Looking ahead to the EPL weekend - March 30 - April 1
Mar 29, 2019 4:27:51 GMT
MrFurious, DrKrippen, and 2 more like this
Post by staggerstag on Mar 29, 2019 4:27:51 GMT
It's back. The international fixtures are done for another couple of months and we welcome back the domestic battles we know and love.
The Saturday lunchtime set-to at 12.30pm sees Fulham coming off the back of seven, I said seven, straight league defeats and surely facing relegation, hosting Man City, which means that Fulham will have faced Top Six opponents in four of their last five games, although the most recent two have seen valiant displays against Liverpool and Chelsea (losing both by 1-2) Fernandinho could return for Citeh along with De Bruyne and this will only add to Fulham's angst. You get the feeling that most Fulham fans are resigned to the drop and are secretly looking forward to having the pleasure of witnessing first hand some really equisite football, even if it is the opposition that provides it. They've gotta get value for money from somewhere. Talking of value for money, or lack of it, you'll get no more than 1/8 for the City win while the home side is up at 20s.
There are five 3pm kick-offs. It's all to play for at the AMEX Stadium where Brighton, 15th, 33 points, entertain Southampton, 16th, 30 points. The Seagulls have triumphed in their last two league outings, but Saints will be a-marching having most recently seen off Tottenham. They go 6/4 home, 2/1 away.
At Turf Moor, Burnley (4 defeats in 4) face FA Cup semi-finalists Wolves, currently occupying the 7th spot that last season Burnley held so resolutely on to for most of last season. What a difference a year makes. Sean Dyche can't seem to generate the performances of season 17-18 but is still hanging in there. It's not over yet for his 17th placed boys what with 13th placed Toon just five points better off. But they had better start performing. The book isn't convinced, however, and it's 11/5 the home and 6/4 the visitors.
Crystal Palace is another one threatened with that 3rd drop spot. Their guests are the already doomed Huddersfield. The bad news for Huddy is that Palace have potted in all 14 of their outings in 2019 (10 league games, 4 cup games) while Huddersfield threw away a 3-1 lead in the last 15 minutes at West Ham last time out. 1/2 for Palace, 15/2 Huddy.
Leicester, three wins from four, take on out-of-form Bournemouth, just 5 points from the last 21. The Cherries may just have done enough in the first half of the season to cushion themselves against the drop but any further horseplay week in week out will see them dragged into the quagmire, make no mistake. I'll take the home side at 17/20 with Howe's boys out at 7/2.
Man Utd, with new boots and panties and a full time manager, are seriously threatening a top four finish, and something has to be done about it. Can Watford spoil the inauguration match of Schoskier? I doubt they can pull it off alone, so I'll just have to get all superstitious and hope for a reversal of new manager bounce to help the cause along. 4/9 the Reds, 7s the Hornets.
The 5.30pm sees Everton, recently as up and down as Zebedee on a Space Hopper, visiting West Ham, equally unpredictable but two points above the Toffees. My question is, what has happened to Everton's Tom Davies? He hardly gets a look in these days after bursting onto the scene in 16/17. He was played somewhat out of his usual position in 17/18 and this season I have hardly seen hair or hide of him. I was surely not the only one who was keeping an eye on his progress and his tenacious playing style - only to see him drop largely from view. He's only made 14 appearances in the EPL this season, four of those as a sub. He really excited me. Anyway, Hammers go in as loose 6/4 favs with Everton marked at 2s.
There are two Sunday games, the first of which sees 18th placed Cardiff host a Chelsea side that seems to be lacking all rhyme and reason these days. They slaughter Dynamo Kiev 8-0 over two legs but are held by Wolves at home and undone by Everton either side of those two legs. There's no doubt about it, Cardiff will fancy this one; if Burnley and Saints both win their games (not altogether an improbability) that would leave the Welsh side 5 points adrift from safety if they lose. No, I can see the boyos going in hard on the Londoners here and I anticipate a feisty encounter. It's games like this you need a Diego Costa on your side. I've gone for the away but only because I would hope after the Everton defeat last time out there is still enough pride left in the tank to put things right in Wales. Let's also see Sarri's reaction to Hudson-Odoi's England call-up and good performance v Montenegro earlier this week. 8/1 Cardiff, 4/9 Chelsea.
It's a biggie at 4.05pm as Liverpool take on Spurs. With 2 points from their last four league outings, Spurs' top four finish has now come under serious threat from Man U and, devastatingly for Spurs fans, Arsenal. You've gotta fancy the home side here, or have you? I've gone for the draw. Despite the excellent Mane being on absolute fire recently, Salah is struggling. Look at his reaction when subbed last time out, head down, shoulders dropped - even the crowd saw it and responded by seeing him off the pitch by singing his name. If Spurs can contain Mane there's a point for them here, that's my belief. It's 8/13 Pool and 5/1 Spurs.
The Monday night action is Arsenal v Newcastle. By the end of it we'll have a better idea of the top four situation and also the relegation scene. 4/11 AFC, 17/2 Toon.
