Last Week: 3/10

Overall: 100/250

Sunderland vs Manchester United

1.45am Sunday (NZT)

The tabloids are really getting their knickers in a twist over Jose Mourinho. As always, they’re spurring each other on with fabricated exclusives but there’s usually fire somewhere near when there’s that much smoke, sadly.

I DON’T WANT THIS! I don’t wanna see Jose at Man United, man he oughta still be at Chelsea. Maybe Louis Van Gaal wants to leave, that’s fine. A few weeks ago he lost to Southampton and I actually started drafting my LVG is Gone article – the draft’s still there if I ever need to write it. I have a feeling you’ll get to read that one someday. But, not for Jose. Not him.

I don’t understand why you’d replace Van Gaal for being boring with a guy famous for parking buses. I don’t understand why you’d complain that LVG isn’t living up to the United Way and then replace him with one of their biggest rivals of this millennium. The only reason is because Ed Woodward and whoever else gets a say in this is being swung by the name and by media pressure (as well as the big revelation down City Way recently). Woodward who is being grilled over United’s financial stakes with the very real chance of missing the Champions League (again) there on the horizon. My feelings are that they owe it to Ryan Giggs to let him have his chance. They owe it to him and they owe it to the club and the fans and to Sir Alex Ferguson. If he fails then sure, cash in on the club’s status. But he has to get his chance.

As far as the actual fact of the situation, it seems Van Gaal himself probably is ready to retire. It seems that United reps have spoken to Mou reps, though there probably hasn’t been any direct contact. I don’t know what that really means. Nobody has commented yet and now the Guardian reckons Mourinho is open to going overseas. That either means he’s opening his options after being shut down or he now knows that he’s their first option and he’s beginning the bargaining. So… could go either way.

The funny thing is that if United had held the lead they took into injury time against Chelsea then they’d be within firing distance of the Champions League and still well within the outer limits of the title race. That was a costly slip by Daley Blind, who has played damn well most of this season. I also refuse to blame Memphis Depay for giving the ball away way up the pitch. Terrible decision but scapegoating doesn’t work, he’s a young player short on confidence and not getting much support (in public) from his manager and team. Give him time, there’s a diamond in there somewhere.

Ooh, shout out to Wahbi Khazri for two assists as Sunderland fought back to draw 2-2 with Liverpool. Just days after I shortlisted him as a transfer to watch out for. He made this list too. Ah, but this game shouldn’t be close. United are playing much better in February and while ‘not close’ probably only means a two-goal win, that’s a vast gulf of incomparability.

Wildcard’s Pick: 2-0 to United

Everton vs West Bromwich Albion

4.00am Sunday

After watching WBA barely scrape through against Peterborough (Go the mighty Posh!) on penalties in the FA Cup, it’s extremely difficult to see them beating Everton. It’s like they’ve got a good squad of pros but there’s no balance there. Or rather there’s too much balance. Everybody is a solid footballer and there’s next to nobody that can break a game open. Saido Berahino is the only one and he’s not exactly had a smooth time recently. When you rely on a Darren Fletcher wonder goal to get past a League One team then maybe something needs to change. Tell you what though, West Ham fans oughta be chuffed with that Martin Samuelsen lad, who’s on loan from the Hammers at Peterborough. 18 years old and he looks like a champ. Man City dumped him from their academy last year, not entirely sure why. His contract ran out so most likely he wanted to go to a team that’d actually play him eventually.

WBA’s rigid functionality is about what Everton like to play against. They won’t expose the aging Tim Howard too much (should he play) and they won’t stretch holes in what remains a surprisingly fluid defence for the quality of players they have. Not an easy team to break down but Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku have done worse in the past.

Wildcard’s Pick: 2-1 Everton

Norwich City vs West Ham United

4.00am Sunday

Here they are, those cheeky Hammers. 121st minute of the game it took them to knock Liverpool out of the Cup (and end their flailing quadruple attempt – hey it was still possible ‘til a few days ago). They needed that late Ogbonna goal too because I did not fancy them on penalties. You never do know with pens though.

Big news this side of things is that Winston Reid went off injured that game. They’ve shown that they can survive without him but he’s their best defender and it tends to be favourable to keep those kinds of players on the park, right?

Joey O’Brien and Cheikhou Kouyate also limped out of that game. O’Brien is a battler, no drama there though Kouyate is a bit of a loss being as his concussion will him sidelined for this one. Gotta sit out six days after a concussion, them’s the rules. James Tomkins is also out for six weeks from last weekend so we’ll probably get another look at Sam Byram. Winnie is having a scan today.

