EPL Game Week 36
Gareth Bale has won both the PFA's Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year. The PFA is the Professional Footballers' Association and the voting is done by the players themselves which means most of his fellow pros confirmed he has been the very best. Few can argue with that. My question is why named him twice as POTY and YPOTY? Why not give the Young Player of the Year to another? Watch Bale:
Fulham v Reading - Fulham have not won in 5 games. Despite it, they are 11th with 3 games to go. They are safe and can start planning their holidays and plotting for next season thereafter. Reading have not won for a very long time and were already relegated. All season they have won only 5 matches. Craven Cottage was one a fortress but not any more. Besides, Fulham is not a side that can carve their opponents. Reading may be poor but their fight for next season in the lower division should really start now. That is the attitude to have. The Royals should fight for their pride. 2-2.
Norwich v Villa - Both sides are not out of the woods yet. Norwich (14th/38 points) and Villa (16th/ 37 points) situation are not a given as they are not within putter length to the hole if it were golf. They have work to do. Though the Canaries are at home, Villa's late charge recently should be noted especially their 6-1 thrashing of Sunderland. Their Belgium striker Christian Benteke should also pick up the Young Player of the Year award. Watch:
Because soccer is about goals, Norwich are not scoring them while Villa do so I will pick a Villa win. Their past 5 meetings yielded 2 goals or 5 goals per match. It will be 3 goals in an away win for Villa. 1-2.
Swansea v Man City - Swansea are 9th with 4 matches to go having a game in hand but have not won in 6 attempts. City are holding on strongly to 2nd but being 14 points away from Man Utd and lost more than the title but also bragging rights. It is time for Michu to score again and Swansea must be hoping to hang on to him next season but City will secure second place with Aguero and Tevez back. 1-2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLXWzsBfO3E
Tottenham v Southampton - This is be an excellent match as both are attacking teams. Tottenham are 5th, 3 points ahead of 6th placed Everton and 2 behind 4th placed Arsenal but having a game in hand over both. Southampton at 13th with 39 points are not entirely safe. They were doing fine but their home collapse to WBA by 0-3 was alarming. Tottenham is to me the EPL's and one of Europe's most exciting teams. Both teams need the points and Spurs need it if they have ambitions in Europe for Bale to flourish and so as not to loose him. 3-2.
WBA v Wigan - The Baggies have done really well and Steve Clark has done a good job. They are actually in 8th position (48 points) with a game in hand. Can you name any of their players? Romelu Lukaku? Shane Long? Lukaku has been on loan and touted as the new Drogba. Wigan played a good match against Tottenham and was on the verge of winning when they conceded. Can they repeat this performance and last season's great escape? Draw. 2-2.
Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS0FS0eJo7A
Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS0FS0eJo7A
West Ham v Newcastle - The Hammers are a surprising 10th. The Magpies are hovering at 17th on 37 points with 2 other teams with better goal difference. West Ham have only lost twice in 8 matches with Andy Carroll in fine form. Newcastle's revival with their French Legion was short and Liverpool's 6-0 hammering in front of the Toon Army at St. James Park said it all. Their past 5 meeting records are equal. Based on current form and home ground at Upton Park, the Hammers should win but Newcastle looked so bad now from a year ago and is fighting for survival, I think they could salvage a point. 1-1.
QPR v Arsenal - Forget QPR. Tony Fernandez and Harry Redknapp will take care of it. The Gunners finds themselves sandwiched between Chelsea (3rd a point ahead and a game in hand) and Tottenham (5th 2 points behind with a game in hand). Their strikers need to step up as Theo Walcott is their top scorer with 20 goals. Among these 3 clubs, which two do you wish to see playing in Europe? OR rather which one do you want out? The Gunners need every single point but this is a London derby. Could they slip? Arsenal have not lost in more than 8 matches in all competition. 0-2.
Liverpool v Everton - Liverpool is 5 points and a place behind Everton. They were once the same team from the same place. Then they became Red and Blue. Their history, rivalry are just like Malaysia and Singapore in the Malaysia Cup. Liverpool are hosting at Anfield after an impressive 6-0 away thrashing of Newcastle. I actually thought that Everton are more consistent than Liverpool but the Reds held a better record than the Blues when they have met. This match has ingredients for a draw but I think Liverpool may just pip them. 2-1.
Man Utd v Chelsea - Utd's work ethics under Sir Alex Ferguson mirrors former Liverpool legend Bob Paisley. These were his words - "The day after we won our first European Cup, we were back at Melwood at 9.45 in the morning talking about how we would do it again working right from the moment. "Nobody has the right to win anything they have not earned". This last sentence should be every man's motto: You do not have a right to win or gain anything that you have not earned. It's about work ethics. Utd have nothing else to play for and may field some other players or bring in fringe players. Chelsea may have a game in hand but they are not safe with Arsenal and Tottenham breathing down their neck. I pick a draw with goals. 2-2.
Sunderland v Stoke - Sunderland are the best of the worst with Stoke 3 points better. Sunderland's surprised wins over Newcastle and Everton might have just saved them or was it Paolo Di Canio? But they just got crushed 6-1 by Aston Villa. Stoke have recovered too from their last 2 wins over QPR and Norwich. It will be a draw. 1-1.
Man City v WBA - City should continue to ensure their 2nd place is very safe. An even more challenging new season awaits them as all teams start to plan for 2013/2014 season beginning in August. I see that there will be less pressure as they no longer defend the title. Problem is that the competition is heating up and City are likely to make changes. City should win this one first but WBA should make them sweat. 2-1.
Wigan v Swansea - Wigan must win this by fighting to their last breath. Swansea is not the same as they were during the first half of the season plus they do not travel as great. A Wigan win. 2-1.
Chelsea v Tottenham - This is an important match for both sides. At least Chelsea had Basel beaten 5-2 on aggregate and after that Utd match will they be tired? Plus this is a London derby. Tottenham have a poor record against Chelsea in their last 5 meetings. They drew twice and lost 3. Chelsea's last 5 matches were WDWWW while Tottenham were DDDWD. But because Tottenham have been superlative especially in Gareth Bale, recently voted the best player in the EPL. I say they will pick up a draw. 1-1.
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