It's been a long three months but, as the Rock may say, FINALLY the Premier League has come back to save us... I have put together a short post detailing where I believe teams are going to finish this season in the English Premier League which can be read here.
The Premier League have immediately, it seems, taken the head in the sand approach to some of the issues that still gets under the fans noses at the start of this new season. The first weekend is supposed to be one where the fans are getting together to protest the ticket prices at the top clubs, which is beginning to spiral out of control (there are plenty out there who will say this is too late and the horse has already bolted from the stable, but the fans have to make this stand because it is reaching ridiculous levels).
Instead of perhaps making a statement in that regards, the Premier League is instead warning fans about Vines and GIFs made of goals that has become prominent over the last couple of years. Imagine that, they are already rinsing the pockets of fans through the television coverage and the price to get into a match, but seeing a little Vine is apparently detrimental to the business model of the Premier League.
Yes, it is intellectual property, but do the Premier League seriously believe that stops people watching the highlights shows or signing up to places like The Sun and The Times to watch 'proper' videos of the goal? It's maddening from an organisation that continues to make billions of pounds from a game where the fans are considered second rate.
Last season proved to be a good on and an improvement on the previous season, and a winning record in back to back years is good enough for me. I would hope to avoid the horrible months I had last season, including starting last August terribly, but it is what it is and finishing the season with a plus would be a success.
Manchester United v Swansea Pick: It is the start of yet another new dawn for Manchester United as Louis Van Gaal takes charge of his first competitive game as manager of the club. The formation won't be something that the fans at Old Trafford are used to, but the pragmatic Dutchman believes it will make the best of a squad that he described as 'unbalanced' when arriving at Old Trafford.
After the disappointing campaign under David Moyes, Manchester United fans will be desperate for the team to get off to a strong start and the fixture list has certainly been kind to them on that front. A home game against Swansea should be one that sits well with United, especially as the away side have had a few changes to the squad from last season.
As much as Manchester United struggled at Old Trafford last season, they did win 7 of their home games against those sides that finished in the bottom half and that is something I project for Swansea. They also have had success with the formation that Louis Van Gaal will be using during the pre-season with a little more success going forward, although Manchester United are still going to have a few issues defensively.
In games like this, I would expect those defensive problems won't be as highlighted as in games against the better teams in the Premier League and I can see United making a strong start to the new season. Last season, 7 of their 9 home wins at Old Trafford came by more than a single goal and they have had success against Swansea in recent games here including winning 2 of their last 3 in the League by at least two goals since the Swans returned to the top flight.
United fans would do well to remember twelve months ago and not to get overly carried away by a strong win over Swansea to open the season, but I do think they can win this game by at least two goals.
Stoke City v Aston Villa Pick: The brand new season means there is plenty of optimism up and down the country as fans get ready for the next nine months, but I do think that may not be the case for Aston Villa fans. There is a lot of uncertainty with the quality of the squad and whether they have made the necessary signings to avoid relegation and another battle at the bottom of the table looks to be in the offing.
The return of Christian Benteke can't come fast enough for Paul Lambert who has to be feeling some pressure from the presence of Roy Keane, a former Sunderland and Ipswich Town manager that some believe is ready to take over as manager at Villa Park.
On the other hand, Stoke City seem to be in a much better place after their best season in almost forty years last year when they finished in the top half of the Premier League. Mark Hughes has the team playing in a fashion that the fans appreciate and Stoke City remained strong at the Brittania Stadium even without Tony Pulis at the helm.
Only the top six teams won more home games than Stoke City last season and only three teams managed to come to the Brittania Stadium and left with three points. There seems to be more of a positive vibe coming from the home team and I believe they are capable of winning their third straight League game against Aston Villa.
Paul Lambert will immediately be under pressure if Villa do lose their opening game and this has proved to be a difficult ground to visit. Stoke should have enough possession to hurt Aston Villa and should be solid enough at the back to ensure the three points remain here on Saturday afternoon.
Arsenal v Crystal Palace Pick: The feeling has changed around the Emirates Stadium and the Arsenal fans will be turning up for this live Saturday afternoon game with a huge expectation for the season ahead. They do have an important Champions League qualifier just days away in Turkey, but the concentration will be on the Premier League for now as Arsenal will feel they have a real chance to win the title this season.
Arsene Wenger and Tony Pulis haven't seen eye-to-eye ever since the latter was at Stoke City and the Frenchman will be certain of what to expect from Crystal Palace in this game.
He'll figure that Crystal Palace will look to defend deep and will be tackling hard to try and break the rhythm of the Arsenal attack, especially focusing on players like Alexis Sanchez that might not be aware of what to expect from the Premier League. However, Arsenal have mainly struggled when having to visit a Pulis managed team and it hasn't been the same case when they host those teams.
Arsenal won all 5 home games against Stoke City when they were managed by Pulis and they also recorded the 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace with the latter in charge. There should be too much quality in the home side again in this one, especially with the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud showing form last weekend at Wembley Stadium.
Even without the three German internationals in the starting eleven, I expect Arsenal show their quality on Saturday and win this one by a couple of goals at least.
EDIT: Since I wrote this piece, Tony Pulis has left Crystal Palace and that might make it even more difficult for the players to rally and try to keep a rampant Arsenal at bay.
Liverpool v Southampton Pick: There might be a big change at Liverpool with the sale of Luis Suarez who has been a real figurehead for this side, but they are still in a far better shape than Southampton who come into the season having lost vast amounts of talent this summer.
They also have a new manager in the dugout and this may be a more difficult season for Southampton fans than they have had to endure for some time. Graziano Pelle has to fire immediately up front, but it will be tough at Anfield in this Super Sunday game considering all the information that Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert can give their new teammates.
Even without Suarez, Brendan Rodgers will be sending out his Liverpool team to play with the passing style that impressed so many last season and they still have match winners in the squad. Daniel Sturridge will lead the line and Anfield has become something of a fortress over the last twelve months with plenty of wins being racked up here.
The first day of the season can see surprises with teams still trying to find their fitness, but Liverpool are unlikely to suffer one with the losses in the Southampton squad. Rodgers will have his team set up to attack from the first minute and Liverpool scored plenty of goals at home last season and I think they have made signings that have kept the squad strong.
It will be interesting to see how Liverpool balance the Champions League ties with the Premier League later this season, but for now they can concentrate solely on the League and I expect them to make a very positive start to the season. Liverpool should create plenty of chances and I believe they win this by a couple of goals at least.
Newcastle United v Manchester City Pick: The first day of the Premier League season is always tough to predict as teams are at different stages of their fitness and it will be interesting to see how the Manchester City World Cup players have recovered. We saw last weekend that their squad needs the likes of Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero involved as they make Manchester City that much stronger and I would be surprised if both of those players are not in the squad in some capacity on Sunday.
The fear for the Manchester City title challenge is the fact that teams around them have improved while their own squad has 'stood still' to some extent. However, their first eleven is arguably the best in the Premier League and they will be very hard to knock off top spot if they can maintain some form of health this season after Aguero and Kompany missed chunks of last season.
A game at Newcastle United is a tough one, but this is now a Newcastle team that seems happy to finish in mid-table and who finished last season in terrible form. Newcastle have some new faces that need to settle in quickly if the side is to finish in the top half of the table again this season, but that does seem to be the limit of their achievements for the coming season.
They were also beaten by five of the top seven in front of their own fans last season and the disappointment for Newcastle must be some of the hammerings they took from those sides last season. Manchester City won 0-2 here thanks to a late second goal, but Everton (0-3), Tottenham Hotspur (0-4) and Manchester United (0-4) had comfortable games here.
Manchester City have particularly enjoyed recent League games against Newcastle United and their last 7 League wins have all come by at least two goals. In fact, Manchester City's last 4 League wins at St James' Park have all come by at least two goals and 5 of the last 6 Premier League games here have seen that margin of victory.
With the returning members of the squad, I would imagine Manchester City can consign the loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield to the back of their minds and they can win another game against Newcastle United by a couple of goals at least.
Rotherham United v Wolves Pick: This could be one of the more exciting games of the weekend in the Championship as you would imagine both Steve Evans and Kenny Jackett will be very keen to target the three points on offer.
Both Rotherham United and Wolves will be looking to play attacking football and their games last season showed that both teams can create chances against the other.
6 of the last 8 games played between the teams at Rotherham have seen the over 2.5 goals come flying in and these two teams were the leading scorers in League One last season.
It would surprise me if we don't see another game with chances created and there is a real chance that both teams can score at least once and help this game surpass three goals.
Sheffield Wednesday v Derby County Pick: Both Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County have made 100% starts to the new campaign with one League win and one Cup win, but something will have to give when the teams meet one another at Hillsborough on Saturday.
If the experts are to be believed, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby will be competing at different ends of the table at the end of the campaign with the home team looking to avoid the drop and Derby most certainly aiming for promotion.
They came so close a season ago and Derby are very comfortable playing away from home as that allows them to use their counter-attacking ability to hurt teams who are expected to push forward.
Derby have had recent success at Hillsborough with three wins in their last six visits including last season and I do think they have the higher quality available to them. The Rams also won 7 of their 9 games against the sides that finished 16th or lower in the table last season and they will be looking to get off to another strong showing against those sides this time around.
I expect Sheffield Wednesday to be a side that finishes in one of those positions and I expect Derby County to win this game.
MY PICKS: Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.17 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Stoke City @ 1.95 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Liverpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.05 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Manchester City - 1 Asian Handicap @ 2.10 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Rotherham United-Wolves Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Derby County @ 2.45 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Season 2013/14: 164-185-3, + 15.84 Units (577 Units Staked, + 2.75% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)
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Showing posts with label The Championship Picks. Show all posts
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Friday, 15 August 2014
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Midweek Football Picks 2014 (May 6-9)
The Premier League took a remarkable turn at the top and the bottom of the table this past weekend and I doubt anyone would have predicted the way Liverpool were going to collapse in their game at Selhurst Park on Monday.
On Saturday, Cardiff City and Fulham both had their relegation confirmed thanks to Sunderland winning at Old Trafford and Norwich City were essentially confined to life in the Championship the following day when they failed to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Those results have taken away some of the drama at the bottom of the table for the final day and Norwich City could have their relegation confirmed as soon as Wednesday evening depending on the result in the Sunderland game against West Brom.
Manchester City also franked their tag as favourites with a 2-3 win at Everton on Saturday and the title race came down to two teams when Chelsea couldn't score the goal to win the game against Norwich at home.
It looked for all the world that Liverpool were going to shift the pressure back onto Manchester City as they went 0-3 up at Crystal Palace on Monday as all the commentators began wondering if they could also make a big dent in the goal difference which stood 9 goals in City's favour at kick off.
As Liverpool pushed forward for more goals and the clock was about to tick into the 79th minute, something remarkable happened from the home team that saw them score three goals in eight minutes. The draw left the likes of Luis Suarez sobbing on the pitch at the full time whistle, while the fans couldn't contain themselves in the stand either as the best chance in 24 years to win the top flight title looks to have slipped from the Liverpool grasp.
It isn't all over just yet with Manchester City having to earn four points from their final two home games and the only way they can ease the pressure is by winning on Wednesday against Aston Villa. This also means the final day drama that the television companies were salivating over may not be as critical as they would have hoped and you can just imagine all the top executives at Sky TV will be desperate for City to fail to win on Wednesday.
Personally, I think it would take some sort of epic collapse from City to fail to win either of their last two games, let alone fail to win both of them, but until it is mathematically impossible for Liverpool to win the League, there will be some excitement perhaps to come.
This week we will see the start of the Play Offs in the lower Leagues in England and also the remaining three 'make up' games in the Premier League which comes to a close on Sunday. This weekend proved to be one with a number of surprising results throughout Europe, a situation that can occur with the holidays and World Cup fast approaching to distract players that may not have a lot left to play for, or for those that are in the pressure-filled situations of trying to win League titles/avoid relegation.
Manchester United v Hull City Pick: It has been a long season for Manchester United fans visiting Old Trafford, but they get their last chance to do that until August and I expect a better performance than the one they produced against Sunderland on Saturday.
It was clear that the game meant more to Sunderland than it did for Manchester United who continued to play at a tempo that hasn't been the norm for the side over the last quarter of a century. A lack of ideas in the final third has been another issue for much of the season and once again it was a frustrating afternoon for the home fans.
This game should be a little easier to deal with for Manchester United as they are playing a Hull City team that have looked out of sorts since reaching the FA Cup Final. Steve Bruce is adamant that the side cannot perform as poorly as they did against Aston Villa and use the Cup Final as an excuse, but that is often the case with nothing to play for in the League and with such a big game coming up.
Hull have conceded too many goals in recent games and the return of Robin Van Persie should give Manchester United a threat going forward. However, they have to show more creativity going forward and that is tough to really believe in for United fans with the way a lot of the games at Old Trafford have gone.
Even with that in mind, Manchester United have scored four goals in 3 of their last 5 games in the Premier League and I can see Hull City perhaps struggling with nothing to play for. The players could easily be looking after themselves with the Cup Final in mind rather than going into every challenge on the football field and that may give United enough of an edge to win this game by a couple of goals.
Manchester City v Aston Villa Pick: Liverpool's loss of concentration and collapse at Selhurst Park on Monday must surely have had the Manchester City players bouncing in training on Tuesday morning and I expect they will bring that onto the field on Wednesday in this game in hand.
The absence of Sergio Aguero is always a blow to Manchester City, but Yaya Toure, David Silva and Samir Nasri are all capable of creating chances for Edin Dzeko up front and I expect the side to put Aston Villa on the back foot from the kick off.
