FA Cup quarter-finals/ Premier League predictions

This week’s set of predictions is poignant for me given the increased importance of        Everton’s fixture. Though a 12:45 kick-off is not the ideal time, Goodison Park is just the location to restore what had been a great run of form.

David Moyes’ apparent ‘a fall comes before pride’ philosophy will forever be a black mark against in my book but he is of course the sort of manager who can channel negativity.

Moving on to a less subjective, more wide-reaching approach, victory for Manchester United at vulnerable Wolves would open up a four-point gap over Manchester City with Mancini’s men facing an arguably-rejuvenated Chelsea in their next fixture.

With the Europa League done and dusted, things are just about to get fascinating and you can bet your bottom dollar that Alex Ferguson is delighted to have the chance to apply the pressure first.

Remember to play along if you can be arsed: one point for a correct result, two for a correct score.

Last week’s score: 4 (Worst so far)

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Saturday March 17, 2012

The FA Cup quarter-finals

Everton 3-1 Sunderland (12:45)

Well if anyone read my David Moyes article from earlier this week, you will know my feelings on this on already, but just to recap: Everton absolutely must win.

The performance has to be impressive also, and with Nikica Jelavic, Royston Drenthe but most importantly, Leon Osman, returned to the line-up, I expect plenty of chances for the Blues.

Sunderland will fight because of course there is an evident spirit there but Sessegnon’s absence through suspension will be key. I think he’s a fantastic player and without his ability to link the play, I see Sunderland being penned back as Everton try to right the wrong of midweek.

Jelavic is just the sort of striker a player with Osman’s vision requires to win a game. Fingers crossed.

Tottenham 3-0 Bolton Wanderers (17:30)

Despite Harry Redknapp’s lack of post-match dignity last week, I’ll admit that Tottenham deserved to beat Everton. And though their form has been really poor of late for a team that were talked about as title candidates earlier this season, if Spurs finish third and win the FA Cup, that would constitute a brilliant season.

Redknapp is a fantastic motivator and his side have so much quality on the ball and in the box that you can only anticipate goals against an admittedly improved though still decidedly woeful Bolton defence. Pacier, quicker in the mind, and far more clinical, I think 3-0 Spurs may actually be  an underestimate.

The Barclays Premier League

Fulham 2-0 Swansea (15:00)

Martin Jol’s side missed a chance last week. Villa were there for the taking and Fulham should have advantage.

A victory would have meant the Cottagers had taken 19 points from the last 21 available; that momentum would have made the visit of a confident Swansea a lot more straight forward.

The enormity of the gulf in resources between Brendan Rodger’s team and Man City really puts that victory in context so credit where it’s due. That said, Swansea are a pretty poor away side and cannot impose themselves like they do at home.

Fulham, the archetypal home side will build up enough pressure, and with Pogrebnyak and Dempsey up front, I really look forward to watching the highlights.

Wigan 1-2 West Brom (15:00)

I would have backed Wigan for three points here if they’d have got their just desserts from the Norwich game, but that opportunity lost  is indicative of their general wastefulness/ lack of composure in front of goal. I like Martinez of course, I mean everyone likes Martinez, but I take issue with this whole he plays’ the right way’ thing people say.

As far as I see it, he plays ‘the right way’ the wrong way in that any quick-paced, slick combination of ball retention and attacking should supplement a solid defence rather than compensate for the lack of one.

Take West Brom, for example. They are unlikely to lose this game as because Roy Hodgson places so much importance on the need to maintain shape and reduce risk.

Call it safe, call it boring, I say that savvy is probably more apt. Given the bags of attacking talent in Peter Odemwingie, Shane Long and increasingly James Morrison means they have a real chance of nicking any game, so I’ll take a punt on this one.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Sunday February 18, 2012

The FA Cup quarter-finals

Chelsea 2 -0 Leicester City (14:05)

Even though Chelsea beat Napoli convincingly in the end, I wouldn’t say that convinced me. Watching that game, I was struck by a thought that is possibly lacing the dreams of Arsenal fans everywhere: imagine if they drew Barcelona in the quarters. Genuinely, I would expect an aggregate score line of something like 10-2.

The Chelsea of old would have swept the floor with Leicester but I expect the Foxes to compete in this game. Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Birmingham was a decent result and you always have a chance when there is a striker like Beckford up front (let me just stress as an Evertonian, I mean that on a strictly novelty basis given his cup record). Chelsea’s superior ability to defend and convert chances will be the difference.

Liverpool 2-1 Stoke City (16:00)

If I am painfully honest, I’d have to say that Liverpool are probably the best English cup side. For two reasons really: firstly (and obviously), they bloody win loads of them, and secondly, because their games are always fantastic: 5-4 vs Alaves, 3-3 vs AC Milan, 3-3 vs West Ham, and obviously 2-2 vs Cardiff recently.

Liverpool excel in the cup and an away quarter-final at Anfield is as close to a write-off as they come.

