Thursday 13 August 2015

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek Two

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I did reasonably well with my predictions last week with five correct outcomes and five incorrect, but I couldn't manage any perfect predictions.

Here's a look at how the top five in my predictions league stands after week one. It's not too late to join in and the details on how to do so can be found at the end of this post.

POSPlayer NameBadgesThis WeekPTS
 1 (New)  goonerdhanesh +4040
 2 (New)  Rutland Gooner +2525
 3 (New)  Michael Sheehy +2020
 4 (New)  Malcs 00
 5 (New)  Wayne Hubbard -10-10

Friday August 14

Aston Villa v Manchester United

7.45pm BST, Villa Park, Birmingham 

Villa weren't overly impressive in their opening game away to Bournemouth, but they managed to sneak a 1-0 win. They had trouble scoring goals last season and they don't look like they'll score too many goals this season either. Their home record was far from impressive last season too and they will have to be at their best to get anything from this game.

Rudy Gestede got a debut goal last week and could be a good fantasy choice while Micah Richards looks to be the best of the Villa defenders.

United weren't exactly impressive at home to Spurs last week, but they managed to eek out a victory thanks to an own goal. They have Champions League qualifying games to come and their squad and preparation will be tested in the next few weeks. If they're going to do any better than last season this is exactly the type of game they need to win.

Wayne Rooney still looks like the best of the bunch in the United team while Matteo Darmian could be the best of their defenders.

I don't think there will be too many goals in this game and it will more than likely end in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Saturday August 15

Southampton v Everton

12.45pm BST, St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton 

Southampton got a point away to Newcastle in their first game, but didn't show the defensive solidity which was such an important feature for them last season. They were hard to beat at home last season and will want to continue that form this season. They will be favourites to win this game and the result could be a pointer to how their season goes.

Graziano Pelle looks like he might just get off to a flyer again this season with Cedric Soares and Sadio Mane worth considering too.

Everton came from behind twice at home to Watford last week and managed to get a point in the end. They looked very vulnerable in defence though and they haven't added much to a squad which finished in the bottom half of the table last season. They need to start better this season, but they will have their work cut out to get something from this game.

With Leighton Baines injured and their defence looking weak players like Ross Barkley and Aruna Kone (if he can get into the starting team) could be the best fantasy options in the Everton team.

I think this is going to be a very close game and it could quite easily end in another draw.

Prediction: 2-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City

3pm BST, White Hart Lane, London

Spurs were probably a little unlucky to lose away to United last week and they need to put that right at home to Stoke. They haven't added too much to their squad yet this summer and need a few new faces or they could fare worse than last season. They weren't great at home last season, but they could help their chances of a higher finish if they can improve that home form.

Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli are the Spurs players most likely to succeed for fantasy managers. 

Stoke gave Liverpool a good contest in their first game, but they lost to a late goal. They have brought a lot of players in this summer and it could take a little time for those players to settle. They have had a bad away record in the Premier League and could find it hard to get anything out of this game.

The signing of Xherdan Shaqiri looks like a real coup for Stoke and he could be an interesting choice for fantasy managers.

Both of these teams need something from this game after losing their opening games and I think Spurs will be the ones to come out on top.

Prediction: 2-1

Sunderland v Norwich City

3pm BST, Stadium of Light, Sunderland 

Sunderland shipped four goals away to Leicester last week, but they at least managed to get a couple for themselves. They struggled to score goals last season and don't look like they have improved on that team so far. They will want to get their home games off to a good start though and a game against a newly promoted team is the perfect opportunity for them.

Jermaine Defoe looks like the best fantasy choice in the Sunderland team

Norwich played well at home to Palace last week, but they ended up losing 3-1. I don't think their squad looks strong enough to keep them up and they will need to bolster it in the next few weeks or they will really struggle this season. If they're going to stay up they will need to get points off other teams who might struggle and this looks like one of those games to me.

I can't see any Norwich players setting the fantasy world alight, but Wes Hoolahan might be the best of a bad bunch.

Both of these teams need something from this game after losing last week and I think Sunderland will win a close game.

Prediction: 1-0

Swansea City v Newcastle United

3pm BST, Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Swansea got a very good point in their opening game away to Chelsea and they could easily have taken all three points. They were a handful for every team they played last season and showed last week that they will be again. They will feel this is a game they should win with home advantage against a team who struggled last season and are trying to rebuild.

Andre Ayew looks like a bargain for fantasy managers at the moment while Bafetimbi Gomis, Jonjo Shelvey, Ki Sung Yueng and Gylfi Siggurdsen are all worth considering too.

Newcastle showed some attacking flair and some promise too in their opening day draw at home to Southampton. They were too close for comfort to going down last season and they will need to improve this season. The signs were promising last week, but a trip to a good Swansea team will be a tough task for them. 

Papiss Cisse looks like he might do well for fantasy managers this season while Georginio Wijnaldum could do well too.

I think Swansea looked impressive enough against Chelsea to suggest they will win this game.

Prediction: 3-1

Watford v West Bromwich Albion

3pm BST, Vicarage Road, Watford

Watford got a very good point away to Everton on the opening day and came close to taking all three. They were not involved in any scoreless draws in the Championship last season and it looks like there could be plenty of goals in their games this season too. They will want to get their home games off to a good start and have every chance of doing so against West Brom.

