Royal Ascot Day 2 - Back to Sprint

Ivawood goes back to sprint in the Jersey Stakes after two unsuccessful forays in the English and Irish Guineas at a mile. The son of Zebedee clearly lacks the stamina when competing at the highest level against top milers and seven furlongs seems to be his best distance. The opposition is solid but it's hard to see Ivawood out of the placings here although he will carry a penalty from his juvenile form. He is an each-way selection.

The Prince of Wales' Stakes looks to be a wide-open affair although Free Eagle has the edge in the market. First thing though is that it's regretful that California Chrome will miss the race due to a late injury. It's too bad because I would have laid him all day since I don't think he stood a chance against some quality turf middle-distance European horses on offer. He might be good on dirt although I would question the quality of horses he beat in his Classic season in the US. The thing is he hardly stood a chance running against Group-calibre horses on grass. Free Eagle is definitely top-class but very fragile. He's coming back a big lay-off and I suspect he might be short of fitness and will come on for the run. Same for Ectot who makes his seasonal re-appearance and will also be better suited to a mile and a half distance. I like the looks of The Grey Gatsby and Western Hymn. The former was a disappointing fourth in the Tattersalls Gold Cup 3 weeks ago but he usually alternates the good and the bad races. On his best form, he should play a major role here. Western Hymn is 2 for 2 this year and is on the up. He had to battle to beat Arab Spring in his last race and there is a concern that the 20 day rest might just be on the short side. John Gosden's stable is on a tear and Western Hymn looks to be a good place prospect at current market odds.

Each-way: Ivawood
Place: The Grey Gatsby, Western Hymn

Royal Ascot - Day 1 - Hope of a nation

Royal Ascot is for many the highlight of the Flat season. What is undisputed is the quality of racing on offer at the meeting, particularly when foreign raiders of the highest class come from afar to challenge the superiority of the local or European counterparts. Forget Dubai or the Breeders Cup, this is the place, together with Arc day at Longchamp, where world supremacy forged through a win suffers no question of legitimacy.

And there could not have been a better start to proceedings with the Queen Anne Stakes where world beaters Able Friend and Solow lock horns for the title of best miler in the world. Their form is staggering; They both read 111111 on the race card in their last 6 races. It's Hong Kong against France all over unless Night of Thunder, Britain's top miler, produces an extraordinary effort. Very unprobable. Able Friend carries the hope of a nation, having everything in the Far East. He's nearly invincible at Sha Tin and there are worries that the stiff mile of Ascot will see his stamina out. I think he will be fine, his unbelievable turn of foot should see him through any extended distance to a mile. Solow won the Dubai Duty Free impressively and is in flying form according to trainer Head. The mile is his minimum distance and he is no doubt the best older European horse going to a mile and a quarter. There is nothing else to choose between these two, their class is vastly superior to anything else. It's as close as a match race I can think of and what a duel it should be. I see Able Friend on top at the finish. An Asian miler on top of the world at Ascot, the thoroughbred hierarchy is about to see a revolution of epic proportions!

The St James Palace crowns the best 3 year-old miler and it's hard to see past Gleneagles and Make Believe, the winners of the English and French Guineas respectively. The deserved favourite is Gleneagles, who should be holding an undefeated record were it not for a very controversial disqualification in his last juvenile race last year. The son of Galileo added to his Classic collection after Newmarket by winning the Irish Guineas in impressive fashion. He showed an instant turn of foot in that race coming out of a compromising position towards the finish. Make Believe won the French Guineas impressively and will have the benefit of an extra fortnight of rest than the Ballydoyle champion. That could very play in his favour particularly if the race is run with a lot of pace. I think it will be a close one between the two, with a small preference for Gleneagles.

Win: Able Friend, Gleneagles

Euro 2016 - Wales v/s Belgium - Back to reality

Wales have live hopes of making it to the Euros next year but they encounter their biggest stumbling block today in the form of Belgium. It's true Coleman's men have 2 world-class players in his ranks in Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey who can change the course of a game on their own. But that's about as far as it goes against the Red Devils that boast probably the most talented team in Europe. Try to find the likes of Hazard, Fellaini, Chadli, de Bruyne, Courtois, Benteke, to name a few. This is Belgium's golden generation and they are favourites to not only make it to Euro 2016 but also to play a big role there as well. They coasted against France in their last preparatory match and I expect them to deliver deflate Wales' Euro hopes this afternoon. Wales have done well so far but it will back to reality for them as the best they will aim for is 2nd place in their group.

