01.18
Death from above!
With snow blanketing much of the UK, where better to turn for football advice than Scandinavia?
Taking on Sam this week is Finnish football expert Rich Nelson, the man behind the excellent Escape to Suomi blog and its @escapetosuomi Twitter account.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19TH, 2013
Liverpool vs. Norwich City
Rich: Liverpool to win
“Luis Suarez and a motivated Daniel Sturridge should get goals here. Six weeks ago I’d have gone for at least a draw, but Norwich look like they ran out of steam a bit over Christmas. Lucas coming back has made Liverpool more solid in the middle, and as long as they don’t give Norwich any free-kicks on the edge of the box, they’ll be OK.”
Sam: Liverpool to win
“I’m sure Brendan Rodgers is still in shock over the revelation that Luis Suarez occasionally dives to gain an unfair advantage but, older, wiser and a little less naïve, let’s hope he regains his composure in time for Saturday’s game.”
Manchester City vs. Fulham
Rich: Manchester City to win
“City at home is generally a banker, and Fulham only seem to do well if Berbatov plays well — and with Kompany escaping his ban, they should keep them out easily. David Silva looks like he’s returning to the player of 2011, a real threat.”
Sam: Manchester City to win
“Regardless of whether Vincent Kompany is allowed to tackle players or not, this is only going one way.”
Newcastle United vs. Reading
Rich: Newcastle United to win
“Reading played well for 10 minutes against West Brom and won. Can’t imagine they’ll do the same at Newcastle. With Ba gone, Cisse should start scoring goals with Ben Arfa. If Newcastle drop points here, they deserve to go down.”
Sam: Draw
“Nothing’s going right for Alan Pardew at the moment, suggesting that even a team as feeble as Reading is capable of leaving St. James’ Park with a point.”
Swansea City vs. Stoke City
Rich: Swansea City to win
“Stoke won’t have much experience of getting a home beating, and Jon Walters could take some time to recover. Unless Swansea’s cup games catch up with them, they should be good for a win.”
Sam: Draw
“There’s been heavy snow in South Wales — weather that will suit the Stoke City snowplough better than Swansea’s snowflakes-on-eyelashes daintiness if the game goes ahead.”
West Bromwich Albion vs. Aston Villa
Rich: West Bromwich Albion to win
“Two out-of-form teams, but Lukaku looks like he could destroy those young Villa defenders. West Brom’s midfield is lacking players, and any other team I reckon they’d struggle against. I like Lambert’s ideas, but he’s tried to change too much too soon.”
Sam: West Bromwich Albion to win
“According to Ciaran Clark, Villa’s luck has to turn, but I don’t see any reason why it should. Barring a late challenge from Southampton (see below), I’m beginning to think the clubs currently in the bottom three are the ones we’ll see there at the end of the season.”
West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers
Rich: Draw
“Another ‘return’ for Harry. I reckon he’ll fire up QPR again to at least keep a clean sheet. Direct football is probably what Derry, Hill and Nelsen live for. It’s not going to be pretty, and I think it’ll be goalless.”
Sam: Draw
“New QPR signing Loïc Rémy gets a baptism of snow as ‘Arry and Sam, two of football’s big beasts, go up against each other in an old-school encounter that has a faint whiff of fire and brimstone and Brut 33 about it. It’s hard to see anyone coming out on top.”
Wigan Athletic vs. Sunderland
Rich: Draw
“Like Lambert, I’m a fan of Martinez, and think he’d do well with a better squad. They don’t look like scoring many, but nor do Sunderland when they’re away. For the money they spent on Johnson and Fletcher, don’t look great away. Wigan will struggle to break them down, and I reckon another 0-0.”
Sam: Sunderland to win
“Sunderland’s recent form has been wildly erratic of late but, fortunately for Martin O’Neill, ‘wildly erratic’ is good enough to stay out of the relegation places, which might not be the case for Wigan.”
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2013
Chelsea vs. Arsenal
Rich: Draw
“Chelsea’s home form is poor, and Arsenal are very Jekyll & Hyde away. Excellent at Man City, woeful at Man United. With John Terry back, Theo Walcott may get another go up front to repeat his great game there last season, and Koscielny’s suspension may be a blessing to let Mertesacker back. Score draw for me: Chelsea’s creative players will have a field day in front of the Gunners defence with no Arteta shielding.”
Sam: Chelsea to win
“News of a certain Bavarian club’s managerial appointment is sure to focus minds at Stamford Bridge, where Rafa’s chances of surviving the spring suddenly look a bit better than a snowflake’s.”
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United
Rich: Manchester United to win
“Man United usually win at Spurs, and I’m sure they will again. Like Chelsea, Spurs seem to be playing better away and on the break. With van Persie in the team, just can’t see United dropping points. Spurs may score first though!”
Sam: Manchester United to win
“All the signs point to United going on one of their famous post-Christmas runs and even a decent side like AVB’s Spurs probably won’t be able to stop them.”
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2013
Southampton vs. Everton
Rich: Draw
“Southampton seem to be doing OK at home after a bad start, and got a good win at Villa last week. Fellaini being back will give Everton a bit of a kick, but they look a bit light up front.”
Sam: Southampton to win
“Southampton’s decision to sack Nigel Adkins was mind-bogglingly daft but clubs with new managers usually seem to do well for a game or two before, Wile E. Coyote-style, gravity kicks in. Managerial changes in the second half of the season rarely work, though, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Saints go down now.”
