Manchester United vs Chelsea

Is this Van Gaal’s last game in charge of Man United? I said that last time but obviously, that did not happen! It might be so if they lose to Chelsea though and I’m sorry Man U fans but for those who want Van Gaal out, you may have to put up with him until the end of the season at least! With rumours running wild about the possible succession of Jose Mourinho to be the next Manchester United manager

Even though both squads have had their issues lately, Chelsea have won recently, whereas Man U haven’t for quite some time…they’ve barely scored so unless Man U…a Man U win would be a shock! I’m amazed I’m even saying that but it would be a shock for Man U to win tonight…but would it be a bad thing if Man U lost for some Man U fans???

Do you really want Mourinho to be your next manager? I bet some do but some might not…it’s a tough time at Manchester at the moment, whoever comes in has a tough task ahead of them! Mourinho…he brings bad press with him…Guardiola…doesn’t stay around for many years…Giggs…is he ready?  now that Van Gaal is statistically worse than Moyes now….that’s just humiliating if you ask me…either win or he’s gone I say! It’s just not working out but what confuses me is that he started off so well at Man U in his first season yet it seems like he’s lost the dressing room this time round!

0-0 Draw I’ll go for because even though both squads have had their issues lately, Chelsea have won recently, as have Man U… I’m amazed I’m even saying that but it would be a shock for Man U to win tonight at Stamford Bridge…but would it be a bad thing if Man U lost for some Man U fans???

Liverpool vs Manchester United

Welcome to this fantastic game and today we have Liverpool take on Manchester United! At Anfield and even though Leicester, Arsenal and Manchester City look like they are making it a 3 way race at the moment, this will still a very good game, even if neither team is in the top 4 of the Premier League at the moment, I am still really looking forward to watching this one, it’s always an exciting game and I can only imagine the atmosphere that will be at Anfield today!

via TalkSport.com

Manchester United well, haven’t being impressing so much as of late, the majority of their games are 0-0 at the end of the first half but surely they will come alive for this game! It’s not just 3 points that matter today, it’s pride and bragging rights! Many say that Man United have been misfiring and not attacking as much as they would like and had an awful December but it’s a new year and despite barely scrapping past Sheffield United, they did score 3 against Newcastle, albeit they didn’t win that game but they have beaten Swansea this year…it’s a win!

Liverpool and Arsenal had a classic this week and as an Arsenal Fan, I’ll admit that Liverpool deserved the win! They were the better team and I hear a lot of people complain that Jurgen Klopp is an attention seeker when he celebrates….are you serious? Grow up people, their is nothing wrong with a manager being passionate about the game! I like how he celebrates and puts everything into the game! It’s fun and it shows how much it means to him…you’d rather he stands there and do nothing?

I think today will be a draw! Here are my reasons for that….mainly that Man United are very good at drawing games and despite Liverpool being the better team against Arsenal, they were still held to a draw in the end, it just looks like a draw is written all over this one in my eyes but I think it will have a few goals in it so…2-2 I’ll go for today

Here are today’s teams

22 Mignolet

02 Clyne

04 K Touré

17 Sakho

18 Moreno

14 Henderson

21 Lucas

23 Can

20 Lallana

11 Firmino

07 Milner

Subs include- Benteke, Joe Allen, Steven Caulker, Jordan Ibe, Danny Ward, J. Teixeira and Brad Smith

01 de Gea

18 Young

12 Smalling

17 Blind

36 Darmian

28 Schneiderlin

27 Fellaini

35 Lingard

21 Herrera

09 Martial

10 Rooney

Subs Include Depay, Mata, Romero, Varela, McNair, Borthwick-Jackson and Pereira

BPL: Boxing Day Predictions

• Aston Villa vs West Ham
• Chelsea vs Watford
• Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
• Liverpool vs Leicester
• Man City vs Sunderland
• Swansea vs West Brom
• Tottenham vs Norwich

