No write up last week but i got 6 results and no perfect scores, There are some tough games to predict this week but here goes anyway, Just predictions this week, more of a write up next week.

Saturday

Blackburn Rovers V Stoke City

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-1 draw

Fulham V Bolton Wanderers

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 win for Fulham

Manchester City V Hull City

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-0 win for Man City

Portsmouth V Manchester United

Mystic Jarv predicts a 0-2 win for United

West Ham United V Burnley

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 win for West ham

Wigan Athletic V Sunderland

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-2 win for Sunderland

Aston Villa V Tottenham Hotspur

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-2 win for Villa

Sunday

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Birmingham City

Mystic Jarv predicts a 0-1 win for Brum

Everton V Liverpool

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 win for Everton

Arsenal V Chelsea

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-1 draw

Written by Jarv

As Always for all your premier league discussion and Match discussion please visit Away Goals Rule Football Forum

With the Reds’ Youth Cup third round tie with Birmingham City just a fortnight away, the pool of available players for Paul McGuinness to choose from for that match seems to be dwindling by the day.

Just a few weeks ago all the talk was of McGuinness having some tough decisions to make when the time came to select his XI for United’s Youth Cup opener, with the squad boasting real depth in several positions, but the fates have since conspired to inflict injuries on a number of players who would likely have been in line to play a part at Moss Lane on December 10th.

Already missing Etzaz Hussain with a shoulder injury since September, recent weeks have seen Reece Brown injured on reserve duty against Liverpool, Robbie Brady and Michele Fornasier hurt during the academy’s trip to Malta, Joshua King injured in action for Norway U19s, John Cofie forced off at half-time against Bolton and Zeki Fryers limping off this past Saturday. Somewhere along the line Alberto Massacci has also picked up a knock, while Ravel Morrison missed the last U18 game for unknown reasons, also presumed to be injury-related.

All of the above, bar Fryers, missed last weekend’s academy league win away to Liverpool, and many of them are long-term concerns. Speaking on MUTV’s Young Gifted and Red show yesterday evening, former academy manager and scout Les Kershaw – still working with the club on a part-time basis – confirmed that the Reds will definitely be without Brown and Brady for the visit of Birmingham, with King almost certain to join them on the sidelines and the defensive trio of Massacci, Fornasier and Fryers all described as serious doubts. No mention was made of Hussain, Morrison or Cofie, but the former at least must be considered extremely unlikely to feature.

It’s one thing potentially being without nine members of the twenty-strong academy group, but their absence would deprive McGuinness of real quality as well as quantity. Brady, Brown, King, Fryers and Morrison would all almost certainly feature in a full-strength side, while cases could be made for the remaining four to also be a part of a first-choice U18 eleven. King, having made a first-team debut and featured regularly for the reserves, is arguably the academy’s star player, while Brady is captain and Brown another reserve regular.

It’s testament to this squad’s strength in depth that without all those players, they still comfortably overcame Liverpool on their own patch last Saturday. Will Keane, Davide Petrucci, Nicky Ajose and Jesse Lingard still provide a considerable goal threat in the absence of King, Cofie, Brady and Morrison, while a central midfield duo of Ryan Tunnicliffe and Paul Pogba is probably as good as you’ll find in academy football.

Tom Thorpe will likely fill the problem right-back berth if Massacci joins Brown as a definite absentee, or he may partner Scott Wootton at centre-half if Sean McGinty is needed at left-back in the event of Fryers missing out – that would likely mean Tunnicliffe reverting to right-back, as he did Saturday, with Larnell Cole coming into midfield.

Not all doom and gloom then, even if the subs bench may end up being populated by ‘keeper Sam Johnstone and a combination of academy students like Michael Keane or Luke Giverin and schoolboys like Tyler Blackett, Luke Hendrie or Jack Barmby. With one academy league fixture left before the all-important Youth Cup tie (WBA at Carrington on December 5th), McGuinness will be hoping to get through that match unscathed and to hopefully welcome back a couple of the walking wounded ready for the Reds’ assault on the most prestigious competition in domestic youth football.

Liga Premier

Manchester United goleo 3-0 al Everton

Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal

Chelsea le puso una goliza al Wolverhampton 4 goles a cero.

Liverpool empata a dos goles contra el Manchester City

Hull City 3-3 West Ham United

Tottenham Hotspur MASACRA al Wigan Atlhetic 9 goles a 1

Birmingham City 1-0 Fullham

United and Birmingham have finalised arrangements for the hosting of their FA Youth Cup third round tie, with the game now scheduled to take place on Thursday 10th December at Altrincham’s Moss Lane ground (usual home of the reserves), kick-off at 7pm.

We’ll have a detailed preview and all the news and build-up here over the next few weeks.

For those of you unfamiliar with football or who live under a rock, the biggest controversy to hit the sport came last night when Thierry Henry cheated France to victory over the Republic of Ireland to achieve a place in the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer.

It’s not even a bold statement to say he cheated, because he admitted it himself after the game, and had the gall to go and sit with those he’d wronged and let them know.  He went as far as to say it was the referee’s fault for not calling it in.  So what Henry is effectively saying is what we all pretty much know anyway: Players cheat to win, and they do so because current rules, and refereeing allow it to take place.

Time to call full time on this methinks.  I’ve not wanted the beautiful game to be ruined by the idea of a video ref or big screen, but I’d rather see the game affected by that, than cheats prospering.  If you are paid over £100k a week to do a professional job as Monsieur Henry is, then you are expected to do so without cheating.  You are being paid for what your perceived skill as a professional is, not what you can do when the ref can’t see you.

I’m a Liverpool fan, and David Ngog did the same thing the other week.  It was a ludicrous dive, not a penalty, yet he got it and the subsequent penalty was slotted in and Liverpool saved face and got a 2-2 draw.  Two examples in a very short space of time.  Thousands of Birmingham fans aggrieved, and thousands of Ireland fans.

It isn’t just a case of a team shrugging it’s shoulders and getting on with things after dissapointments like these.  It impacts financially.  Ireland aren’t going to the World Cup, and those 2 points Birmingham lost out on could also cost them in league standings at the end of the season.

