Looking ahead to the EPL weekend - September 1/2
Aug 30, 2018 14:51:52 GMT
OffTheBoatPsycho, Carl LaFong, and 2 more like this
Post by staggerstag on Aug 30, 2018 14:51:52 GMT
Saturday's lunchtime kick-off will be the fourth consecutive Liverpool game to be screened live, and the next one, versus Tottenham, will be the fifth. This seems excessive. They've yet to truly justify such coverage and the chances of them turning it on to a level anywhere near last season's best aren't that good with the visit to Leicester (the thrashing of West Ham was more of a greedily taken gift than anything else, meeting little or no resistance in the process) So will we see a bit of flair at the King Power, a little 'beautiful' football from Klopp's men? I doubt it, I can see a down and dirty two-sides-going-at-it see-saw of a match with the Foxes hoping to catch Liverpool on the turn. Leicester impressed last week at Southampton and even without the still suspended Vardy will surely be snapping at the heels of the visitors. The teams met five times in 2017, in varying capacities, and Leicester failed to pot in precisely none of them, so molesting the away net bodes well for them. Reds keeper Alisson provided us with a glimpse of his outfield solo skills last week and subsequently had Klopp rushing to his defence. "He's not flash!" the German reassured. We'll see. The hosts are a disrespectful (in my eyes) 6/1 while the bookies are doing you no favours with Liverpool 2/5. Even the draw is fat at 15/4.
Last week's 3pms mostly came alive in the second halves and this week's five games could well follow suit. It could be a tight affair at the Amex where Brighton (6/5) come off the back of Wednesday's cup defeat to Saints and welcome Fulham (23/10) themselves victors over Exeter in the same cup. Both sides are locked together in midtable with Fulham one place higher courtesy only of goal average.
It was a horror show on the 31st of January last season when Bournemouth ripped Chelsea apart at Stamford Bridge to claim three well deserved points. They had persisted at goal in the first 45 but only got their hard rewards in the second half with strikes from Wilson, Stanislas and Aki. History repeating itself on Saturday comes at a price of 150/1 and will not happen, you have to own. But Bournemouth can't be dismissed so easily. They showed character against Everton recently and will have encouraging memories of their last visit to SW6. It's 8/1 the Cherries with Chelsea 2/7.
10th spot Crystal Palace (19/20) partook of a proper ding-dong with Watford last week and although losing that one, they did see off Swansea in Wales in the cup on Tuesday. They entertain Southampton (14/5) who, as already noted, triumphed at Brighton in the cup, but whose league quality leaves something for Mark Hughes to ponder. They took the lead v Leicester on Saturday only to surrender feebly to pots from Gray and Maguire and also losing Hojbjerg to a red late on. You have to fancy Roy's men to come out firing here - they will sense the vulnerable smell of a south coast animal that is fearing for its own survival in the big city without even the basic tools to aid its well-being, and I'm all over the Palace feast here.
Everton (1/2) will be without the suspended Richarlison (current joint EPL top scorer on 3) for the visit of Huddersfield (6/1) but should have enough about them to deposit further misery on the lowly visitors. Huddy may be without keeper Hamer who came off injured last week and that would only make their task harder. I thought Huddy might show me something last week v Cardiff but all they showed me was a red card for Hogg and a lot of hot air against a side that I fancy to join them in the drop come May.
Wolves downed many a coupon early on Saturday with the draw against City and as a reward they have an easier time of things with the visit to West Ham, current basement boys with no points and a -7 GD. You have to wonder about Pellegrini's safety, not so much from the fans but the Board's chopping block. If this goes on you can't see the Chilean lasting too long. I say that because I am looking at the Hammers' next three outings after this one : Everton away, and Chelsea and Man Utd at home. Oh, fair enough then, I'm looking at their next two games. Jokes aside, West Ham absolutely must get something out of this one. The bookies aren't exactly confident with a 6/4 price tag hanging over Pellegrini's men and a not too unflattering 9/5 over Wolves.