Win: Belgium.

Sports Galore - Derbies, UCL and French Open

A supremely jam-packed week-end of sports is on the horizon.

The most captivating one of the action is probably the Belmont Stakes where American Pharaoh will try to enter US racing folklore by winning the Triple Crown. He is clearly the best colt of his generation and I can see only two in the field that could potentially stop his way to racing immortality; Mubtaahij and Frosted. The former is the UAE Derby winner and although he did honorably in the Kentucky Derby by finishing eighth, he looked rather one pace. He will most probably be in a better disposition for Sarurday's Classic as his preparations have gone smoother and he's been in the surroundings for about 3 weeks. If the Pharaoh does not fire, Mubtaahij should be here to pick up the pieces. Frosted, I believe, is the main threat to Baffert's colt. The way he finished at Churchill Downs leads me to believe that the one and a half mile of the Belmont will be to his advantage. The Godophin representative has the advantage of having bypassed the Preakness, thus will be freshened up for the race. Pharaoh should have no problem with the distance. He is the classiest of the bunch. My only issue with him, as with any horse that has gone through the gruelling Triple Crown series, is his freshness. The last furlong or so of the race will be the toughest of his life. That's where his heart and courage will count, but most importantly his chances will heavily depend on how the other contenders are coping with the race and distance. That's where Frosted and Mubtaahij come into play. For selections, I cannot see Pharaoh out of the placings, so he's a banker place punt. I think with some luck, he can win as well. He's by far the likeliest Triple Crown I can think of in a long long time. 

The real Derby takes place at Epsom and I can only see 3 horses playing major roles here; Golden Horn, Jack Hobbs and Hans Holbein. Golden Horn is the unbeaten favourite and he looks the ideal type for the undulations of Epsom. He settles beautifully in his races and the manner he disposed of many of Saturday's rivals in the Dante, makes him hard to oppose. My only possible negative is that his pedigree does not scream stamina, so he might be stretched out in the last furlong. Being by Cape Cross and a mare of Dubai Destination seems to make this high-class colt best suited for races of 10 furlongs. Still, he's the clear deserved favourite. Stablemate Jack Hobbs could be his main danger. The son of Halling lost his invincibility to Golden Horn in the Dante after impressive earlier wins. There should be no stamina problems in his pedigree but the fact that Golden Horn beat him so impressively in their last encounter makes it impossible to look for a reverse in placings unless there has been a spectacular progress in this 3-weeks span on his part. Finally, Hans Holbein is the winner of the Chester Vase and will have no issue with the distance being a son of Montjeu. However, he looks to be Ballydoyle's third string as Ryan Moore and JP O'Brien have selected Giovanni Canaletto and Kilimanjaro respectively. A place punt on Hans Holbein might be more realistic but still profitable. Golden Horn is the pick to win it at the finish.

French Open tennis and I expect Djokovic to first finish up with Murray in their resumed semi-final match. Then, he will probably face his toughest match of the tournament against Wawrinka, but he should have enough in the tank to see it through as well. Nole to be on top of the world on Sunday.

Finally, Champions League football at its nirvana with Barcelona taking on Juventus, the winner seeing the coronation of a perfect season a.k.a the much coveted Treble. It seems mostly everyone is on the Barcelona bandwagon but I don't think it's a done deal by any means. Sure, the Catalans boast the incredible front-line of Messi, Suarez and Neymar that can score at any time. Juventus are not that good at the back and with the last-minute defection of main central defender Chellini, they look sure to be scored against. However, the Italians cannot be dismissed lightly and if the score is still level in the late stages, it won't be surprising if they are the ones making a breakthrough. It might be fool-hardy to go against Barcelona and Messi but their odds are mightily too short against opponents that are by no-means second-string. If a choice is to be made, Barcelona be it.

Unstoppable

With Nadal mastered, the next road block to Djokovic is Andy Murray. The Briton has made leaps and bounds on clay this year. Only in the past months, he's won his first clay tournament and more importantly beat Nadal to win a second tournament on the surface. Before his quarter-final match against Ferrer yesterday, he had never beaten the Spaniard on clay; yet he proved too strong in a 3-1 easy drubbing. Murray is coming good, especially mentally on his least-favoured surface.

