IOSS

Premier League Week 10:

I've got a little bit of swagger back after The Reds taking down Chelsea, and winning 6 of 10, the midweek games should turn up ripe.
Last Week: 6 out of 10 (60%), with 0 exact.
Overall: 35 out of 69 (51%), with 8 exact.
Some quick picks before this week's games:

Tuesday

Newcastle 1-0 West Brom

Wednesday
Aston Villa 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

Fulham 0-1 Wigan

Hull City 0-2 Chelsea

Stoke City 1-2 Sunderland

Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham

Bolton 0-1 Everton

Liverpool 2-0 Portsmouth

Manchester United 2-0 West Ham United

Middlesbrough 2-2 Manchester City

Premier League Week 9: Clash at the Top

The marquee match-up this week is, of course, the Reds and the Blues. Liverpool clashes with Chelsea for somewhere around the thousandth time in the last few years. While the tie will not be nearly as volatile or boring as it once was, when Rafa and Mourinho played their little clog up the midfield and pray for a bounce style that thrilled so many fans, it should be hotly contested. Both squads, while still probably two of the top three defensive teams in the League, have opened things up a bit and are willing to sacrifice a little bit of form and defense for creativity and attack.

A lot of 0-0 draws last week set me back a little in the prediction tally, delaying my overseas calls to the bookies until I start dropping winners like De Niro in Casino. Do they do EPL betting lines in Vegas, hmmmm. I hope not for my sake. Anywick, here goes Week 9:
Last Week: 4 out of 10 (40%), with 0 exact.
Overall: 29 out of 59 (49%), with 8 exact.
My goal was 60 percent at the beginning of the season, which means I will either have to start using the other 90% of my brain or get in good with some Middle Eastern oil barons, for they will probably own half the league by January.

Saturday
Everton v Manchester United
Why David Moyes cannot get Everton to play like they did in the first half of last week’s Arsenal game is a mystery. They looked like the fifth place squad that they were last year, before they fell apart in the second half, losing 3-1. The Blues will have to do it the full 90+ to be any near the Red Devils. Mikel Arteta should be begging to be let out of Merseyside, as his talent is being wasted.

Wayne Rooney returns to Goodison Park in the best form of his career. Man Utd looks to be the stampeding force that ran over the PL last year. Berbatov is starting to pour them in, Nani is playing more consistent and their depth is not going anywhere. Once Ronaldo rounds into form, Liverpool and Chelsea will be forced to take notice of the charging Devils.
Everton 0-2 Man Utd


Sunderland v Newcastle
The Black Cats want to establish themselves in the Premier League. They have the manager; they have mid-table talent, now they have to hold their home ground. They welcome Newcastle this week after squandering a game against Fulham. The Tynesiders are not playing as dreadfully as they were earlier in the season, so expect them to give Roy Keane’s boys a game.

Joe Kinnear swears that the Magpies will bring it this week. We have to go to ****ing Sunderland this weekend! Anyway, Kinnear has decided to add Joey Barton back into the fold for this week’s fixture at the Stadium of Light. Brilliant move Joe! Because we all know what wonders Joey Barton can do for a manager. Why doesn’t he just unleash an airborne disease out on to the pitch at the start of the match? That was unfair.....I don’t want to give airborne diseases a bad name.
Sunderland 1-0 Newcastle


West Brom v Hull City
West Brom is playing a squad who have gutted out victories with hard work, determination, heart and timely skill. The Baggies have got 3 of those things down, but the skill may not be enough for them to push past the PL’s new wonderboys.

The Tigers sit, shockingly, in 3rd position in the table right now, as the world waits for that promotion collapse that will inevitably befall them. It could start this week if Phil Brown and company are caught looking ahead to their huge match-ups; at home against Chelsea and in Old Trafford against Man Utd. Any points from those two games will be huge, considering they won’t have the option of sneaking up on either team. It is imperative that they take care of business against the Baggies.
West Brom 0-1 Hull


Blackburn Rovers v Middlesbrough
Paul Ince has established himself as a competent manager early on this season, but now he will have to start racking up home wins. The question of holding on to Roque Santa Cruz still lingers for Rovers, but a winning record and the presence of his younger brother Julio, could convince the Paraguin (That can’t be right, that was some kind of strange Paraguay and penguin hybrid, my apologies.) striker to stay. When will Ince start the two brothers up top?

