EPL Game Week 5

One swallow does not make a summer. After Gareth Bale left, Tottenham have been flushed with cash for a shopping spree and they may end up an even better team. Can you imagine Ronaldo and Bale galloping on both wings at Madrid? Mesut Ozil brought out the sparkles at Arsenal. Sturridge could not stop scoring at Liverpool. Wayne Rooney have been pivotal for Man Utd after all his troubles. Remember, soccer is still a team game unlike golf, badminton, squash or tennis.

Norwich v Villa - The Canaries are a decent team but they are poor away. They have a good manager in Chris Hughton and a promising young English player called Nathan Redmond who is a speed demon and several others but were last outclassed by Tottenham. Villa started with a bang having won away at Arsenal but have since fizzled with three losses including two at home. Norwich have beaten Villa only once in five outings, drew once and lost three including two at home. Both teams are not doing that well. Villa have a better record when they previously met but Norwich is home at Carrow Road. 1-1.

Liverpool v Southampton - The Kops' You'll Never Walk Alone will get louder this season and why not as Liverpool is sitting pretty at the top of the table just as Daniel Sturridge is sitting at the top of the scoring chart even though it was only 4 matches later. See what a little confidence can do for you in life. Sturridge is a very good example what people can do when given the chance. The Saints have some good talents like Adam Lallana, Ricky Lambert who has continued his scoring streak and the young sought after left back Luke Shaw. While they have improved defensively and have not conceded many, they are not really scoring. This is a really good chance for Liverpool to assert their authority such that when their opponents coming out the tunnel and seeing that "This Is Anfield" sign know that it is going to be a very tough day. League leader, in-form and playing well, home ground  You just can't squander a lead like this. 2-0.

Newcastle v Hull - The Magpies are back and with more belief. After the 4-0 drubbing by the Citizens in their opener they have gone on with a draw and two wins. Perhaps their problem of having too many French players has been resolved. A team that is not happy at work cannot perform well. I love those days when the Magpies under Kevin Keegan played such swash-buckling soccer. Remember the days of Peter Beardsley, Les Ferdinand and David Ginola? Ben Arfa is leading the revolution after scoring 2 winning goals in their last 2 matches with an assist. Only Newcastle's record are against them having not beaten Hull in 4 previous meetings with 2 draws and 2 losses. Hull won't be easy meat but Newcastle has belief, form and the Toon Army at St. James Park. 2-1.

WBA v Sunderland - WBA have 2 losses and 2 draws and are not the same tough cookie of a team like last season. Sunderland have 1 draw and 3 losses. They are propping up the table. Unless Sunderland pull off a solid performance with a surprise result since WBA are not in form, they may sink even deeper. Unfortunately, history is not on their side as Sunderland have never beaten WBA in the last 5 match ups drawing once with 4 losses with total goals ranging from 3-6 goals. A first win for the Baggies. 3-2.

West Ham v Everton - West Ham have a reasonable start this campaign with 1 win, 2 draws and just one loss. while Everton have 3 draws and a win (over Chelsea). Everton may have lost Fellaini but they have 2 great youngsters in Seamus Coleman and Ross Barkley who have bright future. The Hammers have never beaten Everton in their last 5 meetings and have lost twice. However, this is at Upton Park but but the Blues have won there before plus they have Lukaku on loan from Chelsea. I say it'll be an away win. 1-2.

Chelsea v Fulham - The Special One has lost its flavour. Why did he not use Juan Mata more and loan Lukaku who scored regularly for WBA while on loan there? They followed that 0-1 loss to Everton with a home loss to Basel. Fulham themselves have not been too impressive but hey this is a London derby. In their previous meetings they drew 0-0 twice and 1-1 twice with Chelsea having won 3-0 way in April 2013. Chelsea have to respond with a convincing performance and win for their Stamford Bridge faithful and I think they will. 2-0. 

Arsenal v Stoke - The Gunners notched 5 straight wins in a row in their last 5 matches in all competition. Are these giddying days? It is like drinking 5 day sin a row and you feel happy but having returned from Marseille you may be tired. Mark Hughes has turned the Potters around and for a team that once boasted Gordon Banks, Alan Hudson, Jimmy Greenhoff in their ranks they should expect greater things. After losing to Liverpool narrowly on opening day, they have registered 2 wins and held Man City. Arsenal's record against Stoke is not great. They drew twice - 0-0 and 1-1 then both won 3-1 at their home ground with Arsenal having won 1-0 in Feb. this year. Stoke can be stubborn but away at the Emirates they recorded losses and Arsenal are inspired. 3-1.

Palace v Swansea - Palace can beat the smaller or weaker teams but they will struggle against stronger opposition. Swansea's away form have been impressive having won 2-0 away to WBA and in mid-week went to Valencia and won 3-0. In between they held Liverpool 2-2 at home. Even though Palace can score I will pick a Swansea win. 1-2.

Cardiff v Tottenham - Since Cardiff shocked Man City 3-2 they have been unbeaten. That is recovery and resolve but they were playing Everton and Hull, teams that do not score a lot. Tottenham have been truly impressive and have won every match except that loss to their London rivals Arsenal. Nobody has scored against Spurs except Arsenal which is a markedly improved defence even when they played in Europe. It was the manner they went about the business - calm and collected and now with a deeper and more balance squad. Sigurdsson was red hot last week. Soldado has been solid and nearly scored with a back heel. Lamela is supposed to be the new Gareth Bale, Chadli showed nice touches but I was most impressed with Christian Eriksen who I consider is the Messi of Denmark. No chance for an upset. The Cockerel crows. 0-2.

Man City v Man Utd - Very early in the season for this match of the week. This is an interesting derby. Both are not in top form and City are riding the bumps. They beat Newcastle 4-0 then lost 3-2 to Cardiff, beat Hull 2-0 then drew 0-0 at Stoke and came back to life with an away 3-0 win at Viktor Pizen. That is roller-coaster form. Utd are identical having beaten Swansea 4-1, they held Chelsea 0-0, lost to Livepool 1-0 then beat Palace 2-0 and finally trounced Bayer Leverkusen 4-2. The difference is that Rooney has been in superb form. That goal against Palace was a great free-kick - just bent over the wall and into the goalie's right hand corner. He followed up with 2 more goals and an assist against Leverkusen. Both teams are closely matched and they could beat each other home or away but City led Utd 3-2 in previous 5 meetings. Only one match ended with one goal. The others were 3, 5 and 7 goals. They never drew in 5 meets. That 1-0 win was by City at home and both lost home ties in the otter four matches. It depends on how YaYa Toure plays for City and Carrick do for Utd. How will Pellgrini pick his strikers - Negredo, Dzeko, Aguero or Jovetic? RVP still scores but Rooney is red hot. Both managers are doing this the first time. I say it will be a draw. 2-2.