BPL Weekend – 19th-20th April
April 19, 2008
The BPL 2007-2008 is coming to a close with only three games remaining and the final pieces to the jigsaw are getting in place now. Man Utd can more or less confirm the title with a win at Blackburn, Liverpool can retain their customary 4th place with a win away to Fulham and the relegation candidates can also be confirmed.
However, as we saw last week, football is a funny game and you can never predict the unexpected. We have to bear in mind that Man Utd and Liverpool have Champions League games in midweek and some first team players might be rested. Though Man Utd have depth in reserves, this cannot be said the same of Liverpool. Benitez will rest Torres for sure (and probably Gerrard) and the Liverpool are very ordinary without these two. If you guys still remember, Fulham won last season’s game 1-0 to stay in the league !!
This week’s matches …
Wigan vs Tottenham
Wigan have been playing well recently and the pitch at JJB stadium (which they share with the local rugby team) is in awful condition. Wigan have used the condition of the pitch to their advantage and have almost retained their Premier League status for another season. Steve Bruce has a full team to select form and Chris Kirkland has been in fine form that they have kept a few clean sheets at home lately.
Tottenham have been a completly different team since they won the League Cup. With European place secured and not being affected by relegation worries, the players do not seem to have any motivation or desire to win.
Prediction : Wigan Win 1-0/2-1
Other games :
- Arsenal vs Reading : Arsenal, -1.5
- Blackburn vs Man Utd : Man Utd, +1.5
- Fulham vs Liverpool : Draw
- Middlesbrough vs Bolton : Boro
- West Ham vs Derby : West Ham
- Aston Villa vs Birmingham : Draw
- Man City vs Portsmouth : Portsmouth
- Newcastle vs Sunderland : Newcastle
Clash of the Titans …
April 13, 2008
It’s hard to update blogs after your predictions are no way near the final results … the two games which I was most confident yesterday, played me out while the other games which I was not so confident about, came out true. Hmmmmm ……
Anyway, let’s look into one of the key matches of the season … Man Utd vs Arsenal !
Man Utd are in a confident mood and are looking good for a win … Even Singapore Pools think so too as the opening odds for Utd win were at 1.80 (now at 1.55) …
With a tough list of fixtures awaiting Man Utd, Utd should try to win all their home matches, where they are in a different form altogether … Rooney and Ronaldo were rested against Roma and should be fresh to continue their good partnership .. Vidic is still out but Utd have good backup in Pique, Silvestre and Brown .. Tevez , Ronaldo and Rooney have scored 50 of the 70 league goals this season and there will be goals if the three of them start.
Arsenal are looking at yet another season without a trophy and defeat at Old Trafford will confirm that. The three games against Liverpool would have drained them out physically and psychologically and it would take a momentus effort from Arsene Wenger to motivate his players tonight …
Fabregas has lost steam and he looks aimless … Adebayor is missing chances which he used to finish easily .. Brendner is a waste .. Defence is leaking too many goals .. confidence is at a very low ..
Prediction : Man Utd Win
In the other match of the day … Liverpool face Blackburn at home in a match which should see them win to have a stronger grip on their customary fourth place !!!
With Everton failing to win at Birmingham yesterday, this will be a good chance for Liverpool to open up a small gap with only 4 games left in the season .. The problem is, you do not what kind of changes Rafa Benitez will make to the team … Javier Mascherano is still suspended but with Torres and Gerrard in great form, this should be an easy win for Liverpool .
