EPL Game Week 15

Wow! It has been fast and furious. I didn't know nor have time to pen down Game Week 14 predictions. Game Week 13 was exhilarating. Arsenal continued their run with an emphatic 3-0 away win at Cardiff where City and Utd faltered showing their title ambition followed by a 2-0 win over Hull who just thumped Liverpool 3-1 over the weekend. Liverpool was bad at the weekend but returned to life with a big win at Anfield over the Canaries with red hot Suarez scoring 4 goals. If he keep on and keep up he shall be the top scorer and player of the year.

Tottenham and AVB survived and played very well putting Man Utd under siege but allowed the visitors to level soon after they scored each time. They have a little breathing space having won away at Craven Cottage but Utd floundered at Old Trafford to a solid Everton side who thrashed Stoke 4-0 at the weekend. Roberto Martinez has just said before the match that it was time for Everton to win away against those teams like City and Utd. What a bold statement.

Southampton have gone down 2 in a row and losing 2-3 to Villa at home means they are off form or Villa has picked up form. When Newcastle went down at Swansea by 3-0 it was a surprise given how both teams have been playing lately. Man City finally showed they are here to stay and fight with an away 3-2 win at WBA. Chelsea continued to keep pace winning 4-3 away at Sunderland. If Sunderland can put 3 past Chelsea it means they are good but for Chelsea to concede 3 it means it is bad. Jose Mourinho once scoffed at Arsenal and Liverpool for playing to high scores. He has a new problem. 

Game Week 15

Man Utd v Newcastle - The good news for the Magpies is that Utd is off the pace but the bad news is so are they. Everton is a very good side but for Utd to have lost again at the Theatre of Dreams meant that Old Trafford has lost some of its aura. Utd have a good record against Newcastle and if they lack the killer instinct then Newcastle can cause more problem. However, I do not foresee Utd losing again. Problem is their only talisman right now Wayne Rooney is suspended. Where will their goals come from? Newcastle was on a roll including back to back victories over Chelsea and Tottenham. Draw, because Utd's confidence is low now. But Moyes have all the fans' support - the Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool fans. 1-1.

Palace v Cardiff - Palace is on the up-trend with a couple of wins recently. In their last 5 meetings, they never drew and both side only won at home. Palace to win. 2-1.

Liverpool v West Ham - Liverpool played nonsense at Hull over the weekend but they came back with vengeance thrashing Norwich 5-1. The Canaries are perennial whipping boys of Liverpool. Suarez was pure genius, simply outrageous, world class and magical. Even if you do not like the fellow you have to give it to him as he was magical. I have never seen one who scored all 4 goals in one match and everyone of it was a gem concocted out of nowhere. Liverpool must pray he keeps up and stay away from injury. At the rate he is going, he will be top scorer and player of the year! Even Gerrard has contributed:

http://giant.gfycat.com/DefinitiveCautiousBaiji.gif

While all these are happening, the Hammers struggled and lost 1-0 at Palace. West Ham have only won once at home against the Reds and drew once but lost all three in 5 meet ups. The Anfield scores were 3-0, 3-0 and 0-0. That was the old Liverpool. If the Liverpool that played Hull turn up then it'll be 0-0 but if the one that played Norwich sustain that form, 3-0? Ok 3-0 then. Watch Suarez (do not miss): 

Southampton v Man City - The Saints have lost 3 in a row bringing their top form crashing to a halt. Meantime, City began winning away. In their previous 2 match up, both won at home. In recent matches, City are looking better especially the 6-0 demolition of Spurs. It will be a tall order for Southampton right now but City's attacking game and a weaker defence means they will concede goals. Peter Schemichel said that Joe Hart is a brilliant keeper and he can't turned to rubbish over night. I respect this man's view as he was the best. The problem is City's defence without Vincent Kompany lacks composure. Watch both the Saints' loss and City's win but Pantilimon was not impressive? Aguero and Yahya Toure are hot. 1-2.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=638919836150611&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=638919186150676&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater

Stoke v Chelsea - Stoke have just drew with Cardiff 0-0 after getting trounced 4-0 by Everton. Despite winning 4-3 away at Sunderland, it does not speak well of Mourinho's defence but they are just 4 points behind leaders Arsenal and could not afford to let up. Eden Hazard is in fine form. Watch:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=639225769453351&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater

In 5 previous meetings, they drew twice with Chelsea having won 3. Stoke have not scored in 2 matches while Chelsea netted 7 goals.  You do the maths. 1-3.

WBA v Norwich - WBA are not getting the results that they deserve. Norwich are in a re win/lose win/lose sequence but it is actually more who they were playing than a win/lose sequence. They have somehow declined from last season. The past records were close and Norwich have won at the Hawthorns twice before in 5 meets but they never drew. WBA have not won in 4 matches. This is the beginning of their first win in 5. 2-1.