Is all that good enough to beat Djokovic? No way. Not in a 3-set match against the best player in the world at the moment. A player who's just destroyed Nadal in 3 straight sets and is on the all-conquering path of winning the only tournament missing from his Grand Slam resume. The motivation is there for all to see. It's a now or never chance the Serb will not let pass. Murray will have to bow to his nemesis again.

Win Semi-Final: Djokovic

End of Reigns

The news have broken that Blatter is out of FIFA after an overdue 17-year reign. It seems another cycle is about to end in a few hours; Rafa Nadal, the master of Roland Garros is gunning for his 10th crown in 11 years but has the irrepressible Novak Djokovic on his way at the quarter-final stage today.

The stats are amazing. Nadal has only been beaten once in the past 10 years at the French Open. On his best day, no-one can beat him on the surface. The problem this year is that he's not at his peak. He was out of the game for most of last year and rushed his preparations to be ready to defend his French Open crown. While he is getting better with every match, the encounter with Djokovic comes a little too soon for him. The Serb is currently the world's best player. Mentally, he is on another level to anyone. He's beaten Nadal on clay during the preparatory tournaments leading to Roland Garros. He knows what it takes to beat the French master on the surface, now he needs to do it where it counts most. Time plays for him as he's in the best form of his life while Nadal is just getting back his reflexes. It's now or never for the Serb to crack open Nadal's reign and make his way to winning the only Grand Slam tournament missing from his resume.

In a few hours, cometh another end of reign. Djokovic to win the match, and eventually the tournament.

Win against Nadal: Djokovic
Win tournament: Djokovic

EPL 2014/15 - Week 38

The curtain comes down on the EPL this Sunday. Suffice to say that all the excitement had petered out several weeks ago when Chelsea was the only team able to maintain the tempo at the top. The Blues were tipped to win it all at the start of the season in these columns and it was pleasing to see them justify the confidence. The only question that remains now is which of Newcastle or Hull will go down. The Magpies need a draw in their last home match to secure survival in the EPL and whether they get it or not, I still think they will hang on to their advantage over the Tigers.

Since most teams will be playing for nothing at stake, it would not be surprising to see wholesale changes in starting elevens. So caution is warranted and surprises will certainly be on the offing.

Arsenal v/s WBA. Wenger could decide to rest star players here for the upcoming FA Cup final. They looked to be badly in need of a break after their last 3 woeful performances against Swansea, Man Utd and Sunderland. West Brom will be playing their part to stifle opponents as they usually do. It is of no surprise that they have done well since Pulis' arrival. The Gunners haven't lost in their last 9 last-day matches but although this stat means nothing, they should still look for a favourable result to confidently tackle Aston Villa at Wembley. I think they will just edge this. Home win.

Aston Villa v/s Burnley. Villa need to put their woeful performance at Southampton behind them and players will probably be looking for redemption in order to secure their places for the FA Cup final. Tim Sherwood might rest some players here although he mentioned otherwise. Burnley are toast and going back to the Championship and have nothing to play for. This match could end in a draw goal-less draw. Draw.

Chelsea v/s Sunderland. One thing that I am certain is that Chelsea will not lose this match like they did last year. The Blues will want to end this campaign on a high. Sunderland are already secure and have nothing to play for; they will have celebrated this week after getting that crucial saving point at Arsenal on Monday. That's hardly the best mindset to confront the Chelsea juggernaut; they could get trounced here. Home win.

Crystal Palace v/s Swansea. Two strong mid-table teams that can look back at this season as being positive. A draw is a good possibility. Draw.

Everton v/s Tottenham. This match could go any way. Sitting on the fence with a draw. Draw.

Hull v/s Man Utd. The hosts need an absolute win here and they will need to take their chances. With Jelavic up front, they can secure at least a goal. Man Utd don't have anything at stake and even with their first team, they would still not be certainties for the win. I think the Tigers can surprise here and can edge this encounter. Home win.

Leicester v/s QPR. I think there will be many goals in this match and most of it will be Leicester's. They should have too much speed for this Rangers team in urgent need of surgery. Home win.

Man City v/s Southampton. I can't see the hosts losing this. They will probably get the win although they have let opponents claw back in many matches before. Home win.

Newcastle v/s West Ham. It's interesting to read about conspiracy theories leading to this match. Will Allardyce try to sink the team that sacked him? Will Kevin Nolan want to see his childhood team relegated? All I know is that Newcastle are just terrible and that West Ham have the capacity to beat them at St James Park on their best day. I think they will do get the 3 points and have the Magpies fans eagerly await the Hull v/s Man Utd result. Away win.

