Rob ‘n’ Wayne’s EPL Preview!

By: Rob | October 31st, 2008

$KNow What I mean, \'Arrry?$ If someone can think of a wittier title for this then please, leave a comment. Anyway, as usual, right after the jump, myself and Wayne will be pondering on all the weeks big questions – are Spurs ready to bounce back? Is C-Ron a shoe-in for all the awards in the world? What exactly do we think of Harry Redknapp’s appointment at Spurs? We also have a look at the big games this week, which inevitable finds us using the words Tottenham Hotspur again. Hey, they’re on our minds at the moment, what can I say. If you have a question you want answered next week, leave it in the comments. We’ll answer anything really.

This week games, and Daryl’s Predictions can be found here.

Big talking point of the week – Ramos out, Redknapp in, whats your take?
Wayne - Well, I said last week that Spurs should keep Ramos but to be fair, you can’t argue with the effect that ‘Arry’s had. The win against Bolton was a great way to start his managerial reign. It was always going to be hard but they got it. And the draw against Arsenal, what can I say? Spurs appeared to have the one thing that they didn’t have this season, belief. Ramos’ Spurs would have lost belief at 3-1 and gone on to lose that match by umpteen goals, but ‘Arry’s a good man manager and he has given the player’s belief in their abilities. So, good decision I feel.
Rob - I think last week I was saying that time must have been running out for Ramos, but I think it was badly timed in the sense of the night before the game (and three days before Harry got given Keys to the city of Portsmouth), but I would guess they’d been talking to Harry sometime in advance. It was terribly exciting watching it unfold if nothing else – one of the reason’s i’d be set against a managerial transfer window, do they really want to get rid of all the drama in football?

We had the midweek games this week, what did you make of them?
Wayne – The match at the Emirates was extraordinary, and a fantastic showcase for the EPL. Elsewhere the results were fairly predictable. I’m not slagging the other matches off but nothing really surpirsed or excited me. Stoke got a priceless win and it’s good to see JK getting a win at Toon. I was actually quite surprised to see City get beaten at ‘Boro. They’re just so inconsistent at the mo. Their attack is great but they need another striker, somebody who is top-class. Because right now, they don’t have a 20+ goal striker..
Rob – I’m actually really dissapointed I didn’t liveblog the North London Derby, that’d have been really good, but I couldn’t get to my computer till about 10 minutes after Kick off. It was a great game though, fantastic goal from Bently. Almost overshadowed Lampard’s strike which was just as fantastic. Spurs did show a bit of fight, and if Harry has given them that, then its half the battle. Although Arsenal did let them get back into the game, which is something Wenger really needs to look at. They are really missing the steel of Flamini.

He picked up the Fifpro award, will C-Ron sweep up all the other awards?Wayne - In a word, yes! He’s been the standout player in the world for the past two years, and especially last season. So I think he will win everything else, simply because he deserves to
Rob - I think he is likely too. The only thing that might count against him is his personality, which geniunely divides people, and if voters think “Don’t wanna vote for him, don’t like him”, then that might cost him. Having said that Messi might be a nice fella, but he bends the rules to suit him, so who knows.

Onto this weekend, would you agree the big game is Spurs hosting Liverpool?
Wayne - It has to be, doesn’t it. Liverpool are in good form and must be jubilant after beating Chelsea at the Bridge. Meanwhile, Spurs look invigorated after Harry Redknapp’s arrival. We now know that the attacking players an work well together at Spurs. I actually think that Spurs can beat Liverpool. If Torres is back it could be different, but something has me leaning towards Spurs for this one.
Rob - I would have predicted this to be the battle for fourth at the start of the season, not top against bottom! It’s a really big test for Tottenham, but if they can get the confidence from that Arsenal game – which will feel like a win no doubt – they do have a chance. Liverpool have been getting results, but they still aren’t performing at the highest level I don’t think. Not that they’ll mind I’m sure.

See any upsets this week?
Wayne - As I said, I can see Spurs getting a win at Anfield. But they’ll have to show the same dedication and application they showed at the Emirates. And for God’s sake, Heurelho Gomes has to stay on his line. He was at fault for that Silvestre goal on Wednesday, and I think he really needs to sort himself out. He could be the first casualty of the Redknapp era I think…
Rob - Gomes was an awful buy. Absolutely terrible. Both him and Almunia on Wednesday were gifting goals to the other side. I could see Spurs getting a point at Anfield, there certainly could be late goals there!

We’ve reached the 10 game mark, which makes us more than 1/4 of the way through the season, looking at the table, what do you think of it at this stage?
Wayne - There are some surprises, no doubt. It’s great to see Hull City doing so well, and Villa have been good this season, which sees them in 4th at the moment. To see all the promoted teams out of the relegation places is astounding really. I know it’s only 10 games in, but they’ve all made great starts.Sunderland should be very happy with their start to the season. They’re in 10th and will be looking to atleast finish there this season. Obviously it’s a bit of a shocker to see Spurs at the bottom but they’ll be out of there before too long. Bolton aren’t looking good this season.I can see them going down for sure.
Rob - They say that this is the point where you start taking the table seriously, and so any of the bottom three will be seriously looking at themselves. Its really interesting that there are two big clubs – Newcastle and Spurs really struggling. Newcastle its all been caused off the field of course. Can’t help looking back to their game against Man United right at the start when I thought they loomed great. Its all gone very, very wrong.
Agree about Hull, they are doing amazingly well, just like Reading a couple of years ago. West Brom play some good football as well, which is nice to see, it would have been to easy to have resorted to men behind the ball. I think Liverpool being top is a minor surprise as well, if anyone was gonna break the Chelsea (who have been fantastic this year) and Man United (who haven’t, really) monopoly, I thought it’d be Arsenal. Even Fábregas has looked a shadow of himself.

Fantasy Football pick this week?
Wayne- I think I’m going to go with Stephen Ireland and Robinho. City are playing Bolton and it’s about time they start getting some consistency. If these two get going they can be brilliant players. Ireland isn’t given the credit he deserves but I reckon he’s world-class on his day and he could really rip Bolton apart. Robinho is aiming for 30 goals this season and he’ll want to score at Bolton, and I think he will..
Rob - Should be a good week for the FF, Man United, Arsenal and Chelsea all have games that should be comfortable. My pick is Frank Lampard – he’s in incredible form, I have him as captain at the moment. Other than that, Luka Modric might carry on his good form.