Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool - Underrated Trotters offer stern test

Bolton start this game in a somewhat unaccustomed position of eight places above Liverpool, not that the bookies care - Bet365 has Liverpool around even money to win the game with Bolton 5/2.

Bolton are one of six sides that are still unbeaten at home, so should not go into this game with any kind of inferiority complex - indeed if Bolton show the clinical finishing they demonstrated when twice leading against Manchester United then they will expect to win.  Kevin Davies remains ... well ... Kevin Davies, his style and energy generates shooting chances and now that Elmander is showing the ability that caused Bolton to spend £10m - most of the Nic Anelka transfer fee - to secure him there is a real goal threat about the Trotters.  

If Liverpool will need to be solid to avoid conceding then they may sacrifice a forward player to achieve that solidity.  But the Joe Cole conundrum continues; his form is a concern - but will Hodgson drop him?  If Torres is fit then he will surely start, but Ngog looks a more likely goalscorer at the moment.  Roy Hodgson's side are in the relegation zone with a quarter of the season gone - this would be a tough fixture in any season, so a win today would be something of a triumph and could lift the Reds into the top half of the table.

This promises to be a close game and I don't think there will be more than a goal in it - I do think both teams will score and a 2-2 draw is my prediction.

Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool; Kick Off 4pm, 31 October 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	0	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	1
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	0	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	2
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	0	V	0
Everton	Chris Goodwin	0	V	0
Fulham	Russell Goldman	1	V	1
Liverpool	Mark Williams	0	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	0	V	2
Man Utd	Peter Lee	2	V	1
Newcastle	Michael Stout	0	V	1
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	1	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	2	V	1
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	3	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	0	V	3
Wolves	Chris Cox	0	V	2
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	2
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	2
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	1	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	0	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	1	V	2
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	0	V	2
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	0

Panel Verdict

The Panel is seriously split with all three results heavily backed, this is too close to call.

Home: 9; Draw: 7; Away: 12

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

 

Arsenal: Has Fabianski finally proved Wenger right?

Arsene Wenger is superb at handpicking young talent, nurturing them and turning them into superstars. Nicolas Anelka, Ashley Cole, Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere are just a handful of the players who the Frenchman has helped develop. Unfortunately the same cannot be said when it comes to his goalkeepers.

During his time at the Gunners Wenger has only had two quality goalkeepers to call on. One, David Seaman, was already in place when he arrived at the club. The other, Jens Lehmann, was your typical mad-capped keeper. One minute he’d keep you in the game with a sublime save, the next he’d do something absolutely ridiculous. But although his displays had most Arsenal fans’ hearts in their mouths he was, on the whole, good at his job.

That’s more than what can be said for the rest of his signings - Wright, Mannone, Shaaban - and his current number one Manuel Almunia. Most fans would feel more confident with Manuel the mad waiter from Fawlty Towers in goal than Almunia. The Spaniard, like Lehmann, is capable of some superb displays. Unfortunately his lack of concentration and poor decision making has cost the Gunners dear in recent seasons. Almunia’s latest gaffes came in a shock 3-2 home defeat by West Bromwich Albion, which he was roundly criticised for.

Suddenly Wenger’s decision not to pay Fulham a couple of grand extra in the summer for Mark Schwarzer seemed like coming back to haunt him, especially when Almunia was ruled out with injury meaning Wenger had to call on his number two Lukasz Fabianski. The Polish international has hardly covered himself in glory at the Emirates and has cruelly been re-named Flappyhandski by his critics. However, after two clean sheets in the Premier League and a string of assured performances, is the former Leiga Warsaw man on the verge of establishing himself as the club’s number one?

Under George Graham, Arsenal were famous for being mean defensively. One-nil to the Arsenal was the chant heard most weekends coming from the fans in red and white. Fast-forward to the current day and a clean sheet for Arsenal is as rare as a Bacary Sagna goal! Before last weekend’s win over Manchester City, Arsenal had managed just two shutouts all season and only 11 in the whole calendar year. But Fabianski is now on course to become the first Arsenal goalkeeper to keep a hat-trick of clean sheets in the league since Almunia pulled it off in February 2009.

The Polish international is thriving on confidence and is looking unbeatable. Sure, against City, he was only up against 10 men but he pulled off a smart reaction save in the first minute to deny Silva an earlier goal. Some critics may also claim that their granny could have stopped West Ham United from scoring as they are hardly firing on all cylinders, but let’s give him some credit. He has coped admirably with everything that has been thrown at him, looks assured and comfortable with balls swung into the area and has made the right decisions when necessary.

Fabianski has hardly put a foot wrong since coming in for the injured Almunia. There was nothing he could do against Drogba’s moment of magic or Alex’s unstoppable free-kick at Stamford Bridge, nor could he prevent Zigic’s header for Birmingham. But everything else he has dealt with professionally.

Almunia is expected to be declared fit in the next few weeks but if Fabianski continues in this rich vein of form the Spaniard will have to be forced to watch the action from the dugout.

Arsenal take on Newcastle United in the league next at the Emirates, followed by Wolves and Everton away. Fabianski could well be on his way to making the number one position his own and making Wenger’s decision to keep hold of the cash a wise one.

Calling all Arsenal fans. How impressed have you been with Fabianski’s performances so far? Do you think he has what it takes to make the number one jersey his own? Would you still prefer to see Wenger splash the cash for someone like Schwarzer of Given in January? What do you think will happen to Almunia? Whatever your views I’d love to hear from you.

Aston Villa v Birmingham City: Blues seek derby day success

Who is the top dog in England’s second city? Currently it’s Aston Villa by a point but that could all change this weekend when they entertain their fierce rivals Birmingham to Villa Park.

Birmingham have been on one hell of an adventure in the past 18 months under Alex McLeish. They’ve gone a whole calendar year undefeated at home, they’ve taken points off of some of the top flight’s biggest sides and have become one of the toughest teams to break down in the country. Unfortunately, the one thing that Birmingham have been unable to do in recent years is beat their bitter neighbours Aston Villa.

It’s been five years since Birmingham last triumphed over Aston Villa in the league. The Villains have won the past six encounters, home and away, and Birmingham fans are desperate to turn them over this weekend.

Villa go into the game after a tough extra time Carling Cup win over Brentford and on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland. Richard Dunne was the Villain that day with his seventh Premier League own goal but I’m sure he must have sent Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher a wry text on Sunday after the England defender put through his own net to reclaim his position at the top of the own goals chart. One thing’s for sure, Dunne will be praying he doesn’t go level with Carragher again this weekend.

The Blues have had an indifferent start to the campaign but last weekend’s win over Blackpool has eased the pressure on everyone at the club. McLeish has been getting pelters for his tactics recently but a win over Gerard Houllier’s men will see him escalated to God-like status . . . probably!

Villa have yet to lose at home this season while Birmingham have yet to record a win on their travels. Alex McLeish couldn’t ask for a better place to secure their first away win of the season.

The hosts will be without Gabriel Agbonlahor and Stilian Petrov through injury, Mark Albrighton through suspension and John Carew is a doubt with flu. But Emile Heskey, minus his glaring miss at the Stadium of Light, has been in exceptional form under his former Liverpool boss. He could be a nightmare for the Blues defence.

Birmingham should have the creativity of Alexander Hleb to call on and Craig Gardener should be recalled to the first team following his recent suspension. The Blues fans head across the city in buoyant mood but, unfortunately for Birmingham, the majority of the Panel is going for a home win.

Aston Villa v Birmingham City; Kick Off 3pm October 30 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	2	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	1	V	1
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	2	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	1	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	0	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	2
Fulham	Russell Goldman	1	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	2	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	0
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	2
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	1	V	1
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	1
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	2	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	2	V	2
Wolves	Chris Cox	2	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	1	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	1	V	2
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	1	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	2	V	0
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	2	V	2

Panel Verdict

The Panel is edging towards a home win.

Home: 15; Draw 11; Away: 2.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Newcastle United v Sunderland: Will the Mags be flying high or will the Black Cats go home purring?

Only one point separates Steve Bruce’s Sunderland and Chris Hughton’s Newcastle United but Hughton’s future at St James’ Park is far from secure. Despite taking them back to the top flight at the first time of asking and guiding them to a thumping 6-0 win over Aston Villa recently, rumour has it that the former Spurs man may soon be shown the door by Mike Ashley. It’s hardly the best preparation for a Tyne-Wear derby.

Sunderland go into the big game ahead of their neighbours in the table but Steve Bruce knows that defeat against the club he supported as a boy would be unthinkable. Not only would the Geordies have the all-important bragging rights, they would also soar above the Black Cats in the table.

Both sides go into the game on a decent run of form. The Black Cats haven’t lost a league game since going down 1-0 to West Bromwich Albion in August, while Newcastle United have taken four points from a possible six. The Mags may have been dumped out of the Carling Cup by Arsenal in midweek but Hughton made the decision to rest a number of his first team players for this weekend’s massive clash. Will that gamble pay off?

Newcastle United may have the edge with home advantage but Sunderland just shade it with a number of the bookies. However, their record in Tyne-Wear derbies recently is nothing to write home about. They’ve managed just three derby day victories in 16 Premier League attempts and their last win at St James’ Park was a decade ago. Niall Quinn was the hero that day. This weekend he’ll be sitting in the stands hoping Darren Bent or Asamoah Gyan can send the Black Cats home purring.

The Geordies have lost twice at home already this season – to Blackpool and Stoke – while Sunderland are yet to win on their travels in this campaign. What a place it would be for Steve Bruce to rectify that stat!

A win for Newcastle United would do Chris Hughton’s job prospects the power of good. Unfortunately, derby games are notoriously hard to predict and the Panel can see this going either way.

Newcastle United v Sunderland; Kick Off 1.30pm October 31 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	2	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	1
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	0	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	0	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	0	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	1	V	1
Fulham	Russell Goldman	0	V	2
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	2	V	1
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	2
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	1	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	1
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	4	V	2
Wolves	Chris Cox	2	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	1	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	2
Writer	Hugh Larkin	0	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	1	V	2
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	3	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	1	V	1
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	0	V	2

Panel Verdict

The Panel is split right down the middle.

Home: 9; Draw 11; Away: 8

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Middlesbrough: Mowbray eyes winning start at the Riverside

Tony Mowbray will always be regarded as a hero on Teesside, but if he can win his first two games as Middlesbrough manager against fellow strugglers Bristol City and Crystal Palace his legendary status at the Riverside will go through the roof.

The former Hibs, West Bromwich Albion and Glasgow Celtic boss was the man most Middlesbrough fans wanted to replace Gordon Strachan in the dugout but he faces a real struggle to transform the fortunes of a club that only five years ago was in the final of the UEFA Cup.

Mowbray takes over a Middlesbrough side that started the season as promotion favourites but currently sit in the bottom three of the Championship. The former club captain needs to breathe life into the fading north east giant. They have failed to win in their last six outings and the fans have voted with their feet – after all a Saturday afternoon at the shops or a back, sack and crack at the salon is probably less painful, cheaper and less embarrassing than watching Boro at the moment.

But can Mowbray turn the fortunes of the club around? Chairman of the official Middlesbrough Supporters Club Sue Gardener is thrilled to have him back at the club and thinks his main objective it simply to keep them up, anything after that is a bonus.

“I think most Boro fans are excited with Mogga’s appointment and will be more lenient with him because he is an icon up here in Middlesbrough. However, this leads fans to another problem whereby they do not want him to fail in his task of managing Boro for fear he will lose his status.

“Mogga has some hard work ahead of him but he will be up for it as he is Boro through and through and he knows what the fans want from their team. I think given our current position in the league most fans will say he has done well if he keeps us up – a play-off place would be a bonus.”

Tony Mowbray returns to management following a dreadful time at Scottish giants Glasgow Celtic. He took over from Gordon Strachan and tried to implement his style of football on the club but it didn’t go to plan. He won just 17 of 30 games in charge, trailed Old Firm rivals Rangers in the league and a 4-0 defeat at the hands of St Mirren was the final straw for the board. However, Mowbray’s standing amongst football fans is quite high. He likes to play attacking football and has entertained, and infuriated, Hibs and West Brom fans in equal measures.

As a defender Mowbray was as tough as my wife’s steaks – I really should send her to cooking school – but as a manager his focus is all on attack. Defensively his teams can be very suspect indeed. In fact most West Brom fans believe that if he had spent a little more time on organising his back four they would have stayed up two years ago. Not that they are moaning now with the Baggies currently flying high in the top flight under Roberto Di Matteo.

But what will Mowbray bring to Middlesbrough? Sue hopes that his style of play will see some stay-away fans return to the Riverside and back the Boro, but points on the board rather than pretty football is the most important goal in her eyes.

“Mogga will hopefully bring in more fans to the Riverside and will no doubt go all out to get the current players playing as a team who want to win games. Most Boro fans are glad he’s been given the job, although, as I said earlier, some are worried for him rather than Boro’s current position. But his pretty football means nothing if we can’t win games so winning and gaining points is much more important at the moment.”

At least Mowbray will be in charge of some familiar faces at the Riverside . . . he allowed some of them to team up with Strachan from Celtic! Mowbray will also know all about the rest of the Scottish contingent that Strachan brought down to Teesside following his time north of the border.

Strachan was expected to take Middlesbrough back to the Premier League but unfortunately it just wasn’t to be. Quite why the wee Scot failed is a mystery – he was given money to spend, he had a good crop of youngsters at his disposal and one of the best chairman in the game behind him – but his love of Scottish players seems to have been a factor.

“I only met Strachan once and he seemed very sincere in his approach to the task he had ahead of him but why he failed in this task you’ll have to ask him,” said Sue. “Fans say he lost the dressing room but then he isn’t the first to do this. As for the players he brought it, well ‘Scottish has-beens’ is a popular saying here in so much as why they were not playing in Scotland so why would they here?

“We, the fans, were rather confused over some of his tactics but then he had his own way of doing things. Maybe we just missed the meaning of it.”

Middlesbrough’s next two league games are both at home against teams below them in the table. If Mowbray can guide Boro to six points they could find themselves in mid-table within a fortnight and ease their relegation woes. Most new managers tend to see a reaction from the players and the fans will be hoping that is certainly the case here. But what does the future hold for the Scottish players?

“Mogga sold us some of our current players but having said this he can’t do anything until January anyway so he will have to motivate the staff he has at the moment,” said Sue. “Whether this will lead to promotion we will have to wait and see.

“As I said earlier, the fans will give him more backing than they would to someone else and they know he has taken on a very difficult job.

“Promotion I don’t think is the priority right now. I think we would hope for some consistency in our forthcoming games and take it from there. His priority has to be to get the team playing together and to give them confidence in themselves to achieve this.”

“I for one can feel the change in the atmosphere around our fans – that we are about to turn a corner for the better. There has been so much frustration and despair around Middlesbrough fans over the past few months that they were giving up the faith. But now things are looking up.

“Keeping the faith may not be so hard now as Mogga tends to inspire confidence in the fans, who will be right behind him.”

Mowbray has a great knowledge of the Championship following his spell at the Hawthorns and has a real talent of unearthing quality footballers. Nothing is ever certain in football, but Mowbray and Middlesbrough should be a match made in heaven.

Calling all Boro fans. Who do you feel about Mowbray’s return to the Riverside? Can he transform the fortunes of the struggling Teessiders? Which players do you think he will move on in January? Why do you think Strachan failed at Boro? And how confident are you about the future under Mowbray? Whatever your view I’d love to hear from you.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City: Can McCarthy’s men outplay the Citizens?

There seems to be something strange going on at Molineux . . . they are actually playing good football! Mick McCarthy’s men were labelled as one of the dirtiest teams in the game earlier in the season, but in the past three games they have given Arsenal a run for their money in terms of style. Unfortunately it has only warranted one point against West Ham United, but then they have played the champions Chelsea at the Bridge and gave Manchester United a good game in the Carling Cup. Will they get their ultimate reward by beating the billionaires of Eastlands this weekend?

Manchester City lost their first home game of the season last Sunday to Arsenal, although they did play most of the game with only 10 men. Roberto Mancini will be without his captain and main goal threat Carlos Tevez for the game due to injury but the visitors start as clear favourites with the bookies.

The Citizens have won their last two league outings on the road – against Wigan and Blackpool – and Mancini will be hoping to make it three out of three with victory at Molineux. A Carlos Tevez brace sent the visitors home happy last season in a 3-0 win but McCarthy will be desperate for his men to put up a better defensive display this time.

