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The latest English Premier League (EPL) match predictions and betting odds:
Arsenal - Wigan (Sunday, May 7th 2006)
This is the last ever game at
Highbury and I'll confess I'll be sad to see it go. It was the first
ever English football ground I ever went to and watched a match at, and
it holds special memories not just for everyone connected with Arsenal
Football Club but for me too. This match, as well, is vitally important
to Arsenal's season.
If Arsenal win here and a Spurs loss would mean Arsenal will have
Champions League football next season irrespective of the result in
Paris in 10 days time. But a Spurs win and an Arsenal defeat in the
Champions League final would spell disaster for their season. Should be
a riveting end to a glorious era of football at Highbury.
Wigan don't have as big stakes as Arsenal on the line here, but they
will want to finish this season in the top half. A draw here would
virtually confirm that, as Everton would have to win by an unlikely 11
goals to topple Wigan. But whatever happens, Paul Jewell will look back
on this season and rate it as one of his best. Even when Wigan haven't
necessarily had the rub of the green- for instance against United at
home- they're played with heart and passion, traits that Jewell
posesses and has clearly passed down onto his players. But I just can't
see the Latics upsetting Arsenal on this historic day.
Prediction: Arsenal 3 Wigan 1
Aston Villa - Sunderland (Sunday, May 7th 2006)
After watching Villa getting
outplayed by a pretty poor Liverpool side last week you can't help but
think that they have a long way to go before they fulfil their European
aspirations that their fans crave for every season. Villa could well
finish the season in seventeenth if results go against them- and if and
when people
look back on that in the future they will wonder where it all went
wrong. Shining lights in their season have been Steven Davis and James
Milner, but one can't help but think they're playing for their futures
rather than the club's. Villa have a long, long way to go and it wont
surprise me if they struggle again next season.
What ever happened to Man City's season? They were doing so well
up till about Feburary, and then it all fell to pieces, as they crashed
out the FA Cup and went on a freefall down the table. They currently
lie in 15th, though they will get 13th if Boro and Fulham draw and City
win here. In the Premiership, every single
position has its own cash reward, and City know that every cent counts
considering the levels of the debt. Stuart Pearce will have have it
easy in the transfer market, and many players may face the chop. I
think Man City, like Aston Villa, have a fair way to go before reaching
the heights their fans want.
Prediction: Blackburn 3 Man City 1
Bolton - Birmingham (Sunday, May 7th 2006)
Have Bolton had a good,
average or bad season? Seventh place is on the cards with a win here,
but it doesn't get them into Europe. I'd say Big Sam would be satisfied
with his season, though perhaps not delighted. Bolton were odds on
favoruites for European football but their terrible run of 1 point out
of 18 really killed
their season. I think Bolton may have to adapt a bit next season and
start getting more options into their side, because they can get
cancelled out by teams that hit on the break- classic example being
Chelsea's second goal against Bolton a few weeks back. But another step
in the right direction for Bolton.
Birmingham season was summed up in one moment last weekend. Emile
Heskey recieved a wonderful ball and had a perfect opportunity to put
Birmingham ahead against Newcastle, but he slipped and scuffed the
chance. Poor finishing, once again, from the big front man. It's
plagued Birmingham this season and will continue to do
so in the physical Championship if they don't snap up a good,
injury-free striker that will get them 20+ goals a season. Is Steve
Bruce the right amn to bring them back up? I think so. I always believe
in loyalty in football, and Bruce has shown success at Birmingham in
the past, so why not now?
Prediction: Bolton 2 Birmingham 0
Everton - West Brom (Sunday, May 7th 2006)
Everton have had a topsy turvy
season and it's pretty much summed up by their 11th place. They can
still push up to 10th win a with here and a loss for Wigan at Arsenal,
though I think David Moyes know it's not a huge difference and it's
imperative that he spends well in the summer. The Toffees have won
eight,
drawn three and lost seven at home, but their main problem has really
been scoring at Goodison- they only just average a goal a game and
that's not going to get you very high up the table. That's probably
Moyes' biggest area for concern as for next season.
West Brom will finish this season in 19th after being out of the
drop zone for long periods of the season. Their away form is only
better than Fulham's, and their home form has not been good enough to
keep them up. They, like Everton, have really struggled when it comes
to scoring, they've netted 29 in 37
games, which is better than only Birmingham and Sunderland, who will
join them in the Championship next season. All I can say is that I wish
them the best of luck in the Championship next season.
Prediction: Everton 2 West Brom 0
Fulham - Middlesbrough (Sunday, May 7th 2006)
It's been a strange week for
Fulham. First they record their first away win of the season at Man
City, and celebrate at the news that Jimmy Bullard agrees to sign for
them. They then go to the Stadium of Light looking to make it 2/2 yet
they fall in a 2-1 defeat, probably one of the more
remarkable results of the season. Fulham could go either way next
season- they could be in serious trouble or be pushing into the top
half, and if Colemna doesn't get some consistency into his side Fulham
will be in big trouble.
Middlesbrough will want to rest players before their big UEFA Cup
final three days after this game. Steve McLaren, their boss, has been
in the news after taking up the England job, and I'm sure he'll want to
end his time at Boro on a high, and the best way of doing that is
resting his players before that final.
Boro haven't been all that good on the road this season and to be
honest I'd be very surprised if they win here. There will be one or two
players wanting to stake their claim for the final, but I think
McLaren's got a side in his head.
