Failure to beat the 10 men of Norwich last weekend has ensured Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland really are in a relegation fight.
A combination of dull football, lack of goals and without
a win since the 19th January is far from the recipe for success. When
you throw into the mix season ending injuries to both Steven Fletcher and captain
Lee Cattermole, survival really is in doubt.
O’Neill’s appointment in December 2011 was the catalyst
behind an incredible rise from 17th to the top half of the Premier
League. The feat was made all the more impressive given the fact it was
achieved in just two short months. However since then the club have struggled and have won just
seven of their last 38 Premier League games. Meaning should the season have
started at the time of Sunderland’s decline, they would have been relegated.
Home matches against Manchester United and Everton are
sandwiched with trips Chelsea and local rivals Newcastle, a daunting fixture
list for any side! After these four games Sunderland, in all likelihood will find
themselves below the dreaded relegation line, which beggars the question, have they
really improved under O’Neill?
The sales of Darren Bent and Jordan Henderson severely hampered
former manager Steve Bruce. And although numerous faces came through the
Stadium of Light doors, not many commanded a high transfer fee. Despite a poor
start to the season, Bruce deserved more time, with the high turnover of
players always ensuring developing his side that season would take time.
It took Sunderland 18 months to really replace Bent
The people’s choice was then appointed in the form of the
O’Neill, who supported the club as a boy. In the short-term it worked,
Sunderland were never in any danger of going down.
However this was the season Sunderland were supposed to
kick-on, which evidently they haven’t. Big name and money signings arrived in
the form of Adam Johnson and Fletcher, meaning expectation levels at The Stadium of Light were high. Whilst Fletcher has done the business for the Black Cats, scoring a
third of the clubs Premier League goals, his fellow capture hasn't done so well.
Johnson promised much and given frequent game time, many
expected him to flourish at Sunderland. Yet inconsistency has blighted his
season, a theme common amongst young British wingers.
O’Neill has struggled to address Sunderland’s real problems
in the three transfer window’s available to him. The sale of Michael Turner to
Norwich was strange. Turner is a solid if not spectacular Premier League centre
half. Yet the injury prone Wes Brown is yet to feature this season, whilst the
likes of Carlos Cuellar and Titus Bramble have proven to be inconsistent at
best.
Turner has helped Norwich keep nine Premier League clean sheets
The lack of a real creative playmaker has heavily exposed
how unimaginative the Sunderland midfield is. Stephane Sessengon has the
ability to be this, however similar to Johnson, a real lack of consistency has
blighted his season. Having seen Sunderland a few times this season, I can
assure you they aren’t the most pleasing on the eye. It’s not that they play
long football, but their inability to string a succession of passes together is
all too obvious.
With just eight games remaining, Sunderland are only four
points clear of Wigan in 18th, who also have a game in hand of the Mackems!
You only need to read O’Neill’s CV to see he’s a very good
manager. However for some reason it’s not working at Sunderland at the moment.
Neil Warnock once said it was harder to manage a club you supported and maybe
that’s proving the case for O’Neill.
England have the luxury of calling upon their fully fit T20 captain Stuart Broad who was forced to sit out the shorter side of the game in England’s previous tour of India. The Nottinghamshire bowler wasn’t at his best during the test series in India, however a hat-trick in Tuesday’s warm-up victory over a New Zealand XI. It is worth nothing that the test squad only has four representatives in the T20 squad.
Having settled his differences with the New Zealand cricketing board, the world-class Ross Taylor comes back into the squad. Their batting line up is full of match winners, in the form of Brendan McCullum, James Franklin, Martin Guptill and of course Taylor, however their bowlers are inferior to their opponents, and without Tim Southee, they could struggle.
A dreadful start to the campaign saw AC Milan languishing in
the lower regions of the Serie A table for the majority of the opening half of
the 2012-13 season, however their recent upsurge in form has seen them climb to
fifth in the league, and they sit just six points adrift of the all-important
third Champions League qualification spot.
'The Pharaoh' has been in amazing form for AC Milan all season
The Rossoneri lost five of their opening eight games;
however a sequence of just one defeat in their 10 league matches has ensured
the pressure of head coach Massimiliano Allegri has been relieved, for the time
being at least! The turning point in AC’s season came about when the side
trailed Napoli by two goals, before a Stephan El Shaawarydouble rescued a point. That unlikely point was then back upped by
a solid victory against the Champions Juventus the following week, thanks a
Robinho penalty.