Wolves are yet to keep a clean sheet this season but with the Matt Jarvis for England bandwagon growing by the week and Fletcher and Doyle up front they should give England shot-stopper Joe Hart something to think about.

City will see this as a must-win game if they are to realise their Champions League hopes and keep the pressure on the leaders Chelsea. Meanwhile Wolves, who are second from bottom, need points to move away from danger.

Unfortunately for the home fans the majority of the Panel sees this going only one way and that’s in the way of the visitors.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City; Kick Off 3pm October 30 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	2
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	0	V	2
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	2	V	0
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	2
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	2
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	1	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	1	V	3
Fulham	Russell Goldman	0	V	3
Liverpool	Mark Williams	0	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	0	V	2
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	2
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	2
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	3
Tottenham	Dave Nash	1	V	2
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	3
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	2
Wigan	Alan Moore	1	V	4
Wolves	Chris Cox	1	V	4
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	0	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	1	V	2
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	2
Writer	Paul Grech	1	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	0	V	3
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	0	V	2
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	0	V	3

Panel Verdict

City are tipped to bounce back from their defeat at the hands of Arsenal with a convincing win over the struggling Wolves.

Home: 1; Draw: 4; Away: 23.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

 

Squarefootball’s Premier League quiz: Week 10

Do you want to amaze your friends in the pub tonight with your knowledge of the beautiful game? If so you have come to the right place. This is the toughest weekly quiz in Premier League history and while I doubt anyone will be able to get all 10 questions right, the answer sheet will be your guide to earning some extra kudos with your pals.

If you think you know your Wayne Rooneys from your George Clooneys then this is the place for you.

 

1. Arsenal v West Ham United: The Hammers haven’t beaten the Gunners since they did the double over them in the 2006/07 season. Both games finished 1-0. Can you name either of the scorers?

2. Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea: Ewood Park has always been a tough place for Chelsea but you have to go back to 2006 for the last time Blackburn actually beat the champions at home. A single goal was enough that May afternoon. But who scored it?

3. Everton v Stoke City: The Potters haven’t left Goodison Park with all three points since April 1981. But what we want to know is, who were making their minds up at the top of the UK’s singles chart?

4. Fulham v Wigan Athletic: Who is Fulham’s all time record goalscorer?

5. Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City: These two sides met in the Premier League for the first time in 2003/04 at Molineux. The home side won 1-0. Who scored that crucial goal?

6. Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur: Who was the last Spurs manager to leave Old Trafford with all three points?

7. Aston Villa v Birmingham City: The Blues have only scored twice against their city rivals in the past four meetings with both goals coming from the same player. Who?

8. Newcastle United v Sunderland: Who has scored the most goals for Newcastle United against Sunderland in the Premier League, Shola Ameobi or Alan Shearer?

9. Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool: What squad number do Bolton’s Kevin Davies and Liverpool’s Milan Jovanovic share?

10. Blackpool v West Bromwich Albion: Scottish stars Charlie Adam and Graeme Dorrans topped the scoring charts for the Seasiders and the Baggies respectively in the Championship last season. But who scored the most?

To see how you got on please click here

Scoring:

0-2: You should try rugby

3-4: Carling Cup winner

5-6: FA Cup winner

7-8: Champions League winner

9-10: Premier League winner

Squarefootball’s Premier League Quiz : Week 10 – The Answers

So how did you get on?

1. Arsenal v West Ham United: You could have had either Marlon Harewood or Bobby Zamora.

2. Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea: Steven Reid, who is currently plying his trade at the Hawthorns, was the Blackburn hero back in 2006.

3. Everton v Stoke City: Bucks Fizz were the UK chart toppers in 1981 with their smash-hit Making Your Mind Up.

4. Fulham v Wigan Athletic: Former Welsh international Gordon Davies is the Cottagers’ all time top scorer with 178 goals to his name.

5. Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City: Former Hearts and Scotland midfielder Colin Cameron scored the winner for Wolves against City in October 2003.

6. Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur: Former England manager Terry Venables was the last Tottenham manager to guide Spurs to victory at Old Trafford.

7. Aston Villa v Birmingham City: The player we were looking for is Mikael Forssell.

8. Newcastle United v Sunderland: Shola Ameobi has scored four times against the Black Cats, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer only managed three goals against them in a black and white shirt.

9. Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool: Both Kevin Davies and Milan Jovanovic both wear the number 14 shirt.

10. Blackpool v West Bromwich Albion: Blackpool’s Charlie Adam scored 16 in the Championship last season, three more than his fellow countryman Graeme Dorrans who topped the charts for the Albion alongside Chris Brunt.

Scoring:

0-2: You should try rugby

3-4: Carling Cup winner

5-6: FA Cup winner

7-8: Champions League winner

9-10: Premier League winner

Fulham v Wigan Athletic: Cottagers tipped to lick the Latics

Only two teams in the Premier League are unbeaten away from home this season. One is Manchester United, but did you know that the other team was Wigan Athletic? After their dreadful start to the season I couldn’t see them winning the best team in Wigan award let alone a Premier League game. But full marks to Roberto Martinez. He has weathered the storm and come out rather dry.

The Latics head to Craven Cottage keen to keep their unbeaten away record intact and given Fulham’s recent run of results that could well happen. Mark Hughes’s men have lost their past two league outings in controversial circumstances against Spurs and West Brom and currently sit just outside the drop zone on goal difference.

Fulham have only one league win to their name this season – against Wolves – and are finding it hard to kill teams off. They’ve taken the lead in their past three games but have only one point to show for their endeavour. They have also only managed two clean sheets all season.

In contrast Wigan are unbeaten in their past six league and cup games and have conceded the same number of goals on the road as the champions Chelsea – two. However, their record at Craven Cottage is less than impressive. They’ve managed just one win in west London in their past 12 attempts and haven’t scored more than two against the Cottagers in the Premier League home or away.

Fulham could leapfrog Wigan with a win this weekend and the majority of the Panel is tipping the Latics to lose their unbeaten record.

Fulham v Wigan Athletic; Kick Off 3pm October 30 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	0
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	0
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	2	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	1	V	1
Fulham	Russell Goldman	2	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	1
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	0
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	1	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	1
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	0	V	2
Wolves	Chris Cox	2	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	2
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	0
Writer	Paul Grech	2	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	2	V	2
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	1	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	2	V	0

Panel Verdict

Fulham are strongly backed to consign Wigan to their first away defeat of the season.

Home: 17; Draw: 10; Away: 1

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

 

Arsenal v West Ham United: Wenger to go all guns blazing against Grant

Arsene Wenger is desperate to win some silverware this season. We can see that from his squad selections in the Carling Cup. But while the league cup has taken an extra significance with the Frenchman his ultimate goal remains the Premier League title.

The Gunners surprised most neutrals last weekend by beating Manchester City in their own back yard and with Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott back fresh from injury Arsenal are looking like the most serious challengers to Chelsea’s title defence. They are scoring for fun, creating chances with ease and Wednesday night’s shut out against Newcastle was the first time they’ve managed back-to-back clean sheets this calendar year. Can they make it three against the basement boys West Ham?

Avram Grant’s future at the Boleyn is in doubt again following their 2-1 loss at home to Newcastle United last weekend. For 15 minutes or so the Hammers looked like a top six side. Spraying the ball around, taking on defenders and looking threatening in front of goal. But then they scored, sat back and began to resemble a League One outfit. Everything that was good about them suddenly disappeared. They even struggled with the simplest skills like passing and control.

West Ham did get back to winning ways in the Carling Cup against Stoke City but required extra-time to do so. That will not have been great preparation for a trip to the Emirates but a cup run could keep the wolves from Grant’s door.

The Hammers have managed to score in each of their past eight league and cup games but they haven’t found the back of the net at the Emirates since Bobby Zamora bagged the winner in 2007. West Bromwich Albion have already shown that the Gunners can be beaten at home, unfortunately for the Hammers no-one on the Panel can see that happening here.

Arsenal v West Ham United; Kick Off 3pm October 30 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	2	V	0
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	3	V	1
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	3	V	0
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	0
Blackpool	Phil Trow	3	V	0
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	3	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	3	V	0
Everton	Chris Goodwin	3	V	1
Fulham	Russell Goldman	3	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	2	V	0
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	3	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	2	V	0
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	3	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	0
Tottenham	Dave Nash	2	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	3	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	2	V	2
Wigan	Alan Moore	3	V	1
Wolves	Chris Cox	3	V	0
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	0
Writer	Colin Illingworth	3	V	0
Writer	Hugh Larkin	3	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	4	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	3	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	1	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	3	V	1

Panel Verdict

This is a home banker for the Gunners.

Home: 26; Draw: 2; Away: 0.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs aim to end their Old Trafford hell

Tottenham Hotspur’s record at Old Trafford is about as tragic as my attempts at pulling! You have to go back to 1989 for the last time Spurs last left the Theatre of Dreams with all three points – you only to go back to 1999 for the last time I bagged a woman!!! But could this be the year that Spurs end their awful run in Manchester?

In Gareth Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart, Tottenham have two world class players capable of unlocking any defence in the world. Bale, who is reportedly a transfer target for Sir Alex Ferguson, will still be walking on air following his hat-trick at the San Siro while Van der Vaart, who has five goals to his name already, couldn’t ask for a better arena to score his first away goal for the club.

Manchester United got back to winning ways at the weekend against Stoke City thanks to a brace from Hernandez and they remain the only unbeaten side in English football. However, they currently sit five points adrift of the champions Chelsea and have only managed three clean sheets in the league so far. Will they be able to keep the attacking threat of Tottenham at bay?

Harry Redknapp may have one eye on Tuesday night’s Champions League match with the holders Inter Milan but the visiting fans believe this may be their best chance of ending their Old Trafford hell. United are not as imposing as they once were and Spurs, with the likes of Lennon, Crouch and Modric, could well inflict the Red Devils to their first defeat of the season.

Just two points separate the sides in the table and a win for the visitors would see them leapfrog United in the table and put a huge dent in Fergie’s title challenge. A Tottenham win will also see me dusting down my glad rags and hitting the town looking for some action. So watch out Manchester!

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur; Kick Off 5.30pm October 30 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	3	V	2
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	3	V	0
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	2	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	2	V	2
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	1
Fulham	Russell Goldman	2	V	1
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	2	V	1
Newcastle	Michael Stout	2	V	1
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	2
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	2	V	2
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	2	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	2	V	2
Wigan	Alan Moore	3	V	2
Wolves	Chris Cox	2	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	1	V	2
Writer	Hugh Larkin	2	V	0
Writer	Paul Grech	3	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	0
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	1	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	1
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	2	V	2

Panel Verdict

Manchester United are tipped to keep their impressive unbeaten home run against Spurs going.

Home: 18; Draw: 9; Away: 1.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Everton v Stoke City: Pulis eyes Goodison glory

Both teams enter the weekend level on points but Everton are definitely the team feeling most confident. The Toffees are unbeaten in their past four games, hold the bragging rights over their Merseyside neighbours and have climbed out of the bottom three.

Stoke City on the other hand desperately need a result. They’ve lost their past two league fixtures and were dumped out of the Carling Cup in midweek. They need a lift but it’s unlikely to come at Goodison Park. The Potters haven’t won on the blue half of Merseyside since 1981, but they should take some encouragement from their 1-1 draw last season when Robert Huth put them ahead before Leon Osman responded with a quick equaliser.

Everton will be fresh following their midweek break from Carling Cup action but Stoke may be feeling the after effects of their extra-time exploits at Upton Park. However, Stoke will always pose a threat offensively. Kenwyne Jones has the pace, power and strength to trouble the very best defenders, Tuncay is lethal in front of goal and Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant have the ammunition to supply their front men. They have only once failed to score this season and that was away at Chelsea. But Everton are strong defensively. They’ve kept four clean sheets so far this season so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this battle.

A win for either side will see them climb into the top half of the table. Unfortunately for the visitors, no-one in the Panel sees them leaving with all three points.

Everton v Stoke City; Kick Off 3pm October 30 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	3	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	2
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	2	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	0	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	0
Fulham	Russell Goldman	1	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	2	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	2	V	1
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	1	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	2	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	2	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	0	V	0
Wolves	Chris Cox	2	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	0
Writer	Paul Grech	1	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	2
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	2	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	1
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	0

Panel Verdict

The Toffees are well fancied for all three points.

Home: 22; Draw: 6; Away: 0.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea: Can the Rovers tame Drogba and co?

Blackburn Rovers put a huge dent in Chelsea’s title hopes last season at Ewood Park. Fortunately Big Sam’s men did the same to Manchester United and Arsenal’s chances of Premier League glory as Chelsea kept their nerve at the top. However, Carlo Ancelotti will be seeking to make amends for that 1-1 draw in March.

Ewood Park has been a tricky but happy hunting ground for the champions over the past few years. They haven’t lost in Lancashire in the league on their past five visits although Blackburn did get the better of them on penalties in the league cup last season. El-Hadji Diouf’s equaliser in March though was Blackburn’s first goal against Chelsea at home since Steven Reid’s winner in 2006 – the last time Rovers got the better of Chelsea.

Manchester City’s defeat to Arsenal last weekend saw Chelsea open up a five-point gap at the top of the Premier League table but while their home form is sparkling, their away form has been rather flat of late. They lost 1-0 at Eastlands and failed to trouble Brad Friedel’s goal at Villa Park. You have to go back to September 11 for the last time they triumphed on the road – a 3-1 win against West Ham United. Could Big Sam spring one of the shocks of the season?

Blackburn have lost just once at home this season but they currently sit just outside the drop zone. Defeat this weekend, combined with a point or more for Liverpool away at Bolton, will see them join Wolves and West Ham in the bottom three.

We all know that Big Sam loves a challenge and that his squad are full of hard work and endeavour, but do they have enough quality to tame Drogba, Terry and co? The majority of the Panel doesn’t think so.

Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea; Kick Off 3pm October 30 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	0	V	2
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	1	V	3
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	0	V	2
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	2
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	0	V	2
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	0	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	0	V	2
Fulham	Russell Goldman	1	V	2
Liverpool	Mark Williams	0	V	2
Man City	Callum Rothwell	0	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	2
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	3
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	4
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	1
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	2
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	0	V	2
Wigan	Alan Moore	0	V	4
Wolves	Chris Cox	0	V	2
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	0	V	2
Writer	Colin Illingworth	1	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	0	V	2
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	2
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	2
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	1	V	2
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	0	V	2
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	0	V	3

Panel Verdict

Chelsea are hot favourites to retain their lead at the top.

Home: 0; Draw: 2; Away: 26.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Premier League Predictions Table: Sunderland soar to the summit

Sunderland are in good shape ahead of the Tyne-Wear derby this weekend on and off the pitch. Steve Bruce’s men climbed to seventh at the weekend with their 1-0 win over Aston Villa and our Black Cat panellist Tony Ratton is sitting even prettier at the top of the Squarefootball Premier League Prediction Table.

The Sunderland season ticket holder was ecstatic at the final whistle on Saturday following Richard Dunne’s own goal but I bet he will be thrilled this morning when he checks out the latest table. Tony acquired 13 points thanks to three correct scores and four correct results to take him two points clear of last week’s leader Phil Trow of Blackpool.

However, Tony’s tally wasn’t the best of the weekend. That honour went to our very own Paul Grech. The Liverpool fan netted 14 points thanks to four bang on scores – Birmingham’s 2-0 win over Blackpool, Wigan’s draw with Bolton, Newcastle’s victory at West Ham and Manchester United’s late 2-1 win at Stoke – and two correct results – Chelsea and Sunderland wins – to pull himself away from trouble near the foot of the table.

It was also a return to form for Blackburn’s Terry Kennedy who bagged 13 points alongside Manchester United’s Peter Lee who continued his recent fine form. Both men are now within touching distance of the top spot.

One of the biggest losers this week was Bolton’s Dave Blackburn. He managed just a paltry three points and now finds himself 11 points off the top spot. Dave was joined on three points by our Australian Portsmouth representative Peter Rendle, but after the week Pompey have had I think the Panel was the last thing on his mind.

It was a decent weekend for those down at the foot of the table. Fulham’s Russell Goldman and our other Pompey fan Dan Taylor grabbed eight points, while Arsenal’s Don McMahon and our West Ham fan Matthew Beeby both managed nine points. Unfortunately there’s no change in the table at the bottom although Chelsea’s Joe Tyler and Aston Villa’s Lynette Ranson are slowly being dragged into the mire.

