Football Dispatch

Premier League look-ahead

01 & 02 September

DERBY have just signed Kenny Miller. Which is a good thing. Because I was becoming seriously worried that the Rams were not going to score another goal this season. For a squad so challenged in the attacking third, the acquisition of the 27-year-old Scottish hitman could not have come at a more desperate time. Unfortunately, the former Celtic striker will be unavailable for Saturday’s trip to Liverpool. No matter, Derby were never going to score at Anfield anyway.

Bolton Wanderers v Everton will also be lacking of goals. But I feel that the Toffees will grind this one out. Sammy Lee has got Trotters believing in themselves after a horrendous start to the season. But Yakubu will be making his Everton debut and is sure to relish the opportunities created by Mikael Arteta – a far cry from the unimaginative midfield he played in front of while at Middlesbrough. I’ll take Everton 1-0.

I think Sunday’s most entertaining match will be Fulham v Tottenham from Craven Cottage. Spurs will be encouraged by last weekend’s performance at Old Trafford and Fulham have been very unlucky so far this season. I’d like to think that a few of Lawrie Sanchez’ new buys will make good on Saturday afternoon; but I can’t imagine that Spurs could stomach any more dropped points. Then again, fear is often the greatest detriment. Still, I’ll say 2-1 to visiting Spurs.

Roy Keane will bring the Old Trafford faithful to their feet in Saturday’s late start. Keano is bringing a handful of former Manchester United players back to their old digs and it’s sure to be a memorable occasion. The recently retired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will also be addressing the crowd before kick-off. As to the match itself, United were somewhat lucky to get all three points from Sunday’s encounter with Spurs and will be hoping to knock a few goals in early. If they do it, it could be a blow-out. You just get the feeling that United are going to really beat up on someone one of these days. I don’t think it will be against Sunderland; but stranger things have happened. I’ll take United 2-0.

Middlesbrough v Birmingham is such a non-event that I won’t waste space on it. Both clubs should expect to be knee-deep in relegation quagmire by March and Boro, in particular, are in danger of going down. Nothing at The Riverside has me convinced at the moment. Not even Mido. I don’t think there’ll be a goal in this one.

There will certainly be goals when Chris Hutchings brings in-form Wigan to St. James’ Park. Latics, when clicking, boast several players who can put the ball in the back of the net. Emile Heskey has played well enough this term to warrant a few rumors of an England recall. And while I feel that may be stretching it, the big man’s presence is still an intimidating one in the Premier League. Henri Camara is also potent on his day and Kevin Kilbane is always driving the opposition bonkers. David Cotterill, however, is a personal favorite of mine. I think the future is bright for the 19-year-old; and if he can ever sort things out with John Toshack at Wales, his international career should be a good one as well.

Newcastle, on the other side of the ball, are unbeaten to start the season. Michael Owen scored in midweek in the Carling Cup and both he and teammate Alan Smith were named to the England squad for the upcoming EURO 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia. Mark Viduka, who is often forgotten amongst all the talk of Owen and Smith and Obafemi Martins, scored a wondergoal last weekend and is one of the most respected goalscorers in British football. If I’m Sam Allardyce, however, I’m most excited about Claudio Cacapa. The former Lyon captain came through the midweek’s Carling Cup match with flying colors and can now expect a consistent place in the starting-XI. Quite simply, he is the best Toon defender in years. I’ll foretell a 2-1 decision to Newcastle.

Kieron Dyer has been k-o’d by another long-term injury. Fortunately, things appear to finally be coming together at West Ham. What I would find disconcerting, however, if I was a supporter of the club, is that Hammers persist in being linked with seemingly every player available on the transfer market. It must make for a rather uneasy locker room at times. Nobody at the club is assured that their job is safe. And while that can sometimes work to your benefit, some stability would certainly not hurt things at Upton Park.

Reading and stability go like bread and butter. Steve Coppell has done wonders at the club and managed to hold onto England left-back Nicky Shorey – a transfer target of… you guessed it… West Ham. Still, I think the Royals may be in a little deep this season. They are being taken seriously and they are being scored on – not a good combination. I’ll say an entertaining 1-1 draw.

Arsenal looked great, midweek, in beating Sparta Prague 3-0 in the Czech Republic. Eduardo Da Silva hit his first goal for the club and Tomas Rosicky looks to finally be settling into things at Arsenal. And Robin van Persie, upon whose young shoulders rests much of the Gunners goalscoring responsibilities, looks the real deal so far this season. Add to that the fact that Cesc Fabregas has already scored 3-goals and is fast becoming one of the best central midfielders in Europe, and you could get a few surprises out of the Emirates this term.

Pompey seem rather unsettled. This whole David Nugent business has been ridiculous and, like Alan Curbishley at West Ham, Harry Redknapp seems to be after every striker who becomes available. Still, the club has produced results. Matt Taylor is pure quality on the left side and John Utaka is already tearing-up the Premier League. I think Portsmouth will be fine this season; but I can’t see a win over Arsenal – even at home. I’ll take Arsenal 2-1.

Martin O’Neill finally got his man this week. Curtis Davies will be lining-up for Aston Villa when Chelsea come to call on Sunday. The 22-year-old defender was bought from West Bromwich Albion on a loan arrangement which will become permanent next year. That O’Neill was able to secure Davies likely means that Zat Knight will have very little to do this season. It’s probably for the best. O’Neill really overpaid for the twice-capped England international; and nothing in Knight’s history would suggest to me that he is worth a starting place in the Premier League.

I really fancy Villa this season; and I hope they’ll do the business against Chelsea. I’m going to predict a draw, but only because Jose Mourinho has not got things sorted yet. Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack are nowhere to be found; Joe Cole is back in the bad-books; and Mourinho has been forced to give quality minutes to Shaun Wright-Phillips – a player he does not rate at all. Frank Lampard is injured and John Terry is also not fully-fit. It all adds up to a club which is there for the taking. And taking one point from them would be a success for Villa. I’ll say 1-1.

Finally, Manchester City will be looking to get back into the win column at Blackburn Rovers on Sunday. Sadly for Sven-Goran Erickson and the City fans, I don’t think they will. I do think, however, that we will be treated to a very entertaining match.

Here are four reasons why I enjoy watching City at the moment: Elano Blumer, Martin Petrov, Ivan Corluka, and Javier Garrido. Petrov is the complete package. He’s into everything and he always seems to be buzzing around somewhere. Elano is the creator. He was superb for Brazil in the Copa America last month and has carried that form to Eastlands. Corluka and Garrido, however, are probably worth more to their manager at the moment than anyone else. They have stabilized City’s notoriously porous backline and allowed Micah Richards to partner Richard Dunne in a formidable central-defensive pairing. Props to Sven for figuring that one out.

Blackburn, on the other hand, played MyPa in the UEFA Cup on Thursday and will, once again, be playing on just two days rest. Still, everything seems to be clicking for Mark Hughes. Roque Santa Cruz was an ingenious pick-up and he has formed a terrifyingly potent partnership with Benni McCarthy. David Bentley was recalled into the England squad because of his good start to the season and Morten Gamst-Pedersen is as good a wide player as they come. I think Blackburn will win this one; and I highly recommend that everybody watch it. It should be a real cracker. I’ll say a narrow 2-1 to Rovers.