EPL Saturday (1st April)
This is definitely not a April's Fool joke. Whatever is predicted will definitely come true.
First up, Birmingham vs Chelsea. There have been talks about Chelsea losing it, which I think to a cetain extend is true. But in Chelsea's case, it will not be that bad. Main reason is because they basically have their full squad ready for "battle" against a very weak Birmingham team.
The threat to Chelsea's defence will be very low. Heskey doesn't really threathen any defence. The supply from Pennant can be taken care by the very effective Del Horno.
Upfront for Chelsea, Mourinho can choose from about 10 players for 5 attacking positions. So, you can expect the Birmingham's defence to have a busy day.
So, it will be Chelsea tonight at -1.25 handicap.
Next one, another big gun. Make it a super on form big gun - Arsenal. If you see how they play now, you will find that it resembles the same confidence and form they had when they were on the 49 games run. Even against Juventus in the Champion's League, Arsenal was able to destroy them with real confidence. What is most encouraging is that the defence has only concede one goal in the whole month of March (5 games, including 2 CL games) .
On the other hand, Villa has not been playing well at all, especially away from home. With no players able to match the strength of the Arsenal midfield, it will be a very one sided affair.
Take Arsenal at -1.5 handicap
A short letter exchange between Defoe and Sven Eriksson
Jermaine Defoe has been really concern recently as the selection for the England World Cup squad draws closer. Defoe knows that he has not been playing regularly for Spurs and he is behind Rooney, Owen and even Peter Crouch in the list. He feels that it is time to write to England Manager, Sven Eriksson to personally plead for a spot in the squad. And here is how the letter goes.
++++++++++++++
Dear Sven,
I am writing to you to request that you seriously look into my inclusion in the England squad for the World Cup in Germany. Although, you may not have seen me appearing regularly for my club - Tottenham, the truth is I have been playing a lot; during training though.
Jol(Spurs's Manager) has given me a lot of praises and he thinks that with my pace, I can leave any defence behind, eating my dust. He wants me to make the sound,"beep, beep" like the roadrunner cartoon. He says that by doing so, it will boost my pace by between 10% to 20%. Of course, I did not do it because I think it is simply ridiculous.
So, I hope you do consider me for the squad base on my performance for England and not Spurs.
Your faithful player
Defoe
*************************************
After reading the letter, Sven did reply a very short letter to Defoe
Dear Defoe,
I was the one who has came up with the idea of the "Beep, beep" sound.
Your beep*beep Manager
Sven
A Short Interview with Sam Allydarce (I will be the next England Manager)
After seeing the claim from Graeme Souness that he should be the next England Manager, Sam Allardyce, who is the firm favourite has called me up to vent his anger of Souness's claim and also his plans for England if he succeed as the new manager.
CrazyGuru : Hi Sam, what is this call about?
Sam Allardyce : It is about the chat you have with that "cannot-make-it-manager" Souness. What success does he has to claim the England job? What dog bark, tail wagging. Ask him to wake up lah....
CG : Well, I believe the FA will know who is the real man for the job.
SA : You are correct. And I am the right man. I have been waiting for this chance for a long time.
CG : I see.....so what are your plans for England?
SA : I can't tell you a lot because I don't want the others to copy my ideas. Just a bit.
CG : Ok
SA : You know why England has not won any major cup since the '66 World Cup?
CG : No.
SA : Because, our emphasis is on star players, fans' choice. The manager has to decide who plays, not the fans. But I see a lot of players who are on form and capable of winning the game, not playing.
CG : Right......?
SA : Besides, the players are not hungry. I want hungry players not celebrities. England is like a celebrity team now, especially the forwards, not a national football team. I am going to make some changes.
CG : Sounds good.
SA : I will bring in two midfielders who I think is important for the team, Trevor Sinclair of Man City and James Harper, who has been playing well for Reading.
CG : Reading? But they are not a Premiership team, right?
SA : Yes, Reading. They just got promoted to Premiership for next season, so you can consider them as a Premiership team.
CG : Oh ya.
SA : Then, my strikers, powerful one. Best in the country. Heskey and Andy Cole.
CG : HUH!!! (Fall down from the chair)
SA : Hello, hello....CG. Are you there?
CG : Sorry, sorry. I am just very surprise with your choice.
SA : You should not. Look at my current Bolton squad. Look at Gary Speed, people say he is past his peak but look how good he is playing for the club now. Look at Jaidi, Pedersen, have you heard of them before they came to Bolton?
CG : No
SA : That's why. Don't worry, I am the "Garan Guni" manager. I take in "junk" players and turn them into good ones.
CG : I have to agree on that
SA : What I like about Heskey and Andy Cole are their sulking face. If you notice, whenever something goes wrong against them, that sulking face comes up. Don't know is like want to cry or people own them money or what....To me, it shows their fighting spirit.
CG : Huh..........can interpret like that also???
SA : It shows they are hungry for success
CG : Ur.....................
SA : They will die for the team, YA.....I CAN FEEL IT NOW.
CG : (phone drop)
SA : You feel it also right?
CG : Ya.......why not.
SA : Ok, that's all I can review to you. Wish me success also
CG : Ok, good luck.
---------------------Line cut-----------------------
"A short chat" is a fictional conversation that came to CrazyGuru's mind while daydreaming.
Monday Game
It was an unexpected lost by Bolton last night. After leading the game, Bolton should and can hold for a win but it was that stupid handball by O'Brien that lost the game for Bolton. After that goal, Middlesborough grew strong mentally and Bolton was desperate to take back the lead thus committing too many players upfront.
So, for the weekend, it is one win one lost. Not a very good weekend. But we still have tonight, Tottenham vs WBA.
Tottenham has been in pretty good form, been unbeatable since February except for the lost to Chelsea two weeks ago. However, the win against Birmingham last week showed that they are also vulnerable. They were really lucky to leave St. Andrews with a win after playing badly in the first half.
West Brom on the other hand has not win for the last 6 games, so what is their chance against an on form Tottenham? Little but I see lots of fighting spirit. I see a charged up West Brom fighting for all the balls. And if they can score early, they may upset Tottenham with a win.
A draw should be attainable by West Brom.
Prediction time continue, 26th Mar games
Yesterday's pick on Fulham may only win half for you if you have taken the 1/4 ball. But still ok right, any kind of win is always better than a lost. The other game pick, Portsmouth vs Arsenal was cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch. Seriously, it was good it was cancelled as definitely difficult for Arsenal to play well in that condition.
Ok, today's pick. I was hesitating over which to pick between two games. The first is the Middlesborough vs Bolton game and the other is the Charlton vs Newcastle game. I was thinking of taking the away team in either match. Finally, I chose the first one because out of the four teams, only Bolton was not involved in the midweek games(FA cup). They will be fresh and ready to go. At this stage of the season, good rest is really crucial. Besides, Middlesborough will also be distracted by the coming Thursday's UEFA game against Basle(Away). Steve McClaren should know that with nothing to play in the league, probably just a small risk of relegation, only the UEFA cup success will save his club's season and probably his job.
On the other hand, beside a week's rest, Bolton is also gunning for the Champion's League spot, which they have a mathematical advantage over the rest of the challengers.
Ok, that's all from me today. Only one match.