The early eveningslaughter entertainment is Man City v Newcastle. I have spoken before concerning the state of Newcastle and I will do so no more here, except to state that the all-out defensive blockade v CFC last week came undone and the cup performance v Forest in midweek was a shambles. Ten sovs returns one for City and if you are stupid or brave enough then Toon come in at 20, I said, 20/1 for the win and 8/1 to do a Wolves on City. I've not seen 20/1 on an EPL coupon for years, if ever. If you shrink from that 1/10 for City the handicaps are as follows : -1 1/3, -2 5/6, -3 2/1, -4 4/1. When you consider City's last home performance these handicaps seem rather reasonable, you have to say. Toon's 4th consecutive live coverage will surely end in bloodshed. As previously said on here about an Everton Euro-beating last season...oh, the humanity.
No Monday Night Football this week (that returns on the 17th with the mouthwatering Brighton/Saints clash) and Cardiff (5/1 and still to pot a league goal) host Arsenal (8/15) kick off the three Sunday encounters. It was 2013 when these two last met in Wales and AFC came away 0-3 winners. If it wasn't for the law of averages you might go for a similar score line but the Bluebirds have to get off the mark some time and Arsenal's less than solid defence system may afford the home side that very opportunity. There again, Cardiff have conceded only two league goals in three (two nil-nils and a 0-2) so goals might just be at a premium here.
The most scrutinized performance this weekend will surely be that of Man Utd. Humbled by a second half Spurs assault, they visit a Burnley side in the throes of Europa League energy-sapping toil. Burnley face Olympiakos today (Thursday) and with just two days of subsequent EPL preparation you have to wonder at Sean Dyche's selection policy for the Euro game which his side go into 1-3 down on agg. You can't really take the following odds at face value until that line-up is disclosed later tonight but the 5/1 for Burnley seems a little generous and the 8/13 for United a bit stingy. Burnley haven't potted in the last three meetings at Turf Moor and have lost 2/3 but Man Utd have won once in their last 4 EPL aways, Bournemouth in April. The draw currently offers itself at 13/5.
Tottenham are improving with each outing, to my eyes, and they face something of a stern test in the visit to early front runners Watford who secured a point here in last season's corresponding fixture. There's no shortage of attacking options for Watford (15/4) with Pereyra on 3 goals and Deeney, Gray, Hughes and Holobas all backing him up with pots of their own in the 3 games so far. 2nd placed Spurs (8/13) are still wondering whether Son Heung-min will be called up for National Service in one of the more unlikely stories of the month. Son is currently away with South Korea and preparing for the Final of the Asian Cup on Saturday. I understand that if South Korea win this Final then Son (now 26 and obliged to serve his military time by aged 28) will become exempt from military duties under the ruling that all South Koreans who achieve gold medal status in either the Olympic Games or the Asian Games are automatically freed of any military commitment. South Korea face Japan, and for Son the game represents his best opportunity of legitimately eluding 21 months of National Service. Good luck, son, though I dare say that should you escape Service there'll be some in your homeland with plenty to say about your exemption. One question, though : why is a 26 year old playing in what is billed as an under-23 competition? But anyway, they go :
S Korea 3/4
Japan 16/5
(Kick-off 12.30pm GMT/ 6.30pm Jakarta)
No EPL next week due to internationals.
Last week's 3pms mostly came alive in the second halves and this week's five games could well follow suit. It could be a tight affair at the Amex where Brighton (6/5) come off the back of Wednesday's cup defeat to Saints and welcome Fulham (23/10) themselves victors over Exeter in the same cup. Both sides are locked together in midtable with Fulham one place higher courtesy only of goal average.
It was a horror show on the 31st of January last season when Bournemouth ripped Chelsea apart at Stamford Bridge to claim three well deserved points. They had persisted at goal in the first 45 but only got their hard rewards in the second half with strikes from Wilson, Stanislas and Aki. History repeating itself on Saturday comes at a price of 150/1 and will not happen, you have to own. But Bournemouth can't be dismissed so easily. They showed character against Everton recently and will have encouraging memories of their last visit to SW6. It's 8/1 the Cherries with Chelsea 2/7.
