EPL 2015/16 - Game Week 18

Tis been a great season in the EPL. Shining brightly is Leicester City who almost got relegated not so long ago and now playing fearless, exciting, attacking soccer. They may even be the best counter attacking team in the league. It is such a  joy to watch Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy play each week. Every neutral must admit you want this dream to last. While Petr Cech may be doing a good job at Arsenal, few people knew that the top goalkeeper in the league now is a 22 year old Englishman called Jack Butland who plays for Stoke and is one of the reasons Stoke are doing better for his saves. Meanwhile, Manchester United Theatre of Dreams is turning into a nightmare. Just know that their best player all season thus far is defender Chris Smalling who is finally at the peak of his powers. Everton's John Stones has a very bright future. He is so calm and effective, no wonder bigger clubs like Chelsea valued him so highly.

You do fear that Riyad Mahrez may be prised away and Mahrez should stay put with the Foxes as not everyone who switches clubs are successful after that. Mahrez is extraordinary because he is magical with the ball and like Messi, Ronaldo or Ibrahimovic, you expect things to happen when he has the ball. Playing as a winger cum midfielder, he created with many assists and yet score plenty of goals. Finally, Mezut Ozil is showing his real class making 15 assists in 16 matches. Nobody in England or Europe has more. At Everton, young Ross Barkley has come of age running the engine room with such authority and aplomb. Finally, watch this boy - Dele Alli who is English and 19. He is fearless, has crunching tackles, an eye for goal and plays for Tottenham while Liverpool missed out on him and he could be the next Steven Gerrard. 

In attack, Leicester's Jamie Vardy has no peers except for Everton's Romelu Lukaku getting close. Then we have Harry Kane who has scored more goals than anyone else in 2015 (inlcuding 2nd half of last season). A nice surprise is Watford's Odion Ighalo who scored a brace last week against Liverpool. He has been scoring for fun since last season in the lower division and at the beginning people were saying Watford is going back down but they are now in 6th position. Giroud is back and scoring all the important goals for the Gunners. Arsenal are among the favourites every season but often faltered. Before a ball was kicked, I said Arsenal are my pick to win the title and quite many scoffed at that suggestion. So here we are after 17 matches, almost halfway there. The Christmas period will be extremely busy and challenging. How will things unfold? Have a jolly Christmas but how can each team be more jolly?

Stoke v Manchester United - Historically Stoke City hardly beat Manchester United - like once in 14 attempts but in their last 4 home games, they have lost just once. They were nicknamed the Potters because of the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent. Though their form has been patchy of late, Mark Hughes, their master potter has moulded the team into a strong unit gelling like clay. Shaqiri and Arnautovic are very good but they need to be more consistent. Bojan too but what Stoke really need is a proven goal-scorer and they will be different.

United are in shambles and LVG may not be there long. What happened at Chelsea could be happening at Old Trafford. The players are not happy. See when workers are not happy, they are not motivated to perform. They say he is 2 games away form a sack. It could possibly be one. Stoke and old boy Mark Hughes may be the one to hit the final nail into the coffin. Just repeat that performance against Manchester City. Why not? Remember, United suffered 3 losses including an away 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth and another 2-1 defeat at home to Norwich. Of course the Red Devils can do better but I am sticking to a Stoke win. Reputation counts for nothing and everyone is as good as their last deal and that includes LVG. If he wakes up after Christmas singing a different tune, his team could at least dance with him. 2-1.

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace - The last time both sides met in a competitive match was before 1990. Palace were quite unbeatable at the beginning then they it a rough patch but they are back. The Cherries are no pushovers remaining unbeaten for 5 matches now and along the way they held Everton, beaten Chelsea away, beaten Manchester United at home and had WBA defeated away. Very impressive. This match could go either way or possibly end in a draw. Palace is strong, physical and fast but newly promoted Bournemouth tipped to go back down is doing just fine. Palace to have a bite of the Cherries? At home, I think the Cherries will bite back. They have worked hard and they have every chance not to go back down. In Artur Boruc they have a goalie who can be brillinat sometimes but he also has great potential to self destruct wiht some silly antics. For Crystal Palace, they are very able in most areas but what they really need is a proven goal scorer that is clinical in front of goal. Then they could challenge for honours.  2-1. 

Liverpool v Leicester City - It was the worst and most sloppy display by a Liverpool side for some time at Watford. The referee did err by not calling a foul when Bogdan dropped his catch, recovered y holding the rebound for a second before Ake kicked the ball out of his hands to toe poke into the net. When Odion Ighalo scored, why was Skrtel who was with him unable to cover? For all their loyalty and warrior-like ability, Skrtel and Sakho have been coming short. Sakho is guilty of making poor decision with the ball and got caught a couple of times. Even the famous Steven Gerrard slip against Chelsea that caused them the title originated from Sakho. Liverpool who looked so mighty when they had Chelsea beaten 3-1, Manchester City beaten 4-1 and Southampton 6-1 are now a pale shadow.  