Fact of the matter is, when cheats can defiantly admit on national television that they are exploiting rules, regulations and poor officiating, then you’ve got a massive problem on your hands.  It should trigger investigations, revisions to current policies, and should once and for all bring in the video ref the sport needs.  It works in other sports (Rugby League being a notable example) so why not football?  It’s about time top chiefs stopped living in the past with their head in the sand and realise there’s big money involved in the game and smaller teams are taking a massive hit when bigger teams stiff them by cheating to overcome their mediocre performance for the huge wages they are being paid.

When the champions are celebrating in the league, there is a section in which dark clouds loom large over some clubs placed 15th to 20th, being more precise the bottom three in the premier league. As everyone can’t be a winner and someone has to come last because this is all competition and it is the survival of the fittest. Coming to the current situation in the English premier league, the bottom three clubs after match week 12 are West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portsmouthwith 10,10 and 7 points respectively. It is interesting to see that the 3 teams promoted to the premier league included Burnley, Birmingham City and Wolves in which Burnley is comfortable at 10th position and is unlikely to be relegated back again for the next season. Birmingham City is at 15th position and has to win their upcoming matches so that the relegation lines are erased for them.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (or Wolves as popularly known as) are way down and need as A.S.A.P thinking on their strategies to avoid the demotion. Currently first from the bottom, Portsmouth is most likely on way to the first division losing 9 of the total 12 matches played so far and drawing one. A lot of work is left for the club and care taker come full time manager Paul Hart needs to gel in quickly.

The trouble for the port city club started when Harry Redknapp left the club in Oct’08 to become the manager ofTottenham Hotspurs and guiding the club 4th place currently. Tony Adams joined after than but was sacked after only 2 wins in 15 games. As the rich Al-Faraj family of Saudi Arabia, who are the owner of the club, must be looking at the January ’10 transfer window for a high return investment so that the club remains in the top league and aim higher the season thereafter. Last… and hopefully not the least the Hammers needs to start their work otherwise they will be crushed.

Zola needs to prove that he is a saviour when it comes to managing a team which he was like a player.

The draw for the Third Round of this year’s FA Youth Cup has been conducted today, with United landing a home tie against Birmingham City.

As with the FA Cup, the Youth Cup sees the big boys enter at the Third Round stage, and United were first out of the hat when the draw was made earlier today at FA HQ. Clubs like St Albans City, Bishops Stortford and Atherstone Town remained in the competition but for the second straight season, the Reds were paired with another Premier League side at this stage.

Home advantage will mean Paul McGuinness and his side should be confident of progressing, but the last two seasons provide cautionary tales. Two years ago Carlisle United visited the Marstons Arena in round four and pulled off one of the bigger Youth Cup shocks of recent times, while last year saw the Reds fall at the first hurdle after an agonising 3-2 loss to Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Birmingham’s academy side aren’t to be underestimated either – their Academy League record (5 wins, 6 defeats, a current four-game losing streak following on from a four-game winning run) paints a picture of an inconsistent side capable of beating anyone on their day, and the presence of England U17 goalkeeper Jack Butland and England U19 squad members Ashley Sammons, Mitch McPike and Jordon Mutch in their ranks hints at there being some real quality available to coach Terry Westley.

One plus point to drawing strong opposition is the likelihood that the tie will be staged at Old Trafford, which would be a terrific experience for all involved. Indeed, the last meeting between these two teams at academy level came in a Youth Cup tie at Old Trafford, the 2006/07 Quarter Final, where two goals from Sam Hewson sent United through to the semis and eventually a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Liverpool in the final.

Third Round ties must be played no later than December 12th, so news on the date, time and venue should be available pretty soon – we’ll have that information for you as soon as it’s known.

Laga liga Inggris pekan ke-12 mempertemukan klub Liverpool vs Birmingham city, dan hasil dari laga ini adalah imbang 2-2.

What you missed while NASA was discovering jellyfish on Mars (I was actually gonna let this go today, but this one was too good to be true)…

• David N’gog will be pleased that there was no splash, but he’ll be upset that his body was nowhere near close to vertical at the point of entry during his shameless dive against Birmingham City yesterday. Also, Liverpool add Albert Riera, Yossi Benayoun, and Daniel Agger to their rather lengthy injury list.
• None of that should take away from Cameron Jerome, however, who scored one of the prettiest goals I’ve seen this season; check it out here. Also worth mentioning: Birmingham City have not lost in seven matches.
• Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo will replace Roma’s Daniele de Rossi in the Italian squad for friendlies against Holland and Sweden.
• Barcelona and Bayern Munich have both targeted Galatasaray winger Arda Turan for a move in January.
• Arsenal have scored 36 goals in 11 matches…so of course Cesc Fabregas is worried about a goal drought.
• Darren Ferguson might have been sacked be Peterborough; this is  in spite of the fact that he’s taken the former League Two side to promotion two years straight.
• Tottenham have announced that they made a record profit of £33.4 million last season.
• Harry Redknapp would like to beat up on Celtic and Rangers in the Premier League.
• Cristiano Ronaldo has received a libel settlement from the Daily Mirror over claims he was drinking in L.A. while he was supposed to be recovering from ankle surgery in 2008.
• Mark Hughes says that Robinho isn’t leaving Manchester City in January.

At least it wasn’t a loss?

I promised myself that I was going to be a ‘bad fan’ tonight and avoid the match at all costs.  But, with the kick-off rapidly approaching, I found myself looking for an internet stream.   Sadly, I easily found one.

The first half sums up Liverpool’s season in a nutshell – they completely outplayed Birmingham but, inexplicably, came in behind.  Ngog scored first (13 minutes), for the Reds, and everything was looking good.   Then I lost the stream for a few minutes and when I got it back the score was 1-1 (Benitez, 26 minutes).  Brilliant.  Liverpool then battered Birmingham until the 47th minute of the half when Cameron Jerome lashed in a long range effort to put the Blues ahead.  How very depressing.

