Showing posts with label Patient. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patient. Show all posts

Monday, August 30, 2010

Who Will Be Relegated From the FA Premier League in 2011?

I predict the following teams will finish in this order in the league. What do you think?

18 - West Brom

Under Roberto Di Matteo West Brom have bounced back to the premier league in style, missing out from winning the championship by Newcastle. Despite bolstering their squad with the Spanish Centre back Pablo Ibanez from Athletico Madrid and the Romania defender Gabriel Tamas from Auxerre, expect West Brom to struggle this season. They will have some notable scalps this season but consistency will be an issue.

Transfer rumours: Callum Davenport, Phil Bardsley, Jimmy Bullard

19 - Wolves

Despite managing to stay up last season Wolves will find life hard in the league this term. It's a measure of a newly promoted team if they can maintain their status, and Wolves did just that, though they have to sign Chelsea loanee Michael Mancienne if they are to stand a chance. They have brought in Hull's talisman from last season, Hunt, and a premier league goal-scorer in Burnley's Steve Fletcher, but even with these players their strength in depth will still be lacking for the top flight. Wolves can ill afford losing two of their stars, Ebanks-blake and Kevin Doyle, who are both rumoured for either Villa or Blackpool.

Transfer rumours: Robbie Keane, Tommy Smith, Andre Bikey

20 - Blackpool

So far Ian Holloway has not made any signings, though that will surely change. Despite this lack of activity Blackpool, who made it through the play-offs last season will be the Premier League whipping boys. Holloway will give them a never say die attitude and for some teams they will be hard to beat, but expect them to be propping up the table come the end of the season.

Transfer rumours: Frederic Piquionne, Aruna Dindane, Robert Lewandowski

Other teams who will need to be looking down the league closely will be Sunderland, Newcastle and Wigan.c Without Roy Hodgson Fulham will have to be careful they don't drop down also.

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Monday, August 16, 2010

Champions League - Second Round Preview

The 21-22 February will see the 16 remaining teams in the Champions League battle it out for a place in the coveted final held on 17 May in Paris. The second round fixtures have been decided so here is a run down of who is left in the competition and their chances of progressing to the quarter finals:

Inter Milan vs Ajax

Inter qualified comfortably from Group H as winners and have a favourable match against Ajax. The Dutch side qualified as runners up of Group A without too much trouble. Inter are overwhelming favourites to qualify for the quarter finals and striker Adriano, with four goals so far in this competition, poses the main threat. Manchester City.
Verdict: Inter to qualify at 2/5.

AC Milan vs Bayern Munich

Milan stuttered through the first round, with just three wins in six matches, before eventually topping the group ahead of PSV Eindoven. Andriy Shevchenko is the tournament's most dangerous striker with six goals. However, Bayern Munich should not be underestimated. They dumped out Arsenal at this stage last season and were only edged out by a single goal against Chelsea in the quarter finals.
Verdict: AC Milan to qualify at 4/6.

Liverpool vs Benfica

The Reds take on the team who dumped Manchester United out of the Cup and are firm favourites to progress to the quarter finals. Liverpool were unbeaten and hadn't conceded a goal in 11 league and Cup games until Sao Paulo denied them the World Club Championship on 18 December. Benfica's 2-1 win over Manchester United was a shock result, but one they are unlikely to reproduce. Ronald Koeman's side are only sixth in their domestic league and are likely to see their interest in the Champions League come to an end at this stage of the competition.
Verdict: Liverpool to qualify at 4/9.

Barcelona vs Chelsea

This was the most "anticipated" draw in terms of a replay of last season's second phase encounter. Barcelona have won 13 games straight in La Liga, while Chelsea have topped the Premiership since August, losing just one match, against Manchester United, all season. Barcelona have also been unstoppable in Europe, winning five out of the six group. Despite the unquestionable talent at his disposal, Jose Mourinho may find his Chelsea team outgunned this time around.
Verdict: Barcelona to qualify at 5/6.

Lyon vs PSV Eindoven

Lyon are a team not to be underestimated in this season's Champions League and won their group ahead of the glamorous Real Madrid. John Carew is Lyon's top goalscorer with four goals while Juninho has laid on three assists. PSV will have their backers but Lyon remained undefeated in the group stage and should edge this encounter.
Verdict: Lyon to qualify at 1/2.

Villarreal vs Rangers

An upset could be on the cards in this encounter with Rangers a large price to qualify ahead of Spaniards Villarreal. Under-fire Rangers boss Alex McLeish may be ridiculously off-the-pace in the Scottish Premier, but he has got it right in Europe and Rangers have become the first side north of the border to venture this far in the competition. Villarreal scored just three times in six group stage matches.
Verdict: Rangers to qualify at 5/2.

Real Madrid vs Arsenal

This is the first time the two have clashed in Champions League and the bookmakers are having difficulty separating them. The Gunners won their five opening matches in the group stage before an experimental line-up drew 0-0 with Ajax in the final round of fixtures. Real Madrid have plenty of attacking power in their line up but are suspect at the back which could be to Arsenal's advantage.
Verdict: Arsenal to qualify at 10/11.

Juventus vs Werder Bremen

Juventus stormed through the group stage, winning five out of six matches, with David Trezeguet scoring four goals. The "Old Lady" have already beaten and lost to German opposition in the competition this season, with two 2-1 results against giants Bayern Munich in the group stage. Werder Bremen are at their best at home, demonstrated in the 5-1 demolition of Panathinaikos and 4-3 victory over Udinese.

Verdict: Juventus to qualify at 4/11.

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