EPL Game Week 24

This week's EPL matches will be disrupted by the F.A. Cup. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkA9AE-aBAM (Match of The Day Theme)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm_KEbd4rEY (1971 Final)

Villa v Newcastle - I am not sure if Lambert the Villa manager will last any longer. If he were Chinese "Lam Bert" or "Bert Lam" they may keep him till after the Chinese Lunar New Year. The writing has been on the wall but when Bradford had them beaten (Capital Cup) it got serious and made worse by the F.A. Cup exit by Millwall. I only knew Bradford to be a clothes line I found locally. Meanwhile Newcastle signed Frenchmen Gouffran  and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (he's from France not Mapo) and a few others. They are level on record and on par for their poor form and results and when they drew, they drew 1-1. So I say it could be a draw but can the additional Frenchmen prove something.  1-2.

QPR v Man City - If QPR had started the season with Harry Redknapp, they may not be in relegation zone. They signed Loic Remy who immediately repaid his due when he scored against West Ham last week. City are keeping close to their neighbour reducing the gap to 5 points. Even with home ground  advantage, can QPR triumph or at least get a draw at Loftus Road. Harry will have to do a Houdini devising a strategy to cope with City - tough but not impossible But it may be too demanding, especially after they lost 2-4 at home to MK Dons (formerly Wimbledon). Even under-pressured Tony Fernandes may be leaving. 1-2.

Stoke v Wigan - Stoke have suddenly stop winning having not won for five matches on the trot and they are leaking goals. They have lost some confidence. Wigan is not doing much better. Out of their five previous metings, Wigan won twice and they drew three times. Each draw was 2-2. A draw is the most likely result. 1-1.

Sunderland v Swansea - Sunderland have been inconsistent but improving in their play but the Swans are flying! They played Chelsea twice but won once and drew once. Impressive! It may look like a draw here but Michu's time to score is about now. 1-2.

Arsenal v Liverpool - This is a huge game. Arsenal thumped West Ham 5-1 after having lost to Chelsea 1-2 while Liverpool defeated by by Man Utd. 1-2 came back and thrashed Norwich 5-0. I nearly wanted to say something about Brendan Rodgers but fortunately held back. Both are in scoring form and are neck to neck in the standing with Liverpool just three points behind. I think it will be a draw. 2-2.

Everton v WBA - Everton has the third best defensive record in the EPL this season. Only Man City and Chelsea have let in less. Marouane Fellani, their top scorer is due a goal. Earlier in the season, Everton lost 2-0 to WBA but the Baggies are winless in six matches in all competition with four losses. Their top scorer is Romelu Lukaku who scored 9 times - the same as Fellani. In their last five meetings, Everton won three and lost two. There were no draws. 2-1.

Norwich v Tottenham - The Canaries has been faring badly. After going down 0-5 to Liverpool they went down 0-1 at home to Luton Town in the F.A. Cup but Pilkington, Snodgrass and Holt shall return to action. Jermaine Defoe may remain on the sideline due to injury. Norwich manager Chris Houghton was himself a former Tottenham player/coach. Norwich have lost five out of six matches with the last being a 0-0 draw with Newcastle. Spurs have lost just once in eleven and unbeaten in the last seven. Clint Dempsey is in fine form for Spurs. In four previous meetings, they drew once, Spurs won once and lost twice. The highest score was 2-1. I pick Spurs to win. 1-2.

Fulham v West Ham - Fulham have injury problems but the Hammers is the team with the second worst form in the league right now. In their last five matches, Fulham won only once, drew twice and lost twice. This is a London derby and Craven Cottage is a hard place to visit. 2-1. 

Man Utd v Southampton - There were rumours that David De Gea may be sold. The last time I asked you to remind him that as a goalie he could use his hands. He has been using his legs, shoulders etc. In seasons long past, Southampton have been Man Utd's bogey team. But this time they have too much fire power. Still the Saints could give them a few scares. 3-2.

Reading v Chelsea - Reading have been doing great with two wins in a row and three if you include the F.A. Cup. Boss Brian McDermott has a full fit squad to choose from. Chelsea will be without Eden Hazard, suspended for kicking a ball boy. It was said that he was merely trying to kick the ball out as the ball boy was intentionally delaying giving the ball back by smothering it. The world is a strange place because the real culprit was the boy who did it on purpose having boasted about what he would do on twitter.   Hazard should have use his brain. Reading lost only once in seven matches but Chelsea have not lost to Reading since 1930. Their last two meetings were all high scoring. 2-2 and a 4-2 Chelsea victory. Expect a high scoring match. 2-3.