EPL Prediction
The EPL will start tonight and let's look into some of the matches being played tonight.
Tottenham vs Manchester City
One of the matchup of the opening round of the EPL will see Tottenham take on big-spending Manchester City. Tottenham edge out Man City to the last champion league place right at the last second game of the season therefore Manchester City are gunning for revenge. Manchester City have spend quite a bit of money on reinforcement signing the likes of Davild Silva, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng with David Silva my pick to be one of the players to watch this season. Tottenham on the other hand have not made much changes to the side that finish inside top four for the first time since a long time. I see draw written all around.
Confident: Tottenham to draw against Manchester City
50% Confident: 2, 4 goals
Can Try: 1-1 on exact score.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
Aston Villa are still in shock by the news of Martin O'Neill resignation just before the start of the season. Star Midfield James Millner looks certain to leave Villa and Ashley Young are links with a move away from Villa Park, it is dark days for the villa fans considering Villa did not made significant signing during the transfer market. And with a thin squad, distraction of the Europa League and without the magic of Martin O'Neil, Aston Villa might even struggle to finish inside top 10 let alone a Euorpean place. West Ham United also experience a change of manager with Avram Grant taking over from Zola. West Ham Uinted have make quite a number of good signing in Thomas Hitzlsperger and Frederic Piquionne. Avram Grant master-minded Portsmouth fairy-tale run to the FA cup final despite struggling in the league whole season and resulted in relegation. Grant can take West Ham United to a below mid-table finish. I see West Ham finishing in about 13-15 position. West Ham to start the season with a winnign note
Confident: West Ham on +1.5
50% Confident: West Ham to win Villa
Can Try: 2-1 West Ham on exact score.
Wolves vs Stoke City
Mick McCarthy Wolves are one of the odds-on favorite for releagtion last season but they finished 15th position. Mick McCarthy have worked well despite having a limited squad last season. Kevin Doyle one of the stand out player for wolves last seaon. Wolves have buy well in the summer with Stephen Hunt and Steven Fletcher joining them from relegated Hull and Burnley respectively. I see Wolves one of the team fighting to prevent relegation. Stoke City defy prediction by finishing 11th in the league last season but this season could be totally different. Tony Pulis had build Stoke City to be very tough to be beat but every season looks ever more competitive. Stoke City alongside Wolves are one of the team alongside the likes of Wigan, Blackpool, Newcastle United, West Brom and even Fulham as the team that will be fighting at the foot of the table.
Confident: Wolves to beat Stoke City
50% Confident: 2,3 goals
Can Try: 2-1 on exact score
Bolton vs Fulham
When Owen Coyle ditched Burnley for Bolton in the middle of last season, there is people questioning his wisdom as at that point of time, Bolton seems more likely to be relegated than Burnley. Fast forward to the end of the season, Burnley were relegated and Bolton finish in 14th position. With the addition of three proven free siging in Martin Petrov, Robbie Blake and Ivan Klansic, there is reason for optimism for Bolton fan. With luck, they might just squeezed inside the top ten. On the other hand, Mark Hughes knows that he have a tough task in replacing Roy Hodgson as Hodgson engineered one of the most successful period for the london club. Fulham magical run to the final of last season Europa League with go down in the memories of Fulham fan as one of the best period of the club. Mark Hughes have tough task to follow and he will have a fight in his hand as I see Fulham struggling this season. They are one of the team earmarked by me as team that is battling against releagtion. If Hughes cannot hold on to the players (ie Mark Schwarzer, Bobby Zamora, Goltan Gera, Damien Duff) that have served Fulham so well last season, Fulham might be relegated come end of the season.
Confident: Bolton to win Fulham
50% Confident: 3,4 goals
Can Try: Bolton 3-1
Blackburn vs Everton
Sam Allardyce Blackburn are looking into a season of stability rather than improving on their 10th position last season. There have not made any major singing for this season with will worry their fans. I think Blackburn will finish in the lower mid table placing. (abt 11th position come end season). Everton finish last season very strongly and even beat the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United and like Blackburn have not make any major summer signing. The best signing that they have made this summer is contracting their key player to the club. Arteta, Baines, Cahill have all pledged their loyalty to the club and that is good news of Everton fan. Everton must build on to their solid end to their previous season and with some luck (with respect to injury to key player), a top six finish is not beyond them.
