It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I had a bad week last week but so did most other managers with their predictions. I only got three correct outcomes with the other seven all wrong.
I'm still fourth in my predictions league but only just. Here's a look at how my Predictions League stands.
Pos Player Week Total
___ _____ ____ ____
1. antonius_ronny_s -60 920
2. AblockGooner 10 780
3. Rutland Gooner 25 670
4. JamrockRover -30 660
5. Plasticninja -50 655
6. ahujag -50 615
7. Meikku -60 615
8. RSun624 25 610
9. goonerdhanesh -60 580
10. sakura 50 545
Saturday November 24
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Sunderland V West Bromwich Albion
12.45pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland managed to get back to winning ways last week but only after Fulham were reduced to 10 players. They are really struggling to score goals this season, but they are quite strong at the back. I don't think last week's win was the end of Sunderland's problems for this season though.
I recommended disposing of Stephen Fletcher for fantasy managers last week and he came back to haunt me in typical fashion. I still think Simon Mignolet is probably the best fantasy buy among the Sunderland players.
West Brom have had a great start to the season and are in a very healthy fourth place. They have a very good home record but they have two away games to play this week. They're punching above their weight at the moment and I have no doubt they are enjoying it.
Shane Long is performing well for fantasy managers and Peter Odemwingie is come into a good vein of recently too.
I can see this being a very close game and the spoils being shared.
Prediction: 1-1
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Everton V Norwich City
3pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton have had a good start to the season too but they have been a little unlucky with some of their results. The loss away to Reading last week was a real blow but at least they are at home in their next two games. They will be looking to take all six points and close in on the teams above them.
With Marouane Fellaini suspended both Steven Pienaar and Nikica Jelavic could be the Everton players to shine for fantasy managers this week.
Norwich have been on a very good run recently with victories over Arsenal and United in their last five games. They have only conceded one goal in those games, but they haven't being scoring too many goals either. No other team has less Premier League goals than Norwich Si far this season.
If fantasy managers are brave enough to buy Norwich defensive players they could do well at the moment with John Ruddy in particular in good form.
I think Everton will have enough at home to take all three points.
Prediction: 2-0
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Manchester United V Queens Park Rangers
3pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United looked to be unstoppable until they came a cropper at Norwich last week. They are second in the table but they have easier games than City coming up on the face of it at least. They're the top scorers in the league even if their defending leaves a lot to be desired.
Robin van Persie is still the outstanding fantasy choice among the United players.
QPR are rooted to the foot of the table with only four points and no wins in 12 games. I'm not quite sure how Mark Hughes still has a job but surely he can't last much longer. Only Southampton have conceded more goals than QPR and no other team has scored less so far this season.
QPR players are better off avoided for fantasy managers at the moment.
I can't see anything other than a comfortable victory for United in this game.
Prediction: 3-0
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Stoke City V Fulham
3pm GMT, Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke have drawn seven of their 12 games so far and they need a few wins to progress up the table. They have only managed 10 goals in those 12 games, but they have only conceded 11 goals. There have been less goals scored in Stoke games than any other team in the league.
With so few goals about Asmir Begovic and Ryan Shawcross are probably the best fantasy choices in the Stoke team.
Fulham were on a good run until they were beaten by Sunderland last week, but they did have to play for almost an hour with only 10 men. They don't usually travel too well but they have been better on the road so far this season.
Dimitar Berbatov still has a lot to offer and can be very good for fantasy managers on his day.
I can see Stoke getting yet another draw in this game.
Prediction: 1-1
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Wigan Athletic V Reading
3pm GMT, DW Stadium, Wigan
Wigan are only two points above the drop zone and this is a very big game for them. They need to beat the teams below them if they're going to miss out on their annual relegation fight.
Arouna Kone looks the most likely Wigan player to score a few goals with Ali Al-Habsi performing well in goal too.
