TFIF...

That's Thank Frank It's Friday for those of you with delicate ears. After the absolute betting graveyard that is friendly football, we return to the 'proper' stuff starting at 1245 tomorrow. A quick word on the England 'performance' before we move on. Had Christian Eriksen's shot against the post gone in before England's winner we could very well have witnessed another defeat for EnGerLand and the headlines would have been very different. I realise it's all speculation as it did hit the post, but it should be taken into account. Glen Johnson is quite literally the worst right back I have ever seen. No amount of attacking prowess should ever cover up the fact he is a fucking hopeless defender. If he's good going forward then stick him on the wing, if not then drop him. Even Dalglish has put Martin Kelly in Johnson's right back slot a Pool. And being subjected to Big Fat Sam and that pair of prats Southgate and Chiles give us their 'insight' was like being taught Geography by Jade bleeding Goody. Dreadful stuff and another reminder of why ITV should just be cancelled, made by morons for morons. This weeks musical titbit comes from Bad Religion with Delirium of Disorder, a 2 minute belter of a tune.

Man Utd v Man City, 1245 Saturday
The weekend kicks off with a match that will go a long way to deciding if City will be making a title challenge this season. They have been playing not to lose against the big sides so far and those tactics would be fine if they were beating all the minnows, but they're not. If United get all 3 points in this one it will put them too far away for City to catch, and will give the Spuds another opportunity to cut City's advantage in the table. All in, it's a massive match for Mancini. His doubters, and there are many, would have you believe he's a fool for not attacking the best teams from the off. Although I'm sure they'd be equally as damning if he did and failed, he is a 'filthy foreigner' after all. He is building a team at City, and all the best teams are strong at the back. The problem comes when even his own teams fans get on his back too. They definitely have the players to give United a game, and should win the midfield battle with ease. The problem will come if Tevez is again left isolated. As brilliant as he is, he can't do it all all the time. United come into this on the back of a defeat at bottom club Wolves. This is the worst United team I can really remember, with honourable exceptions made of Rio, Vidic and Evra. The midfield is hopeless, Fletcher is being asked to do more than hassle opponents, and he can't. Giggs and Scholes can no longer do it week in week out, or at all in Scholes case of late, and Darron Gibson truly is the worst player in the entire league. I see this being a tight one with City possibly sneaking it! Coral's odds of 2.1 on City and the Draw look good to me.

Arsenal v Wolves, 1500 Saturday
Following on from their historic victory over United last week Wolves travel to the Emirates looking for more points to avoid relegation. The problem being that Arsenal have toughened up a bit this term and are looking very good outside shouts for the title if they can just keep some players fit. The latest to find themselves in the treatment room is Johan Djourou, although they say it'll only be for a couple of weeks. The long anticipated arrival of Djourou in the first team has been a revelation. Arsenal have looked very solid with him in the side and when paired with Thomas Vermaelen, if he's even still alive, they should form a cracking centre back pairing. This weekend they have all their forward players fit, and even Arshavin has been seen tracking back once or twice of late, a miracle indeed. Wolves will really struggle here I would have thought. They never lack effort, but the lack of class is really showing this season, they sadly look nailed on to drop to me. I'll happily handicap the Gunners by 1.75 at Victor Chandler's 2.02 odds.

Birmingham v Stoke, 1500 Saturday
One for the purists to avoid I'd imagine! There will be strictly no tippy tappy here, both managers will resort to some of the most turgid, uninspiring football known to man to get 3 points. And with their jobs on the line, who am I to judge. Both teams have got some decent results of late, and have actually been scoring goals, something fans of Brum in particular are really not used to. As ever set pieces will be key for both sides. Seb Larsson's deliveries make Brum a real threat with players like the man-giant Zigic in the side. And we are all aware of the threat posed by Rory Delap's superhuman throw in's for the Stokies. He is as close to a 'special teams' player in the NFL as the game has ever seen, literally better with his hands than his feet! I see this one being closely fought and I don't see either team winning by more than a single goal. I can see both teams scoring on current form, but I can't bring myself to back that for some reason. I like the look of Bet365's quotes of 8.0 on Robert Huth to score anytime, he has got more than Rooney this season after all!

Blackburn v Newcastle, 1500 Saturday
This week saw a new messiah arrive on Tyneside in the shape of Shefki Kuqi, Finlandian superstar. The beast of a man with the belly-flop celebration is the club's answer to replacing Andy Carroll for the remainder of the season. The fact he was recently released by Swansea, who are short of goals, will probably give you an idea of the likliehood of success of this one. There will probably be 3 worse teams than Newcastle this eason, and it may well save them, but major reinvestment will be needed in the summer if they plan to stick around. Blackburn have been ticking over ok under Steve Kean so far. The man that part-time Lamb Shank lookylikey Big Fat Sam said would be 'no good' as a manager has made Blackburn far more attractive to watch and a bigger threat up front. David Dunn in particular seems to be revelling in a role behind the forwards. They have always been good at home and that should continue under the new man. Betfair quotes of 2.2 on the home win look more than fair to me.