Confident: Everton to snatch a win
50% Confident: 1, 3 goals
Can Try: 1-0 Everton
Wigan vs Blackpool
Roberto Martinez Wigan finish 16th last season and is again tipped alongside tonight opponent Blackpool to be one of the team battling aginst relegation. I cannot see them finishing better than their 16th position last season. Blackpool on the other hand is everyone favourites to finish last after securing promotion. A lack of proven signing of premiership quality might prove to be the undoing for Blackpool. A relegation six pointer on the opening weekend of the season and i think draw will be a fair result.
Confident: Draw
50% Confident: 0,2 goals
Can Try: 1-1
Sunderland vs Birmingham City
Sunderland is one of the underachieving team from last season. How on earth a team that only lost three team at home and beat the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool finish in 13th position. They were dreadful in their away games winning twice, they seriously need to improve on that stats. I see Steve Bruce taking Sunderland into top ten in the league this season. Birmingham have stunned all expectation and finsih in a solid 9th position last season. But they will find it hard to emulate the sucess of last season despite buying well in the summer. Ben Foster and Nikola Zigic are good signing that will add to the squad but improving on last season showing will be to much to ask from Birmingham. A solid lower mid table finish will be deemed as a sucessful season in my view. Sunderland to start the season with a win and will finish above Birmingham come end of the season
Confident: Sunderland to win
50% Confident: 1,3 goals
Can Try: Sunderland 1-0
Chelsea vs West Brom
Defending Champion Chelsea have what looks like the easiest match-up among the traditional big four in the opening day of the season as they entertain promoted West Bromwich Albion. Chelsea have lost big players in Joe Cole, Deco, Ballack, Carvalho in the summer and only bolster their squad with Yossi Benayoun and Ramires. They could be streched should injury hit them this season. Chelsea did not have the best of pre-season and a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Community Shield last weekend compile their pre-season misery. But WBA are not Manchester United, they are one of punters favourite for relegation. If they can avoid relegation this season, it could be counted as a sucessful season. This is the gulf in class between the two side. Having said that there is no better time to take points off Chelsea than this early of the season where they have not start to firing in all cylinder. There could be shock in this match
Confident: West Brom +1.5
50% Confident: Draw
Can Try: 1-1 Exact Score
Please note this article and all the Assumptions are made Correct As at 14 August 2010 1800 Hrs,
Tottenham vs Manchester City
One of the matchup of the opening round of the EPL will see Tottenham take on big-spending Manchester City. Tottenham edge out Man City to the last champion league place right at the last second game of the season therefore Manchester City are gunning for revenge. Manchester City have spend quite a bit of money on reinforcement signing the likes of Davild Silva, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng with David Silva my pick to be one of the players to watch this season. Tottenham on the other hand have not made much changes to the side that finish inside top four for the first time since a long time. I see draw written all around.
Confident: Tottenham to draw against Manchester City
50% Confident: 2, 4 goals
Can Try: 1-1 on exact score.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
Aston Villa are still in shock by the news of Martin O'Neill resignation just before the start of the season. Star Midfield James Millner looks certain to leave Villa and Ashley Young are links with a move away from Villa Park, it is dark days for the villa fans considering Villa did not made significant signing during the transfer market. And with a thin squad, distraction of the Europa League and without the magic of Martin O'Neil, Aston Villa might even struggle to finish inside top 10 let alone a Euorpean place. West Ham United also experience a change of manager with Avram Grant taking over from Zola. West Ham Uinted have make quite a number of good signing in Thomas Hitzlsperger and Frederic Piquionne. Avram Grant master-minded Portsmouth fairy-tale run to the FA cup final despite struggling in the league whole season and resulted in relegation. Grant can take West Ham United to a below mid-table finish. I see West Ham finishing in about 13-15 position. West Ham to start the season with a winnign note
Confident: West Ham on +1.5
50% Confident: West Ham to win Villa
Can Try: 2-1 West Ham on exact score.
Wolves vs Stoke City
Mick McCarthy Wolves are one of the odds-on favorite for releagtion last season but they finished 15th position. Mick McCarthy have worked well despite having a limited squad last season. Kevin Doyle one of the stand out player for wolves last seaon. Wolves have buy well in the summer with Stephen Hunt and Steven Fletcher joining them from relegated Hull and Burnley respectively. I see Wolves one of the team fighting to prevent relegation. Stoke City defy prediction by finishing 11th in the league last season but this season could be totally different. Tony Pulis had build Stoke City to be very tough to be beat but every season looks ever more competitive. Stoke City alongside Wolves are one of the team alongside the likes of Wigan, Blackpool, Newcastle United, West Brom and even Fulham as the team that will be fighting at the foot of the table.