The recent draw with Sunderland here will also focus the players so I don't expect Manchester City to take their foot off the pedal and allow Aston Villa to sneak into the game. Liverpool's collapse from 0-3 up will be another motivational tool for Manuel Pellegrini in asking his players not to let up if they have the lead in this game and I expect Manchester City to really put themselves in a commanding position in the League table.
Aston Villa are a dangerous away side as they have pace and enjoy trying to hit teams when they come onto them, but they are missing Christian Benteke and Gabby Agbonlahor is a doubt so they might not have as much bite as usual. They also confirmed their place in the Premier League on Saturday and may just be relieved to the extent that they are maybe 5/10% below their usual level on Wednesday.
They were beaten heavily at Manchester United and Swansea in recent away games, while Manchester City have outscored Aston Villa 16-2 in their last 4 Premier League home wins against them. With the boost given to the team by the Liverpool result, I think Manchester City might be able to push forward and record a big win on Wednesday that will give them one hand on the Premier League trophy.
Sunderland v West Brom Pick: If this game was being played in another League, one that may not have the same code of professionalism as the Premier League claims to have, the price on this game being a draw would be a lot shorter than what is being quoted for this game.
Let's face facts for a minute- a draw would suit both of these teams down to the ground as both would then be safe from relegation on the final day of the season. That isn't to say either manager will set out to play for the draw, but I can see the last twenty minutes being one of slow tempo if there is a stalemate and neither team will really push for the winner in my honest opinion.
Sunderland certainly won't want to risk losing the game and have the pressure of needing a result against Swansea on Sunday so I can see Gus Poyet setting them up to be difficult to beat. West Brom also want to finish the season with some positive results and won't want to risk another away defeat in the Premier League.
Add the fact that Sunderland have won just 2 of their last 11 home Premier League games and West Brom have won just 2 of their last 15 away Premier League games and the draw that does so much for both teams might be the most likely result.
Brighton v Derby County Pick: All four teams in the Championship Play Offs will be quietly confident of their chances of getting through to the Premier League so I imagine the Semi Finals are going to be very well contested.
Brighton will feel they have nothing to lose having scored an injury time winner the City Ground last Saturday to make their way through to the Play Offs, while the experience of being at this stage twelve months ago should be an important factor for them. They have been very tough to play in front of their own fans, but will also know that they probably need a lead to take to the Midlands if they are to make it past the stage they were beaten at last season.
That could play into the hands of Derby County who have a fast, attacking team that can score plenty of goals at home and away as they have shown through the 46 game season. That has been even more impressive since Steve McClaren took over from Nigel Clough and the former England manager has admitted that he has no reason to ask his players to take a backwards step in the Play Offs.
McClaren realises the team have played well with the tactics they are used to and he won't be changing that at this important time of the season and I can see Derby County being a little too good for Brighton over the two legs.
At the price, I think Derby County look a big price to win at the Amex on Thursday night considering their away form for much of the season. The goals in the side are going to be hard for Brighton to replicate and a small interest on the away side looks the call.
Wigan Athletic v Queens Park Rangers Pick: Both Wigan Athletic and Queens Park Rangers can't really point to a lot of positive form heading into the Play Offs and you can understand why they are considered bigger underdogs than Derby County when it comes to promotion.
However, both squads are full of players that have Premier League experience and there is plenty of quality to think that any slump can be forgotten in time for the next two and half weeks where so much can be achieved.
Their two League matches against one another have been very closely contested this season and it would be a surprise if this one is any different with the tension that the two relegated sides from last season will feel. Neither team will want to spend another year in the Championship as the longer they are out of the top flight is that much more difficult to return to the top flight.
With that in the back of the mind of the players, caution could take over and make this a very tense Semi Final to be competed in the next few days. Queens Park Rangers have been very poor away from home in the League over the last few weeks, but Wigan Athletic have not been pulling up trees in front of their own supporters either.
Therefore, a small interest in the draw from the first leg of the Semi Final looks a decent shout.
MY PICKS: Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Manchester City - 2.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Victor (4 Units)
Sunderland-West Brom Draw @ 3.20 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Derby County @ 3.00 Stan James (1 Unit)
Wigan Athletic-Queens Park Rangers Draw @ 3.30 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
May Update: 2-5, - 4.04 Units (12 Units Staked, - 33.67% Yield)
April Final: 16-17, + 2.33 Units (58 Units Staked, + 4.02% Yield)
March Final: 26-22, + 13.94 Units (83 Units Staked, + 16.80% Yield)
February Final: 12-28, - 16.74 Units (61 Units Staked, - 27.44% Yield)
January Final: 17-24, - 3.18 Units (62 Units Staked, - 5.13% Yield)
December Final: 19-16-2, + 13.34 Units (66 Units Staked, + 20.21% Yield)
November Final: 17-19-1, + 0.50 Units (56 Units Staked, + 0.09% Yield)
October Final: 20-16-1, + 12.94 Units (51 Units Staked, + 25.37% Yield)
September Final: 13-12, + 1.24 Units (39 Units Staked, + 3.18% Yield)
August Final: 13-26, - 12.13 Units (54 Units Staked, - 22.46% Yield)
Season 2013/14: 152-170-3, + 12.24 Units (530 Units Staked, + 2.31% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)
On Saturday, Cardiff City and Fulham both had their relegation confirmed thanks to Sunderland winning at Old Trafford and Norwich City were essentially confined to life in the Championship the following day when they failed to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Those results have taken away some of the drama at the bottom of the table for the final day and Norwich City could have their relegation confirmed as soon as Wednesday evening depending on the result in the Sunderland game against West Brom.
Manchester City also franked their tag as favourites with a 2-3 win at Everton on Saturday and the title race came down to two teams when Chelsea couldn't score the goal to win the game against Norwich at home.
It looked for all the world that Liverpool were going to shift the pressure back onto Manchester City as they went 0-3 up at Crystal Palace on Monday as all the commentators began wondering if they could also make a big dent in the goal difference which stood 9 goals in City's favour at kick off.
As Liverpool pushed forward for more goals and the clock was about to tick into the 79th minute, something remarkable happened from the home team that saw them score three goals in eight minutes. The draw left the likes of Luis Suarez sobbing on the pitch at the full time whistle, while the fans couldn't contain themselves in the stand either as the best chance in 24 years to win the top flight title looks to have slipped from the Liverpool grasp.
It isn't all over just yet with Manchester City having to earn four points from their final two home games and the only way they can ease the pressure is by winning on Wednesday against Aston Villa. This also means the final day drama that the television companies were salivating over may not be as critical as they would have hoped and you can just imagine all the top executives at Sky TV will be desperate for City to fail to win on Wednesday.
Personally, I think it would take some sort of epic collapse from City to fail to win either of their last two games, let alone fail to win both of them, but until it is mathematically impossible for Liverpool to win the League, there will be some excitement perhaps to come.
This week we will see the start of the Play Offs in the lower Leagues in England and also the remaining three 'make up' games in the Premier League which comes to a close on Sunday. This weekend proved to be one with a number of surprising results throughout Europe, a situation that can occur with the holidays and World Cup fast approaching to distract players that may not have a lot left to play for, or for those that are in the pressure-filled situations of trying to win League titles/avoid relegation.
Manchester United v Hull City Pick: It has been a long season for Manchester United fans visiting Old Trafford, but they get their last chance to do that until August and I expect a better performance than the one they produced against Sunderland on Saturday.
It was clear that the game meant more to Sunderland than it did for Manchester United who continued to play at a tempo that hasn't been the norm for the side over the last quarter of a century. A lack of ideas in the final third has been another issue for much of the season and once again it was a frustrating afternoon for the home fans.
This game should be a little easier to deal with for Manchester United as they are playing a Hull City team that have looked out of sorts since reaching the FA Cup Final. Steve Bruce is adamant that the side cannot perform as poorly as they did against Aston Villa and use the Cup Final as an excuse, but that is often the case with nothing to play for in the League and with such a big game coming up.
Hull have conceded too many goals in recent games and the return of Robin Van Persie should give Manchester United a threat going forward. However, they have to show more creativity going forward and that is tough to really believe in for United fans with the way a lot of the games at Old Trafford have gone.
Even with that in mind, Manchester United have scored four goals in 3 of their last 5 games in the Premier League and I can see Hull City perhaps struggling with nothing to play for. The players could easily be looking after themselves with the Cup Final in mind rather than going into every challenge on the football field and that may give United enough of an edge to win this game by a couple of goals.
Manchester City v Aston Villa Pick: Liverpool's loss of concentration and collapse at Selhurst Park on Monday must surely have had the Manchester City players bouncing in training on Tuesday morning and I expect they will bring that onto the field on Wednesday in this game in hand.
The absence of Sergio Aguero is always a blow to Manchester City, but Yaya Toure, David Silva and Samir Nasri are all capable of creating chances for Edin Dzeko up front and I expect the side to put Aston Villa on the back foot from the kick off.
The recent draw with Sunderland here will also focus the players so I don't expect Manchester City to take their foot off the pedal and allow Aston Villa to sneak into the game. Liverpool's collapse from 0-3 up will be another motivational tool for Manuel Pellegrini in asking his players not to let up if they have the lead in this game and I expect Manchester City to really put themselves in a commanding position in the League table.
Aston Villa are a dangerous away side as they have pace and enjoy trying to hit teams when they come onto them, but they are missing Christian Benteke and Gabby Agbonlahor is a doubt so they might not have as much bite as usual. They also confirmed their place in the Premier League on Saturday and may just be relieved to the extent that they are maybe 5/10% below their usual level on Wednesday.
They were beaten heavily at Manchester United and Swansea in recent away games, while Manchester City have outscored Aston Villa 16-2 in their last 4 Premier League home wins against them. With the boost given to the team by the Liverpool result, I think Manchester City might be able to push forward and record a big win on Wednesday that will give them one hand on the Premier League trophy.
Sunderland v West Brom Pick: If this game was being played in another League, one that may not have the same code of professionalism as the Premier League claims to have, the price on this game being a draw would be a lot shorter than what is being quoted for this game.
Let's face facts for a minute- a draw would suit both of these teams down to the ground as both would then be safe from relegation on the final day of the season. That isn't to say either manager will set out to play for the draw, but I can see the last twenty minutes being one of slow tempo if there is a stalemate and neither team will really push for the winner in my honest opinion.
Sunderland certainly won't want to risk losing the game and have the pressure of needing a result against Swansea on Sunday so I can see Gus Poyet setting them up to be difficult to beat. West Brom also want to finish the season with some positive results and won't want to risk another away defeat in the Premier League.
Add the fact that Sunderland have won just 2 of their last 11 home Premier League games and West Brom have won just 2 of their last 15 away Premier League games and the draw that does so much for both teams might be the most likely result.
Brighton v Derby County Pick: All four teams in the Championship Play Offs will be quietly confident of their chances of getting through to the Premier League so I imagine the Semi Finals are going to be very well contested.
Brighton will feel they have nothing to lose having scored an injury time winner the City Ground last Saturday to make their way through to the Play Offs, while the experience of being at this stage twelve months ago should be an important factor for them. They have been very tough to play in front of their own fans, but will also know that they probably need a lead to take to the Midlands if they are to make it past the stage they were beaten at last season.
That could play into the hands of Derby County who have a fast, attacking team that can score plenty of goals at home and away as they have shown through the 46 game season. That has been even more impressive since Steve McClaren took over from Nigel Clough and the former England manager has admitted that he has no reason to ask his players to take a backwards step in the Play Offs.
McClaren realises the team have played well with the tactics they are used to and he won't be changing that at this important time of the season and I can see Derby County being a little too good for Brighton over the two legs.
At the price, I think Derby County look a big price to win at the Amex on Thursday night considering their away form for much of the season. The goals in the side are going to be hard for Brighton to replicate and a small interest on the away side looks the call.
Wigan Athletic v Queens Park Rangers Pick: Both Wigan Athletic and Queens Park Rangers can't really point to a lot of positive form heading into the Play Offs and you can understand why they are considered bigger underdogs than Derby County when it comes to promotion.
However, both squads are full of players that have Premier League experience and there is plenty of quality to think that any slump can be forgotten in time for the next two and half weeks where so much can be achieved.
Their two League matches against one another have been very closely contested this season and it would be a surprise if this one is any different with the tension that the two relegated sides from last season will feel. Neither team will want to spend another year in the Championship as the longer they are out of the top flight is that much more difficult to return to the top flight.
With that in the back of the mind of the players, caution could take over and make this a very tense Semi Final to be competed in the next few days. Queens Park Rangers have been very poor away from home in the League over the last few weeks, but Wigan Athletic have not been pulling up trees in front of their own supporters either.
Therefore, a small interest in the draw from the first leg of the Semi Final looks a decent shout.
MY PICKS: Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Manchester City - 2.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Victor (4 Units)
Sunderland-West Brom Draw @ 3.20 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Derby County @ 3.00 Stan James (1 Unit)
Wigan Athletic-Queens Park Rangers Draw @ 3.30 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
May Update: 2-5, - 4.04 Units (12 Units Staked, - 33.67% Yield)
April Final: 16-17, + 2.33 Units (58 Units Staked, + 4.02% Yield)
March Final: 26-22, + 13.94 Units (83 Units Staked, + 16.80% Yield)
February Final: 12-28, - 16.74 Units (61 Units Staked, - 27.44% Yield)
January Final: 17-24, - 3.18 Units (62 Units Staked, - 5.13% Yield)
December Final: 19-16-2, + 13.34 Units (66 Units Staked, + 20.21% Yield)
November Final: 17-19-1, + 0.50 Units (56 Units Staked, + 0.09% Yield)
October Final: 20-16-1, + 12.94 Units (51 Units Staked, + 25.37% Yield)
September Final: 13-12, + 1.24 Units (39 Units Staked, + 3.18% Yield)
August Final: 13-26, - 12.13 Units (54 Units Staked, - 22.46% Yield)
Season 2013/14: 152-170-3, + 12.24 Units (530 Units Staked, + 2.31% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)
Saturday, 24 August 2013
Weekend Football Picks 2013 (August 24-26)
The Premier League and La Liga Divisions both kicked off last week and now we have Serie A beginning this weekend- with the European Champions League Groups being drawn later this week, it is clear that football is back after a long, warm summer.
