EPL Prediction League Match Weekend 21- 22 Mar 2009

EPL51: SAT 21/3 Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea at 10:55pm SIN/HKT

EPL52: SUN 22/3 Wigan vs Hull City 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)

Blogger/Blogspot Blackout
This 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 the personal blog of Voxeros at
http://jaywalk.blog-city.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 - Games 14 - 15 Mar 2009 EPL Prediction League 2008/2009

Apologies for the late release of this week's table as it has been a crazy week for me at work.

It's here nevertheless as we congratulate necroastr, delay, weimeng, ianrush and everton to be the first to break the century. Well done.

Also congrats to everton and hotdog for getting one more on the Marksmen Board to 6-apiece.

Cheers.

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) redherring (20 Oct 2008)
2) weiming (19 Jan 2009)

Marksmen Board (Number of Exact Predictions)
8 Games - delay
7 Games - weimeng
6 Games - hotdog, everton
5 Games - ihawk98, ianrush, voxeros
4 Games - david.hvp, limyengchuan, necroastr, redherring, edwinsng
3 Games - cool402
2 Games - Bedokian
1 Game - cha dum yen

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://jaywalk.blog-city.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

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 Outlook (14 Mar 2009)

Manchester United vs Liverpool

"...I say take ManUtd, give the 0.5-ball handicap and watch the Scouscers weep when the final whistle is blown...."

- JayWalk, 14 Mar 2009

And then there were 8. I see only Inter Milan and Barcelona being the credible ones to challenge us for the ECL title and with Inter Milan out of the way, we only have Barcelona to take care of before we lift that trophy again.

It doesn't matter when we meet Barcelona, if at all. It could be next round in the Quarter-Finals or further down in the Semi-Finals or Finals, as long as we eliminate them, we win.

Everyone else is irrelevant.

Despite the 2-0 victory over Inter-Milan, it wasn't an impressive win. We didn't win because we played better. we won because they played worse.

If we are to beat Liverpool today, we have to buck up and play better than we played during mid-week.

With no game in the following mid-week, the squad will have a good week's rest before taking on Fulham again. Given that we trashed the Cottagers earlier in the FA Cup 4-0, 3 points is definitely in the bag as our challengers spiral further down into the abyss of despair as we inch nearer to the title.

JayWalk The Talk: Neville, Brown, Hargreaves and Rafael are out, which brings me to wonder why we bought Hargreaves. It seems that he is warming the sickbay more than he is warming the bench. Let's not even talk about getting unto the grass.

Van dar Sar should still be in between the sticks with the dynamic duo of Vidic and Ferdinand holding the centre with Evra and O'Shea securing the flanks. Further up in mid-field, we have Ronaldo and Giggs taking the wings with Carrick as the playmaker. Rooney and Berbartov will take the front and given then we lost Liverpool earlier in the season playing 4-3-3, I think Fergie will play 4-4-2 this time round which means an extra slot in mid-field. Scholes perhaps?

On the Liverpool side, Torres and Gerrard are sure to feature although both are having a slight nagging problem here and there during mid-week.

JayWalk The Walk: We lost to Liverpool at Anfield only because they caught us at a time when we were short-handed due to injuries.

Not so lucky for them this time as Fergie will have a wide selection of players this time.

Bookies are making ManUtd give 0.5-ball at 1.95 decimal odds to beat it. Punters are favouring ManUtd slightly with 55% of the wager pot on ManUtd to beat the 0.5-ball.

The pressure today is on Liverpool as even a draw means elimination from the title challenge and we all know how Liverpool suck at handling pressure.

I think Liverpool will play all defensive again and just sit there waiting for that one chance to sneak that counter-attack. Fergie will be too smart for that as we should be dictating the game right from the start.

In case anyone hasn't notice, Liverpool suck big time the weekend after a European game.

I say take ManUtd, give the 0.5-ball handicap and watch the Scouscers weep when the final whistle is blown.


