Looking ahead to the EPL weekend - October 20/21/22
Oct 16, 2018 16:56:03 GMT
MrFurious, Carl LaFong, and 2 more like this
Post by staggerstag on Oct 16, 2018 16:56:03 GMT
Little time, so the quick version. A look at the odds, a bit of form and not much else. Let's get on with it.
I can still remember how I felt before Chelsea's 2013 visit to Old Trafford. I saw the starting line-up. The season was only a couple of games old and expectations were high for the visit north. Mourinho, commencing his 2nd spell at the club, had already seen off, erm, Hull City and Aston Villa at the Bridge. Now a big game away from home. It was clear from the off that he went there for a point. He started with no recognized striker (Demba Ba, Torres or Samuel Eto'o) and came away with his point in a drab and unadventurous 0-0 stalemate. Will he try something similar in the Saturday lunchtime set-to at Stamford Bridge? It's highly likely. He'll want to pin down Hazard as a priority, you can be sure of that. But I feel Alonso could be a key figure here, if he can assault the United left flank and burst forward hard enough to molest them on that side of the park. CFC are on offer at 13/20 while United can be got at 4/1. The draw is 11/4, the goalless draw 10/1.
Six 3pms and it's sixth-placed Bournemouth (1/1) hosting lowly Southampton (11/4) Saints haven't potted in three while the Cherries have hit six in their last two outings. But the visitor's recent record here is not bad, winning one and drawing the other.
Three teams are still winless in the league and Cardiff (6/4) is one of those. You say to yourself they have to win at some point. And this could be their week. Warnock's infamous dressing room rants must be getting more x-rated as we go on and it's only a matter of time before he completely loses his sh*t. Fulham (2/1) ain't too clever themselves and sit just three spots above basement boys Cardiff, so I think this could be the perfect incentive for Warnock's lads on home turf.
Once again a Man City fixture has vastly contrasting odds between the contestants. Look for no bigger than 1/14 the home win and chance your arm at 33 for the away.
*STOP PRESS - f*** me, I forgot to put the opposition! That would be Burnley.
I for one cannot recall the last time Brighton won a league game away from home. Was it last season? Season before that? What's the point in looking it up - it's been f***ing ages, that's all we need to know. They visit Newcastle, another side without a win so far, and Toon come off the back of that spirited performance v Man Utd last time out. The home win is a reasonable 23/20 while the 5/2 on offer for Brighton is tighter than a buzzard's ass in a nose dive.
I tell you, there's one or two interesting afternoon kick-offs amid this lot, and West Ham (10/3) v Spurs (4/5) is one of them. West Ham have taken 7 points from their last 12 and narrowly lost to Brighton last time out. It's tight at the top and Spurs are right up there with 18 pts, just two off the top. Those seven points for WHU have helped lift them to 15th spot. This is gonna be a terrific derby, I'll lay my hat on it.
A run of one point from their last 12 has seen Watford lose their foothold on the giddy heights of Top Four and slide down to just above mid-table. They visit a Wolves side who have shown us a lot so far this season. They find themselves in 7th and may have been a spot or two higher had they taken the many, many potting opportunities that I have seen them squander this season. The 4/5 for the Wolves win stands out like Kanye West at a MENSA Convention while Watford will be hoping to spoil the party at 10/3.
The 5.30pm event is Huddersfield, the third team to remain winless, against Liverpool. It's another case of 'they must win sooner or later' - which they will, but not today (surely) Liverpool have drawn their last two but they were against City and CFC so you can't criticize their recent formbook of draws. Huddy clock in at 9/1 for their first win while 'Pool go off at a predictable 2/7.
Sunday at 4pm and it's Everton (4/5) at home to Palace (7/2) in another thrilling Super Sunday explosion. Palace have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 1 of their last five visits here and if Zaha can keep his feet the threat is always there. I keep going about Zaha, and no side is just one player, but he really is very exciting to watch. The bookies have probably called this one right, though.
It's back. Like a bent penny it's back. Monday Night Football sees Arsenal, doing very nicely thank you in 4th, squaring up to 10th placed Leicester. Arsenal have been potting well recently and stats show that they're tightening up their defensive belt. The Foxes remain one of the league's most unpredictable outfits. I think I may have said this last time I was here. You just don't know what to punt on where they're concerned. The bookies surely call it right, though, going 4/9 the home against 11/2.