I have written a few thoughts from the football last weekend which can be read here.
As I have said, it is too early to make long-term judgements on what we have seen on the opening weekend, but a few things did catch my eye. Now we move on to another new weekend with plenty of football taking place throughout Europe and I have a few picks after what proved to be a difficult midweek.
Fulham v Arsenal Pick: The first live game of the weekend comes from Craven Cottage and it seems people can't get enough of Arsenal to win this game after an impressive win in Turkey on Wednesday night.
I'll be the first to admit that I expected a lot more from Fenerbache, but the home side were disappointing and I expect Arsenal to be given a much tougher test by this Fulham team. There are goals in the home side with Dimitar Berbatov, Darren Bent and Bryan Ruiz to call upon and Arsenal will be using Bacary Sagna as a makeshift centre half in this one so I do expect the home side to create chance.
Fulham have also proven time after time that they are more than capable of giving the 'big' teams all they can handle at Craven Cottage, even if they were disappointing last season when being beaten here by all the sides that finished in the top five. However, the game against Arsenal was changed with an early sending off for Steve Sidwell and I think Fulham are definitely capable of avoiding defeat here.
Without reinforcements, Arsenal are not quite as bad as they were against Aston Villa nor as good as Fenerbache made them look on Wednesday- while I think they will be a threat going forward and recognise their performances from last season on their travels, I am looking for Fulham to bring all they can handle and I do think the home side can escape with at least a point with the striking options they have in the side.
I am not convinced Fulham can win the game, but backing them to avoid defeat is the call for me.
Everton v West Brom Pick: Roberto Martinez has sometimes been criticised for favouring style over substance during his time as manager of Wigan Athletic, but Everton fans could certainly be in for an entertaining season if the 2-2 draw at Norwich City is anything to go by from last weekend.
Much like his Wigan teams, Everton poured forward and looked threatening with the ball, but their defensive frailties has to be a concern. although a record of 1 defeat in 23 home games in the Premier League will be expected to be defended by the new manager.
Much like his Wigan teams, Everton poured forward and looked threatening with the ball, but their defensive frailties has to be a concern. although a record of 1 defeat in 23 home games in the Premier League will be expected to be defended by the new manager.
West Brom do look short of striking options without Romelu Lukaku and their new signings will need time to get used to the Premier League, while the unfortunate news for Nicolas Anelka means he misses out. However, Everton look like a side that will present chances to the opposition with the way they approach the game under Roberto Martinez.
With a strong home record against West Brom, I am expecting them to win this game and I think it would make sense to back Everton to win a game with either least 3 or 4 goals scored.
Stoke City v Crystal Palace Pick: Mark Hughes has been tainted badly by his performance as manager of Queens Park Rangers last season, but I still think the Welshman is capable at this level as his spells at Blackburn Rovers and Fulham suggest.
Therefore, I am also not of the belief that Stoke City are in big trouble solely because of Hughes, but they could face some problems after a poor second half of last season. They could have got off to a great start this season when Jon Walters missed a penalty that would have secured an unlikely point at Liverpool last weekend but it is games like this where Stoke need to win.
Facing a newly promoted team in Crystal Palace looks right up Stoke's street and I expect they will have a little too much Premier League know-how for the new boys who still want to strengthen a squad that is weaker than the one that was promoted- Glenn Murray and Wilfried Zaha are big players that are missing this time around.
Palace can at least match the physical side of things that Stoke will bring to the table, but I also think the home side have a touch more quality and that will prove to be the difference in this one.
Aston Villa v Liverpool Pick: It took around six months for Aston Villa to finally get on board with what Paul Lambert wanted from his young side, but they were much improved by the end of last season and have opened this campaign in tremendous form.
Whether playing an extra game this week will have taken it out of Aston Villa will only be clear once this game kicks off, while there will be a different onus on the side to attack in front of their own fans rather than the predominantly counter-attacking performances at Arsenal and Chelsea in the last seven days.
They are also going against a recent history which has seen Aston Villa win just 1 of their last 16 home games against Liverpool, especially considering they have lost 10 of those games. Liverpool are a side that can create a lot of chances but the missing Luis Suarez could be a big loss, while I am not convinced they have the pace in the back four to deal with the three forwards that Villa are likely to start with.
Aston Villa were poor against the best sides in the Premier League last season, but they have shown they are going to be a much more difficult proposition this time around in early games and I think they can surprise Liverpool who look very short in the market. If Liverpool are as wasteful as they were at times last Saturday, Villa could certainly spring a second shock win of this young season, but I just think backing them to avoid defeat is the best option.
Cardiff City v Manchester City Pick: We should all expect to see a loud and boisterous Cardiff City crowd in their first game in the Premier League after coming so close to promotion on a number of occasions in recent years. After a poor performance on the opening weekend at West Ham United, I think there will be some improvement in the Cardiff game this week, although facing Manchester City is no easy task.
A lot of people have gone overboard with the way Manchester City played against Newcastle United- it was a top performance, but they were aided massively by their visitors who defended terribly and then saw Steven Taylor sent off before half time.
Manuel Pellegrini has been tasked with winning the Premier League title and that means improving an away record that saw Manchester City win just 9 of their 19 games in the Premier League. However, they have been successful for the most part against the weaker teams and their record against sides that have been relegated in the last three seasons reads at 7-2-0 away from home.
However, City haven't been great when visiting newly promoted teams so Cardiff will feel they can take advantage of the defensive injuries that have blighted the away side ahead of this one. To do so, they will have to do better than the one shot on target they managed last week and I think Manchester City will prove too strong if they can weather the inevitable early storm.
Dutching a couple of correct scores together for the away side could prove very profitable.
Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea Pick: Both Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea were involved in Europa League on Thursday and both scored 5 goals in wins that should make sure they are moving through to the Group Stage of that competition.
It had looked like being a very strong summer for Spurs, even though Gareth Bale is unlikely to still be at White Hart Lane after the international break, but Willian deciding to move to Chelsea late in the day has kind of stopped some of the momentum they had. Spurs still have a good team together, although a little short in defence, but some of the new faces will still need time to settle into life in England.
Roberto Soldado has certainly felt comfortable with three goals to his name already, but I suppose Swansea will pose many more problems than Crystal Palace or Dinamo Tblisi did in the first two games Spurs have played. Swansea are a team with goals in the side and they can be solid defensively, mainly thanks to keeping the ball away from their opponents for much of the game.
I believe Swansea will make it tough for Spurs to get ahead of steam here and it may take just the one goal to separate the teams. There were times at White Hart Lane last season when Spurs struggled and it took some magic from Gareth Bale to help earn the win- without him it could be tough, but I believe Soldado is capable of scoring a goal if a half chance comes his way and that may prove to be the difference between the teams.
Manchester United v Chelsea Pick: This is the biggest game of the early Premier League season between two teams that may see this as a 'can't lose' rather than a 'must win' kind of game.
I expect the pressure on David Moyes to try and succeed at Old Trafford means he will not want to lose to Chelsea and see Manchester United trail them by 6 points by the end of the first two weekends of action and with a game at Liverpool next on the horizon.
Jose Mourinho has insisted that he did not want to the Manchester United job in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson's surprise retirement, but I do feel he doth protest too much- I think Mourinho would have jumped at the chance to take over at United, but he is clearly perturbed that he wasn't even called in for a chat and this game will mean a lot to him no matter what he may tell the press that laps up everything he does.
In his first stint as manager of Chelsea, Jose Mourinho was a cautious manager and I think he is still the same when it comes down to it. He will be desperate to avoid defeat here, which would be a very good result for Chelsea and I think that is what they will likely be coming for with the hope they can steal a win.
Recent games between these teams have produced a lot of goals for the most part, but this looks like it will be an exception- 7 of the 10 games between Manchester United and Chelsea while Mourinho in charge of the latter ended with fewer than three goals and 2 of his 3 matches at David Moyes' Everton was the same and this has the makings of a tense, tight Monday night game.
Championship Picks: The Championship is one of the strangest Divisions in all of Europe with so many surprise results, but this is the small section where I put down a few reasons as to why I am picking any teams from this Division to win this weekend.
The first one I am picking is Reading who are playing at Blackpool this week- Blackpool have got 7 points so far this season, but they have ridden their luck in their last couple of games and they may find the relegated Premier League outfit. Reading played well at Bolton Wanderers and can certainly find the goals to give Blackpool some problem, although the home side are boosted by the return of Tom Ince from suspension.
Even then, at the prices, Reading look good for a win this weekend and to extend their unbeaten run to the new season.
The second team I will back is Ipswich Town as they host Leeds United at Portman Road- Ipswich haven't had a great start to the new season, but they have played at Reading and Queens Park Rangers and could have certainly picked up a result at both of those grounds, although they lost twice.
Ipswich have a strong home record against Leeds and have also been playing well here under Mick McCarthy and I like them to make it two out two at home this season.
Whether playing an extra game this week will have taken it out of Aston Villa will only be clear once this game kicks off, while there will be a different onus on the side to attack in front of their own fans rather than the predominantly counter-attacking performances at Arsenal and Chelsea in the last seven days.
They are also going against a recent history which has seen Aston Villa win just 1 of their last 16 home games against Liverpool, especially considering they have lost 10 of those games. Liverpool are a side that can create a lot of chances but the missing Luis Suarez could be a big loss, while I am not convinced they have the pace in the back four to deal with the three forwards that Villa are likely to start with.
Aston Villa were poor against the best sides in the Premier League last season, but they have shown they are going to be a much more difficult proposition this time around in early games and I think they can surprise Liverpool who look very short in the market. If Liverpool are as wasteful as they were at times last Saturday, Villa could certainly spring a second shock win of this young season, but I just think backing them to avoid defeat is the best option.
Cardiff City v Manchester City Pick: We should all expect to see a loud and boisterous Cardiff City crowd in their first game in the Premier League after coming so close to promotion on a number of occasions in recent years. After a poor performance on the opening weekend at West Ham United, I think there will be some improvement in the Cardiff game this week, although facing Manchester City is no easy task.
A lot of people have gone overboard with the way Manchester City played against Newcastle United- it was a top performance, but they were aided massively by their visitors who defended terribly and then saw Steven Taylor sent off before half time.
Manuel Pellegrini has been tasked with winning the Premier League title and that means improving an away record that saw Manchester City win just 9 of their 19 games in the Premier League. However, they have been successful for the most part against the weaker teams and their record against sides that have been relegated in the last three seasons reads at 7-2-0 away from home.
However, City haven't been great when visiting newly promoted teams so Cardiff will feel they can take advantage of the defensive injuries that have blighted the away side ahead of this one. To do so, they will have to do better than the one shot on target they managed last week and I think Manchester City will prove too strong if they can weather the inevitable early storm.
Dutching a couple of correct scores together for the away side could prove very profitable.
Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea Pick: Both Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea were involved in Europa League on Thursday and both scored 5 goals in wins that should make sure they are moving through to the Group Stage of that competition.
It had looked like being a very strong summer for Spurs, even though Gareth Bale is unlikely to still be at White Hart Lane after the international break, but Willian deciding to move to Chelsea late in the day has kind of stopped some of the momentum they had. Spurs still have a good team together, although a little short in defence, but some of the new faces will still need time to settle into life in England.
Roberto Soldado has certainly felt comfortable with three goals to his name already, but I suppose Swansea will pose many more problems than Crystal Palace or Dinamo Tblisi did in the first two games Spurs have played. Swansea are a team with goals in the side and they can be solid defensively, mainly thanks to keeping the ball away from their opponents for much of the game.
I believe Swansea will make it tough for Spurs to get ahead of steam here and it may take just the one goal to separate the teams. There were times at White Hart Lane last season when Spurs struggled and it took some magic from Gareth Bale to help earn the win- without him it could be tough, but I believe Soldado is capable of scoring a goal if a half chance comes his way and that may prove to be the difference between the teams.
Manchester United v Chelsea Pick: This is the biggest game of the early Premier League season between two teams that may see this as a 'can't lose' rather than a 'must win' kind of game.
I expect the pressure on David Moyes to try and succeed at Old Trafford means he will not want to lose to Chelsea and see Manchester United trail them by 6 points by the end of the first two weekends of action and with a game at Liverpool next on the horizon.
Jose Mourinho has insisted that he did not want to the Manchester United job in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson's surprise retirement, but I do feel he doth protest too much- I think Mourinho would have jumped at the chance to take over at United, but he is clearly perturbed that he wasn't even called in for a chat and this game will mean a lot to him no matter what he may tell the press that laps up everything he does.
In his first stint as manager of Chelsea, Jose Mourinho was a cautious manager and I think he is still the same when it comes down to it. He will be desperate to avoid defeat here, which would be a very good result for Chelsea and I think that is what they will likely be coming for with the hope they can steal a win.
Recent games between these teams have produced a lot of goals for the most part, but this looks like it will be an exception- 7 of the 10 games between Manchester United and Chelsea while Mourinho in charge of the latter ended with fewer than three goals and 2 of his 3 matches at David Moyes' Everton was the same and this has the makings of a tense, tight Monday night game.
Championship Picks: The Championship is one of the strangest Divisions in all of Europe with so many surprise results, but this is the small section where I put down a few reasons as to why I am picking any teams from this Division to win this weekend.
