Previewwww!

Hello you lovely lot and welcome to another edition of The Weekly Strike. I haven't done one for a few weeks as I have been so busy but I am back!

There are some absolute cracking games this weekend I am going to give my predictions for the top  games that stand out to me.


Aston Villa 1 - 0 Watford - Aston Villa simply have to win this game, it is their Cup Final. Another defeat for Remi Garde's side will push them further adrift at the bottom of the table and in serious trouble. They were awful last weekend at Everton and could have been beaten 10 nil. I can see Villa just about getting the 3 points because the home faithful will demand it. Watford were so unlucky last weekend in the defeat to Man United, if they had taken their chances then they would have got the points. The Hornets could well win this game because Troy Deeney is in good form and with Villa's defence looking very suspect. I predict a very tense game and a home win....just.


Crystal Palace 2 - 0 Newcastle - The Eagles would have been kicking themselves last time out after Sunderland grabbed a very unlucky win. I do predict they will bounce back here as The Toon are in freefall and the Manager is under massive pressure already. Rumours of a fall out between Steve McLaren and some of his senior players does not bode well here. I really fear for Newcastle in this one, they don't score enough goals and they can't defend. An easy home win for Palace.


Leicester 2 - 1 Man United - This one has the makings of an cracker and I don't think it will disappoint. I have said it all season that I have not been impressed with United and on Wednesday in the Champions League it was another woeful display. There is no creative, no pace and no ideas in that team at the moment. LVG is getting away with it because they are sitting very close to the top but if I was a fan, I would be so frustrated. Can Jamie Vardy break the record? There is no reason why he can't, everything he touches turns to goals and the way The Foxes are playing at the moment, I can really see them getting the win.


Tottenham 2 - 2 Chelsea - You have to give Tottenham enormous credit, they are in top form and they could win this, Harry Kane has found his scoring boots and they aren't conceding many. The reason I am going for a draw is because as much I have enjoyed the lack of form of Chelsea this season, I think they will be up for this one, especially after they were tonked here last season. I think Harry Kane will score again in what is always a feisty encounter with no love lost.


West Ham 2 - 1 West Brom - West Ham were pretty average last weekend but did create a few good chances and I think they will bounce back here. West Brom just about got over the line last week in their win over Arsenal but I think they will come up short here.

Norwich 1 - 3 Arsenal - This game is another one of those games that if you really want to push for a title challenge then you need to win and I think Arsenal will have too much for The Canaries who to be fair, do play some good football and I am a fan of Alex Neil. The way Mesut Ozil is playing at the moment is breath-taking and for me, he is one of the best midfielders on the planet. Norwich will create problems and will punish The Gunners if they are not up for it but I can see it being an away win.


Right then, that is that! I will be back tomorrow night for a round up of all the talking points!

Cheers!  

Review!!!!

Hello people! Normally I would do a review from all the games but I have decided I am just going to talk about all the massive talking points from the weekend. This week I am going to be talking about the form of Jamie Vardy, The North London Derby and the relegation form of Chelsea.



Jamie Vardy for England

What a season this boy is having, he has now scored for 9 games in a row and he deserves every single bit of credit he is getting. If there is a player who should be the first pick for England for the upcoming pointless international break it is him. The story of him playing non league football a few years ago to now the top goal scorer in the Premier League is remarkable. In my opinion he is the best English striker in the country at the moment and I don't care about his age and the question of how long can he carry on for? He is scoring goals for fun and for me if your playing well for your club then you deserve a call up. I don't care about how many goals Wayne Rooney has scored for England or the disgraceful fact he is our captain,  he isn't scoring goals for Man United or in any sort of form so I am begging you Roy, please pick Jamie Vardy.


North London Derby

This game is always the first game one I look for in the fixture list because for me it is the biggest Derby in the Premier League. There is a true dislike between the fans and every year it goes up a notch. Spurs came into the game in very good form and with the fact Arsenal had so many injuries, there was a feeling that they could get a rare win at The Emirates. I hate to say it but in the first half, Spurs were by far the better team and really could have been out of sight, Harry Kane was causing all sorts of problems and the future England international Dele Alli was running the midfield. Spurs were superb, that really hurts to say that but they should have won the game but Kieran Gibbs came on and grabbed a point and it was more relief than anything. A lot was made of the small section of Arsenal fans who tore down a banner a few weeks ago in the League Cup at White Hart Lane but it is quite amazing how not a lot has been made of the mindless and plain stupidity of a section of the Spurs fans on Sunday, ripping off sinks in the toilets. Every single club has a small minority of complete Neanderthals who aren't really football fans, they are just there to cause trouble and ruin for the people who go just to support their team. There is no difference between ripping hoardings down or breaking sinks off a wall, if you can't go to a football match and have a beer or 2 and behave like an adult then please fucking stay at home and watch it with a can of Stella and fight with yourself and let the true fans enjoy the beautiful game.


Chelsea....

