WEEK 17
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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 17 December 20-22
All times are Mountain Standard Time
LAST WEEK’S SUMMARY
Week 16
Don’t know were I got my information from last week, but I said that seven games were being played on Saturday, well that was obviously wrong, sorry about that. On the bright side I did get six right and only two wrong and my Gold Star pick won: Aston Villa -1/2 over West Ham. Villa and Manchester City are still maintaining the pressure on Arsenal with Chelsea not far behind. Speaking of which—-Arsenal were lucky to escape humiliation at the hands of Wolves. The less said about Wolverhampton and Burnley would probably be best (but I do think the “Old Gold” may get some consolation this upcoming week). A great victory for Sunderland over Newcastle which will give the lads and lassies a warm fuzzy feeling at least until next week.
WEEK 17 GAME 1 – SAT Dec 20th 5:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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NEWCASTLE |
CHELSEA |
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| Odds PICK | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds PICK | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Newcastle have to be royally upset at losing to arch rivals Sunderland last week, but Chelsea come North looking for points of their own. The Blues are clinging on to fourth place in the League and can’t afford a slip-up at this stage. Chelsea. Pick. | |||||||
| RESULTS: 2-2 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Newcastle had this game in the bag and let it slip through their fingers. 2-0 up after 20 minutes should have been enough for the Magpies to claim all three points. Nick Woltemade scored both of the goals and looks to be good value for his transfer fee. Considering Isak Alexander’s calamitous season so far at Liverpool (the man that Woltemade was brought in to replace), it looks like Newcastle got the best of that deal…so far. They let Chelsea back in the second half and the game was tied up at two apiece after 66 minutes. Before the equalizing goal Newcastle had, what looked to them, a clear penalty claim disallowed. In the end both teams ended up disapointed. Newcastle thought they should have won it, and one point for Chelsea does not help their bid to finish in the top four by the end of the season. | |||||||
WEEK 17 GAME 2 – Sat Dec 20th 8:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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WOLVERHAMPTON |
BRENTFORD |
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| Odds + 1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds -1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: I’m going out on a limb here. As bad as Wolves are, I think somewhere down the line they have to pick up a point or two. Added to that reasoning, I have very little respect for Brentford. They travel up to the Midlands this week and I think we may see a very rare occurrence. Wolverhampton may be getting something for all their efforts. Wolves +1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-2 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: I thought that maybe Wolves might get a little something from this game, but I guess not. To me this looked like a real chance to get a little respect from a season that nobody wanted. They looked like they might squeeze out something going into half-time. Their first half performance should have bought a burst of confidence, but if it did, it was shattered in the 63rd minute and again 20 minutes later by Keane Lewis-Potter who score both of Brentford’s goals. With time running out, Wolverhampton were awarded a penalty, which to my eyes looked a little harsh, but as it turned out Caoimhin Kelleher saved it to deny even a small modicum of solace for the winless Wolves. | |||||||
WEEK17 GAME 3 – Sat Dec 20th 8:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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MANCHESTER CITY |
WEST HAM |
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| Odds Pick | O/U 3 1/2 | Odds Pick | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: This should be a bloodbath. Stranger things have happened, but I don’t see that happening here. Manchester City have the top spot in their sights, and like a dog with a bone, I don’t see them letting go anytime soon. But I will say I don’t like these big spreads. City are certainly capable of putting a hat full past an improving West Ham team, but I’m steering clear of this one. No Bet | |||||||
| RESULTS: 3-0 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: As one would have expected this was as one-sided as a shouting match with a statue. City had the ball 2/3’s of the time and never looked to break a sweat. Earling Haaland set the pace with a goal in the first five minutes, set up the second for Tijjani Reijnders and scored his second to effectivly put West Ham out of their misery. Going into Christmas deep into relegation territory will not be a pleasant position for the East London team, but for my money a situation they should be getting used to. If anyone cares to check, I had this sorry bunch of misfits earmarked for the drop at the start of the season. Hate to say “I told you so” but I told you so. Ok then, now prove me wrong!!! | |||||||
WEEK 17 GAME 4 – Sat Dec 20th 8:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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BRIGHTON |
SUNDERLAND |
