WEEK 2
HINT: Use Landscape for best viewing on mobile device.
Predictions will generally be posted by Friday each week,
AND the analyses should be up by Wednesday following each weekend’s games.
The odds that I quote on each game are the first available and are quite
possibly subject to change as the game day approaches.
WEEK 2 Aug 28-31
All times are Mountain Standard Time
Week 1 Postmortem 26/27
Here we are at the end of the first week in the Premier League. As can be expected, there were a few surprises as each team finds its footing. The biggest shocker was Manchester United going down to Hull 2-0. Going on last season’s results, Manchester 3rd in the Premier League and Hull just scaping into the Top Flight, this should have been a cake walk for United. True the Red Devils did dominate the game, but were woeful in their finishing, I fully expect these two teams will turn it around in the upcoming weeks’ games. Talking of turning it around, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City need to stop dicking around and get focused. No amount of focus is going to help Aston Villa or Crystal Palace I fear, as they were truly terrible, and I see no light at the end of the tunnel for either one just yet. Arsenal got off to an expected victory over newcomers Coventry, and I think they will continue their defense of the League Title this coming Monday against Aston Villa. Leeds got off to an excellent start, albeit a little late in the game, to snatch all three points from Notts Forest, and Brighton’s dismantling of Aston Villa will give them confidence going into this week’s game at Chelsea. Still some transfer deals to unfold before the window closes on Sept 1st, and by the time that mid-September rolls around, some of these teams will be looking very different. Because of the Carabao Cup fixtures this week, the odds are very likely to change. You may want to check back on Friday for any updates.
WEEK 2 GAME 1 – FRI AUG 28th 1:00 |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
 |
CRYSTAL PALACE The Eagles |
MANCHESTER CITY The Citizens |
 |
||||
| Odds +1 | O/U 3 | Odds -1 | |||||
| PROGNOSIS: Crystal Palace managed to get beat by a very mediocre Everton last week and I think that will be the first of many disappointments this season. Manchester City just managed to pull their chestnuts out of the fire at Bournemouth, but it was a close run thing. All I can see is Palace getting worse and City improving. Manchester City -1 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-4 | |||||||
| POSTMORTEM: When you only have the ball 28% of the time, you really can’t expect much, although we have seen plenty of games were that was all it took to come away with a win. But not here. A dismal start to the season for Palace, but a situation that they need to get used to. They always looked mis-matched and didn’t show any kind of serious threat. In fact the one goal they did score was put in the net by City’s goalkeeper, Donnarumma. That means that up until now, no-one on the Crystal Palace team has scored yet this season, although the same could be said for Tottenham and Coventry. Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland both had a couple of goals and Phil Foden is beginning to show flashes of his past form. As he gets more playing time, he is definitely improving. That doesn’t seem to be the case for Palace. I see their season as lurching from one disaster to another, and as I have said elsewhere this could be the last we see of the Eagles in the Premier League for some time. | |||||||
,
WEEK 1 GAME 2 – Sat Aug 29 th 5:30 |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
 |
LIVERPOOL |
NOTTINGHAM FOREST |
 |
||||
| Odds -1 | O/U 3 | Odds +1 | |||||
| PROGNOSIS: Although Forest waited till the last minute to get beaten by Leeds last time out, they never really looked like they had control of the game. They have to be disappointed going into Liverpool knowing that they could have escaped with a point last week. They might need to get used to that feeling because I can’t see them getting anything at Anfield. Surely Liverpool can’t play as poorly as they did against Newcastle. They need all three points to get them back on track. If they can’t get them from this sorry bunch, they may be looking for a new manager a bit sooner than they thought. Liverpool -1 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 2-2 | |||||||
| POSTMORTEM: For the second week in a row, Liverpool just managed to save themselves as time was running out. In my prognosis I said that the Reds couldn’t play as poorly as they did in their first match of the season, well they did manage that. How did they ever let a disjointed team like Notts Forest get a grip in this game is a mystery. Something is sadly amiss here, but perhaps the arrival of Bradley Barcola from PSG will go some way to remedying whatever’s wrong. At the moment, they are all kinds of useless, but with that being said, they do seem to have a hard time with Forest for some reason. The Tricky Trees are not going to get many chances like those that were offered up to them this week. One point they could not have counted on, but at the end of the season that may be all that saves them from the drop. | |||||||
WEEK 1 GAME 3 – Sat Aug 29th 8:00 |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
 |
BOURNEMOUTH |
EVERTON |
 |
||||
| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2-1/2 | Odds + 1/2 | |||||
| PROGNOSIS: Bournemouth came close to an upset last week at Manchester City. On their home turf, I think they will do a little better. As for Everton, even facing a lack-luster Crystal Palace team, they didn’t inspire much confidence. Granted they did win by two goals, but they will face a much better side this Saturday. I’ll take Bournemouth at home to send the Toffees packing. Bournemouth -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-1 | |||||||
