Weekend Review - 30 Oct 2010

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur

"Since Tottenham had not won in Old Trafford for 21 years, take Man Utd for the win."

-Gary, 30 Oct 2010

Even though Man Utd progressed to the next round and with Arsenal, the only team to beat in the Carling Cup, I do believe the Final will be booked by these 2 teams in Feb when they meet in Wembley.

Wolves might have hoisted the white flag way before the match whenever they meet Man Utd, but this match where Fergie make 11 changes, seem to prove us wrong by scoring 2 goals.

Tonight match will be against Tottenham Hotspur in Old Trafford. Spurs have been trying hard to end their drought at there but in vain.

With Rafael Van der Vaart in a hot form since signing from Real Madrid, his international team-mate Edwin van der Sar will be kept busy.

Man Utd will revert back to Hernandez and ex-Spurs player Berbatov strike force for a win to again close the gap on Chelsea lead.

Man Utd Team News: Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Owen Hargreaves, Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs are out.

Tottenham Hotspur Team News: Jermain Defoe, Jonathan Woodgate, Vedran Corluka, Michael Dawson and Jamie O'Hara are out.

Odds and Analysis: Man Utd is giving 1 ball handicap. Since Tottenham had not won in Old Trafford for 21 years, take Man Utd for the win.

Disclaimer: This review is entirely on my own views and opinion. I didn’t point a gun at you to ask you to follow. If you want to bet on this game, do so at your own risk. Pls bet within limits. Good luck.

Fixture Focus–Spurs (EPL, 30 October 2010)

 Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur       

Could this be the year we finally get a win at Old Trafford?

An away tie with Manchester United is never easy and when you add the fact that we have not won there since 1989 (although Pedro Mendes clearly scored there on 4 January 2005 but we had blind officials then), it just makes it mentally even tougher.  Yes, this Spurs team may just be the ones to do it!

The lack of depth in our squad is a big concern for Redknapp as he has one eye on the Champions League tie against Inter Milan on Tuesday next week.  We still do not have our starting central defenders back and Defoe is still on the injured list.  There is even talk that we may have Bale start on the bench as we aim to conserve him for the Champions League tie.  But Premier League position is even more important in my opinion so given the exertions that may face the squad, a draw at Old Trafford would be gravy.  Winning will be super awesome and we will be looking to playmaker van der Vaart to show his quality again! 

COYS!!!

EPL Prediction League Match Weekend 30-31 October 2010

EPL19: SAT 30/10 Fulham v Wigan at 9.55pm SIN/HKT

EPL20: SUN 31/10 Newcastle v Sunderland at 9.25pm SIN/HKT

GAME ON!
Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
Submissions after kick-off will not be admissible. (Disqualification)

Blog Blackout
This Prediction League will be played here but if in the event this blog goes down, we will automatically carry on the league over to the personal blog of Voxeros at http://www.JayWalkOnline.com. Please bookmark this or at the very least stay in touch with one of us as we will also be helping all stay in the loop via the various channels like MSN, Skype, email as well as SPUG Off-Topic Chat.

Midweek Outlook (26 Oct 2010)

   Manchester United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers  


If there is one word to describe Mick McCarthy, it's ball-less. As far as I am concerned, he is the 21st best manager in the Premier League. The top flight is clearly way out of his league (no pun intended). Every team he has touched since his managerial debut at Millwall has gone down the relegation drain. Granted that he did managed successfully to bring teams thereafter like Sunderland and the current Wolves up to the Premier League, it is only for a couple of season at most before slumping down to the next tier where he belongs.

Mark my words, Wolves will be relegated at the end of this season on his watch, if he gets to keep his job for that long.

I wonder if any remembers him fielding a second-tier team to play against ManUtd last season? How can your own gaffer give up before the kick-off whistle was even blown?

Seriously, what was Eire thinking hiring him to be the national coach during the 2002 World Cup? That is just way over his head. It's like getting an infant to do algebra. Yes, he may be the best thumb sucker at the nursery but to attempt a double quadratic equation? You gotta be kidding me!

Not much to review the opponent here as Wolves has not won at Old Trafford in almost 30 years. They fluked it in 2004 with a 1-0 taiko victory at the Molineux and I don't foresee it ever happen again.

