EPL Offsides Own Special Week Nine Preview

By: Rob | October 24th, 2008

So we land here at week nine. Much to talk about this week for myself and Wayne, who go through all the big issues of the week. There’s Joey Barton repenting, the ongoing gloom at White Hart Lane, and the question of whether Man United have really got their groove back. We also look back at last weeks games, with special focus on Liverpool’s come back against Wigan, and we have a look at the big game of this week, as Chelsea host Liverpool in a battle of New Power vs History.

This is this week’s games, and after the jump you’ll find what me and Wayne think of all the issues. If you have anything you want us to answer next week, stick it in the comments and we’ll do it.

Week Nine:

Everton Vs Manchester United
Sunderland Vs Newcastle
West Brom Vs Hull City
Blackburn Vs Boro
Chelsea Vs Liverpool
Man City Vs Stoke City
Portsmouth Vs Fulham
Spurs Vs Bolton
West Ham Vs Arsenal
Wigan Vs Aston Villa

You can see what Daryl thinks about those in his predictions post.

What did you make of last week’s results?
Wayne - Another good set of EPL games in my opinion. There was a lot of goals, which is always entertaining. Chelsea surprised me as I’d tipped ‘Boro to cause a shock. But Chelsea were so strong that it gave ‘Boro gave no chance. Liverpool showed a lot of steel by coming back against Wigan, they also showed that their isn’t simply 10 & Torres. Stoke’s victory over Spurs, adn the manner in which Spurs lost should really worry Spurs fans I think. in my view, they’re in a relegation battle now. It’s gonna be tough for them. Man Utd’s victory over WBA was very impressive, All the attacking players linked up well and it looks like they’re getting into their stride. All in all, I thought it was a fantastic Premier League weekend.
Rob – Yeah it was good. There were a few nothing games, 0-0’s, but Man United and Chelsea both entertained admirably, and Liverpool are picking up results when playing badly, which is the sign of a great team. I’ll be interested to see if they can keep it up. Wtaching Spurs get beat by Stoke was a bit like watching a car-crash though, I’m begining to feel a bit for Spurs fans.

Game of the weekend?
Wayne - It’s got to be the Liverpool vs Wigan game, hasn’t it? Wigan controlled things for much of the game, with goals well-taken goals from Amr Zaki. If it hadn’t been for Valencia’s red card I believe Wigan would have closed the game out. But, like against City not long ago, Liverpool capitalised on their numerical advantage to get an invaluable 3 points, and in the process prove their title credentials.
Rob - I really would like to have seen Wigan take that game, just because they played so well, but kudos for Liverpool for coming back, they are really proving their mettle this season. Could it be we have a three horse race?

Chelsea host Liverpool this week, will Scolari’s revolution and Liverpool’s new found ability to get results from anywhere make it an entertaining game for once?
Wayne – I think so, don’t get me wrong, this won’t be a 4-4 thriller but I do see some goals. Chelsea are playing some very nice football and as you said, Liverpool are getting results from anywhere. I’m not going to stick my neck out and predict this, but I do think we’ll see a more entertaining game than in recent seasons.
Rob - I think I’d make Chelsea favourites, they look unbeatable at the minute, in the league at least. And Chelsea at home is always a big advantage. Mind you Liverpool would love to be the team that broke that Stamford Bridge run I’m sure, and they are getting results. Massive game, and hopefully a great one.

Will the Champions League have an effect on any of the big Four?
Wayne – Perhaps, but a positive one I think. Man Utd continued their fantastic form against Celtic, and they’ll be looking for and expect more of the same against an out-of-form Everton side. With the strikers hitting form i think that Man Utd will be looking forward to any game that they play at the moment. The same goes for Arsenal I think. To go to Turkey and score 5 goals against one of their top teams is quite an achievement. It also highlighted how strong Arsenal’s youngsters are, with Ramsey, Song and Diaby playing integral roles in the victory. Chelsea and Liverpool will completely forget about the CL come Sunday. Regardless of what happened during the week, these matches need complete focus, and any hangover from the CL will have been completely forgotten about.
Rob - Yeah I don’t think there will be a hangover per se. The only worry is Robbie Keane for Liverpool, but the extra day might be enough. I think that’ll be the only knock on effect from midweek. Hopefully Arsenal’s confidence is back after that win though – they’re great to watch when they feel confident, which they don’t seem to have for a bit.