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| Odds -1 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: A draw would seem to be the right outcome for this one. Brighton can be tough at home and Sunderland can just be tough. The Cats will be feeling good after last week’s win over Newcastle, and it should be a close one. A one goal advantage to Sunderland seems to be the way to go here. Sunderland +1 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-0 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: This might not have been pretty, but The Cats got the job done. As noted, Brighton can be troublesome at home, but it looked like nobody told Sunderland that. The visitors, like lots of teams in the Premier League, have lost players to the African competition, AFCON, but it didn’t show here. The Black Cats don’t have players that ring many bells. Granit Xhaka being the exception, who incidentally has matured beyond all expectations, since leaving Arsenal. Robin Roefs, goalkeeper, at only 22 years old may be the signing of the season. Also, Dan Ballard who is a rock in defense was acquired for a ridiculous fee of around $6 mil at the beginning of this season. Brighton looked to have fallen off somewhat, but at this moment while the Seagulls seem to have lost a step, The Cats have gained one. | |||||||
WEEK 17 GAME 5 – Sat Sep 20th 8:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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BOURNEMOUTH |
BURNLEY |
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| Odds -1 1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1 1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Bournemouth can be all over the place, but they are at home and I don’t think Burnley have much hope of getting anything here. Not that they have much hope of getting anything anywhere at the moment. Bournemouth +1 1/2. P.S. The odds on this game have changed to Bournemouth +1. | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: What the hell went wrong here? Bournemouth at home are one goal up, not from want of trying, and the game is done. The Cherries have had 2/3’s possession, 14 shots and have the Clarets on the ropes. Burnley are probably toast at this point, not just this game but the season, and then what? I suppose it’s a testament to the professionalism of the Premier League players that even when all hope is gone, the competitive spirit still rises to the top. In contrast to this, I remember a few seasons ago when Chelsea players wanted the manager gone and they stopped playing. Some of them are still playing in professional football, but they wouldn’t be playing on any team I owned! Maybe that was a bit of a tangent. Bottom line, Armando Broja bounced up and scored a 90th-minute header to tie the game and take a point back to East Lancashire. I fear it will not do them much good in their fight against relegation. | |||||||
WEEK 17 GAME 6 – Sat Dec 20th 10:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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TOTTENHAM |
LIVERPOOL |
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| Odds +1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds -1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: As we all know by now, Tottenham are useless at home and even if Liverpool are not at their best, they should have enough in their tank to take care of this. If Tottenham were to get anything out of this, they would have to improve 1000% (I know, I know, a 1000% is not a real number, but after all we are dealing in abstracts here) over last week’s debacle. Liverpool -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-2 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: On one hand you could say this was competitive spirit writ large, on the other, a complete lack of discipline, or something you might expect from a Chelsea team. Nothing of note in the first half, but within a few minutes of his inclusion into the game, Alexander Isak had scored the opening goal and in doing so injured himself out of the game. At this point Xavi Simons had already been sent off for a reckless, and unnecessary, foul on Virgil Van Dijk. Hugo Ekitike added a second for Liverpool at the 66th-minute mark and it looked like a solid three points for the visitors. Then Richalison, Palhinha, Oderbert and Brennan Johnson came on as subs. Richarlison’s presence was immediately felt and in the 83rd-minute had the ball in the net spearheading a late comeback. The whole thing went off script after that, Richarlison was lucky to escape a yellow card, maybe even a red for his behavior after his goal. Maybe the Liverpool players had been winding him up, but a savage grab on the back of Ekitike’s neck as he was laying in Liverpool’s goalmouth and his confrontation in the face of a couple of other players was inappropriate. If it had been seen by the referee, he would have had serious consequences. As it was, Christian Romero managed to earn a red card shortly afterwards and Spurs ended the game one goal down and two players short. | |||||||
WEEK 17 GAME 7 – Sat 20th Dec 1:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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LEEDS |
CRYSTAL PALACE |
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| Odds PICK | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds PICK | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: With their undeniable advantage at home, Palace may have a problem on their hands at Leeds. A devastating defeat at home last week at the hands of Manchester City may leave the Eagles a little shell-shocked. It looks to me that Leeds have the momentum to get something out of this. Therefore, I will go with the home team. Leeds. PICK | |||||||