Troy Deeney looks the part for Watford for fantasy managers while Odion Ighalo should be considered too.

West Brom were well beaten at home by City on Monday night and they're propping up the table for the moment at least. Tony Pulis blamed his choice of tactics for that defeat and he will probably revert to what he knows best in this game. Having lost their first game West Brom need something from this, but it won't be easy for them.

If West Brom are going to do well this season then Saido Berahino is the player in their team most likely to impress for fantasy managers. 

I think Watford might just be good enough at home to win a very tight game.

Prediction: 2-1

West Ham United v Leicester City

3pm BST, Upton Park, London

West Ham were impressive in their first game when they won 2-0 away to much fancied Arsenal. They defended well and took their chances in that game, but they will be expected to attack a lot more at home. If they can get the victory it will be a dream start for Slaven Bilic and justify his decision to play a weakened team in the Europa League.

Mauro Zarate looks like he could be the West Ham player most likey to succeed for fantasy managers if he can continue with the form he showed last week and Adrian isn't a bad option in goal either.

Leicester were the top scorers in the first week when they beat Sunderland 4-2 and it could have been even more. They finished very strongly last season and continued that form in their first game last week. Claudio Ranieri likes his team's to attack and Leicester look capable of scoring plenty of goals this season.

Riyad Mahrez, Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy are all looking good for fantasy managers at the moment and they're all available at a good price too.

I think this has the makings of a good game and I think the spoils will be shared.

Prediction: 2-2

Sunday August 16

Crystal Palace v Arsenal 

1.30pm BST, Selhurst Park, London

Palace were impressive in winning 3-1 away to newly promoted Norwich last week. They have strengthened over the summer and have plenty of attacking options to trouble any team. It won't be easy for them against one of the top sides and they have performed a lot better away than at home since Alan Pardew took the reins.

Yohan Cabaye looks like the Palace player to have for fantasy managers with Wilfried Zaha, Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie all worth considering too.

Arsenal were being talked up as genuine title contenders, but their defeat at home to West Ham last week has left a lot of questions to be answered. They need to bounce back in this game or their title aspirations could be a thing of the past again. It won't be easy against a Palace team who are good in attack and on the break, but Arsenal have the players to do it.

Players like Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are all great fantasy options, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain might be the best value in the Arsenal team.

Palace will be full of confidence after last week, but I expect Arsenal to bounce back and win a tight game.

Prediction: 1-2

Manchester City v Chelsea

4pm BST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

City looked good in their 3-0 win away to West Brom on Monday night which put them on top of the table. It's very early for such a big game and it gives City the chance to open up a five point gap over Chelsea if they can win. They were good at home last season as usual and will fancy themselves against a Chelsea team who don't look quite ready for such a tough game so early in the season.

If he's fit enough to start Sergio Aguero is always the best fantasy choice in the City team, but he's followed closely by David Silva, Yaya Toure and maybe even Raheem Sterling too.

Chelsea were far from impressive in the opening game of their title defence and could only draw at home to Swansea in a game they could easily have lost. They had a great record against the rest of the teams at the top end of the table last season, but it might not be so easy for them this season. I expect Chelsea to park the proverbial bus, but they will have to defend well against a City team who look up for it from the start this season.

Eden Hazard is still the best fantasy choice in the Chelsea team with Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and any of their first choice defenders worth a shout too.

This is the first big game of the season between the top two from last season and I think City might just have enough to win the game.

Prediction: 2-1

Monday August 17

Liverpool v Bournemouth 

8pm BST, Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool got a good away win against Stoke last Sunday even if they weren't exactly at their best. They still look like they might struggle to score goals until Daniel Sturridge eventually manages to recover from his latest in a long line of injuries. If they're going to challenge for a top four spot they need to do well at home and this game offers them the ideal opportunity to get off to a good start.

Philippe Coutinho showed he's a good choice for fantasy managers last week while Jordan Henderson and Christian Benteke have to be considered too.

Bournemouth lost their opening game at home to Villa and will have to do a lot more if they are going to have any chance of staying up. They don't have the resources of other teams in the league and it could be a long hard season for them. A trip to one of the big teams in the league is a daunting task for them and they will do well to get anything from this game.

It's not easy to see which Bournemouth players will do well at the moment, but Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson are the most likely candidates.

I think Liverpool should be good enough to win this game by a couple of goals.

Prediction: 2-0

As usual this season my fantasy league is up and running again and it's open to all comers with a €50 prize (out of my pocket) to the winner. You can join up by using the league code 48497-14043 after you have set your team up here and good luck to all who play. There were over 1,000 teams in my league last season and there's already more than that signed up for this season.

I'm also running my Predictions League again this season and it's very enjoyable even if there's no cash prize for the winner. The code for my league is FD757-ARR after you have signed up here and of course both games are completely free to play. 

That's it for this week.

See you next week.

2 comments:

  1. Expect a tight game against CP. Don't be surprised if they were to win especially if the
    gunners engage in all day and night passing. As we have seen so many times,when the ball is misdirected/intercepted,etc cue for CP to attack . And with ahdl with the bg the last guy in defence,CP could nick a goal.
    The ball is at Wenger's feet. If he still insists of playing pretty soccer to win and the gunners get beaten,expect fan negativity.

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    Replies
    1. It's a must win game and Ithink we will do it, but it won't be easy.

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