Game 1) Aston Villa  West Ham  

West Ham win 

Aston Villa Team

01 Guzan

21 Hutton

05 Okore

16 Lescott

07 Bacuna

15 Westwood

24 Sánchez

08 Gueye

17 Veretout

39 Gestede

19 J Ayew

West Ham Team

13 Adrián

05 Tomkins

19 Collins

21 Ogbonna

03 Cresswell

14 Obiang

08 Kouyaté

30 Antonio

16 Noble

10 Zárate

11 E Valencia

Plain and simple, Aston Villa are struggling and need reinforcements come JANUARY but sit bottom of the Premier League as of right now, a week to go until they can buy players but I think they will struggle to get anything against West Ham today, I’ll say 2-0  and another loss for Villa

 

Game 2) Chelsea vs Watford

 

Chelsea Win

Chelsea Team

13 Courtois

02 Ivanovic

24 Cahill

26 Terry

28 Azpilicueta

04 Fàbregas

21 Matic

22 Willian

08 Oscar

17 Pedro

19 Diego Costa

Watford Team

01 Gomes

02 Nyom

15 Cathcart

03 Britos

25 Holebas

22 Abdi

23 Watson

29 Capoue

07 Jurado

24 Ighalo

09 Deeney

Chelsea showed their true colors against Sunderland, the first game without Jose Mourinho in charge and for the most part, looked like a revitalized team, a confident team where the majority of players were glad Jose was gone…I don’t care who says what…the players got rid of Mourinho and will pick up wins again now which will likely continue today against a high flying Watford. It will be close but I predict that Chelsea will edge this game…2-1. Watford will bring the fight but Chelsea will show that form that vanished after May and reemerged against Sunderland…the second Mourinho is gone….funny that…does anyone really buy the whole ‘players had nothing to do with it?’

Game 3) Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace

Palace Win but I want to say Draw

Bournemouth Team

01 Boruc

15 Smith

02 Francis

03 Cook

11 Daniels

06 Surman

30 Ritchie

04 Gosling

08 Arter

19 Stanislas

27 Murray

Crystal Palace Team

13 Hennessey

02 Ward

27 Delaney

06 Dann

23 Souaré

28 Ledley

18 McArthur

42 Puncheon

22 Mutch

11 Zaha

09 Campbell

Both teams have done amazingly well recently and I don’t want to pick a winner as I don’t want either to slip and lose any kind of ground…If Bournemouth stay in the league this season, it would be amazing! However, Palace are shocking me as well with their form a little more so. I will give Palace a 1-0 win over Bournemouth this rainy afternoon but it will be very close.

Game 4) Liverpool vs Leicester City

A Draw

Liverpool Team

22 Mignolet

02 Clyne

17 Sakho

06 Lovren

18 Moreno

14 Henderson

23 Can

20 Lallana

11 Firmino

10 Coutinho

27 Origi

Leicester Team

01 Schmeichel

17 Simpson

05 Morgan

06 Huth

28 Fuchs

26 Mahrez

10 King

14 Kanté

11 Albrighton

20 Okazaki

09 Vardy

What can I say, I would love Leicester to continue this amazing run and win once again and I believe that they could definitely beat this Liverpool team today but I look at how Liverpool have performed against the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea and feel like they could shock us with a win as well. Klopp is going to do magical things at Anfield once he has settled down properly with some players he has brought in but Leicester City are riding high and look unstoppable, I don’t think either team will win so I will go for a 1-1 draw today as each team cancels the other one out!

Klopp is a great manager and I can’t wait to see what he does with Liverpool but I have grown to really respect Leicester for all they are doing this season…as a football fan, despite supporting Arsenal, I also root on Leicester to defy the odds and shock the football world, to give us all something to talk about for years afterwards!