Having made his debut for Roma at the age of just 16, much was expected from Alessio Cerci, however as of yet he has failed to deliver.
However, could 2013 be the year Cerci fulfills his undoubted potential? A good first half of the season has culminated in Cerci putting in two goal scoring performances that have landed Torino six points since the start of the year.
Last weekend saw Harry Redknapp face his former employees
for the first time since his questionable sacking in the summer. Under Redknapp
Tottenham had their best four years of Premier League football, peaking at Champions
League qualification in 2010, however if Andre Vilas-Boas was to bring Europe’s
elite competition back to White Hart Lane, then it’d surpass Redknapp’s
achievement.
Not for one second am I suggesting ‘Arry’ didn’t do an
amazing job at Spurs, that isn’t in question. When he took charge back in 2008
the club were adrift at the bottom of the league after picking up just two
points from eight games and in 24 months were facing the likes of Inter Milan
and Werder Bremen in the Champions League.
AVB's Spurs rescued a late point against Manchester United on Sunday
What am I saying is everything was in piece for Redknapp to
succeed at Tottenham. He had the core of a very good squad in the form of Luka
Modric, Michael Dawson, Aaron Lennon and the then underused Gareth Bale. During
his tenure the transfer windows were all about who he was going to add, with
none of the departures against Redknapp’s wishes. In Andre Vilas-Boas’s first
transfer window he lost two world-class players in Modric and Rafael Van Der
Vaart.
Vilas-Boas hardly arrived at White Hart Lane with a glowing
CV in English football following his dismissal from Chelsea just seven monthsinto a five year deal. For me he arrived at Chelsea at the wrong time, and his
timing at Tottenham was even worse if anything. Whoever followed Redknapp was
always going to be under extreme pressure. Not many saw the former Portsmouth
manager’s dismissal coming, leaving fans and pundits alike confused.
And following just two points from their opening three
games, including 1-1 home draws with the likes of Norwich and West Brom, the
White Hart Lane faithful were growing restless very early on. However much to
his credit, Vilas-Boas has turned it around! Spurs sit fourth in the Premier
League and even have a better points return from the same fixtures as last
year.
The pressure was heavily on Vilas-Boas following their 1-1 draw with Norwich
One thing Redknapp has always had is he is loved by the
media. AVB can’t say the same. Ridiculed for his job at Chelsea, and not given
the respect he deserved for his amazing season with Porto. Going into the game
at Old Trafford, a tabloid printed a piece suggesting there was ‘choas’ at
White Hart Lane, with all the star players not liking the new manager in
charge. Subsequently Tottenham went to Old Trafford and stunned the hosts
winning 3-2, something Spurs haven’t done since Gary Lineker and go back in
1991. The majority of the players at the end of the game hugged their manager,
and clearly want to play for the ‘gaffer’ as Gareth Bale said at the end of the
game.
Despite having a return of just 0.25 points per match from
their first eight games, Spurs were never going to be relegated the year ‘Arry’
took over, they had too much quality, meaning there was only one direction for
them, up! Champions League qualification the very next year however was beyond
their expectations, but they didn’t have to fight off the sort of quality that
exists currently in the Premier League.
You could easily suggest that eight teams can realistically
challenge for Champions League football, whilst only six could in the 09/10
season. The two that missed out on the top four where Manchester City and
Liverpool. City weren’t the machine they are now; whilst Liverpool were on the
start of their heavy slide which saw them slip from 2nd the previous
season to 6th and even lower since.
With both Manchester clubs seeming to have a stranglehold on
the top two, realistically there is only two spots left, and with Chelsea
favourites for third, meaning it’s likely if Vilas-Boas is to qualify for the
Champions League, he’ll have to do something no Spurs manager has done in
Premier League history, finish above their London rivals Arsenal!
Tactically Redknapp has always been questioned, and there
are signs that Vilas-Boas has already answered a few questions that were asked
last year. Tottenham struggled when playing both Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermaine
Defoe in a 4-4-2 last season, with Redknapp often leaving Defoe on the bench,
often hinting the two couldn’t play together. Yet Spurs’ recent fun of good
form (seven wins in nine over Christmas), started when AVB changed from 4-2-3-1
to a 4-4-2, with Defoe in particular in fantastic form this season.