Stoke v/s Liverpool. The Kops are in dire straits with all the talk this week having been Sterling's future at Anfield. Sterling is England's best player and Liverpool will certainly be a weaker team without him. Steven Gerrard will also be saying his goodbyes to the EPL after this match. Stoke are one of the best, although quiet, stories of this year and Mark Hughes has done wonders with this team. The hosts have a lot of upside and are strong at home, so I see them winning this. Home win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 37

Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of irrelevant matches during the last 2 weeks of EPL football given that Chelsea have bagged the title and QPR and Burnley are the known clubs for relegation. There is only one last spot left for the drop and that is where the rest of the excitement lies as there are 5 teams that are potentially liable to be caught out.

Southampton v/s Villa. Soton are huffing and puffing at the moment. They have enjoyed a successful season and have a shout at the Europa League. Villa need a point to be totally safe and I think they will not have any problem getting it. A draw cannot be ruled out with 2 teams going in seemingly opposite directions. Draw.

Burnley v/s Stoke. The hosts are toast and will go down after a dreadful spell over the past few weeks. They have performed admirably in many matches over the season  but their lack of goals, particularly over the above-mentioned spell, have broken them. Stoke are solid but don't have much to play for. This could go any result but for selection sake, I will go for an away win because Mark Hughes' team are superior. Away win.

QPR v/s Newcastle. Rangers are down but Newcastle still have lots to play for in their remaining 2 matches. No-one thought they would be real candidates for the drop a few months ago when Pardew was at the helm. Even when caretaker manager Carver took over, they looked like a mid-table team until the day they lost striker Papiss Cisse for a long period, in rather silly fashion. They will have to go for full points here because their last match against West Ham looks tricky. I don't think they will get the win but a share of the spoils could be likely. Draw.

Sunderland v/s Leicester. This is the 6-pointer of the week-end without a doubt. The winner of this match will very likely be out of the woods. The home team surprised and won at Everton last week-end and will need to display a similar disposition to overcome a less formidable but resurgent Leicester, winners of 6 of their last 7 matches. The Foxes are on an amazing run and their form has been equally good on the road as at home. I think this could be a high-scoring affair and I wouldn't be surprised if it ended in a draw, that however would not be the best outcome for both teams. Draw.

Tottenham v/s Hull. Much of this match will depend on how Spurs tackle this match, as they don't have much to play for except for the Europa League. Naysayers are stating that they are not interested getting in that league again, as in the past few years. That remains to be seen, but Hull for sure, will need 3 big points to try to avoid the drop. They need a result at White Hart Lane to set up their last home match against Man Utd. I think they will squeeze at least a point out of this and will luck might get the win. Draw.

West Ham v/s Everton. This is a meaningless match and with Everton having seemingly applied the brakes lately, I think the hosts will probably edge this. Home win.

Liverpool v/s Crystal Palace. This will be captain Gerrard's last match at Anfield. The Kops' hopes for UCL football next year are hinging on a thread and need a win at the very least to keep the hopes alive. Palace have nothing to play for, which is why I tip to get a royal send-off from Anfield at the end of the 90 minutes. Home win.

Swansea v/s Man City. Both teams have nothing to play for, but with City in such rampant, albeit too late form, I will go with the away team just edging this. Away win.

Man Utd v/s Arsenal. This is more a match for bragging rights as Arsenal are secure for UCL football while Man Utd need a point to officially get theirs. The hosts will be missing Rooney. The Gunners got an FA Cup win earlier at Old Trafford, a result that rather flattered them as the Red Devils looked value for at least a draw. Arsenal left their foot off the pedal against Swansea in their last match and I wonder whether the upcoming FA Cup final is weighing on their minds. A draw looks very likely here. Draw.

WBA v/s Chelsea. Another meaningless match and if the odds for a home win are near double digits, I'd say go for it. Home win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 36

Quickly, my selections for the matches this week-end.

Everton v/s Sunderland. Home win.
Aston Villa v/s West Ham. Home win.
Hull v/s Burnley: Home win.
Leicester v/s Southampton. Away win.
Newcastle v/s WBA. Draw.
Stoke v/s Spurs. Draw.
Crystal Palace v/s Man Utd. Draw.
Chelsea v/s Liverpool. Draw.
Man City v/s QPR. (Blowout) Home win.
Arsenal v/s Swansea. Home win.