Game 5) Manchester City vs Sunderland 

City Win

Manchester City Team

01 Hart

03 Sagna

20 Mangala

30 Otamendi

11 Kolarov

25 Fernandinho

42 Y Touré

17 De Bruyne

21 Silva

07 Sterling

14 Bony

Sunderland Team

25 Mannone

02 Jones

16 O’Shea

22 Coates

03 van Aanholt

11 Johnson

21 M’Vila

14 Jordi Gómez

19 Graham

26 Fletcher

09 Borini

Sorry Sunderland but I have to say Manchester City to win here, they want to make up the lost ground after losing to Arsenal this week, they want to stay in the race and not let Arsenal and Leicester turn it into a two team race! Sunderland look like they are struggling at the moment and perhaps need a new face or two to come in to save their season! Don’t see them winning but I have a feeling that if a shocker were to come today…Sunderland would be the ones to do it…after this season so far…why not but I’ll say City win 2-0

Game 6) Swansea vs West Brom

Draw

Swansea Team

01 Fabianski

22 Rangel

33 Fernandez

06 Williams

03 Taylor

07 Britton

04 Ki Sung-yueng

15 Routledge

23 Sigurdsson

20 Montero

10 Ayew

West Brom Team

13 Myhill

25 Dawson

23 McAuley

03 Olsson

11 Brunt

06 Evans

08 Gardner

24 Fletcher

05 Yacob

07 Morrison

17 Lambert

Please let this game be decent…sorry but I look at this and dread it…I mean after last week’s 0-0 bore fest…surely Swansea have to come back with that much more today…surely! However, I don’t see West Brom doing much better but I would say they have the better chance of getting all 3 points if anyone has to! But a 0-0 for me today…I like Swansea and hope they get this mess sorted out! Don’t want to lose them to the Championship!

Game 7) Spurs vs Norwich

Spurs Win

Spurs Team

01 Lloris

02 Walker

04 Alderweireld

05 Vertonghen

33 Davies

19 Dembélé

15 Dier

11 Lamela

20 Alli

23 Eriksen

10 Kane

Norwich Team

13 Rudd

05 Martin

24 R Bennett

06 Bassong

23 Olsson

21 Mulumbu

32 Odjidja-Ofoe

22 Redmond

27 Tettey

12 Brady

10 Jerome

And finally, we come to Spurs vs Norwich and well…I see the winner being Spurs today, they have form and don’t look like they’ll lose anytime soon at the moment so as for today, I don’t see Norwich overcoming them and beating them at White Hart Lane! A decent game but Spurs to win without much trouble!

I’ll say  a 1-0 win for Spurs today as they continue the on-form they have been doing for quite a while now

 

BPL: Arsenal Vs Manchester City

It’s 2nd place vs 3rd place, winner moves that bit closer to the summit of the mountain, or Leicester! It’s Arsenal taking on Manchester City, a game that is rarely not entertaining, always action packed and full of goals, unlike Manchester United this season! While it it can’t been seen as a major decider in the Premier League winner just yet…with it only being December, it will give a good indication as to who will be the first team to chase after the Foxes, Leicester City! If either team lose this game, they aren’t out of the Chase…not by a long shot!

Venue: The Emirates

The last two games played at The Emirates against Manchester City have ended up as a draw, although Arsenal haven’t here since the Opening Game of the season whereas Man City haven’t won away since September! It looks set to be a good game but it’as missing two vital pieces, one from both sides, Kompany for Man City and Sanchez for Arsenal.

Many will seriously consider either City or Arsenal to win the Premier League but I will think that neutrals will love to see Leicester defy the odds and shock the Footballing world! I’ll admit that it would be amazing to see that happen! If I could have one team win the league apart from Arsenal, I’ll go for Leicester!

With Christmas around the corner, I would be amazed if anyone other than a Leicester fan predicted that they would be on top of the table! Arsenal are 2nd which I’m happy with but with the team above us and Chelsea miles down near the bottom and Man United becoming the most boring team to play in this league….also Watford! I think this is slowly becoming the most shocking season we have ever had, no one can correctly predict who will win it all, anyone can beat anyone! It’s exciting and watchable for all! Will it remain that way or will normality soon take over once again…depends if Leicester fall away after Christmas or if they keep going on their amazing run but as for tonight, anything can happen…hell, we could even have Jose Mourinho nearly becoming Manchester United manager by the end of it!