I don’t particularly rate this Liverpool side at the moment, but as the general performance and productivity of the squad has improved, I have simply channeled that cynicism into Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson comments. If Stoke can nick a goal and employ those scandalous time-wasting tactics, they have a chance of a result.

My friend Stocky told me a statistic this week that I judge meaningful enough to form the last word, so here’s doing that justice. Liverpool’s record when they have started  Gerrard, Carroll and Suarez: played three, won three, scored 11.

The Barclays Premier League

Wolves 0 -3 Manchester United (13:30)

This is quite simply one the worst possible fixtures for Terry Connor and his side. I really fell sorry for him; the transformation in mentality, belief and momentum that is required is monumental, so his current failure to effect that is hardly a fair indictment. That said, fact is the raw material of the sports journalist and to that end, Wolves are a shaken, weak and beatable team at the moment, and Manchester United, well they want to win the league.

Stung by the lesson they were given for 180 minutes of their Europa League tie with Bilbao, I expect the Old Trafford title machine to find its critical gear. Wayne Rooney’s form has been outstanding but beyond his abundant natural ability, he has shown the sort of relentless desire and clinical efficiency that defines champions. Sub-standard defence vs ruthless attack. No contest.

Newcastle 2-0 Norwich City (16:00)

Newcastle’s unfortunate defeat to Arsenal contained lots of positives, the most important of which for me was the performance of Hatem Ben Arfa. I think he has been impressive all year but of late, has begun to work harder for the team.

He strikes me as the sort of player who can create a chance out of nothing and convert it easily – a godsend of an asset when you consider Newcastle’s two brilliant strikers Ba and Cisse.

Like I said previously, Norwich deserved to be beaten last week against Wigan and as I do not rate Roberto Martinez’s side whatsoever, the Canaries must be out of form as far as I can tell. Newcastle to get back to winning ways with the three said attackers t0 dominate.

By Chris Smith

Follow me on Twitter@cdsmith789 or click here to return to the homepage.

Premier League predictions

In this week’s set of predictions, I have gone for some bold/ stupid ones. This comes in spite of the fact my top score is something like six. Included in there are two 2-3 predictions which are deemed to serve an interesting purpose. If I am in any way correct, you, the reader, are bound to think ‘ah this chap must know a thing or two’, you come back again, I’m happy, you’re happy, everyone’s happy (to an extent). And if I am wrong, well, who gives a shit?

Last week’s score: 5

Saturday February 25, 2012

Chelsea 2 – 1 Bolton Wanderers 15:00
A lot has been written about Villas-Boas this week and rightly so. The players are either under-performing or past it but without meaning to get too personal Andre, it is precisely your personality that is the problem for me. Dropping Ashley Cole for Jose Bosingwa? He deserves what he gets for that. In terms of Bolton, I was delighted to see Ryo Miyaichi start and score against Millwall. Hopefully, he replaces the rubbish Martin Petrov in the starting line-up. If so, Bolton could have another Jack Wilshere situation on their hands. Whether or not that happens, I am going make a bold prediction here, Torres to score in a Chelsea win.

Newcastle 2-1 Wolves 15:00
Wolves’ search for a new manager has rapidly become a farce but good luck to Terry Connor. It would be easy to condemn Steve Morgan and the rest of the board, but to be honest, Wolves have been average at best for far too long and the embarrassment at home to West Brom was about ten final straws at once. I expect a spirited performance from them but Newcastle are a really strong side at home. The more Cisse and Ba play together, the more goals, the more confidence, more goals etc etc, so a Newcastle win for me.

QPR 3-2 Fulham 15:00
This seems like a bit of a wild prediction but there is method in my madness. There are lots of interesting details to stoke up the intensity of the game. Mark Hughes walked out on Fulham last year, Bobby Zamora in January, and of course the fact it is a very local derby. QPR desperately need the points given their predicament and although 3-2 is a bit of a risky prediction, these games have to happen some time don’t they?

West Brom 1-2 Sunderland 15:00
I expected Sunderland to ease past Arsenal in the FA Cup and they did. Consequently, I expect that momentum to spur them on at the Hawthorns where a thoroughly capable West Brom side strangely continue to struggle. It has all been said about Martin O’Neill so I think it best to concentrate on James McClean who looks a fantastic player. I think Sunderland are playing well enough to control the game which will frustrate West Brom and their supporters. I expect Sunderland’s efficient attacking to secure a late win.

Wigan 1- 2 Aston Villa 15:00
To be blunt, I think this will be a fairly dire game from two boring sides but for me, Villa’s attacking potency coupled with Wigan’s defensive inadequacies will be the difference. Villa have some really good players, and to a lesser extent so do Wigan, but both sides lack the consistency required to climb the table. Poor game, Keane or Bent to win it.

Manchester City 3-0 Blackburn 17:30
My first thought was ‘easy win for City’, my second ‘ah but Blackburn did win at Old Trafford’, my third ‘no you were right, easy win for City’. So easy win for City then. I could explain my reasons but is there any point?

