Early doors....

 

 

 

 

After a pretty successful first week of the new season for the blog we now head into this weekend.  Looking back at last weeks fixtures a few things became obvious even at such an early stage.  Firstly despite a change of management the Stoke style of play has not altered significantly and also Liverpool still struggled to deal with set pieces.  Next both Arsenal and Aston Villa showed they again will both score and concede on a regular basis this season.  Norwich backed my assumption that they will pose more of a goal threat this season after their summer signings.  Everton have embraced the Roberto Martinez philosophy and should offer plenty of goals through the year.  Sunderland proved against Fulham that despite an influx of players they could well still struggle for goals but Fulham backed my opinion they could well be looking for a top ten finish.  Southampton showed that they are a team to be contended with this season after winning at the Hawthorns.  West Brom lacked a cutting edge and Steve Clarke must be looking to add options to his attack.  West Ham showed why I believed they will be a tough opposition this season whilst Cardiff as I suggested could well find goals hard to come by.  The late kick off showed that Swansea looked bright by struggled for a cutting edge against Manchester United.  United looked strong and grew into the game with their goals.  Again I believe they will do well this season but still suggest third might be where they finish.   On Sunday both of the new teams Crystal Palace & Hull backed early assumptions that they could struggle for goals whilst Tottenham managed to grind out their result.  Chelsea started strong and showed they will be serious contenders for the title this season.  The final game of the week showed Manchester City appearing to be back to more like their title winning best.  They showed good tempo and pressed Newcastle high up the field.  Fernandinho was impressive with his reading of the game and pressing of the Newcastle midfield.  Newcastle showed little in the match and unless they can add some numbers and most importantly some character to their team they will struggle.

 

FULHAM v ARSENAL

After a difficult start to the season losing at home to Aston Villa a win in midweek has lifted the mood at the Emirates.  This weekend they travel to face a confident Fulham team at Craven Cottage.  Fulham ground out a win away to Sunderland something they have struggled to achieve away from home in previous seasons.  Martin Jol has carried out some good business this summer and I believe they will test Arsenal this weekend.  Looking at the match historically two of the last three matches have seen three goals scored.  But looking at recent form Fulham have won just one of their last five at home.  In comparison Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five away matches and will feel confident of gaining a result.  I believe Arsenal will get a result but I believe it may well be a goal scoring draw.

EVERTON v WEST BROM

Both of these two teams will have felt they could have gained more from their first matches of the season.  Everton showed exactly what I anticipated from them this season against Norwich. They maintained a high level of possession and created several chances.  West Brom looked to lack a cutting edge which was surprising with Anelka in attack and Steve Clarke is now close to signing Scott Sinclair to add width to his team.  Looking at the historical record Everton have won all of the last three meetings and all have seen two or more goals scored.  Comparing the teams recent form Everton have won all of their last five home matches whilst West Brom have lost three of their last five away.  I will be siding with a few goals and a home win in this match.

 

HULL v NORWICH

 

Hull as expected struggled at Chelsea but they will not be the only team this season.  Whilst Norwich gained an impressive draw against Everton and showed more of an attacking edge.  Recent history in these matches points towards goals being scored but I believe Hull will try and keep this game tight.  Hull struggled towards the end of last season at home with just one win in their last five.  In these five only two of the matches saw two or more goals scored.  Looking at Norwich they have lost four of their last five away matches.  Norwich have a lot of pace and could well be dangerous on the counter attack this season.  Even at this early stage of the season Steve Bruce will look at this match and believe he must look for three points.  Sadly for him I believe Norwich will avoid defeat.

NEWCASTLE v WEST HAM

 

Both of these teams started the season as they ended last year.  Sadly for Newcastle that meant with poor defending and lacking a cutting edge in attack.   For West Ham they confirmed my opinion they will be tough opponents this season.  They have only lost once in their last three trips to Newcastle and will be buoyed by last year’s victory.  Sadly Newcastle cannot even look to recent home form for comfort, three defeats in their last five at home means the home support will be nervous.  However if they look at the opponents record on their travels they will see they are without a win in their last five away.  The head to head shows this match has averaged two or more goals scored and I believe both teams could well find the net again this weekend.  I’m opting for West Ham to take something at St.James and more pressure to be put on Alan Pardew.

SOUTHAMPTON v SUNDERLAND

 

Southampton gained an impressive win at the Hawthorns and have since added Osvaldo to their growing list of talent.  They have quietly gone about their business and added quality rather than quantity this summer.  They come into this match with just one defeat in their last five at home and all of these matches have seen two or more goals scored.  Strangely their record at home to Sunderland is poor with just one win in their last three.  Sunderland were left disappointed losing at home to Fulham and once more seemed to struggle in attack.  Their away form has been poor with four defeats in their last five and must feel they face a real tasking taking any points from St.Marys this weekend.  I’m backing the home team to take the points and hopefully a couple of goals as well.