Having conceded a ridiculous amount of late goals in the
earlier stages of the season, Tottenham appear to have stopped that rot and are
defensively much stronger than at any previous point so far, meaning they’ve
given themselves a very good platform to qualify for the Champions League for
only the second time, and if they are to do so, I wonder if AVB will get the
credit that Redknapp did for the same achievement?
Bradford City stunned Aston
Villa to take a stranglehold in their Capital One Cup semi-final, following the 3-1 victory at Valley Parade this evening.
Carl McHugh's 88th minute
header ensured Bradford go to Villa Park with a two goal buffer and give them
the ultimate chance of producing the unlikeliest of cup finalists.
Nekhi Wells gave Bradford
the early goal a shock usually requires and as Villa missed a host of chances, the League
Two side punished them as Rory McArdle's header made it 2-0. Andi Weimann
pulled Villa back in the match; however the Bantams two goal lead was restored
via McHugh.
A place in the final isn't guaranteed
for Bradford, however Paul Lambert will be furious that his side appear to have
blown an amazing opportunity for a date at Wembley.
As for Bradford, Phil
Parkinson who was given the boot by both Hull and Charlton has masterminded an
incredible achievement, and whatever happens in the return leg, this run will
go down as one of the finest in living memory.
Parkinson has guided Bradford to 8th in League Two
Aston Villa actually came
out the quicker, and with Charles N'Zogbia consistently finding space, an early
goal for the Villains looked inevitable; however the usually reliable Christian
Benteke couldn't convert two very presentable chances that fell his way.
Despite their slow start,
very much against the run of play, Bradford opened the scoring through Wells.
Joe Bennett conceded the
cheapest of corners, and despite dealing with the original dead ball, Zavon
Hines was first to the cleared header, and his shot was deflected perfectly
into the path of Bradford's leading goalscorer who beat Shay Given with an
assured finish.
Wells gave Bradford the ideal platform
Bradford nearly doubled
their lead from another corner and Hanson was only denied by Fabian Delph's
clearance off the line.
The League Two's greatest
threat came from down the right, with the former West Ham winger Zavon Hines
giving Bennett a torrid time. And one of his many deliveries nearly brought about a second
goal, however Hanson headed into the ground over.
N'Zogbia was behind every
good Villa did, and he created another chance for the Premier League side, but
Gabriel Agbonlahor shot straight at Duke from in and around the penalty spot.
Villa again started the half
the quicker, but a poor touch from Ciaran Clark meant the centre half couldn't
get a shot away despite the freedom of the six-yard box.
On another evening Benteke
could've had a hat-trick, however Duke produced his best save of the evening following a diving header from the Belgian international.
Darren Bent arrived around
the hour mark and was guilty of not leveling the tie, following a shocking
miss! For the first time in the game Duke was at fault following a poor spillage
from a N'Zogbia shot, and with the goal gaping, Bent headed over from all of
two yards.
Incredibly Bradford scored a
second through McArdle. Captain Gary Jones's corner was cleared back to him,
and his delivery was perfect for the McArdle to show the £24million Bent how to
head home!
Hanson who won pretty much
ever header that was put in the penalty box from open play almost made it 3-0,
but his effort clipped the bar and went out for a goal kick.
With time running out, Villa
were in desperate need of a lifeline, and the in-form Weimann gave them exactly
that! Benteke's knock down from a long ball was perfect for the Austrian who
beat Duke to the ball before slotting it home to give Villa the goal they
merited.
Amazingly the scoring hadn't
ended, and McHugh scored Bradford's third of the evening, heading superbly home
from another pinpoint Jones set piece.
The third goal stunned
Lambert's side, and even when four minutes of extra time were signaled, Villa
didn't look like reducing the arrears and for the majority of the overtime the
ball was in the Villa half.
Few gave Bradford a chance
of eliminating another Premier League side given the two legged factor, however
come the return leg at Villa Park, the League Two side may even be slight
favourites.
