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Hey everyone! Against the advice of all who read it, The Short Corner has returned! I decided to let two game weeks go by in order to get a feel for the new season and definitely wasn’t just too lazy to get my ass in gear and start writing. So without further ado, let’s preview a few games.
Game One: Everton vs Man U
Man United has their first non-promotion test this weekend. After being slapped down by new boys Hull, they responded handily against Ipswich. You’ve got to hand it to United for getting a handful of goals in this game. The game at hand this week is going to be a whole different test. Will Carrack juggle the lineup, or has he got a handle on the proper starting 11? Hand to heart, I think United are high-fiving after handling Everton pretty comfortably.
The Pick: 3-1 United
Game Two: Hull vs Aston Villa
Surprise, surprise, Hull isn’t as garbage as it seems everyone thought. Two good wins to start the year have definitely buoyed the club and fans’ spirits. A complete 180 away are Villa. A week-one embarrassment was followed up by a less embarrassing 1-0 loss to the champs. They didn’t give up many chances, but they didn’t create any either. Not sure collecting Chelsea leftovers is the way forward, but I guess we’ll see.
A third win on the bounce would have Hull fans over the moon, but I don’t think they get it here. I think week 2 Villa is more representative of the club. This will be a bit of a snooze-fest draw.
The Pick: 1-1
Game Three: Forrest vs Spurs
Inflation is getting out of hand. 380 million can’t even buy you a goal these days. After consecutive 17th-place finishes with an escape act last year just to stay up, it seemed like Spurs meant business and an end to talk of relegation. Sadly for their fans, it’s all more of the same. They don’t appear to have anyone capable of finishing or protecting the goal for 90 minutes. Now they get the tough and tested Forrest at The City Ground, looking for their first win of the new campaign and probably ecstatic to see someone besides Leeds on the pitch. Spurs seem to be leaning on a player who took quite literally the worst free kick ever struck at any level. Tels is the exact type of player I can’t stand. What looks like all the talent in the world combined with a total inability to harness that talent. I think we see more Spurs heartbreak. It’s going to be a long, long season.
The Pick: 2-0 Forrest
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Game Four: Arsenal vs Chelsea
Week 3 gives us an early-season title contender clash. Arsenal appear to be the same old ruthless Arsenal. Beating up on the promoted Ipswich and then doing just enough to vanquish Villa. At some point, it might become a concern that they can’t seem to sign any attackers after they let most of the title team’s front line go in the offseason. But the defense looks as stingy as ever so far and will get their first real test against a rejuvenated Chelsea who are firing on all cylinders going forward but leaving lots of questions at the back. There is an old boxing saying, “Styles make fights,” and I’m hoping Alonso is brave enough to keep his foot on the gas even when traveling to the title holder’s home. The Blues have been just that against the Gunners for 5+ years now. If they are truly eyeing a title, this is a game that needed to be circled on the calendar all offseason.
The (totally homer and irrational) Pick:
3-1 and London is Blue again!
Quick predictions for the rest of the games.
Ipswich - 1
Liverpool - 3
Newcastle - 2
Bournemouth - 1
Brentford - 2
Sunderland - 0
Man City - 4
Coventry - 0
Fulham - 1
Palace - 1
Brighton - 3
Leeds - 1
And remember, if you want to compete against me and the rest of the Well Struck! crew, you can do so over at Fantasy Predictor: Click Here
Also, be sure to check us out on the Well Struck! podcast here to listen to us chat about the week’s games!
WELL STRUCK!
Game Week 2 Recap & Look Ahead to Week 3
Good luck!
Watch along everyone to see just how wrong I am!