Here are tonight’s teams!

 

Arsenal Squad

33 Cech

24 Bellerín

04 Mertesacker

06 Koscielny

18 Monreal

20 Flamini

16 Ramsey

14 Walcott

11 Özil

28 Campbell

12 Giroud

Manchester City Squad

01 Hart

03 Sagna

30 Otamendi

20 Mangala

11 Kolarov

25 Fernandinho

42 Y Touré

18 Delph

21 Silva

10 Agüero

17 De Bruyne

My prediction? It’s tough to call but I will go for an Arsenal win, I have to! But that City squad looks really good, with Aguero, Silva and De Bruyne in it but we have Giroud, Cech and Ozil as well so it will be close but with home advantage, I think we can nick it but if not, a hard earned draw but as for now, 2-1 to Arsenal is my prediction for this game and I certainly hope it’s a far better game than Swansea vs West Ham or any game involving Man United this season!

Manchester United Vs Norwich Prediction

A game that could either be fast paced and fun…or another Van Gaal snorefest…preferably not the latter! I see it being a draw though because Man U will do what they have done in the last few games, like all of November and…do I even need to say it, it’s so boring, ATTACK! Norwich might actually feel like they can get something from this game and why not? Man U are far from what they once were under Ferguson….even under Moyes and that’s saying a lot!

I’ll go for a Man U win though, 1-0 only because Man U have rarely been a team that score multiple times in a game lately so 1-0 for me, although Rooney’s landmark appearance might spur a couple more…who knows but I just hope it’s a good game of football and not a snorefest…can’t imagine 70,000 plus fans falling asleep from the most boring football in the country at the moment…especially for those ticket prices!

Manchester United Squad

01 de Gea

04 Jones

12 Smalling

17 Blind

18 Young

16 Carrick

27 Fellaini

07 Depay

08 Mata

09 Martial

10 Rooney

Norwich Squad

13 Rudd

24 R Bennett

05 Martin

06 Bassong

23 Olsson

27 Tettey

28 O’Neil

22 Redmond

14 Hoolahan

12 Brady

10 Jerome

VfL Wolfsburg vs Manchester United

Can Manchester United scrape through to the last 16 of The Champions League tonight by either beating Wolfsburg or praying that PSV can’t win against CSKA Moscow. They have a chance but the way they have been playing under Louis Van Gaal….I don’t know, it might all depend on whether CSKA can hold off PSV if you ask me…you can’t blame me for thinking like that, Manchester United scored only 5 goals in November and Wolfsburg are there toughest competition in the group!

It’s a big game, no questions asked…the way Man U plays though won’t be enough to get past Wolfsburg if you ask me, unless Martial, Mata or Depay shine through and score a goal or two! Man United are being accused of boring football but that doesn’t always matter if the result comes along…if they get the win via a boring game, does it matter tonight? As long as they win, right?

However, they could lose and end up in the Europa League, no idea how fans would feel about that, would it bother you to be in that competition and to have to play that Thursday night game? All I know is that Man U need that win because a draw isn’t a guarantee to progress, not if PSV win….I[‘m sure United fans will be keeping an eye on that game as they pray for their team to attack, attack and attack…like the team of old, the one that was known for attacking football! Playing safe could cost the club a spot in the last 16…even though they have most of the possession in recent games….does it matter of you do nothing with it….I mean, it was like 2 shots on target in the last game for the Red Devils?

 

via Wikipedia.org

Wolfsburg Team

 

01 Benaglio

15 Träsch

25 Aparecido Rodrigues

18 Dante

34 Rodríguez

23 Guilavogui

27 Arnold

08 Vieirinha

11 Kruse

10 Draxler

17 Schürrle

Manchester United Team

01 de Gea

30 Varela

12 Smalling

17 Blind

36 Darmian

31 Schweinsteiger

27 Fellaini

35 Lingard

08 Mata

07 Depay

09 Martial

Should be a good game!