The first one I am picking is Reading who are playing at Blackpool this week- Blackpool have got 7 points so far this season, but they have ridden their luck in their last couple of games and they may find the relegated Premier League outfit. Reading played well at Bolton Wanderers and can certainly find the goals to give Blackpool some problem, although the home side are boosted by the return of Tom Ince from suspension.
Even then, at the prices, Reading look good for a win this weekend and to extend their unbeaten run to the new season.
The second team I will back is Ipswich Town as they host Leeds United at Portman Road- Ipswich haven't had a great start to the new season, but they have played at Reading and Queens Park Rangers and could have certainly picked up a result at both of those grounds, although they lost twice.
Ipswich have a strong home record against Leeds and have also been playing well here under Mick McCarthy and I like them to make it two out two at home this season.
MY PICKS: Fulham + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Everton to Win and 3 or 4 Total Goals scored @ 3.30 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Stoke City @ 1.85 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Aston Villa + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Manchester City to win 0-2 or 0-3 @ 4.98 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Tottenham Hotspur to win by one goal @ 3.80 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Manchester United-Chelsea Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Reading @ 2.50 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Ipswich Town @ 2.50 William Hill (1 Unit)
August Update: 7-9, + 1.52 Units (22 Units Staked, + 6..91% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)
Aston Villa + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Manchester City to win 0-2 or 0-3 @ 4.98 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Tottenham Hotspur to win by one goal @ 3.80 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Manchester United-Chelsea Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Reading @ 2.50 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Ipswich Town @ 2.50 William Hill (1 Unit)
August Update: 7-9, + 1.52 Units (22 Units Staked, + 6..91% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Weekend Football 2013 (August 17-19)
The start of the Premier League is finally upon us, although I don't feel good to notice that only five of the ten League games to open this weekend will actually be kicking off at 3pm- that alone does back up the belief of those that think we should no longer have the block on showing live games at that time as the fans are the ones who suffer with the awkward times of matches.
It is a bit of joke that a team like Newcastle United will have to play at Tottenham Hotspur in a noon kick off later on this season as that is absolutely scandalous for the fans that will be travelling down to London for the game. What can you do though? The TV companies have pumped in so much money into the game that they have a right to do what they want now and the fans, as usual, are only the last concern.
I wrote a small piece about Manchester United before the Community Shield last week and that can be read here. Below I have a few thoughts about who I believe will win the major honours in the Premier League in the coming season and who may just have some sobering thoughts come May.
Champions: The transfer window this summer has been fairly quiet, but the team that has made the most moves is Manchester City as they look to grab the Premier League title back off of Manchester United. The only other real contender when it comes to winning the title is Chelsea and it would be a huge surprise if any other team is lifting the title in May.
It is all change when it comes to the manager's office at all three clubs and the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge certainly has given the fans and the layers the belief that Chelsea are the team to beat. If they do sign Wayne Rooney before September 2, those chances will definitely increase, while the current squad were flying at the end of last season under Rafa Benitez.
However, I do think Manchester City have the strongest squad and will be the team that comes out on top next May. It was clear that a lot of the City fans really appreciated what Roberto Mancini did for the club, but his removal is a big positive for them as far as I am concerned as he was too negative and didn't bring a good vibe to the team with constant criticisms.
The Italian was extremely fortunate to win the title in 2012, which owed a lot more to Manchester United's collapse and an extremely one in a million recovery on the final day. His performances in the Champions League showed that he was out of his depth at the very top level and the lack of a title challenge would have infuriated the owners of the club. Manuel Pellegrini is a strong manager and the signings he has made have definitely improved City to a point where they should finish top of the Premier League.
Of course, I would dearly love Manchester United to be that team that lifts the title in May, but the absence of Sir Alex Ferguson will mean dropping points when perhaps the former manager would have galvanised the team. He has certainly got the best out of a squad that shouldn't really be finishing 11 points clear of what Manchester City have and I think there were a few games last season where United recovered to win in situations that are unlikely to be repeated.
Unless a couple of big name players are signed, I don't think this squad is capable of reaching the heights of last season and even finishing in the top two may end up beyond them. David Moyes is worthy of receiving the support from the stands, but he has an extremely tough start to negotiate which could leave United playing catch up on City and Chelsea and I do feel it might just be a tougher season than some fans may believe.
Final Champions League Spot: After trying to unsuccessfully buy a few big name players, Arsenal's biggest hope may be that Tottenham Hotspur sell Gareth Bale if they are to once again finish above their North London rivals.
The return of Jack Wilshire will boost Arsenal for the coming season, but they have missed out on Gonzalo Higuain and are unlikely to prize Luis Suarez from Liverpool which means virtually the same squad will begin this season that ended the last in impressive fashion. However, their rivals Tottenham for the final Champions League spot have strengthened hugely, especially if they can keep hold of Bale for one more season at least.
That is looking a little more likely at the moment, although there is still plenty of time before the close of the transfer window, but if Spurs hold on to the Welshman, it would make the signings of Roberto Soldado and Paulinho look very good and the side stronger than last season. I expect Soldado to get goals in the Premier League if the service is there, while Paulinho looked good in the Confederations Cup for Brazil although both will need to settle quickly in a new League.
I still see holes in the Spurs first eleven which will prevent them challenging for the title and they do still rely too much on the counter attack which makes them less effective at White Hart Lane- if Spurs can be a little more ruthless at home this season, they could certainly pip Arsenal for a top four place behind the big three teams.
Relegation: The first of the teams that look set to be relegated into the Championship next season is last season's Play Off Winners, Crystal Palace. I was impressed with Ian Holloway in his last stint in the Premier League as manager of Blackpool, so he has form in getting the best out of a squad that looks a little short of quality.
Even with that in mind, this Palace team are missing two key players from their promotion push from last season- Glenn Murray suffered a serious injury at the back end of last season which could see him miss the whole season after scoring 30 goals last season, while Wilfried Zaha has moved to Manchester United.
Palace haven't strengthened significantly and were poor in the second half of last season and I can't see them having enough to stay in the Premier League as I just don't believe there are three worse teams than the Eagles.
All three of the promoted teams have questions about their ability to survive at this level, but all three getting relegated would be going against the trends over the last twenty years. Even two teams being relegated that were promoted the season before is not that common, but Hull City are another that don't look to have the necessary quality to survive in the top flight.
Steve Bruce is still strengthening the side so my opinion could change in the coming weeks and the signing of Tom Huddlestone is not a bad one, but do the newly named Tigers have enough up front at this level? I would say no and while they had a solid defence in the Championship, it is a different story when it comes to the Premier League.
A lot of people would be worrying about the likes of Sunderland, Stoke City, and perhaps Fulham as a potential established Premier League team that may fall through the cracks. One I would worry about is West Brom who made a really fast start last season before tailing off a little even with a top half finish under their belt.
The loss of Romelu Lukaku means they may just have a problem up front, even after signing Matej Vydra who performed so well on loan at Watford in the Championship last season. The Albion would have finished 17th in the Premier League if we took results from their last 18 League games played.
West Brom do have the fixtures to make a fast start to this season as they did last year, but failure to do so could be the beginning of a long, tough season for the fans and management alike.
I guess we will all know more about how these short predictions will pan out in nine months time, but the Premier League does look set to have a fascinating season ahead with a lot of intrigue. I am sure most fans are just looking forward to the big kick off this weekend now and getting back to the grounds to support their teams.
It ended up being a profitable season last year for the picks, but I will look for an improvement in what is a notoriously difficult sport to make profit on over a nine month period. Another profitable season would be welcome as the season kicks off, although I do have for a slightly higher yield when it is all said and done.
Liverpool v Stoke City: This is the opening game of the Premier League season as Liverpool take on Stoke City at Anfield. It has been a turbulent summer at Anfield as Luis Suarez tried to push through a transfer away from the club, while a big name signing has not come in despite some of the remnants of Kenny Dalglish's poor reign at the club being moved on.
Liverpool will be looking to make a more concerted effort to get into the top four in Brendan Rodgers second season in charge of the club, but they do look a little short of quality in a couple of areas to think they can do that. However, taking on Stoke City, who are under the new management of Mark Hughes, should give the home side the perfect opportunity to kick off this new season with a positive start.
I expect Stoke to be a little more adventurous at times this season, but it may not be at Anfield that we see that happening. Even in the absence of Suarez, I expect Liverpool to be on the front foot in this one and I do think they will create chances. Daniel Sturridge played well in Suarez' absence at the back end of last season and he will need to be at his sharpest if Liverpool are to win this game.
The home side did have plenty of clean sheet last season and they are playing a side that scored the second fewest away goals last season. 3 of the last 5 games at Anfield between Liverpool and Stoke City have ended in goalless draws, but I am going to back the home side to win this one with a clean sheet to boot.
West Ham United v Cardiff City: West Ham United have got a lot to look forward to with a move into the Olympic Stadium in the coming years, but the key for the Hammers is to make sure they are still a Premier League club when that comes about.
Sam Allardyce is certainly one of the best names to have in charge when you want to build a team and work ethic to keep a side afloat and he is well versed in keeping teams ticking along in the Premier League. He is a vastly under-rated manager for what he brings to the table and I expect him to help West Ham United to another season in the Premier League.
This is the kind of game that Allardyce would have circled as must win games if they are to survive in the Premier League and I do think West Ham will be too good for a Cardiff City side that won the Championship last season.
Cardiff might be given a rude awakening as they face a side they met in the Championship just two seasons ago, but one that has brought in plenty of Premier League class since being promoted to this League. West Ham had a strong record at home against teams that finished below them in the table and they have the size and power to beat Cardiff at their own game and the home side look worth backing in this one.
Swansea v Manchester United: David Moyes will begin his competitive era as manager of Manchester United on Saturday afternoon, but he could have wished for a far easier match than having to go to Swansea.
The home side have the belief in their own game to keep hold of the ball for long periods and that could make all the difference in the match, especially considering they have already played two competitive games this season in the Europa League.
Swansea were also strong enough to hold all of the top three to draws last season and while I don't think they are good enough to win the game, Michael Laudrup will have his team ready to cause the Champions of England plenty of problems.
The long periods of possession that Swansea will likely enjoy in this game will test Manchester United and I can certainly see the home side being good enough to avoid defeat. However, I believe Robin Van Persie always offers a team the chance to grab a goal from nothing and I do think the David Moyes era at Manchester United will truly begin with a point here.
Bournemouth v Wigan Athletic: At the end of this season, I would expect Wigan Athletic to finish in the top half of the table and Bournemouth to finish in the bottom half and I do think the Latics will be too strong for them at Dean Court in this Championship clash.
While teams are likely to sit back and defend against Wigan when they travel to the DW Stadium, I do think the side will find it easier on their travels as the onus will be on the home side to get on the front foot and look to win the game.
With the likes of Shaun Maloney and Callum McManaman in the ranks, Wigan should be very effective on the counter attack and they will have good recent memories of this ground where they won 0-1 on the way to winning the FA Cup last season.
Bournemouth were given a rude awakening as to the strength of the Championship when beaten 6-1 at Watford last weekend. They will be stronger at home, but I do think Wigan can make it two wins out of two away from home in the Division with more quality in their squad than Bournemouth, although this may be a close game that ends 0-1.
Middlesbrough v Blackpool: Middlesbrough lost both home games to open this season, one of those in the Capital One Cup, but on both occasions they were leading those games. They then followed that up with a 0-1 win at Charlton Athletic last weekend which has eased some of the pressure on Tony Mowbray.
They should be a little too strong for a Blackpool team that may have won both League games they have played, but were incredibly fortunate last weekend when they scored an injury time winner against Barnsley, even though Blackpool failed to register one shot on target.
The absence of Tom Ince and the number of injuries in the squad has restricted what Paul Ince can do in this game and Middlesbrough should be a little too strong for them in this one. Middlesbrough were a very strong home team last season, and they should be able to follow the win at the Valley with another three points on Saturday.
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur: The Gareth Bale sage is still rumbling along at White Hart Lane and I can't help think that Tottenham Hotspur need to keep hold of the Welshman if they are to finish in the top four this season.
Bale will be absent on Sunday afternoon for the first game of the season, but Spurs should still be a little too strong for Crystal Palace, a team that haven't invested in the squad in the way that Ian Holloway would have liked in the summer. The injury to Glenn Murray and Wilfried Zaha moving to Manchester United means Palace will have to do without their two best players from last season, while their form in the second half of the season was poor to say the least.
I do think this is going to be a tough season for Palace, but Holloway is likely to send out his team with an attacking intent, although that could leave them very open at the back. Spurs need their new signings to settle quickly as they bid to finally finish above Arsenal in the League and secure one of the Champions League berths.
I like the signing of Roberto Soldado and I think he will score goals in this League if he is given the right service. This won't be an easy match for Tottenham but the Spaniard may prove to be the difference as a proven goalscorer in a top competition like La Liga and he may just get off the mark and help his new side leave Selhurst Park with the three points.
Chelsea v Hull City: The media have been having a great time now that Jose Mourinho has returned to English football and he will once again look for Chelsea to build a strong home record on which to put together the foundations of a title challenge.
Chelsea haven't made too much of an investment in the squad this summer, but their end to last season shows that they do have plenty of quality in the side, while Eden Hazard and Oscar have a season in English football under their belt.
I expect the home side to be too strong for a Hull City team that have made some interesting signings in the last week- the Tigers will want to show that they are not willing to lie down for any team in the League, but this is one of the tougher grounds they will visit this season.
With the amount of attacking talent in the Chelsea team, I would be surprised if they don't open the season with a fairly comfortable win although the layers all feel the same. Instead, I would recommed the Blues getting a few goals in the bank and scoring at least three goals in the game, which has been priced up a little short of odds against.
