Predictions #3

So I'm just over 50% for my predictions so far, but a stonking (if I do say so myself) 3-1 correct score on Wednesday with Arsenal and Celtic gives me a little more confidence. so here are my Prem predictions.

I am adding my Treble to it also. My 3 team 'certs' hahaha

Also if anyone wants to give us their tips or certs feel free. Any league is welcome.

Saturday 29th August

Blackburn v West Ham, 15:00 Draw Draw
Bolton v Liverpool, 15:00 Liverpool Liverpool
Chelsea v Burnley, 12:45 Chelsea Chelsea
Man Utd v Arsenal, 17:15 Draw Man Utd
Stoke v Sunderland, 15:00 Sunderland Stoke
Tottenham v Birmingham, 15:00 Tottenham Tottenham
Wolverhampton v Hull, 15:00 Wolves Draw

Sunday 30th August

Aston Villa v Fulham, 16:00 Aston Villa Villa
Everton v Wigan, 15:00 Everton Everton
Portsmouth v Man City, 13:30 Man City City

My Treble = Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton

If you are having a punt good luck and let us know how you did.

The 'Fall'out of Eduardo's dive

Eduardo dived. He knows that. Celtic know that. Wenger knows that. UEFA know that. Whether we like it or not it IS part of the game. Congratulations to UEFA for trying to make a statement, but I don't think Celtic fans will feel better about it. The goal was THE crucial goal of the tie. Him being banned will not make the board at Celtic park sleep any better thinking about the $20m that just slipped through their grasp.

Ask ANY manager in the world, last minute of World Cup final, Champions League final, league decider, any must win game, "would they condone their player doing what Eduardo did?"

Every single one would be out there putting the springboard in place so that Jonny Diver could catapult himself through the air and win his team the penalty.

Shit reality, but reality none the less.

Arsenal v Celtic- Luck of the...erm better team!

Arsenal cruised past Celtic with less fuss than most imagined. Celtic were outclassed in every department. Arsenal were bigger, stronger, quicker, cuter, better on the ball, better off the ball. Sure Arsenal were lucky over both legs at certain times, both goals in Glasgow, and the penalty tonight. But the long qouted cliche "you make your own luck" is sometimes very true.

How to sum this tie up? Arsenal brought on Arshavin, Celtic brought on Willo Flood. 'Nuff said.

The reality is that an Arsenal side in full flight (they didn't get beyond 3rd gear in any of the legs in this tie) will always bring more to the Champions League than a plucky, fighting Celtic. Arsenal dealt with the huff and I'll puff attitude and just did what they are good at, playing football.

Europa League it is for the Hoops, but even then, they will have to improve dramatically if they are to have an extended run in Europe, even at the 2nd tier. As for Arsenal, the real test for them will be this weekend against Man Utd, who I can assure you will NOT be bringing on Willo Flood.

PS- Thanks to Donati's volley I am now gutted that I never bet the correct score I predicted!

Arsenal v Celtic

Celtic have to score first. Mowbray has been saying that for a week now, but if Celtic come out all gung ho against one of the best counter attacking teams in the world then it will be tie over before you can say "Drunk Scottish men in London."

I think that will be the case, I think it will end up Arsenal 3 Celtic 1 on the night.

Fantastic Article from The Sweeper

Over at Pitch Invasion I found this interesting article on Africa and the Premiership. Well worth a read.

Platini´s disaster

UEFA´s new organizational system has received all kind of criticism since Michel Platini was elected president of the highest European football association. The Frenchman behaves more as a politician than a football man. His desire for obtaining votes and good relationships has blinded him from the most important: the welfare of European football.

It is well known that Platini started his campaign claiming the right for countries who have a lower level in football to have more participation in the continental competitions. The new president committed himself to give these countries the chance to be more relevant in the international competitions; both for national teams, and club teams.

When it comes to national team football, the first problem aroused when deciding that the Eurocup in 2012 would be organized by Ukraine and Poland, and these two nations will qualify directly to the tournament. Ukraine had not qualified in the two previous tournaments and Poland qualified for the last one, earning only one point.

Platini has tried to redeem himself and is considering creating a tournament with 24 teams instead of 16, which was not his idea. In this way all the top teams will most likely make it to the final tournament and some weak teams will have the chance to participate in this event. Thus making the qualifiers a bit pointless.

But the big mess appears when we look at the Champions League and European League qualification rounds. Big teams like Arsenal and Celtic or Atletico Madrid and Panathinaikos are matched in one side, and then there are games such as Levski Sofia vs Debreceni VSC, or FK Ventspils vs FC Zurich. I do not mean to disrespect these teams but they are not ready to participate in the best football competition in the world. Once they make it to the group stage they get killed by the rest of the teams and the sometimes do not even get a single point. I do not understand how historic teams like Celtic or Sporting Lisbon will probably not be in the Champions League, but we will see FC Kobenhavn or APOEL FC. Do you want to shell out your hard earned cash to see them or the better clubs? Hmmm tough one, do I want to watch Arsenal with Fabregas and friends or do I want to watch Hans the Lumberjack and his buddies?

The new European League has been created to be a secondary European competition where some clubs can test themselves out of their own countries and compare their level with other top teams. But again the differences will be tremendous in this competition. Clubs like Everton, Valencia or Werder Bremen are much better prepared than MFK Kosice or FK Qarabag to win the tournament.

Platini´s idea of making football more equal and more competitive is not working at all. To me it is going in the opposite direction and some clubs are realizing just how far away they are from clubs like Manchester United, FC Barcelona, or Inter Milan. It is sad to see Champions League games played on artificial grass in which the home team loses 4-0, this is supposed to be the hardest competition on planet Earth, so lets make it that and keep the ‘pub’ teams out.

Posted by Nando

Predictions #2

I'm going to try and do this every week, the midweek games sometimes catch me out, so bear with me.

Arsenal v Portsmouth Arsenal Arsenal
Birmingham v Stoke Draw Draw
Hull v Bolton Draw Hull
Man City v Wolverhampton Man City Man City
Sunderland v Blackburn Draw Sunderland
Wigan v Man Utd Man Utd Man Utd

Sunday
Burnley v Everton Everton Burnley
Fulham v Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea
West Ham v Tottenham Tottenham Tottenham