So Rooney has returned as the prodigal son to finally signed a new 5-year contract, after going public the entire week that he wanted out.

Silly boy. Still didn't realise that he kena pwnz by the Sly Fergie. With the new contract in place, Fergie can now offload him for a higher price and dodged the bullet of having to let him go as a free agent next season in 2012. As far as Rooney is concerned, he is no longer in Fergie's master plan. Look out for Fergie shopping for a new striker in transfer windows to come.

Up front today, I am guessing that Fergie may want to experiment with the Macheda-Owen combo up front to see if that would yield an additional striker duo option. Neville should play in this fringe tournament and my focus today is actually on Park who has been pretty shitty recently. Hopefully with more games, he can find his form again.

It is a no-brainer that ManUtd will win this tie and advance to the next round. On the 1X2 front, the odds offered is a mere 1.20. Hence, it is no surprised that on the Asian Handicap front, it's a 1.5 ball advantage in favour of Wolves and a decimal odds of 2.00 for ManUtd to beat it.

Any one taking the bait to bet on Wolves?


Doesn't look like it as 83% of the wagers are punting on the home side to bring in the beer money. I think the other 17% are all Wolves fans who are day dreaming.

Question again is that Fergie doesn't take this tournament seriously enough for us to bet with ease of mind. It is the lowest of the 4 trophies but mind you, had it not been this humble little neglected cup, we would not have any silverware last Team Photo Day.

Had the opponent been any other team, I would advise staying away from this bet as ManUtd isn't really committed to this tournament. However, this is McCarthy's army we are talking about where the white flag is already hoisted high and proudly.

I say go for it and give the 1.5-ball handicap.

JayWalk's 2010/2011 Track Record to-date (29 Sep 2010) :  P48-W25-L23

- Voxeros

Results - Game 23 - 24 Oct 2010 EPL Prediction League 2010/2011

It was a massive jump for ihawk98 for being the only one with a 6-point haul, but it made a very small dent closing in on Mr White reducing the latter's lead by just 2 points.

In anyway, kudo to ihawk98 for picking all the right matches to make our prediction as difficult as possible. Such is the special characteristics of this prediction game as compared to the mainstream fare out there where you are required to predict all 10 matches per weekend.

We just need 2 to wreck your brains until smoke comes out. Heh.

Housekeeping Notes:

All of this season's tables will be kept in Flickr's photoset. Click Here.





EPL Prediction League "Perfect Score" Hall Of Fame
Perfect Score = 2 correct-score predictions in a single weekend and hence the award of the full 10 points.

1) 8plus1 (28 - 29 Aug 2010)
2) KingMeng (02 - 03 Oct 2010)
3) ihawk98 (02 - 03 Oct 2010)
4) ollopA (16 - 17 Oct 2010)

Marksmen Board (Number of Exact Predictions)
4 Games - Mr. White, KingMeng
3 Games - ihawk98, 8plus1, ollopA
2 Games - Voxeros, ianrush
1 Game - cool402, Bedokian, edwinsng, weimeng, Everton


Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
No points for submission after kick-off. (Disqualification)

Blogspot Blackout
The EPL Prediction League will be played here but if in the event Blogger/Blogspot servers go down, we will automatically carry on the league over to my personal blog at http://www.jaywalkonline.com. Please bookmark this or at the very least stay in touch with one of us as we will also be helping all stay in the loop via the various channels like MSN, Skype, email as well as SPUG Off-Topic Chat.

Prediction League Past Winners

Copa America 2004 - WeiMeng
EPL 2004/2005 - Friday13
EPL 2005/2006 - ianrush
World Cup 2006 - EdwinSng
EPL 2006/2007 - Voxeros
EPL 2007/2008 - Cool402
Euro 2008 - Voxeros
EPL 2008/2009 - Everton
EPL 2009/2010 - ihawk98
World Cup 2010 - Raynaldo

As usual:

1) If you have spotted a mistake, please let me know where and what so that I can amend them accordingly.

2) Please check your scores for accuracy as soon as possible before I update the table during the next round of scores. Once the table has been updated, the old table will be overwritten.

3) In case you are still seeing the old table even if I have announced a new update, please refresh your browser to reload the table.