Sunderland v Tottenham - Sunderland is now right at the bottom despite great upsets of Southampton and then Man City back to back but they went back down after one draw and 2 defeats. The important in soccer as in life is not to start wrongly and struggle from there on. Their form and record against Tottenham are not good. Tottenham can't afford to play like wimps (think City match) and must attack which is their forte. They pinned back Man Utd after a superb Sandro goal recorded at 86km/h:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=637402812968980&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater

and before that a Walker goal which led me to wonder if players forming a wall should jump when the shot came: 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=637397249636203&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater

and do watch their win over Fulham (away)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=638920576150537&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater

But Gus Poyet can surprise with the right strategy. Away win. 1-2.

Fulham v Villa - This is Sparta! Fulham must shout with full guts. Martin Jol is gone and they have been losing home and away. Their last 5 matches were LLLLL. Villa is in form and unbeaten in their last 5 witha DWDDW. They have 2 things that may help them - they are at home in Craven Cottage where it was once quite a fortress and their record against Villa showed 3 draws and a win apiece. Do not forget that Villa have just beaten Southampton away. I want to give Fulham hope to say a draw here. 1-1.


Arsenal v Everton - Arsene Wenger has been warning his players about Cardiff (3-0) then Hull (2-0) as he was afraid of carelessness or complacency. If Moyes has been great in developing Everton then Martinez has retained the steel and added finesse. That Everton went to Old trafford and won 1-0 was impressive. This will be an intriguing match. Arsenal's last 5 matches was LWWWW whiel Everton's DDDWW. When they met each other the last 5 times Arsenal won 3 but last season both matches ended in draws.
It will be a tough test for the Gunners and both teams are in good form. It should be close but Arsenal can prevail. 2-1.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=638903552818906&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=638885652820696&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater

Swansea v Hull - For Swansea to beat Newcastle 3-0 said something and for Hull to beat Liverpool 3-1 it also said something. It is a brain v brawn match if we knew how both teams play. Sometimes, teams like Swansea hate to play such opponent like Hull. Draw. 1-1.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Kallang Roar! (Part Three)

Image
Back in the good old days, we have four other national teams. Besides the National Team (The Lions), we also have a B team (The Cubs). Then we also competed in the Sultan's Gold Cup fielding a team called Singapore Malays. We have the Singapore Indians playing in the Bardhan Cup and the other being the Singapore Chinese team also competing aga inst Malaysian state teams in the same format and also the Ho Ho Cup triangular among Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. In 1976, Englishman Trevor Hartley became responsible for the Singapore team at age 28. I can't remember which year Singapore beat Malacca 6-2 and Lee Bee Seng was sent off for punching an opponent who must have trampled on him. Here is Bee Seng with Brian Rozario. In the same match Quah Kim Song was sent off too for fighting. And I said wow! Malaysia Cup is like that? I like! (Pix - Lee Bee Seng with Brian Rozario). And can you believe this? Before all these we have Mike Walker who played Kim Song a
Read more

The Hainanese

The Hainanese are people from Hainan who originated from Hainan Island - the smallest province of China at the Southern most tip. They were originally fishermen from Fujian and Guandong and later settled over there. The Hainanese, part of the Chinese dispora migrated to different South East Asian countries including late comers to Singapore worked in ships as sailors, opened their own coffee shops or restaurants, bakeries or bars and worked as cooks and chefs and others at local hotels.  Hainanese in Singapore made up 7% of the Chinese population. The Hainanese came to Singapore much later than the Hokkiens and Teochews who are already well entrenched in trade and commerce. Originally they also have problems communicating with other dialect groups as their language seems unintelligible to the others but they began to carve out a name for themselves working for wealthy Europeans including as canteen operators for military bases.  Hainanese are especially with food and beverage.
Read more

Singapore Soccer Legends

Image
Legends What are legends? A legend is a traditional story or myth, traditional literature or inscription. Lee Kuan Yew is a legend. So was Bruce Lee. You can find legends in business, politics, leaders, music, movies and sports. Legends are heroes of the time, at that time, a moment in history and usually you will find it hard to replicate or reproduce like Jack Nicklaus in golf, England's 1966 World Cup soccer winning team, Brazil's World Cup team of 1970 and 1982. Maradona and Messi are soccer legends of Argentina, Platini and Zidane are legends of France, Beckanbauer and Muller from Germany and Cruyff, Neeskens, Marco van Basten of Holland.  Eventhough Holland did not win the World Cup, the whole team in 1974 were legends. So was Denmark when they won the European Nations Championship. Legends defy logic. They inspire. They make you want to be like them. They start a revolution. They can transform a nation. They can bring joy and give a common platform for
Read more