Racing, Football and Boxing Galore

The first week-end of May promises to be spectacular with the usual football being eclipsed by the Guineas, Kentucky Derby and above all the fight of the century between Pacquiao and Mayweather. Some quick thoughts on those events.

In the EPL, I expect Chelsea to be officially crowned champions on Sunday. They need to beat Crystal Palace and I believe they will have enough in them to do so. I also see wins for Liverpool, Swansea, West Ham, Man Utd and Tottenham. The rest are draw selections (obviously).

The 2000 Guineas looks wide open but a few names stick out; Estidhkaar, Gleneagles, Intilaaq, Territories and Ivawood. Sheikh Hamdan looks to have a strong pair in Estidhkaar and Intilaaq; the former was a good second in the Craven and has reportedly improved since then according to connections. Intilaaq was an impressive maiden winner a fortnight ago and has been supplemented for the race. He's got unusual speed for a Dynaformer colt and the mile will be his minimum trip. Gleneagles was the best 2-year old of the lot and the main question regarding the Ballydoyle representative is his fitness as this will be his seasonal reappearance. If he has progressed accordingly during the winter season, he could be the best of the Classic bunch. Territories represent the Godolphin stable under the care of Andre Fabre. The manner he won his first race of the season indicates that a strong showing can again be expected of him. After all, master Fabre does not usually cross the Channel unless the potential for success is there. Finally, Ivawood is another from the Hannon yard backed with confidence by connections. He was clearly beaten by stable companion Estidhkaar on his seasonal reappearance and I find it difficult for him to reverse the places. I will go for Estidhkaar to prevail, with Territories and Intilaaq pursuing him home.

The Kentucky Derby also is a strong and open affair. I will retain this quartet; American Pharoah, Dortmund, Carpe Diem and Mubtaahij. The first two are from Baffert's barn and will probably go as the market leaders before the stalls open. AP was arguably last season's best 2-year old in the US and missed his Breeders Cup date due to injury. He has mightily won his 2 races this year which means that the ability is there. Unless he encounters traffic problems, I expect him to play a big part at the finish. Dortmund is battle-hardened and undefeated in 6 races. He's had to duke it out a few times to keep his record intact and has so far come out on top every time. He's most dangerous if given a soft lead and it will be interesting to see the tactics between him and the other front-runners in a race that usually livened by a suicidal pace on the let go. Carpe Diem is the main hope of leading trainer Pletcher. I think this son of Giant's Causeway is one of the best of the Classic lot but am intrigued as to his aptitude in a big field as this; a strong contender on paper but he might show his limits in this race. Mubtaahij hails from the de Kock stable and booked his ticket to the big race after winning the UAE Derby in an impressive fashion. For certain, what he beat in Dubai is nowhere as good as what he will encounter at Churchill Downs. He has shown tough resilience though and looks sure to figure among the best of the day rather the trailers. I think the best horse will win this and it will be the Pharoah.

Pacman v/s Money, the fight of the century. Bigger than Ali v/s Frazier, Sugar Ray v/s Hearns, Lewis v/s Tyson. The best 2 fighters of their generation, although both are at the twilight of their careers. Mayweather is un-defeated in 47 matches. He's quick, evasive and hard to be caught. Pacman is a punching machine. The heart says Pacman because he's the better person, by far. The mind says Money because he's the agile boxer with the perfect movement and deadly connect. It looks to be one for the ages. Go Pacman!

EPL 2014/15 - Week 34

Chelsea can put all title talk to rest this week-end when they visit Arsenal. Mourinho's never lost in 12 confrontations with Wenger and he only adds to this tally to dispatch any intent of the Gunners to make it an exciting title race. It would not be a stretch to think that fireworks could be off field rather than on it, the animosity between the 2 club managers being as fierce as any. At the bottom half, Leicester has made huge strides of late and there are 6 teams very much in the fray for the drop. The only excitement of the EPL sadly lies there.

Southampton v/s Tottenham. Both teams won't make the UCL, that's a guarantee. The hosts have to contend with some absentees with the likes of Wanyama and Rodriguez, not to mention keeper Forster who's out for the season. Spurs will also likely miss their No 1 Lloris. Home advantage should count here and I think Soton will just edge this by the odd goal. Home win.

