EPL Game Week 4

A lot has happened at the last minute before the transfer window closed. Bale has gone to Madrid and Fellaini is now a Red Devil while Leighton Baines stayed put. The biggest news must be the Gunner's or rather Arsene Wenger's capture of Mesut Ozil. Ozil first caught my eye when he played for Germany in the European Championship and the World Cup. There is currently no better player than him in the world when it comes to creating chances.

Ask Cristiano Ronaldo. You can say that Ronaldo is so good that he puts away Ozil's creation or was it because of Ozil's gilt edge chances created that Ronaldo puts them away? However, what most clubs missed was the opportunity to sign the world's best soccer masseur. He not only save a goal but actually made a double save then he had the time to pick up his stuffs and ran for dear life, was like an Olympic hurdler, ran so successfully he could do countless touch downs for rugby. Watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjPXJGtHgdw

Man Utd v Crystal Palace - This is a no brainer. Champions versus a newly promoted team but is that so? A win over Swansea, draw with Chelsea and then a loss to Liverpool later, there are doubts. RVP did not score in two matches but Danny Welbeck got a brace for England. Palace meantime, showed they could play when they whacked Sunderland 3-1. Utd have no time to drop more points and they are at the Theatre of Dreams so they will need to restore confidence and faith and show who is boss. Palace could be coming at the wrong time. A definite home win. 2-0.

Villa v Newcastle - Villa showed how good they can be in their opener when they beat Arsenal 3-1 away, then lost narrowly to a strong Chelsea and Liverpool. They have the ability to beat the Magpies at Villa Park. Newcastle savaged some pride after the 4-0 thrashing by Man City to hold the Hammers and then beat Fulham at home. They have not conceded in two matches. Villa have Benteke who could add to his tally here but Newcastle though not great scorers are facing a Villa defence that leaks a goal every match and their record against the Magpies were only one win, two draws and two losses in five meetings. 1-1.

Fulham v WBA - It has been a horrendous start for the Baggies with their best result being a goalless draw with Everton. Fulham have a bright start winning away to Sunderland and lost their next two but at Craven Cottage they usually do a lot better and could pile more misery on WBA unless Steve Clarke could somehow get his team out of slumber. A close win for the home team. 2-1.

Hull v Cardiff - Hull did beat Norwich and gave Man City a hard time while Cardiff won a lifetime achievement award beating Man City. It will be hard fought in the way of the First Division. In their previous three meetings, both teams have won once each at 2-1 and drew once at 2-2. I pick a draw at 2-2.

Stoke v Man City - Stoke is doing surprisingly well. After a narrow 0-1 loss to Liverpool, they went on to win both their next matches. City are playing to a new style and tempo under the new boss and can be susceptible when playing against more direct teams like Stoke. If Mark Hughes gets his tactics right, they can frustrate the visitors. Begovic will have to shine for the home team again to stand a chance. In their old meetings, City won 3-0 twice in Manchester but at Stoke they ended 1-1 twice and City won 0-1 once. It may not be a walk in the park for the visitors. It will be close but City are City slicker and should triumph. 1-2.

Sunderland v Arsenal - Sunderland looked like they are having some  kind of crisis. Though they are at home, the only question they could ask Arsenal is not on the pitch but rather why they signed Ozil now. Arsenal have beaten everyone they met since their opening shocked loss. Ozil is a world class wizard in midfield and if he plays, he will tear Sunderland apart. Alain Giroud is in fine form and with Walcott yet to score this could be his opener. ALos the Gunner's defence has been stout. 0-2.

Tottenham v Norwich - Tottenham is building a very good team under AVB. Without Bale to get the goals, their compensation is that they will play even more as a team. The Canaries play decent soccer but expect Tottenham to dominate and win at White Hart Lane but history does not favour Spurs as in their previous 5 meetings they drew twice at 1-1, lost 1-2 to Norwich twice and won only once at 2-0. This time though they look like they have a solid team all round. 2-0.

Everton v Chelsea - In just 3 matches, Everton regained their tag as a draw specialists. It remains tough to beat them but they could not score enough to win and have lost their big Belgium midfield general Fellaini. Jose Mourinho has beefed up his team further with Samuel Etoo and Willian added. Everton's record against Chelsea was not good having won only once (2-0) and lost four (3x 1-2 and 1 x 1-3). It does not look like they will win this time but they will give Chelsea a run for the money at Goodison Park. 1-2.

Southampton v West Ham - Both teams started their campaigns in identical style. They won, drew then lost. Even their 3 previous meet up were similar - win/draw/lost. They could score but not in buckets so I strongly suggest a draw at 1-1.

Swansea v Liverpool - Swansea won at last and Liverpool are in recent time strangely top of the heap. Can they sustain it especially if Sturridge is doubtful? Liverpool drew 0-0 twice with Swansea lost twice at 0-1 and 1-3 and won only once by 5-0 in February but Swansea did not beat Liverpool in 2012/2013 season. Both teams were trained by Brendan Rodgers though credit must also be given to Michael Laudrup at Swansea but Michu's goals has stopped flowing. What happened? They now know how to cope with him? Swansea have scored in every match they have played this season while Liverpool have a clean sheet till now. 0-1.