Sunderland v Aston Villa: Preview and Predictions

Sunderland v Aston Villa 15:00 Draw 5/2

Sunderland and Aston Villa fans have been left expecting more from their respective sides this season.  Villa don’t seem to be playing as a team particularly well and have lacked discipline – they’ve had more cards than the average children’s ward at Christmas and have struggled to win games convincingly since the start of the season. 

            Sunderland have been just as pedestrian - a nun on a night out would be expected to have more shots than Sunderland do in their average game and for that reason we’re not expecting this game to be one that’ll be talked about for more than ten minutes after the final whistle.  We’re going with a draw but we’d rather use a tramp’s toothpick than put money on it and recommend you entertain the same sentiments.  Don’t bother touching this unless you’re on your way to watch it and have to do something, anything, to make it more exciting than we expect it to not be.  That said - this will probably end up being the most exciting game of the weekend...

Norwich v Stoke: Preview and Predictions

Norwich v Stoke 3rd November 15:00: Verdict Draw 12/5

Norwich have been quite inconsistent of late – which is likely to be the story of their season, regardless of whether or not they manage to avoid relegation.  A sturdy performance against Aston Villa will have helped them to build on the successes of their long-awaited victory over Arsenal – but games like this one, against Stoke, are really the ones Norwich should be aiming to win if they want to stay up.  Norwich will feel they've turned a corner after a slow start to the season and a mid-week win over Spurs will have done their confidence a world of good - but Stoke have cause to celebrate as Tony Pulis has this week been commanding the Potter's wheel of the ship for ten years.

          Stoke have travelled well this season and have managed to maintain dignity in their losses against strong sides like Chelsea and they’ll expect to be able to pick up points against the Canaries to mark the start Tony Pulis' tenth year as manager.   

          We think that over the course of ninety minutes the two sides in this fixture may cancel each other out so we’re reluctantly edging towards a draw - but putting money on this one is like betting on which sausage in a frying pan will be the first to spit.

Fulham v Everton: Preview and Predictions

Fulham v Everton 3rd November 15:00 - Verdict  Draw 3/1

Fulham have one of the best defensive records in the Premiership and have been strongest at home this season.  A return to Craven Cottage offers an opportunity to gain points against a team that they should be aiming for ongoing comparison to, but Everton have been exceptionally tenacious of late and mounted an exceptional comeback against a strong Liverpool outfit last week. 

          This game is one of the hardest to call of the weekend and if it turns out to be as tasty as a mouthful of self-raising flour we’ll be surprised - it should be a fast-paced game with end-to end play.  Both teams are expected to score by us in this game but with it being as tight as a weevil’s watchstrap we’re backing a draw.  Not a fixture to take lightly when considering a coupon.

Manchester United v Arsenal: Preview and Predictions

Manchester United v Arsenal Saturday 3rd November 12:45 - Verdict Manchester United 7/10

  Manchester United have begun to find their feet as a side and are breathing down league-leaders Chelsea’s neck like an elderly Labrador.  By beating a wavering Arsenal side at home Sir Alex Ferguson will look ever more likely to getting his wise and liver-spotted fingers on the Premier League trophy.

          After losing to Chelsea this week Manchester United will want to quickly return to winning ways and having rested the likes of Van Persie and Rooney they should be capable of overturning Arsenal, who are priced at 19/5.  Interestingly Arsenal are the only side in the Premier League not to have scored a goal in the first half-hour of a game and Manchester United have been making very quick starts to games of late, conceeding after taking the lead - so steer clear of Arsenal first goal-scorer markets.  The second half of this game could be tense and fast-paced - if Arsenal haven't thrown their chances away in the first.

          Van Persie faces his former team in this fixture and having him either score or assist, only to praise Wenger and label Arsenal a 'top-team' or something equally as condescending in a post-match interview is almost certain - but this will be an emotional and heated game with his involvement nonetheless.  It could quite easily end up being as dirty as a bag-lady's bra-strap and with all of the furore involving referees and key decisions this is the hardest fixture of the weekend to officiate.

          Arsenal don’t seem in any shape to be taking three points at Old Trafford, although it’s not within the realms of possibility.  Arsenal fans may revel in the fact a second string squad was able to mount an epic seven goal comeback against Reading, but we have to remember they allowed the Royals to help themselves to four first.  Van Persie and Rooney tend to be slightly more effective than Pog/Roberts partnership and we expect Manchester United to give Arsene Wenger and his sleeping-bag-style jacket more to ponder in the run up to the opening of the transfer market.

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27th to 28th October High-Risk Premier League Accumulator

High-Risk Premier League Accumulator for 27th to 28th October 103/1

Arsenal v QPR - Verdict Arsenal 1/3
Aston Villa v Norwich - Verdict Norwich 3/1
Man City v Swansea - Verdict Man City 2/9
Reading v Fulham - Verdict Fulham 6/4
Everton v Liverpool - Verdict Draw 11/5
Newcastle v West Brom - Verdcit Newcastle Evens

This sixfold offers a price at 103/1 and, although its an unlikely backing, we thinks it's tempting and at the end of the day you can lose a pound in the bottom of your bag.  When you consider the chances of winning a tenner on the lottery are 54/1 we think this is a much better backing this weekend.  Norwich are the long shots and will send the winnings through the roof if they manage to beat Villa - look towards them to let you down here.

European High-Risk Accumulator 24th October 19:45

European High Risk Accumulator 7/1

Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid:  Verdict Real Madrid 9/7
Porto v Dynamo Kiev: Verdict Porto 8/15
Ajax v Man City: Verdict Man City 4/5

A price of around 7/1 should interest those of you looking to place a wide bet on tonight's Champions League football.  The fixtures last night, including those which were won by the obvious teams, showed us why this year's Champions League is as slighty more open than normal.  We recommend playing with cash you've found under the sofa - rather than your hard-earned.  There are some very tough to call away games forn the stronger squads this week - as Chelsea learnt yesterday.

Wigan v West Ham 27th November 15:00

Wigan v West Ham – Verdict Draw 12/5

West Ham have been in very good scoring form and have been enjoying Premier League wins lately – and they’ve have taken six points to Wigan’s one in the last three Premiership games.  Most would be sensible to expect an away win in this fixture.  In Wigan’s last home game they held Everton to a draw and if they expect to convince anyone that they’re likely to stay afloat in the Premier League they should be relishing the opportunity to face newly-promoted sides at home – but we don’t see them finding West Ham easy to brush aside.  We see this one as one of the games we wouldn’t want to sniff around and don’t recommend you to either.