Predictions!

The Week Review

Hello and happy Friday to you all, it's a pretty dark and dreary day here and it kind of sums up how I am feeling about football at the moment. The Champions League and Europa League second legs were in action and it was a mixed week for the English clubs, Man City got through to the Quarter Finals of the Champions League for the first time after a dull nil nil draw on Tuesday night against Kiev and Arsenal were beaten by MSN at the Nou Camp. Liverpool are through to the last 8 of the Europa League after a 1 - 1 draw last night at Old Trafford but it was the first leg that saw them get past their arch rivals.



So on Tuesday night, Manchester City were at home at home to Dynamo Kiev and were well in control from the first after they one in Ukraine by 3 goals to 1. I thought City would win this game very easily and I wasn't going to have a bet until I saw a certain Bookmaker offer 10/1 for City to win to new customers, that was far a fantastic offer and one I thought would certainly win me some money. One thing I can say about the game is it was probably one of the most dullest games I have ever witnessed and I will never get that time back. The only real moments of an excitement was when Vincent Kompany went off injured yet again for Man City and it looks like he will be out for about a month. The injury to their captain was just the start as Nicolas Otamendi also went off injured just a few minutes later but he is hoping he will be fit for the Manchester derby on Sunday. The game was very dull and Man City looked like a team who wasn't interested in scoring anymore goals and as for Kiev, well they were utterly dreadful and I did feel a bit sorry for their fans because their players just had no desire to have a go at City or create anything. Man City face PSG in the next round and that for sure will be a much bigger challenge for them but it should be a very good game because both sides are very dangerous going forward. A little mention about Jesus Navas, who was so poor on Tuesday night, he sort of reminded me of a racing pigeon, who keeps flying into lamp-posts.



Onto Wednesday where Arsenal faced Mission Impossible at the Nou Camp, it did seem very daunting especially the form that the Gunners were in. The team was a little surprise with Alex Iwobi starting instead of the inconsistent Theo Walcott but to be fair to the young lad, he has impressed recently and I think he deserved his place. The one thing that left me scratching my head was that Mathieu Flamini was in the starting 11 instead of Francis Coquelin. I thought Arsenal started off quite well but they kept giving the ball away and against a team of superstars, you are only going to get punished. The first goal in the opening 20 minutes when Arsenal lost the ball and Luis Suarez found Neymar who calmly slotted the ball past David Ospina. I did fear the worse because we are in poor form and don't look winning at the moment but I will give the boys credit, they played some nice football and had a couple of chances. Alex Iwobi caused a lot of problems for the Barcelona defence and was a little bit unlucky not to win a penalty when he was slightly clipped by Javier Mascherano, there wasn't much contact but with penalties that have been given recently then it was definitely worth a shout. Arsenal looked a lot better in the second half and got their equalizer with an absolute worldie from Elneny who curled the ball into the top corner past Ter Stegen after some good player from Alexis Sanchez. The Gunners all of a sudden looked like they were going to take the game to the Catalan side and applied a lot of pressure but just under 20 minutes later, Luis Suarez scored a beautiful volley into the top corner from a Dani Alves cross. I thought Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi were superb and both a little unlucky to be subbed off to be honest, Oliver Giroud and Theo Walcott replaced them and it was the latter who really frustrated me. Theo Walcott had a good chance but his first touch let him down yet again and he went to wide and it was an easy save in the end. The game was wrapped up 2 minutes from time and it was Lionel Messi who finally got his goal and it was a lovely dink over the helpless Ospina. I didn't expect much from the Nou Camp but I did want a performance from the players and to be fair to them, they didn't let themselves down but it was the first leg that cost Arsenal. Barcelona face fellow La Liga side Athletico Madrid in the next round, as for Arsenal it was another night of what could have been but hopefully they can take heart from the performance and put in a shift at Goodison Park on Saturday.  




Last night it was the Europa League where Tottenham had the task of trying to overturn the 3 - 0 that they suffered in Dortmund but you could tell by the team selection that their priorities lie elsewhere. Dortmund after brilliant to watch and they have a superstar in Patrick Emerick Aubameyang who grabbed another two goals which takes him to 34 goals this season. Spurs did have a go but I don't think they will be to fussed about going out if they go on and win the Premier League. Manchester United faced Liverpool at Old Trafford where they tried to comeback from their first leg defeat at Anfield. I don't really understand Louis Van Gaal at times and his team selections, I mean why would you play Juan Mata out wide and Jesse Lingard in the middle? Anthony Martial won a penalty on the half hour when he was brought down by Nathaniel Clyne and it was Martial who calmly slotted the ball to give United a lifeline. I think if Man United would have got to half time in front then the game might have been different but just before the break it was Philippe Coutinho who scored a wonderful chip to send the away section into raptures. The second half was a pretty dead rubber because the home side never really threatened to get back into the game. Liverpool face Borussia Dortmund in the next round, a match that Klopp didn't really want but it should be a cracker and the atmosphere should be amazing at both grounds, just imagine both set of fans singing You'll Never Walk Alone at the same time.