10th spot Crystal Palace (19/20) partook of a proper ding-dong with Watford last week and although losing that one, they did see off Swansea in Wales in the cup on Tuesday. They entertain Southampton (14/5) who, as already noted, triumphed at Brighton in the cup, but whose league quality leaves something for Mark Hughes to ponder. They took the lead v Leicester on Saturday only to surrender feebly to pots from Gray and Maguire and also losing Hojbjerg to a red late on. You have to fancy Roy's men to come out firing here - they will sense the vulnerable smell of a south coast animal that is fearing for its own survival in the big city without even the basic tools to aid its well-being, and I'm all over the Palace feast here.
Everton (1/2) will be without the suspended Richarlison (current joint EPL top scorer on 3) for the visit of Huddersfield (6/1) but should have enough about them to deposit further misery on the lowly visitors. Huddy may be without keeper Hamer who came off injured last week and that would only make their task harder. I thought Huddy might show me something last week v Cardiff but all they showed me was a red card for Hogg and a lot of hot air against a side that I fancy to join them in the drop come May.
Wolves downed many a coupon early on Saturday with the draw against City and as a reward they have an easier time of things with the visit to West Ham, current basement boys with no points and a -7 GD. You have to wonder about Pellegrini's safety, not so much from the fans but the Board's chopping block. If this goes on you can't see the Chilean lasting too long. I say that because I am looking at the Hammers' next three outings after this one : Everton away, and Chelsea and Man Utd at home. Oh, fair enough then, I'm looking at their next two games. Jokes aside, West Ham absolutely must get something out of this one. The bookies aren't exactly confident with a 6/4 price tag hanging over Pellegrini's men and a not too unflattering 9/5 over Wolves.
The early evening
No Monday Night Football this week (that returns on the 17th with the mouthwatering Brighton/Saints clash) and Cardiff (5/1 and still to pot a league goal) host Arsenal (8/15) kick off the three Sunday encounters. It was 2013 when these two last met in Wales and AFC came away 0-3 winners. If it wasn't for the law of averages you might go for a similar score line but the Bluebirds have to get off the mark some time and Arsenal's less than solid defence system may afford the home side that very opportunity. There again, Cardiff have conceded only two league goals in three (two nil-nils and a 0-2) so goals might just be at a premium here.
The most scrutinized performance this weekend will surely be that of Man Utd. Humbled by a second half Spurs assault, they visit a Burnley side in the throes of Europa League energy-sapping toil. Burnley face Olympiakos today (Thursday) and with just two days of subsequent EPL preparation you have to wonder at Sean Dyche's selection policy for the Euro game which his side go into 1-3 down on agg. You can't really take the following odds at face value until that line-up is disclosed later tonight but the 5/1 for Burnley seems a little generous and the 8/13 for United a bit stingy. Burnley haven't potted in the last three meetings at Turf Moor and have lost 2/3 but Man Utd have won once in their last 4 EPL aways, Bournemouth in April. The draw currently offers itself at 13/5.
Tottenham are improving with each outing, to my eyes, and they face something of a stern test in the visit to early front runners Watford who secured a point here in last season's corresponding fixture. There's no shortage of attacking options for Watford (15/4) with Pereyra on 3 goals and Deeney, Gray, Hughes and Holobas all backing him up with pots of their own in the 3 games so far. 2nd placed Spurs (8/13) are still wondering whether Son Heung-min will be called up for National Service in one of the more unlikely stories of the month. Son is currently away with South Korea and preparing for the Final of the Asian Cup on Saturday. I understand that if South Korea win this Final then Son (now 26 and obliged to serve his military time by aged 28) will become exempt from military duties under the ruling that all South Koreans who achieve gold medal status in either the Olympic Games or the Asian Games are automatically freed of any military commitment. South Korea face Japan, and for Son the game represents his best opportunity of legitimately eluding 21 months of National Service. Good luck, son, though I dare say that should you escape Service there'll be some in your homeland with plenty to say about your exemption. One question, though : why is a 26 year old playing in what is billed as an under-23 competition? But anyway, they go :
S Korea 3/4
Japan 16/5
(Kick-off 12.30pm GMT/ 6.30pm Jakarta)
No EPL next week due to internationals.