There's barely time to catch your breath as EPL games continue to come thick and fast the next day and through the week.
The Saturday lunchtime set-to at 12.30pm sees Fulham coming off the back of seven, I said seven, straight league defeats and surely facing relegation, hosting Man City, which means that Fulham will have faced Top Six opponents in four of their last five games, although the most recent two have seen valiant displays against Liverpool and Chelsea (losing both by 1-2) Fernandinho could return for Citeh along with De Bruyne and this will only add to Fulham's angst. You get the feeling that most Fulham fans are resigned to the drop and are secretly looking forward to having the pleasure of witnessing first hand some really equisite football, even if it is the opposition that provides it. They've gotta get value for money from somewhere. Talking of value for money, or lack of it, you'll get no more than 1/8 for the City win while the home side is up at 20s.
There are five 3pm kick-offs. It's all to play for at the AMEX Stadium where Brighton, 15th, 33 points, entertain Southampton, 16th, 30 points. The Seagulls have triumphed in their last two league outings, but Saints will be a-marching having most recently seen off Tottenham. They go 6/4 home, 2/1 away.
At Turf Moor, Burnley (4 defeats in 4) face FA Cup semi-finalists Wolves, currently occupying the 7th spot that last season Burnley held so resolutely on to for most of last season. What a difference a year makes. Sean Dyche can't seem to generate the performances of season 17-18 but is still hanging in there. It's not over yet for his 17th placed boys what with 13th placed Toon just five points better off. But they had better start performing. The book isn't convinced, however, and it's 11/5 the home and 6/4 the visitors.
Crystal Palace is another one threatened with that 3rd drop spot. Their guests are the already doomed Huddersfield. The bad news for Huddy is that Palace have potted in all 14 of their outings in 2019 (10 league games, 4 cup games) while Huddersfield threw away a 3-1 lead in the last 15 minutes at West Ham last time out. 1/2 for Palace, 15/2 Huddy.
Leicester, three wins from four, take on out-of-form Bournemouth, just 5 points from the last 21. The Cherries may just have done enough in the first half of the season to cushion themselves against the drop but any further horseplay week in week out will see them dragged into the quagmire, make no mistake. I'll take the home side at 17/20 with Howe's boys out at 7/2.
Man Utd, with new boots and panties and a full time manager, are seriously threatening a top four finish, and something has to be done about it. Can Watford spoil the inauguration match of Schoskier? I doubt they can pull it off alone, so I'll just have to get all superstitious and hope for a reversal of new manager bounce to help the cause along. 4/9 the Reds, 7s the Hornets.
The 5.30pm sees Everton, recently as up and down as Zebedee on a Space Hopper, visiting West Ham, equally unpredictable but two points above the Toffees. My question is, what has happened to Everton's Tom Davies? He hardly gets a look in these days after bursting onto the scene in 16/17. He was played somewhat out of his usual position in 17/18 and this season I have hardly seen hair or hide of him. I was surely not the only one who was keeping an eye on his progress and his tenacious playing style - only to see him drop largely from view. He's only made 14 appearances in the EPL this season, four of those as a sub. He really excited me. Anyway, Hammers go in as loose 6/4 favs with Everton marked at 2s.
There are two Sunday games, the first of which sees 18th placed Cardiff host a Chelsea side that seems to be lacking all rhyme and reason these days. They slaughter Dynamo Kiev 8-0 over two legs but are held by Wolves at home and undone by Everton either side of those two legs. There's no doubt about it, Cardiff will fancy this one; if Burnley and Saints both win their games (not altogether an improbability) that would leave the Welsh side 5 points adrift from safety if they lose. No, I can see the boyos going in hard on the Londoners here and I anticipate a feisty encounter. It's games like this you need a Diego Costa on your side. I've gone for the away but only because I would hope after the Everton defeat last time out there is still enough pride left in the tank to put things right in Wales. Let's also see Sarri's reaction to Hudson-Odoi's England call-up and good performance v Montenegro earlier this week. 8/1 Cardiff, 4/9 Chelsea.
It's a biggie at 4.05pm as Liverpool take on Spurs. With 2 points from their last four league outings, Spurs' top four finish has now come under serious threat from Man U and, devastatingly for Spurs fans, Arsenal. You've gotta fancy the home side here, or have you? I've gone for the draw. Despite the excellent Mane being on absolute fire recently, Salah is struggling. Look at his reaction when subbed last time out, head down, shoulders dropped - even the crowd saw it and responded by seeing him off the pitch by singing his name. If Spurs can contain Mane there's a point for them here, that's my belief. It's 8/13 Pool and 5/1 Spurs.
The Monday night action is Arsenal v Newcastle. By the end of it we'll have a better idea of the top four situation and also the relegation scene. 4/11 AFC, 17/2 Toon.
There's barely time to catch your breath as EPL games continue to come thick and fast the next day and through the week.