The second half continued the Liverpool barrage, but it was only with a dodgy penalty in the 70th minute that they were able to draw level.  Ngog made a great run in to the box but then went down with no contact made on him, and a penalty was incorrectly given.  Gerrard stepped up and coolly slotted it home.  It’s worth noting that Gerrard started the game on the bench and came on, for an injured Riera, in the first half.  He could be considered half-fit, at best.

It was all Liverpool for the next 20 minutes but a winner looked increasingly unlikely and the match finished 2-2.

I don’t really know how I’m supposed to feel about the match.  It was a game completely dominated by the Reds, but in the end we were only able to scrape a draw by means of a dive and a wrongly given penalty.  On 76 minutes, the TV coverage gave the incredible statistic of the number of completed passes for each team: Birmingham 92 – Liverpool 421.  This can often be misleading as a team can have lots of possession but not look dangerous, but Liverpool had plenty of good attacking play.  To be honest, I feel a bit baffled.

Where do Liverpool go from here?  I’m honestly not sure.

Another bad week for Mystic Jarv last weekend, here are this weekends predictions

Saturday

Aston Villa V Bolton Wanderers

Since beating Chelsea 3 weeks ago Villa haven’t won a game in the league and only won in the League cup on penalties, Their form is something Villa will want to rectify quickly if they serious want to challenge for Europe this season.

After 2 4-0 thumpings at the hand of Chelsea in their last 2 games Gary Megson will be glad to see the back of them for now at least however a trip to Villa park is not any easy away game either.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 to Villa
Aston Villa V Bolton Wanderers match discussion

Blackburn Rovers V Portsmouth

Pompey’s results have picked up a little to match their playing form and this is a massive game for them, both clubs find themselves in the bottom three and Blackburn are struggling more than i thought they would this season. They should now be over the Swine flu that hit the club and need to bounce back.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 to Blackburn …..just, however i could see it going the other way too
Blackburn Rovers V Portsmouth match discussion

Manchester City V Burnley

Burnley simply are not very good away from home and i can’t see them getting anything here. City are currently in the top 4 which is where they want to be and will really want to be there over the international break. There really should only be one winner in this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-0 to City
Manchester City V Burnley match discussion

Tottenham Hotspur V Sunderland

Like Villa, Sunderland have not won since their big victory on the 17th October and will want to get back on track as soon as possible, Lee Cattermole is injured and he ha been their driving force in the middle of the park and without him i believe they will struggle without him.

Spurs have had mixed fortunes from their recent matches and won’t be please by the 3-0 beating at the hands of their neighbours, if Spurs truly have designs on a Champions League place they have to win this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-1 to Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur V Sunderland match discussion

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Arsenal – 17:30

Wolves have picked up a point in each of their last 3 games, asll 3 of which i predicted them to lose, should they get something from this game they will really surprise me.

Arsenal will be pleased with the win last week against Spurs and Wenger must be delighted with their form, they’re scoring goals for fun. There is discussions about take overs going on at the moment but i don’t think it will put the team off their stride and i expect them to move into 2nd by Saturday night.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-3 to Arsenal
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal match discussion

Sunday

Hull City V Stoke City

Well phil brown is still in charge but you have to ask how much longer, the statement from the new chairman was hardly resounding and should 3 points not be forthcoming against Stoke i believe he will be gone by the time they play West Ham,  Should Brown be sacked it gives the club a couple of weeks while the internationals are on to find a New boss. The question is, is there anyone better out there that will want to goto Hull?

Stoke Captain Abdoulaye Faye says they can qualify for Europe this season, big brave words given the competition this season, if they are to then they have to win this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 0-1 to Stoke
Hull City V Stoke City match discussion

West Ham United v Everton

It was a bitter-sweet midweek for West ham, beating Villa was a top result but losing Carlton Cole was a blow to them, before that game they were struggling for form. Everton were struggling even more and are having a terrible season by their recent standards and failed to pick up a win in the whole of October.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-1 Draw
West Ham United V Everton match discussion

Wigan Athletic V Fulham

12th V 11th in the league, I didn’t see the game against Roma but i undertstand Fulham were unlucky to be down to 9 men. Still at the end of the day the Premier league is their bread and butter and this game is more important in the long term, beating Liverpool was a fantastic result for them and they will want to follow it up against Wigan.

Wigan got thumped at Portsmouth last week and have had a few mixed results since beating Chelsea, they have conceeded lots of goals too and will need to tighten up for this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-1 Win for Wigan

Chelsea V Manchester United

This game as a United fan worries me, United’s defence has been quite porous of late and Chelsea have been scoring lots of goals and playing great football but it’s never quite that simple is it. I believe United will be really up for this game and could just nick a win but to do that they need to cut out the defensive and keeping errors that plagued the game against CSKA on Tuesday. The normally steady Van der sar will definitely want the first and third goal back and a keeper of his stature shouldn’t have been beaten so easily.

United need to keep Drogba and Anelka quiet if they do that they have a chance, Chelsea have to nullify United’s Wingers which could be key to the game

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-2 for United (might be being an optimistic United fan here)
Chelsea V Manchester United match discussion

Monday

Liverpool V Birmingham City

Under normal circumstances in other seasons this would be such an obvious prediction but Liverpool are struggling and with Gerrard and Torres both doubtful and both possibly needing surgery on injuries 2009/2010 could be shaping up to be Liverpool’s worst season for many a year.

A draw against City and a victory against Sunderland are 2 results that surprised me a little , I tink they will lose this game but if they can frustrate Liverpool ealry on they might, just might get something.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-0 win for Liverpool
Liverpool V Birmingham City match discussion

Other Stuff

Although i Know nothing about boxing Mystic Jarv predicts a win for Haye against Valuev, like i said i know nothing so don’t put your house on it

Written by Jarv

Another bad week for Mystic Jarv last weekend, here are this weekends predictions

Saturday

Aston Villa V Bolton Wanderers

Since beating Chelsea 3 weeks ago Villa haven’t won a game in the league and only won in the League cup on penalties, Their form is something Villa will want to rectify quickly if they serious want to challenge for Europe this season.