Right that is it for now, I will be back with a Vlog later to give my predictions.

Laters   

Weekend Review

Hello you lovely! Here's my weekend review!

Video is here attached!

Europa League!

Last night was the first time I have ever looked forward to the Europa League, Spurs travelled to Germany to face the tournament favourites Borussia Dortmund. Liverpool and Manchester United faced off the first time in Europe at Anfield.



Dortmund 3 - 0 Tottenham -

Let's start with the early kick off in Germany, where Spurs had the daunting task of trying to get a result against a very good Dortmund side. The Germans started off on the front foot and dominated much of the first half and if it wasn't for some good goalkeeping by Hugo Lloris and an offside goal, it could've been an even more of a difficult game for Spurs. Mauricio Pochettino made a lot of changes and while some will say that he has done a brilliant job this season and has the right to pick a weakened team, I disagree because what's the point of getting to this stage of the competition and just essentially giving up? I know Spurs are in the title race and they want to win their first league title in many years but they play Aston Villa on Sunday and to be honest, if they don't beat them then Spurs don't deserve to win anything this season. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang caused allsorts of problems for the Tottenham back four and it felt like a matter of time before he finally got his goal and it came on the half hour mark with a lovely header into the bottom corner. The second half, Spurs were a little unlucky not to win a penalty after Son Hueng-min went down from a tackle from Hummels but the referee waved it away. Marco Reus made 2 nil just after the hour mark when blasted the ball into the roof of the net which left Spurs a massive mountain to climb. He also grabbed the third with a superb volley after a lovely move from Dortmund, Spurs tried to get an away goal by bringing on Harry Kane but it was too late. I think Spurs will get a goal next week but I just cannot see them not conceding one against a Dortmund who are a class act and if they go on and win it then it wouldn't surprise me.





Liverpool 2 - 0 Man United -

Liverpool took control of this last 16 tie as they breezed past a very abject Manchester United last night. This was the first ever meeting between these two English giants and the atmosphere was amazing and the rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone by the Liverpool fans before kick off was breath-taking. Man United nearly went ahead in the first 30 seconds when Memphis crossed the ball towards Marcus Rashford but he didn't seem ready for it. Liverpool pretty much controlled the game from then on and won a very soft penalty when Depay brought down Nathaniel Clyne in the 20 minute. Daniel Sturridge made no mistake as he stroked the ball past David De Gea, although the keeper did get a hand to it. Manchester United were truly awful last night and they only created one chance and if it wasn't for De Gea, this game would have been about 5 - 0.  I had a lot of sympathy for Marcus Rashford, who is an 18 year old with so much potential but too ask a kid to lead the line in a game of this magnitude is nothing short of inept from a manager who again has shown he is not up to the job. Another person who was shambolic last night was Marouane Felliani who was lucky to stay on the pitch after appearing to elbow Emre Can at the end of the game but the referee didn't see it.  He was all over the place and was completely and utterly hopeless. I don't want to appear that I am picking on Man United but they used to have players who had passion and fight and I don't see it from a single one of the current crop. I have said it numerous times this season, Louis Van Gaal has got rid of so many players and spent an awful lot on bringing players in but how many of these players are better than the ones he let go? You cannot let Hernandez, Van Persie and Welbeck go and not bring in a recognized centre forward. This is by no means a dig at Anthony Martial, who I think is a massive talent but once again last night, he got zero service so he couldn't get into the game. Louis Van Gaal came out at full time with the excuses of the penalty was soft and the second goal was offside but it was atrocious defending from Michael Carrick which allowed Firmino to ping it past De Gea. It was like the United team had never met before and just rocked up to Anfield and not even taking into account that they were playing against their arch rivals which means everything to the fans. I have seen a lot on social media regarding certain chants that were coming from the away end, sadly a few idiots will ruin it for everyone else, I have a lot of Man United friends who don't like Liverpool but would never sing songs regarding Hillsborough or any other horrific tragedy. There are idiots at every club and if you're one of these people that sing nasty songs whether it's racial or mocking dead people and you ever happen to read this then do us all a favour.....stay at home and let real football fans enjoy the game,  


Hopefully going to be recording the first ever Weekly Strike Podcast very soon so keep your eye's and ears peeled!

Laters!

Goals, Cards and Drama!

Well that was a very entertaining weekend of football, so much happened at the top and at the bottom of the league. There is so much to go over including a flurry of red cards given out, dodgy decisions and much more! As always I am going to go over all the games from the Premier League and give my honest opinion on all that unfolded!


