Stoke City

Saturday 1^st May

English Premier League

Manchester City v Aston Villa

The first Saturday in May is upon us and with the title contenders playing on Sunday, attention turns to the tussle for 4^th placed as Man City come up against a Villa side who sit one place above them.

If you had told Man City supporters that with 2 games to go, they would be comfortably above Liverpool, or any of the big 4 for that matter, they would probably have imagined they themselves would occupy one of the top 4 positions. In any other season in recent times, that would have been the case, this year’s Premier League, however, is anything but normal. Despite sitting a point above Liverpool with a game in hand, City find themselves in 6^th position behind tomorrow’s opponents and current 4^th spot occupants, Tottenham. The fight for 4^th will go right to the death and should prove to be one of the tightest battles in Premier League history. The benefits of qualifying for 4^th cannot be underestimated. The money it brings to a club is overshadowed only by the status a club receives for playing in Europe’s elite club competition. So we can expect everything and anything between now and the end of the season, beginning tomorrow.

City comes into the match in relatively good form with 4 wins and a draw from their last 7 games. Their defeats, however, have both come at home against city rivals United and Everton. They were big disappointments for Roberto Mancini and his side as they never really done themselves justice in either match. Their most recent match was away to Arsenal last Saturday where they gained a credible 0-0 to boost their chances of getting that 4^th spot. They did, however, lose their inspirational keeper Shay Given with what looked like a very nasty shoulder injury. Given will now miss the rest of the season whilst the club have been given special dispensation to bring in an emergency loan in the shape of Martin Fulop from Sunderland. Overall City’s home form has been good throughout the season with 11 wins and 4 draws from 17 matches. They have averaged around 2 goals per game whilst they concede, on average, just over 1 goal a game, so games at the City of Manchester stadium have been entertaining under their new Italian regime.

Martin O’Neill has called for one last push from his men after a long, arduous season which has not only seen Villa mount a sustained challenge for 4^th, but also reach the League cup final and the semi finals of the FA Cup. It’s been a big effort from one of the smaller squads in the Premier League but O’Neill is a hard taskmaster and will demand nothing less than 100% from his players. Villa too come into this match in decent form with 4 wins and a draw in their last 5 league games. It’s a run of form which has included a derby win over Birmingham as well as 3 consecutive away victories against sides who have been fighting for their lives. Their away form has been pretty decent for much of the season with only 4 defeats on the road thus far. It’s not really a massive surprise when you consider the emphasis O’Neill places on hard work, a good solid defence and doing the basics correctly which explains why they are hard to beat, especially away from home.

Many will have differing opinions as to what will happen tomorrow in terms of the result, but I think most will agree that it’s basically do or die and whoever loses is all but out of the race for 4^th. Spurs will no doubt be hoping for a draw which, along with a win for them tomorrow, would all but guarantee them 4^th spot and the final Champions League place for next season. With that in mind I’m inclined for go for goals tomorrow afternoon. City only really play one way at home in these sort of games – to win. With a new keeper in place it will be interesting to see how he copes with a new defence infront of him and how his defenders react to playing infront of a new face and pair of hands. It will be a highly charged atmosphere and as it’s basically win or bust, I fancy the over 2 goals bet. If there is an early goal, especially for the home side, the game will really open up and there is more than enough pace and talent on show for both sides to suggest that the overs is a good solid option tomorrow.

My selection: Over 2.5 goals at a best priced 10/11 available with Sportingbet

English Premier League

Stoke City v Everton

Stoke will be looking to put their battering from Chelsea behind them when Everton travel to the Britannia on Saturday afternoon.

Tony Pulis will have been severely disappointed and probably a good bit angry after his side’s capitulation last Sunday at Stanford Bridge. Players went hiding as soon as the league leaders got into their stride which is arguably the worst thing you can do in a side such as Stoke. Reports of dressing room bust-ups at half time don’t really come as a surprise when you consider some of the characters which Pulis has brought to the club. They themselves will know that their performance on Sunday was nowhere near good enough and they will be desperate to rectify it tomorrow and gain some much needed pride. The return to the Britannia may be a welcome relief as they have a good record for a side in the lower half of the table with 7 wins and 5 draws from 18 home games. 3 of their 6 home defeats this season have, however, come in the last home matches which is probably due to the fact they have been safe from relegation for a long time and their performances levels will naturally drop.

Everton have done things in reverse to Stoke with a terrible start to the season followed by an excellent end. Davie Moyes has stated several times that they only have themselves to blame for not being closer to 4^th position after such a poor first half of the campaign. As you would expect from a side managed by the Scotsman, they have repaid his faith in them with a fantastic run of form which has seen them climb the table and claim 8^th spot, at the very least, for their 4^th successive top 8 finish. It’s a wonderful achievement for a club who religiously stick to buying and paying players what they can afford to as opposed to others who either have a billionaire as an owner or living well beyond their means. Their away form of late has been decent as they are unbeaten in their last 5 with 2 wins and a draw. The common theme running through these games however has been goals. Apart from a 0-0 draw with Wolves, Everton have managed at least 2 goals and as well as that, they have only kept 1 other clean sheet – the defeat of Manchester City.

Pulis will demand a reaction from his players, of that there is no doubt. It is the only reason why I’m steering clear of backing the away win as I have a great deal of respect for Stoke and how they go about their business – nothing surprises me with them. Instead I’m going for goals again as I believe both sides will be going all out to win this match and with very little to lose for either side, I expect a high scoring, end of season encounter.

My selection: Over 2.5 goals at a best priced EVENS with Paddypower

Liverpool have won just four of their ten away matches in the Premier League this season, scoring an average of just 1.1 goals per game. However, after twenty games of the season played, it appears that the bookmakers still think that the Reds are in a false position this season. Why else can you explain why they’re priced at a prohibitive 4/6 with bet365 and Victor Chandler to win at the Britannia Stadium this Saturday (and to be fair to these bookmakers, that’s the best price that’s currently available)?

One can only assume that the bookies are prepared to give Stoke City such massive odds on account of the fact that they’re an unfashionable team to back. It’s true that the Potters don’t play the prettiest football in the division, nor that their aims are any higher than staying in the division, although their recent 3-2 win over Fulham illustrated that they are a tough nut to crack in front of their own supporters. If you factor in the abysmal weather conditions that are seemingly making matches more of a leveller than you would expect on a hot day, then it appears that Sky Bet’s 11/2 about Tony Pulis’ team is the wrong price.