After 2 4-0 thumpings at the hand of Chelsea in their last 2 games Gary Megson will be glad to see the back of them for now at least however a trip to Villa park is not any easy away game either.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 to Villa
Aston Villa V Bolton Wanderers match discussion

Blackburn Rovers V Portsmouth

Pompey’s results have picked up a little to match their playing form and this is a massive game for them, both clubs find themselves in the bottom three and Blackburn are struggling more than i thought they would this season. They should now be over the Swine flu that hit the club and need to bounce back.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 to Blackburn …..just, however i could see it going the other way too
Blackburn Rovers V Portsmouth match discussion

Manchester City V Burnley

Burnley simply are not very good away from home and i can’t see them getting anything here. City are currently in the top 4 which is where they want to be and will really want to be there over the international break. There really should only be one winner in this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-0 to City
Manchester City V Burnley match discussion

Tottenham Hotspur V Sunderland

Like Villa, Sunderland have not won since their big victory on the 17th October and will want to get back on track as soon as possible, Lee Cattermole is injured and he ha been their driving force in the middle of the park and without him i believe they will struggle without him.

Spurs have had mixed fortunes from their recent matches and won’t be please by the 3-0 beating at the hands of their neighbours, if Spurs truly have designs on a Champions League place they have to win this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-1 to Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur V Sunderland match discussion

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Arsenal – 17:30

Wolves have picked up a point in each of their last 3 games, asll 3 of which i predicted them to lose, should they get something from this game they will really surprise me.

Arsenal will be pleased with the win last week against Spurs and Wenger must be delighted with their form, they’re scoring goals for fun. There is discussions about take overs going on at the moment but i don’t think it will put the team off their stride and i expect them to move into 2nd by Saturday night.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-3 to Arsenal
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal match discussion

Sunday

Hull City V Stoke City

Well phil brown is still in charge but you have to ask how much longer, the statement from the new chairman was hardly resounding and should 3 points not be forthcoming against Stoke i believe he will be gone by the time they play West Ham, Should Brown be sacked it gives the club a couple of weeks while the internationals are on to find a New boss. The question is, is there anyone better out there that will want to goto Hull?

Stoke Captain Abdoulaye Faye says they can qualify for Europe this season, big brave words given the competition this season, if they are to then they have to win this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 0-1 to Stoke
Hull City V Stoke City match discussion

West Ham United v Everton

It was a bitter-sweet midweek for West ham, beating Villa was a top result but losing Carlton Cole was a blow to them, before that game they were struggling for form. Everton were struggling even more and are having a terrible season by their recent standards and failed to pick up a win in the whole of October.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-1 Draw
West Ham United V Everton match discussion

Wigan Athletic V Fulham

12th V 11th in the league, I didn’t see the game against Roma but i undertstand Fulham were unlucky to be down to 9 men. Still at the end of the day the Premier league is their bread and butter and this game is more important in the long term, beating Liverpool was a fantastic result for them and they will want to follow it up against Wigan.

Wigan got thumped at Portsmouth last week and have had a few mixed results since beating Chelsea, they have conceeded lots of goals too and will need to tighten up for this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-1 Win for Wigan

Chelsea V Manchester United

This game as a United fan worries me, United’s defence has been quite porous of late and Chelsea have been scoring lots of goals and playing great football but it’s never quite that simple is it. I believe United will be really up for this game and could just nick a win but to do that they need to cut out the defensive and keeping errors that plagued the game against CSKA on Tuesday. The normally steady Van der sar will definitely want the first and third goal back and a keeper of his stature shouldn’t have been beaten so easily.

United need to keep Drogba and Anelka quiet if they do that they have a chance, Chelsea have to nullify United’s Wingers which could be key to the game

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-2 for United (might be being an optimistic United fan here)
Chelsea V Manchester United match discussion

Monday

Liverpool V Birmingham City

Under normal circumstances in other seasons this would be such an obvious prediction but Liverpool are struggling and with Gerrard and Torres both doubtful and both possibly needing surgery on injuries 2009/2010 could be shaping up to be Liverpool’s worst season for many a year.

A draw against City and a victory against Sunderland are 2 results that surprised me a little , I tink they will lose this game but if they can frustrate Liverpool ealry on they might, just might get something.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-0 win for Liverpool
Liverpool V Birmingham City match discussion

Other Stuff

Although i Know nothing about boxing Mystic Jarv predicts a win for Haye against Valuev, like i said i know nothing so don’t put your house on it

Written by Jarv

Meg: Back from Burnley's 'Ladies Day' unscathed

Out of the ten fixtures that banged on my door last week, demanding to be predicted, seven were sent home happy. Ok, I didn’t get the final score right for any of them, but that’s not important. Even with a badger equipped with a wide range of hip-hop dance moves backing them up, I don’t think many people saw Fulham putting three past Liverpool. So, I’ve excused myself.

Having said that, if I get a couple of final scores right this week, but not many correct outcomes, there’s a good chance i’ll introduce next week’s predictions with a paragraph professing the skill involved in predicting correct final scores. You see, much like Robbie Keane and his assessment of the current Spurs squad, I sometimes find myself sugar-coating my opinions.

I’ve set the bar with 7 correct outcomes. Can you beat me?!? Actually, I’m sure you can. I’m just doing that ‘challenge their ego’ thing to try to get you involved in a prediction contest.

Are you ready?!? I’m doing it again. Sorry, I’ll stop. There’s actually no need to be particularly ready. It’s not as if you’re about to go for a sky-dive (unless you are. In which case, I’d advise you start concentrating on that instead, because you’re about to throw yourself out of a bloody plane. You mentalist!).

Ok, I’m getting nowhere with this introduction. Predictions hooooooo! (Thundercats style)

Aston Villa vs Bolton

In the last few weeks Aston Villa have dressed in black, hid in the shadows, and snuck their way silently up the table. This is made all the more weird by the fact that, at the time of writing this, their form for the last 6 games reads LDWDDL – translating as 6 points from a possible 18, which isn’t hugely impressive. However, they’ve still managed to join the chasing pack just below the top four which, considering the aforementioned form, is mighty impressive.

This phenomena can be explained either by Martin O’Neill having trained the club in the art of the Ninja, or by the fact that the top four have performed a little more inconsistently this season.

