EPL 2015/16 - Week 18

Stoke v/s Man Utd - Away win
Bournemouth v/s Crystal Palace - Home win
Aston Villa v/s West Ham - Home win
Chelsea v/s Watford - Draw
Liverpool v/s Leicester City - Away win
Man City v/s Sunderland - Home win
Swansea v/s WBA - Home win
Tottenham v/s Norwich - Home win
Newcastle v/s Everton - Draw
Southampton v/s Arsenal - Home win

With the return of Kompany at the back, Man City to beat Sunderland is the banker of this week-day. The Citizens are a different team with the Belgian at the back and they should have too much firepower for Allardyce's men.

I think the Gunners face a tricky encounter at Southampton. I thought they were rather flattered by their win against the Citizens on Monday and the wounded Saints team begging for a win certainly won't do them any favours. The Gunners could be apt for a bad game after their exertions against Man City and at current prices, the home team looks good value as a draw-no-bet at the very least. 

EPL 2015/16 - Week 17

Chelsea v/s Sunderland - Draw
Everton v/s Leicester City - Away win
Man Utd v/s Norwich - Home win
Southampton v/s Spurs - Draw
Stoke v/s Crystal Palace - Away win
WBA v/s Bournemouth - Home win
Newcastle v/s Aston Villa - Home win
Watford v/s Liverpool - Home win
Swansea v/s West Ham - Away win
Arsenal v/s Man City - Home win

Jose Mourinho has finally been sacked. Deservedly so, given how he was losing the plot and the locker room. This resets Chelsea's season and it remains to be seen what kind of form they will show from now on. My opinion, as I've been maintaining since the start of the season, is that they have been a regressing team for a while now and even though they had a great last hurrah winning the league last year due to the failings of the other teams, they need to renew the team to get back to their levels of a few years back. Man Utd has been going through the same process in the past couple of years. In effect, Mourinho is certainly the main culprit for their precarious position but not the only one. The Blues are still too good to face relegation but they are no longer a force week-in week-out. The choice of next manager will be crucial in properly picking up the pieces left by the Sacked One.

I see Man Utd winning against Norwich. The pressure is such on Van Gaal that I think he will have to throw caution to the wind and get goals for the Old Trafford faithful. The number of drab 0-0's is certainly ruffling the supporters' skins. The hosts need a win to shut down any dissidence and they have a huge chance to show their attacking prowess against lowly Norwich. If Van Gaal starts the same team as against Bournemouth with the bunch of inexperienced youngsters, then this advice can be thrown out of the window. If the team selected looks competitive on paper, then the Red Devils should win this.

I like the chances of Newcastle at home to Aston Villa. Maybe the Magpies have turned a corner with 2 consecutive wins against non-negligible opposition such as Liverpool and Tottenham. Papiss Cisse is getting chances and if the back four can limit their customary mistakes, then the hosts must have a leading chance against struggling Villa. 

EPL 2015/16 - Week 16

Norwich v/s Everton - Draw
Crystal Palace v/s Southampton - Away win
Man City v/s Swansea - Home win
Sunderland v/s Watford - Draw
West Ham v/s Stoke - Away win
Bournemouth v/s Man Utd - Home win
Aston Villa v/s Arsenal - Away win
Liverpool v/w West Brom - Home win
Tottenham v/s Newcastle - Home win
Leicester v/s Chelsea - Home win

With a squad depleted of 9 players, I find it hard to see Man Utd go win at Bournemouth. Van Gaal's men will feel the fresh effects of being dumped out of the Champions League while the hosts will be buoyed from last week's win at Stamford Bridge. I've mentioned before that Bournemouth are a proving to be a surprise tenacious package, even more so as they have been successfully overcoming injuries to key players for a while now. They put 3 against Everton on their last home match and the Red Devils look very vulnerable without their regular spine of Rooney, Smalling and Schweinsteiger. I am going for a home win or a draw-no-bet for the Cherries.