Now we’re not suggesting that Stoke are definitely going to win and it’s Liverpool who clearly possess the most quality player-for-player. However, this is an example where it might pay to go against the grain. Just say you picked out three 11/2 ‘value picks’ this weekend and only one of them came in. That would still return a handsome profit, providing you backed the trio of teams at level stakes.

There are other markets where you can support the outsider if you think that the price is too big but you’re not confident enough to back them to win the match. Many bookmakers now offer a ‘Draw No Bet’ market, where there are no prizes for guessing that stakes are refunded if the match finishes all square (last season’s game between Stoke and Liverpool was a goalless draw). Sporting Bet offer 10/3 about Stoke on this market. Alternatively, there is also the option of adding the draw option to the outsider, something that can be done with a ‘Double Chance’ market. William Hill currently have 13/10 available that the outcome of the match is either a home win or a draw and I would personally make it no bigger than even money.

You may be of the opinion that Liverpool will win this match after some good recent performances in the Premier League. However, if you are prepared to take a long-term view with your betting and identify teams that are ultimately priced too big based on stats and form, then you should return a profit overall. You may think that Everton are too big at 19/10 (Boylesports) to beat Manchester City after an impressive unbeaten run which lately saw them draw 2-2 at Arsenal. However, it might be worth avoiding the 18/1 (Coral) that Burnley manage a surprise win at Old Trafford!

More information about Sky Bet.

Last weekend’s Premier League results were highly unpredictable, with Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Everton all failing to oblige at odds-on. This is how the In-Play odds unfurled at bet365…

Fulham v Man United got under way, with the champions available at 4/5 with bet365 to win this match. They had been 8/13 two days before the match, although the inclusion of de Laet, Fletcher and Carrick in defence has seen them drift with bet365. Conversely, the Cottagers were 11/2 earlier in the week, although the team news has seen them shortened to 7/2 and they have a bright start to the game.

Over at Eastlands, Manchester City score early and bet365 now offer 2/9 that the home side win, with Sunderland 12/1 and yet another draw available at 9/2. There are rumours that this is Mark Hughes’ last match in charge of the team – has he sent them out to score lots of goals and throw caution to the wind?

Meanwhile, the traders at bet365 are far from impressed by Manchester United after ten minutes. They offer 5/6 that the Red Devils win, although Fulham are also drifting to 15/4, despite Zoltan Gera having an effort brilliantly saved. Back at Eastlands and City are now 2-0 up, with Sunderland out to 25/1. John Mensah almost immediately scores for the Black Cats and they are cut to 14/1.

Fulham have been knocking on the door and Danny Murphy scores in the 22nd minute! Roy Hodgson’s team are chopped to 20/21 and Manchester United are now 13/5. We have seen Sir Alex Ferguson’s team come back several times over the years and they are 4/7 with bet365 to score the next goal. The Cottagers are 21/10 to score next and they sound like they are having plenty of joy against this makeshift defence.

Over at Eastlands, Sunderland are back! 2-2 and City are back to 8/11 to win the match after bet365 had previously quoted them at 1/14. There might be a few nervous punters hoping the home side can go further ahead!

After 30 minutes, it’s goalless at Ewood Park and Villa Park. Aston Villa are trading at 8/13 with bet365, although it’s 13/2 Stoke that have a goal harshly disallowed. Over in Lancashire, Tottenham are dictating the play and they are a tempting 5/4 with bet365. Blackburn are 11/4, but continue to struggle for goals.

Back to Craven Cottage and Man United were 5/6 before the match kicked off, although it’s Fulham are now 5/6 with bet365 as we hit the 38th minute. Roy Hodgson’s team are controlling the match and are good value for their lead. Meanwhile, Aston Villa are drifting towards the even-money mark, with bet365 going 8/11. Stoke are 6/1 and are defending stoutly, although will that disallowed goal come back to haunt them.

A Peter Crouch goal just before the interval see the bet365 match odds revised to Blackburn 11/1 – draw 7/2 – Tottenham 3/10. After a quick breather at half-time, it’s time to settle down for the second half and Bobby Zamora scores within seconds to make it 2-0 to Fulham. The Cottagers are now 1/10, with Manchester United 8/1 to turn this around.

Finally, the deadlock is broken at Villa Park with John Carew scoring on the hour mark. Martin O’Neill’s team had drifted to 6/5 before finding their way through and this is a clear example of why it pays to bide your time with the In-Play betting.

Another exciting In-Play Saturday at bet365 and it’s clear that the movement of prices often accurately reflects the balance of play in each match.

The sob story of Portsmouth is not getting any better at the moment. The club is some kind of serious turmoil and have a long way to go to get anywhere near being safe. They are rock bottom of the Premier League and favourites to get relegated. They have amassed just four points from 10 league games, and this is the type of fixture which would usually unburden some pressure, being free of the immense weight of fighting for top flight survival. Portsmouth are in such bad shape however, that they need a win and need one badly, and whether it is in the Carling Cup or the league, it will make no difference to them. Manager Paul Hart has an immense challenge on his hands to get the club safe, and keep the fans appeased.

Stoke on the other hand are giving a good account of themselves in the Premier League this season, highlighted by their 1-0 away at White Hart Lane on Saturday, beating third placed Tottenham. There is a huge difference between winning a game deservedly and one which is gained in a smash and grab kind of way. The latter is what happened on Saturday, not that Stoke will care too much how it came about. Tottenham were taken down to ten men going into the final ten minutes, as Aaron Lennon limped off. Spurs had already used all of their subs, and to their credit, Stoke took advantage of the situation by scoring the winner, even though they had been outclassed for most of the game.

All Pompey could muster on Saturday was a dull 0-0 draw against fellow strugglers Hull City, and it was easy to see why they have only scored five Premier League goals so far. Stoke on their travels haven’t been overwhelming, so this is a fixture where a draw would be likely, but has a lot of importance for both sides. For Stoke, a run in the Carling Cup would highlight their growing status, for Pompey, it would be a win and a chance at getting some confidence.

Portsmouth to win: 7/5 at Paddy Power
Draw: 12/5 at Boylesports
Stoke to win: 2/1 at Bet365

Betting Advice: Despite all their trials and tribulations, this is a game which could suit Portsmouth down to a tee. They won their last round 3-1 at Carlisle in what could have been a tricky game, but this is the one chance they can get to turn their season around. It is going to be an important sequence of games for them over the next week or so, and this could just be the catalyst they need.
Portsmouth to win 1-0: 7/1 at Stan James

Saturday 29^th August

English Premier League

Manchester United v Arsenal

The first match involving two of the ‘big 4’ takes place at Old Trafford on Saturday when Manchester United entertain free-scoring Arsenal in the early evening kick off.