Either way, Bolton should watch out for the crane kick to the gonads this weekend, which I feel is undoubtedly coming their way.

Verdict: 2-1

Blackburn vs Portsmouth

I hold my hands up. Aruna Dindane last weekend took my snide, mocking words and shoved them firmly back down my embarassed throat. He was majestic, and took his hat-trick well.

However, did anyone else find this sudden change in the Ivorian’s form all a little too dramatic? I certainly did. This is why I sent my chief reporter in the field to Fratton Park this week to find out what was going on. His findings will be reported in this week’s Microsoft Paint Story Of the Week, so watch this space. It is truly shocking. Can you handle the truth?! (Sorry I really must stop treating you as if you’re a cinema audience watching trailers to the summer blockbusters).

Expect a shaven headed Morten Gamst Pedersen to take to the field for Blackburn Rovers, and a scintillating 1-1 draw to follow.

Verdict: 1-1

Man City vs Burnley

Those of you who watched Match Of The Day 2 last weekend would have witnessed a quite frightening report from Kevin Day (a man created by combining bits of Madness front-man Suggs, with a zombie from Shaun Of The Dead) on Burnley’s ‘ladies day’.

If you didn’t get a chance to see it, try thinking of an episode of ‘Booze Britain’, but dedicated entirely to women, and set in a bleak northern town. I can only assume that the male Burnley fans had decided to spend Saturday afternoon shopping for their halloween costumes (although they could have got a fair few pointers from some of the scary old bags at the stadium, that’s for sure).

This week against Manchester City, expect the Burnley fans travelling to Eastlands to revert back to form, with plenty of drunk men cosigning their Halloween masks to the back of the cupboard in order to roar their team to their fifth away defeat of the season.

Expect Carlos Tevez to still be wearing his halloween mask.

Verdict: 3-0

Tottenham vs Sunderland

Low on confidence, and missing key players, ‘Arry’s fragile Spurs troops would have wanted an easier fixture than Sunderland following a derby-day drubbing by an Arsenal team with a point to prove. Even though pocket goal-machine and glamour model afficionado Jermain Defoe is back from his suspension to give his club a boost, The Mackems team is loaded with ex-Tottenham players, all looking to prove Spurs wrong for flogging them.

Darren Bent will want to prove that he really is better than Redknapp’s wife, Andy Reid will desperately want to prove to the Spurs fans that he’s not the ‘pie muncher’ they’ve always said he is (it’s pretty obvious that he knows where the nearest Greggs is though), and Steed Malbranque will want to reinforce the question that most Spurs fans have been asking since he left… “Levy, why the hell did you sell him?!”.

Teemu Tainio will just want to angrily kick people. That’s what Teemu Tainio does. However, in the absence of Kasier Soze and Lee Cattermole, he’ll be the ex-Spurs player with arguably the most important job of all.

Verdict: 2-2

Wolves vs Arsenal

Arsenal can be compared very easily to Hogwarts, the wizard’s school attended by Harry Potter and his chums. Like Hogwarts, Arsenal have a Dumbledore professor figure at the helm attempting to teach all the young minds that walk into the youth system the way of mastering the wizadry of football.

He has many good students at the club, who have all clearly practiced their skills on a regular basis. However, they have one shining Harry Potter style light at the centre of it all, in the shape of Cesc Fabregas. Like the character, Fabregas can perform acts of brilliance that everyone else at the club can only admire with bewildered amazement. Let us not also forget that he often has to carry the weaker students through difficult times (at this point I should probably compare Niclas Bentner to Ron Weasley, and Emanuel Eboue to the little girl).

This weekend Fabregas and his wizard pals visit the den of a pack of bloodthirsty Wolves. Now, we all know that wolves like to prey on the weaknesses of small children, and I expect this pack to do exactly that on Saturday – snarling and snapping at the heels of the frightened youngsters. However with a wizard at the height of his powers at their core, mere Wolves will be no match for Wenger’s young magicians.

Verdict: 0-3

Chelsea vs Man Utd

It has been noted in certain places that Sky tend to make a bit of a song and a dance about a live game pitting two of the ‘Big Four’ teams up against each other. Flashy lights swooshing across the screen, dramatic music, and immense over-exaggeration over the importance of the seventh day of the week (i.e. ‘Mega-Super Amazing Sunday’ or something else just as ludicrous). Prior to the game, the tiny studio is packed with the brilliant minds of Jamie Redknapp, Richard Keys, and Andy Gray, and the viewer is ‘entertained’ (for what seems like an eternity) by three grown men drawing arrows on a virtual pitch, and talking incoherently about the brilliance of the two teams (who both, funnily enough, have made their employer one of the richest companies in the world).

The trouble is, with all the hype, these games are often a complete snore-fest. The recent Chelsea vs Liverpool game was so boring that I ended up being distracted by a repeat of Deal Or No Deal on our other telly (a fat man from Wolverhampton was sent home with 50p after he was ‘convinced’ big money was in a particular box, and thought that 5k ‘wasn’t a fair offer’. Riveting stuff).

This time though, I actually think that we have a really good game on our hands. Two teams playing good attacking football, and they are definitely the two teams who will be contesting the title this year, so there’s the added spice right there.

If Didier Drogba stays on his feet long enough to perform as he has been recently, I’m backing Chelsea for this one.

Verdict: 3-1

Hull vs Stoke

I like Hull’s manager Phil Brown. He’s an eccentric, and we don’t get many of them in Premier League nowadays.

So what if it was their start to the 08/09 season that kept them up last year? Does that really matter? No. What matters is that this earpiece loving, karaoke singing, half time team-talk on the pitch conducting Sam Allardyce prodige got Hull City promoted to the Premier League and then kept them there. That should be enough for the Hull board, fans, and players to show him a little respect in the tough time they’re having at the moment. The dreaded vote of confidence is always an ominous sign though.

This is one of those games that I wouldn’t normally give a damn about. But for Phil Brown’s sake I hope Hull can overcome the bus that Stoke park in front of their goal.