To win - Norwich, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Brom and Manchester United. Five pounds returns £100.84 Goals galore - Manchester United, Fulham, QPR, Swansea and West Brom. Five pounds returns £56.95 Manchester United vs Arsenal
It's safe to say there won't be a repeat scoreline from last year, but in a week where both clubs were involved in high scoring Capital One games, expect there to be goals at Old Trafford come Saturday lunchtime.
More fuel has been added to the United Arsenal fire with the summer move of Robin Van Persie! The Dutchman was the league's top goal scorer last campaign, and has started in fantastic form for the Red Devils, and I'm sure there will be many bets on him to score!
Manchester United haven't reached top gear yet but find themselves just a point off the leaders Chelsea, whilst Arsenal at times have been brilliant, but their points return isn't as high as they had hoped for.
Teams have beaten Arsenal when they've kept Santi Cazorla quiet, and if Manchester United can do so here, expect them to win! Manchester United 3 Arsenal 2 - 22/1 - Lose £2.50 Manchester United to win - 8/11 - Returns of £4.31 Other Tips: Robin Van Persie anytime goalscorer - 10/11 - Returns of £9.55 Both teams to score - 8/13 - Returns of £8.07 Over 2.5 goals - 4/6 - Returns of £8.33 Match returns - Profit of £10.26
Fulham vs Everton
Both sides came from early set backs to earn draws on last time out, however Everton will be the happier with their point considering Fulham had turned the game on its head against Reading to lead.
Martin Jol and David Moyes can both be pleased with how their sides have started the season, and if Fulham hadn't conceded late away to two of the three promoted sides then Fulham would be higher in the league.
Everton won at Craven Cottage 3-1 last year, but I can't separate them this time around. Fulham 1 Everton 1 - 11/2 - Lose £2.50 Draw - 12/5 - Returns £8.50 Other Tips: Nikica Jelavic anytime goalscorer - 7/4 - Lose a fiver Both teams to score - 4/7 - Returns of £7.85 Everton first team yellow card - 10/11 with Bet365 - Lose a fiver Match returns - Loss of £3.65
Norwich vs Stoke
Their 1-0 win over Arsenal appears to be a turning point in Norwich's season, as, including the win over the Gunners, they've won two from three in all competitions and rescued a point away to Aston Villa last week.
Leon Barnett was dismissed when these two met at Carrow Road last year
Stoke have started the season with too many draws, six from nine games to be precise, and at the moment they lack at cutting edge. With Michael Owen getting more minutes under his belt, I'm sure he'll start to score goals and help the Potters win more games.
Norwich need to win these sort of matches, and I fancy them to just edge it. Norwich 2 Stoke 1 - 17/2 - Lose £2.50 Norwich to win - 8/5 - Returns of £6.50 Other tips: Stoke first team yellow card - 4/6 with bet365 - Returns of £8.33 A headed goal to be scored - 22/10 with 188bet - Returns of £16 Draw HT/ Norwich FT - 5/1 - Lose a fiver Match returns - £10.83
Sunderland vs Aston Villa
Both sides are in horrible form ahead of the game at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland winning just one league game in 16, with Villa's form even worse, with just the solitary victory from their last 19 games!
Stephen Fletcher aside, Sunderland have struggled to find the net this year, whilst Aston Villa have continuously left their best out and out goalscorer on the bench, with Darren Bent failing to start any of their last three league matches.
I fancy the draw between these two out of sorts sides! Sunderland 1 Aston Villa 1 - 5/1 - Lose £2.50 Draw - 12/5 - Lose £2.50 Other tips: Christian Benteke to score anytime - 11/4 - Lose a fiver Under 2.5 goals - 8/13 - Returns of £8.07 Half with most goals, Tie - 21/10 - Lose a fiver Match returns - Loss of £11.93
Swansea vs Chelsea
Both sides bounced back from narrow Premier League defeats to win impressively in the Capital One cup. For long periods Swansea competed well with Manchester City, and only a Carlos Tevez wonder goal was the difference. Chelsea came back well from 2-0 down against the other Manchester side, but being reduced to nine men meant a late winner was inevitable.
Chelsea needed a late own goal to rescue a point last year, and Paddy Power are offering 7's on an own goal.