United are notoriously slow starters in the league compared to their nearest rivals, particularly the two London clubs, Chelsea and tomorrow’s visitors, Arsenal. This may be down to the fact that they take on several high profile pre-season fixtures across the globe. The amount of travelling and playing involved is sure to take its toll so early on in the campaign. That said, they have won two o their three league matches thus far, with their only blemish being against newly promoted Burnley, a match they probably should have won.

Arsenal have started this season like a team who mean business. They have won all 4 of their competitive fixtures, 2 in the league and 2 Champions League qualifiers against Celtic, scoring an incredible 15 goals in the process. They have been a delight to watch going forward with the likes of Andrei Arshavin, Robin Van Persie and Eduardo all in scintillating early season form. The biggest plus for Arsene Wenger will be the fact that his team are scoring goals from all over the park. Their 10 SPL goals thus far have been shared around 7 players.

Man United, despite winning the league last season, only managed one victory over the other ‘big 4’ sides. That was against a despondent Chelsea side in January at Old Trafford. Their two matches against Arsenal were disappointing from their point of view, a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates was followed by a dour goalless draw towards of the end of the season.  Sir Alex Ferguson has set out to right this and has made it clear that they must do better in these games if they are to claim their 4^th successive Championship.

United have not had their problems to seek with regards to injuries. They will once again be without Edwin Van Der Sar Rafael de Silva, Rio Ferdinand and Obertan, while Owen Hargreaves remains on the sidelines long term. This will likely mean John O’Shea will revert to right back with Johnny Evans partnering Vidic in the centre of defence. Darren Fletcher should start in midfield alongside Michael Carrick with Ryan Giggs, Antonio Valencia and Nani fighting it out for the two wide positions. Wayne Rooney will partner Ditimar Berbatov in attack.

Arsenal also have their problems with injuries. Star man and Captain, Cesc Fabregas, is definitely out of tomorrow’s game as is Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott. One bit of good news is the return to fitness of Thomas Rosicky. The Czech attacker has not played a competitive match for the Gunners since January 2008 but is in the squad for selection after a pre-season setback – he’s likely to start on the bench however.

There will be many key battles tomorrow evening. One of the more intriguing battles will be Rooney up against Arsenal’s new £10m defender, Thomas Vermaelen. The Belgian stopper has settled into his new club seamlessly. His pace and strength, coupled with his timing in the air, have been noticeable already. He will have his biggest test thus far tomorrow when Rooney, who has 3 goals in as many matches, will look to get at him from the word go. The Man United attacker is relishing being played as an out and out forward again, after so much time spent in the wide areas. He’ll be a constant menace tomorrow and will be looking to add to his 6 career goals against the North London side.

I think Fabregas will be the biggest absentee from either side in this match. His ability on the ball is well publicised, but it’s his ability to get the best out of others around him that goes unnoticed. Arsenal are likely to start with Song, Denilson and Diaby in the middle of the park against United. All 3 are excellent players, but they’re relatively inexperienced and I think Ferguson will use that to his advantage. I fancy United to take all 3 points tomorrow in a match that should be full of incident.

My selection: Manchester United to beat Arsenal

Best odds available: 5/4 with Skybet

English Premier League

Stoke City v Sunderland

 placed Sunderland travel to Stoke City, in 9^th position after 3 games, in a match that is sure to be fiercely competitive at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Stoke never won many plaudits for their fancy football or flair last season for one simple reason – they didn’t play any. They decided to utilise their strengths and opted for route one football which obviously paid off as they are enjoying their 2^nd successive season in England’s top flight. They turned the Britannia stadium into something of a fortress last term, losing only 4 of their 18 matches played there.

Sunderland are now under the stewardship of Steve Bruce who jumped ship from Wigan in the close season. He has not been afraid to spend as he’s brought in the likes of Darren Bent, Frazier Campbell and Lee Cattermole all signing in multi-million pound deals. He has also retained most of last season’s squad which totally underachieved. The likes of Kieran Richardson, Anton Ferdinand and Kenwyne Jones are all capable of playing in the upper echelons of the Premier league but flattered to deceive last year.

Stoke started where they left off last season with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Burnley. Since then they have picked up a solitary away point from two away games where they faced Liverpool and Birmingham. They looked the better side for long spells at St Andrews and probably should have gained all 3 points.

Sunderland have won 2 of their first 3 matches. Their two wins were against Bolton on the opening day of the season and at home to Blackburn last weekend. They can consider themselves very fortunate to have taken anything from the game let alone the victory. Blackburn dominated the 90 minutes, missing a hatful of chances and had a goal harshly chopped off.

City have been busy this week with the signings of Robert Huth and Tuncay Sanli from Middlesbrough. Huth may go straight into the side tomorrow should Ryan Shawcross fail a fitness test whilst Tuncay may have to settle for a place on the bench. Sunderland are likely to stick with a front two of Bent and Jones with Richardson and Steed Malbranque expected to provide the craft and support to the strikers.

Sunderland’s defenders have struggled with a physical presence this season, most notably against Chelsea in a 3-1 defeat. Didier Drogba bossed the central defenders that night, and although I’m not saying he’s in the same league as Drogba in terms of quality, James Beattie will provide a similar threat, especially in the air. I thought Sunderland looked anything but impressive last weekend whilst you always know what you’re going to get from a Tony Pulis side. For that reason, I am tipping the home side to prevail by the odd goal.

My selection: Stoke City to beat Sunderland

Best odds available: 7/5 with Betfred

Good Luck and Happy Punting

Saturday 7^th February

English Premiership

West Brom v Newcastle

Tomorrow’s clash at the Hawthorns is the proverbial 6-pointer and a match which neither side can afford to lose as we close in the final third of the season.

The visitors have had a lot of upheaval during the January transfer window losing Shay Given and Charles N’Zogbia, whilst they brought in Kevin Nolan and Ryan Taylor, whilst also securing a short-term deal for former Rangers enigma, Peter Lovenkrands.  Given is obviously the big miss, as able a deputy as Steve Harper is, the little Irishman has been a huge player for the Magpies throughout the last decade and it will be interesting to see how they cope without his presence from now until the end of the season. Newcastle may welcome back a trio of strikers in the shape of Viduka, Martins and Smith. They have trained this week but it may be a risk to deploy any of them from a start considering the length of time they have been out for.