The Panel as a whole though certainly deserve a pat on the back for their efforts. More than half of the pundits got five outcomes correct, including Chelsea’s win over Wolves (27/28), Liverpool’s win over Blackburn (20/28), Wigan’s draw with Bolton (16/28), Manchester United’s win at Stoke (16/28) and West Brom’s victory over Fulham (15/28). Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Manchester City was the surprise of the weekend though with only four of our pundits going for that outcome.

Everton may have left White Hart Lane with a credible point but Toffees fan Chris Goodwin has relinquished his grip on the lead in the most correct results table. He has been replaced at the top by Aston Villa fan Lynette Ranson, who has predicted 34 scores correctly. West Brom’s Andy Wakeman and Squarefootball’s Hugh Larkin have moved into joint second place with 33, closely followed by Chris on 32.

But taking full advantage of the extra points on offer for correct scores are Tony Ratton, Blackpool’s Phil Trow and Blackburn’s Terry Kennedy, who have amassed 42 of their overall points from being spot on with the scores.

 

Here are the scores from this week:

	Player	Correct scores	Correct results	Points
SQF WRITER	Paul Grech	4	2	14
BLACKBURN	Terry Kennedy	4	1	13
MAN UTD	Peter Lee	4	1	13
SUNDERLAND	Tony Ratton	3	4	13
MAN CITY	Callum Rothwell	3	2	11
STOKE CITY	Philip Eccleston	3	2	11
SQF EDITOR	Antony Melvin	3	2	11
WEST BROM	Andy Wakeman	2	4	10
SQF WRITER	Colin Illingworth	2	4	10
ARSENAL	Don McMahon	2	3	9
SQF EXP WHAM	Matthew Beeby	2	3	9
SQF WRITER	Hugh Larkin	1	6	9
ASTON VILLA	Lynette Ranson	1	5	8
EVERTON	Chris Goodwin	2	2	8
FULHAM	Russell Goldman	2	2	8
NEWCASTLE	Michael Stout	2	2	8
WIGAN	Alan Moore	1	5	8
SPURS	Dave Nash	2	2	8
SQF ACE POMPEY	Dan Taylor	2	2	8
BLACKPOOL	Phil Trow	2	1	7
WEST HAM	Nigel Telfer	2	1	7
CHELSEA	Joe Tyler	1	3	6
BIRMINGHAM	Steve Coulter	1	3	6
LIVERPOOL	Mark Williams	1	3	6
WOLVES	Chris Cox	1	2	5
SQF EXP BORO	Sue Gardener	0	5	5
BOLTON	Dave Blackburn	0	3	3
SQF ACE POMPEY	Peter Rendle	0	3	3

 

(The Panellists get three points for each correct score and one point for each correct result they predict)

 

Here is how the overall table currently stands.

	TEAM	Player	Crrct scores	Crrct results	Pts
↑	SUNDERLAND	Tony Ratton	14	29	71
↓	BLACKPOOL	Phil Trow	14	27	69
↑	MAN CITY	Callum Rothwell	12	30	66
↓	NEWCASTLE	Michael Stout	12	30	66
↑	BLACKBURN	Terry Kennedy	14	23	65
↑	SQF WRITER	Colin Illingworth	12	28	64
↑	MAN UTD	Peter Lee	11	30	63
↑	SQF EDITOR	Antony Melvin	12	27	63
↑	STOKE CITY	Philip Eccleston	11	28	61
↑	WEST BROM	Andy Wakeman	9	33	60
↑	SQF WRITER	Hugh Larkin	9	33	60
↓	BOLTON	Dave Blackburn	10	29	59
↓	SPURS	Dave Nash	10	29	59
↓	WOLVES	Chris Cox	12	24	59
↑	SQF WRITER	Paul Grech	11	26	59
↓	LIVERPOOL	Mark Williams	9	30	57
↔	WIGAN	Alan Moore	9	29	56
↓	SQF ACE POMPEY	Peter Rendle	10	26	56
↔	BIRMINGHAM	Steve Coulter	8	29	53
↑	EVERTON	Chris Goodwin	7	32	53
↓	WEST HAM	Nigel Telfer	9	26	53
↓	SQF EXP BORO	Sue Gardener	8	29	53
↔	ASTON VILLA	Lynette Ranson	6	34	52
↔	CHELSEA	Joe Tyler	8	24	50
↔	SQF ACE POMPEY	Dan Taylor	9	21	48
↔	ARSENAL	Don McMahon	8	24	48
↔	SQF EXP WHAM	Matthew Beeby	6	30	48
↔	FULHAM	Russell Goldman	6	28	46

 

Tottenham Hotspur: Why would Bale leave the Lane for Old Trafford?

Gareth Bale’s sensational hat-trick in the San Siro last week has caught the attention of all the major clubs in Europe. Down to 10 men after just eight minutes and 4-0 down at half-time, the Welshman took it upon himself to get the north London giants back into the game against the Champions League holders Inter Milan. Two sublime 60-yard run efforts and a slick left-foot finish inside the 18-yard box capped an amazing night for the youngster. They may have been beaten but Spurs left Italy with a sense of pride and Bale’s reputation has gone through the roof.

Unfortunately when you have a player of that ability at your club you are always going to attract unwanted media interest. Tottenham have gone through this plenty of times before, most notably with Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov – both of whom ended up at Manchester United.

According to the Sunday papers, Bale could be the latest player to leave White Hart Lane for Old Trafford, but why would he want to do that?

In the past Tottenham were a bunch of nearly men. They promised so much but just didn’t have that extra special ingredient needed to break into the top four. Martin Jol twice led them to fifth place finishes before being given the boot. Juande Ramos’s spell at the club was an unmitigated disaster but under Harry Redknapp Spurs have two gems who are lighting up the Premier League.

In Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart, Spurs have two of the most attacking talents in the English game. The Welsh international loves to bomb down the left flank, is full of energy and drive and has an eye for the spectacular goal. Alongside him you have arguably the steal of the century in Van der Vaart. How the Dutchman was allowed to leave Madrid for only £7 million beggars belief. He is a truly wonderful player to watch. Great first touch, superb team player and his technical abilities are second to none.

Then you also have Luka Modric – who has also attracted the attention of the Red Devils - Aaron Lennon, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch. All of them are exceptional players who can score goals from nothing.

Bale is clearly playing for a team on the up. They are holding their own in the Champions League and are looking good for another top four finish. He could become a part of a new dynasty at White Hart Lane. Why would he be tempted to join Manchester United who, according to their star player Wayne Rooney last week, are on the wane? Money may be a big factor. If they can pay Rooney almost £250,000 a week then Bale could easily increase his earnings at Old Trafford. But Spurs are not exactly Premier League paupers when it comes to wages.

What about trophies and playing with big name players? Can the likes of Nani, O'Shea, Bebe, Smalling and Obertan lead United to the biggest honours in the game, as Rooney feared only days ago? The Glazers may have promised Fergie money for star names but how many big signings have been a success at Old Trafford  and how much do you trust the Americans to carry out their promises?

Of course Sir Alex Ferguson has a history of winning silverware. He is arguably the greatest club manager in the English game. But Bale chose Spurs ahead of United in 2007 when he left Southampton and Spurs rejected a £20 million bid for the star in the summer. The fact that Fergie thinks he can offer cash plus Michael Carrick and Ji-Sung Park for Bale will have Spurs fans spitting feathers. Carrick has struggled with form for a while now and Ji-Sung Park has never been given a decent run in the first team. For the Scot to even think that is a fair swap is an insult.

Harry Redknapp has assembled a fabulous squad of players at White Hart Lane. In many ways their squad is on par if not better than United’s, although we’ll get a proper assessment of that this weekend when the two sides meet. At the end of the season United could well be saying farewell to the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Edwin Van der Sar. Bale could easily fill the boots left by his countryman at Old Trafford, but who would Fergie get to plug the gaps left by Scholes and Van der Sar? United may be one of the biggest names in the world but that doesn't always guarantee you success. And how long will it be before Fergie hands on the banton to someone else?

Gareth Bale is still only 21, has a great future ahead of him in the game and is settled in north London. He says he is happy with his football at the Lane and Redknapp will do everything in his power to persuade Bale to stay at Spurs. It all seems too good to be true for Tottenham fans. They have seen too many players declare their love for the club before doing the off. They will certainly be praying that Bale is true to his word as this current crop of players at the Lane could be on the verge of achieving something special.

Of course Bale may well want to pursue his career somewhere else in a few years' time but for now I think he needs to remain at Tottenham and develop his game under one of the best man-managers in the game. 

Calling all Spurs fans. What do you make of the reports linking Bale with a move to United? How important is he to Tottenham? How much money would it take for you to allow Bale to leave White Hart Lane? Can you see any reason for Bale wanting to leave? Whatever your view I’d love to hear from you.

Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers: Big Sam smells blood at Anfield

Roy Hodgson’s future at Anfield is under intense scrutiny and only a win this afternoon will ease the pressure on the former Fulham boss. Liverpool start the game in the bottom three and Sam Allardyce would love to keep them there.

Despite losing two of their four away games so far, Blackburn Rovers look more determined on their travels this season and will go to Anfield with nothing to lose.

Liverpool have not been playing well at all and Blackburn can certainly smell blood. However, the visitors have only managed one win on the red half of Merseyside since the Premier League was created. But the good news for Blackburn is that the likes of Blackpool and Northampton Town have beaten the Reds on their own patch this season. Unfortunately the visitors knows that if Liverpool do rediscover their form this afternoon and win by three clear goals it will be Blackburn and not Liverpool who will be sitting in the drop zone.

Liverpool are set to recall Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to the first team and Hodgson will be hoping that their midweek rest will see them firing on all cylinders.

Despite their dreadful start to the season the majority of the Panel believes this game will only go one way.

Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers; Kick Off 3pm October 24 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	2	V	0
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	3	V	1
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	2	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	0	V	0
Fulham	Russell Goldman	2	V	1
Liverpool	Mark Williams	2	V	0
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	2	V	0
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	0
Tottenham	Dave Nash	1	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	2
Wigan	Alan Moore	1	V	0
Wolves	Chris Cox	1	V	0
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	2	V	0
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	0
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	3	V	3
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	0

Panel Verdict

The Panel believes this may be the turning stone in Liverpool’s season.

Home: 20; Draw: 6; Away: 2.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Manchester City v Arsenal: Gunners have to keep Tevez quiet

Arsenal may be able to score goals for fun in the Champions League but there’s one thing that they just can’t seem to do away from home in any competition and that’s keep a clean sheet.

It’s been 15 league and cup games since the Gunners last managed to stifle the opposition’s attack and with Carlos Tevez, Adam Johnson, David Silva and possibly old boy Emmanuel Adebayor bearing down on them this afternoon, Arsene Wenger’s men are going to have their work cut out for them.

Manchester City took Arsenal apart last season at Eastlands in a fantastic game of football, although the match was overshadowed by Adebayor’s over-exuberant celebration in front of his former fans.

The Togo international staked his claim for a starting place today with a hat-trick on Thursday night in the Europa League but goal machine Carlos Tevez has to lead the line-up. The former United man has scored an incredible 28 times in 31 appearances. If Arsenal can keep him quiet they have every chance of getting a result.

There was a time when the Gunners would have considered a trip to the blue half of Manchester as a guaranteed win. Not any more though. City are a team on the up and have won three of the past five league and cup meetings. They are unbeaten at home and even sent the champions Chelsea with their tails between their legs recently.

Arsenal’s only away victory this season in the league came at Blackburn and will be without the suspended Jack Wilshere. However, Spanish World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas should fill the void! Nonetheless, half of our pundits are going for a home win.

Manchester City v Arsenal; Kick Off 4pm October 24 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	2	V	2
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	2
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	0	V	2
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	2	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	1	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	0	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	2
Fulham	Russell Goldman	3	V	2
Liverpool	Mark Williams	2	V	2
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	1
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	2
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	2
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	1	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	2	V	1
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	3	V	2
Wolves	Chris Cox	3	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	0	V	0
Writer	Colin Illingworth	1	V	2
Writer	Hugh Larkin	2	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	2	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	3	V	2
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	3	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	1	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	3	V	1

Panel Verdict

City are tipped to keep the pressure on the champions Chelsea.

Home: 14; Draw: 10; Away: 4.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Stoke City v Manchester United: Potters hope to ruin Rooney’s birthday

What a week it’s been for Manchester United fans. They’ve been through every possible emotion concerning Wayne Rooney but the only clear winner to have come out of this situation is the birthday boy himself, who is believed to be pocketing an eye-watering £250,000 a week.

Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt be glad to get back to issues on the pitch but the Britannia Stadium is tougher than facing a room full of hungry Press hounds. Stoke fans are a passionate bunch and although the Britannia only holds 28,000 sometimes you have to look around to make sure another 20,000 haven’t crept in.

The Potters went down 2-1 at Bolton last weekend to end their five-match unbeaten run but Stoke are unbeaten in their past five home league and cup matches. Only Spurs have left Stoke with all three points this season but that was in very controversial circumstances.

United travel to Staffordshire as the only unbeaten team in the Premier League and they head there with nothing to fear. They’ve kept clean sheets in all four previous top flight meetings with the Potters and Rooney’s U-turn should give everyone a lift. But they are yet to record their first win on the road this season in the league and Stoke will not roll out the red carpet for Berbatov and co.

A win for United will see them climb to second above City, albeit possibly for an hour or two as they entertain Arsenal, while Stoke could climb to within a point of the Red Devils if they get a result. The Panel though sees this as an away win.

Stoke City v Manchester United; Kick Off 1.30pm October 24 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	2
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	1
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	0	V	2
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	2
Blackpool	Phil Trow	0	V	0
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	2
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	0
Everton	Chris Goodwin	1	V	2
Fulham	Russell Goldman	0	V	2
Liverpool	Mark Williams	0	V	0
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	2
Man Utd	Peter Lee	0	V	2
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	0
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	1
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	2
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	2	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	0	V	2
Wolves	Chris Cox	1	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	1	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	1	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	1	V	2
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	2
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	1	V	4
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	0	V	2
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	2

Panel Verdict

The Panel believes United have this in the bag.

Home: 4; Draw: 8; Away: 16.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Squarefootball’s Premier League quiz: Week Nine

So why does Wayne Rooney want to leave Manchester United? When will Wolverhampton Wanderers manage to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League and why does my missus think that every girl who speaks to me fancies me?!

Yes it’s question time again. I’ve included a few multiple choice questions this week in order to help out you poor souls. I still can’t see any of you getting maximum points though unless you are cheating!

Here are your questions for this week.

1.   Tottenham Hotspur v Everton: Two Spurs players have bagged hat-tricks against Everton at White Hart Lane in the Premier League. Can you name them?

 

2.   Birmingham City v Blackpool: Birmingham lost their proud unbeaten home record last time out against Everton but did you know Blackpool beat the Blues at St Andrews in their last meeting? I do. I also know who scored the only goal of that game. Do you?

 

3.   Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Chelsea have scored 16 times against Wolves in their previous four league meetings. Not a good omen for this weekend. However, who has scored the most goals against Wolves? Didier Drogba, Herman Crespo or Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink?

 

4.   Sunderland v Aston Villa: Sunderland striker Darren Bent is still searching for his first goal for the Black Cats against Aston Villa. However, how many has he scored past the Villains in his top flight career? Once, twice or three times?

 

5.   West Bromwich Albion v Fulham: Both managers, Roberto Di Matteo and Mark Hughes, played for Premier League champions Chelsea. However, who scored the most goals during their time at the Bridge?

 

6.   Wigan Athletic v Bolton: Which stadium has the capacity to seat the most fans, the DW Stadium or the Reebok Stadium?

 

7.   West Ham United v Newcastle United: Only one player has scored a hat-trick in this fixture during the Premier League era. Can you name him?

 

8.   Stoke City v Manchester United: Stoke City haven’t scored past Manchester United since 1993 when they stunned the Red Devils to take a 2-1 lead to Old Trafford from the first leg of the League Cup. The Potters hero that night scored a brace. Can you name him?

 

9.   Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers: Blackburn Rovers clinched the Premier League title on the final day of the 1994/95 season at Anfield despite losing 2-1. Alan Shearer opened the scoring for the visitors and Jamie Redknapp famously scored a free-kick with minutes remaining. However, who was the other Liverpool scorer that day?