The Canaries will be playing to avoid a sixth straight loss, slipping from 15th to the relegation zone in less than five weeks. They’re getting killed on set pieces and might be the worst away team in the Premier League, Aston Villa aside. Judging on last week they don’t seem to have a decent keeper and they’ve been full of errors at the back. However they were busy in the transfers and a few guys are trying to fit their way into the Premier League so there’s still reason to hope. WHU will be tired after that midweeker and we all know that makes ya vulnerable. Unfortunately for Norwich their last 13 games see them play five of the top six and this is after they just lost to Aston Villa.

Wildcard’s Pick: 1-0 to the Hammers

Swansea City vs Southampton

4.00am Sunday

Remember when Southampton won only one of ten games over the end of last year and beginning of this one? Well they’re unbeaten in five now with four of those wins. By the look of the fixtures that could continue into March as well. The Saints are much better at home than they are on the road but Swansea seem to have lost the home fortress they had the last couple seasons. I’d put a lot of money on Southampton scoring from a set piece, what with the way the Swans have been defending them, and I’m not too sure they’ve got anything in reply. Southampton haven’t conceded a goal since January 10.

Wildcard’s Pick: 2-0 Southampton

Bournemouth vs Stoke City

4.00am Sunday

So what does everyone think of next season’s Premier League logo?

Sorry, not a logo. An “exciting new visual identity”. This is part of the PL trying to spice up its global image by being a little less provincial – even though that’s part of what we love about it anyway. To be honest, I think I like it better than the lion on a badge one currently. Change is strange but this logo is pretty cool.

Premier League Managing Director, Richard Masters:

"We are very pleased with the outcome: a visual identity which is relevant, modern and flexible that will help us celebrate everyone that makes the Premier League.

"We look forward to sharing more details of our new positioning in the coming months."

The best part of it is that it won’t be known as the Barclays Premier League any more. Just the ‘Premier League’. I’m glad they resisted the ‘EPL’ approach as well, because three letter acronyms work best in America. The Premier League has no reason to be copying other people’s approach.

To tie it into this game, I thought it was pretty damn odd that they chose a picture of Bojan to demonstrate the new logo in action. First of all the photoshopping is pretty crap, look at the dude sitting in front of the dead-edged sign, and then, like, are Stoke the new go-to neutral team for press releases now? I get that they don’t wanna be divisive with a top six team but surely Leicester City deserve it. Riyad Mahrez jinking and jiving, that’s it right there.

Coming off three 3-0 losses in the League and a couple Cup exits in between those, it’s fair to say that Stoke could be in a better place. When teams go through that all at once, with no imminent relegation threat, there’s usually a period it takes to readjust their goals and find something to play for. It’ll come, but for now I’m quite enjoying the direction Bournemouth are heading in. Benik Afobe with the winning goal.

Wildcard’s Pick: 1-0 Bourney

Crystal Palace vs Watford

4.00am Sunday

You know who has the longest current streak without a Premier League win? Crystal Palace. Basically only Emmanuel Adebayor can save them now, not many people realise because of how well they started but Palace are in crisis mode. Watford… yeah Watford I still like. It’s been a down spell but they’ll get a new lease of life as their new signings settle in.

Wildcard’s Pick: I’ll give ‘em a 1-1 draw

Chelsea vs Newcastle United

6.30am Sunday

Oh hey Diego. Lovely weather we’re having, right? Yup, a little chilly but we’ll get by. That reminds me, have you seen that new Rocky movie yet? Dude, it’s so good. Michael B. Jordan is amazing and you’ll never believe it but Sly Stallone will make you tear up. You’ve gotta go see it. Yeah mate. Okay sweet, I’ll see ya round. Good talking to you bro, have a good one. Yeah cheers. See ya.

Wildcard’s Pick: 1-0 Chelsea

Arsenal vs Leicester City

1.00am Monday

The challenges keep on coming. Beat City and here are Arsenal ready to repeat the 5-2 drubbing they gave the Foxes last time. I’d suggest they’ll take four points from those games but that’s easier said than done.

Late in that City game, Demarai Gray came on for Marc Albrighton (I think). He went onto his wing anyway. And the young gun at one point got the ball down the flank, saw the fullback coming out to close him down… and he cut back inside and played it behind him. And then I realised how rarely that happens for Leicester. It’s often called the safe option but if you screw it up then the ball’s already headed away from you and towards your own goal. You’re no longer in the play and neither is anyone ahead of you – that’s counter attacking recipe. Mahrez and Albrighton, they’re so determined to attack that they always take the positive option. Close them down and they’ll cross it from deep, get too close and they’ll go right on past. Plus they’ve got the long ball game down pat, it’s so good. Most teams like their fullbacks to get forward and hold the width so their wingers can drift inwards – Arsenal do this as much as anyone. What Leicester do is then boot the ball into the space behind them and they have a striker with the pace to actually get to those hoofed balls.