Back Chelsea to continue their fine league start with a win at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea 1 Chelsea 3 - 12/1 - Lose £2.50 Chelsea to win - 4/5 - Lose £2.50 Other tips: Both teams to score - 8/13 - Returns £8.07 Juan Mata to score anytime - 11/8 - Void as player didn't play Chelsea to score in both halves - 7/5 - Lose a fiver Match returns - Loss of £6.93
Tottenham vs Wigan
Tottenham put their defeat to Chelsea well and truly behind them with an impressive away win against Southampton, whilst Wigan won for only the second time in their 2-1 home victory against West Ham.
This fixture has seen all manner of results. Tottenham thrashed Wigan 9-1 in 2009, but the following year Wigan stunned White Hart Lane with a 1-0 smash and grab.
Last year Spurs won 3-1, and back the same result here. Tottenham 3 Wigan 1 - 10/1 - Lose £2.50 Tottenham to win - 4/9 - Lose £2.50 Other tips: Over 2.5 goals - 4/7 - Lose a fiver Tottenham to score three or more goals - 6/4 - Lose a fiver Jermaine Defoe and Clint Dempsey to score - 7/2 - Lose a fiver
Match returns - Loss of £20
West Ham vs Manchester City
West Ham got what they deserved as they lost to Wigan for a third consecutive time! Roberto Mancini's side are starting to do what their city rivals have done for donkey's year, win when playing poor, and that was on show in their 1-0 win over Swansea last Saturday.
Manchester City have conceded first in all of their four away matches, but have recovered to at least gain a point in all of them, and considering West Ham took the lead against Arsenal and lost, a bet on the Hammers to score first and fail to win is a good one!
Upton Park is never the easiest of places to go to, with West Ham losing just one league home game this year! Manchester City are now the only unbeaten Premier League side left and I fancy them to edge it! West Ham 1 Manchester City 2 - 7/1 - Lose £2.50 Manchester City to win - 4/6 - Lose £2.50 Other tips: Both teams to score - 4/6 - Lose a fiver West Ham to score first - 13/8 - Lose a fiver Edin Dzeko last goalscorer - 11/2 - Lose a fiver Match returns - Loss of £20 Day returns - Loss of £41.42
QPR vs Reading
The only two sides still without a Barclays Premier League go head to head at Loftus Road on Sunday, and it's fair to say, the loser will be in a lot of trouble!
Pogrebnyak got the winner when these two sides met earlier this year in the Capital One Cup
Indiscipline cost Queens Park Rangers once more as they conceded a late winner away to Arsenal last week following Stephan M'Bia's stupid dismissal. Reading have shipped in 10 goals in their last two games, culminating in an incredible Captial One match midweek against Arsenal where they let a 4-0 lead slip.
I think it's safe to say there will be goals, and I fancy QPR to just edge it! QPR 3 Reading 2 - 25/1 QPR to win - 5/6 Other tips: Over 3.5 goals - 7/4 Both teams to score - 8/13 Bobby Zamora and Pavel Pogrebnyak to score - 8/1
Liverpool vs Newcastle
Liverpool's week started brilliantly as they raced into a two goal lead in the Merseyside derby; however they failed to hold onto that lead and were eliminated from the Capital One Cup by Brendan Rodgers' old club 3-1 at Anfield.
Newcastle were fortunate to beat West Brom last weekend, with a Sammy Ameobi shot deflecting in off Papiss Cisse for a much needed victory!
Newcastle will fancy their chances at Anfield, but I think Liverpool will edge it in a low scoring affair. Liverpool 1 Newcastle 0 - 6/1 Liverpool to win - 4/7 Other tips: Liverpool to win to nil - 6/4 Luis Suarez first goalscorer - 9/2 Under 2.5 goals - 11/10
West Brom vs Southampton
Back to back last minute 2-1 defeats for West Brom means for the first time questions are being asked of Steve Clarke's side, and Southampton at home is arguably their biggest game of the season so far, as a win will get them back on track!
Southampton were very poor in the first half against Tottenham last weekend, and that was only worsened by a rubbish 90 minutes against Leeds in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday! Manager Nigel Adkins apparently has a fight on to keep his job, and an away points are vital if he is to do so!
I don't think West Brom will walk it, but I fancy them to win, especially given their impressive form at the Hawthorns. West Brom 2 Southampton 1 - 7/1 West Brom to win - 8/11 Other tips: Both teams to score - 8/13 Over 2.5 goals - 8/13 Romelu Lukaku to score anytime - 11/8