 

10.               Manchester City v Arsenal: Arsenal’s last win at Eastlands came in February 2008. The Gunners ran out 3-1 winners and two players got their name on the score sheet. One was Emmanuel Adebayor. Can you name the other?

 

To see how you got on please click here

Scoring:

0-2: You should try rugby

3-4: Carling Cup winner

5-6: FA Cup winner

7-8: Champions League winner

9-10: Premier League winner

 

Squarefootball’s Premier League quiz: Week Nine – The Answers

So how did you get on?

1.   Tottenham Hotspur v Everton: Robbie Keane grabbed the match ball in a seven-goal thriller against the Toffees in January 2003 and Chris Armstrong hit a hat-trick past Thomas Myhre in December 1998.

2.   Birmingham City v Blackpool: Gary Taylor-Fletcher was the goalscorer I was looking for.

3.   Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Former Chelsea hitman Hasselbaink netted four times for the Blues against Wolves compared to braces for both Crespo and Drogba. Although that could all change this weekend!

4.   Sunderland v Aston Villa: Bent has scored three times past Villa. One for Charlton and two for Tottenham.

5.   West Bromwich Albion v Fulham: Mark Hughes smashed in 25 goals during his three years at Stamford Bridge compared to Di Matteo’s 15 in six seasons. Well he was a midfielder!

6.   Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers: The DW Stadium seats a maximum crowd of 25,138, a total of 3,585 fewer than the Reebok Stadium.

7.   West Ham United v Newcastle United:  Michael Owen scored a hat-trick against the Hammers at Upton Park in a 4-2 win in December 2005.

8.   Stoke City v Manchester United: The player we were looking for was Mark Stein.

9.   Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers: John Barnes was the other scorer on that historic day at Anfield.

10.  Manchester City v Arsenal: Croatian international Eduardo joined Adebayor on the score sheet that day to seal a 3-1 win.

Scoring:

0-2: You should try rugby

3-4: Carling Cup winner

5-6: FA Cup winner

7-8: Champions League winner

9-10: Premier League winner

West Ham United v Newcastle United: Hammers hope to leave the foot of the table

Despite a five-game unbeaten run in league and cup action West Ham United still remain at the foot of the table. However, it’s only a matter of time before they exit they the bottom three as they are playing well and looking dangerous in front of goal.

The Hammers went behind against Wolves last weekend but should have left with all three points after Piquionne’s late goal was wrongly ruled out for handball.

This weekend they take on a Newcastle United side who never seem to do what the majority of pundits expect. They were widely tipped to beat Wigan last weekend but ended up having to come back from two down to rescue a share of the points.

Chris Hughton’s side haven’t won at the Boleyn Ground for four years but their away form this season has been encouraging. They’ve knocked the champions Chelsea out of the League Cup at the Bridge and Everton succumbed to a thunderbolt strike from the now sidelined Ben Arfa.

West Ham haven’t lost at home since going down 3-1 to Chelsea and victory here would see them jump off the foot of the table and leapfrog the Geordies in the process. However, a win for Newcastle could see them climb into the top half and full of confidence ahead of next weekend’s crunch Tyne-Wear derby.

West Ham United v Newcastle United; Kick Off 5.30pm October 23 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	0	V	2
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	3
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	2	V	0
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	0
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	1	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	1	V	2
Fulham	Russell Goldman	1	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	0
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	1
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	1
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	2
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	2	V	2
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	2	V	0
Wigan	Alan Moore	0	V	1
Wolves	Chris Cox	1	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	2
Writer	Paul Grech	1	V	2
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	3	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	1	V	3
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	2	V	0

Panel Verdict

The home side just edges it with our panel.

Home: 13; Draw: 7; Away: 8.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

 

Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers: Who wants the three points the most?

The DW Stadium hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Bolton in recent seasons. In fact, the Wanderers have only left Wigan with maximum points once in the Premier League, but that could all change this weekend.

Owen Coyle’s men may not be grabbing all the headlines but they are only three points off a Champions League spot and have only lost once all season – and even that was in controversial circumstances at Arsenal.

Wigan meanwhile seem to have addressed their earlier defensive flaws with two clean sheets in their past three outings. They have also only lost once since going down 6-0 at home to the champions Chelsea, but they still have a long way to go to cancel out their goal difference. However, points are what keep you in this division and they are just one win away from overtaking Bolton in the table and sitting in the top half.

The past two meetings between these two at the DW Stadium have ended in stalemate but I expect to see the net bulge a few times this weekend. Who will emerge victorious? That’s anyone’s guess.

Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers; Kick Off 3pm October 23 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	2
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	0	V	0
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	1	V	2
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	2	V	2
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	2
Fulham	Russell Goldman	1	V	2
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	1
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	2
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	2
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	2	V	1
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	2	V	2
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	0	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	0	V	0
Wolves	Chris Cox	2	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	1	V	2
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	3
Writer	Hugh Larkin	0	V	0
Writer	Paul Grech	1	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	0
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	3	V	2
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	1	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	1

Panel Verdict

This could well end up as another draw.

Home: 6; Draw: 16; Away: 6.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

West Bromwich Albion v Fulham: Can Fulham burst the Baggies’ bubble?

Roberto Di Matteo’s Baggies are fast becoming the team to watch in the top flight. Their style of play is easy on the eye, their approach to playing the big teams can only be commended and they are getting the results they deserve. Sure they have to give Manchester United keeper Edwin Van der Sar a big hand for last weekend’s draw at Old Trafford but how many teams have you seen come back from two down at the Theatre of Dreams?

This weekend they welcome Mark Hughes’s Fulham to the Hawthorns, who controversially lost their unbeaten league record last Saturday against Tottenham. The Cottagers are playing well but just can’t seem to find that killer instinct to see teams off. They’ve drawn six of their opening eight league games. If they had won half of them they would be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United. As it is they currently sit just two points off the drop zone.

Games between West Brom and Fulham in the Midlands tend to be tight affairs. One goal has been enough to decide matters in two of the past four meetings but Fulham haven’t won here in the league for almost a decade.

A Fulham win would see them climb above the Baggies on goal difference. A West Brom win could see them climb to third.

West Bromwich Albion v Fulham; Kick Off 3pm October 23 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	0	V	2
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	1
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	0
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	0	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	0	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	1	V	1
Fulham	Russell Goldman	0	V	1
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	0
Man City	Callum Rothwell	0	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	2	V	1
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	0
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	1
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	2	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	2	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	1	V	1
Wolves	Chris Cox	2	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	0
Writer	Paul Grech	1	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	0	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	2
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	2	V	0

Panel Verdict

The Panel is siding just slightly with the Baggies.

Home: 15; Draw: 7; Away: 6.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Sunderland v Aston Villa: Clash has draw written all over it

Well this promises to be a goalfest! Sunderland have drawn blanks against Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers in their past two outings while Villa are fresh from their goalless draw with the champions Chelsea. It’s hardly the sort of form that will encourage fans to rush to the box office. Fortunately, these games do tend to produce a glut a goals.

You have to go back to 1974 for the last 0-0 between these two sides in the league on Wearside. Unfortunately for the hosts Villa are unbeaten at the Stadium of Light in their past five visits. But the SOL has been a fortress so far this season for the Black Cats. Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Birmingham City have all left the north east without maximum points and former Birmingham boss Steve Bruce would love to get one over the Villains.

Villa have only recorded one win on their travels this season – that was against their Midlands rivals Wolves – and Gerard Houllier is still trying to stamp his mark on the squad. Emile Heskey looks like a new player under his former Liverpool boss and he could pose the Black Cats a real problem. But then Villa will have to make plans for the threat of Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan.

While the home fans have yet to see their team lose at home in the league this season they have only seen them win once – against Manchester City. A win for the Black Cats would see them leapfrog Villa in the league. A Villa win could see them climb into the top six. However, this game has draw written all over it.

Sunderland v Aston Villa; Kick Off 3pm October 23 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	0	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	1	V	2
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	0	V	2
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	0
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	1	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	0	V	0
Everton	Chris Goodwin	1	V	2
Fulham	Russell Goldman	1	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	2
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	1
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	1
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	1
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	2	V	0
Wigan	Alan Moore	1	V	2
Wolves	Chris Cox	1	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	2	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	2
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	1	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	1	V	2
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	0	V	2

Panel Verdict

This really could go either way.

Home: 7; Draw: 13; Away: 8.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it! 

 

Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Can McCarthy’s men stun the champions?

When you haven’t been able to keep a clean sheet all season the last place you want to visit is Stamford Bridge but that’s the challenge that lies ahead for Mick McCarthy’s men.

Wolves played some good football against West Ham last week but were unable to stop the Hammers from breaching their goal and in all fairness they were lucky not to have lost it right at the death as TV replays clearly showed that Piquionne’s late goal was controlled with his chest and not his arm.

However, despite having the attacking endeavour of Fletcher, Doyle and Ebanks-Blake to call on, Wolves have struggled badly for goals in the top flight. They have only managed to score two or more in just 11 league outings in the past 46 games. While I can’t see that stat changing this weekend, Wolves did manage to breach Chelsea’s goal twice at the Bridge in 2004 before going down 5-2. Scoring is definitely something that McCarthy has to work on.

Chelsea started the season on fire, blitzing teams left, right and centre. However, they drew blanks away against Manchester City and Aston Villa but you have to go back 18 months for the last time they failed to score at home, against Everton.

The Blues start this game as red-hot favourites and you’d have to be a blinkered Wolves fan to see anything but a Chelsea win.

Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers; Kick Off 3pm October 23 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	3	V	0
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	5	V	0
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	5	V	0
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	3	V	0
Blackpool	Phil Trow	3	V	0
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	4	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	4	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	3	V	0
Fulham	Russell Goldman	3	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	3	V	0
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	4	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	2	V	0
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	4	V	0
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	3	V	0
Tottenham	Dave Nash	2	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	3	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	2	V	0
Wigan	Alan Moore	5	V	0
Wolves	Chris Cox	6	V	0
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	3	V	0
Writer	Colin Illingworth	5	V	0
Writer	Hugh Larkin	3	V	0
Writer	Paul Grech	4	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	3	V	0
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	3	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	4	V	0

Panel Verdict

This is a guaranteed home banker.

Home: 27; Draw: 1; Away: 0.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Birmingham City v Blackpool: Goals guaranteed at St Andrews – History says so!

Birmingham City will still feel aggrieved – rightly - over some of the decisions that went against them at the Emirates last weekend but Alex McLeish will have to erase that game from their memory if they are to avoid being another notch on Blackpool’s bedpost.

The Tangerines have made the step up to the top flight with ease but they too head into this weekend on the backdrop of some poor refereeing. Ian Holloway’s men felt both of Tevez’s goals for Manchester City should have been ruled out for offside, but the Seasiders battled right to the death against the billionaires and their label as everyone’s second favourite team remains intact.

After a decent start to the season Birmingham have gone down the table quicker than a two dollar hooker! They have managed to score just twice in their past five league outings and the fans would love to see more endeavour from their men going forward.

There is some good news for those fans going to the game. You are pretty much guaranteed to see the net bulge at some stage during the 90 minutes as there has only been one goalless draw between these two sides at St Andrews since the war. Now that I’ve said that it’s going to be another score draw for the Blues fans!

Before the season got under way the Blues fans would have seen this as a home banker. However, only Arsenal and Chelsea have managed to stop Blackpool on their travels. Fortunately for the home fans the majority of the Panel has faith in your squad and back you to get back to winning ways.

Birmingham City v Blackpool; Kick Off 3pm October 23 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	1	V	2
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	3
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	2	V	0
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	2
Fulham	Russell Goldman	0	V	2
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	2
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	0
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	3	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	1	V	1
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	2	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	0	V	0
Wolves	Chris Cox	1	V	2
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	1	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	3
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	0
Writer	Paul Grech	2	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	2	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	1	V	1
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	2

Panel Verdict

The Panel is going for a home win.

Home: 11; Draw: 10; Away: 7.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton: Spurs aim to send Toffees packing

After 15 minutes in the San Siro on Wednesday night Tottenham Hotspur were on course for the mother of all hidings at the hands of the Champions League holders Inter Milan. Three down in a quarter of an hour and down to 10 men, Harry Redknapp would have been praying for the final whistle. Fortunately Spurs and Gareth Bale in particular are not ones to sulk and throw in the towel and the talented Welshman scored his first ever hat-trick for the club and brought some respect back to the club.

This weekend they return to domestic action and host the top dogs on Merseyside, Everton. David Moyes’s side will be on a real high following their convincing derby win over Liverpool and a win for the Toffees will see them jump into the top half of the table.

Everton are unbeaten in their past three Premier League fixtures, keeping three clean sheets in the process, but Tottenham, with the attacking threat of Van der Vaart, Bale and Lennon, will put the Toffee’s defensive unit under intense scrutiny.

Tottenham won this fixture last season 2-1 thanks to first half goals from Pavlyuchenko and Modric but that was their first league win over Everton at the Lane since 2005.

Spurs will start the game as slight favourites but how much did their European exploits take out of them? Will they be fresh and revitalised for an Everton side that never gives you a moment on the ball?

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton; Kick Off 12.45pm October 23 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	2	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	2
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	2	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	2
Everton	Chris Goodwin	1	V	2
Fulham	Russell Goldman	2	V	1
Liverpool	Mark Williams	2	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	1
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	2	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	2	V	1
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	2
Wigan	Alan Moore	1	V	1
Wolves	Chris Cox	3	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	1	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	2
Writer	Hugh Larkin	2	V	2
Writer	Paul Grech	3	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	2
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	2	V	2
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	1
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	3	V	1

Panel Verdict

The Panel is edging towards a home win.

Home: 16; Draw: 8; Away: 4.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Everton: Would you ever welcome Wayne Rooney back to Goodison?

Former Everton striker and boyhood Toffee fan Wayne Rooney has dominated the front and back pages of the English media this week following his controversial decision to seek a move away from Manchester United.

English champions Chelsea and big spending Manchester City are reportedly leading the race for the England forward’s signature, but Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona may also be interested in signing him. After all, on his day Rooney is simply unstoppable. What he can’t do with a football isn’t worth knowing. Unfortunately for England and Manchester United fans he hasn’t produced that sort of form for almost six months.

Sir Alex Ferguson is perplexed as to why Rooney wants to leave the club. Is it all to do with money or is simply ambition? Personally I think it’s a bit of both. He must be looking across Manchester and seeing players like Yaya Toure taking home £250,000 a week and thinking “I want a piece of that”. He must also be looking at the players who United have signed recently and be asking himself are they capable of winning anything in the next five years.

Now obviously Everton cannot afford to buy Wayne Rooney from Manchester United. Not unless the recent £113 Euromillions winner is a diehard Everton fan and wants to finance the deal personally! But despite all of the abuse he has received from the fans who used to adore him Rooney remains a true Everton fan. He’s already donned his son in Everton gear, watched the Toffees in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea with the Everton fans and was reportedly all geared up to pull on the famous blue jersey in the summer against Liverpool for Jamie Carragher’s testimonial. Could Wayne Rooney really end his career back at Everton?

Rooney could easily be sold this coming January and sign a four or five-year contract with another club on a ridiculous wage. Given his style of play and age, this could be his last big pay day. But let’s say after four years Rooney wants to end his career at Everton. He could leave wherever he is on a free transfer and at 29/30 he would still have enough good years in him to take the Toffees on to another level. That’s what some Everton fans have been hoping for on a variety of football phone-ins these past few days, but others are still furious with him for the manner in which he left the club.

After everything that has gone on between Rooney and the Everton fans since his high-profile move to United in 2004, how would the Goodison Park faithful react if Rooney was to ever come home? Would you welcome him with open arms or would you be horrified to see him back at Everton?

Whatever your view I’d love to hear from you.

Middlesbrough: Who will replace Strachan at the Riverside?

Under Gordon Strachan Middlesbrough were tipped to leave the Championship behind come May. Unfortunately the way things were going this season League One seemed more of a realistic destination than the Premier League.

Strachan managed just 13 wins in his 46 games at Middlesbrough and Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Leeds United was the final straw for the wee Scot. He ripped up his contract on Monday, walked away from the club and, refreshingly in this era of greed, refused to seek compensation. Now the search is on to find Strachan’s successor at the Riverside.

