EPL 2016/17 - Game Week 6

What a difference a day makes. Life is always full of twists and turns they say. The ball is round and the earth is round too and she rotates such that wherever you are, one day you are ahead and the next behind. It always pays to be humble. The EPL is the same.

After just five matches, teams, managers and players are having their lives changed. Stocks have risen and stocks have fallen. Manchester City are flying. Everton have quietly gone into second place. Tottenham, not as exciting as last season are holding on strong. Arsenal have finally awaken but will they hold? Chelsea , so tough-looking and uncompromising are being questioned after one loss. Liverpool, so bewitching to watch and intoxicating, would they continue? Manchester United, wowing after a shopping spree are now whimpering and a big question mark hanging over them now. Leicester, after stuttering a bit are picking up. Sunderland are the same and whatever happened to West Ham and Stoke City?

Manchester United v Leicester - I have never really like Jose Mourinho nor Wayne Rooney. Mourinho thinks he is Mohammed Ali but only the mouth sounded like Ali. In the previous season he started blaming the Chelsea players and now he is doing the same at United. He goes to successful and rich clubs and the build teams from already good teams and add more costly players but has never managed bottom sides or smaller clubs and has no experience with failures so he does not know what to do when failing and he called Wenger a specialist in failure. I have said a as far back as 1-2 years back that he would be a wrong fit. He is like a rich man's son. While others can fail once and then have a lifetime to pay back, Mourinho could afford to fail several times and still succeed in the end because all his Ah Gong got money. Rooney was really very good in 2004 and for a few years but his fearlessness and ruthlessness were gone a long time ago. I didn't want to say about for United but I have said for a few years now that not only should he not be England Captain, he should not be in the squad. The only reason I can think of for him continuing to be selected is probably he could get paraded to score that occasional nice goal or excellent pass and perhaps a rich Chinese club may buy him.

Big star and world''s most expensive player Paul Pogba is no Zidane neither is he Patrick Viera. He is everywhere but what has he done? Appearances: 4, Yellow Cards: 1, Fouls: 8, Goals: 0, Assists: 0, Haircuts: 4. His agent said Wenger has no balls to spend the money on Pogba? The Red Devils may be playing at their Theater of Dreams but with three straight defeats on the trot, their confidence is at an all time low and not much better than when LVG was the boss. With Mourinho fuming and blaming, how will the players react. You know a highly motivated force when you see one. 

The Foxes are are on the upturn after a slow start. Two 3-0 wins, away to Brugge and at home to Burnley are good signs. Though they lost 2-4 to Chelsea in the League Cup they drew first blood and led 2-0. Last time they met at Old Trafford it was one apiece. Now I do not know which one would end up pissed. If Jose makes some bold and critical changes, it might save United from more humiliation as Leicester are no lesser opponents than Watford and you saw how the Hornets stung them. Right now, Jose is making Louis van Gaal look good. As if not enough, the soccer Gods are poking fun by making City United's opponents in their next tie. Michael Carrick may be older now but he is a passer and even Anders Herrera is a better option. Why not play Henrikh Mkhitrayan? There will be changes but can they win? It is the best time to play United now. Leicester looked like coming together with Mahrez, Vardy and Slimani and could threaten United. I want to say Leicester win but would like to say United can play better and not lose. 2-2.

Bournemouth v Everton - If Arsenal is looking for a long term successor to Arsene Wenger and not just a successor but to bring long term success they have to look no further. He is Ronald Koeman. You did not even notice how Everton got to second position with no noise, brow beating or chest thumping. First Southampton and then Everton have the smarts. However, the Toffees some how lost their first match to Norwich in the League Cup. Besides, Romelu Lukakau is back in great form. 1-2.

