FPL WEEKEND PREVIEW
CRY vs. WBA – Palace is primarily set up to attack, and this they
would do against a WBA team that even though boast 4 clean sheets this
season, have conceded 6 goals in their last two matches – poor for a
Pulis team. However, this CRY’s gung-ho attack system leaves exploitable
space at the back for attackers with pace. Consequently, CRY’s only
clean sheet this season came in their last match against WAT, who are
largely defensive. I see WBA’s pacey counter attack led by Berahino
causing havoc against a CRY defense that has conceded more shots in the
box (72) outside the box (59) and headed attempts (23) than any other
team in the league, awful. Watchlist (goals/ shots): CRY – Sako 2/13;
Cabaye 2/8; Puncheon 2 assists. WBA – Morrison 2/10 and 2 assists;
Berahino 2/5.
predictionm: 2-0
AVL vs. STK – Gestede can head the ball. I have said this for the last two weeks and every time I say it Gestede scores with his head, last time was against LIV with Skrtel on the pitch! In fact, he scored two (one with his foot). Consequently, the team is built around this ariel threat with AVL second only to SOT for percentage of successful crosses into the danger area. Did I mention that STK rank 5th for highest number of headed goal attempts conceded? Abeg, someone tell the coach to start Crouch! Anyway, with Shawcross on the injury list, STK have not kept a clean sheet this season. The STK attack, in its day, can be a joy to behold, however, with 7 goals from as many games it can only be described as average. Watchlist (goals/ shots): AVL - Gestede 3/14; Sinclair 2/5; Amvi 2 assists. STK – Diouf 3/12; Walters 2/14; Arnautovic 2 assists.
prediction: 1-1
BOU, vs. WAT – Grant me an interview and I will tell you WAT game plan for the season; 38 games, 38 points = survival. Save for the penalty goal in their last match, WAT don’t concede at home. While away, they are structured to keep it tight in defense and hit back on the counter with the precision of Deen410/2ey and the pace of Ighalo. BOU rank close to the top with the least number of chances conceded to opposition teams…..yet they have conceded 11 goals, shocking! Anyway, BOU has scored 9 goals this season with 5 scored by Wilson, yes, the injured Wilson. So, how do you think a BOU attack without its talisman will fare against a team that stands joint 2nd with MCI for least number of goals conceded? Look in this direction if you seek a clean sheet. Watchlist (goals/ shots): BOU - Wilson 5/8; Ritchie 1/10; Francis 2 assists. WAT – Ighalo 4/18; Deeny 3 Assists
pred: 1-1
MCI vs. NEW – Two teams on either side of the stats divide, NEW has scored 5 and conceded 11 goals; have the least number of attempts in the league. MCI have scored 13 and conceded 6 with the 2nd highest number of attempts in the league after ARS. But, like pinpong balls their last few games indicate that they have struck walls on both sides of the league table and are headed towards each other. The Citizens have uncharacteristically lost their last two games and fallen off the top of the table to 2nd place while NEW dealt CHE a blow to move off the bottom of the table. The fact that they could not hold unto a 2 goal lead at home speaks volumes but may have helped their belief in self and given the team confidence. I anticipate a wounded MCI team to run rampage and tear down NEW, however, only an early goal will dampen NEW’s spirit. If they are able to hold a clean sheet till halftime……beware. Watchlist (goals/ shots): MCI – De Bruyne 2/6; Fernandinho 2/4; Kompany 2/3; Yaya 4 assists; Silva 4 assists. NEW – Wijnaldum 2/4.
3-0
NOR vs. LEI – LEI are joint tops (with WHM) for number of goals scored (15). As a fan of this insane well oiled attacking machine, I do hope they learnt a lesson from conceding 5 against ARS; you gotta work on the defence! LEI is joint 2nd with CHE for highest number of goals conceded (14), only SUN has conceded more (16). NOR has re-written and thrown away the form book, in my opinion they are the most adaptable team in the league, seamlessly altering their playing pattern in each game to fit and defeat their opponent …..no mean feat! I expect NOR to soak up LEI pressure and hit them with a counter attack. When these two meet on Saturday, LEI would either have cooled their all out attacking style or NOR will teach them a lesson! Mark my words! Watchlist (goals/ shots): NOR – Redmond 3/8; Martin 3/5; Hoolahan 5 assists. LEI – Vardy 6/18; Mahrez 5/18 and 3 assists; Albrighton 3 assists; Drinkwater 2 assists.