Middlesbrough are a club with a lot of potential. Only five years ago they were in the final of the UEFA Cup and riding high in the Premier League. They desperately want to find a manager who can take them back to that stage. Understandably there has been a large number of managers interested in filling Strachan’s boots, but who is the right man for the job?

Tony Mowbray

The former Celtic and West Bromwich Albion manager is easily the fans’ favourite for the post due to his club links as a player. Mogga grew up in the area and captained the side in the iconic 1986 side under Bruce Rioch and loves his sides to play attacking football on the deck. That style would attract many of the stay-away fans back to the Riverside and give them something to get excited about.

Mowbray has been out of work since leaving Celtic after a terrible spell in the SPL and has been linked with the Boro job before, but maybe the time is right for him to return home.

Phil Brown

The former Hull City boss has been desperate to return to management after leaving the Tigers and would surely relish the chance to transform Middlesbrough’s fortunes. Brown guided Hull City from the depths of the Championship to the dizzy heights of third in the Premier League inside 12 months and is hailed as the greatest manager in the club’s history. Although he managed to keep the Tigers up against all the odds, he only did so by the skin of his teeth after a woeful second half of the season.

Brown was unable to stop the rot at the KC Stadium and last season City lost their place at the top table. Could Brown be the man to guide Boro back to the top flight?

Paul Ince

Once regarded as the best young talent in the English game, Ince’s career has taken a real nosedive since his short spell at Blackburn Rovers. He was unable to win over the fans at Ewood Park and was axed after just six months in charge. He then returned to MK Dons but was unable to replicate his earlier success and left after one season.

Ince, like Mowbray, is another former Boro captain and would love the opportunity to take the club back into the top flight. He has played at the highest level in the game, domestically and internationally, and knows what it takes to win silverware. His style of football has been criticised in the past but could he come to Boro’s rescue?

Alan Curbishley

The former Charlton Athletic and West Ham United manager has been linked with more openings than legendary swordsman Russell Brand but could Steve Gibson persuade Curbishley to move north? Curbishley established Charlton as a Premier League outfit but then the fans got greedy. They weren’t happy with just finishing in mid-table. They wanted to challenge for honours. Curbishley left the Valley and now the Addicks are in League One!

Curbishley left his last job at West Ham United – a decision which split the fans in the East End – but he has been patiently waiting for the right job to tempt him back into the game. Middlesbrough is a well-run club and Steve Gibson isn’t one to interfere in team matters. Maybe this could be the ideal club for Curbishley.

Graeme Souness

The former Middlesbrough hard man has been out of management since being axed by Newcastle United but maybe the lure of returning to the club where it all started for him could be too hard to turn down. His managerial record is about as impressive as the Greatest Hits of 5ive – some real highlights but mainly dross. He is still highly regarded at Boro and must still have an itch to prove himself as a manager.

Souness won it all as a player with Liverpool and doesn’t accept players not giving him 100 per cent. He would get the players on their toes and demand respect, but he has a comfy job with Sky as a Champions League pundit. Would he swap the stress-free life of watching the greatest competition on Earth for life in the Championship?

Other names in the frame include former Southampton boss Alan Pardew, ex-Leicester City chief Paulo Sousa, Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark, Chris Coleman and Glenn Hoddle among many more.

Middlesbrough have a fantastic stadium, a top class chairman and the squad is more than capable of winning promotion to the Premier League. But they need a manager who can motivate them and inspire them to play the football that the paying public wants to see. In my eyes there is only one man for the job but can Steve Gibson persuade Mowbray to fill Strachan’s boots once again?

Calling all Middlesbrough fans. Who would you like to see replace Gordon Strachan in the Middlesbrough dugout? What do you think about Strachan’s decision to leave the club? Does the new manager have a squad capable to winning promotion to the Premier League? Whatever your views, I’d love to hear from you.

Prediction Panel Table: Week Eight – Squarefootball chiefs shock the game

The football world is shock today. It’s not over the news that Wayne Rooney has asked to leave Manchester United. It’s the fact that Squarefootball has recorded a one-two finish in this week's Premier League Prediction Panel!

Our esteemed editor Antony Melvin scored a fantastic haul of 14 points, which included four scores bang on the money, to pull himself right back into contention for the title, followed by me, Colin Illingworth, with 11 points.

Antony’s points were achieved with Bolton’s 2-1 win over Stoke, Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Fulham, Aston Villa’s goalless draw with Chelsea and Blackburn’s stalemate with Sunderland. That performance sees Antony come to within 10 points of the leader, and the man we still have to catch, Blackpool’s Phil Trow.

The Seasider scored 10 points this week and extended his lead at the top to four points following a shocking week for Blackburn’s Terry Kennedy. The Rovers fan managed just two points which saw him slide down the table.

However, it was a good week for Newcastle’s Michael Stout, Tottenham’s Dave Nash, Sunderland’s Tony Ratton, Wolves’ Chris Cox and Squarefootball’s Paul Grech who all scored nine points with two correct scores and three correct results to their names.

Blackpool’s late goal against Manchester City cost a few pundits maximum points but it enabled me and Portsmouth fan Dan Taylor to register all three points and, I hate to blow my own trumpet but, I was the only pundit brave enough to tip West Brom to leave Old Trafford with a 2-2 scoreline.

The Panel still has a long way to go though before it can crack open the Champagne. Only three outcomes were predicted by more than half of the pundits – Arsenal’s home win over Birmingham, Everton’s derby day victory over Liverpool and Blackpool’s defeat at the hands of Manchester City.

The table also doesn’t make great reading for the fans of four London clubs. Chelsea may be riding high in the Premier League table but they, along with Arsenal, West Ham United and Fulham, all feature in the bottom five. Fulham lost their first game of the season against Spurs and it was a double blow for Fulham fan Russell Goldman who slipped to the foot of the table.

Here are the scores from this week:

	Player	Correct scores	Correct results	Points
SQF EDITOR	Antony Melvin	4	2	14
SQF WRITER	Colin Illingworth	3	2	11
BLACKPOOL	Phil Trow	3	1	10
NEWCASTLE	Michael Stout	2	3	9
SPURS	Dave Nash	2	3	9
SUNDERLAND	Tony Ratton	2	3	9
WOLVES	Chris Cox	2	3	9
SQF WRITER	Paul Grech	2	3	9
BOLTON	Dave Blackburn	2	2	8
MAN CITY	Callum Rothwell	1	5	8
SQF ACE POMPEY	Dan Taylor	2	2	8
SQF ACE POMPEY	Peter Rendle	2	2	8
ARSENAL	Don McMahon	1	4	7
MAN UTD	Peter Lee	1	4	7
WIGAN	Alan Moore	1	4	7
LIVERPOOL	Mark Williams	1	4	7
SQF WRITER	Hugh Larkin	2	1	7
WEST BROM	Andy Wakeman	1	3	6
CHELSEA	Joe Tyler	1	2	5
STOKE CITY	Philip Eccleston	0	5	5
BIRMINGHAM	Steve Coulter	0	4	4
WEST HAM	Nigel Telfer	0	4	4
ASTON VILLA	Lynette Ranson	0	3	3
FULHAM	Russell Goldman	0	3	3
SQF EXP BORO	Sue Gardener	0	3	3
BLACKBURN	Terry Kennedy	0	2	2
EVERTON	Chris Goodwin	0	2	2
SQF EXP WHAM	Matthew Beeby	0	2	2

Here is how the overall table currently stands.

	TEAM	Player	Crrct scores	Crrct results	Pts
↔	BLACKPOOL	Phil Trow	12	26	62
↑	NEWCASTLE	Michael Stout	10	28	58
↑	SUNDERLAND	Tony Ratton	11	25	58
↑	BOLTON	Dave Blackburn	10	26	56
↑	MAN CITY	Callum Rothwell	9	28	55
↑	WOLVES	Chris Cox	11	22	54
↑	SQF WRITER	Colin Illingworth	10	24	54
↑	SQF ACE POMPEY	Peter Rendle	10	23	53
↓	BLACKBURN	Terry Kennedy	10	22	52
↑	SQF EDITOR	Antony Melvin	9	25	52
↑	LIVERPOOL	Mark Williams	8	27	51
↑	SPURS	Dave Nash	8	27	51
↑	SQF WRITER	Hugh Larkin	8	27	51
↑	MAN UTD	Peter Lee	7	29	50
↓	STOKE CITY	Philip Eccleston	8	26	50
↓	WEST BROM	Andy Wakeman	7	29	50
↑	WIGAN	Alan Moore	8	24	48
↓	SQF EXP BORO	Sue Gardener	8	24	48
↓	BIRMINGHAM	Steve Coulter	7	26	47
↑	WEST HAM	Nigel Telfer	7	25	46
↓	EVERTON	Chris Goodwin	5	30	45
↑	SQF WRITER	Paul Grech	7	24	45
↓	ASTON VILLA	Lynette Ranson	5	29	44
↓	CHELSEA	Joe Tyler	7	21	44
↑	SQF ACE POMPEY	Dan Taylor	7	19	40
↑	ARSENAL	Don McMahon	6	21	39
↓	SQF EXP WHAM	Matthew Beeby	4	27	39
↓	FULHAM	Russell Goldman	4	26	38

(Pundits gain three points for every correct score and one point for every correct result)

Will Wayne Rooney bring down Ferguson?

The story has gone from being a seemingly wild flight of fancy to a stone-cold fact in a couple of days - Wayne Rooney wants to leave Manchester United. Even Sir Alex Ferguson seems bemused by the situation and David Gill, United's CEO, has barely had chance to get his denials out before the truth emerged.

The speed of events could well point to a January sale, that is if Rooney is fit enough. Whether any of his team-mates feel aggrieved by his stance is unclear, and it is surely only coincidence that on the day that his desire to leave was properly confirmed the man himself was injured and had to be stretchered off after a training ground 'accident'.

The blow to United will be magnified if Rooney were allowed to move to Manchester City or Chelsea - the only likely English suitors. But would Rooney find his time in England any less fraught away from United; the opprobrium heaped on him after leaving Everton would re-double if he crossed Manchester and a London base will only make things easier for the muck-raking tabloids. Rooney does not appear to have the rhino-skin that would be required to stay in England after United, but I guess that odder things have happened.

If Rooney were to leave England, the one team that would certainly benefit would be England; too few top English players are rounded out by moving to an elite foreign league at a good age. And at 24 or 25 if Rooney were to move to Spain or Italy the England team at the World Cup in 2014 could be spear-headed by a forward with more than enough experience of world football. Beckham was a better player for his time in Madrid and Ince seemed more complete in Italy - but most English players simply do not adapt.

The location of a foreign move for Rooney is likely to be one of the elite teams of Italy or Spain - although many of the rich Russian teams and Bayern Munich could probably raise the cash. Given that Rooney is hardly the most worldly of players staying at home and coping with tabloid intrusion seems hardly less difficult than moving abroad and dealing with a new language and culture.

But coming back to his club, this could be the final straw for many people.

If you listen to the Manchester United management team there is over £160m to spend on transfers, added to a probable £50m from the sale of Rooney would yield a transfer kitty to rival the annual spending of Manchester City (well for one season anyway). But the reality of the debt situation will no doubt be laid bare with this transfer. No-one is still naive enough to believe that Ferguson has over £150m to spend on transfers but he continues to find 'no value in the market' - van der Vaart at £7m anyone?

Rooney has been the touch-stone for Ferguson's last great team, seemingly the last player that United would willingly sell and a player that should form the basis of the attempt to nudge past Liverpool as England's most successful club. But if Ferguson is forced to sell Rooney and then not be able to properly replace him - as happened with Ronaldo, as happened with Tevez - where does that leave Ferguson?

You can't entirely lose a forward line of Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney inside a couple of years and then hope that your youth team plus a transfer hunch like Hernandez will adequately replace them. United should be fine if merely half the Rooney and Ronaldo fees were lavished on new forwards - although finding world class forwards and signing them is never straightforward. But if Rooney went for £50m it is difficult to believe that even half of his fee would be released for a replacement - never mind allowing some of the mythical Ronaldo treasure chest to be unearthed.

British footballs most successful and enduring manager would be faced with a future of eking out performances from the veterans of previous campaigns plus some hopeful transfer punts and hoping that the new batch of youth team players like Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda will become world class. This will be against a backdrop of unlimited funds for Manchester City and with the possibility that Chelsea may again call upon their owners largesse.

If Rooney goes and United decline as a result, what would Ferguson have left to prove if he does not have the resources to realistically win another league or European title?

The possibility that Rooney would ever leave United of his own accord seemed impossible six months ago - but with his departure now probable the odds that Ferguson will quickly follow him out must have collapsed.

Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland: Black Cats seek to silence Sam’s army

Sunderland travel to Ewood Park still seeking their first away win of the season but despite having Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan in their ranks Blackburn start the game as slight favourites.

Sam Allardyce has turned Ewood Park into a fortress during his time at the club and only Arsenal and Everton have managed to take full points from Lancashire this calendar year.

The Black Cats will be high on confidence though having drawn with both Arsenal and Manchester United in recent weeks but they have managed just three wins at Ewood Park in the past 40 years.

Both sides are level on eight points but are too near the drop zone for comfort. A win for either side would provide their fans with a huge lift.

Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland; Kick Off 8pm October 18 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	0	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	0
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	0	V	3
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	1
Fulham	Russell Goldman	2	V	2
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	2
Newcastle	Michael Stout	2	V	2
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	2	V	1
Wolves	Chris Cox	2	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	0	V	0
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	0	V	0
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	2	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	1	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	0

Panel Verdict

Blackburn’s home form should be strong enough to see the back of the Black Cats.

Home: 13; Draw: 12; Away: 3.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

 

 

Everton v Liverpool: Blues aim to spoil rival's party

After a week of tense court battles Liverpool Football Club are finally under new ownership. American John W Henry has replaced Tom Hicks and George Gillett and the feeling around every Liverpool fan is one of pure joy and relief. Of course we have to wait and see what Henry brings to the table but he surely can’t be any worse than his fellow Americans. Can he?

On the pitch, Liverpool have suffered more pain than the Chilean miners. They start the weekend in the bottom three and behind their neighbours Everton but the fans will be hoping the solution to the boardroom struggle will spur the players on to victory this weekend.

The Toffees moved off the foot of the table a fortnight ago by ending Birmingham’s proud unbeaten home record and they would love to spoil their city rival’s party. However, they haven’t beaten Liverpool in the league for more than four years.

Derby games are notoriously hard to predict and the form book is normally tossed out of the window but the Panel seems to be siding with the hosts.

Everton v Liverpool; Kick Off 1.30pm October 17 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	2	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	1	V	1
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	2	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	0	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	2
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	1
Fulham	Russell Goldman	1	V	2
Liverpool	Mark Williams	0	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	2	V	1
Newcastle	Michael Stout	2	V	1
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	2	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	3	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	1	V	1
Wolves	Chris Cox	2	V	2
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	2
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	2	V	2
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	1	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	1	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	2	V	2

Panel Verdict

Everton are the favourites for the victory with our Panel.

Home: 14; Draw: 10; Away: 3

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Blackpool v Manchester City: Seasiders seek more magic from Holloway

Give Ian Holloway five loaves and two fish and see how many mouths he can feed because I think we could be in the presence of greatness. The Seasiders weren’t even supposed to amass 10 points all season let alone after just seven games. And as for beating Liverpool at Anfield, well that just doesn’t happen does it, unless you are a special kind of guy like Holloway.

It’s easy to spot a Blackpool fan. They are the ones with the broadest grins. And why not? Written off by all and sundry as the whipping boys of this division the fans feel like they have gone to bed with Carmen Electra and woken up with Kelly Brook. It’s unbelievable what the Tangerines have achieved so far this season but they are still searching for their first win in front of their home fans. Could their dream start to the season continue against high flying and free spending Manchester City?

Mancini’s men have made a slow start to the campaign but before the weekend kicked off they found themselves in second place just four points behind the champions Chelsea. There’s no doubt that City have the players to challenge for honours but can Mancini keep them all happy and go to places like Bloomfield Road and get the job done?

City’s last win at Blackpool was in 1966 and they have only triumphed on the road once so far this season against Wigan. Despite having the attacking talents of the Tevez, Johnson, Silva and co at his disposal Mancini’s men have only scored twice away from Eastlands.

City will undoubtedly start as favourites for the three points but you can never rule out Blackpool. Another 30 points and they will have effectively assured their top flight status. Three points here would send their fans into orbit.