| POSTMORTEM: Once again Bournemouth let the lead slip away from them, and had to settle for a single point after being in front for all of the second half. An injury time corner caught them napping and James Tarkowski was there to blast the ball into Bournemouth’s net. As far as the stats show, both these teams were pretty much equal so I suppose a draw could be seen as a fair result. Jordan Pickford had his usual solid game, and if Everton needed an invisible man on their team they got one in Brennan Johnson. The new arrival from Crystal Palace came on at the hour mark and I’m not sure if he even touched the ball. In time Everton will see the error of their ways when they acquired last year’s winner of the Timo Werner Award. |
|||||||
WEEK 1 GAME 4 – Sat Aug 29 th 8:00 |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
 |
COVENTRY |
HULL |
 |
||||
| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds + 1/2 | |||||
| PROGNOSIS: Coventry will be looking to open their tally sheet with a win over their fellow promotees. Backed by their home crowd, they will bring Hull back to reality. The Tigers victory over Manchester United was a fluke last week and I don’t see that happening again. Coventry looked outclassed last week, but they will make amends on their home ground. Coventry -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-1 | |||||||
| POSTMORTEM: Before the start of the season, I thought that Coventry might survive in the Premier League, but after this game, I am open to a revision. Going on last season’s form, the Sky Blues looked like they had a fighting chance at salvation. On the evidence of their last two games in the Premier League, I’d say those odds have lengthened considerably. Even if Hull have won their first two games, they still don’t inspire much confidence. It is possible that they can pick up more points next week at Aston Villa, but this lucky streak cannot last. The cold hard facts are that they are just not that good. Both of these teams showed a lack of quality up front. Just lobbing balls into the penalty area without trying to pick out one of your team-mates, and hoping someone gets lucky is not a recipe for success. Both teams were guilty of this, but especially Coventry. Watching these two was not what you would call an enjoyable experience, certainly not the quality one would expect from Premier League teams. As they sit right now, there is no light at the end of the tunnel for Coventry as they go to Manchester City next week, and will probably pick up their third goose egg in a row. | |||||||
WEEK 1 GAME 5 – Sat Aug 29th 10.30 |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
 |
TOTTENHAM |
NEWCASTLE |
 |
||||
| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PROGNOSIS: Tottenham will have a different look about them this week. There should be some new faces and some old ones that haven’t been seen in a while. For my money, Newcastle are rubbish, and getting worse. They should be happy with the point they got against Liverpool last week because I don’t think they will be seeing a whole lot more of them this season. The team that Spurs fielded last week had as much consistency as a bowl of Jell-O but I believe that a new and improved Tottenham will turn out this week. Tottenham -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-2 | |||||||
| POSTMORTEM: Loads of new faces, a new manager, over $400,000 spent……but still the same old Spurs. They still have a few more moves before the transfer window closes on Tuesday night. After all the money spent once this team settles down, they should be formidable. The question is, how long will that take? They had most of the game in the first half, but folded after a couple of soft goals from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa, Newcastle’s only two shots on target. Tottenham should have brushed aside a Newcastle team that has been decimated by departures, but it wasn’t to be. Next week can’t come soon enough for the North London team, and hopefully a change of fortune. | |||||||
WEEK 1 GAME 6 – Sun Aug 30th 7.00 |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
 |
CHELSEA |
BRIGHTON |
 |
||||
| Odds -1/2 | O/U 3 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PROGNOSIS: A win last week at Fulham was a very welcome start to the season for Chelsea, also for Brighton. Brighton faced a much weaker team, currently, than Chelsea did and while Brighton did look solid enough, Chelsea did not. There are glaring problems in the Blues’ defense. It starts with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. He made a couple of mistakes that nearly cost Chelsea the game, allowing Fulham to get a couple of goals back. There are other problems in the back line that will have to be addressed sooner rather than later. High flying Brighton should make this an entertaining gamem, as they will not sit back and just soak up the pressure. If the odds stay the same, I’ll take the Seagulls to give Chelsea something to think about. Brighton +1 /2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 4-3 | |||||||
| POSTMORTEM: Chelsea had this game won in the first 30 minutes, but then their old weaknesses started to kick in. Going 3-0 down didn’t dampen Brighton’s spirits, and they bravely fought back. Chelsea have begun to address their problems by exchanging Robert Sanchez in goal for Emiliano Martinez, but more work is needed. Cole Palmer’s return to form paid dividends when he charged through the midfield and buried Chelsea’s fourth goal. Having only 26% of the possession on your home ground does not look very convincing, but their attack is as good as their defense is bad. At the stroke of time, Brighton did get a consolation third goal and if the game had gone on much longer, I would not have been surprised if the Seagulls had scored more. An unfortunate result for Brighton, as I think they desrved more. | |||||||
WEEK 1 GAME 7 – Sun Aug 30th 7:00 |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
 |
LEEDS |
BRENTFORD |
 |
||||
| Odds Pick | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds Pick | |||||
