Oh, it's an early kick-off for "television"? That probably means that teams might not have woken up, and we never see the best of the players in these games. It's Champions League week? Managers may look to rotate their squads with "one eye" on the crucial fixture in Honved.
As a text of my copy writing skills, I offer my services as a ghost writer for this column. As a service to my reader(no s), I have put in Lawro's predictions - this was after I had compiled my prediction.
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Tottenham v Man City, 12:45
This game is a repeat of the crucial Champions League decider from the end of last season. Since then, City have spent like they were the ones going into the top competition, adding Touré, Silva and Boateng amongst others, and I fancy them to have a very good season. These big names are in addition to the set Mark Hughes bought a year earlier, and therein lies the worry for Mancini - a run of poor results or any dressing room disharmony and he will be under threat like Hughes was last autumn.
Both sides will be looking to get off to a good start, but I fancy City to edge this one, as Spurs will have one eye on their Champions League qualifier.
Score 1-2. [Lawro went for 2-1]
Aston Villa v West Ham, 15:00
Manager-less Villa haven't had the best of pre-seasons and Martin O' Neill's are some pretty big shoes to fill. His team won't become bad overnight, but the new man will have to get in quick and make sure they don't get off to a stinker. Avram Grant tries something new after this thankless task at Pompey and has a bit of rag-tag team at West Ham to try and steer to safety this time around.
Score 1-1. [2-0]
Blackburn v Everton, 15:00
Blackburn improved last year and are a tough team to break down, particularly at home. Some of the fancy boys from London have problems on their trips to Lancashire, and Big Sam certainly has a few issues with many of the other managers in the division, but Everton under Moyes continue to chip away and should be a solid, if not necessarily thrilling match to open up their campaign.
Score 1-1. [1-1]
Bolton v Fulham, 15:00
I'm worried about Bolton this season. They did just enough to stay up, but looked like they were drifting downwards. Fulham won all the plaudits last year for their Europa League campaign, and will take some time to adjust to Roy Hodgson's departure for Liverpool. Mark Hughes has never stuck around too long in a job, and will be under pressure from the start to prove to himself and Al-Fayed that he can keep up Hodgson's good work.
Score 1-1. [2-1]
Sunderland v Birmingham, 15:00
Both teams did a good job at picking enough points up at home to not have to worry about relegation last season, but the real challenge for both is to get into Europe. Like a lot of the mid table teams, there haven't been to many notable ins and outs, so there may be a bit more continuity. Darren Bent will be looking to prove a point to Fabio Capello and I fancy him to get on the scoresheet in this one.
Score 1-0. [1-0]
Wigan v Blackpool, 15:00
Wigan Pier and Blackpool Tower are steeped in history, and may both have seen better days, but this will be a local Lancashire celebration on Saturday. You'd have been considered insane 10 years ago if you would have said Leeds, Wednesday and Forest would be struggling in the lower leagues and that these two would be in the top flight, but that's what can happen. This will be the first of 38 cup finals for Ian Holloway's side, but you have to fancy Wigan's experience will see them with the 3 points.
Score 2-1. [2-1 - man I am good at this]
Wolverhampton v Stoke, 15:00
Wolves flirted with the drop last season, but managed to steer clear, mainly due to the awfulness of the teams below them. I can't see them getting off to a ghreat start here either. Stoke don't always play the prettiest football, but this is a business, and Tony Pulis doesn't have the resources to bring in Xavi and Iniesta to the Potteries.
Score 0-1. [1-1]
Chelsea v West Brom, 17:30
The first real gimme of the weekend. Champions Chelsea have lost Joe Cole, but brought in Benayoun, and with the improving Malouda to add to Lampard and Essien, there looks like there will be too much for any team - let alone West Brom.
Will the legs of the older Chelsea players keep going for the full season? Only time will tell, but its difficult to look further than them to retain their crown in May.
Score 3-0 [3-0]
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Liverpool v Arsenal, 16:00
These two teams have had some great encounters over the years, and you only have to look at Arshavin's 4 goal haul to sum up Premiership entertainment at its finest. Can the teams get to that standard on the first Sunday? Probably not, but look for lots of personalities with something to prove who will look to set down a marker for the season.
Arsenal usually kick off the season with great style, but run out of gas in the Spring. Wenger will be looking to change this and bring some silverware back to the Emirates, but I can see them getting a point at best this weekend with Gerrard and Torres looking to show their new gaffer that they are committed to the cause at Anfield.
Score 2-2 [1-1]
Monday, 16 August 2010
Man Utd v Newcastle, 20:00
All eyes will be on Old Trafford on Monday as Man United kick off their campaign, and the Geordies return to the top flight.
Newcastle won the Championship quite comfortably last term, but weren't facing the likes of Rooney and Vidic week in week out. Like Chelsea, Man United are a team in transition with quite a few tired legs supporting some of the new players who are yet to really make their mark. Giggs and Scholes have been great ambassadors for the game, but may finally get displaced this year as the improving Nani and industrious Valencia look to mark their names in the folklore of the club.
Score 2-0 [2-0]
Note: A 10p bet with Coral on this stands to win me 112 MILLION pounds.
I think they would probably cap it before that amount of money.
