EPL Game Week 7

I watched the Malaysia Cup 2nd leg quarter-final between Singapore and Pahang and that is the way Singapore should play. Especially interesting was the fact I saw glimpses of Fandi Ahmad in Shahril Ishak whose brace of headed goals saw Singapore through. Like Fandi, Shahril is not fast but has great skill, composure and is clever. He is Singapore's most important player.

If you look over to Spain, champions Real Madrid is languishing having already lost two matches. The EPL is going through changes. Game Week 6's actual scores are below with my predictions in bracket ( ).

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2 (1-1)
Everton 3 Southampton 1 (3-2)
Fulham 1 Man City 2 (1-2)
Norwich 2 Liverpool 5 (1-2)
Reading 2 Newcastle 2 (2-2)
Stoke 2 Swansea 0 (2-1)
Sunderland 1 Wigan 0 (1-0)
Man Utd 2 Tottenham 3 (2-1)
Villa 1 WBA 1 (1-1)
QPR 1 West Ham 2 (2-1)

So I have gotten 7 out of 10 correct in WxDxL including 4 perfect score prediction. My form is better than some of the EPL teams like Liverpool and Man Utd. It is going to get more tricky.

Game Week 7

Man City v Sunderland - City was lucky to come back with a win after trailing Fulham last week while Sunderland go their first win of the season albeit a narrow 1-0 win over Wigan. Joe Hart single-handedly save them from Dortmund. Sunderland will put up a strong resistance against Moneybags City but City have depth in their squad to weather mid-week European games. 2-1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48Qs7C7W_DE

Chelsea v Norwich - Danish champions Nordjaelland was crushed 0-4 by Chelsea at home after Arsenal also lost at home to Chelsea. Although the score or win may have flattered, the fact is that they are winning. How can an awful looking Norwich, the first team to lose to Liverpool and by a big margin conceding 5 goals at home survive Stamford Bridge? Presuming the Canaries play a bit better, I think they can't stop Torres, Hazard and company for romping to a win. 3-0. 

Swansea v Reading - Swansea has become so ordinary after two brilliant opening wins in a row that are looking quite bad as if they can't win any more having drew and then lost their next two. Reading has been strong at home but less so away like most other teams but they have scored in every match they have payed except one. This is an exquisite chance for a home win. 2-1.

WBA v QPR - Do you know that WBA is sixth in the table and higher than Arsenal? Meanwhile, QPR is in disaster zone after losing 1-2 at home to the Hammers last week. Tony Fernandez is discovering that running an airline might be easier than a football club. WBA is tough and with home ground will be doubly so as they are a really good team. QPR may have to be languished for a little longer at the bottom. Mark Hughes's job is in serious danger.  A Malaysian at Blackburn had already sacked their manager. When will a Singaporean managed an EPL team? 2-1.

Wigan v Everton - Wigan is essentially a good team but will struggle again this season with their limited resources. Everton has been going great guns and are now second even above both Manchester clubs. They are in such good form and confident mood that you will expect them to win home or away unless they are playing the biggest teams. Perhaps Jelavic and Fellaini could score. 1-2.

West Ham v Arsenal - The Hammers are actually above Arsenal right now and this is a London derby so things will be a little uglier. If Andy Carroll plays he may trouble the Gunners defence and Kevin Nolan is in goal-scoring form but Arsenal may be too smooth for the home team. Time for Podolski to add to his tally and Oliver Giroud to open accounts? Santi Cazorla to add one too? They really should not have lost to Chelsea but the frightening thing is that young Jack Wilshere is coming back. He is important to Arsenal and England. 1-3.

Southampton v Fulham - Can the Saints repeat that 4-1 win over Villa and do the same to visiting Fulham? Rickie Lambert is due another goal? But Fulham is a better side than Villa this moment so the Saints may edge out a narrow win but I think it will be a scoring draw. 2-2. 

Liverpool v Stoke - It will be a good test for Liverpool against a physical side like Stoke. Except for a 1-0 loss to Chelsea Stoke has been unbeaten and beanpole Peter Crouch is in good form scoring a brace over Swansea. It will take something special from Liverpool to carve out a win. Will Stoke shudder when they see the "This Is Anfield" sign? At least they must have been boosted by that away win at Carrow Road but Stoke is not Norwich. Brendan Rodgers has rested his key players from Europe so they should be fresh.  2-1.

Tottenhan v Villa - Tottenham has earned their spurs with that emphatic 3-2 away win at Old Trafford. How many teams can boast that? Such an epic win will inspire you to greater things. Bale and company will blow Villa away provided they do not let slip just like thier mid-week European adventure where they conceded and equaliser. 3-1.

Newcastle v Man Utd - The Magpies can spring a surprise even though they were not as good as last season but Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse are both scoring again and they have players that can surprise. Their 3-0 win over Bordeaux will add a boost to their confidence. Man Utd is hurting real bad so they could come back and play with lots of anger and fire especially with Rooney back and teaming up with RVP which could spell trouble but Utd's last 2-3 home defeat by Spurs could play in their mind. This will be the top match for the weekend. Can it live up to its billing? 2-2.

How about a goal like for this weekend?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxr0vXdoO74&feature=player_embedded#!