Verdict: 2-1

West Ham vs Everton

West Ham’s new striker Alessandro Diamanti has a bit of the Paulo Di Canio about him. Great touch, good finisher, and also a bit of a nutter. After a bit of gentle ribbing from his new team-mates for being the only member of the Hammers squad to use a hairdryer, the Italian reacted not by returning the banter, but by getting a grade 1 all over. This begs the question though, if Diamanti really is that suggestable, what else can his team-mates make him do?! Ideas below.

After a win in midweek, West Ham are unbeaten in three. Everton, by contrast have just suffered another injury set-back to midfield string-puller Mikel Arteta, which won’t improve the spirits of a team who last won a Premier League game back on September 26th.

It’ll be a hardfought encou… Stop! Hammertime.

Verdict: 2-1

Wigan vs Fulham

As I noted in my introduction above, I was pretty pleased with myself for predicting Fulham’s win over Liverpool last week. However, that was all soured by Wigan, the Premier League’s most unpredictable team, living up to their tagline.

That being the case, I am tempted to predict a Fulham win (because secretly I think that Wigan will win). However, now i’ve revealed my strategy on the world wide web, I’m sure that Wigan’s unpredictability radar will spot it and then force the team to carry out exactly the opposite.

Therefore, I am going to just go with my gut instinct. Wigan have had some big results at home this season, and Fulham are playing away in the Uefa League (or whatever the Uefa Cup is now called) on Thursday, so may be a bit sleepy when it comes to dealing with my man Rodallega (by that I mean he has been in my fantasy team this season. I transferred him out though, so technically it should be ‘my ex-man Rodallega’. However, that sounds a bit gay).

Marlon King is sidelined.

Verdict: 3-1

Liverpool vs Birmingham

Liverpool fans. I’m sorry, but this one’s the nil nil. And you can’t quote form to deny my assertions either. Playing without Gerrard, and pairing a half-fit Torres with a hapless Voronin in attack, these are some dark times.

Birmingham will be organised and hard to break down, just like they were against City. Don’t get me wrong, McLeish’s men are still an awful team to watch, but now is the perfect time for anyone to play the Scousers. They look lost.

Verdict: 0-0

Many papers have been running a story linking Birmingham with a move for ex Chelsea flop Andrei Shevchenko. He was signed in 2006 at a cost of over £30 Million  from AC Milan, he played for the club 48 times and only scored 9 goals, leaving on a loan deal back to Milan in 2008, then moving to Dynamo Kiev at the start of this season.  In action (complete with excellent backing music)

Blues are also amongst a host of clubs looking at Miguel Vitor of Benfica.  A promising young centre back who the club are rumoured to want to loan out to gain experience.

Back to the more regular rumours about McLeish wanting to raid his old club for talent. Kris Boyd is again mentioned for as little as £1 Million which would seem like a good bit of business,  ex Aston Villa midfielder Steven Davis has also been linked with a £3 million move. Kris Boyd goals.

El Chelsea se ha convertido en una apisonadora. Esta jornada su víctima fue el Bolton al que ganó con los tantos de Lampard, Deco, Knight (en propia meta) y Drogba. A favor de los Wanderers decir que fue expulsado Samuel justo antes del primer gol.

A dos puntos del Chelsea sigue el Manchester United que este fin de semana ganó sin apuros al Blackburn Rovers. Un partido que se decidió en la segunda parte con los goles de la pareja de atacantes, Berbatov y Rooney.

El partido a priori más potente de la undécima jornada era el derbi londinense entre Arsenal y Tottenham, dos equipos que luchan por los puestos de champions. Pero no fue un encuentro igualado ya que los hombres de Wenger decidieron el partido justo antes del descanso con los goles de Van Persie y Cesc. Ya en la segunda parte el holandés remató a los spurs.

Seguimos sumando empates a la cuenta del Manchester City, frente al Birmingham han conseguido el cuarto. Aunque a diferencia de los otros tres, esta vez fue sin goles. Poco a poco los citizens se descuelgan del título.

Ver el resumen del partido

La victoria del Liverpool la pasada jornada frente al Manchester United ha sido un espejísmo. El Fulham ha devuelto a la realidad al equipo de Benítez ganándole con los goles de Zamora, Nevland y Dempsey, mientras que por los reds marcó Torres. Encima los jugadores acabaron desquiciados como se demuestra en las expulsiones de Degen y Carragher. Y todo ésto en semana de champions.

Otros resultados de la jornada:

Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
Sunderland 2-2 West Ham
Stoke City 2-2 Wolverhampton
Burnley 2-0 Hull
Portsmouth 4-0 Wigan

What you missed while hanging out on an air conditioning duct…naked…

• Ryan Giggs wants to manage the Welsh national team.
• Nine red cards were issued this weekend in the Premier League, which Fox Soccer says is a record (I’m not sure what the previous record was).
• Liverpool have serious injury concerns about Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Alberto Aquilani, Glen Johnson, Albert Riera, David Ngog, Fabio Aurelio, Nabil El Zhar, Martin Skrtel, and Daniel Agger. In other news, the “Season’s End Party” has been moved to next Thursday; in spite of all that, Pepe Reina’s planning on signing a contract extension.
• Tottenham have lost Sebastian Bassong for five weeks to a hamstring injury, while Arsenal have lost Nicklas Bendtner for four weeks to a groin injury.
• Birmingham City 0 – 0 Manchester City; that’s Manchester City’s fourth straight draw.
• CSKA Sofia have suspended nine players for an undisclosed offense that was probably going out drinking the night before a match.
• Ajax beat archrivals Feyenoord 5-1 after Feyenoord was reduced to nine men.
• Benni McCarthy wants out of Blackburn in January.
• Johann Cruyff has been appointed as the new manager of the Catalonia national team.
• Daniel Alves will be fit in time for Barcelona’s midweek Champions League meeting with Rubin Kazan.
• Phil Brown has received the “full support” of new Hull City chairman Alan Pearson.
• Wayne Rooney’s wife is due to have their baby any day now, which is disrupting Rooney’s training schedule a bit.

Ok then, forgetting last weekend ever happened which was a complete train wreck in terms of my predictions.