Inconsistency had dogged ‘Boro for much of the season. The 5-0 beat down they received at the hands of Chelsea last week will not do anything for their confidence. Normally, after a beating like that, the manager, in this case Gareth Southgate, will hole his team up and try to eke out a 1-0 victory. I think that the best thing for ‘Boro’s confidence is to take on Rovers and try to pound out a blow out themselves. They have the talent.
Blackburn 1-2 Middlesbrough



Sunday
Chelsea v Liverpool
This is the most important match-up of this young season. Two months in and two of the “Big Four” meet up, neither having lost a game in any competition so far this season. Both have injuries and a lot of fatigue from Europe and internationals, but both are playing good football.

86 straight games Premier League teams have come into Stamford Bridge and failed to leave with a victory. That stat is as astonishing as it is daunting to any team coming into London to face the Blues. Chelsea has some of the best players in the world out with injury right now (Essien, Drogba, Ballack, the Coles, Joe and Ashley), yet they are still playing like the best team in the world. That’s a scary thought. The only problem is what to do once the stars return. Malouda, Lampard, Deco, and Mikel have been holding down the midfield nicely, but some will have to make way. They are certainly the favorite going into this important match.

Liverpool will be without the services of Fernando Torres, and Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, and Robbie Keane all figure to be nicked up, but in the lineup on Sunday. The Reds would love nothing more than to end Chelsea’s home streak, and I look for them to go for it. For them to clog up midfield and hope for a 1-0 victory would be foolish and not how they have been winning games. Hopefully they will play Gerrard in behind Keane and have Alonso and Mascher pair up in central midfield, with the wings, Riera and Kuyt, pushing forward. Rafa’s boys have yet to hit their top form this season, winning games without firing on all cylinders. Stamford Bridge would be a great place to hit their stride.
Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool


Man City v Stoke City
Last week, Stephen Ireland rescued City from a loss to 10-man Blackburn, giving them a 2-2 draw. Mark Hughes will be able to win some games on talent alone, but they will never be a good, consistent team unless they figure out how to put together a string of games with a cohesive style of play. City has lost Petrov for two months, which is a huge blow to the squad’s depth. Wright-Phillips, Ireland, and Robinho will be forced to come up big each week until his return.

Stoke will defend and try to keep it tight once again. Asking their fans to hold their breath for 90 minutes while the opposing team takes pot shots at them is no way to go through life. Stand up and be men Stoke, get blown out once and awhile, it might be cathartic.
Man City 2-0 Stoke


Tottenham v Bolton
Alright Spurs, this is your last chance. I mean it. I will not pick you guys again if you lose to Bolton at home. I cannot think of a Bolton player who would make Tottenham’s starting lineup, yet Juande Ramos would take their record in a heartbeat. Thursday’s loss to Udinese in the UEFA Cup is just another disappointment to pile on the hapless Spurs. If they lose this one, I may start to feel sorry for them, but I will not stop sending David Bentley the Premier League table with Blackburn and Tottenham highlighted each week. Good call Bents, you thought that Hotspur was your ticket to the Champions League and International caps. Who knew it could be your ticket to the Championship?

Bolton inspires me about as much as the Jenna Bush 2020 presidential campaign. Their football is not attractive, their talent is suspect, and they will narrowly escape relegation once again this season. Damn. Hard to believe that they finished 7th in the table just a couple of years ago.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Bolton


Wigan v Aston Villa
The Villans ride into the JJB coming off a 2-1 victory over Ajax in the UEFA Cup. The would be impressive if it were 10 years ago, but the Eredivisie is a far cry from what it once was, and Ajax is no longer a world force. Aston Villa still looks like the fifth best squad in the League right now, but a couple of major injuries would cripple this depth-lacking squad.

Wigan’s new Egyptian goal bagger is looking more dominant each week. Zaki’s second goal against Liverpool was the work of a player who is zeroed in completely right now. They will be without Valencia, which means Heskey and Zaki will have to provide on the attack. The Latics are better than their place in the table and this would be a great fixture to prove it.
Wigan 1-2 Aston Villa


West Ham v Arsenal
West Ham has had a promising start stalled with consecutive losses to Hull City and Bolton. If Zola plans to take it to Arsene and the Gunners, it could be a long night for West Ham.