Prediction: Fulham 2 Boro 1
Manchester United - Charlton (Sunday, May 7th 2006)
Eighty points from a season
would have been a great success only a few years back, yet this season
it's left United in second and nearly third, empty handed and people
talking of a major clearout. To be fair United have never really hit
top gear this season, and I don't think they ever deserved the title.
The
way they lost to Chelsea last week was extrodinary, I really didn't
expect them to get hammered in the way they did- scoreline wise anyhow.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will be wanting a goal or two here, especially if
he's playing his way for a move out of Old Trafford.
Charlton's record against Man United is absolutely dysmal, and I
can't see Alan Curbishley's last game as manager of the club being any
sort of motivation for the players- they're looking forward to a hrad
earned rest or a World Cup. The Addicks have played Man United 13 times
in the Premiership and have lost 11,
drawn 2 and not won a singe one. As for Curbishley's departure, I think
he's left at the right time- his side really haven't gone anywhere in
the last three seasons and it's time for a new man to take up the
mantle and drive them forward.
Prediction: Man United 2 Charlton 0
Newcastle - Chelsea (Sunday, May 7th 2006)
Newcastle need seventh place
if they are to get into the InterToto Cup, and should they get there
it'll be a monumental achievement after all the drama under Souness. To
get it, however, they will have to win and hope Bolton's result at home
to Birmingham is a draw or a loss, and although that'll be unlikely,
Newcastle must try. Michael Owen may get a start or an appearance for
the Magpies, which will be a bosst for the whole country before the
World Cup. This could also ben Jean Alain Boumsong's last game, if he
plays. And good riddance to him.
Chelsea have nothing to play for- no records to be broken or
positions to play for. The chances are the England trio of Terry,
Lampard and Cole will all get a well-earned rest, whilst we may see the
likes of Diarra and other fringe players. Mourinho has other things on
his mind as well- including rumours
that Carlos Tevez will join the club this summer. Generally there's a
relaxed mood at Chelsea I don't think they would mind a defeat here,
even if it could bring United closer to them than they would ahve liked
a few months back.
Prediction: Newcastle 1 Chelsea 1
Portsmouth - Liverpool (Sunday, May 7th 2006)
It'll be a carnival atmosphere
at Fratton Park after Pompey secured Premiership football for another
season with a win at Wigan last Saturday. And to be honest, they
deserve it. They're played some wonderful football on this amazing run
of 9 games that has seen them pick up 20 points, and Harry Redknapp
deserves every bit of
praise he is getting. They will want to get at Liverpool here and
delight their hoem fans even more. After all, they don't have a bad
record against Liverpool, with 14 wins to Liverpool's 7 at Fratton Park.
Liverpool pretty much know that 2nd spot is unlikely with United
having Charlton at home, but they can break a club record with a win
here- it'd make 11 straight victories for the Reds, beating the 10 in a
row that their title winning side of 1989/90 set. It was indeed the
last title that Liverpool won.
Liverpool, however, know they have the cup final next week, and the
likes of Gerrard and Crouch may get a rest whilst Morientes and Cisse
get a start, attempting to stake their claim for the cup final.
Prediction: Portsmouth 2 Liverpool 3
West Ham - Tottenham Hotspurs (Sunday, May 7th 2006)
What team will West Ham play?
Arsenal hope it'll be close enough to their cup final side, Wenger
trying to influence Pardew by saying the best way to go into a cup
final is to win the game before. Spurs fans will obviously be hoping
for a much weakened side, with Pardew resting key players before the
big
game at Cardiff. I personally think it'll be the second choice- the
last thing Pardew wants is someone like Harewood picking up an injury,
ruling him out one of the biggest days in the club's recent history.
Spurs must win, it's as straightforward as that. They have some
injury concerns going into this and I really think a lot depends on
whether Carrick gets a start. The England midfielder has been
absolutely outstanding this season, and a lot of Spurs' success has
been down to him. Robbie Keane, their Irish captain,
is another doubt, and without him they really do lose a man who works
his socks off and always tracks back from attack. I really do think
that Spurs will have a go and try to get an early lead- if Arsenal hear
that news it could well unsettle them.
Prediction: West Ham 0 Spurs 1
Shock! Horror! Sunderland win at home! Yes, it is true, Sunderland's
2-1 victory over Fulham on Thursday nigth was the Black Cats' first win
in front of their home fans this season. However, they're nearly twenty
points off safety and will break the record for their lowest
Premiership points total ever- beating their record of
19, set by themsleves in 2002-03. With the squad they have, and
considering some player like Le Tallec are on loan, I can't see them
bouncing back into the Premiership in a hurry. But I do feel Kevin Ball
is the man to take them in thew right direction and stabalise the club
before making a Premiership charge.
Prediction: Villa 1 Sunderland 1
Blackburn - Manchester City (Sunday, May 7th 2006)
Blackburn will finish the
season sixth no matter what, and that definately spells success for
them. Rovers will also aim to finish their season on a high after
starting it so poorly at West Ham. They have won 12 out of 18 games at
home, which is a very good record. Not to forget that they had picked
up the scalps of Man United
Arsenal and Chelsea at Ewood Park, a superb achievement that no team in
the league can boast. I reckon they'll got for the jugular here and
really want to finish the season on as high a note as possible. Plus,
some players have got themselves into good touch before the World Cup
this summer.
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