Manchester City v Newcastle United: Manchester City will begin a new era as Manuel Pellegrini takes over from Roberto Mancini as manager of the club and they look to have brought in some very good talent that should lead to a sustained challenge to win the Premier League title.
I also think Pellegrini will give City the confidence to perform in the Champions League and they do have enough talent in the squad to see off Newcastle United in their first match of the season.
It was another strange summer at St James' Park with the return of Joe Kinnear as Director of Football and Alan Pardew will certainly feel the pressure if Newcastle make a poor start to this season. They really struggled away from home last season and conceded far too many goals when it came to playing the sides in the top four.
City do look tougher than Newcastle and stronger in all the key areas- they have also dominated Newcastle in recent games between the two teams and it would be a surprise if they don't win this fairly comfortably.
Backing City to win this one by a couple of goals looks the call in the final game of the opening weekend of the Premier League.
MY PICKS: Liverpool Win to Nil @ 2.20 Paddy Power (2 Units)
West Ham United @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Swansea-Manchester United Draw @ 3.50 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Wigan Athletic @ 2.10 Coral (1 Unit)
Middlesbrough @ 2.10 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Tottenham Hotspur @ 1.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Chelsea Over 2.5 Team Goals @ 1.95 Sporting Bet (2 Units)
Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
August Update: 1-0, + 1.90 Units (2 Units Staked, + 95% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)
It is a bit of joke that a team like Newcastle United will have to play at Tottenham Hotspur in a noon kick off later on this season as that is absolutely scandalous for the fans that will be travelling down to London for the game. What can you do though? The TV companies have pumped in so much money into the game that they have a right to do what they want now and the fans, as usual, are only the last concern.
I wrote a small piece about Manchester United before the Community Shield last week and that can be read here. Below I have a few thoughts about who I believe will win the major honours in the Premier League in the coming season and who may just have some sobering thoughts come May.
Champions: The transfer window this summer has been fairly quiet, but the team that has made the most moves is Manchester City as they look to grab the Premier League title back off of Manchester United. The only other real contender when it comes to winning the title is Chelsea and it would be a huge surprise if any other team is lifting the title in May.
It is all change when it comes to the manager's office at all three clubs and the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge certainly has given the fans and the layers the belief that Chelsea are the team to beat. If they do sign Wayne Rooney before September 2, those chances will definitely increase, while the current squad were flying at the end of last season under Rafa Benitez.
However, I do think Manchester City have the strongest squad and will be the team that comes out on top next May. It was clear that a lot of the City fans really appreciated what Roberto Mancini did for the club, but his removal is a big positive for them as far as I am concerned as he was too negative and didn't bring a good vibe to the team with constant criticisms.
The Italian was extremely fortunate to win the title in 2012, which owed a lot more to Manchester United's collapse and an extremely one in a million recovery on the final day. His performances in the Champions League showed that he was out of his depth at the very top level and the lack of a title challenge would have infuriated the owners of the club. Manuel Pellegrini is a strong manager and the signings he has made have definitely improved City to a point where they should finish top of the Premier League.
Of course, I would dearly love Manchester United to be that team that lifts the title in May, but the absence of Sir Alex Ferguson will mean dropping points when perhaps the former manager would have galvanised the team. He has certainly got the best out of a squad that shouldn't really be finishing 11 points clear of what Manchester City have and I think there were a few games last season where United recovered to win in situations that are unlikely to be repeated.
Unless a couple of big name players are signed, I don't think this squad is capable of reaching the heights of last season and even finishing in the top two may end up beyond them. David Moyes is worthy of receiving the support from the stands, but he has an extremely tough start to negotiate which could leave United playing catch up on City and Chelsea and I do feel it might just be a tougher season than some fans may believe.
Final Champions League Spot: After trying to unsuccessfully buy a few big name players, Arsenal's biggest hope may be that Tottenham Hotspur sell Gareth Bale if they are to once again finish above their North London rivals.
The return of Jack Wilshire will boost Arsenal for the coming season, but they have missed out on Gonzalo Higuain and are unlikely to prize Luis Suarez from Liverpool which means virtually the same squad will begin this season that ended the last in impressive fashion. However, their rivals Tottenham for the final Champions League spot have strengthened hugely, especially if they can keep hold of Bale for one more season at least.
That is looking a little more likely at the moment, although there is still plenty of time before the close of the transfer window, but if Spurs hold on to the Welshman, it would make the signings of Roberto Soldado and Paulinho look very good and the side stronger than last season. I expect Soldado to get goals in the Premier League if the service is there, while Paulinho looked good in the Confederations Cup for Brazil although both will need to settle quickly in a new League.
I still see holes in the Spurs first eleven which will prevent them challenging for the title and they do still rely too much on the counter attack which makes them less effective at White Hart Lane- if Spurs can be a little more ruthless at home this season, they could certainly pip Arsenal for a top four place behind the big three teams.
Relegation: The first of the teams that look set to be relegated into the Championship next season is last season's Play Off Winners, Crystal Palace. I was impressed with Ian Holloway in his last stint in the Premier League as manager of Blackpool, so he has form in getting the best out of a squad that looks a little short of quality.
Even with that in mind, this Palace team are missing two key players from their promotion push from last season- Glenn Murray suffered a serious injury at the back end of last season which could see him miss the whole season after scoring 30 goals last season, while Wilfried Zaha has moved to Manchester United.
Palace haven't strengthened significantly and were poor in the second half of last season and I can't see them having enough to stay in the Premier League as I just don't believe there are three worse teams than the Eagles.
All three of the promoted teams have questions about their ability to survive at this level, but all three getting relegated would be going against the trends over the last twenty years. Even two teams being relegated that were promoted the season before is not that common, but Hull City are another that don't look to have the necessary quality to survive in the top flight.
Steve Bruce is still strengthening the side so my opinion could change in the coming weeks and the signing of Tom Huddlestone is not a bad one, but do the newly named Tigers have enough up front at this level? I would say no and while they had a solid defence in the Championship, it is a different story when it comes to the Premier League.
A lot of people would be worrying about the likes of Sunderland, Stoke City, and perhaps Fulham as a potential established Premier League team that may fall through the cracks. One I would worry about is West Brom who made a really fast start last season before tailing off a little even with a top half finish under their belt.
The loss of Romelu Lukaku means they may just have a problem up front, even after signing Matej Vydra who performed so well on loan at Watford in the Championship last season. The Albion would have finished 17th in the Premier League if we took results from their last 18 League games played.
West Brom do have the fixtures to make a fast start to this season as they did last year, but failure to do so could be the beginning of a long, tough season for the fans and management alike.
I guess we will all know more about how these short predictions will pan out in nine months time, but the Premier League does look set to have a fascinating season ahead with a lot of intrigue. I am sure most fans are just looking forward to the big kick off this weekend now and getting back to the grounds to support their teams.
It ended up being a profitable season last year for the picks, but I will look for an improvement in what is a notoriously difficult sport to make profit on over a nine month period. Another profitable season would be welcome as the season kicks off, although I do have for a slightly higher yield when it is all said and done.
Liverpool v Stoke City: This is the opening game of the Premier League season as Liverpool take on Stoke City at Anfield. It has been a turbulent summer at Anfield as Luis Suarez tried to push through a transfer away from the club, while a big name signing has not come in despite some of the remnants of Kenny Dalglish's poor reign at the club being moved on.
Liverpool will be looking to make a more concerted effort to get into the top four in Brendan Rodgers second season in charge of the club, but they do look a little short of quality in a couple of areas to think they can do that. However, taking on Stoke City, who are under the new management of Mark Hughes, should give the home side the perfect opportunity to kick off this new season with a positive start.
I expect Stoke to be a little more adventurous at times this season, but it may not be at Anfield that we see that happening. Even in the absence of Suarez, I expect Liverpool to be on the front foot in this one and I do think they will create chances. Daniel Sturridge played well in Suarez' absence at the back end of last season and he will need to be at his sharpest if Liverpool are to win this game.
The home side did have plenty of clean sheet last season and they are playing a side that scored the second fewest away goals last season. 3 of the last 5 games at Anfield between Liverpool and Stoke City have ended in goalless draws, but I am going to back the home side to win this one with a clean sheet to boot.
West Ham United v Cardiff City: West Ham United have got a lot to look forward to with a move into the Olympic Stadium in the coming years, but the key for the Hammers is to make sure they are still a Premier League club when that comes about.
Sam Allardyce is certainly one of the best names to have in charge when you want to build a team and work ethic to keep a side afloat and he is well versed in keeping teams ticking along in the Premier League. He is a vastly under-rated manager for what he brings to the table and I expect him to help West Ham United to another season in the Premier League.
This is the kind of game that Allardyce would have circled as must win games if they are to survive in the Premier League and I do think West Ham will be too good for a Cardiff City side that won the Championship last season.
Cardiff might be given a rude awakening as they face a side they met in the Championship just two seasons ago, but one that has brought in plenty of Premier League class since being promoted to this League. West Ham had a strong record at home against teams that finished below them in the table and they have the size and power to beat Cardiff at their own game and the home side look worth backing in this one.
Swansea v Manchester United: David Moyes will begin his competitive era as manager of Manchester United on Saturday afternoon, but he could have wished for a far easier match than having to go to Swansea.
The home side have the belief in their own game to keep hold of the ball for long periods and that could make all the difference in the match, especially considering they have already played two competitive games this season in the Europa League.
Swansea were also strong enough to hold all of the top three to draws last season and while I don't think they are good enough to win the game, Michael Laudrup will have his team ready to cause the Champions of England plenty of problems.
The long periods of possession that Swansea will likely enjoy in this game will test Manchester United and I can certainly see the home side being good enough to avoid defeat. However, I believe Robin Van Persie always offers a team the chance to grab a goal from nothing and I do think the David Moyes era at Manchester United will truly begin with a point here.
Bournemouth v Wigan Athletic: At the end of this season, I would expect Wigan Athletic to finish in the top half of the table and Bournemouth to finish in the bottom half and I do think the Latics will be too strong for them at Dean Court in this Championship clash.
While teams are likely to sit back and defend against Wigan when they travel to the DW Stadium, I do think the side will find it easier on their travels as the onus will be on the home side to get on the front foot and look to win the game.
With the likes of Shaun Maloney and Callum McManaman in the ranks, Wigan should be very effective on the counter attack and they will have good recent memories of this ground where they won 0-1 on the way to winning the FA Cup last season.
Bournemouth were given a rude awakening as to the strength of the Championship when beaten 6-1 at Watford last weekend. They will be stronger at home, but I do think Wigan can make it two wins out of two away from home in the Division with more quality in their squad than Bournemouth, although this may be a close game that ends 0-1.
Middlesbrough v Blackpool: Middlesbrough lost both home games to open this season, one of those in the Capital One Cup, but on both occasions they were leading those games. They then followed that up with a 0-1 win at Charlton Athletic last weekend which has eased some of the pressure on Tony Mowbray.
They should be a little too strong for a Blackpool team that may have won both League games they have played, but were incredibly fortunate last weekend when they scored an injury time winner against Barnsley, even though Blackpool failed to register one shot on target.
The absence of Tom Ince and the number of injuries in the squad has restricted what Paul Ince can do in this game and Middlesbrough should be a little too strong for them in this one. Middlesbrough were a very strong home team last season, and they should be able to follow the win at the Valley with another three points on Saturday.
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur: The Gareth Bale sage is still rumbling along at White Hart Lane and I can't help think that Tottenham Hotspur need to keep hold of the Welshman if they are to finish in the top four this season.
Bale will be absent on Sunday afternoon for the first game of the season, but Spurs should still be a little too strong for Crystal Palace, a team that haven't invested in the squad in the way that Ian Holloway would have liked in the summer. The injury to Glenn Murray and Wilfried Zaha moving to Manchester United means Palace will have to do without their two best players from last season, while their form in the second half of the season was poor to say the least.
I do think this is going to be a tough season for Palace, but Holloway is likely to send out his team with an attacking intent, although that could leave them very open at the back. Spurs need their new signings to settle quickly as they bid to finally finish above Arsenal in the League and secure one of the Champions League berths.
I like the signing of Roberto Soldado and I think he will score goals in this League if he is given the right service. This won't be an easy match for Tottenham but the Spaniard may prove to be the difference as a proven goalscorer in a top competition like La Liga and he may just get off the mark and help his new side leave Selhurst Park with the three points.
Chelsea v Hull City: The media have been having a great time now that Jose Mourinho has returned to English football and he will once again look for Chelsea to build a strong home record on which to put together the foundations of a title challenge.
Chelsea haven't made too much of an investment in the squad this summer, but their end to last season shows that they do have plenty of quality in the side, while Eden Hazard and Oscar have a season in English football under their belt.
I expect the home side to be too strong for a Hull City team that have made some interesting signings in the last week- the Tigers will want to show that they are not willing to lie down for any team in the League, but this is one of the tougher grounds they will visit this season.
With the amount of attacking talent in the Chelsea team, I would be surprised if they don't open the season with a fairly comfortable win although the layers all feel the same. Instead, I would recommed the Blues getting a few goals in the bank and scoring at least three goals in the game, which has been priced up a little short of odds against.
Manchester City v Newcastle United: Manchester City will begin a new era as Manuel Pellegrini takes over from Roberto Mancini as manager of the club and they look to have brought in some very good talent that should lead to a sustained challenge to win the Premier League title.
I also think Pellegrini will give City the confidence to perform in the Champions League and they do have enough talent in the squad to see off Newcastle United in their first match of the season.
It was another strange summer at St James' Park with the return of Joe Kinnear as Director of Football and Alan Pardew will certainly feel the pressure if Newcastle make a poor start to this season. They really struggled away from home last season and conceded far too many goals when it came to playing the sides in the top four.
