EPL Game Week 33

The Eurozone unemployment rate hit a 15-year record high of 10.8% in February 2012. 24.55 million people were unemployed in the EU. Spain is the nation with the highest rate at 23.6% followed by Greece at 21%. Austria has the lowest at 4.2%, the Netherlands at 4.9%, Luxembourg at 5.2%, Germany at 5.7%. Do you think that sports like soccer will remain unaffected? Real Madrid and Barcelona continues unabated while the rest of Spain grimaced? Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes kept going or have returned. If Singapore suffered the same fate, let us bring back Quah Kim Lye, Kim Song, Lim Teng Sai and Robert Sim.


Euro2012 is coming. At $58.85, do not say it is cheap when they survey you. If you work it out by dividing into the number of matches it looks cheap? Come on, you go work out your salary and even you will look cheap! At those ungodly hour, you will be watching? Yawn.

I told you it would be over by the weekend didn't I? In fact, my prediction on the two key games were spot on. The Red Devils are most experienced in the key areas but they were also the Lucky Devils when QPR Captain Shaun Derry was sent off and a penalty were awarded from whcih Rooney scored. It was injustice to QPR and Derry as firstly Ashley Young was in an offside position, the nudge was the slightest which seemed more like fair contest and then the sending off which Derry did not deserved. In sequence, it was offside to begin with. Who will not be angry when you are fighting life and death against a mountain and an official plunge in the knife? Aargh! The title is already in the bag for Utd.

Meanwhile, City was second best to Arsenal who could have scored more. Why did Aaron Ramsey selfishly believed and tried to score when van Persie was in a much better and clearer position to score. In the end it didn't matter. Question was why did Mancini persisted with Balotelli? Balotelli may be strong, talented and capable of the extraordinary but he was always a liability on and off the pitch. He first raised his foot knee high and hurt Alexander Song which he should get a "red!" and yet he learned nothing by doing the same to Bacary Sagna and then another time on Sagna which he got yellow before the last one broke the camel's back. How will the rest of the players respect Mancini for his persistence with Balotelli? I will drop him without hesitation. This is where Sir Alex Ferguson wins hands down! Learn it Mancini and Dalglish!

Everton v Sunderland - Everton has not lost in three games and is a point ahead of Liverpool. Sunderland too has not lost in three and a point behind Liverpool. A win for either team is bad for the Red half of Merseyside. I say it will be a draw. 1-1.

Newcastle v Bolton - I have already told you that Alan Pardew should be given an award. First Demba Ba could not stop scoring but his countryman Cisse has done very well notching 9 goals in 8 and scoring a brace in three matches. The Magpies are flying and playing with a new confidence and assurance. Bolton are not out of danger yet but can they stop a Newcastle on song? 2-0.

Tottenham v Norwich - Tottenham has lost some precious points to cement their position to qualify for the Champions League compared to their earlier flying form. Norwich plays good soccer but it will not be enough to deny Spurs. 2-1.

Aston Villa v Stoke - If you award three points for a draw, Aston Villa would be the champions! And Liverpool the runners-up. Stoke would be around 4th position with another 5 teams. This will be a drawn match. 1-1.

Fulham v Chelsea - One player continues to defy the odds. Playing for a mid-table team and less fashionable team, also being American, Clinton Dempsey is one of EPL's best players without shouting about it himself. With 15 League goals to his name fomr a attacking midfield position, he is one who should be truly a manager's dream. An excellent individual, he scores with both feet, his head and even great from free-kicks and yet always a tem player. Why do we insist on Balotelli when we should be rewarded with players like Clinton Dempsey?! He should be in the EPL Bet XI. It is not exciting watching Chelsea struggling against bottom team Wigan wining with two controversial goals. This one is a draw especially being  London derby. 2-2.

Blackburn v Liverpool - In the Eagles' Hotel California lyrics - "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969...", it was much later and much better than Liverpool's current worst record going back to 1959! Liverpool could not win but they had broken the curse with a home draw against Villa thanks to Suarez. Blackburn wn two then lost their next three matches and laid in the danger zone. Liverpool is slow, predictable, bereft of any ideas and completely lacking in confidence. They will be battled by a team desperate for points. 2-2.
 

Man City v WBA - It is probably over for City. Still they should be good enough to win this one. Roy Hodgson has done a great job at the Hawthorns. They are just four points behind Liverpool, ironically. Money cannot buy success, well, at least not instant success. Will City keep Mancini now. So many of their coaching staff and players were ex Arsenal. Will there be continuity or chop and change? Take a closer look at Manchester United. 2-1.

Wigan v Man Utd - Wigan is at 28 points with Blackburn and QPR. They are a team capable of upsetting some big guns. Before the unlucky loss to Chelsea, Wigan has drawn twice then beaten Liverpool and Stoke. Although Man Utd. is too strong, do not be surprise if Wigan fight till the death and cause an upset. 1-2.

Wolves v Arsenal - Wolves has not won in their last eight games or may be more and are preparing for life in the new season in a lower league. Arsenal needs assurance to be in the Champions League. van Persie to score again after zero returns in a few matches. 0-3 to the Gunners.

QPR v Swansea - QPR's hope lies in the fact that Swansea for all the beautiful soccer has lost three in a row. QPR has a chance to battle to win. 2-2.