I honestly think that Jose Mourinho has lost the plot and his actions are not helping the team. How can they go from cruising to the title last season to probably the worst team in the league this year? Look at Diego Costa, he seems more concerned about starting a fight than actually doing what he is supposed to do and that is put the ball in the net. Eden Hazard looks like he would struggle to get into the Accrington Stanley team at the moment and somehow Gary Cahill will still get an England call up ahead of Scott Dann.


A very quick one this week but I am going to start doing random blogs on different footballing subjects soon!

Cheers!

One Night in Munich and Weekend Super 6.

Hello people and welcome to a brand new Strike, this week I am going to be talking about my trip to Munich for the Champions league tie between Bayern Munich and Arsenal and my experiences of the beautiful City from the people, the food and the tasty beer. I will also be giving my predictions for the weekend.


On Wednesday morning , I was up bright and early for my first ever European away day and to say I was excited was an understatement. I've never been to Germany so I was looking forward to seeing what was like and getting to go to the Allianz Arena was something I was buzzing for. So I got on my Train to St Pancras and the first thing I done was open an ice cold can of cider and the looks I got from certain people was amusing but I really wasn't bothered because having a drink on the way to football is the norm for me and many other football fanatics.

Once I got to St Pancras, it was the journey on the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow Terminal 5, where my excitement for Munich really kicked in. The flight to Munich is a reasonably short one, only about an hour and a half. As we were approaching landing, I looked out the window and could see this luminous red building that stood out like a sore thumb, The Allianz Arena. We got through Passport control and hailed a taxi to take us to the ground, which was about an half hour journey and the cost of the Taxi wasn't to bad. The big red building was getting closer and it really is difficult to explain just how magnificent the stadium is. We pulled up and I had my Arsenal shirt and there were some Munich fans on the other side of the road who were laughing and shouting at us, in a very friendly manner.

It was very calm going into the ground and there was minimal police presence and no segregation between the two sets of fans. As you go into the stadium, everyone gets searched and that didn't bother me in the slightest but there was no queuing or delays. The concourse outside the blocks was again something I haven't experienced at a football match, no segregation and even the toilets there was both sets of fans. We grabbed a non alcoholic beer which was lovely and if you didn't know it didn't have any alcohol, you would have thought it was a proper pint. It was all civil and the Germans have got it right on football, treat people like adults and 99% of people will act like one.


The Atmosphere in the ground was amazing and the Arsenal fans were fantastic and in full voice and even though the night didn't turn out how we would have wanted, the fans sung throughout. Bayern Munich are a world class team and they remind me of when your playing Fifa online against someone and they are just on a different level. If Mesut Ozil's goal would have been given then maybe it would have been a different outcome but on the night, we just came up short and it wasn't helped by the injuries to key players and we didn't have a strong bench and when they can bring on Arjen Robben and Arturo Vidal then says just how strong their team is.  I can't fault the players as they put in 100% and they all came over to the away section and received a very good response.

I absolutely loved Munich, the people were so friendly and couldn't do enough for you. I am not a massive beer drinker but their stuff is on a different level compared to what I am used to. If you ever get the chance to go there then do it because it is a lovely place with lots to do and see, I will be definitely going back.



Predictions!


Bournemouth 2 - 2 Newcastle United - This is a 6 pointer, both sides need a win and I can see a lot of goals here, Bournemouth need to start playing the football that got them up in the first place and Newcastle just need to learn how to defend but I don't think this one will be a game for defending.


Manchester United 2 - 0 West Brom - I watched a bit of the game against Moscow and I am still convinced by United. Rooney may have scored but they didn't look good at all and if it wasn't for some good keeping by David De Gea and some excellent covering by Chris Smalling then I have no doubt they would have lost. I think they will win this one though but The Baggies will cause problems and I wouldn't be surprised to see them nick a goal.


West Ham 2 - 2 Everton - Another game that could have a few goals in it. West Ham were shocking at Watford and could have lost by more. Everton blew Sunderland away last Sunday and I think Kone will grab another goal here. I see a thriller here.


Stoke City 2 - 1 Chelsea - Chelsea may have won midweek but I don't see them winning here, they look awful in the league and I don't see Diego Costa scoring another goal, his dive against Kiev was embarrassing. Eden Hazard looks lost and he was dropped in the Champions league so will be interesting to see if he is called up. Stoke have been in strange form and they were awful against Watford last time they played at home but I really think they will pile more pressure on Jose's side.


Arsenal 3 - 1 Tottenham - The Gunners are a different beast in the League this year and although it was a disappointing night in Munich, I can't see anything other than a home win. Spurs have been good form recently, got to give them credit but I just don't see them getting anything but I do see Harry Kane getting one.


Liverpool 2 - 1 Crystal Palace - Liverpool will be in confident after their fantastic display at Chelsea last time out. Palace are without a win in 4 games and I just can't see them getting a result here.


Thank you for reading! I will be back over the weekend!