EPL 2015/16 - Week 15

Stoke v/s Man City - Away win
Arsenal v/s Sunderland - Home win
Man Utd v/s West Ham - Home win
Southampton v/s Aston Villa - Home win
Swansea v/s Leicester - Draw
Watford v/s Norwich - Home win
WBA v/s Tottenham - Away win
Chelsea v/s Bournemouth - Home win
Newcastle v/s Liverpool - Away win
Everton v/s Crystal Palace - Home win

It probably won't be a canter for the Blues but at the end of 90 minutes they should be able to overcome visiting Bournemouth. We can read many pundits guaranteeing a top 4 finish for Mourinho's men; I'm far from convinced about that. I think there are way too many good teams ahead of them in the fray with the likes of Tottenham and a rejuvenated Liverpool that will make it hard for the Blues to get the coveted last Champions League spot. Still too early to say though but my gut feeling at this time is that they have lost too many points at this stage and giving guarantees as some of the pundits are currently doing, is just irresponsible and speculative.

I see a Watford win against visiting Norwich. I think the Hornets have one of the shrewdest managers in the league in Quique Flores and he will see it as a vital 3 points to bag against the struggling visitors. Their main striker Ighalo is in a rich vein of form and has been the recipient of quite a few lucky bounces of late. It could very well be a low scoring match and I think the home team will just edge this one.

EPL 2015/16 - Week 14

Bournemouth v/s Everton - Away win
Aston Villa v/s Watford - Away win
Crystal Palace v/s Newcastle - Home win
Man City v/s Southampton - Draw
Sunderland v/s Stoke - Draw
Leicester v/s Man Utd - Draw
Tottenham v/s Chelsea - Home win
West Ham v/s West Brom - Away win
Liverpool v/s Swansea - Home win
Norwich v/s Arsenal - Away win

I really like Watford's chances as they visit Aston Villa. I have seen nothing yet in the Villain's demenour since Remi Garde took over as manager that things are going to improve at Villa Park. This team has a severe confidence problem and losing Grealish for his off-field antics in mid-week only adds to their plight. Watford are a well-managed team and their major weakness is a lack of fire power up front. I see it value to either side with them or opt for the draw-no-bet for the visitors.

Liverpool is a transformed beast under Klopp and they are playing with huge confidence at the moment. Swansea's form has been on the downside for a while now and they were lucky to scrape a draw against Bournemouth last week. I can't see them getting a result at Anfield and I think it's a no contest home win.

Crystal Palace could not break down Sunderland last Monday and they have a glorious chance for redemption against a Magpies team in disarray. Midweek events seem to confirm the fact that there is a big tension reigning in Steve Mc Laren's side and the team spirit and motivation are lacking. If the Eagles can take their chances, they will overrun the visitors.

EPL 2015/16 - Week 13

Watford  v/s Man Utd - Draw
Chelsea v/s Norwich - Home win
Everton v/s Aston Villa - Home win
Newcastle v/s Leicester - Draw
Southampton v/s Stoke - Draw
Swansea v/s Bournemouth - Home win
West Brom v/s Arsenal - Away win
Man City v/s Liverpool - Draw
Tottenham v/s West Ham - Draw
Crystal Palace v/s Sunderland - Home win

No particularly strong views this week-end following the international break. Chelsea will probably bounce back from their horrible spell and they don't come much easier than Norwich. The Blues were playing alright when defeated at Stoke in their last league match and although they won't win the league and the odds are against them making a Top 4 spot, they are still a quality team on paper and will win matches against the likes of Norwich.

I also like the chances of Swansea at home to Bournemouth. Manager Monk's job is on the line after their recent barren spell. The visitors are injury-hit and going against them has been rewarding of late. So, Swansea should really be getting on the winning column this week-end.

EPL 2015/16 - Week 12

Bournemouth v/s Newcastle - Away win
Leicester v/s Watford - Home win
Man Utd v/s West Brom - Home win
Norwich v/s Swansea - Away win
Sunderland v/s Southampton - Draw
West Ham v/s Everton - Draw
Stoke v/s Chelsea - Home win
Aston Villa v/s Man City - Away win
Arsenal v/s Tottenham - Home win
Liverpool v/s Crystal Palace - Draw

I think Chelsea's problems will be compounded on Saturday as they visit Stoke without their under-fire manager Mourinho. The Blues are clearly a team with problems and the Britannia is usually one of the most intimidating places to go to in the league. The hope for Terry and co is that Stoke continue on their indifferent form of late, having been surprisingly beaten at home to lowly Watford. It seems that the team with the most hunger and that takes its chances will edge this and at current prices, I see backing the home team as a draw-no-bet or outright win, a good value.