Blackpool v Manchester City; Kick Off 4pm October 17 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	0	V	3
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	0	V	4
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	2
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	1	V	2
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	0	V	0
Everton	Chris Goodwin	1	V	1
Fulham	Russell Goldman	2	V	2
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	2
Man City	Callum Rothwell	0	V	2
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	1
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	1
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	3
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	0	V	2
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	0	V	2
Wigan	Alan Moore	0	V	3
Wolves	Chris Cox	0	V	5
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	0	V	2
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	3
Writer	Hugh Larkin	0	V	2
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	3
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	2	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	1	V	2
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	4

Panel Verdict

City are expected to see off the Seasiders in style.

Home: 1; Draw: 9; Away: 18.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Squarefootball’s Premier League quiz: Week Eight

Following the international break we are back up and running in the English Premier League. However, the past week has thrown up some real head-scratching questions which have left most football lovers perplexed. Why did Craig Levein adopt a 4-6-0 formation against the Czech Republic, when they were there for the taking, yet attacked the world champions Spain at Hampden and almost snatched a draw? How could Fabio Capello’s superstars not manage to break down a team like Montenegro? And when will Wayne Rooney learn to keep his big mouth shut?

They are tough ones to crack, but not as tough as Squarefootball’s Premier League quiz. This week is another belter with 10 cranium-crunching questions that even the biggest Statto would have problems answering. If you think you have what it takes to leave this page today with all the acclaim then be my guest. I won’t hold my breath though.

 

1. Arsenal v Birmingham City: Only two Birmingham City players have scored at the Emirates in the Premier League. Can you name either of them?

 

2. Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City: The Potters haven’t won in Bolton for 20 years. Their last victory was 1-0 on October 6, 1990. But what we want to know is, what was the UK’s number one single on that date?

 

3. Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur: It’s been eight years since Spurs left the Cottage victorious in the Premier League. But what we want to know today is, who scored more league goals last season – Fulham’s Clint Dempsey or Tottenham’s Luka Modric?

 

4. Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion: The Baggies have an awful record at the Theatre of Dreams. They’ve only scored there once in the league in the past 29 years. That happened in 2005. But who scored that goal to give the Albion a precious point?

 

5. Newcastle United v Wigan Athletic: These two sides met for the first time in league football almost five years ago to the day. However, one current Wigan player started that game in 2005 for the Geordies. Can you name him?

 

6. Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United: The Hammers recorded their sole away victory at Molineux last season in a 2-0 win on the opening day of the campaign. Can you name either of the goalscorers that day?

 

7. Aston Villa v Chelsea: Villa striker Emile Heskey has been immense since his former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier arrived at the club. But what squad number is the former England international?

 

8. Everton v Liverpool: Who has scored the most goals for Liverpool against Everton – Kenny Dalglish or Robbie Fowler?

 

9. Blackpool v Manchester City: Which former Manchester City midfielder spent a year in charge at Bloomfield Road during the 90s?

 

10. Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland: Both Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce were defenders in their playing careers, but who scored the more goals – Allardyce or Bruce?

For the answers click here

Scoring:

0-2: You should try rugby

3-4: Carling Cup winner

5-6: FA Cup winner

7-8: Champions League winner

9-10: Premier League winner

Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City: Potters aim to end 20 years of pain in Bolton

Tony Pulis’s side may have spectacularly turned their season around following an awful start to the season but that run could easily end this weekend at the Reebok. Stoke City currently sit just outside the European places and are unbeaten in their past four outings. Unfortunately they haven’t had the best of luck at the Wanderers.

Stoke last triumphed at Bolton 20 years ago – an era when Liverpool still had a football team to admire. Both clubs have come on leaps and bounds since that 1-0 win for the Potters in the old third division. They are now regulars in the Premier League and I can’t see anything happening this season to change that.

The Wanderers start the weekend having lost only once in the league so far, but they are one of three top flight sides still searching for their first home win of the season – Blackpool and Everton are the other two. Owen Coyle has got them playing good football and their concentration levels and determination are first class. Their recent 2-2 draw with Manchester United shows just what they are capable of achieving.

The Potters go into the game on the back of two consecutive wins and victory this weekend could see them climb into the top four, if other results go their way.

Bolton are hard to beat and have drawn five of their opening seven league fixtures. This could easily be number six.

Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City; Kick Off 3pm October 16 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	1	V	3
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	0	V	0
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	2
Fulham	Russell Goldman	1	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	2	V	0
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	1
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	1
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	0	V	0
Wolves	Chris Cox	2	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	1	V	0
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	1
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	1

Panel Verdict

It looks as though Stoke’s recent revival is about to come to an end.

Home: 11; Draw: 16; Away: 1.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

 

Squarefootball’s Premier League quiz: Week Eight – The Answers

So how do you think you got on?

1. Arsenal v Birmingham City: Lee Bowyer scored for the Blues last season in a 3-1 defeat at the Emirates while Gary O’Connor scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw in January 2008.

 

2. Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City: The UK chart topper we were looking for was Maria McKee’s god awful sloppy ballad Show Me Heaven, taken from the Days of Thunder soundtrack.

 

3. Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur: American international Dempsey found the back of the net seven times in the Premier League last season, four more times than Tottenham’s Modric.

 

4. Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion: Robert Earnshaw was the Baggies’ hero in May 2005 scoring from the penalty spot.

 

5. Newcastle United v Wigan Athletic: The player we were looking for is the French midfielder Charles N’Zogbia.

 

6. Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United: The scorers for West Ham last season against Wolves were Matthew Upson and Mark Noble.

 

7. Aston Villa v Chelsea: Heskey currently plays in the number 18 shirt.

 

8. Everton v Liverpool: Robbie Fowler scored six times against Everton for Liverpool, one more than King Kenny managed.

 

9. Blackpool v Manchester City: Former West Brom and Bolton boss Gary Megson was the ex-City player who managed Blackpool for one season in the mid 90s.

 

10. Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland: Sam Allardyce scored an impressive 32 goals during his playing career but Steve Bruce netted a phenomenal 81 times.

 

Scoring:

0-2: You should try rugby

3-4: Carling Cup winner

5-6: FA Cup winner

7-8: Champions League winner

9-10: Premier League winner

Aston Villa v Chelsea: Can Villa beat the boys from the Bridge again?

Chelsea begin the weekend four points clear of the chasing pack and they will need to be on top form to ensure they are still that far ahead come Monday as their record as Villa Park is about as tuneful as the best of Westlife.

The Blues have only left Villa Park with maximum points once in their past decade, courtesy of Nicolas Anelka in 2009, and last season James Collins and Richard Dunne scored as the Villains came from a goal down to stun the champions. However, that was under Martin O’Neill. How will Gerard Houllier approach the game? Will the French Villain be the hero?

Aston Villa may have lost to Tottenham last time out but Emile Heskey proved that when he’s on form he is unplayable. The Villains haven’t lost at home in the league this season and Houllier will be doing all he can to keep that run going.

Chelsea lost their 100 per cent winning start to the season recently at closest contenders Manchester City and Carlo Ancelotti will be looking to keep his distance from Mancini’s men. Can they improve their record in the UK’s second largest city though? The majority of the Panel believes so.

Aston Villa v Chelsea; Kick Off 5.30pm October 16 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	1
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	0	V	2
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	2
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	2
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	1	V	2
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	2
Everton	Chris Goodwin	1	V	3
Fulham	Russell Goldman	0	V	3
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	2
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	3
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	1
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	3
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	2
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	2
Wigan	Alan Moore	1	V	2
Wolves	Chris Cox	1	V	1
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	0	V	0
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	2
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	3
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	1	V	5
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	0	V	2
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	3

Panel Verdict

Chelsea are strong favourites to leave Villa Park with all three points.

Home: 2; Draw: 7; Away: 19.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

 

Newcastle United v Wigan Athletic: Wigan seek first ever win at St James’

After two games of the new campaign I thought there was more chance of Bob Forsyth telling a funny joke on Strictly Come Dancing than there was of Wigan ever being above Newcastle United in the Premier League table. After all they had just been thrashed by Blackpool and Chelsea. However, Roberto Martinez has managed to ride the storm at the DW Stadium and slowly guide them up the league as Chris Hughton’s men continue to perplex the pundits.

One minute the Mags are thrashing Aston Villa 6-0 at home, the next they are being beaten at home by Blackpool. They then go to Goodison and turn over Everton, only to then lose at home to Stoke! Newcastle are proving to be the Jekyll and Hyde side of the top flight. What side will turn out this weekend?

Wigan have never won at St James’ Park but they always make life hard for the Geordies. In their last visit they raced into an early lead through Ryan Taylor only for Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins to score late on to put the Mags in the driving seat. However, former defender Titus Bramble rescued a point for the Latics with just minutes remaining.

Newcastle United are still fuming after Nigel De Jong’s reckless challenge a fortnight ago left on-loan winger Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken leg and his absence will be a huge blow for the Mags. His creativity and endeavour will be sorely missed.

Wigan Athletic have only scored once on their travels this season. Fortunately for Martinez’s men that was enough to seal all three points in a shock win at Spurs. What the Spaniard wouldn’t give for something similar on Saturday.

Newcastle United v Wigan Athletic; Kick Off 3pm October 16 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	2	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	1
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	0	V	0
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	2	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	2	V	0
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	0
Fulham	Russell Goldman	1	V	2
Liverpool	Mark Williams	2	V	0
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	2	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	2	V	2
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	0
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	2	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	3	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	1	V	1
Wolves	Chris Cox	3	V	0
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	2	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	3	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	1	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	1
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	3	V	0

Panel Verdict

The Geordies are red-hot favourites for the win.

Home: 21; Draw: 6; Away: 1.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United: Basement boys set to battle it out

We’re only seven games in to the new Premier League season but this weekend’s clash at Molineux is already being billed as a six-pointer.

West Ham United continued their revival last time out with a draw against Fulham but Everton’s surprise win at Birmingham was enough to send the Hammers back to the foot of the table.

Meanwhile Wolves slumped into the bottom three following their defeat at Wigan, which also saw their captain sent off for a wild lunge at Jordi Gomez. Mick McCarthy’s men have come in for a bit of stick this past fortnight with pundits, players and fans lashing out at their style of play. The former Ireland boss won’t be fazed by that though and will insist on 100 per cent effort from his troops as they aim to move up the table.

Avram Grant has seen the Hammers turn their season around and they are now unbeaten in their past four league and cup games. Their only away success last season was at Molineux and the travelling hordes of Hammers will be hoping for a repeat performance.

Wolves haven’t won at home since the opening day of the season against Stoke City, but they know that anything less than a point will see them sink to the foot of the table.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United; Kick Off 3pm October 16 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	0
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	0	V	0
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	0
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	0
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	1	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	1
Fulham	Russell Goldman	1	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	1	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	2
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	1
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	1
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	2
Wigan	Alan Moore	1	V	1
Wolves	Chris Cox	1	V	2
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	1
Writer	Colin Illingworth	1	V	2
Writer	Hugh Larkin	0	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	0	V	0
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	0	V	0
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	0	V	1
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	3

Panel Verdict

This really could go either way.

Home: 9; Draw: 12; Away: 7.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

 

Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion: Di Matteo plans the Italian job at Old Trafford

West Bromwich Albion tails are high following their impressive start to the season but could they do the seemingly impossible and claim the scalp of the Red Devils at Old Trafford?

I was only a few months old the last time the Baggies won at the Theatre of Dreams, and that 5-3 win in 1978 is still talked about fondly by the elder statesman at the club today. Fresh from their 3-2 win at the Emirates, could the Albion inflict the same fate on a misfiring United? It’s highly unlikely. Despite their away day woes, United have a 100 per cent winning record at home and are still unbeaten in the league. Not to mention that the Baggies have only scored their twice in all competitions since 1981.

But let’s give Robero Di Matteo’s men praise. After their opening day annihilation at Chelsea they would have been forgiven for letting their heads drop and throwing in the towel. However, the Italian has assembled a talented and committed bunch of players at the Hawthorns who are determined to stay up this season. They’ve beaten Arsenal on their travels and should have taken something from Liverpool before that. Old Trafford will not hold any fear for them, especially with Peter Odemwingie leading the line – if he overcomes a late fitness test.

Manchester United are under pressure and it will be interesting to see if Wayne Rooney starts after he defied Sir Alex by claiming that there was never anything wrong with his ankle. However, their home form is exceptional.

If West Brom were to beat United at Old Trafford it would easily eclipse their win at the Arsenal. Unfortunately, not too many pundits can see it happening.

Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion; Kick Off 3pm October 16 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	0
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	1	V	0
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	2	V	0
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	0
Blackpool	Phil Trow	3	V	0
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	3	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	1
Everton	Chris Goodwin	3	V	0
Fulham	Russell Goldman	3	V	1
Liverpool	Mark Williams	2	V	0
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	0
Man Utd	Peter Lee	2	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	2	V	0
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	3	V	0
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	0
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	0	V	1
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	2	V	0
Wigan	Alan Moore	4	V	1
Wolves	Chris Cox	4	V	0
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	3	V	0
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	2
Writer	Hugh Larkin	3	V	0
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	3	V	2
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	3	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	2	V	1

Panel Verdict

United should be too strong for the Baggies.

Home: 23; Draw: 4; Away: 1.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

 

Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs need something special to beat Sparky’s men

Harry Redknapp may be nicknamed Harry Houdini in some quarters but the former Portsmouth chief will have to produce some magic to overcome the curse of Craven Cottage. Tottenham have failed to win at Fulham in their past eight league visits but Redknapp would love to break that run this weekend, especially with a huge Champions League game with Inter Milan in midweek.

Fulham are turning into the Premier League’s draw specialists. Their draw at Upton Park a fortnight ago was their sixth of the season already. They remain unbeaten, and are tough to break down, but Mark Hughes and the fans dearly need more wins under their belts.

Tottenham have given Fulham some proper spankings down at the Lane, and put four past them at the Cottage recently in the FA Cup, but when it comes to league action they always fail to grab all three points. They need something special to beat Fulham. Maybe Rafael Van der Vaart is that certain something.

Redknapp will need to make sure that his players are totally focused on the game in hand and don’t have one eye on their mouth-watering trip to Italy. If they do I’m sure the Cottagers will be ready to make their capital rivals pay dearly.

Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur; Kick Off 3pm October 16 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	2
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	2	V	3
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	1	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	1	V	1
Blackpool	Phil Trow	1	V	2
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	2	V	2
Everton	Chris Goodwin	1	V	1
Fulham	Russell Goldman	2	V	1
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	0	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	2
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	2
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	2	V	2
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	1	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	1	V	1
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	1	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	0	V	2
Wolves	Chris Cox	1	V	2
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	1	V	2
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	2
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	2	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	1	V	2
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	1	V	0

Panel Verdict

The Panel feels a draw may be a fair result.

Home: 4; Draw: 14; Away: 11.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Arsenal v Birmingham: Gunners aim to avoid hat-trick of defeats

It’s been almost five years since Arsenal last lost three Premier League games on the bounce but that’s what could happen this weekend when Birmingham visit the Emirates.

The Blues lost their proud one-year unbeaten record at St Andrews last weekend to Everton but Alex McLeish will be keen for his side to follow in the footsteps of their Midlands rivals West Brom and beat the Gunners on their own patch.

Birmingham have given Arsenal a tough time in recent years but you have to be some age to remember their last win in north London. 1957 was the last time they beat Arsenal on their own doorstep but this season in the top flight has been totally unpredictable.

Arsenal can count themselves unfortunate to have lost to Chelsea last time out as they controlled the game for long periods of play. Drogba clearly got lucky with his goal while Alex’s free-kick was simply unstoppable. Had they had a fit Robin Van Persie or Cesc Fabregas to call on then the scoreline may have been very different.

However, the Gunners have to be beating the likes of Birmingham if they are to have any chance of ending their trophy drought and the majority of the Panel is going for that outcome.

Arsenal v Birmingham; Kick Off 3pm October 16 2010

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	3	V	1
Aston Villa	Lynette Ranson	1	V	1
Birmingham	Steve Coulter	3	V	0
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	0
Blackpool	Phil Trow	2	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	3	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	0
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	0
Fulham	Russell Goldman	2	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	2	V	0
Man City	Callum Rothwell	3	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	2	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	2	V	0
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	3	V	1
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	2
Tottenham	Dave Nash	0	V	0
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	3	V	0
West Ham	Nigel Telfer	3	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	4	V	0
Wolves	Chris Cox	3	V	0
OUR EXPERTS
Editor	Antony Melvin	2	V	0
Writer	Colin Illingworth	3	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	2	V	1
Writer	Paul Grech	0	V	0
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	2	V	2
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	3	V	0

Panel Verdict

The Panel is going for a home win.

