Good morning on this remember, remember the 5th of November morning. With the midweek 'Champions' League excitement out of the way it's time to once again train our eyes on domestic matters. Although before I move on can I just reiterate what a truly horrible, greasy, whining, cheating little dickhead Cristiano Ronaldo is. For those of you that haven't seen it check http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVKJANXuSB8 and try telling me the filthy little prick shouldn't be banned for life. Truly a stain on the beautiful game. Enough of that, let's see if I can return to winning form this week!
Bolton v Tottenham, Saturday 1230
It really pains me to say this, but the Spuds have become the match I always watch on 'Champions' League nights. This is due mainly to the fact that Redknapp is absolutely incapable of setting up a defence and it makes for nearly guaranteed entertainment. Having seen 21 year old Gareth Bale making 33 year old Maicon wear a dress and cry on Tuesday night the nation's press are keen to now appoint him as up there with Leo Messi now that Wayne 'Wazza' Rooney has been exposed as a talentless uncouth moron. Obviously Bale is nothing of the sort, he has been brilliant in both games against Inter, but this has mainly been due to Benitez for some reason choosing to let a 33 year old right back who's best years have looked behind him have to deal with a pacey winger like Bale. In the other 2 of the last 4 games when up against world beaters Baines and Rafael he has barely made an impression as they are as quick as him. All this leads me to Gretar Steinsson. He will face the in-form Bale on Saturday and he bares more resemblance to Maicon in terms of pace so I think he could be in for a roasting. With VDV likely to be rested I think Bale will assume free-kick duties too. This makes William Hill quotes of 4.5 on Bale to score anytime look worth a poke to me.
Birmingham v West Ham, Saturday 1500
Looking at the stats for both teams this season it would appear they'd fall in a barrel of boobs and come out sucking their thumbs, to borrow from Ian Holloway. They are both absolutely hopeless in front of goal and it's no wonder when we look at their 'strikeforces'. West Ham have the impossibly useless Carlton Cole, Benni McCarthy doing a passable impression of Mr Blobby and Frederic Piquionne, who is more about hard graft than actually netting. Brum have messrs O'Connor, Jerome and new signing Zigic. Both managers seem to have recognised these failings and not conceding has been the name of the game this season for both. I think West Ham would settle for a draw away, and I don't think Brum have the inventiveness to unlock a 9 at the back formation so this looks a low scoring draw to me. Stan James go 3.4 on the draw and I'll be on that.
Blackburn v Wigan, Saturday 1500
In another probably horrendous match we have Wigan travelling the short distance to Blackburn. The man/walrus known as Big Fat Sam has been in terrible form since his claim that he should be in charge at a European giant and it serves the silly fat twat right. It's been said before, but his teams are set up to harass and bully their way to victories, and that's fine, but don't get results and the fans will turn on you quick. The pressure is on here make no mistake. Considering Blackburns current home malaise I think backing Wigan with the comfort blanket of the Draw No Bet market is appealing. Boylesports are 3.5 and I'm happy to take a poke at that.
Blackpool v Everton, Saturday 1500
Having impressed with their early season form it seems like Blackpool have lost it of late. Holloway seems to be going crackers daily on SSN and star man Charlie Adam is trying to escape through the courts. I think their day in the sun was the first day victory over Wigan, and I think it's going to be a long hard slog ending in relegation for the Seasiders. Everton, are the complete opposite. Having started off dreadfully and given themselves a considerable handicap to claw back, they are now 5 matches unbeaten. Blackpool have saved their best performances for away from Bloomfield Road so I think it's an away win in this one. Everton's price is coming in all the time, but 1.85 is still available on Betfair if you get in quick!
Fulham v Aston Villa, Saturday 1500
What happens when 2 immovable objects clash at 3pm on a Saturday? We get a shit match I'd imagine. Both these teams are the less than proud owners of strikers who couldn't hit that Trayc off X Factors arse with a double bass. In Fulham's defence their strikers are injured and Clint Dempsey is doing a creditable job in their absence. Villa pay Emile Heskey, so they have no excuses. It'll be the inventively named 'Big' John Carew up front for Villa as Heskey is injured, but he hasn't scored since May. I think this makes Fulham the pick in what should be a tight contest. Odds of 2.3 are widely available.