I also like the Magpies' chances as they visit injury-hit Bournemouth. I believe they are getting better with every match and striker Mitrovic is due a goal soon. They represent great value as either a draw-no-bet or outright win as well.

Finally, I give an edge to Arsenal in their Derby against Tottenham. Sure they will be missing a few first-team regulars but the fact that they are playing at home and have the benefit of one extra day rest over their rivals gives them a significant advantage. Harry Kane might start a goal-scoring streak but the Gunners should outscore their arch-rivals.

EPL 2015/16 - Week 11

Chelsea v/s Liverpool - Away win
Crystal Palace v/s Man Utd - Away win
Man City v/s Norwich - Home win
Newcastle v/s Stoke - Draw
Swansea v/s Arsenal - Draw
Watford v/s West Ham - Home win
West Brom v/s Leicester - Home win
Everton v/s Sunderland - Home win
Southampton v/s Bournemouth - Home win
Tottenham v/s Villa - Home win

I see banker wins for Man City, Tottenham and Southampton, so it might be value to play them in multiples. Norwich have been woeful lately and I just cannot see Man City losing to them at home. Aston Villa are in even worse disarray having no manager to lead them into their clash at White Hart Lane where Harry Kane will be keen to embark on a scoring run after hat trick last week. Southampton will relish the visit of injury-hit Bournemouth who've leaked 5 goals against Spurs last week.

Klopp will aim to get his first EPL win against foe Mourinho at Stamford Bridge. With the Blues in serious crisis, I think the Kops can pull an upset here and they certainly look good value as a draw-no-bet or with the benefit of a goal advance in the Handicap markets.

EPL 2015/16 - Week 10

Aston Villa v/s Swansea - Home win
Leicester v/s Crystal Palace - Draw
Norwich v/s WBA - Home win
Stoke v/s Watford - Home win
West Ham v/s Chelsea - Draw
Arsenal v/s Everton - Draw
Sunderland v/s Newcastle - Home win
Bournemouth v/s Spurs - Away win
Man Utd v/s Man City - Home win
Liverpool v/s Southampton - Draw

Aston Villa look an excellent "draw-no-bet" option against Swansea. Both teams are in rotten form but there is an urgency for the Villains to get points on the board here; Tim Sherwood's time at the club is on the line. Villa are not playing as bad as their table position indicates and I cannot see them lose this one; I see it ending in a home win or a draw, hence the current draw-no-bet value looks very enticing.

Although they just lost in their Europa mid-week game, I like the chances of Spurs as they travel to Bournemouth. Harry Kane should be scoring sooner rather than later and it could be one of those games against lowly opposition where he finally gets his scoring touch back. Bournemouth are finding life more difficult in the Premier League with each passing week, as they should, and with their current injury setbacks, they will prove very vulnerable to teams of the likes of Spurs. I expect Tottenham to edge this.

EPL 2015/16 - Week 9

Tottenham v/s Liverpool - Draw
Chelsea v/s Aston Villa - Home
Crystal Palace v/s West Ham - Away win
Everton v/s Man Utd - Draw
Man City v/s Bournemouth - Home win
Southampton v/s Leicester - Home win
WBA v/s Sunderland - Draw
Watford v/s Arsenal - Away win
Newcastle v/s Norwich - Home win
Swansea v/s Stoke - Draw

They've obviously already lost the title but Chelsea should getting better results in the next few weeks as Mourinho pulls out the whip to try to get a response from his under-achievers. The return of Costa should help but more importantly the visit of similarly struggling Villa comes in a timely fashion for the Blues. They might not win in a convincing way but I think they will end up pulling in the 3 points whatever the means; maybe with Costa doing his anti-fair-play theatrics again.