Burnley v/s Leicester. An absolute 6-pointer here. Leicester are in flying form while Burnley are mostly going down a steep. They need Ings to get back firing here as they have only scored 1 goal in their last 7 matches. They should be able to take advantage of the Foxes' dubious defence. As for the visitors, striker Nugent might be missing but they have other dependable strikers to count on. I think it's home advantage Burnley but by no means certain. Home win.

Crystal Palace v/s Hull. Palace were unexpectedly rocked last week at home to WBA. Overconfidence after a series of good results, maybe? Hull are right in the danger zone and seem to have grind hard to get results. Palace forwards could have a field day here. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Swansea. The Magpies have been on a rotten run since Cisse's suspension and it does not look to be any better with the coming of Swansea. The visitors relish this kind of away encounter. where they keep the match relatively close and rely on late spurts of attack to try to make the breakthrough. They are a tough side to break down on their best day and are visiting Newcastle at the right time. Away win.

QPR v/s West Ham. Rangers will be looking for full points against a team that has won only once in their last 12 matches. The Hammers cannot be taken lightly though as they tend to keep matches close for a while. A draw looks the likeliest possibility here, which won't really arrange the hosts. Draw.

Stoke v/s Sunderland. Not sure what to make of Sunderland under Advocaat yet. Stoke are very good at home on their best day and that's the only form on offer here. Home win.

WBA v/s Liverpool. The Kops were surprisingly knocked out of the FA Cup by Villa last Sunday. They are badly missing Sturridge up front as Balotellit clearly does not fit in Rodger's system. West Brom managed to win last week after some tough losses at home. Difficult on form to see how this will go but Liverpool have the 4th UCL spot to desperately fight for, I think they will just edge this match. Away win.

Man City v/s Aston Villa. Villa will go to Manchester in high spirits after booking their trip to Wembley for the FA final. They still are in a precarious position in the league though and have points to make. City are done for the title and are striving for a UCL spot. They will have Silva available after his scare in their last match. Aguero and Benteke will light the fireworks upfront here and City go with the favors in order to stop their season from unraveling. Home win.

Everton v/s Man Utd. This is a tough one for the Mancunians as the Toffees are on a decent run. A trip to Goodison Park is never easy but if Man Utd go there in the same spirit and demeanor as at Anfield, they can dominate proceedings. This should be a close match and a draw could very well be on the cards. Draw.

Arsenal v/s Chelsea. How will Wenger be able to beat Mourinho? Clearly the Portuguese has made a career getting results against clubs playing attacking football. Arsenal are best at playing their flowing football but that is often a suicidal approach against Mourinho's teams. That's a major dilemma for Wenger. Chelsea will play this match in order not to lose. They will park the bus or do whatever it takes not to give Arsenal the full points. I think it's either going to be a draw or an away win although for sporting reasons, it would be great if Wenger finally got one over his nemesis manager. Draw.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 33

Anyone out there still thinking that Chelsea can be caught? Man City have been tamed away and Arsenal and Man Utd have seemingly entered the title race picture purely on their last bit of rich form. But it seems a case of too little too late as I cannot see Mourinho's team having a disastrous end run of games that would give these 2 chasers a fighting chance.

Crystal Palace v/s WBA. Palace are hot at the moment while the Baggies have turned surprisingly cold, possibly the loss of keeper Foster being one of the plausible reasons. It's impossible to go against the flying Eagles here and they can be dangerous on so many counts with talented players like Bolasie, Puncheon and Zaha to name a few. Home win.

Everton v/s Burnley. It is not a surprise that Everton are climbing the table after their disastrous first half. They won't be relegated but they won't make it in Europe either. Burnley are fighting for survival and are travelling to Goodison Park at an in auspicious time. Besides their rather fortuitous win at home against Man City, their level of form has been pretty poor. Lukaku could have a field day here and it should be 3 points for Martinez' men. Home win.

Leicester v/s Swansea. The good news for Leicester is that the visitors will be without a host of first-team players and will have to make do with a make-shift defence. If Ulloa and company can pounce on that weakness, they will get the much-needed 3 points to stave off relegation. Leicester usually make their games harder than they should, so I don't them to win this by a wide margin, but they can edge this. Home win.

Stoke v/s Southampton. If ever there is going to be a bore drawless match, it will probably be this one. The teams are evenly matched and even if it does not end up 0-0, a draw looks very likely to be on the cards. Draw.