SUN vs. WHM – WHM have won all their away matches in the EPL this season! Awesome fact. Another awesome fact, SUN have not won a game this season. WHM has scored in every game and SUN has conceded in every game. So, the worst team in the league squares up against the giant killers with a purring attack orchestrated by Payet with Moses, Kouyate & Sakho providing moving targets. Is this the game when SUN arises and kick starts their season? Sadly, I think not! I see lots of goals. If you watch the game, in order to avoid being bored, keep count how many touches it takes WHM to get into the box during a counter attack – dem boys know how to move. Watchlist (goals/ shots): SUN – Defoe 2/8; Lens 2 assists. WHM – Sakho 3/20; Kouyate 2/8; Payet 3/6 and 3 assists; Cresswell 2 assists.
[13:44, 10/2/2015] harvardsports.blogspot.co: CHE vs. SOU – CHE’s adrenalin rush following their heroics against 9-man ARS team was stepped down when the lowliest team in the league (NEW) climbed up one rung on their backs with a draw last week. After the Porto game, I believe they are back down to terra firma and will need a major injection of adrenalin to face an in form SOU. Sadly, the team doctor they all love has refused to resume work. You may call it beef, but team morale is not so good and might play a part when SOU come calling. CHE has scored 11 goals (joint 5th with NOR & EVE) and conceded 14 (only SUN has conceded more – 16) and kept just 1 clean sheet in 7. SOU has scored 10, conceded 9 and kept 3 clean sheets. While both have had 115 attempts at goal, in the league, SOT has conceded the least number of shots in the box while CHE ranks 7th for most shots conceded in the box. With chants of “go-to-2” ringing out whenever CHE’s opponents have the ball, it would interest you to know that Ivanovic is up against Mane & Bertrand this week – all bets are off. I see Ramirez being called up to fortify that wing or else I see a vision of mane mane tekel upharsin on the CHE wall. Watchlist (goals/ shots): CHE – Hazard 2 assists and 1 goal. SOU – Pelle 4/30; Tadic 2/6; Mane 3 assists and 1 goal.
EVE vs. LIV – The Merseyside Derby promises to be interesting this season. An in-form EVE side will see this as an opportunity to leave a mark on their struggling neighbors. Their commendable spirit and display against WBA where they came from 2 goals down to win the game is still fresh. However, Sturridge is back and they know that every mistake they make will be punished. LIV have scored just 7 goals and conceded 9 with 3 clean sheets. EVE has scored 11, conceded 7 with 3 clean sheets. EVE is confident and rested (no mid-week European games) and will be deadly, but note that Brendan Rogers rested some key players mid-week in honour of this clash. Expect fireworks. Watchlist (goals/ shots): EVE – Lukaku 4/13 and 2 assists; Naismith 3/4; Barkley 2/13 and 3 assists; Kone 2 goals and 2 assists. LIV – Benteke 2/10; Sturridge 2/5; Coutinho 2 assists and 1 goal.
ARS vs. MNU – A clash with history, but now it’s just history, two teams familiar with greatness and slowly becoming strangers to it. It is still a clash between the 1st and 4th ranked team in the league who stat-wise, are close. ARS has scored 10, conceded 7 and kept 3 Clean sheets; MNU has scored 12, conceded 5 (joint least number of goals conceded with TOT) and kept 4 clean sheets (joint 2nd with WBA). Attempts at goal (ARS tops with 148 and MNU 80) suggests MNU are more clinical with their chances. Both have exerted themselves with Champions league football in midweek with MNU the successful of the two. With teams like WHM, Dinamo Zagreb & Olympiakos leaving the Emirates with wins this season, it is not the fortress it once was. Watchlist (goals/ shots): ARS – Sanchez 3/20; Giroud 3/15; Walcott 2/18; Ozil 3 assists; Carzorla 2 assists; Monreal 2 assists. MNU – Mata 3/12 and 3 assists; Martial 3/5.