Home: 22; Draw: 6; Away: 0.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Manchester City: Are City genuine title contenders?

Gary Neville is Manchester United through and through. Old Trafford is his church and pulling on the red jersey of his boyhood club means the world to him. He hates the Scousers and he doesn’t think much of those noisy neighbours City either, so when he tells the Press that the billionaires from Eastlands are genuine title contenders this season you have to sit up and take notice.

Roberto Mancini’s men are currently second in the Premier League table and are just four points behind leaders and current champions Chelsea, who they beat recently at Eastlands. They have the squad, they certainly have the money and they have the manager capable of challenging for the top honours in England, but it doesn’t matter what Neville says, City fan Callum Rothwell will never agree with him.

“Do I class us as title contenders? Realistically, no. I think we'll put some big performances against the top teams, but I think we will struggle against the likes of Stoke; the games you have to win to win the league. I think we will be up there until around January and then drop off, finally finishing third place or fourth.

“I think we’ve had a fairly good start to the season compared to last year. We have recorded 11 points against the teams we’ve already played. Last year it was only nine so we’re two points better off. Not forgetting that the other teams around us – Tottenham, Everton, Manchester United and Liverpool – have lost much more.”

The gaffer has a proven track record in Italy but his tactics and training techniques have been publicly criticised and there have been reports of huge dressing room bust-ups with his captain Carlos Tevez. However, Callum has total faith in the boss.

“Mancini certainly is the man. How can people call him too defensive? Yes at times we have many men behind the ball, but since Mancini has took over we have won 6-1 against burnley, 5-1 against Birmingham, 4-2 against Chelsea and 3-0 against Liverpool?

“Mancini and Tevez apparently had a fall out at half time and the reason I like this is because it shows they both care. Also, when Tevez was replaced he shook Mancini's hand, which is always good to see.

“I think against the weaker sides we should play 4-4-1-1 with Milner in a two-man midfield with De Jong or Toure. Then Silva and Johnson on the wings, with Tevez behind Adebayor. Three midfielders that aren't the most creative is not what the fans want to see.”

 One player who always gets the fans on their feet is former Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson. Comfortable with both feet, Johnson glides down the flanks and scares the life out of defenders because they have no idea what he is going to do. He can cut in and shoot or go down the line and whip in a pin-perfect cross into the box. Johnson is easily one of the most exciting English players in the top flight but that hasn’t been enough to convince Mancini that he deserves a starting berth. Callum is a huge fan of Johnson’s but he insists that Mancini knows best.

 “Johnson is a young guy and will get his chances. He showed against Newcastle he can change a game in minutes, and that's what we need. There are potentially more than 50 games this year so I don't think it's a worry that he isn't in the team every game, especially with two games a week some weeks.”

City travel to Blackpool this weekend knowing they must win if they are to be considered serious title contenders. The Seasiders have taken the top flight by storm and will be buzzing after winning at Anfield, but they are still seeking their first win at home. Mancini has only seen his team win once on their travels this season (v Wigan) but Callum believes his boys will make it number two at Bloomfield Road.

“Blackpool will be on a high after beating Liverpool, but I don't think they have anywhere enough quality to get anything against City. My prediction? 2-0 City.”

Calling all Manchester City fans. How much notice do you pay to what Gary Neville says? Do you think he is right to call you genuine title contenders or do you think he is playing mind games? What do you make of Mancini’s tactics? Do you think he is the man to guide you to honours this season? What do you think of Mancini’s stance over Adam Johnson? Whatever your view I’d love to hear from you.

Liverpool: New Americans should bring success back to Anfield

Liverpool fans could well see the back of Tom Hicks and George Gillett this week if the New England Sports Ventures purchase of the club is given the go-ahead. The sale is subject to a court battle brought by the current maligned owners who stand to lose about £140 million from the deal. That’s an awful lot of money, but the Liverpool fans don’t care. The Americans have broken every promise they have ever made concerning the Anfield giants and there will be no tears shed at their departure.

 

However, replacing them could be more Americans led by Boston Red Sox chief John W Henry. Some fans fear this could be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire, but our American Fulham correspondent and Boston Red Sox supporter Russell Goldman from www.cottagersconfidential.com insists Liverpool have nothing to fear from Mr Henry.

 

“I want to mention that I certainly understand why Liverpool fans would be sceptical. What makes Henry and the rest of the Red Sox ownership different are several ways. Firstly, they have been very successful owners with the Boston Red Sox. Since 2001 when this ownership took over the Red Sox have won the World Series twice and the Sox are usually in contention every season for the play-offs. The Red Sox had not won the World Series in 86 years prior to Heny taking over.

 

“Secondly, everything that this ownership had as its goals when taking over have come true. Their intention to bring a championship to Boston has happened twice in less than 10 years. They intended to refurbish and modernize Fenway Park which they have done. They wanted to build up the Red Sox farm system which they have also succeeded in doing. The farm system would be similar to the academy of a football team. 

 

“Thirdly, the ownership has spent money on new players to keep the Red Sox as competitive as possible.

 

“Finally, the Red Sox ownership I believe has the money to properly run Liverpool and get it back to where they want to be. John Henry is not the only owner of the Red Sox. He has a group of very wealthy partners. Henry is just the principal owner.”

 

That is a glowing endorsement of the new owners from somebody who has seen his baseball team transformed by Henry’s money and Russell shares the view by the Liverpool fans that Hicks and Gillett are to blame for the club’s current situation.

 

 “Let me just say that I thought how Benitez was treated by the ownership was shameful in the end. A manager in general I think deserves some of the heat when a team does not perform to expectations. However, the ownership ultimately deserves more of the blame for Liverpool. The financial situation probably did have have a negative effect on the club. It is difficult for a team to function with such financial uncertainty hanging over the club. These owners did not follow through on their promises. The buck stops at the top. Hicks and Gillette are much more responsible for the current situation at Liverpool.”

 

And Russell just can’t speak highly enough of John Henry.
  

“On a scale of one to 10 I would give Henry a perfect 10. Red Sox fans were very sceptical about this ownership group coming in. They were not local and that rubbed Bostonians the wrong way. However, the team changed dramatically very quickly.

 

“They turned it around in several ways. They spent money on very good players and upgraded the current roster at that time. They also built up their farm system which ultimately led to many homegrown players for the team. As I stated before they redeveloped Fenway Park by modernizing it and adding many more seats. They also are tremendous businessmen, and figured out how to maximize the marketing and sponsorship opportunities for the club.

 

“Everything that Henry and his group have put into the club, the fans have received back with two World Series championships and every other year being in the hunt for the title.”

 

This will be a worrying few days for Liverpool fans as the uncertainty surrounding the club is affecting everyone from the top down. The threat of administration and a points deduction still looms over the club and the fans are praying that Gillett and Hicks are booted out of the club. If everything goes the way of New England Sports Ventures then Russell believes Liverpool will be true title contenders within two seasons.

 

“I really believe that,” he said. “Henry and his partners do not waste time. I think they will start right away trying to upgrade the club.”

This could be the dawn of a new era at Liverpool. One that brings success back to the club and one that shows that not all Americans are as bad as Hicks and Gillett.

 

Calling all Liverpool fans. What do you think of the prospective new owners? How confident are you that they can transform your fortunes in the Premier League? What do you think of their track record at the Boston Red Sox? How much would it mean to have Hicks and Gillett out of the club? Whatever your view I’d love to hear from you.

Birmingham City: To boo or not to boo, that is the question

Birmingham City’s proud year-long unbeaten run was ended by Everton last weekend, but manager Alex McLeish was upset to hear a section of the St Andrews crowd boo his team off at the final whistle. The former Scotland and Glasgow Rangers boss led the Blues to a top 10 finish last season against all the odds and turned St Andrews into a fortress. However, McLeish was disappointed with the reaction from some of the fans.

He said: “There’s no doubt there is more fickleness than ever before. We have to take it on the chin. I don’t think it was fair that the fans should boo is for losing the game or indeed the performances because it wasn’t a bad performance.

“Everton had the better run of the first half, we started well second half and they scored against the run of play.

“I don’t think we should have been booed and that’s all I’m saying on it.”

Of course McLeish has been in the game long enough to know that fans pay their hard earned money to watch their team and are entitled to air their grievances. It’s their club. Without fans professional football would not exist. They have given up their free time to watch their side and expect to be entertained. But I think it’s the lack of entertainment on offer at Birmingham that has made some fans sound off. That defeat to Everton, which moved the Toffees off the foot of the table, was the third home match in a row that Birmingham had failed to hit the back of the net.

Birmingham City fan Steve Coulter insists McLeish deserves great credit for taking Birmingham on that amazing unbeaten run but believes the Scotsman has to be more offensive to get the fans on his side.

“I think fans have every right to boo. I was going to say it’s a free country but I’m not sure any more. I do feel Birmingham will go down unless they start scoring more goals.

“I can see both sides of the booing issue. McLeish is right about the record. He’s done a fantastic job and you can’t argue with his record. However, the football is hardly edge of the seat stuff. How many games did we win 1-0 last season? I left a few games last season more pleased with the result than the performance.

“McLeish, like Wenger, seems to have his style of play but has no plan B. He also seems unable to sign a decent young striker. Look at Chuco and Zigic. I would just say to Kevin Phillips stand in the box for 90 minutes and feed off the scraps. He’s still the best finisher at the club. The other option is to give Matt Derbyshire a go. Jerome is too hit and miss. McLeish played one up front against Wigan. How defensive is that?”

Steve is Birmingham through and through but he cannot help feeling that the Blues are missing out on quality players in the transfer market and wonders if McLeish is the real deal.

“I went to university in Stoke-on-Trent and I still look out for the Potters’ results. Look at the strikers Pulis has signed, like Fuller, Gudjohnsen and Kenwyne Jones. They would walk into the Blues team. Pulis has down it for four years. Maybe McLeish is a one-season wonder.”

Arsenal away is next for Alex McLeish’s side and Wenger will be smarting from their back-to-back defeats at the hands of West Brom and Chelsea. Birmingham always give the Gunners a tough game and I don’t see this game being any different.

After the Gunners, Birmingham return to St Andrews to take on this year’s surprise package Blackpool. Ian Holloway’s men have won a huge number of admirers for their attacking intent and will pose McLeish some real big questions. The home fans will obviously see this as a must-win game, even though the Seasiders have won at Anfield and St James’ Park already this season. Will McLeish be more attack minded or will he stick to his tried and trusted formation? Steve would love to see his side go for it from the off as he thinks the top flight is becoming a little stale.

“I’m going to the Blackpool game and I feel the whole nation has taken to Olly’s Army because they are having a go. The fear factor seems to have crept in around the Premier League after a blistering start to the campaign. No team scored more than two goals last weekend and how many great games have we seen so far? Even Manchester City play Tevez up front on his own. It’s pretty dull stuff.”

Birmingham fans are simply not getting value for money right now. St Andrews has witnessed the fewest number of goals in the top flight so far this season (five) with the home fans only having cheered two of them, both back in September against Blackburn. After a decent start they have slipped down the table and are in real danger of falling into the drop zone next weekend.

It’s never nice to hear your own fans booing you, especially when you are only trying to do what you think is best for the club. But maybe McLeish has to consider what the paying public wants. I guess it all comes down to the age old question; is it ever acceptable to boo your own players? Birmingham fans, I want to hear from you.

Were the Birmingham fans right to boo their team off after the defeat at home to Everton? Has their unbeaten run raised the fans expectations or has the standard of football at St Andrews not been up to scratch? How would you like to see McLeish’s men approach games? Whatever your view I’d love to hear from you.

Manchester United: Who’s man enough to fill Van der Sar’s gloves?

It’s rumoured that Manchester United shot stopper Edwin Van der Sar will hang up his gloves at the end of the season after 22 years at the highest level and bring down the curtain on a glittering career.

The former Dutch international goalkeeper turns 40 at the end of the month (October) and close aides suggest that he may decide to retire in May. If it turns out to be true then Sir Alex Ferguson faces a real challenge to find someone man enough to replace him.

Van der Sar has arguably been one of the best and most consistent performers in the Premier League. His long reach, experience, bravery and confidence have helped United clinch the Champions League, three Premier League titles, the League Cup, the Fifa Club World Cup and two Community Shields in the past five years. The only trophy missing off that list is the FA Cup, which he would dearly love to lift this season in order to complete the set.

Even when he was at Fulham he was a model professional who never lost concentration on the pitch. I for one can certainly not remember the big Dutchman making any monumental howlers during his time at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex struck gold when he persuaded Van der Sar to leave Fulham and join the Premier League giants in 2005. It had taken the Scotsman six years to find a suitable replacement to easily the best goalkeeper the Premier League has witnessed, Peter Schmeichel. The Great Dane was a beast between the sticks. He threw himself at oncoming strikers, was prepared to stop the ball with any part of his anatomy and commanded the back four. His presence alone was worth a goal head start to the Red Devils.  

The former Aberdeen chief turned to at least seven keepers to try and fill the void left by Schmeichel, with each of them failing miserably. Mark Bosnich, Van der Gouw, Massimo Tiabi, Fabien Barthez, Andy Goram, Roy Carroll and Tim Howard all tried to make the number one jersey their own at Old Trafford but all of them buckled under the pressure. Then Sir Alex made one of the deals of the decade by securing Van der Sar’s signature from Fulham for just £2 million. What was Mr Fayed thinking?

But with Van der Sar contemplating life away from football, who is man enough to replace him at the Theatre of Dreams?

Despite Arsenal’s insistence of playing clangers Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski – even Krusty the Clown could do a better job than that pair – there are a number of top quality goalkeepers in and around Europe.

First up there’s Manchester City’s out-of-favour shot stopper Shay Given. The former Newcastle United and Republic of Ireland keeper has all the experience in the world. He’s quick, nimble, agile, brave and never lets his side down. If anyone deserves to end his career with a shed load of medals it’s him, especially after playing behind some of the worst defenders ever seen in football during his time at St James’. But would City sell him to their main rivals?

What about Peter the Great’s son, Kasper Schmeichel? Young Kasper really is a chip off the old block and despite his age he would have no qualms in giving the likes of Ferdinand or Vidic a rollocking. Like his dad he is willing to stop the ball at all costs and is an intimidating figure between the sticks. Currently at Leeds United, the 23-year-old has played more than 100 times already in his career due to loan spells around the country, but that commitment and enthusiasm for the game is just what United crave.

How about former Manchester United number one Ben Foster? Sir Alex paid Stoke City £1m for Foster in 2005 and was seen by many as a future England number one. Unfortunately the sensational form of Van der Sar and a bad run with injuries saw Foster make just 12 starts for United before the 27-year-old joined Birmingham in the summer. He has been impressive for the Blues so far this season, but would Fergie be prepared to take him back?

Other names in the frame include Anders Lindegaard who has been winning rave reviews at Danish side Aalesund, CSKA Moscow’s Igor Akinfeev, who is just 24 and has plenty of Champions League experience, and German international Manuel Neuer. The Schalke 04 keeper played in all of Germany’s competitive games in the World Cup this summer and, like Akinfeev, is just 24 and has age on his side. And let’s not forget about United’s current number two Tomas Kuszczak. Could the Polish international make the step up to become United’s number one?

Sir Alex’s luck with goalkeepers has been a bit hit and miss, when he does strike gold though he really does hit the jackpot. Leighton at Aberdeen was immense, not so at United, Schmeichel was awesome and Van der Sar was the difference between being winners and losers.

Of course Van der Sar may decide to stick around. He’s still young in goalkeeping terms after all. However, it is something that Sir Alex will have to contemplate. He will certainly be hoping that this quest is a lot more fruitful than when he tried to replace Schmeichel.

Calling all United fans. Who would you like to see replace Van der Sar in the United goal if he does indeed confirm his retirement in May? Could Kuszczak make the step up to replace the Dutchman? How much would you be willing to spend on a goalkeeper and how vital is it to pick one who will settle into life at Old Trafford straight away? Whatever your view I’d love to hear from you.

Manchester City: Should Mancini drop De Jong after his tackle on Ben Arfa?