Next Sunday sees a decent looking Super Sunday treble, and for once Monday night football will be worth a watch with Tottenham mixing it with Man City in London.
I can still remember how I felt before Chelsea's 2013 visit to Old Trafford. I saw the starting line-up. The season was only a couple of games old and expectations were high for the visit north. Mourinho, commencing his 2nd spell at the club, had already seen off, erm, Hull City and Aston Villa at the Bridge. Now a big game away from home. It was clear from the off that he went there for a point. He started with no recognized striker (Demba Ba, Torres or Samuel Eto'o) and came away with his point in a drab and unadventurous 0-0 stalemate. Will he try something similar in the Saturday lunchtime set-to at Stamford Bridge? It's highly likely. He'll want to pin down Hazard as a priority, you can be sure of that. But I feel Alonso could be a key figure here, if he can assault the United left flank and burst forward hard enough to molest them on that side of the park. CFC are on offer at 13/20 while United can be got at 4/1. The draw is 11/4, the goalless draw 10/1.
Six 3pms and it's sixth-placed Bournemouth (1/1) hosting lowly Southampton (11/4) Saints haven't potted in three while the Cherries have hit six in their last two outings. But the visitor's recent record here is not bad, winning one and drawing the other.
Three teams are still winless in the league and Cardiff (6/4) is one of those. You say to yourself they have to win at some point. And this could be their week. Warnock's infamous dressing room rants must be getting more x-rated as we go on and it's only a matter of time before he completely loses his sh*t. Fulham (2/1) ain't too clever themselves and sit just three spots above basement boys Cardiff, so I think this could be the perfect incentive for Warnock's lads on home turf.
Once again a Man City fixture has vastly contrasting odds between the contestants. Look for no bigger than 1/14 the home win and chance your arm at 33 for the away.
*STOP PRESS - f*** me, I forgot to put the opposition! That would be Burnley.
I for one cannot recall the last time Brighton won a league game away from home. Was it last season? Season before that? What's the point in looking it up - it's been f***ing ages, that's all we need to know. They visit Newcastle, another side without a win so far, and Toon come off the back of that spirited performance v Man Utd last time out. The home win is a reasonable 23/20 while the 5/2 on offer for Brighton is tighter than a buzzard's ass in a nose dive.
I tell you, there's one or two interesting afternoon kick-offs amid this lot, and West Ham (10/3) v Spurs (4/5) is one of them. West Ham have taken 7 points from their last 12 and narrowly lost to Brighton last time out. It's tight at the top and Spurs are right up there with 18 pts, just two off the top. Those seven points for WHU have helped lift them to 15th spot. This is gonna be a terrific derby, I'll lay my hat on it.
A run of one point from their last 12 has seen Watford lose their foothold on the giddy heights of Top Four and slide down to just above mid-table. They visit a Wolves side who have shown us a lot so far this season. They find themselves in 7th and may have been a spot or two higher had they taken the many, many potting opportunities that I have seen them squander this season. The 4/5 for the Wolves win stands out like Kanye West at a MENSA Convention while Watford will be hoping to spoil the party at 10/3.
The 5.30pm event is Huddersfield, the third team to remain winless, against Liverpool. It's another case of 'they must win sooner or later' - which they will, but not today (surely) Liverpool have drawn their last two but they were against City and CFC so you can't criticize their recent formbook of draws. Huddy clock in at 9/1 for their first win while 'Pool go off at a predictable 2/7.
Sunday at 4pm and it's Everton (4/5) at home to Palace (7/2) in another thrilling Super Sunday explosion. Palace have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 1 of their last five visits here and if Zaha can keep his feet the threat is always there. I keep going about Zaha, and no side is just one player, but he really is very exciting to watch. The bookies have probably called this one right, though.
It's back. Like a bent penny it's back. Monday Night Football sees Arsenal, doing very nicely thank you in 4th, squaring up to 10th placed Leicester. Arsenal have been potting well recently and stats show that they're tightening up their defensive belt. The Foxes remain one of the league's most unpredictable outfits. I think I may have said this last time I was here. You just don't know what to punt on where they're concerned. The bookies surely call it right, though, going 4/9 the home against 11/2.
Next Sunday sees a decent looking Super Sunday treble, and for once Monday night football will be worth a watch with Tottenham mixing it with Man City in London.
