3 Weekends of zero Premier League games? What am I supposed to do to satisfy my self loathing if I can’t pick games incorrectly? I’m sure I’ll be able to get by on normal depression. Anyway he’s the recap of last week’s picks.
Game 1
Spurs v Aston Villa
Prediction: Villa 2-0
Reality: Vila 3-2
Cheers to Spurs! Yes, they are in dead last in the prem, yes they spent over 400 million this offseason, yes a possible relegation might lead to a domino effect that could see the club tumble into obscurity, but, they did manage 2 useless goals after falling down 3-0 at home to a Villa club whose attacks are being spearheaded by a Chelsea cast off. To be fair to Jackson, his goal was very well taken, and Buendia has a truly Dunk-esque strike for the eventual winner. Spurs had an equalizer chalked off for a clear offside and waited till half the home crowd left to beat the traffic before making this game seem respectable.
If I’m being honest Spurs remind me of a team version of Timo Werner… Working hard, creating a lot and total shite at getting the ball into the net. Over the course of this year I think their finishing will regress to the mean enough to save their asses. 17th looks likely again.
Game 2
Brighton v Arsenal
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1
Reality: Brighton 3-0
Look, I’m a hater. My team is showing they aren’t up to the challenge this year and I hate teams that play negative futbol with a “world class” center back who falls over given a stiff breeze. So yes, I’ll enjoy the schadenfreude of the champs getting their doors blown off. This was a beat down. Brighton were shot out of a cannon. I was skeptical they could maintain the pressure, but they did. I was skeptical that a singular strategy would work against a world class manager, but it turns out he makes a game-plan and won’t deviate. Why keep attempting to pass thru a suffocating press when you could just play long to a target striker, maybe one you paid a fortune for from his Portuguese team? Nope, Merino and Zubamendi will solve the issue.
To be honest and fair Arsenal are a solid squad. Most teams won’t have the talent and energy to do what Brighton did to them, they hope.
Game 3
Newcastle v Hull City
Prediction: 0-0
Reality: Newcastle 2-1
Newcastle aimed to prove just how useless my predictions are. 3 minutes in and 0-0 was done and dusted. 7 minutes in it was 2-0 Newcastle and they appeared to be off to the races. Credit to Hull City, they stayed resolute and made it a contest in this difficult road test. Hull has to be over the moon about their start. The majority of their work to stay up is already done and they are showing the kind of spirit necessary to stay mid table in the prem.
Game 4
Forest v Coventry
Prediction: Forest 2-0
Reality: Coventry 1-0
Result but not score, I can live with that.
First things first, great win for Coventry. Their first since 2001. They very well made sure Super Frank gets to manage the whole season. They were far more resolute in defense and while not exactly dynamic going forward they seemed a semi legit Premier League side in this game. They survived a VAR check on a possible equalizer late on. By the rules it was the correct call, by my gut it was soft and the defender travelled a country mile before toppling over. All in all Forest seems to have treated this game as a foregone conclusion but they appeared shocked that Coventry weren’t willing to roll over and die. Coventry still goes down in my opinion but they aren’t going to be a Derby County style disaster.
Game 5
Bournemouth v Liverpool
Prediction: Bournemouth 2-1
Reality: Liverpool 1-0
The B-muda triangle failed to secure this lost ship. Liverpool under Iraola are proving exceedingly stubborn and resolute. It was a good demonstration of what the manager can do with a bigger budget. While I don’t see this current squad as title contenders they are definitely a European challenger and will be brutal to play in any cup competitions. This could have been a situation of wanting the game too badly. On the overall I think they should be fine and will challenge for the last Europe spot and be a total pain in the ass to play every week.
Obviously, we don’t have any games for a couple weeks but if you think that means you won’t have to deal with my writing you’re dead wrong. Come back next week when I assign every team a quote from the Big Lebowski in a shameless rip off of Bill Simmons, but he doesn’t write anymore so I feel the concept is up for grabs. Till next week Studs!