Weekend Review - 24 Oct 2010

Stoke City vs Manchester United

"10 days of roller coaster ride.."

-Gary, 24 Oct 2010

10 days of roller coaster ride, Rooney made a shock U-turn by signing a new 5 years contract. I think the person who really force his arm is none other than Alex Ferguson.

The public press conference by Fergie was a masterstroke where he let Rooney know that the grass is not indeed greener on the other side. Both Rooney and his agent tried to counter claimed by the club not able to match his ambitions by winning trophies. 7 trophies including Fifa Club World Cup since he signed for Man Utd in 2004 against a club with no trophies but lots of money earned from digging oil out of the earth. What are you all both thinking?

The game against Bursaspor was no match to distract Rooney's off-field problems. Despite a solitary goal, Man Utd is well place to advance to the knockout rounds, just one more win against Bursaspor will do.

With the Rooney's problem settled, and a visit to Stoke, is time for Man Utd to get a win to cut the gap that Chelsea is leading. Time for Man Utd players to be literally angry on the field by scoring goals and winning matches.

Stoke Team News: Ricardo Fuller, Dean Whitehead, Mamady Sidibe are out.

Man Utd Team News: Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Antonio Valencia and Owen Hargreaves are out.

Odds and Analysis: Man Utd is giving 0.75 handicap. Take Man Utd for the win and the handicap.

Disclaimer: This review is entirely on my own views and opinion. I didn’t point a gun at you to ask you to follow. If you want to bet on this game, do so at your own risk. Pls bet within limits. Good luck.

Fixture Focus - Spurs (23 Oct 2010)

Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton FC

For the past 36 hours, besides the Rooney saga, everyone else is talking about our glorious 4-3 defeat to Inter at the San Siro. The adjective "glorious" came from a person called Bale, who almost single-handedly turned the tables on the current European champions at their home turf, even with just 10 men.

Back to the league, Spurs will have the honour of playing the first weekend game against the Toffees at the Lane. Everton, with 6 days' rest and feeling high after defeating their neighbours from across Stanley Park, would want to capitalise on their gain and to go further up in the table.

King may still be out, and this means we will probably see Gallas and Bassong starting again. Van der Vaart would be in as the attacking midfielder, and we may see Crouch up front again.

Moyes' boys would likely include their twin terrors Cahill and Yakubu, along with their full squad that defeated Liverpool.

This home game would be crucial in our continued hold in the top 4 position, for we would be facing Man Utd at Old Trafford next weekend, followed by playing hosts to the Nerazzuris.

COYS!!!!!

Midweek Review - 20 Oct 2010

Manchester United vs Bursaspor

"Wayne Rooney has decided to call for time out in Man Utd."

-Gary, 20 Oct 2010

At the point of writing, Wayne Rooney has decided to call for time out in Man Utd. Fergie has no clue about what happened to Rooney when he declared himself fit after England game. Neither does he know what is Wayne Rooney is thinking about when he doesnt want to sign a new contract with Man Utd.

If he does leave, I think Man Utd fans around the world will be very sad about it. If it's about money, i do believe that he is the highest paid player in Man Utd. Perhaps is other issues that Fergie and us will not know.

Coming back to the game against West Brom, they lost 2 point because of Edwin van der Sar's howler. Away woes not enough, now home form also got issue.

Tomorrow game against Bursaspor might be seen as an easy task for Man Utd. But with off-field issue like Wayne Rooney, I wonder even clearing the handicap might be abit difficult to clear for Man Utd.

Man Utd Team News: Owen Hargreaves, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney are out.

Bursaspor Team News: Full team to select.

Odds and Analysis: Man Utd is giving 1.75 handicap. I would take Man Utd for the winner. But handicap? I avoiding it at the moment.

Disclaimer: This review is entirely on my own views and opinion. I didn’t point a gun at you to ask you to follow. If you want to bet on this game, do so at your own risk. Pls bet within limits. Good luck.

Fixture Focus - Spurs (20 Oct 2010)

FC Internazionale Milano vs Tottenham Hotspur

(UEFA Champions League Group Stage)

A lot had crossed my mind when I was thinking of what to write for this fixture. First of all, there was a sense of thrill - we will be facing the European club champions in less than 48 hours. After all, when we are in the Champions League, playing with teams like Inter Milan is just another day at the office.