West Brom have also been busy in the transfer window. They acquired Arsenal kid, Jay Simpson, on loan till the end of the season. Simpson, however, picked up an injury during the week and is a doubt for tomorrow’s match. As well as that signing, manager Tony Mowbray has also moved to bring in another two strikers. Argentine striker, Juan Carlos Menseguez, and Frenchman Marc-Antoine Fortune have also been added as has PSG midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu. Slowly but surely the baggies injury list is beginning to shorten. Key players are regaining fitness, the likes of Koren, Brunt, Meite and Paul Robinson should all be fit to take their place on Saturday, as should Scottish internationalist, James Morrison.

The home side have begun to pick up more points, especially at home. They have managed to pick up maximum points from 3 of their last 4 home games, including victories over Spurs and Man City. Newcastle’s away form leaves a lot to be desired. Since a pick-up in results when Joe Kinnear first took over, the Geordies have resorted to form; they have lost their last 3 road games, looking incredibly poor in them as well.

The baggies know that their home form will be key to have any chance of survival and their recent form is encouraging. Newcastle may be about to welcome back a number of players, but until they get a few games under their belts, and the new signings adapt to their style of play, I can see them continuing to struggle. The fact that they will also be without Shay Given adds further weight to this reasoning.

My selection: West Brom to beat Newcastle

The best price available for a West Brom win is 13/10 with Ladbrokes

English Premiership

Sunderland v Stoke City

Another clash between two sides battling relegation takes place at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. It may not be a must win match, but it’s certainly a must not lose game.

Sunderland have been fairly quiet during January with regards to signings. Apart from the sale of El Hadji Diouf and the buys of Calum Davenport and Tal Ben Haim, they go with what they had before the window. The home side will have to contend with a trio of injury problems at the heart of their defence so it’s likely that one, if not both, of the new signings will play from the start.

Stoke have kept all their key players whilst adding two strikers in the shape of James Beattie and Henri Camara.  Beattie has already scored twice for his new club and is proving to be a shrewd bit of business on the part of Tony Pulis. Unfortunately for City, they will be without Rory Delap who has contributed to more than half of their 21 league goals this season, he is suspended for 3 matches after his sending off last Saturday. Stoke also brought in Stephen Kelly from Birmingham and he could take his place from the start because of Delap’s suspension.  

Sunderland fielded a much changed team during Wednesday’s FA cup reply away at Blackburn. Richardson, Cisse, Jones and Whithead are all expected to return amongst others. Manager Ricky Sbragia has definitely made Sunderland harder to beat, especially at home. Since his appointment he has only suffered on league defeat in the North East, winning 2 and drawing 2. Jones and Cisse are beginning to get a better understanding of each other and both are scoring goals regularly. They should also have defeated Newcastle at St James’ last week. Poor finishing and a dodgy penalty decision cost them another two points.

Stoke are only one of two sides yet to pick up three points on the road this season, they also have the lowest point tally from games away from home this year, a total of 3. As well as those statistics, they have conceded the highest amount of goals on their travels, a staggering 27. They have been unlucky on occasion, a perfect example being their last minute collapse at Stamford Bridge last month. They have lost 5 of their last 6 matches away from the Britannia in the league.   

With the backing of a raucous home crowd and a front pairing of proven quality in the way of Cisse and Jones, I expect Sunderland to have just a little bit too much for poor travelers, Stoke City.

My Selection: Sunderland to beat Stoke City

The best price available for a Sunderland victory is 5/6 available with several bookies including Skybet

Good luck and happy punting  

Cardiff v Sheffield Wednesday

English Championship

Saturday 20^th December 15.00

Cardiff go into Saturday’s clash with Wednesday at Ninian park having taken 4 points from two difficult away games so they should be in great heart. The visitors will be disappointed not to have defeated Bristol City at home last weekend but they themselves have gained a win and a draw from their last two matches on the road, albeit against easier opposition than the bluebirds.

Cardiff have been nothing short of excellent at home this season with only Birmingham and Wolves taken all three points back home with them. The hosts have brushed aside Crystal Palace and Preston recently and can count themselves unlucky to only have drawn with Reading who scored snatched a late point.

Sheffield Wednesday, despite their last two away matches, have found it tough going away from fortress Hillsborough. They have only managed two wins from their 11 road games and a total of 11 points from a possible 33.

Cardiff will hope on-loan hitman, Michael Chopra, will pass a late fitness test to take his place alongside Jay Bothroyd, who miraculously recovered from injury last weekend to put Ipswich to the sword. Top scorer Ross McCormack misses out again but they haven’t missed him thus far. Sheffield Wednesday will be without 4 regulars and possibly a further two in the shape of veteran Steve Watson and wide-man, Wade Small.

The home side face a difficult next match away to Reading so will be doubly determined to get the festive run of games off to a winning start tomorrow. With the play-offs as tight as they are they know their home form is crucial to any sort of challenge and will go out tomorrow expecting nothing less than all 3 points.

It will be a tough, competitive match, but with Joe Ledley and Stephen McPhail providing that wee bit extra quality, the home side should just edge it.

My selection: Cardiff to beat Sheffield Wednesday

The best price available for a Cardiff victory is 5/6 available at www.online-betting.me.uk/links/Betfred

Inverness C. Thistle v Aberdeen

Scottish Premier League

Saturday 20^th December 15.00

Anyone going to tomorrow’s match does so with my best wishes, having been through in Inverness for work this week, take it from me, it is absolutely freezing.

Speaking to followers of Caley, it is apparent that all is not well at the highland club. Having lost 4 of their last 5 matches and the last 3, the home side go into the match tomorrow desperate to stop to rot against the closest club to them in the SPL, geographically. The fans seem to place most of the blame on manager Craig Brewster and if you believe the local press, it would seem he is in big danger of being sacked if he cannot improve his side’s fortunes rather quickly

Aberdeen have won their last 4 games at home but have not managed to pick up three points on the road since mid-October. Since then, however, they have played 4 of the top 6 on their travels, picking up a point at both Edinburgh clubs but succumbing to Rangers and Dundee United. The only other side they have lost to away this term was Celtic in September, so their form has not been as bad as it seems.

Aberdeen’s star player returns to bolster their squad tomorrow afternoon. Sone Aluko has been one of the most exciting talents in the SPL this season and deservedly won November’s young player of the month last week. He will almost certainly start tomorrow and will hope to be joined by fellow winger, Jamie Smith who faces a late fitness test. With Scottish internationalist Lee Miller bagging two goals last week, the ICT defence could be in for a tough time.

The home side welcome back Ross Tokely who will hope to keep Aluko quiet and will have for his side to stand any chance of getting a result.

