WEEK 19
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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 19 Dec 30 – Jan 1
All times are Mountain Standard Time
LAST WEEK’S SUMMARY
WEEK 18
Still seem to be hitting more than I miss. Four right and two wrong plus the Gold Star Pick: Aston Villa over Chelsea +1/2. The top three teams won, so there isn’t much change there. At the bottom, Burnley did score a point, that’s two weeks in a row, but they will need lots more than that to pull their toes out of the fire. My predictions for week 19 have already been posted as they are being played on Tuesday 30th of December and Thursday January 1st. Week 20 starts on Saturday January 3rd and 4th with Week 21 games all scheduled for Jan 6th, 7th and 8th. After that we all get a break until the 17th, so hopefully my predictions and analysis will be coming thick and fast.
WEEK 19 GAME 1 – Tue Dec 30th 12:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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BURNLEY |
NEWCASTLE |
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| Odds +1 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds -1 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: As notoriously horrible Newcastle are when it comes to traveling, it would be hard to pick them here. Burnley have scratched out a couple of draws in their last two games and as they are at home plus a goal, I’ll take the Clarets to keep it close. Burnley +1 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-3 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Burnley got off to the worst possible start, going two goals down after just seven minutes. In typical Newcastle style the Magpies eased off the pressure and allowed Josh Laurent to score, cutting their lead in half. In the second period Burnley always looked like the team most likely to score but their lack of a consistent striker who could get the job done eluded them yet again. The game was winding down when Burnley’s goalkeeper Dubravka and defender Ekal got into a terrible mix-up and gifted Bruno Guimaraes a last minute third goal that cemented Newcastle’s second away win of the season. | |||||||
WEEK 19 GAME 2 – Tues Dec 30th 12:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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CHELSEA |
BOURNEMOUTH |
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| Odds -1 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Bournemouth have truly lost their way and while Chelsea are not a model of reliability, I see The Cherries leaving London empty-handed. Chelsea had their last game in hand against Aston Villa but let it slip through their fingers. Not so this time out. Chelsea -1 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 2-2 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: All four goals were scored in the first half and after the dust had settled Chelsea had managed to throw away another two points. It’s tough to see when the Blues are going to get this train back on the track. Bournemouth were there for the taking and try as they might Chelsea couldn’t get the job done. Alejandro Garnacho is turning into a completely useless addition to the team, and his ineptness is starting to wear thin, indeed he was substituted at half-time. Chelsea’s problems run deeper that just him though. Bournemouth have gone 10 games in the Premier League without a win and if Chelsea can only grind out a draw at home to such a side things looked decidedly wobbly for the rest of the season in West London. One positive sign for Chelsea, they only gathered one yellow card this time out. | |||||||
WEEK 19 GAME 3 – Tue Dec 30th 12:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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NOTTINGHAM |
EVERTON |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Notts Forest put up a good show against Manchester City last time out, Everton, not so much. The Toffees could only grind out a draw against Burnley and The Tricky Trees are no Burnley. Forest can be difficult at home as Everton are about to find out. Nottingham -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-2 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: No one could accuse Forest of not trying. 70% possession and 21 shots at goal should have rewarded the home team more than the final score would suggest. Even if they did have the ball most of the time they accomplished very little with it. In fact, it was on the stroke of half-time before they even had a real shot on goal. The second period produced more chances but to no avail as Everton took advantage of two breakaway goals to reignite The Tricky Trees relegation woes. |
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WEEK 19 GAME 4 – Tue Dec 30th 12:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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WEST HAM |
BRIGHTON |
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| Odds +1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds -1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: West Ham play host to the Seagulls and the South Coast team come in as favorites. The Hammers future does not look too bright at this point, and I expect Brighton to add to their woes. Brighton -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 2-2 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: West Ham had the lead twice but couldn’t hold on. Sloppy defense and an erratic midfield allowed Brighton to escape with a point. Plenty of penalties to go around. Danny Welbeck scored one and missed one, which eventually cost them all three points. Jarod Bowen scored for The Hammers after just ten minutes and Lucas Paqueta scored a second for the home team at the stroke of half-time, again from the penalty spot. Brighton came to play and are going to feel unlucky that they could only squeeze out a single point from a chaotic West Ham side. I don’t see any improvement from this home team and I’ve been saying this from the middle of last season, “they are staring into the abyss.” Brighton started the season with promise, but a series of dismal results has put them firmly in the lower half of the table. The way forward for them is going to be troublesome, but not as troublesome as for West Ham. | |||||||
WEEK 19 GAME 5 – Tues Dec 30th 1:15 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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ARSENAL |
ASTON VILLA |
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| Odds -1 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Aston Villa get the chance to close the gap between themselves Arsenal. I’m a little surprised that the spread is a full goal, but I’ll take it. Villa are finding ways to win games, while Arsenal seems to be looking for ways to lose games. Aston Villa. +1 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 4-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Aston Villa’s aspirations of a serious challenge for the League title took a very bad turn against Arsenal on Tuesday. Going in at half-time all tied up seemed like a good platform for The Villans to get something out of this game. Shortly after the restart that plan was in tatters. Once the Gunners had scored their first, a corner, they slipped up a gear and totally took control. In past weeks Arsenal have stuttered a bit and have looked perhaps not up to the task. This game saw a different version with them dominating Villa especially in the second half. With some key players coming back from injury and waiting in the wings maybe Arsenal are looking to cement their claim on the top spot. | |||||||
WEEK 19 GAME 6 – Tue Dec 30th 1:15 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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MANCHESTER UNITED |
WOLVERHAMPTON |
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| Odds -1 1/2 | O/U 3 | Odds +1 1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: United’s motley crew of players are surprisingly tenacious and if their last two games are anything to go by, they should put up quite a show. I would be surprised if this game produces more than three goals, and I’m not completely sold on the effectiveness of this cobbled-together team. I think this game would be best left alone. No Bet. | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: It’s hard to believe that Manchester United could have been number four in the League if they had just managed to beat a Wolves side that is quickly becoming the worst team to ever play Premier League football. The absence of Bruno Fernandes was obvious, but their level of incompetence was reminiscent of a West Ham team. Wolves weren’t exactly a model of consistency but didn’t need to be against a disastrous United side. One point is not going to do Wolverhampton any good but might just make them feel a little better about themselves. | |||||||
WEEK 19 GAME 7 – Thu Jan 1st 10:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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CRYSTAL PALACE |
FULHAM |
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| Odds PICK | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds PICK | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: A Pick for this game looks to be about right. These two are pretty evenly matched and it would be difficult to pick one over the other. Palace cannot be happy about being beaten at home by Spurs last Sunday, and Fulham should be full of themselves with the three points they collected at West Ham’s expense. Too close to call. No Bet. | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: With just ten minutes left to play Tom Cairney came off the bench to steal a point for a visiting Fulham. After that they still had a couple of chances that could have ended the game in their favor. It looks as though Brennan Johnson from Spurs will be joining Palace and maybe he will be the tonic The Eagles need to get them back amongst the contenders for Europe next year. In reality they do need more than one reinforcement, and they need to go shopping in the upcoming transfer window. | |||||||
WEEK 19 GAME 8 – Thu Jan 1st 10:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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LIVERPOOL |
LEEDS |
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| Odds -1 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Leeds are flying high and Liverpool still look like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces missing. The Whites never give up, and they piled the pressure on Sunderland last Sunday, coming from behind to earn a draw. They may prove to be a handful for The Reds, so for a modest wager, I will go with the visitors. Leeds. +1 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-0 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: As predicted Leeds gave Liverpool something to think about. Dominating in all the key stats Liverpool came away with only the one point. Leeds five-man defense held out to deny a surging home team and disappointed the Anfield faithful. There is still something not clicking for The Reds but Leeds were deserving of their point even if it wasn’t pretty. | |||||||
WEEK 19 GAME 9– Thu Jan 1st 1:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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BRENTFORD |
TOTTENHAM |
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| Odds PICK | O/U 2-1/2 | Odds PICK | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Tottenham just squeaked by Crystal Palace last week; maybe they have turned a corner? I still have a hard time taking Brentford seriously and Spurs have already beaten them 2-0 already this season. They need to win this game if they have any ambitions of climbing the table. Tottenham PICK | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-0 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: All in all, Brentford were the better side. But that’s not saying much. Tottenham’s travelling fans were not impressed by their teams’ efforts and booed them off at half-time and at the end. Thomas Frank managed to beat his old club 2-0 three weeks ago but there was not much chance of that being repeated here. There were only three shots on target between each team, and both sides looked like they would be happier doing something else. This was boring and not really worth the price of admission, but I suppose one point for each team is better than none. | |||||||
WEEK 19 GAME 10– Thu Jan 1st 1:00 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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SUNDERLAND |
MANCHESTER CITY |
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| Odds -+1 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds -1 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Sunderland can be tough at home, but I don’t see City letting Arsenal out of their sights. they may only win by the odd goal, but win they will. In the end they have a much more potent offense, and I think all the points are there for the taking. Manchester City. -1 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-0 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Manchester City lost their chance to keep pace with Arsenal after dropping two points at Wearside. Sunderland’s goalkeeper Robin Roefs had an excellent game and denied City on multiple occasions. Manchester threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Black Cats, but they held on for a well-deserved point. City will be disappointed in the one point, but Sunderland have proved very difficult opponents on their home turf and have to be well pleased with their return to the Top Flight. | |||||||