The next thing is that of apprehension. They are the champions, and we are playing at their sacred turf called San Siro, with a seating capacity of more than 2 times of White Hart Lane's. Even if you are a neutral spectator, you could feel the atmosphere of their home crowd, and I guess our players would feel the same, too.

Spurs would be travelling to Milan without playmaker Van der Vaart, who is serving suspension due to the red card against him from FC Twente game. King is out for this game after the injury at Craven Cottage, but we would have our usual midefield stalwarts available. The question remains whether Keane will be starting against his old club, or would he be moved over in favour of Crouch and Pavlyuchenko. Either way, Keane and Crouch would be facing their old boss, Rafael Benitez.

On the other side, we have the famous Sneijder, Eto'o, Maicon, Cesar.....and the list of superstars go on. Though they are the champions, the man behind them is no longer the same.

Many pundits are going for a draw game, with a possibility of a Spurs loss. However, the ball is round, and their manager was an ex-manager of Liverpool (remember last season?), anything is possible.

COYS!!!!!

EPL Prediction League 2010/2011 Match Weekend 23-24 October 2010

EPL17: SAT 23/10 Sunderland v Aston Villa at 9.55pm SIN/HKT

EPL18: SUN 24/10 Manchester City v Arsenal at 10.30pm SIN/HKT

GAME ON!
Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
Submissions after kick-off will not be admissible. (Disqualification)

Blog Blackout
This Prediction League will be played here but if in the event this blog goes down, we will automatically carry on the league over to the personal blog of Voxeros at http://www.JayWalkOnline.com. Please bookmark this or at the very least stay in touch with one of us as we will also be helping all stay in the loop via the various channels like MSN, Skype, email as well as SPUG Off-Topic Chat.

Results - Game 16 - 17 Oct 2010 EPL Prediction League 2010/2011

Oh no!! Mr White is running away at the top and a massive lead of 8 points!!!

I have only myself to kick for missing the kick off on Sunday where I was going to predict a 1-0 victory for the folks at Goodison Park. Rats!!!

Also, congrats to ollopA for achieving the Perfect-10 over the weekend!!

Housekeeping Notes:

All of this season's tables will be kept in Flickr's photoset. Click Here.




EPL Prediction League "Perfect Score" Hall Of Fame
Perfect Score = 2 correct-score predictions in a single weekend and hence the award of the full 10 points.

1) 8plus1 (28 - 29 Aug 2010)
2) KingMeng (02 - 03 Oct 2010)
3) ihawk98 (02 - 03 Oct 2010)
4) ollopA (16 - 17 Oct 2010)

Marksmen Board (Number of Exact Predictions)
4 Games - Mr. White, KingMeng
3 Games - ihawk98, 8plus1
2 Games - Voxeros, ollop, ianrush
1 Game - cool402, Bedokian, edwinsng, weimeng


Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
No points for submission after kick-off. (Disqualification)

Blogspot Blackout
The EPL Prediction League will be played here but if in the event Blogger/Blogspot servers go down, we will automatically carry on the league over to my personal blog at http://www.jaywalkonline.com. Please bookmark this or at the very least stay in touch with one of us as we will also be helping all stay in the loop via the various channels like MSN, Skype, email as well as SPUG Off-Topic Chat.

Prediction League Past Winners

Copa America 2004 - WeiMeng
EPL 2004/2005 - Friday13
EPL 2005/2006 - ianrush
World Cup 2006 - EdwinSng
EPL 2006/2007 - Voxeros
EPL 2007/2008 - Cool402
Euro 2008 - Voxeros
EPL 2008/2009 - Everton
EPL 2009/2010 - ihawk98
World Cup 2010 - Raynaldo

As usual:

1) If you have spotted a mistake, please let me know where and what so that I can amend them accordingly.

2) Please check your scores for accuracy as soon as possible before I update the table during the next round of scores. Once the table has been updated, the old table will be overwritten.

3) In case you are still seeing the old table even if I have announced a new update, please refresh your browser to reload the table.