Two months into the season Arsenal sit just four points shy of Chelsea and Liverpool for the top spot in the League. Upon closer inspection, their title ambitions could be in a bit of trouble. The Gunner’s schedule has been cake and they have dropped 2 games to lesser opponents. They rarely have put 90 minutes of solid play together, evidenced last week when Everton outplayed them in the first half. Two more winnable matches, this week at Upton Park and Wednesday against Tottenham at the Emirates, before they hit a rough stretch that includes consecutive matches against Man U, Aston Villa, Man City, and Chelsea. However, three out of those four will be at home.
West Ham 1-3 Arsenal


Portsmouth v Fulham
Pompey received an embarrassing 3-0 lashing against FC Braga on Thursday, denting their confidence going into their match at Fratton Park against Fulham. They have top ten talent, where they go will have to do with how Rednapp deftly approaches each match-up and how Crouch and Defoe continue to progress. Last week’s 0-0 draw was a bit of a backslide.

Fulham showed promise earlier this season, but they are not winning games that they play well in, a bad sign for a team that is sure to have a bad run of form or two this season.
Portsmouth 2-0 Fulham

Champions League: An Anti-climatic Night in Madrid for the Reds

Atletico Madrid 1-1 Liverpool

From the moment that the Champion’s League group stages were announced, the match between Atletico Madrid and Liverpool looked to be one of the most intriguing. Fernando Torres had spent seven seasons in Madrid before heading off to Anfield and being vaulted into superstardom with 33 goals in 46 matches in his first season. Tonight, he was meant to return to play his old team in his home country of Spain, a country he helped to the Euro 2008 title this summer.

However, the hero’s return was not meant to be, as “El Nino” picked up a hamstring injury that ruled him out of even making the trip to Madrid. Adding to the game’s lack of luster was the exclusion of emerging Atletico star, Sergio Aguero. Aguero, hampered by a minor ankle problem and a harsh stretch in La Liga, started the game on the bench.

While the two stars were not immediately involved, there were plenty of stars on both sides to make this match a thrilling fixture. The game itself did little to live of to its original billing. On a windy, miserable night in Madrid, both squads played sloppy ball throughout the first half, Atletico more so, as Liverpool had most of the threatening play.

The first goal came on a Gerrard pass up the middle to a wide-open and slightly offside Robbie Keane. Keane buried the ball into the back of the net, giving his squad a 1-0 lead. With the lack of attack from Atletico, a Liverpool win looked imminent.

Aguero did hit the field in the second half and the offense got a short burst from his presence. Both teams looked dangerous only in short bursts. The game started to settle after that, and Benitez, feeling confident in holding the lead, made some changes to his form and attack. He removed Keane, Gerrard, and Xabi Alonso in succession, hoping to rest them for Sunday’s top-of-the-league battle with Chelsea. This was a mistake, as Rafa robbed his team of much of their attack and the squad settled in to defend. Atletico pushed forward and got the goal they were looking for, after an defensive miscue, Arbeloa drifting over to cover Carragher’s man and leaving Portuguese winger, Simao, wide open to drill a low ball far side past Pepe Reina.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw, not traumatic to either team’s bid to make it out of the group stage, as they remain tied at the top of the group with 7 points, but it certainly was not a confidence booster.

The game was negatively marked by some poor calls as well. The referee and his assistants had a dreadful game, missing on several instances. The game was called solidly in the midfield, with tight control on harsh tackles, something that can get out of hand in a sloppy game. But the penalty and offside decisions had a big impact on the final score.

First, the Robbie Keane goal was slightly offside, a forgivable mistake, considered it was only by an arm. Later on in the half, Yossi Benayoun scored on another great Gerrard pass, but the goal was disallowed due to offside, which the Israel international was not. Later in the first half, Liverpool winger Albert Riera was taken out by the back-swinging foot of an Atletico defender in the box, yet he was given a yellow card for a dive. A horrible call by the referee, who was standing just a couple of yards away, right on top of them. Later in the first half, Madrid midfielder, Maniche, fell down in the box, and the correct call was made, as he fell hard with a two second delay after he was nicked by Arbeloa. Did I mention that Arbeloa had another crap game? He did.

In the second half, Atletico were the victims, as a goal was taken away by another offside call that wasn’t. Later, Forlan ran onto a ball that was saved by Reina, and he was called offside, despite the fact that he was about a yard or so onside. There were a couple more bad offside calls in the game, that didn’t have any real impact, but come to think of it, most of the poor calls came on one side of the pitch.

The two squads will meet again at Anfield in two weeks.