The only thing going for the home side is history is on their side having not lost to Leicester in their last six meetings. They have also never lost at home on Boxing Day. The match depends which Liverpool turn up. The one that beat City is capable of winning or the one that perform against Watford will lose. Leicester have just won a tough match at Everton so they certainly could do the same here. The Foxes do not need anything but to just keep believing and their work ethics. It has been a fairy tale and a dream so far. All they need is to keep going to the end of season.If Liverpool controls the pace then they may have a chance because right now Leicester City has the momentum and the "Force Has Awaken" in them for some time. Vardy and Mahrez will run rings around the Liverpool defence and Kante will fetch and carry.  Klopp has to do something sooner. 1-2.

Tottenham v Norwich City - Going by stats, Tottenham conceded a goal t Norwich once every two games but the Canaries have lost just once in 5 previous meetings and Norwich are on a high after drawing with Everton and beating Manchester United at Old Trafford. This last result alone means it will be no stroll in the park for Spurs. Previous matches' scorelines has been 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-0. Tottenham will be wary having lost 1-2 at  home to Newcastle. Nobody really gives Norwich a chance but they are doing okay. I would like to think that Norwich will be tough but Tottenham do have players who are more likely to change the course of the game - Harry Kane, Eric Lamela, Christian Erikson, Dele Alli and Eric Dier. It will be a close home win. If they have that killer instinct, Tottenham will go up another level. 2-1.

Manchester City v Sunderland - City will be cautious to take note that in their last 10 head-to-head with the Black Cats, they won 4, drew 2 and lost 4 matches. Fortunately for Sunderland, City are not firing on all cylinders now but the visitors themselves after 2 inspiring wins have fallen back with 3 straight losses. Still, at the Etihad, the home team will be too strong. Kevin de Bruyne to provide an assist or a goal. Of course they have many other good payers but two key men are Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero but are both injury prone. City could have achieve much more with both present more often. The only thing that interest me about Sunderland is that they actually have an interesting young striker in Duncan Watmore. He is raw but enthusiastic. What more do you want? No pun intended. 2-0.

Chelsea v Watford - The last 5 times they have ever met, Chelsea put 16 goals past them and Watford only managed one losing all the matches. Chelsea players showed a different side to their game after the sacking of Mourinho suggesting that they were previously not playing for him. Have Chelsea turned the corner and now start to climb up the table? No. They are now more willing but they have only beaten Sunderland and Watford is now a confident side. Besides, Chelsea's problems were self created. It may be harder at Stamord Bridge but Watford have won away in their last few matches. Watford is gallant and resilient enough to go over and force a draw. I hope Watford continue to surprise. Everyone is paying attention to Leicester so good for them. 1-1.

Swansea v WBA - Both sides took turns to win and never drew in their last 6 meetings and they do it by taking turns and since WBA won it the last meeting, it is now Swansea's turn. Gary Monk who gave Swansea their best achievements was no more so they are a manager-less club. It is important that an organisation or club needs to have a leader and in a soccer club, he is a vital cog. They will need to make an inspired choice. Tony Pulis is actually brilliant. His teams are organised and stable and hard to beat. Just imagine if he could add more flair and they will become exciting. 1-0.

Aston Villa v West Ham - West Ham , the giant slayers are now not only the draw specialist, they are the 0-0 specialists. Their last 4 matches were draws and the last 3 were 0-0. They are hosted by bottom team Villa who last week eked out a 1-1 draw at Newcastle. If both sides sport their home kit, they will all look the same in claret and blue. Villa will scrape for points or for a point. It is probably a draw for me. We are midway through the season, do Villa have enough time to turn things around and remain in the premier league? Will they have to win half of the remaining half to stay alive? How sad considering that Villa was once such a solid club and champions. For the Hammers, they could be wishing for their early season form again. Come on you irons! 0-0.

Newcastle v Everton - St. James Park happens to be the Magpies favourite hunting ground for the Toffees. They have won 12 against Everton more than any other team except one but in the last 7 clashes, Everton have won 5 and lost just once. Results for Everton have gone down somewhat drawing twice and losing at home to Leicester while Newcastle having beaten Liverpool 2-0 and then beating Tottenham 2-1 away then slumping to a 1-1 home draw against Villa. Newcastle can be capable but not consistent. When they pull together, they have shown to be very good but only when so they have to do it more often. With John Stones, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku in superb form, I expect them to win. Everton and Martinez need to keep the nucleus of the team as this is important how well they do from now and the future. Steve McClaren will need the team to bring out displays like they did against Liverpool and Tottenham. 2-2.

Southampton v Arsenal - The Saints were so awesome last season and still good early this season but have now gone 6 matches without a win but just in January Southampton thumped the Gunners 2-0 but have just lost 0-2 at home to Spurs and Arsenal cannot be worse than Spurs. Perhaps Southampton over-achieved last season. Despite selling so many of their top players, they were good but sold a few more this season leaving them somewhat deflated. They need more energy, more luck and some good results.

Though Arsenal lost just once in 11 league clashes with the Saints, they won only once in their last 6 trips to Southampton. The home side is not in the best condition to face Arsenal who are on  a hot streak but they have to start winning soon but not this time yet. While the Gunners have been doing just great they are not at Barcelona's level just yet. This season is presenting them the best opportunity for glory in the domestic league. 0-2.