediction: 2-1
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That's it for this week, but feel free to tell me where I may have gone right or wrong as the case might be.
See you tomorrow.
I wish Arsenal could have the form you predict for us!
ReplyDeleteIt's all about getting solidly behind Sunderland and Wigan's efforts today.
I always predict an Arsenal win in every single game they play and that will never change.
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