SWA vs. TOT – The Swans started the league like a house on fire, freely scoring and heaping woes on opponents home and away, with Fantasy managers rushing to fill their teams with the likes of Ayew and Gomis. All that has gone south now, with only 1 goal in their last 3 league games. And they face a TOT side that has conceded the least number of goals in the league (5) with an attack that has again begun to purr. Advice: Never write off the Swans! TOT has scored 9 goals and conceded 5 with 3 clean sheets and the 5th highest number of attempts in the league. SWA have scored 8 goals, conceded 8 with 2 clean sheets. Watchlist (goals/ shots): SWA – Gomis 4/15; Ayew 3/16 and 1 assist. TOT Dier 2/5; Eriksen 2 assists; Lamela 2 assists.
predictionm: 2-0
AVL vs. STK – Gestede can head the ball. I have said this for the last two weeks and every time I say it Gestede scores with his head, last time was against LIV with Skrtel on the pitch! In fact, he scored two (one with his foot). Consequently, the team is built around this ariel threat with AVL second only to SOT for percentage of successful crosses into the danger area. Did I mention that STK rank 5th for highest number of headed goal attempts conceded? Abeg, someone tell the coach to start Crouch! Anyway, with Shawcross on the injury list, STK have not kept a clean sheet this season. The STK attack, in its day, can be a joy to behold, however, with 7 goals from as many games it can only be described as average. Watchlist (goals/ shots): AVL - Gestede 3/14; Sinclair 2/5; Amvi 2 assists. STK – Diouf 3/12; Walters 2/14; Arnautovic 2 assists.
prediction: 1-1
BOU, vs. WAT – Grant me an interview and I will tell you WAT game plan for the season; 38 games, 38 points = survival. Save for the penalty goal in their last match, WAT don’t concede at home. While away, they are structured to keep it tight in defense and hit back on the counter with the precision of Deen410/2ey and the pace of Ighalo. BOU rank close to the top with the least number of chances conceded to opposition teams…..yet they have conceded 11 goals, shocking! Anyway, BOU has scored 9 goals this season with 5 scored by Wilson, yes, the injured Wilson. So, how do you think a BOU attack without its talisman will fare against a team that stands joint 2nd with MCI for least number of goals conceded? Look in this direction if you seek a clean sheet. Watchlist (goals/ shots): BOU - Wilson 5/8; Ritchie 1/10; Francis 2 assists. WAT – Ighalo 4/18; Deeny 3 Assists
pred: 1-1
MCI vs. NEW – Two teams on either side of the stats divide, NEW has scored 5 and conceded 11 goals; have the least number of attempts in the league. MCI have scored 13 and conceded 6 with the 2nd highest number of attempts in the league after ARS. But, like pinpong balls their last few games indicate that they have struck walls on both sides of the league table and are headed towards each other. The Citizens have uncharacteristically lost their last two games and fallen off the top of the table to 2nd place while NEW dealt CHE a blow to move off the bottom of the table. The fact that they could not hold unto a 2 goal lead at home speaks volumes but may have helped their belief in self and given the team confidence. I anticipate a wounded MCI team to run rampage and tear down NEW, however, only an early goal will dampen NEW’s spirit. If they are able to hold a clean sheet till halftime……beware. Watchlist (goals/ shots): MCI – De Bruyne 2/6; Fernandinho 2/4; Kompany 2/3; Yaya 4 assists; Silva 4 assists. NEW – Wijnaldum 2/4.
3-0
NOR vs. LEI – LEI are joint tops (with WHM) for number of goals scored (15). As a fan of this insane well oiled attacking machine, I do hope they learnt a lesson from conceding 5 against ARS; you gotta work on the defence! LEI is joint 2nd with CHE for highest number of goals conceded (14), only SUN has conceded more (16). NOR has re-written and thrown away the form book, in my opinion they are the most adaptable team in the league, seamlessly altering their playing pattern in each game to fit and defeat their opponent …..no mean feat! I expect NOR to soak up LEI pressure and hit them with a counter attack. When these two meet on Saturday, LEI would either have cooled their all out attacking style or NOR will teach them a lesson! Mark my words! Watchlist (goals/ shots): NOR – Redmond 3/8; Martin 3/5; Hoolahan 5 assists. LEI – Vardy 6/18; Mahrez 5/18 and 3 assists; Albrighton 3 assists; Drinkwater 2 assists.