Confident: Wolves to beat Stoke City
50% Confident: 2,3 goals
Can Try: 2-1 on exact score
Bolton vs Fulham
When Owen Coyle ditched Burnley for Bolton in the middle of last season, there is people questioning his wisdom as at that point of time, Bolton seems more likely to be relegated than Burnley. Fast forward to the end of the season, Burnley were relegated and Bolton finish in 14th position. With the addition of three proven free siging in Martin Petrov, Robbie Blake and Ivan Klansic, there is reason for optimism for Bolton fan. With luck, they might just squeezed inside the top ten. On the other hand, Mark Hughes knows that he have a tough task in replacing Roy Hodgson as Hodgson engineered one of the most successful period for the london club. Fulham magical run to the final of last season Europa League with go down in the memories of Fulham fan as one of the best period of the club. Mark Hughes have tough task to follow and he will have a fight in his hand as I see Fulham struggling this season. They are one of the team earmarked by me as team that is battling against releagtion. If Hughes cannot hold on to the players (ie Mark Schwarzer, Bobby Zamora, Goltan Gera, Damien Duff) that have served Fulham so well last season, Fulham might be relegated come end of the season.
Confident: Bolton to win Fulham
50% Confident: 3,4 goals
Can Try: Bolton 3-1
Blackburn vs Everton
Sam Allardyce Blackburn are looking into a season of stability rather than improving on their 10th position last season. There have not made any major singing for this season with will worry their fans. I think Blackburn will finish in the lower mid table placing. (abt 11th position come end season). Everton finish last season very strongly and even beat the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United and like Blackburn have not make any major summer signing. The best signing that they have made this summer is contracting their key player to the club. Arteta, Baines, Cahill have all pledged their loyalty to the club and that is good news of Everton fan. Everton must build on to their solid end to their previous season and with some luck (with respect to injury to key player), a top six finish is not beyond them.
Confident: Everton to snatch a win
50% Confident: 1, 3 goals
Can Try: 1-0 Everton
Wigan vs Blackpool
Roberto Martinez Wigan finish 16th last season and is again tipped alongside tonight opponent Blackpool to be one of the team battling aginst relegation. I cannot see them finishing better than their 16th position last season. Blackpool on the other hand is everyone favourites to finish last after securing promotion. A lack of proven signing of premiership quality might prove to be the undoing for Blackpool. A relegation six pointer on the opening weekend of the season and i think draw will be a fair result.
Confident: Draw
50% Confident: 0,2 goals
Can Try: 1-1
Sunderland vs Birmingham City
Sunderland is one of the underachieving team from last season. How on earth a team that only lost three team at home and beat the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool finish in 13th position. They were dreadful in their away games winning twice, they seriously need to improve on that stats. I see Steve Bruce taking Sunderland into top ten in the league this season. Birmingham have stunned all expectation and finsih in a solid 9th position last season. But they will find it hard to emulate the sucess of last season despite buying well in the summer. Ben Foster and Nikola Zigic are good signing that will add to the squad but improving on last season showing will be to much to ask from Birmingham. A solid lower mid table finish will be deemed as a sucessful season in my view. Sunderland to start the season with a win and will finish above Birmingham come end of the season
Confident: Sunderland to win
50% Confident: 1,3 goals
Can Try: Sunderland 1-0
Chelsea vs West Brom
Defending Champion Chelsea have what looks like the easiest match-up among the traditional big four in the opening day of the season as they entertain promoted West Bromwich Albion. Chelsea have lost big players in Joe Cole, Deco, Ballack, Carvalho in the summer and only bolster their squad with Yossi Benayoun and Ramires. They could be streched should injury hit them this season. Chelsea did not have the best of pre-season and a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Community Shield last weekend compile their pre-season misery. But WBA are not Manchester United, they are one of punters favourite for relegation. If they can avoid relegation this season, it could be counted as a sucessful season. This is the gulf in class between the two side. Having said that there is no better time to take points off Chelsea than this early of the season where they have not start to firing in all cylinder. There could be shock in this match
Confident: West Brom +1.5
50% Confident: Draw
Can Try: 1-1 Exact Score
Please note this article and all the Assumptions are made Correct As at 14 August 2010 1800 Hrs,
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