Premiership Predictions

A somewhat curtailed Premier League fixture list this weekend, due to two all-Premiership FA Cup semi-finals being contested, will be no less crucial for many of the sides fighting to avoid the drop, with a host of what can only be called six-pointers between teams who find themselves being dragged downwards. Arsenal will look to make up ground on United while they’re on Cup duty too. How will it all go down? Read on…

Birmingham City vs. Sunderland (Sat, 3pm)
Both of these sides find themselves nearer to the bottom of the table than they probably should – both possess some real quality in their squads, but have somehow struggled to find any real consistency. Things look worse for Sunderland at present, as they’ve not picked up three points in a very long time, and they need to stop the rot. St Andrews may not be the place to do it though, as Birmingham’s form has looked OK lately and they’re well aware that they still need to keep picking up regular points to avoid being sucked further down the table.
Prediction: 2-1.

Premiership Predictions

We return to Premier League action after a week off for international fixtures, and what with England’s canter to a win against Wales and the match against Ghana, despite it’s praise as one of the best meaningless friendlies for a long time, still just being a meaningless friendly, it’s a welcome return. Everything is literally still to play for, with the title undecided and conceivably about half the clubs in the division could still be relegated. It’s going to be a fascinating end to the season, so here we go…

West Ham United vs. Manchester United (Sat, 12.45pm)
The international break probably came at the wrong time for West Ham who were finding a little form and momentum before it, and they face a tough test to get back to winning ways straight away here. They’ll have been relieved to see Scott Parker return uninjured, but slightly miffed that Wayne Rooney, for United, will be fresher than their England star because he is, in Capello’s mind, ‘more important’. United have Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday, and one could see Freguson resting a few – but I don’t think he will. After an international break he’ll want to use this game to get his team back together and as a warm up for Wednesday.
Prediction: 1-2.

FA Cup Predictions (4th Round)

Such is the magic of the FA Cup, it’s probably madness for me to even try to predict any of this weekend’s results – there will be one or two ‘cupsets’ at least. However, I’m going to give it a go anyway, but to give myself a fighting chance I’ll be selecting just five of the fixtures to preview and predict, involving teams whose form I actually know a little bit about – so despite the tagline of this post, this hopefully won’t be too much random guesswork…

Premiership Predictions

Well… it’s been a while since I dusted off the old prediction hat and made some wild stabs in the dark concerning the outcomes of a round of Premier League fixtures, but now seems like a good time to revive the famous TTIAO predictions for one week at least. Let’s hope I haven’t lost my knack…

Saturday Fixtures, Kick-off 3pm unless stated.
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Liverpool (12.45pm)
Liverpool were made to look quite good for the first half of the Merseyside Derby last week, but when Everton got going properly in the second half we once again saw the familiar Liverpool of the season so far – lacking any real cutting edge and any real fighting spirit, and they may have been lucky to draw the game in the end. Wolves, on the other hand, seem to have found some form. They very nearly upset Manchester City in a 4-3 thriller last weekend and McCarthy’s side are fulfilling their potential, as they have some really talented players, and I think they may frustrate Dalglish today.
Prediction: 2-1.

Premiership Predictions

Week two of the Premier League season and my predictions got off to a pretty inauspicious start last week. Some pretty interesting results were had though and I get the feeling that this season is going to be just as tough as ever to predict. This weekend sees Manchester City and Liverpool continue their tough starts to the season on Monday night and each will be keen to add to their opening day draws, while Arsenal face Blackpool in a match that has the makings of a classic if the newly promoted sides play as they did last time out.

Saturday fixtures, kick-offs 3pm unless stated.
Arsenal vs. Blackpool
Blackpool signalled their intentions to give the Premier League a real go with their emphatic destruction of Wigan last week, and it’s great to see. It would easy for a team to go ‘the Stoke route’ and try to physically force their way to survival, so Blackpool should be commended. However, any team that tries to out-football Arsenal will be facing an uphill struggle and I think at home and with the likely return of Captain Cesc, Arsenal should triumph here in relative comfort.
Prediction: 3-1.