 

STOKE v CRYSTAL PALACE

 

Stoke almost gained an unlikely point from their trip to Anfield but sadly Jon Walters missed another penalty.  There seemed little change in their direct approach but in truth they have been quiet in the market so any change would be unlikely.  They still offered a real threat from set pieces and again that must be the area they will look to test Crystal Palace.  They come into the game with just one win in their last five home matches and Palace have only suffered two defeats in their last five away matches.  Palace seemed well organised against Tottenham and in some ways very unholloway like.  Like most of the newly promoted teams goal scoring is going to be the major concern for them and this match will be a good marker to see how they fair.  I believe Stoke will take the points in this match but it could well be a close low scoring affair.

 

ASTON VILLA v LIVERPOOL

 

Few would of predicted the start to the season Aston Villa have achieved.  After struggling for vast periods of last year they have really hit the ground running this season with a win at the Emirates and unlucky to be beaten at Stamford Bridge.  Villa have posed a real goal threat for a while but their inability to keep a clean sheet has proved costly.  Once again they have scored and conceded this season and their match against a Liverpool team that also scored regularly on their travels should follow suit.  Villa have suffered two defeats in their last five home matches and all of these matches have seen two or more goals scored.  Whilst Liverpool have won three of their last five away from home.  Also four of these five away matches have seen two or more goals scored.  Liverpool have an impressive record at Villa Park but if they are to gain anything this weekend they must control Benteke.  Last year the Liverpool defence struggled against physical attackers and this is their first challenge this season.  My choice is for this match to be an entertaining goal scoring draw.

CARDIFF v MAN CITY

 

Cardiff as I anticipated struggled against West Ham and struggled to offer a real goal threat.  Sadly they now face a Manchester City team that looked very impressive at home against Newcastle on Monday.  I stated last week I believe Manchester City will be entertaining to watch this season and I was very impressed by the centre midfield pairing.  In truth matches against the top four are not what will decide if Cardiff survives in the premier league.  In their favour is a vocal home support and they will need that if they are to get a result.  Manchester City will travel south in confident mood of taking the three points and will field a similar starting eleven to the Monday night team.  Looking at recent form Cardiff drew three of their last five at home but have kept clean sheets in three of the last five as well.  Looking at Man City they have won three of their last five away from home and have scored at least twice in three out of those five matches.  I’m siding with a win for Man City and hopefully a couple of goals as well.

 

 

TOTTENHAM v SWANSEA

 

Tottenham have spent this week adding even more attacking options to their squad and after gaining three points against Crystal Palace they must be confident looking ahead this season.  Tottenham now boast an exciting attacking line-up with pace and imagination.  Swansea will feel their result last week losing at home to Manchester United did not represent their contribution to the game.  As usual they had good possession and control but lacked a real cutting edge in the match whilst playing Shelvey close to Michu.  In the second half the addition of Bony did help and they must hope he will start on Sunday.  In truth I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr Laudrup started with just one up front and looked to pack the midfield.  Swansea during most of last season were good on the road and had an impressive defensive record.  They will look to contain this Spurs attack and pinch a goal. Looking at these teams in recent head to head matches Tottenham have won all the matches at White Hart Lane but these matches have been low scoring.  Tottenham’s home form shows two wins and two draws in their last five at home whilst Swansea have now lost three of their last five away matches.  But on the positive side they have scored in four of their last five away matches.  I’m siding with a home win and maybe a couple of goals.

 

MANCHESTER UNITED v CHELSEA

The final game of the week is arguably the most exiting game with Jose Mourinho taking his Chelsea team to Old Trafford.  Both managers have had good starts to the season and both will feel confident going into this match.  This is David Moyes first real test in the hot seat against one of his real main title rivals.  He will feel it is important to set a marker in this match and if they can win it will send a clear message to the rest of the league.  Jose will be happy with his teams start but has stated his team must learn to finish teams off when they can.  Chelsea and Jose boast a strong record at Old Trafford and will be confident of taking at least a point.  Also looking at Uniteds recent home record they have lost two of their last five at home.  Chelsea have won three of their last five on the road and four of those five have seen three or more goals.  The signs are positive but I believe Jose will be happy to take a point in this one.  I’m siding with a goal scoring high tempo draw, both manager will be happy to accept that this early in the season.

 

 

Thanks for reading and good luck to everyone!!