Man Utd v Wolves, Saturday 1500
In this fixture in the Carling Cup just over a week ago Utd ran out 3-2 winners in a pretty entertaining encounter. Wolves have shown on numerous occasions that their best XI can hold out for decent amounts of time if necessary and they should put out a full-strength team for this one. Saying this though, United have rested current terrace darling Javier Hernandez for this match. For the life of me I acn't understand why he has his nickname on the backm of his shirt, but I'll have to accept that modern football is full of these annoying little commercial nonsensities. Anyway, I fancy the man known as 'Little Pea' to give the less than mobile Wolves centre backs a few problems this weekend. Skybet go 5.0 on him to score 2 or more and I'll have a half stakes go at that in this one.
Sunderland v Stoke, Saturday 1500
Having called the Tyne-Tees completely wrong last week I'll try and make amends for this match. Sunderland have a very decent home record so far, it's away from home they've struggled. A ful Satdium Of Light is a noisy place and can give them a little bit extra when they get right behind them. No. It. Can't. Mindless journalism you see too often that. Players at this level should not be intimidated by the myth of 'atmosphere'. It's always the players that decide matches not the fans, much as some would like to believe otherwise. Sunderland's players are far better than Stoke's, they can play football for a start. This should be enough to extend Stoke's miserable winless run. I think qoutes of 2.15 are very good for a home win, snap it up!
Arsenal v Newcastle, Sunday 1330
Newcatsle will travel to The Emirates chock-full of confidence coming off the back of last Sunday's 5-1 derby win. Arsenal should be smarting from a 2-1 defeat in the Ukraine, although with them having as good as qualified it matters little. I think complacency and Newcastles dodgy form could see Arsenal take out their frustrations on Chris Hughton's men. Cesc will be back for the Gunners, as well as a host of other first choice players rested in midweek. This all makes me think it's going to be one of those absolute hidings Arsenal are very capable of dishing out. Paddy Power go 2.1 with Arsenal on a -1.75 asian handicap and I'll take them on.
West Brom v Man City, Sunday 1500
If City lose this match we could well see Roberto Mancini's impeccably maintained fashion sense heading back to Italy. They have now lost 3 games on the spin after defeat in Poland last night and the media look likely to claim another dastardly foreigner who isn't the amazing Mourinho. The absolute shits. Mancini is a very capble manager in my book who built a team Mourinho only tweaked to turn them into last season's all conquering outfit. Every time anyone at City has stepped out of line the media have made out that he is a fool who can't control his players. All of this is irrelevant if he can't get wins, and in the absence of Tevez, they simply don't perform. West Brom lost to Blackpool on Monday, but were close to drawing with 9 men and that shouldn't be overlooked. They are better than Lech Poznan and are very capable of denying Man City 3 points. They are 2.75 on the home win in the Draw No Bet market at Totesport and that's fine for me.
Liverpool v Chelsea, Sunday 1600
the weekend's action is completed by Chelsea's visit to Anfield on Sunday afternoon. These 2 teams have a bit of needle going back to the Mourinho and Benitez spats and are normally feisty encounters. Chelsea's one weak spot this season has been their away form, with them losing to Man City and drawing with Villa away from Stamford Bridge. However, both of those are good teams, Pool aren't, they're toilet. Stevie Me's hat-trick disguised yet another insipid performance last night, and they can't rely on him to perform like that every match to drag them to wins. Fernando Torres is playing like a transvestite who would rather be anywhere other then Liverpool, understandably some would say. Didier Drogba looked imperious in Chelsea's 4-1 win over Spartak on Tuesday night and I fancy him to teach Pool's defnce a lesson. I can only see a Chelsea win and Betfred go 2.1 on precisiely that outcome.
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