Rob And Wayne’s Big Prem Preview – Gonna Be A Good Weekend!

By: Rob | November 28th, 2008

After missing last week’s due to illness on my part, and a spectacularly dull weekend that came with it (Big four helping themselves to nil-nils), its good to be back doing this. More importantly, its good to have a really good weekend to look forward to. A North East Derby, Everton taking on Spurs, The Manchester Derby, and Arsenal looking to get back into the title race by beating top of the pile Chelsea. Plus, we’ll have a look at the other big issues of the week, including the Champions League, and the whole Gallas Affair. After the jump.

Three Prem sides are now through the Champions League groupstage, with Chelsea likely to join them, do you see a English dominance alá last year?
Wayne – I don’t think so. I expect one of the Premier League teams to be in the Final but I don’t think it’ll be an all English Final again. I think this because, although 3 of the Premier League teams are through and Chelsea are on the verge, none of the Premier League teams have been in great form in the Champions League this season. They’ve stuttered, Man Utd having 2 wins and 3 draws from 5 matches. While Chelsea have looked shakey in the last 2 games, losing and drawing and having 2 men sent off in the process. Aside from this there’s the other European teams to contend with, Barca look in great form, and Juve are looking like they never had an absence from the CL in their first season back since the Calciopoli debacle. So, although I think there’ll be one English team in the Final, I don’t see the same sort of dominance.
Rob - Barcelona are looking absolutely immense. They are doing well domestically as well, but watching them in the Champions League has been spectacular this season. That said the Champions League is impossible to predict. Inter have been doing just enough, but if they keep doing enough, they’ll win it, we know Jose doesn’t need spectacular football to win it. I think that we might see two English Semi finalists, but I don’t see more than that. Too many strong teams.

So, William Gallas has been stripped of the captaincy, does he have a future at Arsenal?
Wayne - Well, Wenger says he has a future. But I’m not sure. His behaviour has been so incredibly poor that I find it hard to believe that he has a future. Sadly, the fact is that he’s probably Arsenal’s best central defender which means that it’d be hard to sell him without a replacement. Wenger would have to spend money to replace him and who knows if he’s willing to do that? With rumours abounding that he’s off to PSG, he could be off, but not before Wenger finds someone to take his place.
Rob - I think If I was playing Football Manager he’d be in the reserves by now. Wenger is suffering from not having back up, but if it dehabilitates the squad what can he do? He does seem to be talking Gallas up at the minute though, so maybe he plans to keep him.

And will the captaincy keep Cesc at Arsenal?
Wayne - As I said stated in my post this week, I believe that this is a very shrewd move by Mr. Wenger. With rumours flying around that Cesc was frustrated with the lack of success, there may well have been reason to think that he’d leave. But Cesc appears to a genuinely honourable guy. He must feel so proud to be the captain and to abandon them now would leave him forever remembered as a deserter when things got tough. I can see him staying at Arsenal for a long time to come.
Rob - I think he’ll stay for the time being. I think he’ll go to Barca one day, he clearly wants to go at some point. But not yet, he wouldn’t even be guarenteed a game with the midfield that is already in place in Catalonia, Xavi and Ineista. So I think Arsenal have him for awhile yet. He’s missed Flamini alot this season in my view.

Onto this weekend – a big Sunday up ahead, first, a very rich Manchester Derby, how will it go?
Wayne – There’s been talk from the Man Utd camp in the run up to this game. Ferguson and Giggs have stated that Man City aren’t a threat – yet! They’ve said that City can’t be taken seriously until they win a few Premier League titles. Sure, City aren’t a threat to the EPL just yet, but they still are a dangerous side on their day. With Stephen Ireland in the form of his life (please come back to the Ireland setup Stevie boy!) and Robinho back from the injury that kept him out midweek City will be in good shape. But sooner or later Man Utd will record a good victory away from home. Their away record has been quite poor this season and they need to sort this out. With Berba back it will really boost United. So, I’m gonna put my neck out and say the final score will be; Manchester City 2 – 3 Manchester United.
Rob - Well where I am (Manchester!) its all everyone is talking about of course, the city is abuzz. Of course City aren’t a threat to the title just yet, but what they are is a threat to United. Last season City beat them twice, that was pre-money. Now they have added Robinho, so it could go either way. I think a score draw is my prediction. Plus I’d be killed round here if I said otherwise.

Then Arsenal against Chelsea. Chelsea are looking good so far, but Arsenal pulled it off against Man United, can they do it again?
Wayne – No, quite simply. Chelsea have been sort of inconsistent recently but they’ll still look to win here against Arsenal. It’s at the Bridge and surprisingly it’s been here that Chelsea have struggled in the Premier League. Their away form has been flawless and if they get their home form in the same vain then they’ll be near unstoppable. Chelsea will relish the chance to hammer another nail in Arsenal’s already half-buried coffin of Premier League aspirations. And I think they might just nail a few. Chelsea to win, convincingly.
Rob - The last time you said Arsenal to lose by a few, they ended up beating Man United! Obviously I think Chelsea are still strong favourites. It is however a really good chance for Arsenal to put the whole Gallas saga behind them and really stick two fingers up at everyone. Again.

We haven’t talked about Newcastle for a bit – Joe Kinnear is slowly turning things around it seems?
Wayne - Yes he has, and I like the way he’s done it. Through all his Mickey Mouse talk and ‘fuck this, fuck that!’ he’s done something clever, he’s taken a lot of the emphasis off the team. Whether or not he meant it is a different matter. They appear to be going about their business and it’s come good. I’ve especially been impressed with how much he’s got out of Shola Ameobi. I never rated the guy but recently he’s looked pretty tidy. Given the fact that JK’s apparently given Dennis Wise a wish-list for January, he must think he’ll be there for a while longer. If he is I think it’ll do Newcastle a world of good.
Rob - Yeah apparently he’s been given to the end of the season. I still don’t see him being able to spend a great deal in Janruary to be honest, what is the point in him building his own team if he’s leaving in the summer? Best he can hope for is a few loans. Owen is going to going out the door as well in the summer when his contract is up, assuming someone wants to take a chance on a striker who’s so prone to injury.

There’s also Spurs/Everton to cap off a really good weekend, prediction there?
Wayne - This should be a good match. Spurs are looking like a really cohesive and strong team now. ‘Arry’s done a fantastic job and has given players confidence, some too much, I’m talking to you Heurelho Gomes! But really, this should be a good one. Everton have recovered from their poor early season form and now sit in 7th. They’ve had some good wins of late and will be just as confident as Spurs going into this one. It’s testament to how tight this season is that although Spurs are in 16th and Everton are in 7th, if Spurs win they’ll only be a point behind the Merseysiders. Interesting match, but I’ll go for a score draw.
Rob – Everton have been a bit dissapointing for me this season, but you’re right they do seem to have gotten over that early inconsistancy, perhaps it was about David Moyes signing a contract. It should be a really good match, I have a feeling Spurs might nick it.

Fantasy Football Tip?
Wayne - I’m gonna give a few FF tips. Because I predicted a lot of goals in the Manchester derby, I’m going to say that you should consider picking any of United’s attacking players, especially Berba and Ronaldo and/or City’s wonder boys Robinho and Stephen Irelandinho. I can’t see these tips going awry. Enjoy!
Rob – Out of sheer frustration I’m going to say Rob Green. I had him since the start, but dropped him two games ago because he wasn’t doing the business. Two clean sheets later, I feel really stupid. Plus, Liverpool are minus El Nino this weekend. And Robbie Keane is rubbish.