| RESULTS: 4-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Leeds climb out of the Doldrums continues. A resounding victory over an opportunistic Crystal Palace side cements their bona fides in their attempt to remain in the Premier League. The win pulls The Whites six points clear of the bottom three and that gap is rapidly becoming a chasm. Dominic Calvin-Lewin scored two and that brings his tally to five games in a row with a goal. Two minutes into injury time, Palace were awarded a penalty; Justin Devenny made the score look a little more respectable, but even that didn’t last as Anton Stach added a fourth for Leeds 11-minutes into injury time to add insult to injury | |||||||
WEEK 17 GAME 8 – Sat 20th Dec 1:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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EVERTON |
ARSENAL |
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| Odds +1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds -1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Arsenal have to travel this week, but even though they seem to be faltering somewhat they should be too strong for an Everton team that have gotten some good, and unexpected, results as of late. I can see the Gunners winning this, but they need two clear goals. I’ll go with the visitors, but I wouldn’t risk much on the outcome. Arsenal -1. P.S. The odds on this game have changed to Arsenal -1/2. | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: It took a penalty for Arsenal to go home with all the points; they made heavy going of it though; 67% possession but only two shots on target does not a champion make. That being said, it was still better than Everton’s two overall shots and none on target. The three points still leave The Gunners on top of the pile, but Manchester City and Aston Villa are still in hot pursuit. If Arsenal are serious about winning the League, they have to beat the likes of Everton and Wolves by more than one goal. | |||||||
WEEK 17 GAME 9 – Sun Dec 21st 9:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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ASTON VILLA |
MANCHESTER UNITED |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 3 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Aston Villa at home should take out a Manchester team that will have lost Bryan Mbeumo to African cup games for the next few weeks. He has been slowly finding his feet, but United can ill afford to lose him at this stage. The Villans will maintain their pursuit of the top spot, and I can see them taking all the points. Aston Villa -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 2-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Aston Villa were strangely subdued for much of this game, but for flashes of brilliance from Morgan Rodgers this could have ended much differently. United were without seven first team players for various reasons and the sorely missed the presence of Bryan Mbeumo, off playing in Africa, in front of Villa’s goal. It was painfully obvious that they needed a finisher up front as they produced plenty of chances but lacked the man who could make those chances pay. Indeed, United had the lion’s share of the ball and Villa seemed content to just sit back and let them beat themselves against a brick wall. It took a monumental screw-up by Matty Cash to gift The Devils a goal just before half time. At the other end of the field Morgan Rogers’ two goals were a thing of beauty. Taken from almost the same spot, Rogers curled both shots around ‘keeper Lammens and planted them in the far corner of the net. When The Villans had the ball, they looked sharper and confident, and you had the feeling that they were just biding their time. United captain, Bruno Fernandes, couldn’t come out for the second half with what looked like a hamstring problem. If that proves to be the case, it will be a big blow to Manchester’s prospects in the upcoming weeks. | |||||||
WEEK 17 GAME 10 – Mon Dec 22nd 1:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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FULHAM |
NOTTINGHAM FOREST |
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| Odds PICK | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds PICK | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Just when Fulham were starting to turn things around, they lose three of their most useful players to a trip to Africa. If it wasn’t for that, I would take the Cottagers, but losing those players is a major blow. These odds may change before game time, but as it stands, I’ll go with the Tricky Trees on this one. Nottingham Forest. PICK. After some thought I changed my mind on this and went with Fulham. PICK | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-0 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Both teams needed these points (well all teams do, but sometimes the circumstances are a little more desperate). The odds on this game were a pick and that seemed about right as both of these were evenly matched. In the end it was a penalty awarded in the 5th-minute of injury time at the end of the first half that decided it. Forest tried to get back on equal terms in the second half, but The Cottagers held on for the win. As with most of the other teams in the Premier League, both teams were missing men playing in the AFCON tournament. Fulham were hit particularly hard by the absences, but in the end rose to the occasion. Forest’s new manager, Sean Dyche, must be disappointed after his near perfect start to his tenure, he has already made a very positive impression in the short time he has been in charge. | |||||||