The home fans will be looking for their team to go at the visitors tomorrow from the first whistle. If this is the way Brewster goes about things, it could play straight into the visitors’ hands who have pace to burn going forward with the aforementioned Smith and Aluko as well as striker Darren Mackie.

The away side will also be buoyed by the fact they’ve never lost a match at the Caley stadium and have won 5 of the 7 matches they two have played in Inverness. They have sold out their allocation and their fans come through in expectant mood.

I fear the end is nigh for Brew and he could be undone by one of his former clubs on Saturday.

My selection: Aberdeen to beat Inverness Caley Thistle

The best price available for an Aberdeen win is 8/5 available atwww.online-betting.me.uk/links/boylesports   

Blackburn v Stoke City

English Premiership

Saturday 20^th December 15.00

New Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce could hardly have picked a better match for his first in charge. His new troops are up against a side yet to taste victory away from home in the Premiership this season. Stoke have only picked up 3 points from 24 on their travels and they will have to contend with the new manager syndrome which has haunted so many teams in the past.

With the exception of David Bentley, it is basically the same squad available to Allardyce that finished in 7th place for Mark Hughes last season. The likes of Santa Cruz, Pedersen, Warnock and Dunn are all exceptionally talented individuals just begging to be given a new lease of life and an injection of confidence.

Allardyce is a past master at man management and he will need every bit of his talent to guide Rovers to safety this term. He will be extremely determined to show that he was unfairly treated during his time at Newcastle and will want to get off to the best possible start with a victory tomorrow. Let’s face it, if he’s going to keep them in the league, they have to be able to beat sides like Stoke at home.

The visitors were probably dreading a quick appointment by the Blackburn board but will go into the match after snatching a terrific late draw at St James’ Park two weeks ago after being 2-0 down. They will have to go in search of their first win without key players in the shape of Sidibe and Lawrence.

Blackburn have far more quality than Stoke all over the park. They have been a top 10 EPL side for several sides and players do not turn bad overnight. They will go at the visitors from the word go tomorrow and the crowd will back their new manager from the off.

My selection: Blackburn to beat Stoke City

The best odds available for a Blackburn win are 17/20 available at www.online-betting.me.uk/links/bluesquare

Bet on this Weekend’s Sport

Following England’s sensational win in Zagreb during the week there is sure to be a feel good factor at many Premiership grounds this weekend as the League returns after the International break. The atmosphere at Anfield is sure to be electric as Manchester United travel to old rivals Liverpool, while on the blue side of Manchester there is the clash of the cash as City‘s new Arabian owners welcome Roman Abramovich and Chelsea. On Sunday Stoke City host their first live Premiership game against Everton, and on Monday night Spurs take on Villa in the race to break into the Champions league.

Liverpool v Manchester United, Saturday, Sky Sports 1, 12:45pm

United go into this game in an unfamiliar position below Liverpool in the league, and would love to beat their old enemies in their own back yard. Following a disappointing first day draw, United got their title campaign back on track with a hard fought 1-0 away win at Portsmouth last time out. They are boosted this weekend as Dimitar Berbatov is set to start for the first time, as strike partner to Rooney and Tevez. In contrast to United’s attacking addition, Liverpool are set to be without their two most influential players, Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Both were injured in Liverpool’s 0-0 draw at Villa Park just before the international break, and join the defensive pair of Sami Hyppia and summer signing Philipp Degenin in the Anfield treatment room. Liverpool will be hoping their influential skipper is back for what is sure to be a close game.

Liverpool are 2/1 with Centrebet to continue their good start, while Man Utd. are 11/8 with BGbet to celebrate Berbatov’s first game with a victory.

If Nani scores at anytime during Manchester United v Liverpool, BGbet will refund all losing first goalscorer stakes on the match.¹

Place a correct score bet on Manchester United v Liverpool, and if your bet is beaten by an injury time goal, BGbet will refund your losing stake on that game.¹

Manchester City v Chelsea, Saturday, Setanta Sports 1, 5:30pm

Following the dramatic events of transfer deadline day this fixture at the City of Manchester stadium has taken on a new edge as the two richest clubs in English football meet. City fans who welcomed the arrival of the Abu Dhabi United Group and its billions will see this as the beginning of a new era of success at City. The new owners signalled their intent by stealing Robinho from under the noses of Saturday’s opponents Chelsea, perhaps the first time Chelsea have been outbid in the Abramovich era. As well as Robinho, City will have Shaun Wright Phillips lining up against his former team following his brace against Sunderland a fortnight ago. Chelsea, however, will welcome back striker Didier Drogba for his first game of the season, while Joe Cole is expected to start despite the injury he sustained in England’s mid week victory over Croatia.

BetWithRed have City as the 4/1 underdogs despite Robinho’s presence, and Chelsea are the 10/11 favourites at VCbet to win the "Clash of the Cash".

If Shaun Wright Phillips scores at anytime during Manchester City v Chelsea, BGbet will refund all losing first goalscorer stakes on the match.¹

Stoke City v Everton, Sunday, Sky Sports 1, 1:30pm

Stoke will be confident as they prepare to play in front of the Premiership camera’s for the first time, following their thrilling 3-2 win over Aston Villa in their last game at the Britannia. Mamady Sidibe’s injury time winner three weeks ago was the end to a exciting contest that saw Villa twice come from behind to draw level. Following that City travelled to the Riverside where they were victims of a late winner as Tuncay took advantage of Boro’s one man advantage to fire home an 85th minute winner. The fans at the Britannia can expect to see a hatful of goals if Everton’s early season form is anything to go by, with a 2-1 win over West Brom being sandwiched by 3-2 and 3-0 home defeats to Blackburn and Portsmouth respectively.

Stoke are considered outsiders with Centrebet at 12/5, as BetWithRed make Everton 11/10 favourites.

If Richard Cresswell scores at anytime during Stoke City v Everton, BGbet will refund all losing first goalscorer stakes on the match.¹
If Stoke City v Everton finishes 0-0 BGbet will refund all losing correct score bets on that game.¹

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa, Monday, Setanta Sports 1, 8:00pm

White Hart Lane is the venue for this weeks Monday Night Football as Spurs look for their first win of the season against Aston Villa. Successive 2-1 defeats to Boro and Sunderland left Spurs fans with familiar feelings as pre season hopes were replaced with despair again. However, a battling 1-1 draw against London neighbours Chelsea two weeks ago will have lifted spirits amongst Juande Ramos’ men, and they will come out all guns blazing to secure their first win of the new campaign. Villa will be hoping new boy James Milner can provide the fresh spark that was evidently lacking in their drab 0-0 draw with Liverpool last time. That followed the thrilling 3-2 lose to Stoke in their last game away from Villa Park. They will be aiming to reproduce the form that saw them overwhelm Man City 4-2 on the opening day, as Gabby Agbonlahor hit a hat trick to seal the victory.

