WEEK 2

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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 2 AUG 22-25

All times are Mountain Standard Time

WEEK 2 GAME 1 – FRI AUG 23 13:00
HOME				AWAY
	WEST HAM The Hammers			CHELSEA The Blues
	Odds -1/2		O/U 2 1/2		Odds +1/2
PREDICTION: Chelsea have to be disappointed with last week’s draw against Crystal Palace. They were the better team for most of the game but couldn’t break down The Eagles’ defense. Speaking of disappointment, West Ham must feel embarrassed after last weeks shellacking by Sunderland. A feeling they should get used to as I see more of the same coming down the road. Chelsea will be looking to make amends and for my money West Ham should expect more of what they got last week. Gold Star pick. Chelsea -1/2
RESULTS: 1-5
ANALYSIS: No body with two eyes in their head and half a brain could say this was a surprise. For most of last season West Ham have looked completely lost in the Premier League. About halfway through last season I said they were candidates for the drop and so far this year they have continued on that path. In a word they were useless and Chelsea, without their star player Cole Palmer, ripped them apart. Not much point in going over the match; the score says it all. For five minutes there was some hope as the home team scored first, but it was all downhill from there. As dominating as the scoreline would suggest Chelsea looked sloppy and lackadaisical at times and against a more accomplished side would have found it much tougher going. If they are going to be taken seriously they are going to have to tighten up considerably. As for The Hammers I can’t begin to imagine what it will take to turn this team around.

WEEK 2 GAME 2 – SAT AUG 23 07:30
HOME				AWAY
	MANCHESTER CITY The Citizens			TOTTENHAM The Spurs
	Odds -1 1/2		O/U 3 1/2		Odds +1 1/2
PREDICTIONS: Manchester City looked good last week but so did Tottenham. Historically Spurs have done well against City. In 174 matches between these two Spurs have 68 wins to City’s 69 and 37 draws. The Londoners looked revitalized against Burnley and City made short work against Wolverhampton, neither opponents are what you would consider top tier. Even though Manchester are at home 1-1/2 favorites may be a little too much. I expect the home team to prevail but it could be close. If you have to bet on this one, I would keep it modest. Under 3 1/2 goals
RESULTS: 0-2
ANALYSIS: From beating the worst team in the league to beating the best, in my humble opinion, puts Spurs on the top of the table along with the other two unbeaten teams. Maybe a bit soon to be thinking they have turned the corner from last year, but the signs are promising. Manchester City seem to have problems with this group of Londoners and some of their old bad habits from last year were on display. They had plenty of the ball, 2/3rd’s possession, and lots of opportunities to score but a combination of bad luck and sloppy finishing led them to go in at half-time two goals down courtesy of Brennan Johnson and new acquisition Joao Palhinha. In a contrast from last week, when they beat Wolverhampton 4-0, they looked rusty and none more so than goalkeeper James Trafford. Long time goalie Ederson looks to be leaving and after a great year in the Championship League last year with Burnley Trafford seemed tailor made to fill the position. After this week’s performance he needs to improve dramatically if he is to maintain his spot. He did salvage some credibility at the end, but stopping a couple of good attempts by Wilson Odobert and Dominic Solanke; so in the end it could have been a lot worse for the Citizens.

WEEK 2 GAME 4 – SAT AUG 23 10:00
HOME				AWAY
	BRENTFORD The Bees			ASTON VILLA The Villans
	Odds Pick		O/U 2 1/2		Odds Pick
PREDICTIONS: Aston Villa could only manage a draw last week against Newcastle even though they had the home field advantage. Brentford were soundly beaten by Notts Forest and I expect that unfortunate trend to continue on Saturday. Aston Villa are not without their own problems but they should be too strong for the Bees. Aston Villa. Pick
RESULTS: 1-0
ANALYSIS: Newcomer Dango Ouattara’s 12th minute goal was all that was needed for Brentford to claim all three points. Hard to believe Villa had 76% possession and only a couple of shots on goal. Seems like their game plan is pass sideways or backwards, to put it another way, they were awful. This season is going to be a tale of misery if they continue down this path. But lets not kid ourselves Brentford weren’t exactly word beaters today. From were I sit I can’t see either of these two teams being anything other than an easy three points for whoever they are playing.

