WEEK 3
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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 3 August 29-31
All times are Mountain Standard Time
LAST WEEK’S SUMMARY
Lots of surprises here. Tottenham, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest all getting beat, couldn’t see that coming. Crystal Palace defying the odds and West Ham finally getting off the ground. The Gold Star pick went bust so we will have to start again after the International Break. for those keeping score I only got three right out of eight picks, I did predict there would be a balance after our excellent first week, just didn’t expect it so soon.
WEEK 3 GAME 1 – FRI AUG 29 15:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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CHELSEA |
FULHAM |
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| Odds -1 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Chelsea took the hammer to the Hammers last week. This week they face their next door neighbors, Fulham. On last week’s form they should make short work of the Cottagers. Fulham on the other hand have a habit of upsetting opponents that should beat them. If Chelsea was 1/2 goal favorites, I might be tempted but a one goal disadvantage means they have to beat Fulham by two clear goals. I’m going to say no bet here. | |||||||
| RESULTS: 2-0 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Joao Pedro scored again for Chelsea, his fifth goal in his last five outings, after coming over from Brighton for an approx $60 million fee. A very welcome start to the season considering their star striker, Cole Palmer, is out injured and Nicolas Jackson is looking to move to Bayern Munich. At this point they are unbeaten which has to feel good when taking into account their hectic summer schedule. They could consider themselves fortunate as the game had at least a couple of dubious decisions handed down by referee Robert Jones. Fulham had the ball in Chelsea’s net at the 21st minute mark, but was ruled out for questionable contact by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah. If that goal had been allowed to stand, it could have been a whole different ball game. Fulham are now winless in their first three games this season and quite rightfully feel cheated by the officials. | |||||||
WEEK 3 GAME 2 – SAT AUG 30 10:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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MANCHESTER UNITED |
BURNLEY |
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| Odds -1 1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1 1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: It’s do or die here. After getting beat on penalties on Wednesday by Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, Manchester’s coach, Ruben Amorim, is not going to get many more chances to turn this team around. Even if they beat Burnley, his goose could already be cooked. Conflicting reports say that the United board is behind him but other reports say they have already settled on a replacement. Burnley won their Cup game against Derby County, but I don’t think it gives them enough of a lift to be victorious this Saturday. Manchester United -1-1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 3-2 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: A heartbreak end to what should have been at least a point for newly promoted Burnley. With 26 shots on goal as opposed to 6 by Burnley, and twice as much possession, The Red Devils should have had this wrapped up long before a Bruno Fernandes penalty deep into injury time sealed Burnley’s fate. Fundamental problems still persist for United. They need a goalkeeper and Bryan Mbeumo needs a little more time to fit into this team (although he did score his first goal for Untied). Newcomer Matheus Cunha had to retire from the game with what could be a hamstring problem; if that is the case he could be out for some time just when their schedule gets tough with upcoming matches against Manchester City and Chelsea. Weather this result will be enough to give manager Ruben Amorin a bit of breathing room remains to be seen. I think it is going to take more than a last gasp victory against the likes of Burnley to save his job. | |||||||
WEEK 3 GAME 3 – SAT AUG 30 10:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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WOLVERHAMPTON |
EVERTON |
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| Odds Pick | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds Pick | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Things are looking dicey for The Wolves. They desperately need a result here after already drawing two blanks. Everton had a good win last week in their first home game in their new stadium, but even as Jack Grealish is starting to find his feet and the ever dependable Jordan Pickford will keep this close, I think Wolverhampton will find a way to win this. Wolverhampton. Pick. | |||||||
| RESULTS: 2-3 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Jack Grealish continues to shine for Everton. He set up two of Everton’s goals and really seems to have slotted into the Mersey side team effortlessly. Beto opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a header fed to him by Grealish. A very useful three points for The Toffees but to get it into perspective, this was Wolves after all. The Wanderers have not managed a point yet in this season and after cashing in on some of their best players this could be an uphill climb for the Old Gold this campaign. The contribution that Grealish brings to this team can’t be over emphasized. Now Everton have a competitor for man of the match, a title that has been held week after week by Jordan Pickford. Two top players may not be enough to propel them too far up the table, but at least they won’t have to entertain the threat of relegation as they do almost every season. | |||||||