Reading had a great victory over Everton last week after going 1-0 down. It was their first victory of the season and it was enough to lift them out of the relegation zone. Any sort of result in this game would be a very good days work for them.
There are no Reading players who are setting the fantasy world alight at the moment.
I think Wigan might just have enough to get a victory in a very close game.
Prediction: 2-1
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Aston Villa V Arsenal
5.30pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa were soundly beaten by City last week and slipped into the relegation zone as a result. They have lost seven of their 12 games so far and they need to change things quickly. The goodwill towards Paul Lambert will not last much longer if they continue to battle against relegation.
Villa players are best avoided at the moment for fantasy managers.
Arsenal got back to winning ways with a 5-2 victory over Spurs last week. They haven't being defending too well recently but the goals are flowing for them again. This is a game they need to win and they should win too.
Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud are all in good form for fantasy managers at the moment and so is Theo Walcott if he is fit.
I think Arsenal will find the goals they need to take all three points.
Prediction: 1-3
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Sunday November 25
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Swansea City V Liverpool
1.30pm GMT, Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Swansea have a pretty even record so far with four wins, four draws and four defeats. They're capable of getting a result against any team when they're at their best. The return of Brendan Rogers to his former club could well add a bit of spice to this game.
Miguel Michu is the outstanding Swansea player for fantasy managers so far this season.
Liverpool are drawing too many games for their own good but they are slowly climbing the table. They have only won three league games so far and they aren't scoring enough goals either. Without Luis Suarez things would be a whole lot worse for them though.
Luis Suarez is the must have fantasy player at the moment.
I can see this being another very tight game and Liverpool getting their seventh league draw of the season.
Prediction: 1-1
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Southampton V Newcastle
3pm GMT, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton
Southampton had a very good result away to QPR last week to keep them in touch with the teams above them. They have by far the worst defensive record in the league, but they're in the top 10 scorers too. Unless they tighten up at the back they will continue to struggle.
Rickie Lambert is probably the best fantasy choice among the Southampton players.
Newcastle have slipped up quite a bit recently and they're really struggling to score goals. Their game on Thursday night won't have made things easier for them but that's the price for such a good season last season. Alan Pardew signed a very long contract at Newcastle not so long ago but he needs his team to get some results soon or it won't be worth the paper it's written on.
Demba Ba is by far the best Newcastle player for fantasy managers.
I can see a few goals in this game and a draw being the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 2-2
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Chelsea V Manchester City
4pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea have sacked yet another manager this week and they have a very tough first game for new manager Rafa Benitez. He will have to get some results quickly or Roman Abramovich will probably take the job himself. They've only taken two points in their last four games and they need to start winning again.
Juan Mata and Eden Hazard are probably the two Chelsea players most likely to perform at the moment.
City have found their defensive strength again and they have now conceded less goals than any other team in the league. They're still unbeaten in the league this season too and they're making a good go of defending their title. Their reaction to their Champions League exit could be a big factor in the outcome of this game.
Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero are all in good fantasy form with Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany and Gael Clichy worth considering too.
This could be a very interesting game for so many reasons and I think it will end all square.
Prediction: 1-1
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Tottenham Hotspur V West Ham United
4pm GMT, White Hart Lane, London
Spurs have lost four of their last five league games and they need to halt the slide. They have conceded more goals than they have scored so far this season and they need to sort out their defence. Like Newcastle and Liverpool their Europa League exploits appear to be taking a toll.
Gareth Bale is the outstanding fantasy player for Spurs.
West Ham have done well on their return to the Premier League and it's down to their defensive strength. They haven't scored too many goals but they have been very hard to beat.
Kevin Nolan is West Ham's best fantasy performer but Jussi Jaaskelainen is doing very well too.
I think West Ham could just do enough to take a point off Spurs.
Prediction: 1-1
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That's it for this week but as usual feel free to tell me where I might have gone right or wrong as the case may be.
See you next week.
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