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 with only two correct outcomes and eight incorrect which saw me slip to ninth in my predictions league. Here's a look at how the top 10 in my predictions league stands.
Pos. Player. Week. Total
1. Paul Kingston -90 1030
2. Wayne Hubbard 0 990
3. MickTheGooner 50 955
4. Abu K -25 895
5. KildareGunner -70 865
6. Karl-Yngve Lund -90 855
7. Sulabh -30 810
8. TheDognash -10 725
9. Michael Sheehy -55 715
10. Gaurav Aguja -60 685
Saturday December 14
Manchester City v Arsenal
12.45pm GMT, Etihad Stadium, Manchester
City have won all seven of their home games scoring 29 goals and only conceding two in the process. They're six points behind Arsenal and will want to close that gap to three points by winning this game. They're still struggling away from home though and they won't have it all their own way against an Arsenal team who are in very good form. They will be boosted by their midweek win away to Bayern Munich and have to be favourites to win this game.
Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta are probably the three best fantasy performers in the City team with Samir Nasri and Alvaro Negredo to be considered too along with David Silva if he is passd fit to play.
Arsenal had the chance to go seven points clear at the top of the league by beating Everton on Sunday but they drew 1-1. They have taken 16 points from their seven away games and have the best defensive record away from home as well as scoring the most goals on the road. This is probably their hardest away game of the season and it comes on the back of a very grueling week for them.
Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey still look to be the best fantasy bets in the Arsenal team along with any of their defenders and Olivier Giroud.
I think this will be a very close game but Arsenal might just be the team to put an end to City's 100% home record.
Prediction: 1-2
Cardiff City v West Bromwich Albion
3pm GMT, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Cardiff have only taken two points and scored two goals in their last five games and have only won two of their seven home games. Only Aston Villa have scored less goals at home than Cardiff and only Palace have scored less goals overall. They're only one point above the relegation zone and need to put a run of results together very soon.
Steven Caulker is probably the best fantasy option in the Cardiff with the odd goal, the odd clean sheet and plenty of bonus points too.
West Brom haven't won any of their last five games either and they have conceded 11 goals in those games. They're only two points above the relegation zone after losing at home to Norwich last week and need to turn their fortunes around also. They have only lost two of their seven away games though and have a good chance of getting something from this game.
Despite their recent defensive woes Gareth McAuley still looks the best fantasy bet in the West Brom team.
I have a feeling West Brom will be good enough to win this game by a one goal margin.
Prediction: 1-2
Chelsea v Crystal Palace
3pm GMT, Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea have an excellent home record and have taken 19 points from seven home games. Their away form has been patchy so far and they were beaten at Stoke last week. They have conceded six goals in their last two games against Stoke and Sunderland who have both found goals hard to come by this season, but those games were away from home.
Eden Hazard and John Terry look like the Chelsea players most likely to succeed for fantasy managers at the moment with Frank Lampard doing well when he plays.
Palace have taken 10 points in their last five games and only conceded one goal in the process. They have lost six of their seven away games though and only Sunderland have scored less goals away from home. Despite Palace's recent great defensive record they will do very well not to be soundly beaten in this game.
Marouane Chamakh and Barry Bannon have been in good form recently along with Danny Gabbidon but this might not be the ideal game to pick them.
I think Chelsea should have too much for a Palace team who will give their all to get something from this match.
Prediction: 2-0
Everton v Fulham
3pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton got a very good 1-1 draw at the league leaders on Sunday, but they are still drawing too many games for their own good. They are unbeaten at home and have only lost one of their 15 league games with only Arsenal conceding less goals than Everton. They are only one point outside the top four and will see this as an ideal chance to close that gap.
Romelu Lukaku and Seamus Coleman are looking very good for Everton at the moment with all of their defenders worth considering along with Ross Barkley as long as he plays.
Fulham got a good win at home to Villa on Sunday to end a miserable run of six defeats in a row. They seem to have found some spirit with the appointment of a new manager, but this game will be a tough task for them. They're still in the bottom three and have lost five of their seven away games so far.
If Fulham have found their mojo again then Dimitar Berbatov could be the player to profit from it.
I think Everton will be too good for Fulham and win by a few goals.
Prediction: 3-0
Newcastle United v Southampton
3pm GMT, St. James' Park, Newcastle
Newcastle got a well deserved 1-0 win away to the champions last week and have won five of their last six games. They are only three points outside the top four and have only lost once at home in their seven games. They will be without the suspended Yohan Cabaye and will miss his influence in midfield.
Loric Remy hasn't scored in a few games but he's still the best fantasy option in the Newcastle team along with Cabaye when he returns from suspension.