Chelsea v/s Man Utd. A draw will suffice for Chelsea here to keep the Red Devils at bay in the title chase. This looks like a very likely scenario given that Mourinho goes into such types of matches in order not to lose, rather than to outright win. The hosts will be missing Costa but the visitors will be without Blind, Rojo and more importantly midfield anchor Carrick. I think it will be a home win or draw, with the preference going to the latter. Draw.

Man City v/s West Ham. The Citizen's miserable late form will certainly augur huge upcoming changes at the club. They are now fighting for fourth spot. They should be able to beat West Ham who are in a rut of their own. Aguero needs to find his lethal edge back if the hosts are to secure the last UCL spot. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Tottenham. Two more matches out for Papiss Cisse and the Magpies can't really wait. Spurs are ever reliant on Harry Kane to deliver and will again have several first-team player doubts going into the match with Lloris, Walker and Verthogen fighting for match fitness. A draw looks plausible here and that's the selection. Draw match.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 32

Some flash thoughts before the matches start this Saturday.

Home Win: Southampton, Tottenham, WBA, West Ham, Man Utd
Away Win: Arsenal, Chelsea
Draw: Sunderland/Palace 

EPL 2014/15 - Week 31

With the international matches over, it's the final push to the line. Man City are the ones under the gun as their title aspirations are all but gone, and they are fighting for second place with the likes of neighbours Man Utd and Arsenal hot under their heels. Liverpool can still aspire for a 4th place spot even after their home defeat last week-end but they have seemed to be running out of steam of late.

Arsenal v/s Liverpool. As I've mentioned above, I think Liverpool have peaked and can no longer sustain the good run of form prior to their defeat to Man Utd last week-end. Their dynamic trio of Lallana, Sterling and Coutinho have been devoid of ideas in their last matches, so other players will have to step up. The return from injury of Sturridge is a plus as he is always a goal scoring threat. The Gunners usually finish the season strong and they are in good form going into this match. Striker Giroud has been banging all types of goals lately and Ramsey's forward forrays give their attack much impetus. This is a 6-pointer match for a  UCL spot and I give the edge to the home team. Home win.

Chelsea v/s Stoke. The Blues might miss Costa for this match but I don't think it will matter. Stoke are always a dangerous side to play against but unless any mishap, this should be 3 more points for Mourinho's men. Home win.

Everton v/s Southampton. Pelle finally scored a goal and that was against England in mid-week. This should give him some confidence heading in this match against the Toffees. Southampton are a genuine top 6 team and they will have opportunities to score with the likes of likes of Tadic, Elia and Mane. Everton are solid at home and their main challenge is to climb up to a more respectable position up the table. These are 2 even teams and a draw is a probable outcome. Draw.

Leicester v/s West Ham. I see the Hammers finally getting an overdue win here. Leicester haven't impressed me in their last couple of matches, which makes me think that they are going down unless they pick up on their form. West Ham are not at their strong early-season level but they have been getting better after a rough stretch of matches. They are the away pick of the week-end. Away win.

Man Utd v/s Aston Villa. The home team will be buoyed by their win at Anfield last week-end. The LVG system seems to be finally going and heading to full steam. They need to beat Villa convincingly to silence the remaining critics. Villa are not out of the woods yet and Tim Sherwood has yet to prove that he will get them out of their rut. This is going to be a difficult match for them and I see a home win here. Home win.

Swansea v/s Hull. This should be a home win as there is a different class between these 2 teams. The only worry about the home team is how match-fit is striker Gomis but Gary Monk has creatively redeployed his resources when in need. Home win.

West Brom v/s QPR. Another home win here. WBA are almost a fortress at home against the small guns and QPR are the worst team on the road. To have any chance of staying up, Rangers will have to pile the points at Loftus Road. Home win.

Burnley v/s Tottenham. Spurs will be missing keeper Lloris for this match but the ever-dangerous Harry Kane will be spearing the attack again. Burnley cannot be dismissed and I think they will have at least a point out of this. They burned City last time out at home and they will feel they can undo Spurs as well. A high-scoring draw could be the likely outcome. Draw.

Sunderland v/s Newcastle. Dick Advocaat was rather unfortunate to lose his first match in charge of Rangers as they were un-done in the dying minutes of that match against West Ham. Jermaine Defoe is misfiring at the moment and it may be that he does not have the young legs for the EPL anymore. His strike partner Steven Fletcher comes off a fresh hat-trick for Scotland in mid-week, which could provide him the confidence to start banging the goals for the club. Newcastle will again be without Cisse and that's a big handicap going into this North derby encounter. I think the most they can expect is a draw but I think that Sunderland will get the much-needed 3 points. Home win.