City do look tougher than Newcastle and stronger in all the key areas- they have also dominated Newcastle in recent games between the two teams and it would be a surprise if they don't win this fairly comfortably.
Backing City to win this one by a couple of goals looks the call in the final game of the opening weekend of the Premier League.
MY PICKS: Liverpool Win to Nil @ 2.20 Paddy Power (2 Units)
West Ham United @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Swansea-Manchester United Draw @ 3.50 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Wigan Athletic @ 2.10 Coral (1 Unit)
Middlesbrough @ 2.10 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Tottenham Hotspur @ 1.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Chelsea Over 2.5 Team Goals @ 1.95 Sporting Bet (2 Units)
Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
August Update: 1-0, + 1.90 Units (2 Units Staked, + 95% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Weekend Football Picks (May 4-6)
The football season enters it's final month in most of the top European Leagues and this weekend is critical for teams fighting for Champions League places, those looking to avoid the drop and also promotion places for the Premier League up for grabs.
It can be a tense time of the season for some of the teams involved, but others may already be looking forward to their Summer holidays and getting ready for next season so it is good to be careful at this time of the season when making any picks.
Fulham v Reading Pick: Fulham have been one of those teams that have perhaps being playing out the string a little too much over the last couple of weeks and that has seen them struggle to score goals and subsequently win games.
However, they get a good chance for some feel good factor at Craven Cottage as they host already relegated Reading on Saturday. There is no doubt that Reading will give a lot of effort in the game, but they don't have a lot of quality in the side and that has seen them struggle this season.
Nigel Adkins would certainly like to grab his first win as manager before the Championship season begins in April, but this looks a tough test for them against a Fulham team that will want to end their season at home on a high. The lack of goals for Fulham has to be a concern, especially at odds on, but I do think they still want to finish in the top half of the table and I do think they will win this game.
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton Pick: Hugo Lloris has made it clear that Tottenham Hotspur have to win this game if they really want to make the Champions League, especially after dropping two points against Wigan Athletic last weekend. At the start of the weekend, Spurs are only 2 points off a top four place with an extra game to play compared with their rivals Arsenal, but dropping points in this fixture will put a lot of pressure on them to grab a win from the visit to Chelsea during the week.
Spurs can at least point to the fact that they all of their attacking weapons back in the squad for selection and I think they could be playing Southampton at the right time. While they are not mathematically safe, there is a feeling that 39 points will likely be enough for Southampton unless Wigan Athletic and the teams below them all have brilliant runs.
With that in mind, it will be easy for Southampton to perhaps exhale, as they did in their 0-3 loss to West Brom at home last weekend, and that could give Tottenham the impetus to beat them here. I do think Spurs will win and likely by at least a couple of goals to move into fourth spot, even for a couple of hours.
West Brom v Wigan Athletic Pick: Only Roberto Martinez could have been happy in the Wigan Athletic camp when they saw Aston Villa thumping Sunderland 6-1 on Monday night and it is beginning to look like that their time in the Premier League is coming to a close. Wigan are 5 points off the safety positions and although they one extra game to play, they are beginning to get desperate to grab the three points in this one.
It does actually look a decent chance for Wigan to do just that as they have won on 2 of their last 4 visits to the Hawthornes, including last season, and they have created enough chances to have a lot more than the 1 point they earned from their last 3 Premier League games.
With West Brom looking in a strong position to finish in the top half of the table, there is a chance that Wigan could grab the three points here as they will be the more motivated of the teams. Before their 0-3 win at Southampton last weekend, West Brom had failed to win any of 4 Premier League games and had lost 2 of those games, while they have only won 2 of their last 8 at home in all competitions.
If Wigan can take their chances, they have every chance of stealing the three points here and putting some real pressure on the likes of Aston Villa, Sunderland and Newcastle United.
West Ham United v Newcastle United Pick: Newcastle United were awful in their 0-6 home loss to Liverpool last weekend and I am expecting them to put together a much more solid performance this weekend. However, there seems to be some disruption in the locker room and Alan Pardew is certainly feeling the pressure as he takes charge against one of his former clubs.
You also can't underestimate the motivation that Sam Allardyce and Kevin Nolan will have against their former club for West Ham United, while Andy Carroll can show Newcastle United fans what they have been missing since he left the club around eighteen months ago.
West Ham have also been a lot more comfortable at Upton Park throughout the season and have made it very difficult for any side that has visited here regardless of the result. With Newcastle United struggling away from home for most of the season themselves, a small interest in the home team to win this one looks the call.
Queens Park Rangers v Arsenal Pick: Some of the players were laughing and joking as they exited the Majedski Stadium following a draw that consigned Queens Park Rangers to life back in the Championship and it is that attitude that would have irritated the management and the fans of the club. They should be motivated to play Arsenal at home this weekend, but I do think there is a lack of quality in this squad that should be exposed by the Gunners.
Arsenal have won 4 straight away games in all competitions including a 0-2 win at Bayern Munich, and with Queens Park Rangers struggling for goals at home, you have to think Arsenal can win this one with room to spare.
Of course, there is no way of telling how QPR react to being able to play with the freedom that comes with having no pressure on their shoulders, but too many of the players don't have the same love for the club as the fans and may already be thinking about their next club. If Arsenal score early, there is every chance this could be a terrible day in the office for the Rangers fans, and I do think the away side will win with room to spare.
Brighton v Wolves Pick: Brighton don't have to win this game as they are pretty much locked in as the team to finish 4th in the Championship, while Wolves need to win this game to give themselves any chance of avoiding relegation to League One.
However, I think Wolves are resigned to their fate now and I am sure Gus Poyet will not want his Brighton team to lose any momentum going into the Play Offs and I think they will be able to put the final nail in the Wolves' coffin.
Brighton have won plenty of games at the Amex Stadium in recent weeks and I think they will set their tone for the Play Offs with another one here. An early goal for Brighton or either Barnsley or Peterborough United could demoralise the Wolves players and they may just drop their heads enough to give the home team the opportunity to take home the three points.
Hull City v Cardiff City Pick: There is no doubt that Hull City have been choking their promotion chances away in the last couple of weeks and I have a feeling there could yet be more pressure on them by the time this one is completed. Steve Bruce knows his side will be promoted to the Premier League with a win over Champions Cardiff City, but anything less will give Watford the chance to overtake the Tigers on the final day.
Hull do look remarkably short to win this game considering the recent results and performances they have put in, including a disappointing 2-0 loss at Barnsley last weekend. The pressure is all on them to win this game and while Cardiff have nothing to play for, they won't roll over for Hull in this one and certainly have the quality to get a result.
This is going to be a tense day at the KC Stadium and an early goal for Watford in their home game against Leeds United will only increase that tension. I just have a feeling that Hull have already cracked and I think Cardiff will do enough to avoid defeat and leave the home fans with their heads glued to the radio to hear the score at Vicarage Road.
MY PICKS: Fulham @ 1.80 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.35 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Wigan Athletic @ 3.10 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
West Ham United @ 2.30 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.33 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Brighton @ 1.95 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Cardiff City + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
April Final: 10-21, - 9.15 Units (45 Units Staked, - 20.33% Yield)
March Final: 16-20, + 7.43 Units (55 Units Staked, + 13.51% Yield)
February Final: 14-23, - 2.81 Units (48 Units Staked, - 5.85% Yield)
January Final: 10-22, - 10.89 Units (45 Units Staked, - 24.2% Yield)
December Final: 17-24-1, - 0.83 Units (53 Units Staked, - 0.02 % Yield)
November Final: 8-21, - 8.25 Units (37 Units Staked, - 22.3% Yield)
October Final: 9-9, + 5.44 Units (27 Units Staked, 20.1% Yield)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 3.42 Units (396 Units Staked, + 1.63% Yield)
It can be a tense time of the season for some of the teams involved, but others may already be looking forward to their Summer holidays and getting ready for next season so it is good to be careful at this time of the season when making any picks.
Fulham v Reading Pick: Fulham have been one of those teams that have perhaps being playing out the string a little too much over the last couple of weeks and that has seen them struggle to score goals and subsequently win games.
However, they get a good chance for some feel good factor at Craven Cottage as they host already relegated Reading on Saturday. There is no doubt that Reading will give a lot of effort in the game, but they don't have a lot of quality in the side and that has seen them struggle this season.
Nigel Adkins would certainly like to grab his first win as manager before the Championship season begins in April, but this looks a tough test for them against a Fulham team that will want to end their season at home on a high. The lack of goals for Fulham has to be a concern, especially at odds on, but I do think they still want to finish in the top half of the table and I do think they will win this game.
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton Pick: Hugo Lloris has made it clear that Tottenham Hotspur have to win this game if they really want to make the Champions League, especially after dropping two points against Wigan Athletic last weekend. At the start of the weekend, Spurs are only 2 points off a top four place with an extra game to play compared with their rivals Arsenal, but dropping points in this fixture will put a lot of pressure on them to grab a win from the visit to Chelsea during the week.
Spurs can at least point to the fact that they all of their attacking weapons back in the squad for selection and I think they could be playing Southampton at the right time. While they are not mathematically safe, there is a feeling that 39 points will likely be enough for Southampton unless Wigan Athletic and the teams below them all have brilliant runs.
With that in mind, it will be easy for Southampton to perhaps exhale, as they did in their 0-3 loss to West Brom at home last weekend, and that could give Tottenham the impetus to beat them here. I do think Spurs will win and likely by at least a couple of goals to move into fourth spot, even for a couple of hours.
West Brom v Wigan Athletic Pick: Only Roberto Martinez could have been happy in the Wigan Athletic camp when they saw Aston Villa thumping Sunderland 6-1 on Monday night and it is beginning to look like that their time in the Premier League is coming to a close. Wigan are 5 points off the safety positions and although they one extra game to play, they are beginning to get desperate to grab the three points in this one.
It does actually look a decent chance for Wigan to do just that as they have won on 2 of their last 4 visits to the Hawthornes, including last season, and they have created enough chances to have a lot more than the 1 point they earned from their last 3 Premier League games.
With West Brom looking in a strong position to finish in the top half of the table, there is a chance that Wigan could grab the three points here as they will be the more motivated of the teams. Before their 0-3 win at Southampton last weekend, West Brom had failed to win any of 4 Premier League games and had lost 2 of those games, while they have only won 2 of their last 8 at home in all competitions.
If Wigan can take their chances, they have every chance of stealing the three points here and putting some real pressure on the likes of Aston Villa, Sunderland and Newcastle United.
West Ham United v Newcastle United Pick: Newcastle United were awful in their 0-6 home loss to Liverpool last weekend and I am expecting them to put together a much more solid performance this weekend. However, there seems to be some disruption in the locker room and Alan Pardew is certainly feeling the pressure as he takes charge against one of his former clubs.
You also can't underestimate the motivation that Sam Allardyce and Kevin Nolan will have against their former club for West Ham United, while Andy Carroll can show Newcastle United fans what they have been missing since he left the club around eighteen months ago.
West Ham have also been a lot more comfortable at Upton Park throughout the season and have made it very difficult for any side that has visited here regardless of the result. With Newcastle United struggling away from home for most of the season themselves, a small interest in the home team to win this one looks the call.
Queens Park Rangers v Arsenal Pick: Some of the players were laughing and joking as they exited the Majedski Stadium following a draw that consigned Queens Park Rangers to life back in the Championship and it is that attitude that would have irritated the management and the fans of the club. They should be motivated to play Arsenal at home this weekend, but I do think there is a lack of quality in this squad that should be exposed by the Gunners.
Arsenal have won 4 straight away games in all competitions including a 0-2 win at Bayern Munich, and with Queens Park Rangers struggling for goals at home, you have to think Arsenal can win this one with room to spare.
Of course, there is no way of telling how QPR react to being able to play with the freedom that comes with having no pressure on their shoulders, but too many of the players don't have the same love for the club as the fans and may already be thinking about their next club. If Arsenal score early, there is every chance this could be a terrible day in the office for the Rangers fans, and I do think the away side will win with room to spare.
Brighton v Wolves Pick: Brighton don't have to win this game as they are pretty much locked in as the team to finish 4th in the Championship, while Wolves need to win this game to give themselves any chance of avoiding relegation to League One.
However, I think Wolves are resigned to their fate now and I am sure Gus Poyet will not want his Brighton team to lose any momentum going into the Play Offs and I think they will be able to put the final nail in the Wolves' coffin.
Brighton have won plenty of games at the Amex Stadium in recent weeks and I think they will set their tone for the Play Offs with another one here. An early goal for Brighton or either Barnsley or Peterborough United could demoralise the Wolves players and they may just drop their heads enough to give the home team the opportunity to take home the three points.
Hull City v Cardiff City Pick: There is no doubt that Hull City have been choking their promotion chances away in the last couple of weeks and I have a feeling there could yet be more pressure on them by the time this one is completed. Steve Bruce knows his side will be promoted to the Premier League with a win over Champions Cardiff City, but anything less will give Watford the chance to overtake the Tigers on the final day.
Hull do look remarkably short to win this game considering the recent results and performances they have put in, including a disappointing 2-0 loss at Barnsley last weekend. The pressure is all on them to win this game and while Cardiff have nothing to play for, they won't roll over for Hull in this one and certainly have the quality to get a result.
This is going to be a tense day at the KC Stadium and an early goal for Watford in their home game against Leeds United will only increase that tension. I just have a feeling that Hull have already cracked and I think Cardiff will do enough to avoid defeat and leave the home fans with their heads glued to the radio to hear the score at Vicarage Road.