WEEK 4 GAME 4 –SAT AUG 30 10:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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TOTTENHAM |
BOURNEMOUTH |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 3 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: With just 1/2 a goal penalty, I’ll take Spurs at home for my Gold Star pick this week. There’s a new confidence at Tottenham especially after last week’s win at Manchester City. Bournemouth got on the board beating Wolves, but it’s hard to draw anything from that game. As bad as Wolves are, the Cherries at home should have won by more than one goal. Tottenham -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: What the hell happened here! First off; bang goes the Gold Star pick, there was no way this should have been the final result. Factor in that Bournemouth’s goal was scored in the fifth minute that gives Tottenham 85 minutes to get something out of this game. It was the 69th minute that Spurs had their first shot on target. Truth be told the Londoners were lucky to be beat by just the one goal. How can a team go to Manchester City, beat them 2-0 and then next week be completely pathetic at home against Bournemouth? Such is football! I would be embarrassed to take a paycheck this week if I was a Spurs player, with the exception of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario who seems to be improving week over week. | |||||||
WEEK 3 GAME 5 – SAT AUG 30 10:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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SUNDERLAND |
BRENTFORD |
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| Odds Pick | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds Pick | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: A pick seems to be right for this game but I’m going with The Black Cats. I expected more from them last week at Burnley, but they had trouble with them three times last year (they lost all three) in the Championship League. From where I sit, Brentford are useless considering they have sold most of their talent plus the coach. A draw last week against, perhaps more useless Aston Villa, does not inspire confidence. Looking for Sunderland to get back to winning ways in front of their rabid home fans. Sunderland. Pick | |||||||
| RESULTS: 2-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Both these teams waited to the end before they got on the scoreboard. Sunderland got lucky at the end when they were awarded a last gasp penalty to ensure the victory. Watching this game a couple of things occurred to me: some I already knew and others I suspected. #1 Brentford are in trouble. As I have said before, they have lost a first grade manager and lots of their top players. #2 Sunderland are still somewhat of an unknown force. They have spent lavishly in the transfer market but what kind of quality players are you going to get to come to NE England (almost the same kind as you’d get to come to Ipswich). Bottom line is this: Brentford are going to get beat up left and right. Sunderland had to fight real hard to get the result that could quite as easily have gone the other way. Sunderland have lofty ambitions but the quality of their game (especially their finishing is going to have to improve dramatically) if they are going to be able to compete in this league. | |||||||
WEEK 3 GAME 6 – SAT AUG 30 12:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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LEEDS |
NEWCASTLE |
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| Odds +1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds -1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: What do you do with this? Newcastle are all adrift with the Alexander Isak transfer or not. The situation looks no clearer than last week. He says he won’t play for the team again and trains on his own when everybody else has gone home. After a good start to the season, beating Everton 1-0, the wheels came flying off last week at Chelsea. Anyone’s guess how this is gonna turn out. Keep your money in your pocket. No Bet. | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-0 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: No surprise here for me. A much better result for Leeds than Newcastle. The Magpies are still floundering with the absence of Alexander Isak but maybe the addition of Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade will make the difference when he gets to take the field. Leeds haven’t lost on their home turf in nearly a year and that has to be largely attributed to their home fans. In the end it was a fine reflex save by ‘keeper Nick Pope that saved a point for the visitors. | |||||||
WEEK 3 GAME 7 – SUN AUG 31 09:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST |
WEST HAM |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: West Ham are useless. The problem the Trees are going to face is they’re going to be playing like cornered rats. It’s only three games into the season, but if The Hammers are to save their season they need to start pretty soon. The Forest at home should take care of this shower and with only 1/2 goal disadvantage, I’ll take them to add to the East Londoners’ misery. Notts Forest -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-3 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Some things just don’t make sense, this is one of them. You have to wait for six minutes from the end to start scoring. Then to add insult to stupidity West Ham do all the scoring. I’ll take any bet you want that The Hammers wont beat anyone in the PL by three points for the rest of the season. Looked like the Trees were happy to settle for the draw (which is a crap desision at any time) and went to sleep. Even a team as clueless as West Ham will take advantage of that scenario, although it’s a close run thing. Forest manager Nuno and owner Marinakis have a very important meeting in the next few days. The degree of importance is being kept kinda quiet and the outcome is not worth commenting on until it happens. | |||||||
WEEK 3 GAME 8 – SUN AUG 31 09:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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BRIGHTON |
MANCHESTER CITY |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Manchester City have got to be smarting from getting beat 2-0 last week by Tottenham. They had plenty of chances but the ball just didn’t roll their way. I don’t think they are going to show any mercy to the Seagulls and a 1/2 goal handicap should be no problem. I was torn between between this game and Tottenham for my Gold Star pick, but just because the Spurs’ game was first, I took them. If they falter, all the money goes on City. Manchester City -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 2-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Another result that should have never have happened. It’s games like this (along with the Tottenham v Bournemouth game) that make you ask “Do I know what I’m doing?” Sixty years of involvement in this genre should give you some insight…right? Well we get curves and that’s what we have here a bloody big curve. City should not have had too much of a problem here but as we see they did. At this point I still see Manchester City as a legitimize challenge to whomever as aspirations to the Premier League title. A positive note is that James Trafford put in a stellar performance in goal, it may not be enough to save his first team place if they sign their preferred replacement from Paris Saint-Germain, Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world (we’ll see). | |||||||
WEEK 3 GAME 9 – SUN AUG 31 11:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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LIVERPOOL |
ARSENAL |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Ah this is the big one. Both of these teams are not playing to their full potential, but for different reasons. Liverpool need to get their defensive act together, they are about as solid as a wet paper bag, the fact that the rest of the team is clicking has saved their bacon in the last two weeks. Arsenal demolished Leeds last week, but they are up against a different class of opponent this week. Like a fine wine, I don’t think Arsenal will travel well this week. Liverpool -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-0 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Does the emperor have no clothes? Well not quite but If you are going to be a serious contender you need some kind of result here. A draw would suffice. As it turned out Liverpool again pulled their toes out of the fire right at the end. They now sit on top of the league with nine points and, lets be fair, much as last year they don’t always look completely in control but at the end of the day it’s how many points do you have in your win column. Liverpool are about to get some serious reinforcements to their soldiers, then we will see a team that is gonna be unstoppable. | |||||||
WEEK 3 GAME 10 – SUN AUG 31 12:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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ASTON VILLA |
CRYSTAL PALACE |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Not much of a game to finish the week. Aston Villa are hopeless and Palace seem to defy the odds by getting draws in game they should lose. Not going to bet my holiday money on this, but I’m going for a draw. In that case it would be Crystal Palace +1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-3 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Another strange result in a week-end full of ’em. Crystal Palace continue to surprise and to come to Villa Park and win 3-0 has to surprise even their most die-hard fans. A 21st minute penalty by Jean-Phillippe Mateta began the rot. It was against the run of play as the Villans piled on the pressure but couldn’t get the ball in the net. Two more goals in the second half put the three points safely in The Eagles bag. Something seems to be horribly wrong at Villa. The manager seems to be fighting with the owner and they have yet to score a goal yet this season. They had all the making of a successful afternoon with over twice as many shots at goal, although only four of them were on target, the difference being out of Palace’s four shots on target, three of them went in. With Marc Guehi’s imminent departure looming, Palace may need to come out of the traps with as many points they can muster. The rest of the season may become a tad more difficult after they lose their best player. | |||||||