Liverpool v Hull - The Reds could only gain more fans. Their only blip was away to Burnely. At first glance, they showed tremendous promise with that 4-3 away win over Arsenal. 1-1 away to Tottenham which they dominated. An intoxicating and powerful 4-1 thrashing of champions Leicester at Anfield and then the 2-1 away win over Chelsea. That unstoppable curler to Tibault Courtois top corner was against a top goalie from 30m out and a signal of intent. It was the skipper Henderson's second strong game. All very good against the top teams but will Hull do a Burnley? Liverppol must buried that ghost once and for all. Their ability and talent are not to be questioned. They are playing the most exciting soccer and only Manchester City are their equal right now. Liverpool now have the ability, will score goals and the belief and all they need is consistency and not be complacent. This is their chance to prove it over smaller teams with a another good performance and a solid home win. 3-1.

https://vid.me/ZdFt (Chelsea v Liverpool)

http://www.90min.com/posts/3794358-video-jordan-henderson-scores-an-absolute-beauty-from-30-yards-out-to-double-liverpool-s-lead (Henderson Goal)

Middlesborough v Tottenham - Karanka will be without Negredo and Pochettino without Kane but it will not make things easier for both sides as each will play slightly differently without them. After a good start to their campaign, Boro is finding life tough in the top flight. Tottenham are still in third place without being spectacular and have not won at Boro in their last two visits. Boro won't be easy but Tottenham are just stronger and should eke out a narrow win to keep their position. 1-2.

Stoke v WBA - Mark Hughes's Stoke City are propping the table. Last season they were still a strong team. What happened? They looked awful with the way they have been conceding goals. It is not easy to maintain your team's standard or perhaps something is really wrong with them this season. Last three times they have both met, the Baggies won all. WBA had just smashed West Ham 4-2 last week and on current form is capable of another win considering Stoke's poor form. I am going for an improved Stoke performance and a draw. 1-1.

Sunderland v Crystal Palace - The Black Cats are in the same condition with Stoke and could finally win when they beat lower division QPR in the League Cup. After Palace's thrashing of Stoke thy fell 0-2 to Southampton in the Cup. In past meetings between them they are quite equal on record. And I believe they will play to a draw. 1-1.

Swansea v Manchester City - The Swans have a poor record against City. six matches, drew once and lost five conceding 15 goals but often scored against City. If the soccer Gods are playing tricks on United making Mourinho face City again in the League Cup, then the computer Gods are also having fun making Swansea play City twice at the same venue as last their last match on 22 Sep in the Cup where Swansea lost 1-2. Manchester City will be too strong and I do not see Swansea ending their winning streak. 1-3.

Arsenal v Chelsea - Arsenal are getting better while Chelsea have questions marks? Chelsea have defensive issues and John Terry is out but the Gunners have a poor record against Chelsea. In fact, Arsenal are so abysmal against Chelsea that they have failed to score against them in their last six league matches. Their only win coming from the Community Shield. Somehow Arsenal seldom show up with their muscles against Chelsea. So it is possible the away team as their nemesis could surprise or will Arsenal finally have the gumption and guts to take Chelsea down. If you want to be champions you cannot have fear. Arsenal style of play, though beautiful has become too predictable while Conte has so far appeared to be late when making changes only from the 80th minute which is too late for his substitute to make an impact. I think they have both yet to convince me they could tear each other up. Draw. 2-2.

West Ham v Southampton - The Saints do not have a good win record playing away to the Hammers. West Ham had just managed a 1-0 win over Accrington Stanley (what it that?) in the League Cup with a 90th minute goal from Payet. They are now in 18th position. How sad when you considered how good they were just last season. Southampton are doing better. What is wrong with West Ham? The bright spark for them is that Mikhail Antonio is leading the scoring chart and Dimitri Payet is back to his best. Unless they are having other kind of problems unknown to us, I do think they should find their feet back again. 2-1.

Burnley v Watford - Burnley can only beat Liverpool. Instead of being inspired by that, they have not won since. Last match was a 0-3 trouncing by Leicester. The Hornets after three losses thrashed the Hammers 4-2 away and a solid 3-1 home win over Manchester United should continue to do well. Capoue is now a star and cannot stop scoring such that I am hoping he scores again. In the last two seasons, their matches were played to draws. It could be close but I am picking Watford to win. 1-2.