Bad challenges have dominated the news agenda this week, none more so than Manchester City’s Nigel De Jong’s leg breaker on Newcastle United’s Hatem Ben Arfa. That tackle, which left the Frenchman with a broken fibula and tibia, has been the major talking point for fans up and down the country and has even prompted his national manager to drop him from the Netherlands’ upcoming international. However, the challenge has certainly divided opinion.

Some pundits believe it was a fair challenge. That De Jong won the ball first and couldn’t avoid following through. That’s the way referee Martin Atkinson obviously saw it as he didn’t even award a free-kick let alone issue a card.

Others, though, believe it was a nasty and premeditated assault. They claim that De Jong lunged in to the challenge without a second’s thought for the young Frenchman’s health and want the FA to throw the book at the Dutchman.

After the game City’s number two Brian Kidd defended De Jong by saying his midfielder doesn’t have a nasty bone in his body. Newcastle United boss Chris Hughton though disagreed and said he thought it was a challenge that “didn’t need to be made”.

It’s not as if De Jong doesn’t have a history of poor challenges. In the World Cup Final against Spain, on the greatest stage of them all, De Jong almost kicked the life out of Xavi Alonso with an outrageously high boot. On the night, English referee Howard Webb took no action against the City midfielder. In retrospect though, Webb admits that he should have sent him off for an early bath.

And earlier this year in a friendly for Holland against the US he fractured Bolton Wanderers’ Stuart Holden’s leg with another mistimed tackle.

De Jong is getting a bit of a bad name in the English game and even Manchester City fan Callum Rothwell says he cannot defend his man’s challenge on Ben Arfa. However he thinks that Bert van Marwijk’s decision to axe De Jong from the international squad is “a disgrace”.

“De Jong’s tackle was actually a bad tackle. He went in with one leg and the other leg followed through, which to me is reckless. I don’t think there was any intent but when you go in so hard with both legs, one after the other, well you have seen what can happen.

“However, I think it’s an absolute disgrace that he has been dropped from his national side. Holland have Van Bommel who, unlike De Jong, actually is a dirty player. I think the Dutch manager has his favourites with Van Bommel being one because he is dating his daughter!”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has long been an advocate for eradicating reckless challenges from the game. After all he has witnessed three of his players sustain career threatening injuries in the past few seasons. First up it was Abou Diaby at Sunderland in 2006, then Croatian striker Eduardo suffered a terrible injury at Birmingham and last season Aaron Ramsey was horrifically taken out by Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross.

However, every time the Frenchman tries to raise the subject he is shouted down by the likes of Tony Pulis at Stoke, Sam Allardyce at Blackburn and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Mick McCarthy, and told that it is a man’s game.

Unfortunately we have already witnessed three players in the top flight ruled out of action this season with broken legs – Fulham’s Bobby Zamora, Adlene Guedioura of Wolves and now Newcastle’s Ben Arfa. And it could so easily have been four had Wolves’ captain Karl Henry properly connected with Wigan’s Jordi Gomez or even five if Fulham’s Dembele hadn’t have been so fortunate against Stoke a few weeks back.

The skill of tackling appears to be dying. It seems to me that most modern-day players would rather go through the man to win the ball than to actually go for the ball and the ball only.

Of course bad tackles are nothing new. They have been going on since the dawn of time and are nothing compared to the sheer thuggery of the seventies. But nobody wants to see top footballers careers shortened because of rash, brutal and cowardly challenges. We want to see the best players shine on the pitch, not sitting in the stands with a cast around their legs.

There has always been a fine line between a great tackle and a late one. The fans love nothing more than to see a defender throw themselves into a challenge and come away with the ball. It shows commitment, heart and passion for the shirt and gets the supporters up and out of their seats. Unfortunately there are still a few players who dive in at the earliest opportunity looking to take whatever is in their way.

Nigel De Jong is a ball winner and given the pace of the modern game it’s easy to forgive him a few mistimed tackles. However, Sunday’s incident was not mistimed. He won the ball. Unfortunately it was the way that he tackled Ben Arfa that caused the injury.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has come out in defence of his under-fire midfield general saying that “he plays with grit, but he is not dirty. He tackles hard but never intending to hurt”. I’m afraid his recent record suggests otherwise.

So what do we do with De Jong? Well, officially nothing. As the referee failed to take any action at the time and mentioned it in his report, the FA are effectively powerless. But the Dutchman’s every move is going to be closely scrutinised from now on and opposing fans, and players, will make the most of every contentious tackle De Jong makes.

Is De Jong a dirty player? Should Mancini take a stand like the Dutch national manager and drop him? It’s easier said than done. City are vying for a spot in the top four and De Jong does a vital job in breaking up play for them. Dropping him may morally be the right thing to do, in the eyes of some fans, but City want to be challenging for honours and axing De Jong from the squad would not help them do that. But if you were in Mancini’s shoes, what would you do?

Do you think De Jong is a dirty player? Do you think he should be punished for that tackle on Ben Arfa? Would you support Mancini if he left the Dutchman out of the game against Blackpool? What are your views on the amount of poor challenges and horrific injuries being sustained in the top flight? Whatever your views I’d love to hear from you.

West Bromwich Albion: Full steam ahead for the Baggies

West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo is reportedly partially to a sly cigarette. He didn’t smoke until he became a manager. However, if at the start of the season he came out and said that West Brom would be sixth in the table after seven games you’d naturally assume that he had been smoking something a lot stronger.

The Baggies started the new campaign as one of the bookies’ favourites for the drop and their opening day annihilation at Stamford Bridge reinforced that belief among the pundits. But since then the Albion have surprised everyone in the top flight. None more so than when they headed to the Emirates and stormed into a 3-0 goal lead. Even Chris Brunt could afford to have his penalty saved by Manuel Almunia that day as the usually suspect Albion defence held strong to ensure they left north London with a sensational win under their belt.

West Brom fans have experienced as many lows as highs over the past decade as the club yo-yoed between the Premier League and the Championship. But this season there is a renewed vigour and steel about the Baggies and after just seven games it looks as though Di Matteo’s men will still be plying their trade in the top flight next August.

The Albion have always been an attractive side to watch. They love to get the ball down, play it on the deck and attack the opposition. Unfortunately in the past their defence has not been up to scratch. So what has Di Matteo done differently to the likes of Tony Mowbray? Baggies season ticket holder Andy Wakeman believes it all comes down to competition for places.

“Di Matteo has introduced competition. Olsson has been a big player for us since he arrived and Tamas is a full international. We have now added Pablo Ibanez who played very well at Arsenal and was probably a little unlucky to lost his place at the weekend. Youseff Mulumbu must also take a lot of credit as he protects the back four with his energy and tackling. He is the holding midfielder that we should have played in our last Premier League season but Tony Mowbray steadfastly refused to play him.

“I am very pleased with the start we have made. In the context of the run of away games we have had, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, not to mention games at home against Spurs and Birmingham, we are about six points better off than I thought we would be at this point. There is a calmness and belief about us and that just has not been present in previous Premier League campaigns and Di Matteo should take a lot of the credit for that.

“My unsung hero so far has been Nicky Shorey. He has been in great form and is, in my opinion, the best left back we have had since Derek Statham. How he could not get in the Villa team is a mystery.”

One player who has taken all the plaudits this season is former Lokomotiv Moscow striker Peter Odenwingie. The Nigerian international was virtually unknown on these shores before Di Matteo saved him from his Russian racial hell in the summer. Now, after three goals in six games and the player of the month award under his belt, everyone knows his name. But just how highly do the West Brom fans rate him?

“Odemwingie is a true team player and does a lot of unselfish running,” says Andy. “Playing as a lone striker is hard work but he keeps going and causes defences problems. His main assets are great pace and a very assured touch. When the ball is played to him it usually sticks and this allows us to play off him.”

The Albion are currently level on points with Champions League sides Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and are the highest placed league side from the Midlands. The fans are sporting some of the widest smiles ever seen but next up for the Albion is Manchester United at Old Trafford. West Brom haven’t won at the Theatre of Dreams since famously beating the Red Devils 5-3 in 1978. However, United aren’t exactly pushing up trees this season and many feel that this could be Albion’s golden opportunity to rewrite history. Unfortunately, Andy isn’t getting too carried away with their early season form.

“I am not expecting anything from Old Trafford but I thought the same against Arsenal. Manchester United are not exactly firing on all cylinders so we may have a chance. One thing I can guarantee is that we will give them a game and won’t just roll over. In respect of having the big four out of the way, as it’s turned out we have made a solid start. Had we lost at Arsenal things may not look quite so rosy. Having said that it is early days and we need to keep picking up points.”

Roberto Di Matteo is certainly one of the most promising young managers in the game. In his first season as a manager he guided MK Dons to third place in League One before suffering play-off penalty shoot-out heartache. His style of play impressed Albion chief Jeremy Peace and when Tony Mowbray left for Celtic Di Matteo was the chairman’s number one choice. The Italian led the Baggies back to the Premier League at the first time of asking and he shows no sign of being overawed by life in the top flight.

The manager is certainly making a name for himself in the game and Andy hopes that Di Matteo will stick around at the Hawthorns for a few years yet.

“No doubt Di Matteo’s star is rising at the moment and he is an ambitious man. I hope we can hang on to him for a while yet but if bigger clubs do come in for him it would be hard for him to turn them down. I do think that he can take Albion much further and hopefully he will feel the same.”

The Albion’s main objective at the start of the season was to beat the drop. With 11 points on the board already the Baggies only need another 29 to reach the magical 40 mark. If their key players stay free of injury, and they continue to play in the same vein, there is no doubt in my mind that they should have enough to stay up. But some fans are even dreaming of clinching a European place. However, Andy is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

“I would still be happy if we finish 17^th. I was at Arsenal and that game has changed everyone’s view of Albion as a team and a club. Expectation is rising among the fans but we need to temper that with some realism. We have made a decent start and I think that we have a far more experienced squad now and have not looked out of place in any game this season, with the notable exception of Chelsea. We have also shown resilience in coming back from a goal down against Spurs, Birmingham and Bolton. In previous seasons I fear our heads would have dropped and we would have lost those games.”

West Bromwich Albion are definitely a club on the up. Confidence is oozing out of the Hawthorns and if Di Matteo manages to keep them up I’m sure there will be a rush of non-smokers eager to crack open a cigar of two with the Italian to celebrate their success.

Calling all West Brom fans. Can you believe your league position just now? How impressed have you been with the Albion this season? What do you think Odemwingie has brought to the squad? How optimistic are you now of beating the drop and have you started thinking about Europe yet? Whatever your view I’d love to hear from you.

Prediction Panel Table: Week Seven – Blackpool rock the big boys to take top spot

Ian Holloway’s Seasiders stunned the football world again at the weekend by beating Liverpool in their own backyard to send the Blackpool fans home ecstatic. Their shock 2-1 win at Anfield ensured they enter the international break in the top half of the Premier League table but Tangerine foot soldier Phil Trow has double reason to celebrate as he has opened a two point gap at the top of the Premier League Prediction Panel table.

Phil managed to correctly get two scores bang on – Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa and West Brom’s 1-1 with Bolton – and added three more points to his total with correct results at Stoke, Manchester City and Chelsea. That was enough to see him claim top spot on his own from Blackburn’s Terry Kennedy who managed a respectable seven points.

However four pundits managed to register 10 points this week to lift themselves up the table. Bolton’s Dave Blackburn, Sunderland’s Tony Ratton – who has now recorded 10 points for the second week in a row – Liverpool’s Mark Williams and Manchester City’s Callum Rothwell all hit double figures and boosted their chances of being crowned the predictions king come May.

Dave deserves great credit for correctly predicting seven results right along with one score – West Brom’s draw with his beloved Wanderers – nailed on, while Tony, Mark and Callum managed to predict two correct scores and results.

It’s been a horrible start for Liverpool fans but Mark can take some comfort from the fact that his 10-point haul this week has seen him rise above his main rivals Everton and Manchester United, although I’m sure he’d much rather see that in the real Premier League table.

West Ham United’s point at Fulham was a decent result but Everton’s win at Birmingham saw the Hammers return to the foot of the table. However, it was a great weekend for West Ham’s Nigel Telfer. He predicted two correct scores – Manchester City’s 2-1 over Newcastle and Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Arsenal – and three correct results – Everton and Stoke’s victories and West Brom’s draw – to climb to within 10 points of the summit.

Squarefootball’s best pundit this weekend was struggler Paul Grech. He managed to gain eight points but it wasn’t enough to see him rise in the table following a good week for the bottom sides.

Both Arsenal’s Don McMahon and Portsmouth’s Dan Taylor remain at the foot of the table despite pulling in six points, Fulham’s Russell Goldman hit eight alongside Paul Grech. However, it was a dreadful week for Squarefootball’s editor Antony Melvin who managed just two points to his name and is in danger of entering a relegation fight.

Everton finally won their first game of the season to replace rivals Liverpool in the bottom three and Toffees’ panellist Chris Goodwin still leads the way in recording the most correct results (28) in the Panel. However, Blackburn’s Terry Kennedy’s prediction that Spurs would beat Villa 2-1 was enough to see him clinch the top spot in terms of correct scores with 10.

Blackpool are now two points clear at the top from Blackburn Rovers and three points ahead of the north east duo Newcastle United and Sunderland. There’s no change at the bottom but one good week could change everything.

TEAM	Player	Correct scores	Correct results	Points
BOLTON	Dave Blackburn	1	7	10
SUNDERLAND	Tony Ratton	2	4	10
LIVERPOOL	Mark Williams	2	4	10
MAN CITY	Callum Rothwell	2	4	10
BLACKPOOL	Phil Trow	2	3	9
STOKE CITY	Philip Eccleston	2	3	9
WEST HAM	Nigel Telfer	2	3	9
FULHAM	Russell Goldman	1	5	8
MAN UTD	Peter Lee	2	2	8
SQF WRITER	Paul Grech	2	2	8
BLACKBURN	Terry Kennedy	2	1	7
NEWCASTLE	Michael Stout	1	4	7
WOLVES	Chris Cox	1	4	7
ARSENAL	Don McMahon	1	3	6
BIRMINGHAM	Steve Coulter	1	3	6
SQF ACE POMPEY	Dan Taylor	1	3	6
SQF WRITER	Hugh Larkin	1	3	6
WEST BROM	Andy Wakeman	0	5	5
WIGAN	Alan Moore	1	2	5
SQF EXP BORO	Sue Gardener	1	2	5
SQF WRITER	Colin Illingworth	0	5	5
SQF EXP WHAM	Matthew Beeby	1	2	5
CHELSEA	Joe Tyler	1	1	4
SPURS	Dave Nash	0	4	4
ASTON VILLA	Lynette Ranson	0	3	3
EVERTON	Chris Goodwin	0	3	3
SQF ACE POMPEY	Peter Rendle	0	3	3
SQF EDITOR	Antony Melvin	0	2	2

Here is how the overall table currently stands.

	TEAM	Player	Crrct scores	Crrct results	Pts
↑	BLACKPOOL	Phil Trow	9	25	52
↓	BLACKBURN	Terry Kennedy	10	20	50
↔	NEWCASTLE	Michael Stout	8	25	49
↑	SUNDERLAND	Tony Ratton	9	22	49
↑	BOLTON	Dave Blackburn	8	24	48
↑	MAN CITY	Callum Rothwell	8	23	47
↑	WOLVES	Chris Cox	9	19	46
↑	STOKE CITY	Philip Eccleston	8	21	45
↓	SQF EXP BORO	Sue Gardener	8	21	45
↓	WEST BROM	Andy Wakeman	6	26	44
↓	SQF ACE POMPEY	Peter Rendle	8	21	45
↑	LIVERPOOL	Mark Williams	7	23	44
↔	SQF WRITER	Hugh Larkin	6	26	44
↔	BIRMINGHAM	Steve Coulter	7	22	43
↓	EVERTON	Chris Goodwin	5	28	43
↑	MAN UTD	Peter Lee	6	25	43
↓	SQF WRITER	Colin Illingworth	7	22	43
↓	SPURS	Dave Nash	6	24	42
↑	WEST HAM	Nigel Telfer	7	21	42
↓	ASTON VILLA	Lynette Ranson	5	26	41
↓	WIGAN	Alan Moore	7	20	41
↔	CHELSEA	Joe Tyler	6	19	39
↓	SQF EDITOR	Antony Melvin	5	23	38
↔	SQF EXP WHAM	Matthew Beeby	4	25	37
↔	SQF WRITER	Paul Grech	5	21	36
↔