Arsenal need to win at places like Watford to show they are championship material. I think they will do it. Much of their chances rest on the availability of Sanchez, who scored again for Chile in mid-week but who is doubtful with a hip injury. With or without their South American talisman, the Gunners have enough class to get the full points. Ramsey having scored for Wales in mid-week might get rolling with his club as well.

The Magpies at St James Park look the best value for a home win against Norwich. They were very good for a half against Chelsea and Man City before collapsing. The fact that they lost keeper Krul is a huge blow but Steve Mc Laren seems to be finally getting his players gelling as a unit. It's only a matter of time they get a win and it could very well come against the Canaries.

Arc de Triomphe 2015 - Treve for the Treble

A top-class field will line up in Sunday's Arc and everyone will try to stop Treve from notching an unprecedented third Arc, which would most possibly put to rest the claims that she's the greatest mare that ever raced. The form she displayed in the Vermeille shows that she will be at her top of her powers for the showdown and would be very hard to oppose. Here are the handful of horses who I think will provide the main opposition; Golden Horn, New Bay and Free Eagle. Forget the rest.

I will say frankly that Golden Horn has disappointed me in his last 2 races, in the sense that he did not prove to be the super horse that I thought he might be. He lost much of his luster when losing his unbeaten record to Arabian Queen in the Juddmonte International. Although he redeemed himself by subsequently winning the Irish Champion Stakes, the manner of his win was rather subdued as he clearly hampered Free Eagle on his way to the line. To say he's top-class is correct. To say he's a super horse would be stretching and it feels that you'd need a super horse to beat Treve in the Arc. His outside draw complicates things for this fans; he will need a lot of luck in running. To me, he's the lay of the field as I don't think he will win. He is good enough to make the frame but I am very certain he won't win.

New Bay is the best middle-distance French colt of this Classic generation. The way he won the Prix Niel shows without doubt that he will be at his peak on Sunday. The distance and more importantly the ground will suit, which will make him Treve's most dangerous opponent, in my opinion. I cannot see him outside the first 3, and if Treve fails to fire, he looks the one most apt for glory.

Free Eagle is the dark horse in my books. He was unlucky to be hampered by Golden Horn in the closing stages of the Irish Champion Stakes. Whether he would have won is a matter of interpretation; visually he seemed to be picking up the Derby winner but whether he would have done so at the line will remain a mystery for ever. The main question is how he will handle twelve furlongs for the first time. His pedigree seems to indicate that the distance will not be a problem but it will have to be his optimum distance for him to play a leading role here. Should stamina not be a problem, I would rate him on a par with New Bay.

My view of this race is simple. If Treve shows up to her best of her ability and does not encounter any hard luck in running, then she will win. I can't see any horse that can put up with her irresistible acceleration in the straight. If she fails to fire or does not benefit from any luck in running, then New Bay and Free Eagle look to be the main dangers, with my preference going to the Prix du Jockey Club winner.

Trifecta: Treve - New Bay - Free Eagle
Won't win: Golden Horn

EPL 2015/16 - Week 8

Crystal palace v/s WBA - Away win
Bournemouth v/s Watford - Away win
Aston Villa v/s Stoke - Draw
Man City v/s Newcastle - Home win
Norwich v/s Leicester - Home win
Sunderland v/s West Ham - Home win
Chelsea v/s Southampton - Draw
Everton v/s Liverpool - Home win
Arsenal v/s Man Utd - Draw
Swansea v/s Tottenham - Home win

Chelsea are in dire straits and things don't look to be getting any better for them as Southampton come to visit. Koeman's men are a tough proposition for any team and will fancy taking their chances against a Blues team in search of a desperate breather. Pelle is in great form and it's hard to see Begokic keeping a clean sheet here. This should be a close match and if there is a value away win to go for this week-end, it's with the Saints. A draw could very well settle this encounter though.

Man City have dropped 2 straight in the EPL but I cannot see them go down to the Magpies at home. They will be missing a bunch of first-team regulars including Silva and Toure but the squad is talented enough to cope. The return of Joe Hart in goal gives them big security at the back. De Bruyne has impressed since his transfer and Aguero is destined to resume scoring in the EPL soon. Hard to see anything other than a home win.

