EPL 22/23 - Week 13

 Leicester v Man City - Home

Bournemouth v Spurs - Away

Brentford v Wolves - Home

Brighton v Chelsea - Draw

Crystal Palace v Southampton - Home

Newcastle v Aston Villa - Home

Fulham v Everton - Home

Liverpool v Leeds - Home

Arsenal v Nott Forest - Home

Man Utd v West Ham - Home

Quickly, keeping on the Newcastle bandwagon seems logical. The Magpies should have too much firepower for the Gerrard-free Villains. Newcastle look good contenders to secure at least a Europa league spot this season and with a little bit of luck, a Champions League spot does not look out of reach as well. I will double this with a Brentford win. The Bees host struggling  and still manager-less Wolves and Ivan Toney could solidify his England chances with goals and a convincing performance upfront.

Win: Newcastle, Brentford

EPL 2022/23 - Week 12

 Nott Forest v Liverpool - Away

Everton v Crystal Palace - Draw

Man City v Brighton - Home

Chelsea v Man Utd - Home

Aston Villa v Brentford - Home

Leeds v Fulham - Away

Southampton v Arsenal - Home

Wolves v Leicester - Home

Tottenham v Newcastle - Draw

West Ham v Bournemouth - Home

Is Arsenal for real this year? The Gunners are certainly surprising leaders for many (including me) and are currently riding some fantastic form. The team is young and motivated and Arteta is pulling the right strings at the moment. Who knows how long this will last but they look to be the main threat to Man City's dominance of the league. Going to Southampton is not going to be an easy stroll for the Gunners. I persist into thinking that Southampton are worth better than their current14th position. They have a young team too and they often need that clinical last touch to make the difference in their matches. I wouldn't be surprised if they overcome the Gunners, who at some point in the coming weeks, will falter in my opinion. 

Win: Southampton

EPL 2022/23 - Week 10

 Leicester v Crystal Palace - Draw

Fulham v Bournemouth - Home

Wolves v Nott Forest - Home

Tottenham v Everton - Home

Aston Villa v Chelsea - Home

Leeds v Arsenal - Away

Man Utd v Newcastle - Away

Southampton v West Ham - Draw

Liverpool v Man City - Away

Here's the shocker waiting to happen: Newcastle can go beat the Red Devils on Sunday! Man Utd are on a good run in the league since their difficult start. They made hard work of beating minnows Omonia in the Europa League in mid-week after creating countless number of goalscoring opportunities. This usually means either of 2 things; their strikers are off-form or the opposing keeper was having a field day. It was a bit of both actually. The profligacy in front of goal will definitely concern Ten Hag. Should the hosts fail to crystallize their efforts on goal, Newcastle are the kind of team that can make them pay. I was saying in an earlier post that the Magpies are now a solid team that cannot be messed with. They have strong individuals that play very well collectively under manager Howe. They have the firepower to cause trouble at Old Trafford and at current odds, they are taken to spring an almighty upset.

Win: Newcastle

Baaeed's swansong - bye to one of the all-time greats!

Mighty Baaeed takes to the turf one last time in Saturday's Champion Stakes and there is no doubt that he will bow out unbeaten with a 11-11-0 record. It will take something cataclysmically unusual to beat him. No opponent comes close; not Derby and King George winner Adayar, not a rising star like Bay Bridge, no-one in the field should trouble one of the greatest 8 to 10-furlong performers of all time. It will be of interestwhat kind of performance Baaeed has in store for the racing world at Ascot. Another explosive performance will elevate his Timeform ratings; maybe he could run Frankel and his own sire Sea The Stars close, starting the much-debated; who is the greatest thoroughbred of them all ?

Thanks for the memories, Baaeed!

Win: Baaeed

EPL 22/23 - Week 9

 Bournemouth v Leicester - Away

Chelsea v Wolves - Home

Man City v Southampton - Home

Newcastle v Brentford - Home

Brighton v Tottenham - Home

Crystal Palace v Leeds - Home

West Ham v Fulham - Home

Arsenal v Liverpool - Draw

Everton v Man Utd - Draw

Nott Forest v Aston Villa - Away

Crystal Palace was oh-so-close to deny Chelsea the win last week-end only to concede in injury time.  Although they are languishing near the relegation zone, the Eagles are getting better with every match but they currently lack the maturity and mental toughness to keep the score until the final whistle. I think they will make amends against Leeds this week-end. The visitors have not been convincing on the road and have relied many on their home matches for points. I see Palace edging this one.

Newcastle have started the season strongly and it's a case that money pays. Isak, their new striker might be missing, but the Magpies look solid in most departments. They have good home form and look set to maximize points against lower level opponents. Brentford is in that category and I see a logical win for the home team.

Win: Crystal Palace, Newcastle