Fixture Focus – Spurs (EPL, 16 October 2010)

Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur       

What a time to be having a tricky trip away at Craven Cottage! 

Spurs have one eye on today’s match and another in midweek next week away at the Inter Milan.  We definitely do not have the squad depth given that key players are still injured but the Premier League is arguably the more important fixture of the two.  With that said, Ledley King could be back in the line up today given that Gallas and Kaboul not 100% match fit ready.  For me I can see us starting with Gomes, Hutton, King, Bassong, Bale, Modric, Jenas, Hudd, Kranjcar, VDV and Crouch.

Our record at Craven Cottage is rather dismal, with only one win there in the last 9 outings.  If I had to guess, I feel that this game has a 1-1 scoreline written all over it.  But given Spurs penchant for a Jekyll and Hyde performance every week, I am cautiously worried that we could come out flat this week as well.

COYS!!!

Weekend Outlook (16 Oct 2010)

   Manchester United vs West Bromwich Albion  


This is expected to be an easy game for Manchester United who are, on the domestic front, not only unbeaten but also yet to concede a goal at home this season. For that, we have the returning partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic to thank for.

Granted there has not been any domestic fixtures for the past two weeks, it is a false impression to think that ManUtd are well rested. On the contrary, as a result of international games, players from the top teams are mostly involved in their respective national squads. Hence, it is the lower teams like West Brom that are the ones who are really well rested.

Fortunately, it is unlikely we would be at a greater disadvantage as despite the illusion that West Brom is currently in 6th, I foresee them to be one of the likely candidates for relegation.

Now that we have gotten past and moved on from the Sunderland disaster, October looks to be a relatively easy month for ManUtd. Scholes and Giggs should be featuring in midfield today as both veterans are retired from the international scene, thereby able to chip in at this time to shoulder the commitments, allowing the likes of Carrick to be rested ahead of the ECL clash against debutant Bursaspor, which is also expected to be an easy 3-points.

This is following by another easy game against Stoke City which we hope would be the one to break the away-game jinx.

We should be making up for a lot of lost ground this month and expect us to mount a serious challenge on all fronts.

In other HR news, Hargreaves is rumoured to be back to full fitness but the way I see it, his lack of match fitness should get him to the bench at best. Significantly off-form Rooney is again expected to be pass up to make way for Hernandez to partner Berbatov, thereby fueling more grapevine talks that Fergie may show him the door when the January transfer window opens. Personally, I doubt if that is going to happen. It is just the papers sensationalising news to sell a few extra copies.

On the bookie front. ManUtd is giving 1.75-ball handicap and a 2.075 decimal odds to beat it. Punters are wagering 85% of the bets in favour of the home side and likely a correct decision on account of the fact that West Brom has never beaten ManUtd home or away dating as far back as 2002.

I say go ahead and give the handicap. I do not foresee any mishap.

JayWalk's 2010/2011 Track Record to-date (16 Oct 2010) :  P37-W20-L17

- Voxeros

EPL Prediction League 2010/2011 Match Weekend 16-17 October 2010

EPL15: SAT 16/10 Wolves v West Ham at 9.55pm SIN/HKT

EPL16: SUN 17/10 Everton v Liverpool at 8.25pm SIN/HKT

GAME ON!
Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
Submissions after kick-off will not be admissible. (Disqualification)

Blog Blackout
This Prediction League will be played here but if in the event this blog goes down, we will automatically carry on the league over to the personal blog of Voxeros at http://www.JayWalkOnline.com. Please bookmark this or at the very least stay in touch with one of us as we will also be helping all stay in the loop via the various channels like MSN, Skype, email as well as SPUG Off-Topic Chat.

EPL Prediction League

There wont be any prediction league for this weekend due to European Championship qualifiers. Hope Man Utd could turn the corner on their away form woes.

Results - Game 02 - 03 Oct 2010 EPL Prediction League 2010/2011

Whoa! We have 2 Perfect-10s this weekend!!

Congrats to KingMeng and ihawk98 for a perfect weekend.

We also have a bunch of new scores on the Marksmen Board. Do check them out below!

Also, congrats to Mr. White for taking over pole after a disastrous weekend for me.

On to the next weekend!

Housekeeping Notes:

All of this season's tables will be kept in Flickr's photoset. Click Here.




