| Football Bettor's Survey | ||||||||
|
Get ready for some EPL action this weekend!
After the big freeze cancelled most of last weekend’s English Premier League action, this week should see all of the clubs get back to normality. Not that Chelsea will be too concerned. The Stamford Bridge Blues never played last week but they were still winners as their two closest rivals dropped points.
Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw by Birmingham at St Andrews and Arsenal needed an injury time equaliser to finish 2-2 with Everton at the Emirates. All of which left Carlo Ancelotti a very happy man even though their trip to Hull’s KC Stadium fell foul of the frozen weather that was sweeping Britain last week. This leaves Chelsea one point clear at the top of the English Premier League and in no mood to relinquish their position.
Chelsea Need to Beat Sunderland
To remain at the top, Chelsea will need to win at home versus Sunderland. The bookies will definitely make the London club favourites but the top teams in the top league have been dropping a lot of silly points this season so there will be no taking this game for granted for Chelsea. If any team at the top can find form, they may well race away with the title as everyone is struggling at the moment.
Chelsea will still be without Didier Drogba due to his involvement in the African Cup of Nations but Nicolas Anelka should return to first team action. The French striker may find himself paired with Daniel Sturridge or the loner could be given a lone striker role. Either way, Anelka will carry much of the responsibility for Chelsea against Steve Bruce’s Sunderland.
Big Teams Struggling Against Sunderland
Sunderland have taken points off Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United so far this season so they will have nothing to fear when they arrive at Stamford Bridge.
That said, no one will be giving the Black Cats too much hope of winning this match. Speculation remains over the future of Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones but his boss appears confident of retaining a hold on the big striker. Darren Bent is definitely the main for the Stadium of Light club this season but Jones has an important role to play alongside him.
There is a massive game in Merseyside as Everton welcome Manchester City in the Saturday evening game. On Monday night, Manchester City moved into the top four with a 4-1 thumping of Blackburn Rovers. Carlos Tevez is on fire at the moment and his hat-trick further emphasised his importance to the club and that the club is not missing Adebayor. All of the City players will no doubt have the Togo striker in their thoughts but the best thing that City could do for him at the moment is keep on winning.
City Climb the Table but Everton Regaining Form
Manchester City will be facing up to their old rivals and neighbours Manchester United in the League Cup Semi-final in the next few weeks but the Red Devils need to focus on their game this Saturday. After last weeks 1-1 draw with Birmingham, a home victory against Burnley is a must for Alex Ferguson.
For once, Alex Ferguson is not the main manager on show at old Trafford as this weekend will be Brian Law’s first game in charge of Burnley. The Turf Moor club have acted swiftly to replace Owen Coyle, who moved onto Bolton Wanderers. Laws has no experience of managing a club in the English Premier League but he did start his career with Burnley. Some of the Burnley fans appear to be unhappy with the decision and the lack of top flight experience may cause many people to judge the manager badly. If he can steal anything from Old Trafford, the Burnley fans may start to judge Laws very differently.
United Need to Bounce Back
Manchester City will be facing up to their old rivals and neighbours Manchester United in the League Cup Semi-final in the next few weeks but the Red Devils need to focus on their game this Saturday. After last weeks 1-1 draw with Birmingham, a home victory against Burnley is a must for Alex Ferguson.For once, Alex Ferguson is not the main manager on show at old Trafford as this weekend will be Brian Law’s first game in charge of Burnley. The Turf Moor club have acted swiftly to replace Owen Coyle, who moved onto Bolton Wanderers. Laws has no experience of managing a club in the English Premier League but he did start his career with Burnley. Some of the Burnley fans appear to be unhappy with the decision and the lack of top flight experience may cause many people to judge the manager badly. If he can steal anything from Old Trafford, the Burnley fans may start to judge Laws very differently.
Rooney - Main Man in Manchester
However, Manchester United will be all about breaking the Laws this weekend and as usual, they will be relying on Wayne Rooney to fire them to victory. The loss of Cristiano Ronaldo is starting to look harsher with each passing week and if anything happens to Rooney, you get the feeling that Manchester United may fade out of the title race.
The Red Devils are not the only club facing a team with a new man in charge this weekend. Arsenal travel to the Reebok Stadium where the home crowd will be waiting to usher in the era of Owen Coyle. Given that Gary Megson is no longer the manager, the crowd will be in a much more buoyant mood than they have been in recent weeks and there could be a major boost to the club.
Owen Coyle to get Reebok Rocking!
If Owen Coyle can harness the feel-good factor at the Reebok Stadium, they may be able to shock Arsenal. There has been another shock for Arsenal fans this week with Sol Campbell turning out for the reserve side against West Ham United on Tuesday night.
Indications are that Campbell will be offered a contract until at least the end of the season with Arsenal, turning back the clock for the big stopper. Campbell’s last game for Arsenal was the Champions League final and the centre half opened the scoring for the 10 men.
Sol Campbell Left a Loser
It looked as though it could have been the winner but Barcelona unleashed Henrik Larsson from the substitutes’ bench and the super Swede inspired a terrific turnaround for the Catalan club, who eventually won 2-1. Campbell may well get the chance to ensure his last performance for the Gunners was not a defeat although Sunday is likely to come far too soon for the defender.
It is still pretty cold in England but the top flight action will be enough to warm the heart of any football fan.
by Andrew Reilly
for The Silver Circle at www.footballtip.co.uk
Would you like to contribute to this site?
We welcome new ideas, columnists and partnerships with other sites.
Please write an email to 
and let us know how we can work together.
 |
 |
Dear Greg,
I've been a member since July 2003, maybe one of the first to join the Silver Circle.
2004 was a good year but I really enjoyed the long run we had in, I think, July 2005. It was exhilarating! 2006-2007 was not as exciting although still quite profitable and so far 2007-2008 looks quite good. I'm wondering if we're going to hit a long one again soon. Anyway, it's been a pleasure as always with your service, Greg. Armstrong and you are one of the few people I trust on the internet. You have made my retirement so much more fun and financially happy!
Best Wishes, Trent Wrayford, Sidney
51.8%
48.2%