WEEK 2 GAME 3 – SAT AUG 23 10:00
HOME				AWAY
	BURNLEY The Clarets			SUNDERLAND The Black Cats
	Odds Pick		O/U 2		Odds Pick
PREDICTIONS: The Black Cats got off to a roaring start to the season slamming three past West Ham. The exact opposite of what Burnley managed last week. I don’t think Sunderland will lose their momentum and can see them adding to their tally when this is all over. Burnley are going to have a problem filling the gap that was left when goalkeeper James Trafford returned to Manchester City and their games only get tougher for the next couple of months. Sunderland Pick
RESULTS: 2-0
ANALYSIS: Two second half goals by Jaidon Anthony and Josh Cullen put the kibosh on any hopes Sunderland had of extending their impressive display against West Ham last week. Burnley had a goal in the first half but it was overturned by referee Michael Salisbury. It’s a good start to Burnley’s return to the Premier League when you can win your first home game. After the first goal, 47 min, The Clarets dropped back and played the kind of football that gave them promotion last year. With their defense reinforced by new arrival Kyle Walker they are hard to break down. Whether it is a strategy that will save them from a quick return to the lower reaches remains to be seen. Sunderland lost Dan Ballard in the first ten minutes to a groin injury and that may have made an impression on the outcome of the game. The severity of his injury is yet to be discovered but it could be a big blow to Sunderland’s ambitions this early in the season.

WEEK 2 GAME 5 – SAT AUG 23 10:00
HOME				AWAY
	BOURNEMOUTH The Cherries			WOLVERHAMPTON The Wolves
	Odds -1/2		O/U 2 1/2		Odds +1/2
PREDICTIONS: I wouldn’t want to risk much on this game. Bournemouth should come out on top but this could go either way. I can see it ending in a draw so in that case the bet would be Wolves. Like I said unless you have money sitting around that you don’t know what to do with I’d keep away from this one. Wolves +1/2
RESULTS: 1-0
ANALYSIS: Wolves better start looking to the form of Millwall and Portsmouth because that’s who they’ll be playing next year in the Championship League. With just four minutes gone Marcus Tavernier scores for Bournemouth and that’s all it takes to nail all three points for the home team. Apart from being useless for much of the game, Wolverhampton go down to ten men when Toti Gomes gets sent off just after half time for a push on Bournemouth’s goalkeeper. If Bournemouth had much of a game plan, they should have racked up many more goals. I won’t be renewing my season tickets for either of these Muppets.

WEEK 2 GAME 6 – SAT AUG 23 12:30
HOME				AWAY
	ARSENAL The Gunners			LEEDS The Whites
	Odds -1 1/2		O/U 3		Odds +1 1/2
PREDICTIONS: After all the pressure put on Everton last week, Leeds only came away with one goal, a dubious penalty. They were dominant throughout the game and if they can keep up the pace they will be a team to be taken seriously. Arsenal were lucky to come away as the victors last week at Manchester United and they looked a bit shaky. If they don’t cause an upset, I think Leeds will give a good account of themselves. I’ll take The Whites to hold their own and take them to keep the score close. Leeds +1 1/2
RESULTS: 5-0
ANALYSIS: Oh did I get that one wrong! Arsenal ran riot over Leeds in North London on Saturday. Viktor Gyokeres opened his tally with a brace (scoring two goals in a single match) even if one of them was a gift of a penalty. The Gunners lost Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka to injury and they could be doubtful for next week’s clash at Liverpool. Leeds were never in this. Arsenal had 18 shots on goal and even if Leeds’ 3 shots had gone in they still would have lost. They were creamed when it came to possession, Arsenal 68%, Leeds 32%. The Whites need to shrug this off and hope for a better result aginst Newcastle next week.

