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Today, Ronald_antly kindly offers the wisdom of his insights into the weekend’s first round of Premier League games.
BURNLEY vs MAN CITY (1230 ko)
If the table took account of home form only, Burnley would be fourth. That should be enough reason for Señor Pep to guard against complacency as Goliath travels to David. Possession will be of little importance, because City are guaranteed to have that in the bag. What matters is which team takes its chances. Discipline is Burnley’s hallmark under Sean Dyche and they will need every ounce of that if they’re to take anything from this game. Yaya Toure’s return last week was a massive boost for City – they played like a Ford with a newly fitted Lamborghini engine. Can he help them penetrate a resolute home defence? You bet he can. Away win.
Ronald_antly: On the face of it, this should be an away win. However, with Manchester City backing up after a Wednesday night trip to Germany, plus the fact that Burnley's home form isn't too shabby, I'm going for 2-2.
HULL vs WEST BROM
Did Hull use their entire season’s allocation of good fortune in the first few games? It looks that way. Despite beating Southampton last time out, they’re still in a dreadful slump that has seen them take just three points from the last seven fixtures and has put them firmly in the relegation mix – from which many WHOers would perhaps prefer them not to emerge. The Baggies, meanwhile, have won their last two and now sit in the top half of the table, with the wind in their sails and their course set north. The Tigers are an endangered species. Away win.
Ronald_antly: A team desperate for points against a team having a mixed season. I foresee bad news for West Ham United in the form of a 1-0 home win.
LEICESTER vs MIDDLESBORO
Throughout all but the final weeks of last season, everyone expected Leicester’s title challenge to fade and die. But it didn’t. This season, everyone expects their indifferent league form to improve. Today is as good an opportunity as they’ll get for that expectation to be realised. But they will underestimate Boro at their peril. The Teesiders have shown they’re no mugs at this Premier League lark and have demonstrated a steely core to their game. There's just a point between the teams in the table. Boro will be no pushovers and will hope that a point is still all that separates them at Final Score. Draw.
Ronald_antly: Leicester to stop fucking around in the league, and run out comfortable 3-0 winners, to really kickstart their title defence.
LIVERPOOL vs SUNDERLAND
The Black Cats have put together a morale-boosting little run in the form of victories over Hull and at Bournemouth, with the addition of Victor Anichebe to their erstwhile one-man attack key to their upturn. Sadly for them, that will not even begin to close the gaping gulf in class that separates them from their hosts today. For the most part, Liverpool have been a joy to watch this season. Under Klopp, they’ve become substantially greater as a whole than the sum of their parts would suggest. Sunderland can park as many buses and trains as they like, but nothing will stop the great red Rolls Royce from purring to another routine victory. Home win.
Ronald_antly: Liverpool have mostly been scoring for fun this season, whereas Sunderland haven't been having much fun at all. I have a feeling that Jermaine Defoe will nick a goal, but that will be as good as it gets for the Mackems. 4-1 home win.
SWANSEA vs CRYSTAL PALACE
For some years, Swansea were seen as the epitome of how a football club should be run – refer to WHO, passim, for example. How fortunes change. They now sit at the bottom of the league and the change of manager just hasn’t worked. I wonder if they're now regretting Gary Monk’s departure? For Palace, a change of manager could be just what’s wanted. Alan Pardew has endured an awful 2016 – in contrast with a far brighter 2015. He attributes this to bad luck. That should ring alarm bells, because bad luck rarely lasts an entire calendar year. This is a vital game that both teams know they must win, which points to a desperate, scrappy encounter littered with fouls and the strong possibility of a red card or two. Draw.
Ronald_antly: A club firmly in the mire playing a club seriously flirting with it. I feel Swansea will make the most of their home advantage, and run out 2-0 winners.
CHELSEA vs SPURS (1730 ko)
Put aside thoughts of rivalry and enjoy football as it should be played. Chelsea are buzzing, the fluency of their play pointing to a reborn pleasure in their game. Their leadership of the Premier League is utterly deserved. Spurs were poor in midweek in what would have been a second consecutive defeat were it not for the late generosity of their last league opponents. It would be unfair to describe them as buzzing; successful plodding is more accurate. Some in the media are calling this as a grudge match after last season’s fiery encounter. If it is, so be it. That will just add to the mouth-watering prospect of a thoroughly entertaining game. Home win. Pass the Listerine.
Ronald_antly: Hmmm. Chelsea, you say? Tottenham, you say? Can they BOTH lose, please? Failing that, Tottingham to take a four goal lead, only to get pegged back to 4-4 in stoppage time. At least that way I'll get to see both sides concede lots of goals, and the Yids coming away feeling like they've lost. Am I allowed to say YIDS on this thread?
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