VCbet think the 11/10 favourites Tottenham can get their first Premiership victory here, while BGbet are 9/4 about Villa getting back to winning ways.

If James Milner scores at anytime during Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa, BGbet will refund all losing first goalscorer stakes on the match.¹

1st SCORER 2nd CHANCE
Applies to all Premier League matches this weekend-Saturday, Sunday AND Monday
Place a First Goal scorer bet and if your player fails to score the first goal but scores at any other time in the match VCbet will refund your stake as a free bet on any future match.²

Weekend Racing from Doncaster, Live on Channel 4, Saturday, 2:00pm

As part of this weekend’s St. Leger festival at Doncaster, one of the feature races is the Portland Handicap at 2:05pm in the build up to the St Leger itself at 3:10pm.
Cheveton is the clear favourite ahead of a packed field of 22 expected to line up for this year’s race. Following five victories in a row, four of which Saturday’s jockey Jim Crowley was aboard for, Cheveton is clearly the one to beat, and the 8/1 on offer at VCbet is sure to drop before the off.
The rest of the field is quite closely matched, and it will be up to the likes of Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori to push their rides out of this chasing pack. Moore saddles Strike Up The Band, a 12/1 chance with BGbet, while Dettori’s ride Even and Odds is as big as 20/1 with VCbet, despite his victory here in 2003 on 11/1 Halmahera.

Both BGbet and VCbet are running great refund offers at Doncaster this weekend.
If your horse gets beaten by a short-head or nose in The Portland Handicap at Doncaster on Saturday (2.05pm), BGbet will refund your stake in the form of free bets.3
FROZEN OUT…

3.10 Doncaster, Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes, Live on Ch4 & VCbet
If your selection finishes second to FROZEN FIRE in the St.Leger Stakes at Doncaster, VCbet will refund all losing win stake as a free bet!4
Racing fans, get better odds than the SP every time guaranteed with Centrebet. SP+ offers you one roll over the official SP and is available on every meeting from the UK and South Africa, round the clock, 7 days a week.
Open an account with any of the following bookmakers and receive a free bet:

Odds subject to fluctuation – Odds taken at 12.00pm on 12/09/2008

1. Refunds will be in the form of free bets. Maximum Stake £50. Singles Only. Web Customers Only.

2. Maximum refund £100 per person per match. Applies to singles only, placed via telephone, internet or mobile. Does not apply to in-running bets. Free bets credited within 48 hours.

3. T&C’s

• Min Stake £5 Max Stake £50
• Bets must be placed after 10am Saturday
• Singles only
• Win Or Each Way
• Web Customers only
• Free bets will be available from Monday 10am

4. Max free bet £100 (€120) per person. Applies to win only bets. Singles only. Internet and telephone bets only. Ante-Post bets do not apply. Free bets available from 11am Monday morning

by Matthew Chapple

A very good start to the Barclays Premiership season which sees Chelsea occupy the top spot with Liverpool level on points in second. Those two, along with Manchester United, are the only sides who have yet to taste defeat. Chelsea got off to the best possible start by thrashing Portsmouth at home in their opening fixture 4-0 and followed it up with a narrow 1-0 away win over Wigan. They let their 100% record slip at home to Tottenham Hotspur when a defensive error let in Darren Bent to level the match at 1-1.

Liverpool have made a shakey start to the season with narrow victorys over both Sunderland and Middlesborough but could only manage a dull -0- draw against Aston Villa at Villa. One slight positive for them is that they have got the result without playing well. When they do start playing well they should pick up points more comfortably. They have been delt a blow which is that they will be without Gerrard for the match against Manchester United and Fernando Torres could also miss the tie.

Their haven’t been many surprises so far with the only real shock result coming at Old Trafford where Manchester United were held by Newcastle in their opening fixture. Also, a late Djibril Cisse goal seen all 3 points go to Sunderland when they beat Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane 2-1.

Hull got their first ever Premier league victory at the first attempt when they beat Fulham 2-1. With 4 points from their first three games they find themselves in a respectable 10th position. The other two new clubs haven’t made matching starts with Stoke being hammered 4-1 in their first outing and West Brom picking up just the one point after their first three fixtures.

Outright Betting: Chelsea are justified 6/5 favourites after their first three preformances and look a good bet as they will almost certainly be thereabouts come the end of the season. Despite Liverpool currently lying in second place in the table, the bookies have priced them up as just 4th favourites for the title at 8/1. Arsenal look a poor bet at 6/1 after they looked shakey when they lost to Fulham on their travels while Man Utd are second favourites at 7/4.

Relegation Betting: Despite Hull finding themselves in 10th position at this early stage the bookies have priced them up as joint favourites for the drop with Stoke City at 3/10. With West brom not far behind in the betting at evens, it is clear to see that the bookies don’t fancy their chances of survival. The value in this market looks to be with Bolton Wanderers. They are currently 3/1 and with no recognised striker they could struggle for goals. They may have thrashed Stoke City 4-1 but Stoke were poor and they won’t get many easier games then that.

Arsenal
Players in: Aaron Ramsey, Samir Nasri, Mikael Silvestre
Players out: Mathieu Famini, Jens Lehmann, Kerrea Gilbert, Philippe Senderos, Justin Hoyte, Alexander Hleb, Gilberto Silva
Key Player: Cesc Fabregas
Prediction: 4th Despite them having a very young and in-experienced side Arsenal once again finished in the champions league places in 3rd. They have lost several key players though with Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb moving on to so called better things with AC Milan and Barcelona. They did eventually manage to keep hold of Adebayor who was second top goalscorer in the premiership last season and with Cesc Fabregas and new boy Samir Nasri providing the creativity, Arsenal should be thereabouts come the end of the season.

Aston Villa
Players in: Curtis Davies, Steve Sidwell, Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Luke Young, Nickey Shorey, Carlos Cuellar, James Milner
Players out: Patrik Berger, Thomas Sorensen, Luke Moore, Shaun Maloney
Key player: Gareth Barry
Prediction: 5th We like Aston Villa a lot. They are a young side full of pace. Gareth Barry has the ability to control the midfield while pacey English winger Ashley Young has the ability to beat his man and put in a decent ball to the two tall forwards, John Carew and Gabriel Agbonahlor. They did very well to keep Gareth barry out of the clutches of Liverpool and they have a great chance of snatching a European spot.