Tottenham 2 - 2 Arsenal - The early kick off on Saturday afternoon is the perfect place to start, this game was billed as the biggest North London Derby in recent times and it definitely lived up to all the hype. The first half hour was very cagey with Spurs just about on top but didn't really create much apart from a chance which fell to Erik Lamela who shinned the ball towards goal but it was a smart save from David Ospina. The first half was looking like it was going to end goalless but 5 minutes from the break, Aaron Ramsey put the Gunners ahead with a lovely back heel after some lovely play from Danny Welbeck who found Hector Bellerin on the edge of the box and then he put in a good ball into the Welshmen who produced a wonderful goal. The only other real talking point was Francis Coquelin's booking for a handball. The Second half was end to end and I was very surprised a goal didn't come sooner than it did. The game was changed completely when Coquelin stupidly lunged in on Harry Kane and got himself sent off and really put his team up against it. Spurs really began to turn the screw with a flurry of chances including a very tight call where the ball almost went over the line. It was a matter of time before they did get the equalizer and it came from an unlikely source, Toby Alderweireld, who smashed the ball past Ospina with a good finish. Spurs were beginning to dominate and 2 minutes later, Harry Kane produced an absolute worldie of a goal by curling the ball from the edge of the area and it hit the inside of the post, sending the home side into raptures. Arsenal had to regroup and to be fair they showed a lot of heart and passion, something that had been questioned over the last week. Erik Dier was lucky not to have been sent off for two silly tackles and I still don't know why the referee failed to send him off. Arsenal got their goal from a lovely pass by Bellerin to Sanchez who looked very good and deserved his goal and they could have nicked it in injury time if it wasn't for some very good defending by Kevin Wimmer. it was a cracking game of football and nobody really deserved to lose but Spurs will be annoyed that they couldn't hold on against 10 men.




Chelsea 1 - 1 Stoke - If Chelsea had a small hope of being in the top 4, it's probably over now as dropped 2 points. I think Chelsea had one eye on their Champions League second leg tie against PSG, where they will want to overturn a 2-1 score line. Chelsea took the lead from a scorcher of a goal by Traore but they didn't look very good and I had a feeling that they would let Stoke get back into the game and 5 minutes from time, The Potters got their goal from Diouf and on the whole they did deserve the point. Chelsea have a massive game in Tuesday night and another tricky one this weekend where they travel to Everton in the FA Cup.



Man City 4 - 0 Aston Villa - It took a while for City to get going as they looked off the pace and it wasn't a surprise that it was goalless at the break. I will give Villa a bit of credit as they showed a lot of heart but they just have no confidence and all their hard work was undone just 3 minutes into the second half as they quickly conceded 2 in the space of 2 minutes. Villa just gave up and they were just walking around, I feel sorry for the Villa fans as they are seeing their team show no fight. It was soon 3 nil on 60 minutes where Man city looked like they were in a training match and the 4th City goal just about summed up why Villa are going down. I do have some sympathy for Remi Garde because his players have given up and I don't think he will be there next season.



Everton 2 - 3 West Ham - A very good game of football from two very good footballing sides but once again for Everton it's another defeat at home. They started very well and got the opening goal from Lukaku who bullied Reece Oxford with his sheer pace and power. Kevin Mirallas had a day to forget as he was booked for a stupid dive and then 10 minutes from half time, he dives into a tackle and gets himself sent off. Everton doubled their and gave them some breathing space with some lovely link up play between Lukaku and Aaron Lennon, with the latter sliding the ball past Adrian, then Lukaku missed a penalty which would have sealed the points. The game was looking like it was going to end in a home win but 12 minutes from time, West Ham showed some real heart and got a goal back from Antonio, a man who can't stop scoring goals. Sakho made it 2 - 2 for his first goal since September and The Hammers looked like a different side and were going for the win and it came on 90 minutes and it was that man Payet with the finish. West Ham are brilliant to watch and are hard to play against.


Southampton 1 - 1 Sunderland - Sunderland were unlucky not to come away with points, they played some very nice football and I do think they will stay up because they have a manager who knows how to avoid the drop. They took the lead with just 5 minutes to go from a goal from Jermaine Defoe, The Saints were down to 10 men after Jose Fonte was sent off for denying a goal scoring chance just 7 minutes before, The home side did a very late goal from Virgil Van Dijk who powered the ball past Vito Mannone but Sunderland have looked a lot better recently.



Newcastle 1 - 3 Bournemouth - Newcastle are in massive trouble and I really don't see them getting out of the relegation zone. It was another pitiful display and the fans were on the players back very early on. There was no heart, passion or desire from the Toon and Steve McLaren is under massive pressure and I don't see him being there for much longer. Bournemouth were immense from the first whistle and deserved the points. I think Eddie Howe's side are safe now but as for Newcastle, it's looking very grim at the moment.



