An Exciting New Look Weekend Preview

By: Rob | October 17th, 2008

So I’ve been doing the weekly previews and I thought they needed something a little bit more. So over the international break, here at team EPL Offside, we’ve come up with a much better way (we think) of doing things. We’ve come up with a few questions about this weeks games, and things on our minds, and we’re going to answer our questions, which should hopefully show a bit more personality. Its basically a football preview talk show, but with words instead of dull ex-pros.

If you have any questions you want us to answer next week – stick them in the comments, and we’ll do them next week.

So it looks to be another exciting week of Prem football after the international break, so I present to you, first, after the jump, the fixtures, and then, our takes on the things on our minds at the moment:

The Games are:

Arsenal v Everton
Villa V Pompy
Bolton v Blackburn
Fulham v Sunderland
Liverpool v Wigan
Man United v WBA
Boro v Chelsea
Hull v West Ham
Stoke v Spurs
Newcastle v Man City

What do you make of the season so far?

Wayne: Personally, I think it’s been a great season. Obviously, the great thing has been the fantastic start by Hull. Great credit has to go to Phil Brown for getting the most out of what admittedly fairly average players, bar a few. Whether they can maintain their extraordinary form is to be seen. I doubt it though..ManYoo have started the season in traditionally slow style. But look last season; awful start but after Christmas or so they never looked like relinquishing their crown. It’s good to Liverpool doing well, for the sake of the EPL itself I hope they maintain it. We all need and want at least a 3 horse race. And then there’s Man City, buoyed by their new owners’ wealth, but with way less points than at this stage last season.It’s only a transitional time for them at the mo. But their takeover was a very entertaining time from a fan’s point of view.

Rob: Its hasn’t really settled down yet, but there has been some good stuff. I think the Prem really needed Hull’s strong start to the season – after Derby’s season last time around. I’ve been mightily impressed with Chelsea – Scolari has settled in right away, Deco’s looked quality, and Frank Lampard has got his mojo back. United do always start slowly, its true, so they can’t be written off. Liverpool have been getting results, but so far not performances for me. It is the former not the latter that wins championships.

What is your pick of this week’s games?

Wayne: To be honest, there are 3 games that really catch my eye. First off, Villa vs. Pompey should be a cracker. Pompey are in superb form and Defoe and Crouch have gelled to such a degree that any team will have a hard time defending against them. Pompey surprised Villa with a 1-4 win at Villa Park last season but it will interesting to see how this one goes. Villa harbour hopes of breaking the Top 4, to do so they really need to start winning these games.
Secondly, it’s ManYoo’s match against WBA. ManYoo have improved recently and with Berba getting his first goals, Ronaldo back and Rooney in the form of his life I genuinely think that this could be the game that they get into fifth gear. I can see a lot of goals for ManYoo here. But WBA have been good after a shaky start. Only 1 point separates these sides at the mo, but don’t be fooled, this could be VERY one-sided.
And last, but certainly not least is Stoke entertaining Laughing Stock FC at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke are 2nd bottom but have shown lots of heart and courage. They’ve worked hard but the quality just hasn’t been there. Whereas Stoke’s industry hasn’t been rewarded, Spurs have been simply horrible this season. Selling your 3 best strikers is never a good idea and they did that by letting Keane, Berba and Defoe go. This is a huge match for both teams. I can’t wait for it.

Rob - For me, Arsenal/Everton is the stand out if both teams bring their A-game, they’ve both been terribly inconsistant so far this term. Living in the area some of the time means I can look forward to the Lancashire Derby with a bit of interest. Newcastle/Man City should, on paper be a great game, but it just seems like an absolute mismatch now. All the big Four seem to be on Saturday? Should make Match of the Day good at least.

Who will the international break affect most?

Wayne - Well, in a positive sense I think that ManYoo will be affected. Rooney has now scored 4 games in 2 games for the Three Lions. He will be hugely confident and rightly so. This could be a difficult weekend for Wigan. Although Heskey’s in superb form – assists wise – he still isn’t scoring and with Amr Zaki (whom I love) doubtful they could find themselves on the end of a whopping at Anfield.

Rob - As Zaki is in my Fantasy Team, I hope he makes it. I think it’ll affect Liverpool the most because they’ve lost Fernando Torres. He’s a massive loss for them really – but if they want to win things again they are gonna have to learn to do well without him. Steven Gerrard usually has a great game after a poor game in an England shirt, so Christ knows what will happen now he had a decent one.

Any Upsets This week?

Wayne - The only upset that I see coming this weekend is when Boro host Chelski at the Riverside. Boro were unlucky not to do better at the Bridge last season and they have a good home record against all of the Top 4. If their strikers can get amongst the Chelski defence then I see a surprise here. Except it won’t be a surprise for me, as I’ve just said it wouldn’t surprise me!

Rob – My tip is Heskey to get one against Liverpool. All the talk today is that Rafa might want to bring him back, he’s bound to make them suffer this weekend. So I’ll say Wigan beating Liverpool is the surprise of the week.

Can Spurs finally get their season going?

Wayne - Maybe, but I’m not sure. Stoke are a resilient side who go down easily. I can see Spurs and the flapping Gomes being troubled by Delap’s rocket launches into the box. Modric and the rest of the recruits have been awful so far, but if there’s any day to get it right, it’ll be against Stoke. Still, I can;t see Spurs getting a result from anywhere. It’s either gonna be a home win or a draw in my opinion.

Rob – Modric looked class again for Croatia over the last week, I hope he can bring that form to the Prem soon, he’s great to watch. I think Ramos has to use the idea of losing to Stoke as a way of firing his boys up this weekend, I’m gonna say they’re gonna shakily pull it off.

Will Liverpool be able to do the business with no Torres?

Wayne - Quite simply, yes! Gerrard’s in great form and Keane is back scoring again. Having scored for Ireland against Cyprus and generally playing well recently I actually think he might benefit from playing without him, at least for a while. So no, I can see Liverpool winning without any struggle.
Rob - Well I predicted an upset above, but I still think even minus Torres, it’d be an upset for Wigan to win. Gerrard will want to drag them kicking and screaming to a win.

Daryl has daringly picked Boro to beat Chelsea against the odds, what do you think of that?

Wayne - As I’ve stated above, I genuinely think it could happen. Boro’s good record against the Top 4 combined with Chelski’s injury worries could make it a blue day at the Riverside for the Blues.
Rob – Boro are out at 5-1 at home, which seems absolutely outragously long odds. But I think Chelsea will win. They look really comfortable throwing the ball around, and have been the best performers, this season, for me. Plus Daryl’s predictions are generally a bit rubbish.

Will Ashley Young Ever Make The England Team?

Wayne – Ha, of course he will. But not anytime soon. With Theo Walcott playing so well and England as a whole looking so dynamic I find it difficult to see him making the team unless there’s an injury to someone. Walcott’s England form is keeping him in the side, not his Arsenal form. If it was based on club form alone then Ashley young would be an England regular by now. For the time being, though, I think he’ll have to wait.
Rob - I think Don Fabio seems to take every game at a time, and fit a tactic to suit playing against that side – so I guess it’ll depend whn he thinks he can use Young. I’m sure Ashley will make the England side at some stage, just like Gabby Agbonlahor will (hopefully). They’re both looking fantastic for Villa.