Disclaimer: The above views are purely my own two-cents' worth. In other words, I cannot and will not guarantee that my predictions are accurate. If you want to bet on the game, do so at your own risk. Also, please bet responsibly and within your means regardless of how "sure thing" that game may appear to be. As the old saying goes, "The Ball Is Round". Good luck.

Fixture Focus - Spurs (15 March 2009)

Aston Villa FC vs Tottenham Hotspur

Call it sour grapes, but potentially, we SHOULD be in Aston Villa's position in the league, i.e. 4th. O'Neill's boys have done well, and even surpassed our "friendly" neighbour, the team-which-must-not-be-named (OK, it's called Arsenal).

The Villans' home record is not that really impressive, having managed just 5 wins out of 14 games. However, Spurs' away record is equally dismal, with just 3 wins to date.

The Villa players had just came back from a vacation in the Middle-East, and they are now back trying to distance themselves more from Arsenal in order to secure the last Champions League place. Spurs, as usual, would be fighting the ongoing battle of NOT be in the last 3.

Seems like it is going to be an interesting fixture. I have only 4 letters to say:

COYS!!!!!!

Midweek Review (10 March 2009)

Manchester United vs Inter Milan

"To think that he doesnt want to win the Quintuple, pui!"

-Gary, 10 March 2009

Fergie is waging psychological warfare with everyone including the die-hard supporters of Man Utd. He field Edwin van der Sar and Rooney for this match. And we thought he will field his reserves. Dang! To think that he doesnt want to win the Quintuple, pui!

I was foreseeing this match ended with a draw or a loss as Man Utd is only giving a 0.5 ball handicap. But i just realised that Fulham have not won at home to Man Utd since 1964. Another dang!

The match against Inter will be a nail-biting one. So long Inter score one goal and we are out. But i hoping for Lady Luck to be at Old Trafford that day.

Man Utd Team News: Rio Ferdinand is doubtful and will have a late fitness test. Ronaldo is rested against Fulham, so he is expected to be playing against Inter Milan.

Inter Milan Team News: 4 centre-backs are unavailable. They are Marco Materazzi, Walter Samuel, Christian Chivu and Nicolas Burdisso.

Odds and Analysis: Man Utd is giving 0.75 ball handicap. I will take Man Utd.

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.

EPL Prediction League Match Weekend 14- 15 Mar 2009

EPL49: SAT 14/3 Manchester United vs Liverpool at 8:40pm SIN/HKT

EPL50: SUN 15/3 Chelsea vs Manchester City 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)

Blogger/Blogspot Blackout
This 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 the personal blog of Voxeros at
http://jaywalk.blog-city.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.

Weekend Outlook (07 Mar 2009)

Fulham vs Manchester United

"...Given that we have a do-or-die game against Inter-Milan on the following Wednesday (and Liverpool the following Saturday), I don't see how we can afford to play our first team today...."

- JayWalk, 07 Mar 2009

We struggled against Newcastle and one starts to wonder if we are relying too much on Ronaldo.

We were lucky to have Rooney and Berbatov to pick up the slack but only just enough to scrape a 2-1 win and to go 7 points ahead with 1 game-in-hand.

After today's match, we will really have to crank up the game a notch as we host Inter Milan for the second leg of the ECL second round. Defence will have to be water tight for this one as a single goal by the Italians could see us out the ECL door. We must win Inter-Milan at Old Trafford. Draw will not be an option.

Following that we will be hosting Liverpool, another match which may just be the one to eliminate Liverpool from the title chase if they lose. We have the advantage here as we will be playing at home and Liverpool too will be facing a very tough match against Real Madrid who is a goal down from the previous leg.

JayWalk The Talk: Van dar Sar is definitely rested ahead of the ECL clash. Foster's good showing at the Carling Cup final should earn him another Cup slot in the starting lineup.

Hargreaves is still injured but recovering nicely in time for next season. Only question is would he be injured just as quickly again. Sounds to me like another white elephant who spends more time in the sick bay then on the field.

We are a bit short on defence as Neville, Rafael and Brown are all doubtful, leaving Ferdinand and Vidic to hold center while Evra takes a flank and O'Shea fall back to complete the back-4.