So onto This weekend, there’s only one game sunday so i’ve done all the games on here.

Saturday

Arsenal V Tottenham Hotspur

Harry reckons Spurs are capable of finishing above Arsenal,m brave words before a game at the Emirates where Arsenal have been fantastic, No Defoe, possibly no Lennon as well, it would be a stunning result for Spurs to win this one, in fact a\ draw would be a great achievement.

Arsenal have been destroying teams at home and until Chelsea beat Swine flu ridden Blackburn last week had the best goal difference by far and i expect them to win this one.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 3-1 win for Arsenal

Bolton Wanderers V Chelsea

Only one winner in this game, Chelsea will win handsomely, 5 players from Chelsea have been shortlisted for Fifa world player of the year, most of which i can understand but, John Terry has had a very average year at best and i really fail to see how he keeps getting nominated for things he doesn’t deserve like the best Defender in the champions league last season, never in a million years did he deserve that.

Bolton’s only chance is to stun Chelsea from a set piece which they have been a little vulnerable in the past.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 3-0 win for Chelsea

Burnley V Hull City

Burnley’s 100% home record went last week and whether they can recover will be key to their season.

Hull have a few problems at the moment, i would say behind the scenes but its pretty much in public, The Chairman has gone and there were lots of rumours Brown had gone too, He hasn’t but unless their form picks up you can’t help wonder how long he has left.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 win for Burnley, and Phil Brown to be the first manager to be sacked.

Everton V Aston Villa

Moyes has complained about Everton having away games after game sin Europe which is the same problem both Man United and Chelsea and i think Liverpool have complained about in recent seasons, and curiously the following year they all got a bit better fixture list after European games from the “Random” fixture computer. However as it stands Everton wont be in Europe next year so wont make a difference and its fast turning into a poor season for Everton and to top it off they have terrible Injury problems.

Villa play their game in hand on Wednesday night and will want to win this game to ensure they can go into the top 4 if they win it. On Wednesday they beat Sunderland on penalties to reach the quarter finals of the Carling cup and will be buoyed by that.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-1 win for Aston Villa

Fulham V Liverpool

Liverpool got a great result last weekend against Manchester United without Steven Gerrard, I’m not going to mention the Ref again as i’ve posted elsewhere my feelings on his “performance”. They lost again against Arsenal in a competition which mioght very well have been their best chance at silverware this season.

Its a fine balencing act for Fulham this season, their over riding priority is the League but a decent run in the Europa league brings money and prestige which may in turn allow them to bring in better players and push up the table. Sadly i think they will lose this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-1 win for Liverpool

Portsmouth V Wigan Athletic

The Portsmouth Circus rumbles on, this weeks installment is a Transfer ban for non-payment of debts which basically, unless they get an infusion of cash, ends their chances of survival this season, no new players means they wont pick up enough points in my opinion.

Wigan broke Burnley’s 100% home record last week which was a great result (another one i got wrong) they sit in the top half of the table and have had a full week to prepare for this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 win for Wigan.

Stoke City V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Stoke’s home record should be enough to help them win this game despite losing to Pompey in the week the premier league is by far their main focus.

Wolves picked up 2 good draws in their last 2 premier league games, Away at Everton and home to Villa but they need to start turning a few into wins if they want to survive.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-1 win for Stoke City

Sunderland V West Ham United

Since beating liverpool Sunderland have lost 2 games, one only by Penalties but its still 2 losses in a row and they will want to rectify that this week, They’re only 3 points away from third, they wont finish in the top 4 but its commendable to be doing as well as they are but they need to get a win at home V West Ham. West ham grabbed a draw against Arsenal last week and might be gald of that point at the end of the season, they will need to start picking up wins very soon or it will be a big mountain to climb.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-0 win for Sunderland

Manchester United V Blackburn Rovers

Last weekend United were poor against Liverpool and deserved to lose and will want to get back to winning ways in the league this weekend and should have Darren Fletcher back to their line up but maybe missing both Vidic and Ferdinand with calf injuries, with Neville suspended and Giggs doubtful as well as park and hagreaves still not fit.

Blackburn are having a tough time Swine flu has hit their club and they have Chelsea and manchester United to contend with.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 3-0 win for Manchester United

Sunday

Birmingham City V Manchester City

Birmingham went against my prediction last week, i really didn’t think they would beat Sunderland and it was a good result, this time its big spending Manchester City who are currently 6th with a game in Hand.

City cruised past Scunthorpe, as they should have done, according to sky City spent more than 400 times what Scunthorpe did last summer. City, if they really have ambitions of top 4 need to really win games like this and i think they will.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 win for City

For all your Premier League Match Discussion visit Away Goals Rule Football Forum

More next week

Written by Jarv

PS Happy Halloween

Meg Predicts: "Sunderland three, Liverpool twoooooo"

For anyone who has used the shiny RSS feed thingy on the right, and therefore recieves new Eddies Football Blog articles direct to their inbox, I have to apologise. Last week you will have been waiting, betting slip in hand, for my all important Premier League Predictions. They never arrived. This means that you were forced to wander over to the BBC’s website and take advice from a man with a Scouse accent, a bad sense of humour, and a moustache. I hope that you have recovered fully from the trauma.

This week though, Premier League predictions are back with a bang.

Arsenal vs Tottenham

This derby is a big game, and my prediction is that lots of shouty, red-face men will congregate in North London in order to hurl abuse at each other. It is customary at this point to break out a few interesting stats about the last time Spurs won on Arsenal soil, or the date of the last time Arsenal won by six goals. I couldn’t be bothered with any of that though. You’ll undoubtedly get it off John Motson on Saturday monring during Football Focus.

I can see it now. “Did you know Dan, that the last time Spurs won away at Arsenal was in 1993. There was a steward at the ground that day by the name of David Grouse. I can tell you that his son, also named David Grouse, is a coach for Tottenham’s under 18 team, and he’ll be at the ground today”. John Motson is ’special’.

David Grouse or no David Grouse, with Lennon, Defoe and Modric all injured, Spurs haven’t got a chance.