SUN vs. WHM – WHM have won all their away matches in the EPL this season! Awesome fact. Another awesome fact, SUN have not won a game this season. WHM has scored in every game and SUN has conceded in every game. So, the worst team in the league squares up against the giant killers with a purring attack orchestrated by Payet with Moses, Kouyate & Sakho providing moving targets. Is this the game when SUN arises and kick starts their season? Sadly, I think not! I see lots of goals. If you watch the game, in order to avoid being bored, keep count how many touches it takes WHM to get into the box during a counter attack – dem boys know how to move. Watchlist (goals/ shots): SUN – Defoe 2/8; Lens 2 assists. WHM – Sakho 3/20; Kouyate 2/8; Payet 3/6 and 3 assists; Cresswell 2 assists.
[13:44, 10/2/2015] harvardsports.blogspot.co: CHE vs. SOU – CHE’s adrenalin rush following their heroics against 9-man ARS team was stepped down when the lowliest team in the league (NEW) climbed up one rung on their backs with a draw last week. After the Porto game, I believe they are back down to terra firma and will need a major injection of adrenalin to face an in form SOU. Sadly, the team doctor they all love has refused to resume work. You may call it beef, but team morale is not so good and might play a part when SOU come calling. CHE has scored 11 goals (joint 5th with NOR & EVE) and conceded 14 (only SUN has conceded more – 16) and kept just 1 clean sheet in 7. SOU has scored 10, conceded 9 and kept 3 clean sheets. While both have had 115 attempts at goal, in the league, SOT has conceded the least number of shots in the box while CHE ranks 7th for most shots conceded in the box. With chants of “go-to-2” ringing out whenever CHE’s opponents have the ball, it would interest you to know that Ivanovic is up against Mane & Bertrand this week – all bets are off. I see Ramirez being called up to fortify that wing or else I see a vision of mane mane tekel upharsin on the CHE wall. Watchlist (goals/ shots): CHE – Hazard 2 assists and 1 goal. SOU – Pelle 4/30; Tadic 2/6; Mane 3 assists and 1 goal.
EVE vs. LIV – The Merseyside Derby promises to be interesting this season. An in-form EVE side will see this as an opportunity to leave a mark on their struggling neighbors. Their commendable spirit and display against WBA where they came from 2 goals down to win the game is still fresh. However, Sturridge is back and they know that every mistake they make will be punished. LIV have scored just 7 goals and conceded 9 with 3 clean sheets. EVE has scored 11, conceded 7 with 3 clean sheets. EVE is confident and rested (no mid-week European games) and will be deadly, but note that Brendan Rogers rested some key players mid-week in honour of this clash. Expect fireworks. Watchlist (goals/ shots): EVE – Lukaku 4/13 and 2 assists; Naismith 3/4; Barkley 2/13 and 3 assists; Kone 2 goals and 2 assists. LIV – Benteke 2/10; Sturridge 2/5; Coutinho 2 assists and 1 goal.
ARS vs. MNU – A clash with history, but now it’s just history, two teams familiar with greatness and slowly becoming strangers to it. It is still a clash between the 1st and 4th ranked team in the league who stat-wise, are close. ARS has scored 10, conceded 7 and kept 3 Clean sheets; MNU has scored 12, conceded 5 (joint least number of goals conceded with TOT) and kept 4 clean sheets (joint 2nd with WBA). Attempts at goal (ARS tops with 148 and MNU 80) suggests MNU are more clinical with their chances. Both have exerted themselves with Champions league football in midweek with MNU the successful of the two. With teams like WHM, Dinamo Zagreb & Olympiakos leaving the Emirates with wins this season, it is not the fortress it once was. Watchlist (goals/ shots): ARS – Sanchez 3/20; Giroud 3/15; Walcott 2/18; Ozil 3 assists; Carzorla 2 assists; Monreal 2 assists. MNU – Mata 3/12 and 3 assists; Martial 3/5.
SWA vs. TOT – The Swans started the league like a house on fire, freely scoring and heaping woes on opponents home and away, with Fantasy managers rushing to fill their teams with the likes of Ayew and Gomis. All that has gone south now, with only 1 goal in their last 3 league games. And they face a TOT side that has conceded the least number of goals in the league (5) with an attack that has again begun to purr. Advice: Never write off the Swans! TOT has scored 9 goals and conceded 5 with 3 clean sheets and the 5th highest number of attempts in the league. SWA have scored 8 goals, conceded 8 with 2 clean sheets. Watchlist (goals/ shots): SWA – Gomis 4/15; Ayew 3/16 and 1 assist. TOT Dier 2/5; Eriksen 2 assists; Lamela 2 assists.
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