| PROGNOSIS: It’s an optimistic team that thinks it can come into Elland Road and leave with any points. Leeds are going to be tough to beat wherever you play them this season. Brentford got off to a grand start blasting 3 passed Tottenham, but they will find it harder going this week, especially having to face James Trafford in goal, who as far as I’m concerned is the best guy between the sticks in the Premier League. Leeds PICK’EM | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-1 | |||||||
| POSTMORTEM: Leeds continue with their impressive home field advantage. Not many teams get satisfaction when they come to Leeds. Although Brentford had them on the ropes just before half-time with a Kevin Schade goal, and looked very dangerous in the first period. After the break, the Whites got more into the game. Don’t understand why newcomer Harry Wilson didn’t start, but he came on at the beginning of the second period and made an instant impact. Time was running out, but the pressure from the home team was making a difference. Eventually, 11 minutes from full time, Leeds got their equalizer. Some fancy footwork and a simple cross by Lukas Nmecha gave Dominic Calvin-Lewin an easy tap-in that sent the home fans into raptures. At the end, Leeds had more chances to take all the points, but Brantford’s defense kept them at bay. A good early start to the new season for both teams. | |||||||
WEEK 1 GAME 8 – Sun Aug 30th 7:00
|
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
 |
SUNDERLAND |
FULHAM |
 |
||||
| Odds PICK | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds PICK | |||||
| PROGNOSIS: Sunderland were unlucky last week against Ipswich, but so were Fulham against Chelsea. The Black Cats can be a harder nut to crack at home, so Fulham have their work cut out for them. This game has draw written all over it and if the odds don’t change, I’d say no bet. If they do change, I would go with the underdog but as it stands I’ll say NO BET | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-0 | |||||||
| POSTMORTEM: Sunderland had to wait until the 75th-minute to win this game. Both teams were guilty of sloppy play, and poor finishing for much of the game. And at the end, new Fulham manager, Alvaro Arbeloa, had some harsh words for his team. Accusing them of not trying hard enough, among other things. Sunderland’s defense stood firm and didn’t allow a single shot on goal from the visitors. In the end, a late goal by substitute Wilson Isidor was all that was needed to leave all the points in the North East. Granit Xhaka is the heart and soul of the Black Cats, and his leadership and focus are invaluable to Sunderland. They do have some European games to navigate this season and that may stretch the team as they don’t have the depth as a lot of the other Premier League teams. Even so, the extra money garnered from these games will be greatly appreciated, and I’m sure put to good use. | |||||||
WEEK 1 GAME 9 – Aug 30th 9:30
|
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
 |
MANCHESTER UNITED |
IPSWICH |
 |
||||
| Odds -1 1/2 | O/U 3 | Odds +1 1/2 | |||||
| PROGNOSIS: Manchester United have a lot to make up for this week. Their last effort against Hull was dismal. That being said, they should have no trouble with seeing Ipswich off. I don’t think the Tractor Boys should be making any long term plans for staying in the Premier League. A useful start last week against Sunderland, but I think the points are going to be few and far between this season. Manchester needs to get the train back on the tracks.. Manchester United -1 1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 5-2 | |||||||
| POSTMORTEM: After last week’s debacle at Hull, Manchester United were in no mood to take any prisoners. 28 shots with 11 of them on target gives you some idea of the intensity of United’s attack. Ipswich did in fact score first and Manchester were a little shaky in the first half. Bruno Fernandes had the game tied up just before the break. He scored two more in the second half for his hat-trick. Bryan Mbeumo joined him on the score sheet, and the Red Devils were awarded an own goal from a deflected shot by Harry Maguire. Truth be told, the score could have been a lot worse for Ipswich; they did get a consolation second goal in injury time, but Manchester had two or three chances that should have been put away but in the end had to settle for 5! | |||||||
WEEK 1 GAME 10 – Mon Aug 31st 1:00
|
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
 |
ASTON VILLA |
ARSENAL |
 |
||||
| Odds +1 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds -1 | |||||
| PROGNOSIS: Arsenal could not have hoped for an easier start to the season. Aston Villa are in complete freefall and all I see is heartache and tears for the foreseeable future. The old doubts creep in when the Gunners have to win by 3 goals. They have a tendency to hold back when they have the lead and their kind of play can be frustrating. They’ll win this, but I wouldn’t be taking out any loans to place this bet. Arsenal -1 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-1 | |||||||
| POSTMORTEM: Arsenal served up their usual uninspired, boring brand of football against an Aston Villa team that really had nothing to offer in the way of ideas themselves. Arsenal may be League champions and they do have 6 points from their first two games, but this type of play is not going to win them many new fans. In fact any kind of consistency from 4 0r 5 other teams will put the damper on their attempts at a repeat of last season. At the end of the game, 8 extra minutes were added, In what some people call “game management,” Arsenal decide to waste the remaining time passing to whoever is standing closest to them or back towards the goalkeeper. Lots can happen in 8 minutes and if Villa had any clue as to what they were doing, maybe they could have given the Gunners a scare. Basically, this game was boring rubbish. Villa’s new signing Nicolas Jackson may make an impression once he settles in, he has undeniable talent, but can be very uneven. Another new signing, Alejandro Garnacho, came on with 12-minutes left plus 8-minutes extra for a total of 20 minutes. I don’t think he touched the ball in that time, but if he did, it didn’t amount to squat. | |||||||