Blackpool v Aston Villa, 1500 Saturday
The resurgent Villa come up against a free-falling Blackpool in this one. Whilst they are still thrilling to watch and are always likely to score, Blackpool's ropey Championship defence is beginning to concede at an alarming rate. They are beginning to worryingly resemble Hull's spectacular 18 month fall after a great first 6 months in the top division. Rather than address the failings of his side Ian 'Olly' Holloway seems happier to play up to his Bristolian dickhead persona for the media. Gerard Houllier has rather more wisely kept a low profile and one about improving his Villa side, obviously made easier when you can spend £24mil on Darren Bent. Having been given a start up front for England, Bent got the goal that any sensible person could see he would when given a real chance. He's been the best English striker for 4 years, and whilst that might make for damning reading, it's no less true. They should beat Blackpool on current form, but a more appealing bet to me is Boylesports offer of 2.5 on over 3.5 goals.

Liverpool v Wigan, 1500 Saturday
Now I'll readily admit I was more than sceptical about Pool giving Dalglish the managers role, and was positively wetting myself after the first few results. However comma he has certainly turned a corner now. Beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend was a great result and all the more impressive for the tactics that saw them completely negate Chelsea's attacking threat. Whilst Chelsea aren't the team they were even 6 months ago, I had little faith in a Pool upset. Playing 3 at the back with Jamie 'eh, you know, eh' as a sweeper was a masterstroke. It gave them 3 players to mark Chelsea's Torres and Drogba and let Glen Johson have less defensive responsibilties, which can only be sensible. Cos hez well gash innit. Wigan look like following Wolves out of the Prem to me and I'll be happy to see them go. Shit team, twatty chairman and crap football has no place in the top flight in my opinion. Odds of 2.1 are widely available on Pool to win to nil, and with Steve Clarke coaching the defence now I'll take that.

West Brom v West Ham, 1500 Saturday
Another team dropping like Jordan's knickers are West Brom. The club parted ways with the likeable Roberto Di Matteo after another defeat last weekend and they were looking unlikely to turn a corner with him in charge. As usual the leagues managers have lined up to condemn the sacking as short-termist, but if they want to stay in the Prem then surely they have to think like that? Bringing in a proven firefighter like Woy Hodgson or even Big Fat Git would make more sense to me than gambling on Di Matteo, regardless of how nice a man he might be. The Hammers looked to have turned a corner before defeat at home to Brum last weekend set them back somewhat. I still think in Obinna and Robbie Keane they should get the goals that will keep them up this season. But, why there has not been a protest against the utter twats in charge yet is beyond my reckoning. Porn baron's Gold and Sullivan and 'feminism crusader' Karren Brady have made a complete joke of the club in only a year in charge. Brady, who has been so keen to stick up for female lino Sian Massey, has had few problems in the past decade being paid in money mostly made from young girls being paid very little to demean themselves in classy mags like Razzle. The utterly hyprocritical shitcunt. I see goals in this one with both teams leaking like drains. Get on over 3 at 2.25 with Bet365.

Sunderland v Tottenham, 1730 Saturday
The late televised match will be Spurs travelling to the Stadium Of Light to take on Steve Bruce's team. Spurs have been on a role recently, although Redknapp is still persisting with Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe even though both are doing their level best to convince us all they're utter toilet. The man who always seems to pose a threat is vodka loving hitman Roman Pavluychenko. Sloopy Chops refusal to give him more of a chance is utterly ridiculous when Crouch and Defoe combined have contributed 2 goals between them in the league. If they miss the Champions League this season it will mostly be due to the man with a face like dripping candle wax's stark refusal to rotate. Sunderland have been the same as they ever were. Much stronger at home than on their travels, capable of beating anyone when in form, but just as capable of losing to anyone when their not. Bruce has spent a lot of money to tread mid-table water and questions should be asked of why their has been no discernable improvement in the side. God knows what will happen here, it entirely depends which Mackems team shows up. The best bet I can see is Bet365' 1.8 on both teams to score.

Bolton v Everton, 1600 Sunday
The only match on Sunday sees the up and down Everton travelling to a rather abysmal lately Bolton side. With Louis Saha in form of late, Everton have shown how much better they are when there is someone around to put some chances away. They haven't played that badly most of the season, but no goals = no wins in football, and they've looked about as potent as Boycey for much of it. Bolton started off well, mostly due to the goals of Johan Elmander, but he has now reverted to the form of the rest of his career and is no longer scoring. So, really, it's a tale of 2 strikers. If Saha can continue his form then Everton should win this easy, especially with Gary Cahill also looking less and less like an international defender with every match. I'm willing to take a punt on the Toffees and Boylesports are standout at 2.75 on an away win.

Fulham v Chelsea, 2000 Monday
Monday night football returns, minus the 2 stooges Gray and Keys obviously. This can only be a good thing. I've never seen the importance of Keys at all, he offers nothing except bumming up to Gray at all. This seems to in turn led to Gray going from being mildly interesting a few years back to just being a parody of himself now. He'd become stale and this excuse for Sky to sack him should freshen the channel up with any luck. Although not if Droopy Chops lad is allowed anywhere near the slot. The fooking tosser. back to the match and it's the West London derby with interlopers Chelsea taking on the team bearing their boroughs name, Fulham. The Cottagers have a decent record in this derby in recent years and with Torres still adapting and the rest of team looking like they need to be taken out back and shot they must fancy their chances. With Danny Murphy back to pulling the strings and Moussa Dembele adding some more attacking thrust along with the hugely under-rated Clint Dempsey, they've got a chance here. Take Fulahm and the Draw Double Chance at Coral at odds of 2.1 and thank me later!