Well its certainly been an interesting start to the Premier League this year. Even with Arsenal starting badly we have seen more than a few shocks already. Anyway it’s time for my ‘jokey’ predictions for what I think will ‘go down’ in October in the world’s best football league.
If you didn’t know it already the month is going to start with a bang this weekend with two major derbies taking place. I’m tipping Spurs to win at home to Arsenal at White Hart Lane but have a feeling that Liverpool will roll over Everton at Goodison to the frustration of David Moyes. It still amazes me how Blackburn Rovers managed to find new investors before Everton (a proud and historic club) and a defeat at home to their bitter cross-city rivals will not be a great start to the month for the Toffees.
Chelsea certainly have got a great bunch of strikers to call upon even if Fernando Torres isn’t exactly convincing thesedays and they start the month with a difficult away fixture to Owen Coyle’s Bolton. Despite the Trotters starting the season with a 4-0 away win at QPR, they have lost their last five games but I can see them picking up a point at home which will certainly relieve the pressure of off Coyle’s shoulders and give the team the confidence to have a good month.
Both Manchester clubs will be looking to win all their fixtures this month but with a Manchester derby taking place in the penultimate week of the month, that clearly can’t happen. City should go into that fixture at Old Trafford with wins over Blackburn (led by ‘Yes Man’ Steve Kean) and Aston Villa.
As much as it pains me to say it I feel Manchester United may go into the game behind City in the table as after beating Norwich, I think they will get a draw at Anfield – which given the fact they’ve lost there on their last three visits, which isn’t a bad result – against Liverpool and this may (that’s the keyword) play into Roberto Mancini’s hands who I think, even with City’s attacking players this year go into the game with his team playing 4-5-1 to stop United winning.
Sir Alex Ferguson though will not want to see City go to United and pick up a win, yet alone a point and I’ve got a feeling that United will – unlike in last year’s encounter – boss the midfield and surprise City just as they did in the Community Shield with their energetic and quick-passing game and I think that they might just pull of another victory over the Noisy Neighbours via a moment of magic from one of their leading players.
Down at the other end of the table, this will be a big month for both Steve Bruce and Roy Hodgson. Both will admit that they would have expected their sides to be higher up the table than they are previously are. Whilst it’s fair to admit that both sides have been unlucky in their games so far this season, should they start the month badly regardless of the fact both managers did well last season, you get the feeling that one of them could be sacked this month if results don’t improve.
I expect both managers to have good months this month and feel that they will both pick up two wins this month to wipe away any doubts that their fans have of their side getting relegated like they have now, given their disappointing starts. I have a sneaky feeling that Hodgson’s West Brom will beat his former club Liverpool at the end of the month and can see Peter Odemwingie scoring to send Dalglish’s side to another away defeat.
Lastly with a staggering 9 penalties being missed this season already, I will stick my neck out on the line again and predict that there will no more than two spot-kicks missed this month. As for the final big-game of the month, I can see Didier Drogba scoring one if not two goals against Arsenal who will end the month on a downer losing to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. As for what I will think will happen to Carlos Tevez this month, y’know what I couldn’t give a toss.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87