EPL Game Week 32

The leading goalscorers in the EPL are (1) Luis Suarez - 22 goals, (2) Robbie van Persie - 19, (3) Gareth Bale - 17, (4) Michu - 17, (5) Rickie Lambert - 14.

Rickie who? Yes, Rickie Lambert from Southampton. He is English, works his socks off in every match, creates and scores goals. He is playing in a weaker team and yet scored 14 thus far. His last goal was a gem against Chelsea leaving Petr Cech in his wake and helped the Saints to victory but the question that is left begging is why no England call up? He is better than the others and the best current English scorer.

Reading v Southampton - Reading's (20th) goal scoring has dried up and have lost 7 times on the trot while Southampton's (12th) stocks are looking up. Reading sacked Brian McDermott whom I thought is a good manager and replaced him with ex Southampton manager Nigel Adkins whom himself was sacked from the Saints and he too is a good manager. Should Southampton's current position and form be a credit to Adkins or the new manager Mauricio Pochetticno? Things get harder when you are poor. The Saints have notched 2 big wins over Liverpool (3-1) and Chelsea (2-1) both at home. Reading will be fighting for survival with 7 matches to go but the visitors are in top form. Rickie Lambert to score and make it impossible to be ignored. 1-2.

Norwich v Swansea - The Canaries have not won in 4 matches and have gone down to 14th position while the Swans who lost 3 in a row are still comfortably in 9th. Norwich have not improve much while Swansea is getting a bit soft at the tail end. Besides, Norwich is really Swansea's bogey team if anything. Norwich have beaten them 3 times in 3 meetings - 4-3 and 3-2 both away and 3-1 at home. There will be goals based on old results I suppose and with Swansea seemingly weaker away, you can fancy a home win but Norwich have only scored 4 in 8 matches. Take a draw at 1-1. 

Stoke v Villa - Stoke have dropped to just one place above Norwich and have not won in 5 matches. Villa in 18th have been playing really well. After wining 2 consecutive matches they were unfortunate to have lost to Liverpool. They have been strong in only one half - the first half. If soccer is a one half game, Villa would be in the top 7. If golf were only one half with 9 holes, I could also be among the top. In Christian Benteke they have a brilliant striker. If I were a club manager looking to buy forwards, my money would be on Benteke and Rickie Lambert. Most matches between the two often ended with 0-0 or 1-1 draws. Stoke have only scored 2 goals in 7 matches. That is paltry. Villa scored 13 goals in 8 matches and scored in almost every match. Villa deserve a win. 1-2.

WBA v Arsenal - WBA is doing really well in 8th but they were surprisingly well beaten 3-1 by the Hammers. Arsenal is in 5th 2 points behind Chelsea (4th) and 4 points behind Tottenham (3rd) but has a game in hand over Spurs. The Gunners have a habit of finishing quite strongly after feeble fumbles at the beginning or mid-season. The Hawthorns can be a tough place to visit but on current form, Arsenal should ace it. 2-3.

Liverpool v West Ham - Liverpool (7th) is still a good team if you look at their recent form and results but they lack consistency. They thumped Wigan 4-0 away, had Spurs beaten 3-2, was gunned down by Southampton 1-3 then beaten Villa 2-1 away. If Suarez decides to leave who would lead their front line? But if he stays and good reinforcements added at the right places, they can be a lot better. Coutinho was a good addition. West Ham have been just like Liverpool but less awesome. Their last 3-1 home win over WBA was surprisingly good. Liverpool old boy Andy Carroll had a brace in lethal fashion despite WBA having more possession. Only Man Utd have scored more goals than Liverpool who are level with Arsenal and Chelsea in this department. The Hammers do not enjoy their encounters with Liverpool having won only once in 5 meetings at Upton Park. 2-1.

Tottenham v Everton - Zinedine Zidane, now a director at Real Madrid has mentioned that Gareth Bale is the most impressive player in Europe, calling him frightening and unique and not far off from Messi and Ronaldo. That made Bale a Real target. Also impressive was Vertoghen. Tottenham (3rd) on their day are more than a match for anyone. They can be breathtaking. Everton are on 3 straight wins including a brilliant 2-0 win over Man City. David Moyes has proven beyond doubt his ability on a shoestring budget. Unfortunately Everton are having better results and in better form than Spurs. Their head to head meetings (WDL) also favoured Everton at 3-1-1. Tottenham has home advantage but they are the best playing away and are only second to Man Utd. Spurs can win this but they have a mid-week distraction against Basel. If you drink too often you can get tired let alone play soccer. 2-2.

Chelsea v Sunderland - Chelsea (4th) are inspired after ousting Man Utd in the F.A. Cup. Lampard is in Lamparding form, I mean rampaging form. He has got great work ethics that got him to where he is. He was one of my favourite EPL players and I have an England jersey bearing his name. One day, the "D" came off and I wore it out without knowing and my friend was giggling. Sunderland (16th) are on 31 points and still in danger. Martin O'Neill was sacked and in came Paolo Di Canio. Can he save the Black Cats with 7 matches left? In 5 previous meetings, Sunderland won only once. Even with a mid-week European match, Chelsea have sufficient strength in depth to be troubled. 2-0.

Newcastle v Fulham - Newcastle (15th) are on 33 points vs Fulham (10th) with 39 points. The Magpies are on 2 straight losses and visiting Benfica mid-week. The visitors are unbeaten in 5 matches winning 3 of them. Except for that away 1-0 win over Tottenham, Fulham are no heroes away even if they are in better form though they have a better head to head record. But they say form is temporary and class is permanent which both do not really have. I shall pick a draw at 1-1.

QPR v Wigan - Actually despite their loss, QPR have improved going up to 19th on goal difference over Reading. Wigan (17th) are just 7 points better. Wigan have won 3 on the trot and tend to end the season stronger than at the beginning. Their records against each other are equal. Both their situation need a win but I think they will labour to a draw. 2-2.

Man Utd v Man City - If both are now neck to neck then it would have been a Cup Final match. Now all we are left with are the bragging rights. Utd's form is not impressive now having struggled to beat Sunderland and then getting beaten by Chelsea in the F.A. Cup. Mancini can save some face if he wins this one. The 15-point gap with 8 matches left is a bit too little too late for City. They will probably play out a draw. 2-2.

Finally, never ever stereotype or despise people. Watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4SJquH7UXHw