EPL 2016/17 - Game Week 30

During the international soccer break, Gareth Southgate got his break. First, he introduced 3-4-3 formation for England and even as England lost 0-1 to Germany, they played a good game. Southgate may be less illustrious than others but I found him to be an intelligent manager. He amalgamated the schooled, trained and available English talents from Chelsea's Conte, Pochettino's Tottenham, Guardiola's City, Klopp's Liverpool and Mourinho's United and tried a new solution. 

When England took on Lithuania, he boldly played various players and dropped others. In came Michael Keane who is not even a seasoned international and plays for Burnley. Gary Cahill was dropped. Kyle Walker was again effusive. Adam Lallana will be a key player for Liverpool and England. He ran circles, was everywhere and made many telling passes often to his opponents' surprise and a midfield with him, Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling meant a future for a young England team which he is trying to build. Southgate is intelligent because whether injured or not, Wayne Rooney was finally left out which is the most correct decision. Many other managers would have kept Rooney even if he did not play for his club or not fully fit. Therefore, I could conclude that Southgate has the courage and integrity to run the team. Though England won 2-0, it is a start and one that proved conclusively that they do not need Rooney and in fact will play better without him. Even at 34, Jermaine Defoe who is still fit and sharp proved his qualities once again with the first goal. He has been scoring regularly even as Sunderland is propping up the table. Adam Lallana has been one of Liverpool's best players, definitely most improved and most consistent and certainly England's best. He showed it even against the  mighty Germans. There is the case for him to be made captain as a captain must perform and inspire. This shows the Gareth Southgate, the most unlikely England manager has the requisites to be a successful one with his intellect, courage and decision making.

You have to be bold. Doing the same things in life over and over again can only get you the same results. Soccer is the same. On this note, while I am happy that V. Sundramoorthy was given a longer contract by the FAS as national coach rather than be called a care-taker as I have previously advocated, I am somewhat perturbed by the soccer dished out their last time out. Sundram was an extraordinary striker in his playing days and blessed with great skills but as a coach he is ultra defensive, not very different from Jose Mourinho and parking buses. Of course results are necessary and you could get murdered playing against top teams but when your opponents are Asean countries such as Cambodia, the Philippines or for that matter even Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand or Malaysia, please be bold with due respect to the opponents. If  you field a team full of defenders and play so defensively, you are giving your opponents too much respect and they see fear in you. Where is the element of surprise. Did you see how small teams like Burnley, Swansea and even Leicester blast their much better opponents? Iceland if you still remember. Yet the first thing he did was to turn Fandi's talented son Irfan Fandi from striker to defender. Irfan is young, tall, well built and a goal scorer. Well, he might some day turn out to be a fine defender but we need goals and to win you must score. He could be our best goal scorer out there and we are removing in to defend. Yes, according to reports Irfan played well as a defender and Safuwan also did well as a winger but for me Safuwan is best as a defender and Irfan a striker. Singapore held Bahrain 0-0 away from home and the first time they did not lose so Sundram is right for now. We need to find our N. Ganesan and Choo Seng Quee and rebuild to let the phoenix rise from the ashes if necessary. For SG soccer to succeed we need to build an entire ecosystem so that all the parts add up. The industry must thrive and careers defined even after the playing days and be extended and sustained that they could become trainers, coaches, specialists, etc. like how they do it in England where some ex players become pundits or even to learn from Japan.Disrupt or be disrupted. I hope the right team wins the election at the FAS. Now, back to the premier league:

Liverpool v Everton - This will be another mouth-watering clash. A Merseyside derby is always very competitive. Liverpool are unbeaten in 12 league meetings with the Toffees winning 5 of them. The last time Everton won at Anfield was in 1999. Everton are no slouch in 7th place just 6 points behind their neighbours. Romelu Lukaku is in the form of his life as he now leads the goal-scorers chart. However, his ambition and frustration has clashed as he is likely to leave Everton even as he was to be made the club's best paid in their history. But not everyone who was doing well and left for another club did well after that. Perhaps the club and the manager is playing to your strength but became different when at another. Just think Fernando Torres from Liverpool to Chelsea. The last match at Anfield was 4-0 to the Reds while the last time they met at Goodison Park was 1-0 in Liverpool's favour. Prior to the international break, Everton thrashed Hull 4-0 with a brace from Lukaku while Liverpool played a pulsating match against Manchester City in a 1-1 draw at the Etihad.That Everton can trouble Liverpool is obvious and will Coutinho and Firmino recover their energy playing in Brazil's World Cup qualification and travelling a long way back? Coutinho is important but which one will turn up. He has been lack-lustre after injury. Will Mane continue his fine form? With catalyst Lallana out injured, who could step in? Emre Can was very good too recently. There are only 9 matches left for Liverpool and they must aim to win everyone to have a solid chance of going to the Champions League. 2-1.