Southampton were another team to perform very well last week and really should have won at home to City. They had a very good start to the season but they're three points behind Newcastle now after a tough run of games. They have only won two of their seven away games and have only managed five goals in the process.
Adam Lallana is probably the best fantasy bet in the Southampton team at the moment.
This should be a very close game and I have a feeling it will end with the honours shared.
Prediction: 1-1
West Ham United v Sunderland
3pm GMT, Upton Park, London
West Ham have only taken five points in their last eight games and failed to score in four of those games. They have had a lot of injury problems and find themselves outside the relegation zone on goal difference only. They have only taken seven points from their seven home games and cannot afford to drop points at home to the bottom club.
Jussi Jaaskelainen and Ravel Morrison are probably the only two West Ham players worth considering for fantasy managers at the moment.
Sunderland are five points adrift at the foot of the table after having some very tough games recently. They came closer to getting results against both Chelsea and Spurs but lost both games by one goal and their need for points is becoming desperate. They are the only team not to win an away game yet and they have only two points and two goals in their seven away games. If Sunderland lose this game they will be propping up the table for Christmas and that usually leads to relegation.
I can't see any Sunderland players to recommend to fantasy managers at the moment.
It's not easy to know how this game will go but I have a feeling it will end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Hull City v Stoke City
5.30pm GMT, KC Stadium, Hull
Hull have been very good at home so far and their mid table position is thanks to that home form. They have taken 14 of their 18 points at home and only City have conceded less goals at home than Hull. If they're going to stay up they have to continue to clock up the points at home.
Allan McGregor still looks like a good fantasy bet when Hull are at home in particular.
Stoke had a fantastic win at home to Chelsea last week and will finish safely in mid table if they continue to perform that well. They have lost five of their seven away games so far but their home form is still holding up. If they can continue to improve under Mark Hughes they should have a few more good weeks like last week.
Asmir Begovic and Ryan Shawcross are still the best fantasy bets in the Stoke team although Begovic is an injury doubt for this game.
This promises to be a low scoring affair and I think it could end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Sunday December 15
Aston Villa v Manchester United
1.30pm GMT, Villa Park, Birmingham
Villa have only won two of their seven home games and are the lowest scorers at home too. Their style seems more suited to playing away from home, but they might have a chance if United do the majority of the attacking in this game. Villa like to hit teams on the break and they could do with Christian Benteke finding his scoring touch again.
Brad Guzan still looks like the best fantasy choice in the Villa team for me.
United have only taken two points in their last four games and have slipped to ninth in the table. They're 13 points behind the league leaders and have only won three of their seven away games so far but they are the joint highest scorers away from home. If they are to have any hope of retaining their title they need to go on a long unbeaten run.
Wayne Rooney is back from suspension and has been United's best fantasy performer this season with Patrice Evra doing well too.
If Villa can get at United they might have a chance in this game, but I think United will get back to winning ways.
Prediction: 1-2
Norwich City v Swansea City
1.30pm GMT, Carrow Road, Norwich
Norwich got a very important win away to West Brom last week to ease the pressure on them. They have won three of their last five games to move four points clear of the relegation zone. They have done quite well at home too with only two defeats in their seven home games.
Leroy Fer and Gary Hooper could be the Norwich players to do well for fantasy managers.
Swansea have won there and lost four of their seven away games and only Arsenal have conceded less goals on the road. They have done well to take nine points from those games with only six goals scored. They had a tough European away trip on Thursday night and will be glad to get European football out of the way for a couple of months.
Now that Miguel Michu is back from injury he might not be a bad fantasy choice along with Jonjo Shelvey.
Norwich aren't easy to beat at home, but Swansea travel well which makes me think this game will be a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
4pm GMT, White Hart Lane, London
Spurs seem to have recovered from their 6-0 hammering by City with 2-1 wins away to two of the bottom three clubs. They have only won three of their seven home games and only scored seven goals in those games and that must improve if they are to keep up their hopes of a top four finish. Liverpool will offer them a much tougher test than they had in their last two games, but Spurs will get chances against them.
It's not easy to pick Spurs players at the moment with their defence suffering while they struggle to score goals.
Liverpool are the second highest scores in the league after City and with Luis Suarez in the team they are a huge threat to any team. They have leaked a lot of goals though and give away an awful lot of chances. They could struggle with both Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge out injured.
Suarez is a must for fantasy managers, but the rest of the Liverpool team aren't quite so appealing with Gerrard and Sturridge injured.
This is a hard one to call but I think it could end up with the spoils shared.
Prediction: 2-2
That's it for this week
See you next week.
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