WEEK 2 GAME 7 – SUN AUG 24 09:00
HOME				AWAY
	CRYSTAL PALACE The Eagles			NOTTS FOREST The Tricky Trees
	Odds -1/2		O/U 2 1/2		Odds +1/2
PREDICTIONS: Chris Woods came out of the gate last week getting a couple of goals for Forest to start his season with a bang. For them to have a 1/2 goal advantage over Palace makes them my pick. The Eagles were fortunate to claim a point last week against Chelsea but this week I think their luck will run out. Notts Forest. +1/2
RESULTS: 1-1
ANALYSIS: There has to be lots of bad blood between these two clubs as Nottingham replaced Palace in the Europa League after a, in my opinion, stupid technicality. To my eyes this looked like a Forest win, but I guess The Eagles had other ideas. With goal either side of the half, each team earned a point apiece. Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo is at odds with owner Evangelos Marinakis and despite efforts to play it down, I think this rift is going to impact Notts Forest in the near future. Santo, despite statements to the contrary, could be a short timer. When seeing how far he has brought this club in such a short time it doesn’t seem fair. As for the game: All things being equal Forest should have won this, but I think all the back room nonsense is having an effect. The FA is about to launch an investigation into a banner displayed by Palace fans depicting Marinakis. Where that leads is anyone’s guess but things are amiss, and rightly so, in South London.

WEEK 2 GAME 8 – SUN AUG 24 09:00
HOME				AWAY
	EVERTON The Toffees			BRIGHTON The Seagulls
	Odds Pick		O/U 2 1/2		Odds Pick
PREDICTIONS: Everton’s first home game in their new stadium should end on an up note for them. A pick is probably a good call for this game as both of these teams have the ability, or lack thereof, to win this or lose it. Just because it is the first game, I’ll take the Toffees but not with any degree of confidence. Everton Pick
RESULTS: 0-2
ANALYSIS: A great start for Everton’s first home game in their new stadium. As usual it took heroics from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who saved a penalty and stopped Brighton from getting back into the game, plus a couple of first class saves later in the match. Jack Grealish for Everton seems to be finding his feet in a new team and was instrumental in both of Evertons goals. Brighton had their chances hitting the woodwork (goalposts) twice in the first half. A good start for Everton, but they cannot rest on their laurels. They still look shaky at times and while they may have an advantage at their new stadium, away matches are still going to be problematic.

WEEK 2 GAME 10 – MON AUG 25
HOME				AWAY
	NEWCASTLE The Magpies			LIVERPOOL The Reds
	Odds +1/2		O/U 3		Odds -1/2
PREDICTIONS: Liverpool looked shaky at the back last week and there needs to be much improvement if they are to be contenders this season. Fortunately their midfield and attack is as formidable as ever so even if they concede a goal or two they have the resources to bounce back (as evidenced last week against Bournemouth). Newcastle are missing a very important cog in their machine as they need a replacement for Alexander Isak. Liverpool may not be at their best but they still look good enough to beat The Magpies. Liverpool -1/2
RESULTS: 2-3
ANALYSIS: For the second week in a row, Liverpool pull their toes out of the fire at the very last moment. After Anthony Gordon was sent off just before halftime, Liverpool had the advantage. Already this season we have seen cracks appearing in the Liverpool defense and what should have been a comfortable walk to three points turned into a scramble. After gobs of extra time, substitute Rio Ngumoha came on and snatched the winner in the 10th minute of overtime.

WEEK 2 GAME 9 – SUN AUG 24
HOME				AWAY
	FULHAM The Cottagers			MANCHESTER UNITED The Red Devils
	Odds +1/2		O/U 2 1/2		Odds -1/2
PREDICTIONS: Manchester were unfortunate last week against Arsenal but with all their new faces I can see some improvement this week. They have a lot to prove after last season and there is a feeling of enthusiasm and purpose about the team. Fulham can never be counted out as they proved last week with a last gasp, equalizing goal at Brighton. I’m taking United to end up with all the points in this one. Manchester United -1/2
RESULTS: 1-1
ANALYSIS: Similar to last week, United came out with a lot of aggression and took the game to Fulham. But as it has become all to familiar, Fulham looking like they are beat, came back and grabbed a point from nothing. It didn’t help that Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty. Harry Maguire came on as a sub but as it seems a recurring nightmare, he missed a really good opportunity (I wish I could get a bet on how many times that happens). United need to get their act together because at this rate they’re starting to look just as useless as last season.

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