Friday 27 April 2012

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 36

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. There are 14 games this week, as the teams who played in the FA Cup semi-finals make up their games in hand. It's a good opportunity for fantasy managers to get a few extra points if they can fill their teams with players who play two games this week.

I didn't have such a good week last week with no perfect scorelines, four correct outcomes and seven wrong outcomes. It meant that I stayed in fifth place in my predictions league, and it looks like fifth will be as high as I can manage to finish the season. It also looks like the league leader has things tied up with only three weeks left to go.

Here's a look at how my predictions league stands.

Pos      Player                              Week      Total
___     __________________    _____     _____
1         ahujag                              145         1940
2         GGooner                           45          1720
3         b_red_devils                      30          1595
4         nitin004                             50          1490
5        JamrockRover                     5           1375
6        ABlockGooner                   -5           1330
7        Rutland Gooner                 -10          1320
8        gooner2194                        10          1290
9        nawa87                             -35          1190
10     gOOner                               30          1165

Everton Vs. Fulham 

Saturday April 28, 3pm BST 

Everton had a great result away to league leaders Manchester United last week when they came from behind to draw 4-4. They are still ahead of Liverpool in seventh place, and their fans will be delighted to finish there this season. Everton are not easy to beat at home, and only Manchester City have conceded less home goals than them.

With four goals in the last two games he has played Nikica Jelavic is probably the best fantasy choice among the Everton players.

Fulham have won three of their last four games, and a win would move them above Everton in the table. They have only won three games away from home so far this season, and no team has scored less goals away from home.

Clint Dempsey is by far the best choice of the Fulham players, and a must for all fantasy managers. It also has to be remembered that Fulham play twice this week.

I think Everton will get the win they need to edge them closer to their goal of seventh place.

Prediction 2-1 
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Stoke City Vs. Arsenal 

Saturday April 28, 3pm BST 

Stoke have only won once in their last seven games, and they're the lowest scorers in the Premier League so far this season. They're never an easy team to play against, and they have only lost four home games so far.

It's not easy to see any Stoke players setting the fantasy football world alight, but they also have two games this week.

Arsenal are third in the table with three games to go, and their fate is in their own hands. If they win their last three games they will definitely finish third, and only the top two have won more away games than they have. They have conceded an awful lot of goals on their travels, but again only the top two have scored more away goals than them.

It's not easy to see which Arsenal players to recommend at the moment with Theo Walcott injured and Robin van Persie going through a barren patch.

I think Arsenal will have just enough to squeeze through a very tight game.

Prediction 1-2 
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Sunderland Vs. Bolton Wanderers 

Saturday April 28, 3pm BST 

Sunderland haven't won in their last five games, and they haven't scored in their last four. They have a very good defensive record at home though, and they have only lost four home games this season. They have little to play for at this stage in the season, and their opponents need points from this game.

The best choices from the Sunderland team at the moment would have to be defenders with three clean sheets in four games, and Simon Mignolet is probably the best buy among them.

Bolton have taken 13 points from their last seven games, and a continuation of that form should see them retain their Premier League place. Their midweek win away to Villa was their sixth away win of the season, and only six teams have won more away games than them. They haven't drawn away from home so far this season, and only QPR have lost more away games than Bolton.

Chris Eagles and Martin Petrov could be the Bolton players most likely to do well in the last few weeks of the season, and they get to play twice this week.

I think this game has the makings of a very tight game which will end in a draw.

Prediction 1-1 
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Swansea City Vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers 

Saturday April 28, 3pm BST 

Swansea have been very good at home this season, and they have only lost four home games. Only Manchester City have conceded less home goals than them, and they have been a welcome addition to the Premier League. They will fancy their chances of adding more points to their tally against already relegated Wolves.

Michel Vorm and Scott Sinclair are still the two best fantasy choices among the Swansea players.

Wolves were relegated when they lost to Manchester City last week, and they have only got their pride left to play for. They have only taken two points in their last 11 games, and they will do well to take any more points this season.

I can't see any Wolves players who are worth buying for fantasy managers.

I think Swansea will have too much for Wolves, and add another three points to their impressive tally.

Prediction 3-1
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West Bromwich Albion Vs. Aston Villa 

Saturday April 28, 3pm BST

West Brom had a very good win away to Liverpool last week, but they have lost nine home games so far this season. They could finish as high as seventh if they can win their last three games, and they will fancy their chances in this local derby.

Peter Odemwingie is probably the best fantasy bet among the West Brom players, but it's probably best avoiding them for the rest of the season.

Villa have not won any of their last seven games, and only one of their last 13. They are only three points clear of the relegation zone, and they are in free fall at the moment. If they can't win any of their last three games they could find themselves playing in the Championship next season.

I can't see any Villa players worth picking for fantasy managers at the moment.

I think West Brom will win this game, and pile the pressure on Villa for the last two games of the season.

Prediction 2-0 
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Wigan Athletic Vs. Newcastle United 

Saturday April 28, 3pm BST 

Wigan have won four of their last six games to move out of the relegation zone, but they are by no means safe from relegation. They are only a point clear of Bolton, and Bolton have a game in hand on them. No other team have won less home games than Wigan, but their recent form suggests they have a real chance in this game.

Despite Wigan's recent good run it's still not easy to see any of their players that would improve any fantasy team.

Newcastle have won their last six games in a row, and they are right in the middle of the battle for Champions League places for next season. They have conceded a lot of goals away from home, but only the three teams above them have won more away games. They have a tough finish to their season, and they will need to win this game to keep their chances of finishing third alive.

Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Hatem Ben-Arfa, Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Cisse are all in excellent form for Newcastle at the moment with Cisse being the outstanding choice. With two games this week Newcastle players could be excellent choices for fantasy managers.

