The World Cup draw will be atking place in the next few hours, and most likely will already be known once you read this. I will make sure I cover the draw, give you my predictions as I always do so you can laugh or shout at me.
For now though I will focus on yet another round of Premier League fixtures and try my best to work my way through the weekend and give you my impression of what might happen.
SATURDAY (All kick-off’s 3pm BST/10 ET unless stated)
Manchester United v Newcastle (12:45 BST/ 7:45 ET)
The natives are getting restless at Old Trafford. Less than seven months since they all nodded and applauded Alex Ferguson when he said they should give the new Manager time, if you ask certain sections of the United fan base time is now up. To get my more in depth thoughts on this.
The visit of Newcastle, especially after the defeat to Everton, might have some fans nervous, especially with the main man Wayne Rooney having to serve a suspension. Both sides lost midweek and it is now who will pick themselves up and dust themselves off the quickest. United will not win the Premier League, it would have been amazing had Moyes did but it was always going to be a longshot.
It is time for the United fans to get behind the team and the Manager and get them through this transition period. The fact some are already on the backs of the manager and the players does note bode well for the longevity of the David Moyes era. A win on Saturday might at least get some back on side, until the next hiccup.
Prediction: 2-1
Crystal Palace v Cardiff
When Marouane Chamakh scored Crystal Palaces goal on Tuesday you could feel the tension in the stadium lift. Certainly that doesn’t mean I think it will signal the Eagles assault up the league but Tony Pulis has already got his side tougher to score against and got a decent striker, with a goal drought, scoring again. Another win on Saturday will see Palace move to within a point of the visitors and maybe the fans can start to really look forward to the rest of the Premiership season.
For Cardiff, they have their own issues off the field and are not helped by the fact they have only won outside of Wales once this season, although that too was a at struggling London side.
Prediction: 0-0
Liverpool v West Ham
Which Liverpool turn up on Saturday pretty much depends on which sort of Suarez turns up. Against Norwich on Wednesday he and Liverpool turned over the visitors with frightening ease. A few days before, they had struggled and eventually lost to Hull City.
Will Andy Carroll be available for this game? He would certainly have wanted to be but even though he has returned to training this week I think will not be risked with an early return.
West Ham have struggled with last weekends victory over Fulham the only highlight. I think this game will be a case of damage limitation for the Hammers and if they can keep Suarez reasonably quiet then that will be job well done.
Prediction: 3-0
Southampton v Manchester City
Southampton, under Pochettino, have made a storming start to the Premier League so far this season. A month ago they were in fourth position and things were looking good. The two away games against Arsenal and Chelsea were maybe not thought to bring a massive amount of points for the south coast side but the injury to goalkeeper Boruc seems to have hit them hard. Gazzaniga has conceded a goal every 24 minutes since taking over for the last third of the Chelsea game into the defeat against Villa midweek.
City on the other hand are on a three match winning streak with the away day blues seemingly banished in the opening 85 minutes of their midweek game. The final five minutes still suggests some nervousness remains but if they can get a victory here then that can only build the confidence.
Prediction: 1-3
Stoke v Chelsea
Stoke City are struggling this season under Mark Hughes and only one win in the last six will most likely not be improved with Saturdays visitors. The state of the Stoke side will start to ask questions of Mark Hughes managerial credentials after he left Manchester City. He quit Fulham, failed at QPR and is now struggling at Stoke City but I still remember his Blackburn days. Back then he got the side punching above their weight and that is what this Stoke City side need to do, and what bigger weight to punch against than Chelsea.
I think it is fair to say that Jose Mourinho’s second spell at Chelsea has not been all plain sailing. A defeat away to Newcastle followed by a tied game at home to West Brom started off November, an eventual win on Wednesday against a struggling Sunderland started off this month. Can Chelsea keep the pressure up on Arsenal or will there be yet another slip up from the chasing pack.
Prediction: 0-3
West Brom v Norwich
Since West Brom let a 2-0 half time lead slip against Villa in a Monday night two weeks ago. Since then they lost against Newcastle and Manchester City although they did fight back in the latter one.
For Norwich they haven’t been good for a while now. Even the 3-1 win against West Ham was not even looking on the cards until a soft penalty got awarded their way. In the last five League games they have scored six goals and conceded a terrible fifteen.
I look for West Brom to secure the points in this game and maybe, depending on the severity of the defeat, another boss dismissed come Monday morning.
Prediction: 2-0
Sunderland v Tottenham (5:30 BST/12:30 ET)
This will be a very interesting game. Sunderland were unlucky not to get something from the Chelsea game midweek while Spurs only just managed the win against Fulham. If Sunderland can play the way they did against Chelsea and Manchester City in particular then it may make AVB’s evening very uncomfortable.
Prediction: 2-2
SUNDAY
Fulham v Aston Villa (1:30pm BST/ 8:30 ET)
It will only be his second game in charge but the pressure will already be felt by Rene Meulensteen if his side cannot get a win against Aston Villa on Sunday. Yes it was a tight game against Tottenham midweek and that would build up the hopes of Fulham fans for this encounter.
Make no mistake, if they fail to win this then questions will be asked as to why the change was made and Jol not given the chance to rectify the rut, just as he did last season.
That is not to say that Aston Villa will roll over though and they to will be looking to keep their unbeaten run going.
Prediction: 2-0
Arsenal v Everton (4:00pm BST/ 11:00 ET)
Arsenal have been cruising recently with three wins in a row, three clean sheets and seven goals. With Everton though they find a side with no fear about going to the big teams, on their own grounds and coming away with the points. A win midweek against Manchester United is proof that under Martinez Everton are a different proposition.
Prediction: 1-1
MONDAY
Swansea v Hull. (8:00pm BST/ 3:00 ET)
In the last week both clubs have played two clubs from the top six, each. Swansea lost away to Manchester City 3-0 before beating Newcastle on Wednesday by the same score and dropping them out of the top 5. Hull on the other hand beat Liverpool on Saturday 3-1 before falling 2-0 to Arsenal on Wednesday.
Now they face each other with just a point separating the two clubs. A win for either would most likely lift them into the top half of the table.
Prediction: 2-0