Everton v/s Liverpool. Everton will really fancy their chances to win this Derby with their rivals begging for some form. Liverpool will be better with Sturridge up front but Rodgers has so far been unable to get his team to play cohesively in any match so far. He's running out of time to save his post and in-form Lukaku can pile on their misery here. The Toffees look great value for a home win.

EPL 2015/16 - Week 7

Spurs v/s Man City - Draw
Leicester v/s Arsenal - Away win
Liverpool v/s Aston Villa - Draw
Man Utd v/s Sunderland - Home win
Southampton v/s Swansea - Home win
Stoke v/s Bournemouth - Home win
West Ham v/s Norwich - Draw
Newcastle v/s Chelsea - Away win
Watford v/s Crystal Palace - Away win
West Brom v/s Everton - Home win

The banker of the week-end is Chelsea as they visit the woeful Magpies. Mourinho enjoys those types of encounters against weak teams where he can exploit their weaknesses to the full. That is a guaranteed full points for the Blues regardless who replaces Costa at the helm of their attack.

Man Utd should also easily dismiss Sunderland although Van Gaal has a poor record when confronting fellow Dutch counterpart Advocaat.

Value-wise, I like the the Gunners chances as they visit Leicester. Although they will miss Coquelin and Paulista for that game, they should have too much ammunition against Ranieri's team who have overachieved of late and should get back to earth soon.

EPL 2015/2016 - Week 6

Chelsea v/s Arsenal - Draw
Aston Villa v/s West Brom - Draw
Bournemouth v/s Sunderland - Draw
Newcastle v/s Watford - Draw
Stoke v/s Leicester - Home win
Swansea v/s Everton - Home win
Man City v/s West Ham - Home win
Spurs v/s Crystal Palace - Away win
Liverpool v/s Norwich - Home win
Southampton v/s Man Utd - Home win

Many of the matches look very close this week-end, so it won't be surprising if it ended up with many draws. I like the chances of Southampton against Man Utd. The Saints are on the up after a rather indifferent start and will be a team tough to play against as they were last year. Man Utd are still finding their feet and succumb alarmingly when under pressure as their defeat at PSV Eidhoven showed. For the moment, they've shown that they can take the lead but just cannot work on shutting down the opposition; they will have a difficult match against the Saints who look a good value punt.

 I also like the chances of Stoke at home to Leicester. The Foxes are second in the table but have chinks in their armour. Sure they fought back against Villa with 2 goals down last week-end but it's hard to see them repeat that on the road against a Stoke side that is usually difficult to beat at home. The Potters will have to deal with some suspension and injuries to some key players but they have an urgency of getting full points after a slow start and they are good value at current odds.

EPL 2015/16 - Week 5

Everton v/s Chelsea - Away win

Arsenal v/s Stoke - Home win

Crystal Palace v/s Man City - Draw

Norwich v/s Bournemouth - Home win

Watford v/s Swansea - Away win

WBA v/s Southampton - Away win

Man Utd v/s Liverpool - Home win

Sunderland v/s Spurs - Away win

Leicester v/s Aston Villa - Home win

West Ham v/s Newcastle - Draw

Although Stoke are resilient team to play against, they will be missing several key men for their trip to their Emirates. Arsenal should take full advantage and get the full points. 

Despite their current struggles and the loss of keeper Courtois for a long while, Chelsea have enough quality to get the win at Goodison Park. I fancy they will win this by the slightest margin. Pedro looks set to light things at the front again. 

I like Spurs chances away at Sunderland. Harry Kane will score sooner than later and Spurs are over-due a win. They won't get any easier than Sunderland.

Finally, the big match is between arch-rivals Man Utd and Liverpool. The Kops were fully exposed last week and the loss of Coutinho to suspension severely curtails their front weaponry. Man Utd have lots to answer themselves, particularly after a frantic transfer adventure that had them land teenager Martial at a spectacularly inflated fee. Old Trafford will be buzzing for the occasion and the hosts are poised to overcome a Liverpool team still looking to gel.