Burnley v Tottenham - The Clarets could give Tottenham a real test of their character. The Spurs are soaring while Burnley, just below mid-table are languishing of late having not won for quite some time but they could trip up Tottenham like a banana skin as Turf Moor in Lancashire is a kind of bogey ground for the visitors who drew 0-0 and 1-1 in their last 2 visits. Things get harder when in-form Harry Kane is out injured but Eirksen and Alli are still on song as evidenced in their 2-1 win over Southampton. Burnley defender Michael Keane would be inspired to keep them quiet after a very good couple of outings for his England debuts first against Germany and then Lithuania. Based on the last 3 matches I have seen of Tottenham, they are quite unstoppable and Pochettino knows he has to build from this. Away win. 1-2.

Chelsea v Crystal Palace - Champions are those that could grind out results. That was what Chelsea have been doing all season. It is almost like no one is talking about who would be crowned champions anymore with the rest aiming for second best and the rest. Leading by 10 points with 10 matches left, you have to imagine Chelsea losing 3 matches for anyone to get close and provided they themselves do not drop any points. Of course this means Chelsea are also the top dogs in London amassing the most points in London derbies this season. You may think that with the match held at Stamford Bridge, it is a foregone conclusion. That may not be the case as Crystal Palace have often in the past made things tough for Chelsea. Sam Allardyce master-minded 3 straight wins to help them climb to 16th and out of relegation zone. Last season, Palace have even won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. In their last 3 matches, Chelsea just needed to win 1-0 or 2-1 and this is going to be one of them. 2-1.

Hull v West Ham - The good news for the home side based on history is that the Tigers have never lost at home to the Hammers. The good news for the visitors is that they have not lost to Hull in their last four encounters. Although West Ham won the home ties 1-0 and 3-0 respectively, their last two visits to Hull ended 2-2 and 0-1. Hull, still stranded in relegation zone must sense blood as West Ham have not won in a while and the last two results were 2-3 losses to Bournemouth away and Leicester at home. Despite a brief revival, something is not right with the Hammers. Both sides are scoring so it could be a high scoring draw. 2-2.

Leicester City v Stoke City - The Foxes are a great enigma unto themselves as well as to many. They are the EPL defending champions in the most unlikely situation. A fairy tale of unknowns under Ranieri that plundered all and against all odds of 5,000 to 1 make sporting history which will never be taken away. They floundered badly and were serious relegation candidate but amazing after the sad departure of Claudio, new manager Craig Shakespeare changed their fortunes. To beat Sevilla over two legs to go into the last eight were yet another new chapter and history in the making. As suddenly, besides, beating Sevilla 2-0, they went on to win their next three league matches on the trot socring 3 times each (v Liverpool 3-1), (v Hull 3-1) and ((v West Ham away 3-2). They hold a superior record against the Potters (W4D3L1). Mahrez got back his magic and Vardy is purring again and has just scored for England. Leicester look like they are not going to lose anytime soon but even if Stoke are not too bad at all, it is a possible home win. 2-1.

Manchester United v WBA - After many matches unbeaten it took some months for United to climb a place to 5th with 2 games in hand over Liverpool (4th). However, WBA may be a sort of bogey team for the Red Devils. In their last 3 home matches against the Baggies, United lost twice. That is not encouraging history for Jose Mourinho. Tony Puli's team stumbled and were wallowing in defeat (0-2 at home to Palace) and (0-3 away at Everton). Then out of the blue, they crushed Arsenal 3-1. Based on how they played in their last match, United will not feel too comfortable. United even without Pogba could still be too strong for them but I will not rule out Pulis with coming up with something to thwart the host to get a point. 1-1.

Watford v Sunderland - The Hornets have won just once in 5 meetings with the Black Cats but Sunderland whose habit of making last minute escape for many seasons may have stretched their luck too far for too long and poor David Moyes, the once Red Devils manager just do not have the luck. Good news is that Sunderland have not lost to Watford away since time immemorial. Besides, Watford have been poor of late. So the impish Jermaine Defoe who scored for England as an old but fit and sharp man at 34 may steal one here. Sunderland needs more than a point but it could be tough. 1-1.

Southampton v Bournemouth - The Saints gave a good account of themselves when they visited White Hart Lane but they lost to a brilliant Tottenham. The Cherries have rebounded since they held Manchester United 1-1 away. They went on to win their next two matches. However, their last three visits to the St. Mary's ended with 0-2 losses.Strangely, in their last 5 results there were no draw. This could be the first draw for some time. 1-1.

Swansea v Middlesborough - The Swans have won their last two home meetings with Middelsborough 1-0. Swansea's revival and winning under Paul Clement has stopped but Boro have lost their last four and sacked their coach. Their record against Swansea ain't good. Boro's stubbornness has gone so Swansea could find a way past them at home. 2-1.

Arsenal v Manchester City - The Gunners are in a bad moment. For the first time since a long time ago and now in 6th position, they do not look like qualifying for the Champions League, there is a possibility the Arsene Wenger may leave and some of their key players may leave too. This weekend, their consolidation is that they have lost to City only once in their last 19 but do not count on it that it will not be the second. There should be plenty of goals and that is the tendency when these two teams meet (3.86 goals per game based on the last 7). City are 12 points behind leaders Chelsea and Arsenal are a massive 19 points behind with a game in hand. The chase for the 3rd and 4th spot have never been closer and more tense. There is no time left and both sides must go out to win for the maximum points. With their open and attacking, this could end up as a pulsating draw. 2-2.