Arsena 2-3 Tottenham 13:30 
Historically, I love Arsenal. Furthermore, I have grown accustomed to hating various Spurs teams over the years. Though I wouldn’t claim my Arsenal sympathies have gone full circle, my Spurs dissent certainly has. Though Man City play the slightly better football, Spurs do it more often and for longer periods. If you take this team as a reference for Redknapp’s England manager’s application then I cannot wait. Arsenal on the other hand are back to the same old sorry mixture of woeful defending, unfortunate injuries and an all-too evident crisis of confidence. They will fight here but Spurs will fight back stronger.

Norwich 0-2 Manchester United 13:30
To allow my Spurs praise to spill over for a second, I rate them on a similarly plane to Manchester United these days which is why I have gone for 2-0, the scoreline when Spurs visited Carrow Road. Rio Ferdinand’s return will be welcome for a defence that looked awful against Ajax. Norwich may just catch United napping by coming out of the traps but I would expect Ferguson’s men to be prepared for that despite playing on Thursday. Enough quality in United’s attack to secure a good win.

Stoke City 2-0 Swansea 15:00
A lot was made of Tony Pulis’ selection in mid-week but one thing that is for sure, whoever plays will come out fighting in a winnable home game. Swansea’s win at West Brom was courageous but unrepresentative of a much more abject away form. On their day, they can match anyone but it seems their day comes all too seldom away from home. Stoke are a great side at times and surely Pulis has prepared things perfectly for a great home performance.

Carling Cup Final

Cardiff City 1-2 Liverpool 16:00
It is difficult to tip Liverpool to win a final as an Evertonian, especially as I really rate Cardiff, but I imagine Craig Bellamy will start, and an attack that boasts him, Luis Suarez, and Steven Gerrard is hard to ignore. All three have tremendous talent but far more importantly on the day, the sort of clinical efficiency which is crucial in converting chances into cup-winning goals. Cardiff will create and the dead ball ability of Peter Whittingham will give them chances in any game but Liverpool will have the quality and the nerve to triumph. (Bastards)
 

Dalglish resurrects the spirit of old to defeat local rivals

Kenny Dalglish is the latest high-profile boss to come under pressure following his team’s abysmal display at Bolton, and a fairly average start to the season prior to that.

The moronic Adrian Durham even labelled a Liverpool fan “too defensive” for suggesting it was absurd to question any manager, let alone one of Dalglish’s considerable talent, after 22 games.

I have even heard the suggestion that the Scot is ‘out of touch’.

After a week in which Dalglish has reignited the passion and spirit of the victorious past to breathe new life into Liverpool’s hopeful future, in terms of criticism of King Kenny, I think its fair to say that will be that.

Many commentators have reminded Liverpool fans not to get carried away with reaching the Carling Cup final, to keep in mind the abject league form and remember that this trophy means virtually nothing in the grand scheme of things.

I say get carried away, sod the league form, enjoy the day and cross your fingers for a victory – and besides, it means a lot in the grand scheme of things.

Any fan of any club would give anything to be in the final of any competition so Liverpool fans have every right to be happy.

For each supporter to have in the back of their mind that no matter how bad the league form may get, there is a fantastic chance of silverware does wonders for the mood of the fans, which does wonders for the mood of the team.

Couple this with the fact that this is Dalglish’s first full season in charge, you can only read this situation positively for Liverpool.

Furthermore, following up their semi-final success by dumping the old enemy out of the FA Cup and in so doing, restricting their chance of success to a humbling chase behind  Manchester City, Liverpool fans should rightly be optimistic about the future.

What is significant about this week is the opponents Liverpool have faced.

The noise at Anfield is more often than not deafening for a big game, but it was clear that the battles against local rivals United and City, the old and new super powers of the English game, brought yet more out of the crowd.

In a potentially troublesome week for the club, Liverpool supporters have done what they do perhaps better than any other fans on big occasions: given their team all the support needed for victory.

In fact the past few days have been reminiscent of Anfield in more ways than one.

For all their former league glory, Liverpool have more often than not risen to the occasion in the cup, and their success this week is in no small part down to the man in the dug-out.

Dalglish’s public admonition of his players after the drab performance at Bolton refocused their mind to the responsibility that comes with representing a club with the history of Liverpool.

In a game of such polarised emotion, every great manager sees the potential for glory in the aftermath of defeat.

Of course, the fact that Liverpool’s other game this week was a defeat to Bolton completes the story of their season: impressive against the big boys, not good enough against everyone else.

But for me the Bolton performance was a one-off, and beyond that Liverpool’s failure in the league this season has been down to missed chances rather poor form, complacency essentially.

For the majority of the season, the signs have been there that Liverpool have been getting back to where they feel the belong – which is why I fully expect them to beat Cardiff in the final.

Obviously Cardiff are a ‘lesser side’, a league below Liverpool, but if the spirit of Anfield’s past has been resurrected as I believe it has been, the club will return to the ruthless efficiency with which it used to secure trophies.

So as far as a mid-season report for the new manager goes: not bad at all.

By Chris Smith