EPL Prediction League "Perfect Score" Hall Of Fame
Perfect Score = 2 correct-score predictions in a single weekend and hence the award of the full 10 points.

1) 8plus1 (28 - 29 Aug 2010)
2) KingMeng (02 - 03 Oct 2010)
1) ihawk98 (02 - 03 Oct 2010)

Marksmen Board (Number of Exact Predictions)
4 Games - Mr. White, KingMeng
3 Games - ihawk98
2 Games - Voxeros, 8plus1
1 Game - cool402, Bedokian, ianrush, edwinsng, weimeng


Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
No points for submission after kick-off. (Disqualification)

Blogspot Blackout
The EPL Prediction League will be played here but if in the event Blogger/Blogspot servers go down, we will automatically carry on the league over to my personal blog at http://www.jaywalkonline.com. Please bookmark this or at the very least stay in touch with one of us as we will also be helping all stay in the loop via the various channels like MSN, Skype, email as well as SPUG Off-Topic Chat.

Prediction League Past Winners

Copa America 2004 - WeiMeng
EPL 2004/2005 - Friday13
EPL 2005/2006 - ianrush
World Cup 2006 - EdwinSng
EPL 2006/2007 - Voxeros
EPL 2007/2008 - Cool402
Euro 2008 - Voxeros
EPL 2008/2009 - Everton
EPL 2009/2010 - ihawk98
World Cup 2010 - Raynaldo

As usual:

1) If you have spotted a mistake, please let me know where and what so that I can amend them accordingly.
2) Please check your scores for accuracy as soon as possible before I update the table during the next round of scores. Once the table has been updated, the old table will be overwritten.
3) In case you are still seeing the old table even if I have announced a new update, please refresh your browser to reload the table.

Weekend Review - 2 Oct 2010

Sunderland vs Manchester United

"First clean sheet in 5 away games."

-Gary, 2 Oct 2010

First clean sheet in 5 away games and both Rangers and Man Utd are level on points, same goal difference in the Champions League standings. Poor Valencia that they lost the game to a solitary goal from Javier Hernandez.

If Wayne Rooney unable to score goals on a regular basis, why still keep playing him? Shouldnt it be Javier Hernandez partnering Berbatov?

At least we saw some confidence restored in defence as Rio Ferdinand is back.

The coming game at Sunderland, I reckon is another hard nut to crack. This season, they have won Man City and draw with Arsenal at Stadium of Light. An impressive record from Steve Bruce. Both games were scored by Darren Bent, enhancing his England career yet continued to overlook by Fabio Capello.

Sunderland Team News: Anton Ferdinand, Fraizer Campbell, David Meyler, John Mensah, Michael Turner and Kieran Richardson are out.

Man Utd Team News: Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Antonio Valencia, Owen Hargreaves and Wayne Rooney are out.

Odds and Analysis: Man Utd is giving 0.75 handicap. With so many first team players are unavailable and Sunderland making their stadium a fortress, I think Man Utd will continue their away results with a draw. No punt.

Disclaimer: This review is entirely on my own views and opinion. I didn’t point a gun at you to ask you to follow. If you want to bet on this game, do so at your own risk. Pls bet within limits. Good luck.

Fixture Focus - Spurs (2 Oct 2010)

Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa

After our euphoric victory against the Dutch Eredivisie champions FC Twente during the midweek Champions League fixture, another home game is coming up, this time against Aston Villa with newly-appointed Houllier in charge.

The entire team that played against FC Twente may be starting against Villa, though I will expect at least 2 changes to the starting side. Gomes is back, which means he will most likely have first team appearance in this game. King is probable (pending confirmation) since he had a heavy day on Wednesday. For our strike pair, it could either be a Crouch/Keane or Crouch/Pavlyuchenko pairing. In the midfield we would have plenty to choose, though Bale and Huddlestone will definitely be in.

Villa may be without its striker Agbonlahor, but other than that they had a full week's rest and are looking for more teams to scalp.

The past weekend saw us tumbling down to 8th place, and if we lose this, there might be a chance that we will tumble down 4 places further. We have to win this game, though I foresee Villa will be a tough nut to crack.

COYS!!!!!