Blackburn Rovers
Players in: Paul Robinson, Carlos Villanueva, Danny Simpson, Vincenzo Grella, Keith Andrews
Players out: David Bentley, Brad Friedel,
Key Player: Roque Santa Cruz
Prediction: 9th With a new manager at the helm in the form of Paul Ince, Blackburn will be looking to build on their finish of 7th last season. A big negative is the transfer of David Bentley. Not only did he provide the strikers with extremely good service from the wing but he contributed with his fair share of goals. They did keep Santa Cruz who is now their most high profile player and with him singing a new long term contract, Fans will be hoping for more goals from the Paraguay international this season. The key to their season will be centred around this man and if he can continue scoring like he did last season then they could have a decent season.

Bolton Wanderers
Players in: Johan Elmander, Danny Shittu, Ebi Smolarek, Fabrice Muamba
Players out: Daniel Braaten, Abdoulaye Meite, El-Hadji Diouf
Key Player: Kevin Nolan
Prediction: 17th A club with only one real aim for the season which is Premiership survival. Gone the days when they used to finish around the UEFA Cup spots. They lack quality players with their captain being their only player worth mentioning. They spent somewhere in the region of £12,000,000 on Toulouse striker Johan Elmander which i don’t think is a good piece of business. Kevin Davies has lost his sharpness and won’t bag them enough goals this season. They have to beat the teams around them else they could be lured into a relegation dogfight.

Chelsea
Players in: Jose Bosingwa, Anderson Deco, Slobodan Rajkovic
Players out: Ben Sahar, Steve Sidwell, Claude Makelele, Khalid Boulahruz, Tal Ben Haim, Claudio Pizarro, Andriy Shevchenko, Shaun Wright-Philips
Key Player: Anderson Deco
Prediction: 1st Chelsea already had one of the strongest teams in Europe but went ahead and improved their squad by adding two Portuguese internationals in Jose Bosingwa and play-maker Anderson Deco from Barcelona. Deco will be a fantastic addition to Scolari’s squad. He has the ability to pull the strings and can ship in with a few goals. Bosingwa also adds more width down the right hand side and will be tricky to handle. With Lampard and Drogba remaining with the blues Chelsea remain one of the favourites for the crown and will certainly be up there come the end.

Everton
Players in: Segundo Castillo, Carlo Nash, Louis Saha
Players out: Lee Carsley, Thomas Gravesen, Andrew Johnson
Key Player: Mikel Arteta
Prediction: 12th Everton had a very good season last term and finished in 5th position. However, they haven’t brought in any new recruits over the summer that are worth making a note off with maybe the exception of Louis Saha. Everton do lack quality in depth and with Andrew Johnson heading to Fulham, if they were to get a few injuries then they could struggle. Mikel Arteta will be key for them. If he could form some sort of partnership with Louis Saha then maybe they could have a decent season but we doubt they have enough to match last season finish.

Fulham
Players in: Mark Schwarzer, Zolton Gera, Toni Kallio, Bobby Zamora, John Pantsil, Andrew Johnson, Dickson Etuhu, Julian Gray
Players out: Dejan Stefanovic, Ricardo Batista, Hameur Bouazza, Steven Davis, Alexei Smertin, Antti Niemi
Key Player: Andrew Johnson
Prediction: 15th Probably the most active team in the transfer market over the summer which seen Andrew Johnson and Zolton Gera join the Fulham squad. Both could be very influential. Fulham will be hoping the new boys will help them push away from the relegation zone and a mid-table finish would be a great result for Fulham. Their early win over Arsenal at home proved they can play very well on their day and i think they will have enough to stay away from a relegation battle.

Hull City
Players in: Craig Fagan, Geovanni, Bernard Mendy, George Boateng, Peter Halmosi, Anthony Gardner, Marlon King, Daniel Cousin
Players out: David Livermore, Simon Walton
Key Player: Daniel Cousin
Prediction: 20th With very little in quality entering the club over the season. Hull could find themselves in a tricky situation earlier then then they would want. The Premiership is one of the hardest leagues in the world and Hull just don’t have enough decent players to survive this time around. Geovanni looked decent in his opening game but he did the same at Man City and rarely got a gamer come the end of the season. Daniel Cousin could be a decent capture and they will need him to get his shooting boots on straight away if they are to put up a fight.

Liverpool
Players in: Phillip Degan, Andrea Dossena, Diego Cavelieri, David N’Gog, Robbie Keane, Albert Riera
Players out: John Arne Riise, Harry Kewell, Danny Guthrie, Peter Crouch, Scott Carson, Sebastien Leto, Andriy Voronin, Steve Finnan
Key Player: Steven Gerrard
Prediction: 3rd The under achievers in Liverpool will be hoping to close the gap on the top two this season. They were disappointing last season finishing in 4th. 11 points behind winners Manchester United. Fernando Torres was phenomenal last season scoring over 30 goals in his first season for the reds. He will need to pick up where he left off and form another lethal partnership with Gerrard if they are to get closer to Chelsea and Man Utd. Robbie Keane should be a good buy if he clicks with Torres. After the first few games they have yet to gel but I’m sure they will get it together soon. We’re not sure if they have what it takes to go all the way this season.

Manchester City
Players in: Jo, Robinho, Tal Ben Haim, Shaun Wright-Philips, Pablo Zabeleta
Players out: Emile Mpenza, Geovanni, Georgios Samaras, Bernando Corradi, Vedran Corluka
Key Player: Robinho
Prediction: 6th A turbulent last day of the transfer market saw Manchester City get bought by Abu Dhabi who have already promised the fans a top 4 finish this season and the title next season. We seriously doubt their first claim. They purchased the club too late and although they have made a fantastic signing in Robinho, they still lack quality in depth. They are very inconsistent and Mark Hughes would need the likes of Wright-Philips and Elano to perform week in, week out if they are to get close to their target. They need a lot more players to achieve this and we fancy them to fall short.

Manchester United
Players in: Dimitar Berbatov
Players out: Chris Eagles, Louis Saha, Mikael Silvestre, Fraizer Campbell
Key Player: Christiano Ronaldo
Prediction: 2nd With very little transfer activity over the summer man Utd will be looking to their new signing Berbatov for goals. With Ronaldo out until mid October they will rely heavily on Scholes, Carrick and Rooney for creativity in the center of the park. Wayne Rooney has yet to get going while Tevez is yet to score. If Berbatov settles in well at the club then he could be a great signing. It will probably be a two horse race between them and Chelsea which could go all the way once more.