I think both teams need to get something from this game, and they will when it ends in a draw.

Prediction 1-1 
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Norwich Vs. Liverpool 

Saturday April 28, 5.30pm BST 

Norwich have been another very good addition to the Premier League this season, and they are rarely involved in a boring game. They are not easy to beat at home, but they rarely keep a clean sheet either. They will fancy their chances against a Liverpool team who just can't win a league game at the moment.

Norwich are very much a team, and there are no outstanding choices for fantasy managers.

Liverpool have taken only 12 points in 15 league games so far in this calender year. They have won the Carling Cup and reached the FA Cup final though, but dropped to eighth in the league. If they can't win a couple of their final four games they could end up finishing in the bottom half of the table.

It's hard to see any Liverpool players to pick for fantasy managers at the moment, but they do have two games this week.

I think this game will end up all square.

Prediction 2-2 
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Chelsea Vs. Queens Park Rangers 

Sunday April 29, 1.30pm BST 

Chelsea had a magnificent result on Tuesday night when they reached the Champions League final. They have four league games left and they need to win them all to try to finish in the Champions League places for next season unless they win the final. They have only won four of their last 14 league games, but they are never an easy team to beat at home.

Juan Mata is probably the Chelsea player most likely to do well for the rest of the season, and they do have two games this week.

QPR have climbed out of the relegation zone by winning their last four home games, but they have lost their last five on the road. They have lost more away games than any other team in the league, and they will have a tough job getting anything out of this local derby.

It's not easy to see any QPR players that would make a real difference to a fantasy team.

I think Chelsea should have enough to get a win despite their midweek exertions.

Prediction 3-1 
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Tottenham Hotspur Vs. Blackburn Rovers 

Sunday April 29, 4pm BST 

Spurs have only taken six points from their last nine games, and they have dropped out of the top four. On the face of it they have an easy run in, but in their current form no game is easy. They have to win this game or a top four finish will surely be beyond them.

It's hard to see which spurs players to choose at the moment, but they play twice against struggling teams this week and Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor might be good bets.

Blackburn finally got back to winning ways last week after five defeats in a row. They are still three points away from safety with only three games left, and they have to get something out of this game. They have only managed two away wins this season, and they have the worst defence away from home in the league too.

If Blackburn are going to save themselves then Yakubu and Junior Hoilett are going to have to score a few goals for them.

I think Spurs will just about manage to get back to winning ways with a close fought victory.

Prediction 2-1 
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Manchester City Vs. Manchester United 

Monday April 30, 8pm BST 

City have got right back in the title race in the last few weeks, but they have to win this game to have a real chance of winning the title. They won the reverse fixture 6-1, but this will be a much tougher game for them. They have won 16 of their 17 home games so far, and scored more than any other team at home too.

If City are going to win the league then Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and David Silva are going to get plenty of fantasy points in the next few weeks.

United are desperate to hold on to their title, but they have slipped badly a couple of times in recent weeks. They have the best away record in the league, and they have won 12 of their 17 away games so far. They have also conceded less goals than any other team on the road, and no team has scored more away goals than them either.

The result of this game could decide the outcome of the league title, and I think City will just about edge a  victory.

Prediction 3-2 
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Liverpool Vs. Fulham 

Tuesday May 1, 7.45pm BST 

Liverpool have only won five of their 17 home games in the league this season, and it's a very poor record. They have drawn nine games too, but Anfield no longer seems to be the fortress it once was.

Fulham have only won three away games this season, but they are on a good run at the moment. They will know they can get something from this game if they can keep things tight and frustrate Liverpool.

I think Liverpool will just about manage to get a win for a change in this game.

Prediction 2-1
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Stoke City Vs. Everton 

Tuesday May 1, 7.45pm BST 

Stoke play at home for the second time in a week, and they have the opportunity to climb the table by winning those games. They have been pretty good at home, but not quite as good as they have been in recent seasons.

Everton have only won five games on the road this season, but they're not an easy team to beat. They proved that away to United last week, and they are unbeaten in their last five league games.

I think Everton recent impressive form should see them take all three points in this game.

Prediction 1-2 
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Chelsea Vs. Newcastle United 

Wednesday May 2, 7.45pm BST 

Chelsea play at home for the second time in a few days, and this is a really big game for them. If they beat Newcastle they have a real chance of finishing in the top four before they travel to Munich to play the Champions League final. If they fail to win it looks like they will have to win the Champions League to play in it again next season.

Newcastle are fourth in the table, and Champions League qualification is a real possibility for them now. If they can get something from this game they will surely make at least a Europa League place for next season, but their sights are set even higher.

This is a very big game in the battle for a top four finish, and I think Chelsea will emerge with all three points.

Prediction 2-1
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Bolton Wanderers Vs. Tottenham Hotspur 

Wednesday May 2, 8pm BST

Bolton will need to get something from this game in hand to move out of the relegation zone, and they will be up for the fight. They have lost 10 home games already this season, but they will fancy their chances against a struggling Spurs team.

Spurs haven't won an away game in the league yet this year, and they need to win this game to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Their collapse has been quite remarkable, and it looks like they will lose their manager in the very near future too.

This is probably a must win game for both clubs, and I think it will end in a draw.

Prediction 1-1

That's it for this week, but as always feel free to tell me where I may have gone right or wrong as the case might be.

See you tomorrow.

2 comments:

  1. I love beating Stoke :)

    But I'm not sure I'm ready to live in a world where Man City are the champions!

    ReplyDelete
  2. No matter who wins the league it won't be good. Even if City beat United they will probably have to win at Newcastle and that won't be easy for them.

    ReplyDelete