Crystal Palace v/s Man City. Since this is a Monday game, the Citizens will know where they stand in the league as they take on the Eagles. The latter are currently playing with confidence under Pardew and will certainly pose problems to the City defence. This match could end up in any result and while it is hard to fathom another loss for City, I think that if they win, it will be by a minimal margin. Still, a draw might settle this. Draw.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 30

The EPL race got somewhat spicier with all English teams now out of the UCL. To say that Chelsea holds a significant advantage is an under-statement; the title is theirs to lose and with Man City being off-form, the Blues can also rely on their opponents floundering in their coming matches to comfort their advantage at the top. Unlike what Mourinho is saying, it's not a 5-team race, it's maybe a 2-team race, and will possibly be a 1-team race sooner rather than later.

Man City v/s WBA. Having suffered the wrath of Messi and Barcelona, City have to get back on track with a win against the in-form Baggies. Quite a difficult task given that Tony Pulis' men are proving a difficult team to break down. Also, the hosts will be without injured Yaya Toure and their record without the powerhouse midfielder is not stellar. I still think they will win in the end, but it won't be a surprise if the Baggies end up sharing the spoils. Home win.

Aston Villa v/s Swansea. Christian Benteke seems to have regained a new lease of life under Tim Sherwood and can add to his counter here. Swansea were unlucky to miss out on points against Liverpool last Monday and deserve respect on their road travels. They do however, have trouble holding a clean sheet, which is why I think the Villa tandem of Agbonglahor and Benteke can open them up while holding the visitors' defence at bay. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Arsenal. The problem for the Magpies right now is the absence of Papiss Cisse which limits their goal scoring ability. They don't have anyone close to filling that gap. Arsenal produced a strong performance against Monaco in the UCL and were unlucky not to get that 3rd necessary goal to go through. There is definitely a question on their fitness after their exertions at Le Principaute. Class should tell in the end and I think the Gunners will just edge this. Away win.

Southampton v/s Burnley. Burnley cannot cease to amaze and their last shocking win against Man City showed the determination of Ings and company to fight till the end. I think they will be up against it against Southampton as the hosts have a strong home record and are difficult to score against. Striker Pelle is due a goal for a long time and this might be the match to stop his rotten spell. I am going for a home win but Burnley has burnt my predictions before. Home win.

Stoke v/s Crystal Palace. This pits two teams that are on an even keel and safe from the relegation battle. I give a slight advantage to Stoke because of their strong form at home. Also, Palace might be without Jason Puncheon, which will remove some of the flair out of their quick and inspiring attacks. Home win.

Tottenham v/s Leicester. The Foxes somewhat disappointed me in not being able to break down a 10-men Hull team last week. This is a dangerous match for them against a no-nonsense Spurs team with Harry Kane at the helm. Leicester will be lucky to get a point out of this match. Home win.

West Ham v/s Sunderland. Dick Advocaat is a good manager but I am not convinced he is the person to guide Sunderland out of the relegation battle. He's more proven with teams playing on the other side of the table. Still, players always try to make first impressions during a new manager's first game so Sunderland can hope for a result here, particularly that the Hammers are in a rather rotten form. I think the tide will turn sooner than later for Allardyce's men and they have shown lately that they are not far from their early-season blistering form. I think they will edge this one. Home win.

Liverpool v/s Man Utd. The Red Devils gave one of their more convincing displays of the season when beating Spurs last week-end. Liverpool, at Anfield, are another piece of metal though. The Kops were lucky to beat Swansea in their last match and I am wondering whether they have peaked. This is a 6-pointer for the 4th and last UCL spot and I think this will end up in either a home win or a draw. Draw.

Hull v/s Chelsea. Hull are riding some good momentum but their task for this match has been made harder with the injury to top striker Jelavic and suspension of midfield stalwart Huddlestone. Chelsea should pounce on these shortcomings and get the full points. Away win.

QPR v/s Everton. Everton were booted out of the Europa League in mid-week after being destroyed 2-5 in Kiev. They are bound to feel the effects of that arduous match and Rangers have the capacity to cause the Toffees problems when playing at home. The hosts will have Barton back and need the full points but I think they will have to contend with just 1 in the end. Draw.