If you normally put a longshot accumulator on the Premier
League, don’t bother this weekend. Apart from perhaps a couple of games it is
nearly impossible to predict who will come out on top in this round of games.
I’ll do my best.
Aston Villa
v Norwich City
Both teams are in roughly the same area of the league after 8
games, the difference being that one club won’t be too dissatisfied with this
and the other will be very disappointed. Norwich achieved a very respectable 12th
place last season and will have known at the beginning of this season that
would be tough to better. Villa on the other hand have been steadily declining
since the late 90s and could only manage 16th last season, despite
many fans thinking they belong in the top 10. Key man for Villa will be Stephen
Ireland, although very inconsistent, when the Irishman plays well so do his
team. Norwich will be looking to Grant Holt to add to his three goals so far
this season if they are to get anything from this match.
Prediction: Norwich haven’t won away from
home in the league this season and Villa’s home form has been inconsistent so
I’m going for 1-1
Arsenal
v QPR
Following a week of disappointment Arsenal will be looking to
get back to winning ways in this London derby. Rock bottom QPR shouldn’t
provide too much opposition having only earned one point from four matches away
from home so far, Mark Hughes will be wondering what he can do to change his
fortunes. The main man for Arsenal so
far this season has been Spaniard Santiago Cazorla and if he plays well
tomorrow Arsenal fans will be hopeful. David Hoilett scored last time out and
has been playing quite well so far this season despite the occasionally dire
performances from some of his teammates, he will have to perform for QPR to
have a chance.
Prediction: Despite Arsenal having
lost two on the trot I can’t see any result other than an Arsenal win. 3-0.
Reading
v Fulham
Fulham got a good win against Villa last weekend and are performing
above expectations, sitting in 8th place at the moment. Martin Jol
will know, however, that his team could drop down the rankings very quickly if
they don’t secure at least a point from games like Reading away. This is, of
course, no disrespect to Reading, however they find themselves sitting second bottom
without a win and nerves might be creeping into the changing room. Reading will
want Pavel Pogrebnyak to add to his two goals this season to give themselves a
good chance of getting a first win. The main man for Fulham will be Dimitar Berbatov
who can dictate play up front and will be looking for more goals having not
scored since his debut brace.
Prediction: Difficult to separate
these two but I think Fulham’s good form this season should be enough to carry
them to a win. 1-2
Stoke v
Sunderland
Another tough call, the Britannia has always been somewhat of
a fortress for the potters, often shutting out some of the bigger teams, such
as Chelsea and Liverpool last season. But these two sides haven’t had a
goalless draw in Stoke for over 35 years and the home side might struggle to
keep Steven Fletcher from scoring his 6th goal of the season, the
Scotsman having been very clinical in front of goal so far this campaign.
Stoke’s key player will be Peter Crouch who will be looking to capitalise on
the physicality this game is likely to bring and will be a key factor in the
long ball game Stoke like to employ.
Prediction: Stoke are yet to lose at
home, with a victory against Swansea and respectable draws against Man City and
Arsenal so I fancy them to do the business here today. 2-1
Wigan v
West Ham
West Ham have been having a good time of it in their return
to the Premier League. We all know that Big Sam knows what he’s doing and a
good string of results see them sitting pretty in 7th place. That is
unlikely to continue forever but Allardyce will be looking to make hay while
the sun shines against perpetual relegation-battlers Wigan. Wigan have already
beaten the Hammers this season, but the 4-1 League Cup victory will count for
very little tomorrow. Wigan will be looking to Di Santo and Kone to make life
difficult for the West Ham defence. Key for West Ham will be Kevin Nolan who,
with 4 goals and 2 assists so far this season, has been on fine form for the
East Londoners.
Prediction: West Ham’s surprisingly
good form and Wigan’s unsurprisingly bad form should lead to a Hammers victory
today. 1-3
Man City
v Swansea
City absolutely destroyed Swansea at home last season but
then couldn’t even manage a point in Wales. Still unbeaten in the league
Manchester City are not quite finding the form they showed at the beginning of
last season, but are still grinding out enough points to keep pace towards the
top. A very frustrating mid-week result for Mancini’s men is unlikely to bode
well for Swansea, so often we see a disappointing Champions League result for
one of the top 4 transform into a thrashing for whoever comes next. Swansea,
however, will be encouraged by the fact that they sit tenth in the league and
Michael Laudrup will be looking for his team to resume playing the kind of
football that saw them start the season so well. Michu will have to be on form
again if Swansea have any hope of getting even a point against City, and City
will be looking to Aguero to really find his feet again after coming back from
injury.
Prediction: Only one result I can
see here, home win. 3-0
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