Swansea 1 - 0 Norwich - Two wins in a week for Swansea which means they are probably safe from the drop now, although they made hard work of it. It was a massive game because both sides are down there but the Swans got over the line with a Sigurdsson goal on the hour mark. Norwich look in trouble, they simply can't stop conceding goals and they aren't scoring many either which is a problem. It's going to be down to them, Newcastle and Sunderland who fills the two relegation spots.



Watford 0 -1 Leicester - The dream is looking like it's going to be a reality for Leicester, they weren't at their best at Vicarage Road but they got the result which puts them 5 points clear with 9 games to go. Riyad Mahrez has been class this season and must be a contender for player of the year, he took his goal superbly even though he had a bit of frustrating game. Watford are a good side but they have stopped scoring goals at home, now without a home goal in three.



Crystal Palace 1 - 2 Liverpool - Liverpool hadn't won at Selhurst for many years and it looked like it was going to continue when Joe Ledley put the home side ahead just after the break. James Milner's sending off made the job even harder for Jurgen Klopp's side but they levelled the game when Alex McCarthy slipped when clearing the ball which fell to the feet of Roberto Firmino who calmly slotted home. It looked like it was going to end in a point each but there was controversy when Damien Delaney slid in on Christian Benteke, who went down under minimal contact. The referee didn't give it but his assistant raised his flag and the Palace players were fuming. I thought it was a dive and Benteke made the most of it but he slotted the ball home in the last kick off the game.




West Brom 1 - 0 Man United - Man United are funny side, they get two wins under their belt against Arsenal and Watford but then produce a display which was pretty awful. Juan Mata's daft red card pretty much summed up their day. Rondon was a menace for the Baggies and deserved his goal. West Brom are safe from the drop now and played some nice football, United could have done with a win but now they have a big game in the FA Cup against the in form West Ham.


Hope you all had a good weekend, be back soon!

Predictions!

Well what a massive weekend of football this is, the top of the table is up for grabs and the relegation zone is changing all the time. Today is the biggest North London Derby in history and whoever wins this, must be serious contenders to win the title in May and as an Arsenal fan, I am not overly looking forward to it.




Tottenham 2 - 2 Arsenal - This game is always massive and the rivalry gets bigger and more volatile every year but this one is the biggest one in history. There is so much at stake for both clubs. Tottenham will want to bounce back from the defeat at West Ham where they looked like rabbits in the headlights and just couldn't handle the occasion. They will be bang up for this and they have a chance to go 5 points clear and I don't see them doing the usual Spurs thing and falling apart. Arsenal have been truly woeful this past week, the performance against Swansea was an absolute disgrace and the fans will demand a better display. I have gone for the draw because all form goes out of the window and also because I simply don't have it in me to go against my team, even though I am dreading it because if Spurs play like they have been then it could be a long and horrible day for every Gooner. There is no Petr Cech and no Koscielny who are massive blows but it's time for other players to step up and show why they are playing for Arsenal. A truly massive game between two sides who don't like each other.





Man City 5 - 0 Aston Villa  - Man City have fallen of the cliff in the Premier League in terms of results, 3 defeats in a row and looking shocking all over the pitch but luckily they have Aston Villa at home so this is the perfect way to gain some confidence. Aston Villa are woeful and I don't see them getting another win this season and this season the players have simply not been good enough. If City don't win this then they don't deserve to be in the top 4.




Everton 3 - 2 West Ham - This one could be a cracker with both sides who play very good football, I see a lot of goals and the only reason why I have done Everton to win is because they are at home. The Hammers were superb against Spurs and even they could sneak into the Champions League spots.


Watford 1 - 1 Leicester - This is a really difficult game to call, I have been really impressed with Watford and they were unlucky to lose at Old Trafford where they had the better chances and matched United in every department but were kind of robbed by a dive by Anthony Martial. I love watching The Foxes play, they have some superb players and I think it would be fantastic if they did go on to win the League. These are the games that make or break you and I think Watford will set up to frustrate the league leaders and hit them on the break.



Crystal Palace 1 - 2 Liverpool - I was very impressed with Liverpool in midweek, they outplayed Man City and deserved the points. They have a massive game in the Europa League against Man United so they may have one eye on that. Palace will be desperate for a win because I think some of their fans have forgotten what it feels like.


West Brom 1 - 1 Man United - Man United have hit a bit of form but I wouldn't be shocked if it all goes wrong again and it nearly did against Watford where they got a little bit lucky. The Baggies got a well deserved point at Leicester and will want to build on that.


Short and sweet for today as I have a slight hangover so even typing hurts!

Have a good one!