Kamara is the only absentee on the Fulham side and do keep an eye on Murphy who is probably the key to making or breaking ManUtd's chance of advancement. This old bird from Liverpool has always done well against ManUtd, his experience will certainly be useful to the Fulham team when they play against us.

However, if in the event we still beat them, then you can be sure that when we meet Fulham next week after Liverpool, we will beat them again.

JayWalk The Walk: ManUtd is giving 0.5-ball with decimal odds of 1.80 to beat it. Looks like the bookies are quite confident of ManUtd making through this round without even the need to replay the game.

Ex-Liverpool Mark Lawrenson from BBC predicts a 1-1 draw and I can see where he is coming from. Given that we have a do-or-die game against Inter-Milan on the following Wednesday (and Liverpool the following Saturday), I don't see how we can afford to play our first team today.

Granted that there are talks about chasing the Grand Slam of Trophies, it was never a firm objective. Just merely a nice-to-chase target and not a need-to-chase target. FA Cup, like Carling Cup wins us nothing perhaps except a nice kitty of prize money.

Still, I think we may just be able to scrape through. It would be pretty but I think we can get it done. We win by a one-goal margin.

1-0 perhaps.

Disclaimer: The above views are purely my own two-cents' worth. In other words, I cannot and will not guarantee that my predictions are accurate. If you want to bet on the game, do so at your own risk. Also, please bet responsibly and within your means regardless of how "sure thing" that game may appear to be. As the old saying goes, "The Ball Is Round". Good luck.

Fixture Focus - Spurs (7 March 2009)

Sunderland AFC vs Tottenham Hotspur

Just 3 days after our decisive win against Middlesbrough, Spurs is set to begin their battle of survival in the EPL. This weekend, Harry and his boys would be travelling up northeast to face Sunderland, who had defeated us earlier in the season.

The 2 teams have something in common, for now - both have 31 points, both are looking for safety higher up in the table, and both are not going to afford any mistake and slip. Though technically we are at mid-table (13th position), the relegation zone is just 4 points away. A win now would be even more crucial, propelling us to at least 10th position.

Let us wish Spurs all the best! COYS!!!!

Fixture Focus - Spurs (5 March 2009)

Spurs vs Middlesbrough

This will be a true test of the mental toughness of Spurs.  Are they going to come out fighting like they did against Man U over the weekend, or will they suffer from "penalty kicks losing" hangover?

Now that we have no other distractions apart from the EPL relegation fight, it is imperative that we start winning matches.  A week or so ago, playing Boro at home would be pretty much a cake walk.  But Boro has been in impressive form the last couple of games, capped with a nice win against Liverpool over the weekend. 

Spurs will have the services of all the cup-tied players tonight, with Keano raring to get his first goal after his transfer back recently.  With Palacios back in midfield, I think we stand a good chance of taking 3 points tonight if we keep Downing, Alves and Aliadiare in check.

COYS!!!

Midweek Review (5 March 2009)

Newcastle United vs Manchester United

"One down, three to go.. Make that two to go."

-Gary, 5 March 2009

One down, three to go.. Make that two to go. Fergie seem contented to go for Premier League and Champions League than to go for additional distraction in FA Cup.

With majority of the reserves are playing in the Carling Cup final, nothing is lost despite playing additional 30 minutes in the extra time for the match. Fergie is set to field his First 11 for the Newcastle match. However, with Ronaldo playing the whole match against Tottenham, will he be rested or play against Newcastle?

Newcastle Team News: Kevin Nolan is suspended. Michael Owen, Joey Barton and Danny Guthrie are injured.

Man Utd Team News: Gary Neville, Jonny Evans and Owen Hargreaves are out with injuries.

Odds and Analysis: Man Utd is giving 1 ball handicap. With one game in hand, 7 points in front of Liverpool Chelsea, will certain forces stop Man Utd from claiming another 3 points to runaway with the title? If that the case, it wont be nice to watch anymore, no? My heart is asking me to take but my mind is saying otherwise. No punt for me.

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.