Blind Squirrel Syndrome
Last week I made my predictions on the weekend's games. Turns out I got 4 out of 10 correct, highlighted by my perfect prediction of the Arsenal - Blackburn game.
Sunderland vs Liverpool - The wheels came off the bus for Sunderland while Liverpool was unlucky not to get a win against Chelsea. Look for Sunderland to defend in numbers, which means we'll get to see if Liverpool has learned how to unlock a packed defense. Hard to pick against Liverpool right now. Liverpool 2-0
Chelsea vs Portsmouth - Portsmouth is a strong, solid team, but Chelsea is the better. Chelsea 1-0
Arsenal vs Man City - This looks like an important fixture. Man City is on fire, and Arsenal is the likely candidate to drop out of the big four, so they don't want to fall too far behind early in the season. Man City 2-1
Derby vs Birmingham - Relegation battle, Derby looks like the worse team, but they're at home. Tie 2-2
Aston Villa vs Fulham - Fulham is without Brian McBride, and hasn't put up any convincing score lines. Aston Villa just feels like a better team, and they're at home. Aston Villa 1-0
West Ham vs Wigan - Maybe West Ham's first game was City being good rather than West Ham being bad. But Wigan has taken care of business against 2 lesser teams. Why do I feel like Wigan will fail here? Tie 1-1
Bolton vs Reading - Bolton is looking awful. Reading just finished a rough first 3 games. Reading 3-0
Everton vs Blackburn - Blackburn was lucky to get any points against Arsenal, and feel like a mid-table team. Everton is playing some solid football and are looking to make up for last week. Everton 2-0
Middlesbrough vs Newcastle - Middlesborough is going to struggle this season, but Newcastle is still working on getting everyone up to speed. Tie 0-0
Man United vs Tottenham - United is in trouble. Injuries, suspensions and a bad start to the season is going to test Ferguson, but he has always found a way to get his team in gear for the Christmas break. Unfortunately, it's not Christmas yet and Jol is fighting for his life at Tottenham. Tottenham 3-1
Sunderland vs Liverpool - The wheels came off the bus for Sunderland while Liverpool was unlucky not to get a win against Chelsea. Look for Sunderland to defend in numbers, which means we'll get to see if Liverpool has learned how to unlock a packed defense. Hard to pick against Liverpool right now. Liverpool 2-0
Chelsea vs Portsmouth - Portsmouth is a strong, solid team, but Chelsea is the better. Chelsea 1-0
Arsenal vs Man City - This looks like an important fixture. Man City is on fire, and Arsenal is the likely candidate to drop out of the big four, so they don't want to fall too far behind early in the season. Man City 2-1
Derby vs Birmingham - Relegation battle, Derby looks like the worse team, but they're at home. Tie 2-2
Aston Villa vs Fulham - Fulham is without Brian McBride, and hasn't put up any convincing score lines. Aston Villa just feels like a better team, and they're at home. Aston Villa 1-0
West Ham vs Wigan - Maybe West Ham's first game was City being good rather than West Ham being bad. But Wigan has taken care of business against 2 lesser teams. Why do I feel like Wigan will fail here? Tie 1-1
Bolton vs Reading - Bolton is looking awful. Reading just finished a rough first 3 games. Reading 3-0
Everton vs Blackburn - Blackburn was lucky to get any points against Arsenal, and feel like a mid-table team. Everton is playing some solid football and are looking to make up for last week. Everton 2-0
Middlesbrough vs Newcastle - Middlesborough is going to struggle this season, but Newcastle is still working on getting everyone up to speed. Tie 0-0
Man United vs Tottenham - United is in trouble. Injuries, suspensions and a bad start to the season is going to test Ferguson, but he has always found a way to get his team in gear for the Christmas break. Unfortunately, it's not Christmas yet and Jol is fighting for his life at Tottenham. Tottenham 3-1