Verdict: 3-1

Bolton vs Chelsea

The Blues travel to the Reebok on Saturday, and I heard a pundit on TV today describing this fixture as ‘essentially the reverse of the Carling Cup game that these two teams contested in midweek’. Perhaps. However, if this truly is the reverse of the midweek fixture the following things will happen…

Bolton will play slick, free-flowing, passing football, with frontman Kevin Davies bamboozling his opponents with his grace and stepovers. They will win the game 4-0, and none of those goals will come as a result of a big hoof down the pitch. By contrast, Chelsea will stick a wall of players behind the ball, and persist with long aerial balls to their lone front-man Didier Drogba. Drogba will also not dive once in the entire 90 minutes.

Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s not going to be the reverse of that fixture at all.

Verdict: 0-2

Burnley vs Hull

Based on this season’s results Burnley are marginally a better team than Hull. Burnley are at home. Burnley will win.

I tried to write something better than the above, I really did. But, come on, it’s Burnley vs Hull. If you said to a mate ‘I’m off to see Burnley vs Hull this Saturday’, I’m willing to bet that the majority of people would respond simply with ‘Why?!’.

That says it all.

Verdict: 3-2

Everton vs Aston Villa

David Moyes is officially the Anti-Incredible Hulk. As I’m sure you know, when you get The Hulk angry he reacts by ripping his clothes, turning green, and generally creating a lot of noise and mess. By contrast David Moyes this week, in protest to Everton having to play lots of football matches in a time-frame he was unhappy with, kept his clothes on, stayed the same colour, and simply refused to talk.

The silent treatment it is then. Well, if the BBC and the Premier League remember their days in the playground, then surely all they have to do to get him talking again is to pin him down and give him a turbo-noogie. That’d do it.

With Aston Villa still half asleep after their snore-fest with Sunderland in mid-week, and Everton ‘tired’, I think I’ve found this weekend’s 0-0. Hurrah, I knew it was hiding somewhere!

Verdict: 0-0

Fulham vs Liverpool

Bandwagon afficionados will be lumping all of their hard-earned cash on Liverpool this weekend. You see, having beaten Manchester United last weekend there are some people out there (mainly Liverpool fans) who will use the result to paper over some fairly hideous cracks in the Merseyside club’s squad. One result doesn’t change the fact that they still have Lucas in midfield. Neither does it hide the fact that they still have to replace a world-class striker with David Ngog. Oh, and Yossi Benayoun is still a incredibly ugly.

Fulham by contrast, have quietly had a good month. They haven’t lost a game in October in all competitions, and in their last two games played exceptionally well against the big-money stars of Roma and Manchester City. You wouldn’t have known any of that because they’re Fulham. No one really supports Fulham. Or follows them. They’re just that nice club on the river, with the tasty pies, the neutral stand, and a dancing badger as a mascot.

I’m sure Lawro will have expertly found a way of backing Liverpool for this one, but I’m behind the break-dancing badger.

Verdict: 2-1

Manchester United vs Blackburn

If you believe Wigan manager Roberto Martinez’s comments this week, the fourth official would have a hard time stopping Fergie and Big Sam from having one big love-in on the side of the pitch. Fortunately for the man in black’s touchline minion though, Allardyce is still suffering from the remnants of swine flu, after his masterplan of last week back-fired horrendously. He will therefore be in the stand.

This should allow Fergie to concentrate on the game, and use his hands solely for pointing, as he barks his team to a home win.

Verdict: 3-0

Portsmouth vs Wigan

Marlon King walks into a bar…

Ok, ok, jokes aside, this should be quite a fun a game of football. Wigan are looking a really good side lately, with the attacking threat of N’Zogbia and Rodallega really hurting their opponents. Portsmouth are fun to watch for a couple of reasons:

1. They have an evil super-villain sitting in the stands,
2. They have Aruna Dindane up front. After the two sitters he missed against Spurs a couple of weeks ago, I want to see how much closer he can get to the goal without scoring.

Both teams will attack each other. The bloke with the bell will smell, and annoy a vast section of the crowd. Wigan will win.

Verdict: 1-4

Stoke vs Wolves

Mick McCarthy has got a really funny looking head. Has anyone else noticed that? Sure, his voice is taken straight from the hovis adverts, which is funny enough, but I’m sure his head is a portal for another being (like that dead alien in the morgue in Men In Black). Suggestions and lookalikes on a postcard, or sent to http://eddiesfootballblog@hotmail.co.uk.

This game will be rubbish.

Verdict: 1-1

Sunderland vs West Ham

When you’ve just got out of hospital having survived multiple stab wounds to the legs, the last thing you need is to be charged for assault yourself. That’s exactly what happened to Hammers defender Callum Davenport this week, and it’s pretty typical of West Ham’s luck this season. Sitting precariously in the relegation zone, pocket-sized Italian manager Gianfranco Zola will have to use all the hand gestures he can think of to rally his troops for this game because Sunderland, much like Tom Huddlestone at a Pizza Hut buffet, are a force to be reckoned with this season.

Sunderland fan-favourite, captain, and general midfield hatchet-man Lorik Cana this week put down his scythe, and offered a few eerie words of advice to his team-mates. “When you give 100% you always have the respect of the fans”, he snarled, in between moutfuls of raw meat. My guess is that Darren Bent and co. will have more than just the fans to worry about if they lose.

Some say Kaizer Soze was Albanian…

Verdict: 3-1

Birmingham vs Manchester City

New Birmingham owner Carson Yeung has been warned by departing chief David Gold that cutting ticket prices will get the Midlands side relegated. Whilst financially there may be a good degree of truth to that, there is an even stronger argument to suggest that it is in fact a rubbish football team that gets you relegated. And unfortunately Birmingham aren’t very good. The fact that Yeung’s footballing advice will be coming from Steve McManaman is, as those who witnessed his mind-boggling ‘punditry’ on Setanta Sports last season will I’m sure agree, just the icing on a very wobbly looking cake.

Manchester City have suffered a few draws of late, but have Brazilian party-boy Robinho close to fitness which should improve spirits in the camp. Well, until Craig Bellamy hits him with a golf club that is.

Verdict: 0-2

31st October