Middlesborough
Players in: Marvin Emnes, Didier Digard, Justin Hoyte
Players out: Mark Schwarzer, Fabio Rochemback, Lee Catermole, Luke Young
Key Player: Stuart Downing
Prediction: 10th Gareth Southgate will be looking to push his side into the top half of the table and with players like Alfonso Alves and Stuart Downing, they have a chance. They have a defender in David Wheater who can score from set plays and looks destined for a regular England place. Stuart Downing is a class apart in that team. Many clubs have shown interest but yet to confirm it with a serious offer. He will be their key player for the season. He can beat his man on the wing and can certainly whip in a decent ball. Alfonso shown bits of good form last season but will need to vastly improve his form if Middlesborough are to make this season worth remembering.

Newcastle United
Players in: Jonas Gutierrez, Danny Guthrie, Fabricio Coloccini, Nacho Gonzalez, Xisco
Players out: Stephen Carr, Peter Ramage, David Rozenhal, Emre, James Milner
Key Player: Michael Owen
Prediction: 13th A club in turmoil right now. With Kevin Keegan walking out and the departure of James Milner, it is clear there is unrest at the club. With the new manager still yet to be decided it is a surprise Michael Owen didn’t follow Keegan out the door. He is too good for Newcastle. His is rather unfortunate with all his injuries but when he plays he is England’s best striker by far. Jonas Gutierrez looks a good buy but if Newcastle are to have any sort of season they will need Owen to avoid any more injuries. Troubles in the boardroom doesn’t help a club and we fancy them to struggle this season.

Portsmouth
Players in: Glen Little, Ben Sahar, Peter Crouch, Younes Kaboul
Players out: Sulley Muntari, Pedro Mendes
Key Player: Jermaine Defoe
Prediction: 7th Harry Redknapp really has transformed Portsmouth and with the amount he has spent over the summer we reckon they will do alright this term. Sulley Muntari moving to Inter Milan will be a massive loss and he was a rock in the centre of midfield. The capture of Liverpool forward Peter Crouch looks a decent one and if he and Defoe can click form the off then they could form a good partnership. Defoe will enjoy playing off Crouch’s knock-downs and they could complement each other. They will need to work hard to get a UEFA spot but they have a good chance.

Stoke City
Players in: Dave Kitson, Thomas Sorensen, Abdoulaye Faye, Ibrahima Sonko, Tom Soares, Danny Higginbottom
Players out: Marlon Broomes, Jon Parkin
Key Player: Dave Kitson
Prediction: 18th Another of the new boys in Stoke City. They have a tough challenge if they are to survive this season. Like Hull they have failed to buy anyone of real quality and lack depth. Dave Kitson could be a good signing and if he contributes with goals then they could have a slight chance of surviving. They are a powerful side and their best chance of getting goals looks to be from set pieces. They will have a tough season ahead which could end in disappointment.

Sunderland
Players in: Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda, El-Hadji Diouf, Steed Malbranque, Djibril Cisse, David Healy, Anton Ferdinand, George McCartney
Players out: Andy Cole, Dickson Etuhu, Danny Higginbottom
Key Player: El-Hadji Diouf
Prediction: 11th Roy Keane did well to get his side to 15th in the league table last season and has made signings over the summer in a bid to improve on that finish. Diouf is a lively character and could be just what Keane needs. Not only can he score but he can create chances as well. Djibril Cisse will also be crucial for Sunderland this season. Keane has loaned him from Marseille and it took him just minutes to repay his manager and score the winner over Spurs. Anton Ferdinand should strengthen their back four along with pacey full back Pascal Chimbonda from Spurs. They have put in some decent performances thus far but were rather unlucky to lose to Liverpool in their opening fixture. A win over Sours was duly deserved and a sign of things to come possibly. We fancy them to better their position this time around.

Tottenham Hotspur
Players in: Geovani Dos Santos, Luka Modric, Gomes, David Bentley, Roman Pavlychenko, Fraizer Campbell, Vedran Corluka
Players out: Teemu Tainio, Paul Robinson, Pascal Chimbonda, Robbie Keane, Dimitar Berbatov, Steed Malbranque, Younes Kaboul
Key Player: Luka Modric
Prediction: 8th A disappointing season last year looks set to continue after a poor start once again. With two defeats against Middlesborough and Sunderland and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea shows their in-different form. They are very inconsistent despite the quality they have at the club. The fans will be devastated with the departures of both Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov and will be looking towards Darren Bent and new signing Pavlychenko for goals. Luke Modric has the ability to play his part in the centre of midfield but Tottenham are too inconsistent to mount any sort of challenge to the UEFA cup spot. Another disappointing season beckons.

West Brom
Players in: Luke Moore, Gianni Zuiverloon, Marek Cech, Scott Carson, Borja Valero, Ryan Donk
Players out: Zolton Gera, Curtis Davies, Kevin Philips
Key Player: Scott Carson
Prediction: 19th A season at the foot of the table beckons for WBA. Despite spending a fair amount over the summer they still lack a recognised striker. I honestly cannot see where the goals will come from and they will rely heavily on Scott Carson in goal to keep out their opponents. With just 1 points from the first 3 games it doesn’t look good. Them and Hull looked doomed from the off.

West Ham
Players in: Valon Behami, David Di Michele
Players out: Bobby Zamore, John Pantsil, Richard Wright, Anton Ferdinand, George McCartney
Key Player: Dean Ashton
Prediction: 16th Another club in trouble after Alan Curbishley walked out on West Ham just last week. The board were selling several key players without his consent with Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney both heading out of the club without Curbishley’s acknowledgement. They are another club i think will struggle this season as they don’t have any players that stand out in the creativity department. Dean Ashton can score when given the chance but i seriously doubt they can provide the English forward with consistent good supply. Too many good players have left with very little in return. Wouldn’t be surprised if they were involved in a battle for survival come the end of the season.

Wigan Athletic
Players in: Daniel De Ridder, Olivier Kapo, Amr Zaki, Lee Catermole
Players out: Marcus Bent, David Cotterill, Marlon King, Carlo Nash
Key Player: Wilson Palacios
Prediction: 14th Wigan should go well this season. They were terribly unlucky to lose their fixture with Chelsea after they went down 1-0 at home but enjoyed the majority of the possession and had the better chances. They followed this performance with a great victory over Hull which ended 5-0. Palacios and Valencia look good on the wing while new signing Zaki looks sharp in front of goal. If they can keep hold of Emile Heskey for the whole season then they should go well and stay clear of the drop.