The Wildcard’s Premier League Predictions - Week 13
Last Week: 4/10
Overall: 56/120
Watford vs Manchester United
Aaaaand breathe out. Club football’s back.
Unfortunately it’s back with bad news for Manchester United with both Michael Carrick and Anthony Martial reporting back injured. Don’t really know the severity of those knocks but Carrick will almost certainly be out a few weeks. That’s pretty much why they bought Schweiney, though.
I’m curious as to how Watford approach this game more than I am United. Watford have been superb at the back given what they were expected to offer and in Deeney and Ighalo they’ve got a strike partnership that can worry most defences. But not many teams play Man United with two strikers. In fact most teams like to set up to defend and see what they can salvage from the scraps.
The fact that it’s a home game for Watford helps but I was really taken by something Louis Van Gaal said last game, when they beat West Brom 2-0, when he suggested that the fact they were able to break a defensive side down (this was after the three consecutive 0-0s) meant that other teams would be less likely to sit deep against them in the future. I think it takes more than one game, hence the interest in Watford’s tactics. They’re as well suited to the defensive side as most.
Ahhh but I can’t pick ‘em to get anything. I kinda don’t believe they think they can either, that’s certainly the thought I had when they played Arsenal and City. Where exactly do they start to back themselves? Liverpool? Palace? Swansea? You have a quality team, Watford. Have faith. (The other thing is that teams who came in expecting to fight relegation only to find themselves with breathing room tend to soak that up a little too much).
Wildcard’s Pick: Manchester United 2-0
Chelsea vs Norwich City
Look, at this stage your guess is as good as mine when it comes to Chelsea Football Club. I don’t even wanna try anymore I’ve just got no idea.
Wildcard’s Pick: Chelsea 1-0 because, like… yeah.
West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal
If only Arsene Wenger had access to this kind of encyclopaedic knowledge in the past! Just think of the possibilities…
Having said that, I have a strong feeling that this may be a banana peel game for the Gunners. An old fashioned slip up affair, up against a West Brom team that’s getting back to where they ought to be under Pulis’ tutelage. They brought in some new faces over summer and that probably slowed them down but Jonny Evans, for one, looks as good as he has since joining. Arsenal will still be without Theo and Bellerin and that’s a lot of pace gone missing. Hey, they should have more than enough firepower to take down the Baggies all the same but, ya know, I just have this feeling…
Wildcard’s Pick: 0-0
Swansea City vs Bournemouth
Remember Bafetimbi Gomis? About time he got back in the scorers’ books, right? He scored four in four to start the season and hasn’t netted since. It’d be nice if he did because the feel-good Garry Monk thing is starting to go sour and even though I wouldn’t at all think of flicking the guy after what he’s done so far, he’s only won one of nine and is pretty level with the record Mike Laudrup had when Swansea sacked him. The way I see it, you either believe in your manager or you don’t and a couple months of bad results shouldn’t change that. It’s not like Monk’s out there doing Mourinho things. Hopefully Eddie Howe has that sorta faith at Bourney too because that team’s headed down but they’ve got every chance of bouncing straight back up with much better prospects if they can avoid going crazy with the axe.
Wildcard’s Pick: Swansea 2-1
Everton vs Aston Villa
I think Everton’s problem this season will be the lack of depth that’s harmed them the last few years. At the back they’ve done superb to hold on despite knocks to both Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines so far (and Phil Jagielka’s injury means more of that in the middle) but if Ross Barkley or Romelu Lukaku gets a snap or a twinge then that’s gonna mean trouble.
But until that happens, this is one of the seven or eight best teams for sure. Aston Villa… they’re one of the three worst until proven otherwise. And losing Jordan Amavi for the season doesn’t help. (Ewww, that injury!)
Wildcard’s Pick: Everton 2-0
Newcastle United vs Leicester City
Well, this is it. The game to tie the record for Jamie Vardy, he’s just gotta find a way to score against a Newcastle team currently sitting two points above relegation. Ruud Van Nistelrooy did ten straight, Jamie Vardy is nine not out.
As a MUFC fan myself (please, no abuse), I’ll say I initially scoffed at the thought of Vardy catching the record of my first favourite player but to be honest I never really gave him a chance. But at this stage, how can you not love the dude? I’m sick of trying to predict the end of this Leicester City run and I’m ready to get myself all on board. Riyad Mahrez is a man who will surely be playing Champions League at some stage, Marc Albrighton is a solid pro who deserves the form he’s found after a tough couple years and Danny Drinkwater is emerging as one of the undercover best central mids outside the top six. You’ll never convince me that this team is worth their position with the defence they have but who wants to cheer for defence? Nah, bugger that. I’m not fighting the current anymore. The Foxes play fast, attacking, enthusiastic footy and that’s something that should be cheered on.
And I’m well aware that this is an enormous jinx I’m throwing on them, for which I can only apologise in advance.
Wildcard’s Pick: 2-2, of course Vardy scores.
Southampton vs Stoke City
Wildcard’s Pick: Southampton 1-0
Manchester City vs Liverpool
I can think of one storyline here:
Lil Bubba Sterling vs Liverpool. Well, well, well. Depending on which side of the argument you fall on he’s either an arrogant, money-hungry, spoiled little brat or he’s the most valuable young player in Europe and he deserves to be playing in the Champions League. In reality… actually in reality it’s closer to the second option. Not the most valuable youngster or any of that frivolous rubbish but he’s easily good enough to justify the transfer and it’s such a shame how that whole thing was handled. I’ve always felt that if I’d been lucky enough to be much better at football that I’d represent myself in contract negotiations. Player agents are somewhere in the range of lawyers and politicians when it comes to the morality scale. Paul Scholes never had an agent. Then again Paul Scholes was never transferred. Hmm. But I’m pretty good in the hot seat on Football Manager, that’s more or less the same thing… right?
At least Bubba means that Jurgen Klopp won’t be the centre of attention for once. It must be quite weird, coming into Anfield hearing all about the passion and whatnot that the Liverpool fans brings, and he gets there to see millions of beady eyes all staring at him in silence and awe. There’s still a feeling of flattery about his appointment, I reckon. And it’ll take a loss where he gets angry and moans for that to come around. Oooh look, they’re playing City!
Wildcard’s Pick: 2-1 MCFC
Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United
Here comes West Ham’s first chance to prove what they can do without Dimitri Payet and it happens to come away to one of the best organised teams in England. Do you know what Dele Alli did for his international break? He did this:
Of course the Hammers have been pretty superb on the road all season, sitting back and soaking pressure and then hitting on the break. Victor Moses’ role on the wing will be more important now than ever – his pace will mean everything to them going forward. Maybe he can expose Walker and Rose at the back, but it’s hard to see Spurs being very profligate here.
The real battle will lie at the other end, with the Hammers doing their sponge impersonation against a very high pressing Spurs team. Long balls are trouble to high pressers and high pressing tends to mean high lines. Then again, Spurs pulled that trick out themselves against Arsenal to good effect. The way I see it, Winston Reid and co. don’t have the passing ability to work themselves out of trouble and I can see a few silly mistakes leading to goals – something WHU have been known to do now and then. With Spurs tending to be a pretty compact side on attack, the pressure is on the West Ham midfield and I don’t think they can hold it. Sorry fellas.
Wildcard’s Pick: Spurs 2-0
Crystal Palace vs Sunderland
I mean, I’m sure Sunderland have plenty more points in them this season… but it’s very hard to see where they’re coming from. Scott Dann is sure to have a blinder, coming off the massive career boost that was getting a starting CB spot in my premature team of the season. There are few greater honours, son. Live it up.
Wildcard’s Pick: Palace 1-0