MY PICKS: Fulham @ 1.80 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.35 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Wigan Athletic @ 3.10 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
West Ham United @ 2.30 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.33 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Brighton @ 1.95 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Cardiff City + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
April Final: 10-21, - 9.15 Units (45 Units Staked, - 20.33% Yield)
March Final: 16-20, + 7.43 Units (55 Units Staked, + 13.51% Yield)
February Final: 14-23, - 2.81 Units (48 Units Staked, - 5.85% Yield)
January Final: 10-22, - 10.89 Units (45 Units Staked, - 24.2% Yield)
December Final: 17-24-1, - 0.83 Units (53 Units Staked, - 0.02 % Yield)
November Final: 8-21, - 8.25 Units (37 Units Staked, - 22.3% Yield)
October Final: 9-9, + 5.44 Units (27 Units Staked, 20.1% Yield)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 3.42 Units (396 Units Staked, + 1.63% Yield)
Saturday, 6 October 2012
Weekend Football Picks (October 6-7)
I have had the most ridiculously busy week at work so this thread is coming out much later than usual.
Last month was a very good month for the picks, but the start of October has been tough as the Champions League brought a lot of surprise results to the fore.
You can also read my latest United Corner piece here
The picks will hopefully be a lot better this weekend as I will look to put them over the next couple of days for the Saturday and Sunday games.
Manchester City v Sunderland Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15557-Manchester-City-v-Sunderland.htm)
West Ham United v Arsenal Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15560-West-Ham-United-v-Arsenal.htm)
Blackpool v Charlton Athletic Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15589-Blackpool-v-Charlton-Athletic.htm)
Leeds United v Barnsley Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15591-Leeds-United-v-Barnsley.htm)
Southampton v Fulham Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15561-Southampton-v-Fulham.htm)
Newcastle United v Manchester United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15588-Newcastle-United-v-Manchester-United.htm)
MY PICKS: Manchester City Win and 3/4 Goals Scored @ 2.80 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
West Ham United-Arsenal Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Coral (3 Units)
Blackpool Win and at Least 3 Goals Scored @ 2.63 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Leeds United Win and at Least 3 Goals Scored @ 2.63 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Southampton Win/Draw and at Least 3 Goals Scored @ 3.20 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Newcastle United-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Coral (2 Units)
October Update: 2-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Stakes, - 16.6% Yield)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Last month was a very good month for the picks, but the start of October has been tough as the Champions League brought a lot of surprise results to the fore.
You can also read my latest United Corner piece here
The picks will hopefully be a lot better this weekend as I will look to put them over the next couple of days for the Saturday and Sunday games.
Manchester City v Sunderland Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15557-Manchester-City-v-Sunderland.htm)
West Ham United v Arsenal Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15560-West-Ham-United-v-Arsenal.htm)
Blackpool v Charlton Athletic Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15589-Blackpool-v-Charlton-Athletic.htm)
Leeds United v Barnsley Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15591-Leeds-United-v-Barnsley.htm)
Southampton v Fulham Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15561-Southampton-v-Fulham.htm)
Newcastle United v Manchester United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15588-Newcastle-United-v-Manchester-United.htm)
MY PICKS: Manchester City Win and 3/4 Goals Scored @ 2.80 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
West Ham United-Arsenal Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Coral (3 Units)
Blackpool Win and at Least 3 Goals Scored @ 2.63 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Leeds United Win and at Least 3 Goals Scored @ 2.63 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Southampton Win/Draw and at Least 3 Goals Scored @ 3.20 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Newcastle United-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Coral (2 Units)
October Update: 2-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Stakes, - 16.6% Yield)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Midweek Football Picks (October 2-4)
September came to a close in pretty solid fashion and we now get to the second round of the Champions League and Europa League Group Stage.
Hopefully October will be as successful as last month and we can have another profitable month following the first two of this new football season.
You can read my thoughts on Manchester United's poor loss on Saturday here
Cluj v Manchester United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15476-Cluj-v-Manchester-United.htm)
Nordsjaelland v Chelsea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15478-Nordsjaelland-v-Chelsea.htm)
BATE Borisov v Bayern Munich Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15491-BATE-Borisov-v-Bayern-Munich.htm)
Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15495-Bolton-Wanderers-v-Leeds-United.htm)
Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15520-Manchester-City-v-Borussia-Dortmund.htm)
Ajax v Real Madrid Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15524-Ajax-v-Real-Madrid.htm)
MY PICKS: Manchester United Win to Nil @ 2.88 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Chelsea Win to Nil @ 2.25 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Bayern Munich Win to Nil @ 2.63 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Bolton Wanderers-Leeds United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Manchester City Win and at least 3 Goals Scored @ 2.75 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Real Madrid Win to Nil @ 2.75 Coral (1 Unit)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Hopefully October will be as successful as last month and we can have another profitable month following the first two of this new football season.
You can read my thoughts on Manchester United's poor loss on Saturday here
Cluj v Manchester United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15476-Cluj-v-Manchester-United.htm)
Nordsjaelland v Chelsea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15478-Nordsjaelland-v-Chelsea.htm)
BATE Borisov v Bayern Munich Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15491-BATE-Borisov-v-Bayern-Munich.htm)
Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15495-Bolton-Wanderers-v-Leeds-United.htm)
Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15520-Manchester-City-v-Borussia-Dortmund.htm)
Ajax v Real Madrid Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15524-Ajax-v-Real-Madrid.htm)
MY PICKS: Manchester United Win to Nil @ 2.88 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Chelsea Win to Nil @ 2.25 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Bayern Munich Win to Nil @ 2.63 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Bolton Wanderers-Leeds United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Manchester City Win and at least 3 Goals Scored @ 2.75 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Real Madrid Win to Nil @ 2.75 Coral (1 Unit)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Saturday, 29 September 2012
Weekend Football (September 29-30)
This is the thread for my football picks from the weekend as I look to end September with the profit intact and hopefully adding to it.
You can read my views about all things Manchester United here
You can also read my views from last weekends football here
I wrote my thoughts about the situation at Blackburn Rovers earlier in the week and of course Steve Kean has since been sacked by the club- most of my points still rang true for the most part though.
Fulham v Manchester City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15379-Fulham-v-Manchester-City.htm)
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15382-Manchester-United-v-Tottenham-Hotspur.htm)
Arsenal v Chelsea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15375-Arsenal-v-Chelsea.htm)
Bristol City v Leeds United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15386-Bristol-City-v-Leeds-United.htm)
Everton v Southampton Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15380-Everton-v-Southampton.htm)
Middlesbrough v Leicester City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15389-Middlesbrough-v-Leicester-City.htm)
MY PICKS: Manchester City Win and at least 3 goals scored @ 2.87 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Manchester United Win and 3/4 goals scored @ 3.40 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Arsenal-Chelsea Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.92 188Bet (2 Units)
Bristol City-Leeds United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Everton Win and at least 3 goals scored @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Middlesbrough-Leicester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.92 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
September Update: 12-10, + 13.96 Units (37 Units Staked, 37.7% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
You can read my views about all things Manchester United here
You can also read my views from last weekends football here
I wrote my thoughts about the situation at Blackburn Rovers earlier in the week and of course Steve Kean has since been sacked by the club- most of my points still rang true for the most part though.
Fulham v Manchester City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15379-Fulham-v-Manchester-City.htm)
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15382-Manchester-United-v-Tottenham-Hotspur.htm)
Arsenal v Chelsea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15375-Arsenal-v-Chelsea.htm)
Bristol City v Leeds United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15386-Bristol-City-v-Leeds-United.htm)
Everton v Southampton Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15380-Everton-v-Southampton.htm)
Middlesbrough v Leicester City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15389-Middlesbrough-v-Leicester-City.htm)
MY PICKS: Manchester City Win and at least 3 goals scored @ 2.87 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Manchester United Win and 3/4 goals scored @ 3.40 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Arsenal-Chelsea Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.92 188Bet (2 Units)
Bristol City-Leeds United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Everton Win and at least 3 goals scored @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Middlesbrough-Leicester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.92 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
September Update: 12-10, + 13.96 Units (37 Units Staked, 37.7% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Friday, 21 September 2012
Weekend Football Picks (September 22-23)
Once the Champions League and Europa League competitions begin, it seems the weekend games come around that much quicker.
My Final Thoughts from last weekend can be read here
You can also see what I thought about the upcoming week for Manchester United in my last United Corner here
I'll have my next 'United Corner' out on Monday as I know I won't be in any fit state to sit down and write on Sunday evening after the big game earlier in the day.
Below are my picks from the weekend football:
Chelsea v Stoke City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15216-Chelsea-v-Stoke-City.htm)
Southampton v Aston Villa Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15215-Southampton-v-Aston-Villa.htm)
West Brom v Reading Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15218-West-Brom-v-Reading.htm)
Wigan Athletic v Fulham Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15217-Wigan-Athletic-v-Fulham.htm)
Sheffield Wednesday v Bolton Wanderers Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15241-Sheffield-Wednesday-v-Bolton-Wanderers.htm)
Newcastle United v Norwich City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15237-Newcastle-United-v-Norwich-City.htm)
Tottenham Hotspur v Queens Park Rangers Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15239-Tottenham-Hotspur-v-Queens-Park-Rangers.htm)
Manchester City v Arsenal Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15223-Manchester-City-v-Arsenal.htm)
MY PICKS: Chelsea Win to Nil @ 2.38 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Southampton-Aston Villa Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
West Brom-Reading Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Wigan Athletic-Fulham Draw @ 3.40 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Sheffield Wednesday-Bolton Wanderers Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.86 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Newcastle United - 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.87 Pinnacle (3 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.10 Bet Victor (4 Units)
Manchester City Win and 3/4 Goals Scored @ 3.75 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
September Update: 8-6, + 10.87 Units (20 Units Staked, 54.5% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
My Final Thoughts from last weekend can be read here
You can also see what I thought about the upcoming week for Manchester United in my last United Corner here
I'll have my next 'United Corner' out on Monday as I know I won't be in any fit state to sit down and write on Sunday evening after the big game earlier in the day.
Below are my picks from the weekend football:
Chelsea v Stoke City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15216-Chelsea-v-Stoke-City.htm)
Southampton v Aston Villa Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15215-Southampton-v-Aston-Villa.htm)
West Brom v Reading Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15218-West-Brom-v-Reading.htm)
Wigan Athletic v Fulham Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15217-Wigan-Athletic-v-Fulham.htm)
Sheffield Wednesday v Bolton Wanderers Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15241-Sheffield-Wednesday-v-Bolton-Wanderers.htm)
Newcastle United v Norwich City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15237-Newcastle-United-v-Norwich-City.htm)
Tottenham Hotspur v Queens Park Rangers Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15239-Tottenham-Hotspur-v-Queens-Park-Rangers.htm)
Manchester City v Arsenal Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-15223-Manchester-City-v-Arsenal.htm)
MY PICKS: Chelsea Win to Nil @ 2.38 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Southampton-Aston Villa Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
West Brom-Reading Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Wigan Athletic-Fulham Draw @ 3.40 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Sheffield Wednesday-Bolton Wanderers Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.86 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Newcastle United - 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.87 Pinnacle (3 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.10 Bet Victor (4 Units)
Manchester City Win and 3/4 Goals Scored @ 3.75 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
September Update: 8-6, + 10.87 Units (20 Units Staked, 54.5% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Friday, 24 August 2012
Weekend Football Picks (August 25-26)
The first week of the new season has been pretty successful so far, but things can change quickly in the football world and I just have to keep my fingers crossed that I can keep picking the right games.
This weekend we have a full slate of games from England, Scotland and Spain and I will be posting picks in the coming days. As always, I will post a link to the thread whenever I have added new picks.
You can read my thoughts from the first weekend here.
Manchester United v Fulham Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14723-Manchester-United-v-Fulham.htm)
Sunderland v Reading Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14726-Sunderland-v-Reading.htm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Brom Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14733-Tottenham-Hotspur-v-West-Brom.htm)
Aston Villa v Everton Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14727-Aston-Villa-v-Everton.htm)
Sheffield Wednesday v Millwall Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14735-Sheffield-Wednesday-v-Millwall.htm)
Middlesbrough v Crystal Palace Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14744-Middlesbrough-v-Crystal-Palace.htm)
Stoke City v Arsenal Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14759-Stoke-City-v-Arsenal.htm)
Liverpool v Manchester City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14763-Liverpool-v-Manchester-City.htm)
MY PICKS: Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Pinnacle (4 Units)
Reading + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.10 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Aston Villa-Everton Draw @ 3.40 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Sheffield Wednesday-Millwall Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.10 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Middlesbrough-Crystal Palace Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.20 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Stoke City @ 3.50 Coral (1 Unit)
Liverpool-Manchester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
August Update: 9-5, + 7.79 Units (23 Units Staked)
This weekend we have a full slate of games from England, Scotland and Spain and I will be posting picks in the coming days. As always, I will post a link to the thread whenever I have added new picks.
You can read my thoughts from the first weekend here.
Manchester United v Fulham Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14723-Manchester-United-v-Fulham.htm)
Sunderland v Reading Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14726-Sunderland-v-Reading.htm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Brom Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14733-Tottenham-Hotspur-v-West-Brom.htm)
Aston Villa v Everton Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14727-Aston-Villa-v-Everton.htm)
Sheffield Wednesday v Millwall Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14735-Sheffield-Wednesday-v-Millwall.htm)
Middlesbrough v Crystal Palace Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14744-Middlesbrough-v-Crystal-Palace.htm)
Stoke City v Arsenal Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14759-Stoke-City-v-Arsenal.htm)
Liverpool v Manchester City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14763-Liverpool-v-Manchester-City.htm)
MY PICKS: Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Pinnacle (4 Units)
Reading + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.10 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Aston Villa-Everton Draw @ 3.40 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Sheffield Wednesday-Millwall Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.10 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Middlesbrough-Crystal Palace Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.20 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Stoke City @ 3.50 Coral (1 Unit)
Liverpool-Manchester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
August Update: 9-5, + 7.79 Units (23 Units Staked)
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Midweek Football Picks (August 21-23)
The first weekend of the new season is already in the history books, but it is a fast start as we get into the European qualifying games, another full set of fixtures from the lower Leagues in England ahead of the next weekend of a full schedule.
