It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. The games are coming thick and fast at the moment and there's loads of points to be won and lost too. I did quite well at the weekend with one perfect score line, six correct outcomes and three incorrect.
There's only nine games in this Gameweek as the Arsenal game against West Ham has been postponed on Wednesday.
Here's a look at how my predictions league stands.
Pos Player Week Total
___ _____ ____ _____
1. antonius_ronny_s 25 1195
2. AblockGooner 65 1160
3. RSun624 45 1040
4. JamrockRover 95 1035
5. Rutland Gooner 65 890
6. ahujag 65 890
7. goonerdhanesh 100 860
8. birchy1962 85 815
9. Plasticninja 10 795
10. Ben AFCBeast 65 785
Wednesday December 26
____________________
Everton V Wigan Athletic
3pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton are unbeaten at home this season and only City have lost less games than them. Their win at West Ham on Saturday left them in fifth place but they could see themselves back in the top four after this game.
Steven Pienaar would seem to be the best fantasy bet among the Everton players with Marouane Fellaini suspended.
Wigan have lost six of their eight away games and no team has scored less goals away from home. They're back in the relegation zone but they were a little unlucky to lose to Arsenal on Saturday. Only the bottom club Reading have conceded more goals than Wigan and they have to tighten up at the back.
I can't see any Wigan players worth picking for fantasy managers at the moment.
I can't see anything other than an Everton win in this game.
Prediction: 2-0
______________________________
Fulham V Southampton
3pm GMT, Craven Cottage, London
Fulham were awful in their 4-0 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday and they have to do better in this game. They have won four of their eight home games, but their defence has really let them down this season. Only Reading have conceded more goals than them and they have only taken four points in their last seven games too.
Fulham players have being doing very little to inspire fantasy managers recently.
Southampton have only scored twice in their last four games and seem to be struggling in front of goal for the first time this season. They have lost six of their seven away games too and are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
Southampton players aren't exactly setting the fantasy world alight at the moment.
I think Fulham might just have enough to edge a very tight game.
Prediction: 2-1
______________________________
Manchester United V Newcastle United
3pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United have won seven of their eight home games and no other team have scored more goals at home than them. They have won 10 of their last 12 games in the league and are still favourites to win the title. After drawing away to Swansea on Sunday they will be anxious to get back to winning ways.
Robin van Persie remains by far the best fantasy bet among the United players.
Newcastle badly needed their win over QPR on Saturday as it was only their second win in nine league games. They haven't won any of their eight away games so far and their chances of emulating last season's fifth placed finish are very very slim. It will be a huge task for them to get anything out of this game.
Demba Ba is by far the best fantasy performer among the Newcastle players at the moment.
United should have too much for City and get back to winning ways.
Prediction: 2-0
______________________________
Norwich City V Chelsea
3pm GMT, Carrow Road, Norwich
Norwich lost away to West Brom on Saturday and it was their first defeat in 11 league games. They have only been beaten once at home and have a very good defensive record at home too. Both United and Arsenal were beaten away to Norwich and they will give Chelsea a very tough game too.
Robert Snodgrass and Sebastien Bassong are probably the best fantasy choices among the Norwich players.
Chelsea had a great result at home to Villa on Sunday and will hope to build on that in this game. They have won half of their away league games and need the three points to try to close the gap on the two Manchester clubs. After their win on Sunday only United have scored more goals than them.
There are so many fantasy options in the Chelsea team with David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta possibly good options at the moment. Peter Cech, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic, Juan Mata and Fernando Torres cannot be discounted either.
I can see Chelsea getting the better of Norwich but it won't be easy for them.
Prediction: 1-2
______________________________
Queens Park Rangers V West Bromwich Albion
3pm GMT, Loftus Road, London
QPR managed their first win of the season recently and it lifted them off the foot of the table. They have lost 10 of their 18 games though and are the joint lowest scorers in the league too. Seven of their 10 points have come at home, but no they are the lowest scorers at home and need to change that if they are to climb the table.
I still can't see any QPR players worth selecting for fantasy managers.
West Brom halted their recent slide with a hard fought win over Norwich on Saturday. They're still seventh in the league and a win could see them rise as high as third. They have struggled away from home though with only two wins in eight games.
Albion have slipped recently and their players haven't performed so well for fantasy managers.
QPR need a win but West Brom might just have enough to take a point from this game.
Prediction: 1-1
______________________________
Reading V Swansea City
3pm GMT, Madjeski Stadium, Reading
Reading are rock bottom of the league and have conceded more goals than any other team. Their only win came at home and they were a little unlucky to lose away to City last Saturday. If they are to have any chance of staying up they have to start winning some more home games.
Like the other struggling teams Reading's players are best avoided for fantasy managers.
Swansea got a very good point at home to United on Sunday and will fancy themselves to take all three in this game. Only City have conceded less away goals than Swansea as they have made themselves a hard team to beat. A win should see them back in the top half of the table which is a great return for a team with their resources.
Miguel Michu is the outstanding fantasy choice in the Swansea team.
Swansea have to be favourites to take all three points from this game.
Prediction: 1-3
______________________________
Sunderland V Manchester City
3pm GMT, The Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland have won two of their last three games to pull clear of the relegation zone. They have only managed two wins and nine goals in their eight home games and they have struggled to create chances. They will have to be at their very best to have a chance of getting anything from this game.
Stephen Fletcher continues to impress when fit and Stephane Sessegnon has improved greatly over the last few weeks.
City managed to close the gap on United with a late and lucky win over Reading on Saturday. They are still unbeaten away from home and have the best defensive record on the road too. They have drawn four of their eight away games though and they need to turn a few of those draws into wins.
Joe Hart, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Carlos Tevez are the obvious fantasy choices in the City team with Matija Nastasic not a bad choice either and Vincent Kompany has to be considered when he's fit again.
City should be good enough to take the points in this game.
Prediction: 1-3
______________________________
Aston Villa V Tottenham Hotspur
5.30pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa were awful in their 8-0 thrashing by Chelsea on Sunday. They have the chance to try to make amends in this game, but their confidence may well have taken a severe knock. Villa have won two and lost two of their eight home games, but they have only managed eight goals in the process and only QPR have scored less home goals.
It might be a good idea for fantasy managers to avoid Villa players at the moment.
Spurs are pretty much hit and miss away from home with four wins and four defeats. They have conceded a lot of goals away from home, but scored quite a few too. They have a chance to move back into the top four if they can take all three points.
Gareth Bale is the outstanding fantasy player for Spurs with Jermaine Defoe impressing too.
Villa need to improve on Sunday's performance and I think they will by taking a point.
Prediction: 1-1
______________________________
Stoke City V Liverpool
7.45pm GMT, Brittania Stadium, Stoke
Stoke are unbeaten at home and have only conceded three goals in those eight games. They have only scored eight goals in those games though and their games are hardly a thrill a minute. A win would move them ahead of Liverpool as they are only separated by goal difference at the moment.
Stoke's defensive players continue to impress with Asmir Begovic, Ryan Shawcross, Robert Huth and Geoff Cameron all excellent fantasy buys.
Liverpool got back to winning ways with a 4-0 win over Fulham on Saturday. They have only managed two away wins so far and their defence has looked suspect on their travels. If they are going to make inroads on the Champions League places this is the type of game they need to win.
Steven Gerrard is showing he still had a lot to offer fantasy managers with Luis Suarez and Luis Enrique both good buys too.
Stoke are very hard to best at home and should be good enough to hold Liverpool.
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 next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment