EPL Game Week 7 & 8

In Game Week 6, you get quite a few shock results which was very good for the game.

Game Week 7

Wigan is an enigma, even losing by thumping 0-7 margin last season but Rodallega is back and they had beaten by what should be an improving Wolves 2-0. Draw specialist Birmingham was downed 0-2 by Everton which is basically a good side but didn't get the rub of the green grass but welcomed relief and just the tonic for their Merseyside Derby with a dejected Liverpool next week. Stoke continued their resurgence winning 1-0 over Blackburn and looked more like themselves. Sunderland enjoyed giving problems to the big boys and holding Man U to 0-0 was as good as result a they can get. It was more 2 points lost by the Red Devils than a point gained by the Black Cats and what did people always say about Black Cats? Ricky Martin said so: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p47fEXGabaY and so did Cliff Richard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px7ilisAGj0

Meantime, Spurs and Villa dished out an exciting match. Villa has been losing matches they should have drawn and drawing matches they should have won. Spurs is getting back and what a signing in van Der Vart who contributed to the brace. WBA played out an expected 1-1 draw against Bolton while an improving West Ham held Fulham 1-1 at Upton Park. Thinking back, Roy Hodgson really should have stayed with the Cottagers. Man City edged out Newcastle in an interesting match where there were several dubious calls. Liverpool topped the news of the week when they went down 1-2 to Blackpool at Anfield - a first in 43 years for Blackpool. I mean, if you don't know the colours, you would have thought that Blackpool was Liverpool and Liverpool was abysmal. They were so bad that even if Singapore Pools fielded a team against them they would have won. They are now in the relegation zone. Finally, Chelsea once again confirmed their title credentials and aspirations when once again Didier Drogba, Arsenal's nemesis continued to give them nightmares. He's now like Freddy Kreuger. Nightmare on Elm Street. Arsene Wenger needs a bit of steel in his wonderful team. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh3GExYJAeA

Liverpool Problems

Lots of fingers were pointed at Graeme Souness for Liverpool's current state. Of course also at Rafa Benitez and most damningly at the American owners. For me, it really started long ago when Kenny Dalglish took over after the last tradition of Joe Fagan's era was over. Yes, Dalglish won some nice important trophies for Liverpool but that was the time where Liverpool began to produce less of their own players even those that were scouted and bought from the lower divisions. Instead they increased spending in the market for ready players. Souness accentuated it when he took over and made it worse. They have been in slumber since and then they have that ill-fitted change from family-owned to the American owners. Benitez came and in his first season won the UEFA Champions Cup. That was a false start but it led Liverpool to believe that they have found a saviour. Saviour turned sour when you saw Benitez's bizarre management. When Xavi Alonso left, Gerrard has to wear many hats of winning the ball, making passes and getting into attack. Hence he has been overstretched. Liverpool became too predictable - Gerrard/Torres. Stop them and you stop Liverpool. This became a loss of many years wasted in the wilderness due largely to Hicks and Gillet. Liverpool can't catch up now until the ownership issues are cleared. Something must be done quick and for a good owner to take over and get them closer to be like Man U, Chelsea or Man City and Man U. Their history is unmatched except for Man U. A win over Everton could do wonders. If Hodgson can't do the job, please forget Dalglish, he's been away too long. Except for Man U's illustrious and rich history since the Busby Babes, no other comes close including Chelsea or Man City except Liverpool. Time to make Liverpool great again. Hopefully the Boston Red Sox fit is not just the colour red.

Game Week 8

How will Arsenal bounce back? Can Spurs continue the march? Can Man U get any worse? Do you think Chelsea will charge on? Will Liverpool finally get out of the doldrums? Arsenal is Barcelona-lite if it were a beer. They can beat most teams and play beautiful but they can suddenly plummet when opponents get a bit harder. Arsene Wenger needs a little steel. Birmingham are draw specialist and can make it tough but if Everton can go there and win 2-0 why not Arsenal at the Emirates. If the Gunners fail again, say bye bye. When two physical sides clash, it can go either way but Stoke has just gotten back on a good run and Bolton is tough to dispose. 1-1 for both?

Derbies are always very difficult games as winners get the bragging rights for a year or until they next meet. It is not an understatement to say winning the derby is more important than a title. Usually hard and break neck pace. Spurs may be due for a shock when they visit Craven Cottage and Fulham with Clinton Dempsey back in form, may just surprise. The thing about life or whatever we may indulge in is always all about the confidence. Suddenly Man U is finding it hard to win and leaking goals. Rooney's sex life is mixed up with soccer. WBA forgotten their script and were playing better than they should but I do not think WBA can pull it off again unless the planets in the cosmos are in a line.

Newcastle is behaving strangely. Thrashing better teams, losing at home to weaker teams then winning away. They actually played well away to Man City. Wigan is walking with a bit of spring in their steps, so how will the Magpies respond at St. James Park. Could be a cracker with lots of goals. 3-2 to the black and white? Wolves are fighters with no luck and seems to be going weaker each time. Playing away may just be the tonic for the Hammers so will they come out with say a surprise 2-1 win at the Moulinex? At Villa Park, Aston Villa will give Chelsea a run for the money but Chelsea is too strong for the moment. Drogba should add more to his tally and maybe Florent Malouda too for a 2-1 win.

And here is the big event, Mersyside Derby at Goodison Park where Everton will meet Liverpool. After a poor start, the Blues have found their feet while the more illustrious Red are going through traumatic times in the unfamiliar relegation zone. Can the red side respond especially with Torres doubtful? Torres has been a shadow of himself since the World Cup so maybe no love lost. If you look through the history you will understand the rivalry. It could be a pulsating match but a draw could be likely as it is hard in a game like this. Seriously, Liverpool needs to start winning. This is a chance for them as a win will boost their spirit.

Blackpool has defied all odds and killing the bookies. Man City for all their money are not playing swashbuckling soccer and look rather workmanlike winning by the odd goal. Can Blackpool surprise again? If they continue to have belief. Else Man City will chalk up another slim 2-1 victory again. Finally the Black Cats are doing their own thing with Darren Bent in scoring form again and getting that England call up. A physical game is on the cards but Sunderland might just squeeze past Blackburn by an odd goal.

England

England is playing Montenegro in a European qualifier soon and you won;t believe who they have called up. Robert Green is back among three goalies. At least BP spilled only once. SWP was named again but good news was the inclusion of Man City youngster Adam Johnson who scored that cracking goal against Newcastle after beating two men. What a goal! The greatest surprise was the call up of Bolton's Kevin Davies. I once saw him make a long dashing run beating several players and scoring a wonder goal but in recent years all his efforts were that of a bulldozer getting more yellow cards than anyone you could remember. Is there really a dearth of talent or Fabio Capello going back in his old ways? Don't search me. Search him!