My 'Final Thoughts' from the first weekend of the season can be found here
Picks from the midweek schedule can be found below:
Spartak Moscow v Fenerbache Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14701-Spartak-Moscow-v-Fenerbache.htm)
Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14698-Sheffield-Wednesday-v-Birmingham-City.htm)
Middlesbrough v Burnley Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14696-Middlesbrough-v-Burnley.htm)
BATE Borisov v Ironi Kiryat Shmona Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14708-BATE-Borisov-v-Ironi-Kiryat-Shmona.htm)
Blackburn Rovers v Hull City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14706-Blackburn-Rovers-v-Hull-City.htm)
Hearts v Liverpool Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14713-Hearts-v-Liverpool.htm)
Atromitos Athens v Newcastle United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14715-Atromitos-Athens-v-Newcastle-United.htm)
MY PICKS: Spartak Moscow @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Sheffield Wednesday-Birmingham City Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Burnley + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
BATE Borisov @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Blackburn Rovers @ 2.00 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Liverpool Win to Nil @ 2.25 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Atromitos Athens-Newcastle United Draw @ 3.30 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
August Update: 3-4, + 0.34 Units (15 Units Staked)
My 'Final Thoughts' from the first weekend of the season can be found here
Picks from the midweek schedule can be found below:
Spartak Moscow v Fenerbache Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14701-Spartak-Moscow-v-Fenerbache.htm)
Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14698-Sheffield-Wednesday-v-Birmingham-City.htm)
Middlesbrough v Burnley Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14696-Middlesbrough-v-Burnley.htm)
BATE Borisov v Ironi Kiryat Shmona Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14708-BATE-Borisov-v-Ironi-Kiryat-Shmona.htm)
Blackburn Rovers v Hull City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14706-Blackburn-Rovers-v-Hull-City.htm)
Hearts v Liverpool Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14713-Hearts-v-Liverpool.htm)
Atromitos Athens v Newcastle United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14715-Atromitos-Athens-v-Newcastle-United.htm)
MY PICKS: Spartak Moscow @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Sheffield Wednesday-Birmingham City Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Burnley + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
BATE Borisov @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Blackburn Rovers @ 2.00 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Liverpool Win to Nil @ 2.25 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Atromitos Athens-Newcastle United Draw @ 3.30 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
August Update: 3-4, + 0.34 Units (15 Units Staked)
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
English Football Midweek Picks (May 1-4)
This is the post I will use where the previews of the games in the Premier League as well as the First Leg of the Championship Play Off games will be posted.
Any time I add new previews, I will post a link to it as normal.
Hopefully later on Tuesday, or perhaps Wednesday, I will post up a few thoughts on the last weekend in the Premier League as well as my thoughts on Manchester United and the title race.
Liverpool v Fulham Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14039-Liverpool-v-Fulham.htm)
Stoke City v Everton Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14040-Stoke-City-v-Everton.htm)
Chelsea v Newcastle United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14067-Chelsea-v-Newcastle-United.htm)
Bolton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14064-Bolton-Wanderers-v-Tottenham-Hotspur.htm)
Cardiff City v West Ham United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14087-Cardiff-City-v-West-Ham.htm)
Blackpool v Birmingham City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14088-Blackpool-v-Birmingham-City.htm)
MY PICKS: Liverpool-Fulham Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Stoke City Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 3.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Newcastle United + 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 188Bet (2 Units)
Bolton Wanderers-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Panbet (2 Units)
West Ham United @ 2.70 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Blackpool-Birmingham City Score Draw @ 7.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Any time I add new previews, I will post a link to it as normal.
Hopefully later on Tuesday, or perhaps Wednesday, I will post up a few thoughts on the last weekend in the Premier League as well as my thoughts on Manchester United and the title race.
Liverpool v Fulham Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14039-Liverpool-v-Fulham.htm)
Stoke City v Everton Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14040-Stoke-City-v-Everton.htm)
Chelsea v Newcastle United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14067-Chelsea-v-Newcastle-United.htm)
Bolton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14064-Bolton-Wanderers-v-Tottenham-Hotspur.htm)
Cardiff City v West Ham United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14087-Cardiff-City-v-West-Ham.htm)
Blackpool v Birmingham City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-14088-Blackpool-v-Birmingham-City.htm)
MY PICKS: Liverpool-Fulham Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Stoke City Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 3.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Newcastle United + 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 188Bet (2 Units)
Bolton Wanderers-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Panbet (2 Units)
West Ham United @ 2.70 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Blackpool-Birmingham City Score Draw @ 7.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Friday, 20 April 2012
English Football Weekend Picks (April 21-22)
The weekend is almost here so I have begun making my picks from the slate of games on offer. As always, I will put up the picks on this post as they come up and I will provide a link to this page on my Twitter feed.
Arsenal v Chelsea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13885-Arsenal-v-Chelsea.htm)
QPR v Tottenham Hotspur Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13886-QPR-v-Tottenham-Hotspur.htm)
Newcastle United v Stoke City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13887-Newcastle-United-v-Stoke-City.htm)
Fulham v Wigan Athletic Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13915-Fulham-v-Wigan-Athletic.htm)
Blackburn Rovers v Norwich City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13916-Blackburn-Rovers-v-Norwich-City.htm)
Bolton Wanderers v Swansea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13917-Bolton-Wanderers-v-Swansea.htm)
Brighton v Birmingham City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13918-Brighton-v-Birmingham-City.htm)
Middlesbrough v Southampton Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13919-Middlesbrough-v-Southampton.htm)
MY PICKS: Arsenal-Chelsea Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.85 Panbet (2 Units)
QPR-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.85 188Bet (2 Units)
Papiss Cisse First Goalscorer @ 5.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Wigan Athletic Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 3.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Norwich City Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 3.00 Stan James (1 Unit)
Bolton Wanderers @ 2.30 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Brighton Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 2.70 Betsson (1 Unit)
Southampton Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 2.38 Betsson (1 Unit)
Arsenal v Chelsea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13885-Arsenal-v-Chelsea.htm)
QPR v Tottenham Hotspur Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13886-QPR-v-Tottenham-Hotspur.htm)
Newcastle United v Stoke City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13887-Newcastle-United-v-Stoke-City.htm)
Fulham v Wigan Athletic Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13915-Fulham-v-Wigan-Athletic.htm)
Blackburn Rovers v Norwich City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13916-Blackburn-Rovers-v-Norwich-City.htm)
Bolton Wanderers v Swansea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13917-Bolton-Wanderers-v-Swansea.htm)
Brighton v Birmingham City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13918-Brighton-v-Birmingham-City.htm)
Middlesbrough v Southampton Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13919-Middlesbrough-v-Southampton.htm)
MY PICKS: Arsenal-Chelsea Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.85 Panbet (2 Units)
QPR-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.85 188Bet (2 Units)
Papiss Cisse First Goalscorer @ 5.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Wigan Athletic Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 3.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Norwich City Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 3.00 Stan James (1 Unit)
Bolton Wanderers @ 2.30 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Brighton Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 2.70 Betsson (1 Unit)
Southampton Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 2.38 Betsson (1 Unit)
Friday, 13 April 2012
English Football Weekend Picks (April 13-16)
My picks for the weekend will come out on this thread in a staggered period over the next 48 hours. Remember that the weekend fixtures start on Friday night as Southampton take on Reading in the Championship, and we will see Premier League, FA Cup as well as other Championship fixtures over the following four days.
As always, you can check in with my Twitter account that will be updated whenever any new picks are made.
Southampton v Reading Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13775-Southampton-v-Reading.htm)
West Brom v QPR Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13777-West-Brom-v-QPR.htm)
Norwich City v Manchester City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13792-Norwich-City-v-Manchester-City.htm)
Swansea v Blackburn Rovers Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13794-Swansea-v-Blackburn-Rovers.htm)
Sunderland v Wolves Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13797-Sunderland-v-Wolves.htm)
Nottingham Forest v Blackpool Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13798-Nottingham-Forest-v-Blackpool.htm)
Millwall v Leicester City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13799-Millwall-v-Leicester-City.htm)
MY PICKS: Southampton Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 2.25 Coral (1 Unit)
West Brom-QPR Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.92 Panbet (2 Units)
Manchester City to come from behind and win or draw @ 4.50 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Blackburn Rovers Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 3.20 Coral (1 Unit)
Sunderland to come from behind and win or draw @ 5.00 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Blackpool @ 3.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Leicester City Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 2.38 Coral (1 Unit)
As always, you can check in with my Twitter account that will be updated whenever any new picks are made.
Southampton v Reading Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13775-Southampton-v-Reading.htm)
West Brom v QPR Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13777-West-Brom-v-QPR.htm)
Norwich City v Manchester City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13792-Norwich-City-v-Manchester-City.htm)
Swansea v Blackburn Rovers Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13794-Swansea-v-Blackburn-Rovers.htm)
Sunderland v Wolves Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13797-Sunderland-v-Wolves.htm)
Nottingham Forest v Blackpool Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13798-Nottingham-Forest-v-Blackpool.htm)
Millwall v Leicester City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13799-Millwall-v-Leicester-City.htm)
MY PICKS: Southampton Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 2.25 Coral (1 Unit)
West Brom-QPR Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.92 Panbet (2 Units)
Manchester City to come from behind and win or draw @ 4.50 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Blackburn Rovers Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 3.20 Coral (1 Unit)
Sunderland to come from behind and win or draw @ 5.00 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Blackpool @ 3.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Leicester City Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 2.38 Coral (1 Unit)
Monday, 9 April 2012
English and European Midweek Picks (April 9-11)
It's the second set of fixtures during this quick Easter weekend turnaround in what was a big weekend for Manchester United as they gained a vice-like grip on the Premier League title.
I will put my thoughts from this weekend's games down either on Monday evening or Tuesday morning, before getting a few thoughts together for the second set of games on Thursday.
As always, I will put up my picks in staggered periods over the next couple of days and will update the Twitter account whenever new picks are made.
Newcastle United v Bolton Wanderers Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13703-Newcastle-United-v-Bolton-Wanderers.htm)
Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13704-Tottenham-Hotspur-v-Norwich-City.htm)
Blackpool v Barnsley Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13694-Blackpool-v-Barnsley.htm)
West Ham United v Birmingham City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13695-West-Ham-v-Birmingham-City.htm)
Cardiff City v Watford Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13696-Cardiff-City-v-Watford.htm)
Fulham v Chelsea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13710-Fulham-v-Chelsea.htm)
Blackburn Rovers v Liverpool Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13727-Blackburn-Rovers-v-Liverpool.htm)
Brighton v Reading Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13728-Brighton-v-Reading.htm)
Portsmouth v Millwall Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13729-Portsmouth-v-Millwall.htm)
Manchester City v West Brom Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13736-Manchester-City-v-West-Brom.htm)
Wigan Athletic v Manchester United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13737-Wigan-Athletic-v-Manchester-United.htm)
Wolves v Arsenal Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13738-Wolves-v-Arsenal.htm)
QPR v Swansea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13739-QPR-v-Swansea.htm)
MY PICKS: Newcastle United win to nil @ 2.88 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Blackpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.15 Bet365 (1 Unit)
West Ham United-Birmingham City Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Cardiff City-Watford Draw @ 3.80 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Fulham-Chelsea Draw @ 3.50 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Blackburn Rovers Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 3.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Brighton-Reading Draw @ 3.50 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Portsmouth-Millwall Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.10 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Manchester City - 1.75 Asian Handicap @ 2.15 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Wayne Rooney to score first @ 4.50 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Arsenal Over 2.5 Team Goals @ 2.60 Coral (1 Unit)
QPR-Swansea Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Panbet (2 Units)
I will put my thoughts from this weekend's games down either on Monday evening or Tuesday morning, before getting a few thoughts together for the second set of games on Thursday.
As always, I will put up my picks in staggered periods over the next couple of days and will update the Twitter account whenever new picks are made.
Newcastle United v Bolton Wanderers Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13703-Newcastle-United-v-Bolton-Wanderers.htm)
Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13704-Tottenham-Hotspur-v-Norwich-City.htm)
Blackpool v Barnsley Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13694-Blackpool-v-Barnsley.htm)
West Ham United v Birmingham City Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13695-West-Ham-v-Birmingham-City.htm)
Cardiff City v Watford Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13696-Cardiff-City-v-Watford.htm)
Fulham v Chelsea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13710-Fulham-v-Chelsea.htm)
Blackburn Rovers v Liverpool Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13727-Blackburn-Rovers-v-Liverpool.htm)
Brighton v Reading Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13728-Brighton-v-Reading.htm)
Portsmouth v Millwall Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13729-Portsmouth-v-Millwall.htm)
Manchester City v West Brom Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13736-Manchester-City-v-West-Brom.htm)
Wigan Athletic v Manchester United Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13737-Wigan-Athletic-v-Manchester-United.htm)
Wolves v Arsenal Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13738-Wolves-v-Arsenal.htm)
QPR v Swansea Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-13739-QPR-v-Swansea.htm)
MY PICKS: Newcastle United win to nil @ 2.88 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Blackpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.15 Bet365 (1 Unit)
West Ham United-Birmingham City Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Cardiff City-Watford Draw @ 3.80 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Fulham-Chelsea Draw @ 3.50 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Blackburn Rovers Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 3.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Brighton-Reading Draw @ 3.50 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Portsmouth-Millwall Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.10 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Manchester City - 1.75 Asian Handicap @ 2.15 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Wayne Rooney to score first @ 4.50 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Arsenal Over 2.5 Team Goals @ 2.60 Coral (1 Unit)
QPR-Swansea Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Panbet (2 Units)
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