Premiership Predictions

The big kick-off is finally here: the 2010/11 Premier League season starts today and as usual, They Think It’s All Over… is here to bring you match previews and predictions to get you in the mood. It’s that time of the season where every team is full of burgeoning optimism, and when we’re not quite sure which teams are going to fire and which are going to struggle, with new signings, new managers and new tactics, that means predicting results is harder than ever. But here goes…

Saturday fixtures; all kick-offs 3pm unless stated.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City (12.45pm)
Much of the talk surrounding this new season has been focused on Man City’s big spending summer antics. They’ve brought in a host of new faces who all promise to add quality to what was already a string squad. However, they also look likely to add to City’s internal disharmony as many top players will be left frustrated for playing time, and such a new squad will also take time to gel. Spurs on the other hand, haven’t made wholesale changes and will be determined to repeat last season’s success, with the prospect of Champions League football leaving them full of confidence. Home win.
Prediction: 2-1.

World Cup Final Prediction

Will Spain celebrate a first World Cup triumph?

Four long years of waiting and it’s gone in a flash. It doesn’t help, of course, that England bowed out so soon but I have still enjoyed watching the latter stages of the competition and I think we’ve got a very good final to look forward to. I feel a bit sorry for the Germans who I thought were excellent and deserved at least a final appearance, but Spain showed their quality in the semi and the Dutch have been very effective throughout the tournament.

Which really only leaves one question doesn’t it… who’s going to win?

Premiership Predictions

So it’s all come down to this, the final weekend of the Premier League season and there’s a fair bit still to play for. Chelsea will have to hold their nerve against Wigan while Man Utd must beat Stoke and hope that the Blues slip up. At the bottom it’s all already signed and to an extent the European places are done and dusted too, but Spurs will want to try to pip Arsenal to 3rd while City, Villa and Liverpool will jostle for position in the Europa League spots. Other than that though, it’s the last day of the season and everyone wants to go out on a high. Who will manage it? Read on…

All games on Sunday, all kick offs 3pm.
Arsenal vs. Fulham
Fulham really probably won’t give a damn what happens in this match, they’ll finish comfortably mid-table whatever happens and the thoughts of everyone involved with the club will be firmly set on the Europa League final. Expect Hodgson to risk the wrath of the FA again by fully utilising his squad, while Arsenal on the other hand, will play their strongest side to secure 3rd place and a home win for their fans on the final day. While stranger things have happened and Fulham’s reserves will be keen to impress, I can’t look past a home win here.
Prediction: 3-1.

Premiership Predictions

Well it’s been a long time since I posted here due to numerous setbacks in what has been the most unconventional summer of my life, but I am now back in Wellington, and that means that They Think It’s All Over… is on the comeback trail. And of course, what better way to kick things off again than with a good old round of Premiership Predictions? I hope some people are still left to read this, please everyone, spread the word.

Saturday Fixtures, Kick-offs 3pm unless stated.
Everton vs. Manchester United (12.45pm)
Manchester United will be flying high after a classic Champions League victory away at Milan in midweek, but such exertions will have no doubt impacted on their players, and coming to Goodison Park is never easy – especially so early on a Saturday. What’s more, Everton have shown in recent matches against top four opposition (the merseyside derby – painfully – aside) that they have turned a corner and are eager to mix it with the big boys. The loss of Fellaini for the season is a big blow and Cahill will now be absent for three weeks too, but Everton have the spirit and tenacity to give United a real test all the same. All eyes will of course be on Wayne Rooney, and if he clicks then United may well emerge victorious, but the pressure of returning to his former home may be too much for the United talisman.
Prediction: 2-2.

Premiership Predictions

Last weekend’s Premier League action can only really be described as ‘shocktastic’ after Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and Sunderland were all arguably held to a draw or defeated unexpectedly and it has been this unpredictability that has made the 09/10 season so exciting so far. It also makes predicting the results nigh on impossible, but I do my best and it works as a preview to the action too, so here goes…

Saturday Fixtures; kick-offs 3pm unless stated.
Portsmouth vs. Liverpool (12.45pm)
Portsmouth are starting to drift away again at the foot of the Premier League but with a creditable draw thanks to a late goal at Sunderland and a closely fought midweek defeat against Chelsea, they’re at least showing some signs of fight under Avram Grant. The new boss will recognise Liverpool as a potential upset in the making as the Reds have struggled for consistency this season but will probably be able to call on Torres and Gerrard and for that reason I expect them to build on their midweek win against Wigan.
Prediction: 0-2.