Can you see any upsets anywhere?
Wayne I do, but not one that would have been expected at the start of the season. With Hull doing so well, and WBA doing well themselves their match is very important. Hull are setting the pace for the promoted sides and they will probably be favourites for that match, but I can see WBA getting the win here. they have a very tidy defence and Carson ahs appeared to have regained his confidence in goals. And with the snappy Bednar up front they can always steal a goal. Part of Hull’s great start has come from, in my view, the fact that they’re unknown to lots of established EPL teams. But WBA know Hull well, and they’ll know how to handle them. i say a 3-1 win to West Brom.
Rob - Would it be an upset to think Spurs might actually get a win? I’m not sure, but they might do, its a winnable game. Elsewhere, Wigan might cause Aston Villa some problems, two really in-form sides there.

Joey Barton said this week that he needs to repent and start performing for Newcastle – false promises or can he turn it around?
Wayne – I read the interview and watched in on TV and I honestly think that he wants to turn it around. He’s a talented footballer, no doubt, but so far his career has been so tarnished that we sometimes forget his profession and only remember his misdemeanours. Rightly so, too. He’s gone through his rehab at the Sporting Chance clinic, he’s been to prison and he’s given up the juice, so hopefully he can get back on the straight and narrow. I think people deserve a second chance, but this is his fourth or fifth chance now. He’ll get a hard time from opposition fans and it’ll be interesting to see how he handles the jibes. He seems to now realize that he deserves the abuse and hopefully he’ll come out of this a better man, and footballer. I think, and hope that he can turn this around.
Rob - I would like to think everyone deserves a second chance, but goodness knows what chance he’s on now. Last Chance I imagine. He’s only really there because Kevin Keegan stuck his neck out, and hopefully he realises that if he does something stupid again its game over. I’m not totally convinced though – there is an element of heard it all before.

Should Spurs sack Ramos?
No, although his side are doing awfully, I think he needs more time. You don’t suddenly go from double UEFA Cup winning manager to bad manager in a matter of months. He’s still top quality but at the moment, it just looks like his side hasn’t gelled. He’ll get them playing well soon I think and Spurs should start moving up the table. But if it doesn’t happen in the next few matches, ideally against Bolton, then they will for sure be in a relegation fight. But if you were to ask who should they sack, I’d have to say Damien Comolli. He’s in charge of buying the players that the manager wants and he simply didn’t do that during the transfer window. Ramos wanted Sergio Garcia from Zaragoza but Comolli procrastinated and lost his man to Real Betis. If anything, I think Comolli’s arse should be shown the door.
Rob - It is looking very, very bleak. I know Spurs don’t want to make the Martin Jol mistake again, but assume it carries on like this – at what point do you say enough is enough? When they can’t get out the relegation zone? He must be teetering on the edge.
I agree he’s a good manager, and he’s lost Berba and Keane and been left with no strikers and the leakiest defence in the EPL, I can see where the argument for him comes from, but the players are going to get into such a malaise, and he himself must be losing the will to live by now?

Considering the sides they’ve been playing, have Man United been overpraised recently, or have they genuinely got the groove back?
Wayne - I think that they have got back to their groove as of late. They started slowly, but you almost expect that nowadays as United always start slowly. It was all about getting the team more cohesive and with berba, Rooney and Ronaldo starting to score now it’s really coming together. Not enough praise can go to Darren Fletcher either as I feel that he is becoming and integral part of the team. he holds the midfield well and is a strong part of the midfield. At the moment, Man United seem that they can beat anyone, and I can’t see it being any different against the Toffees. I think the real tests will be their remaining matches against the Big Four and if they can continue this form into those matches, then the praise will truly be deserved.
Rob - I think its sort of a bit of both. They’ve played some okay sides, but they’ve all been bottom half, and Celtic’s away record in the CL is dreadful. But it is absolutely true that they always start slowly. I don’t think they have proved they have totally got it back, but they are certainly looking so much more effective than they were even against similar placed sides at the start of the year. If Fergie can get a front four of Berba, Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo all on the pitch and functioning it’d be magnificent.

Fantasy Football Tip of the week?
Wayne - Who else? Amr Zaki, I simply can;t see this guy stopping scoring. he’s so quick, so powerful, so hardworking and so talented that it genuinely wouldn’t surprise me if he scored in all the games he played in. he’s up their with Rooney for form right now. I can see him taking this into the Villa match and I can see him getting a few goals. So he’d certainly be my tip..
Rob - I actually put Zaki into my team last week, so I was pleased he continued his good form. I’ll go for an outside choice and say Michael Turner, the Hull defender. Not only have Hull done surprisingly well, so he’s cheap, but he’s also managed a fantastic 41 points thus far this season, making him the second best scoring defender in the league. Snap him up now folks.