The good news is that there’s no way belief could be any higher. Beating City puts them in a position where the general public now finally shares that too.

The bad news is that Leicester has lost every Premier League game against the Gunners since 1994/95 (2-1 at Filbert Street in Nov 1994, Ian Wright scored for Arsenal) and you have to go back to 1983 for their last league win before that. That was a 3-0 win in which Gary Lineker found the net. Leicester did triumph 6-5 on penalties in a 2000 FA Cup tie (after a 0-0 draw in both replay and original fixture). Two wins in the past 30 meetings isn’t flash. Then again, busting down reputations is what the Foxes have done best this season.

Fun fact: Claudio Ranieri gave Robert Huth his debut for Chelsea. Cute.

Apologies to Arsenal fans that I haven’t barely mentioned them. I’ll make it up to you guys in a second.

Wildcard’s Pick: 3-2 Arsenal – not fatal for LCFC but enough to tighten that table.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

3.05am Monday

It’s been weird absorbing the ticket price dramas in England as an international fan. They’re fighting for their right to be able to see their beloved teams play every week whereas seeing mine play just once is a dream (I’ve seen Man United play a pre-season exhibition in Sydney, that’s as close as I’ve come). We in NZ get up at all hours of the morning to see our lads go, so while it’s no problem getting on the Fans First bandwagon – down with the capitalist pigs – there’s also a disconnect there.

But credit to the Liverpool fans all the same, for claiming a big victory in that struggle. Getting FSG to backtrack on their proposed ticket hikes is no small thing. 10,000 people got up and left in the 77th minute against Sunderland (for the £77 price of the most expensive tickets in the proposed new prices), sparking massive public support. Next thing there’s a very public retraction from the owners.

That they blew a 2-0 lead to draw with a near-certain relegation team after the walkout is beside the point.

Wildcard’s Pick: 3-0 Liverpool, Villa are crap

Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

5.15am Monday

So if there are any of you still not on the Leicester City bandwagon then this might be a proper title match. Yes, involving Spurs. The Foxes are running the pacesetting and maybe they keep it going or maybe they don’t but Spurs are on something almost as special. They’re in second, five points off top and one off City in fourth. This matter massively. Win this and suddenly Spurs are in the serious running for their first league title since 1961. That’s before the freakin’ Beatles had even released a proper single, man.

In fact Spurs haven’t ever cracked the top three since it became the Premier League, that’s kinda shocking. Even Norwich have don’t that. Even Blackburn and Newcastle and Nottingham Forest and Leeds and, get this… Liverpool.

Last time they played Spurs ripped them to shreds, 4-1 at White Hart Lane. Harry Kane score his first game of the season – since that day he’s scored more PL goals than anyone else. A few reasons why there won’t be a repeat:

• Joe Hart will be playing.
• Jan Vertongen will not be playing (for what that’s worth – probs not heaps).
• It’s a home game for City.
• The last two games at the Etihad between them: 10-1 to City.
• Spurs’ first two goals shouldn’t have been given.

Reasons there will be a repeat:

• Still no Kompany.
• Kane and Eriksen and Alli are in much better form.
• No Kevin De Bruyne.
• The form guide. (City with 2 wins in 5, Spurs with 4 in a row).
• The Pellegrini/Pep effect.

Who knows what tricks the managers will have up their sleeves but the way the teams are, it seems that Spurs are a pretty bad mix for City all of a sudden. Prime attacking City will slice through any team like a hot knife through butter, Spurs are no different even with the fewest goals conceded and by a little distance (19, both Arsenal and United had 22 and Spurs have scored more). The way they build attacks though, the way they move the ball cleverly and make good use of their set pieces. Plus, most effective of all, they win possession back like nobody else. City are vulnerable to throwing a few too many guys forward, Yaya for example. Their defence is often exposed and as good as Nicolas Otamendi is (and he really is good, don’t doubt it) he’s prone to some heavy tackles when he’s caught out.

This is such a good game, it carries so many repercussions. Imagine if City flunk their two biggest domestic tests in back to back weeks. Imagine if the title race comes down to Spurs vs Leicester. Imagine if Spurs do an almighty Spurs and blow it in the final quarter.

Speaking of fourth quarters, not convinced that either of these two dudes are getting Peyton Manning’s job for next NFL season:

There seemed to be a lot of Super Bowl tie-ins from Premier Leaguers and I don’t know if that’s coz they’re fans or if there was something more sinisterly commercial going on. Call me a cynic, I guess.

I did like this though:

Wildcard’s Pick: 2-2