Summary Review: Round 7 (26/09/2009 to 28/09/2009) 02 October, 2009

Chelsea finally dropped their first points of the season, and it was actually quite a convincing win for Wigan Athletic. That was a major shock as Wigan had showed a tendency to struggle against the better teams this season, having previously shipped four and five goals to Arsenal and Manchester United respectively. While there is no doubt that Chelsea will bounce back from this defeat (what, you expect them to go on a losing streak?), it did demonstrate some of their vulnerabilities and their rivals can certainly take heart.

Liverpool racked up the goals against a pathetic looking Hull City as Torres waltzed his way through the opposition's something (I'm not sure what you call it, but it doesn't look like defence) three times. Speaking of hattricks, Robbie Keane did that, and went one better, as Tottenham Hotspur put five past Burnley. It's amazing how a team with a perfect record at home (against the likes of Manchester United no less) can be so rubbish away from it. Rubbish then leads us naturally to Portsmouth who, well, actually did show improvement against Everton, and could even be considered slightly unlucky not to take at least a point. But the cold hard fact is that they now still have no point. At this rate they are going, they will still have zero points at the end of the season (extrapolating the trend that is).

Sunderland put five past Wolverhampton Wanderers for an impressive 5 - 2 victory with Darren Bent continuing to find the net. He's starting to display the kind of scoring prowess previously on show at Charlton. Manchester City recovered from derby drama with Tevez scoring a brace to leave West Ham United in the relegation zone. How he must have wished he had scored against another of his former club last week instead.

Arsenal narrowly beat Fulham while Manchester United left Stoke City's home ground with more points that what most other teams could muster from the same encounter. Bolton Wanderers won a crucial relegation six-pointer at Birmingham City, but I guess both teams should be quite confident with realistically only two relegation places up for grabs this season (see Portsmouth, above). Finally, Blackburn Rovers ended Aston Villa's run with a last minute winner.

Predictions

Portsmouth - Everton
Prediction: 0 - 2
Result: 0 - 1

Blackburn Rovers - Aston Villa
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 2 - 1

Tottenham Hotspur - Burnley
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 5 - 0

Birmingham City - Bolton Wanderers
Prediction: 1 - 0
Result: 1 - 2

Wigan Athletic - Chelsea
Prediction: 0 - 3
Result: 3 - 1

Stoke City - Manchester United
Prediction: 1 - 2
Result: 0 - 2

Liverpool - Hull City
Prediction: 4 - 0
Result: 6 - 1

Fulham - Arsenal
Prediction: 1 - 3
Result: 0 - 1

Sunderland - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Prediction: 2 - 1
Result: 5 - 2

Manchester City - West Ham United
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 3 - 1

Round 7 Tally: 10 Predictions; 0 Correct Scores; 7 Correct Outcomes
Season Tally: 66 Predictions; 2 Correct Scores; 37 Correct Outcomes

Betting

Portsmouth - Everton
Bet: £20 on Away Win at 1.83
Result: Away Win (Won £16.60)

Birmingham City - Bolton Wanderers
Bet: £15 on Home Win at 2.25
Result: Away Win (Lost £15.00)

Sunderland - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Bet: £15 on Home Win at 1.72
Result: Home Win (Won £10.80)

Manchester City - West Ham United
Bet: £20 on Home Win at 1.40
Result: Home Win (Won £8.00)

Round 6 Tally: £70.00 in Bets; £20.40 in Takings
Season Tally: £465.00 in Bets; -£35.65 in Takings

Fantasy Football

My Team

55 points is not a disastrous gameweek total, but still poor enough to cause me a drop in overall rankings. The main cause of this would be Chelsea's unexpected result - Cech sent off and Cole conceded three. Fortunately, my other defenders all responded with clean sheets.

With an assist and a clean sheet, Lennon wasn't half bad a choice of captain, but what might have been if I had given the armband to Bent! One goal, three assists and maximum bonus for a total of 18 points!

Summary Review: Round 6 (19/09/2009 and 20/09/2009) 26 September, 2009

What a Manchester derby! It had almost everything - goals, controversy, late drama, probably just short of a red card or two! Manchester City must have thought that they would be leaving Old Trafford with a hard-earned point and at least equal bragging rights when Craig Bellamy seized on Rio Ferdinand's mistake to put them level for the third time in the match. But Manchester United had other ideas, and with a swing of his right boot, Michael Owen justified Alex Ferguson's decision to sign him up. Speaking of "signing him up", Carlos Tevez won his fitness battle to feature in the match, and added to the spice with a typically determined assist and an agonising miss.

The other big match of the weekend was the London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. It was a comparatively one-sided affair, and that is like describing Mount Everest as tall. The matter of fact is that Chelsea waltzed past Spurs 3-0 to make it six wins out of six. That match too was not without controversy, however. Spurs arguably should have been given a penalty kick at a critical time when they were still only a goal down.

Arsenal scored an easy 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic, while Liverpool laboured to yet another 3-2 away win, this time against West Ham United. Aston Villa piled further pressure on Portsmouth by expectedly inflicting their sixth defeat of the season. Pompey at the moment are as pointless as this blog! Everton looked to have put their early season troubles behind with a convincing win against Blackburn Rovers. Blackburn, on the other hand, look to be wading deeper into trouble and must hope to chalk up some good results soon.

Elsewhere, Burnley kept their impressive home record with a win against Sunderland. Their tally at Turf Moor now stands at three out of three - not bad considering the other two wins were against Manchester United and Everton. Fellow promoted clubs Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers too racked up crucial three points against Hull City and Fulham respectively, while Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City shared a goal and a point apiece.

Predictions

Burnley - Sunderland
Prediction: 1 - 2
Result: 3 - 1

Arsenal - Wigan Athletic
Prediction: 3 - 1
Result: 4 - 0

Bolton Wanderers - Stoke City
Prediction: 2 - 2
Result: 1 - 1

Hull City - Birmingham City
Prediction: 0 - 0
Result: 0 - 1

Aston Villa - Portsmouth
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 2 - 0

West Ham United - Liverpool
Prediction: 1 - 2
Result: 2 - 3

Manchester United - Manchester City
Prediction: 2 - 2
Result: 4 - 3

Wolverhampton Wanderers - Fulham
Prediction: 1 - 2
Result: 2 - 1

Everton - Blackburn Rovers
Prediction: 2 - 1
Result: 3 - 0

Chelsea - Tottenham Hotspur
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 3 - 0

Round 6 Tally: 10 Predictions; 1 Correct Scores; 6 Correct Outcomes
Season Tally: 56 Predictions; 2 Correct Scores; 30 Correct Outcomes

Betting

Burnley - Sunderland
Bet: £15 on Away Win at 2.50
Result: Home Win (Lost £15.00)

Aston Villa - Portsmouth
Bet: £30 on Home Win at 1.36
Result: Home Win (Won £10.80)

Manchester United - Manchester City
Bet: £10 on Draw at 3.75
Result: Home Win (Lost £10.00)

Everton - Blackburn Rovers
Bet: £15 on Home Win at 1.80
Result: Home Win (Won £12.00)

Round 6 Tally: £70.00 in Bets; -£2.20 in Takings
Season Tally: £395.00 in Bets; -£56.05 in Takings

Fantasy Football

My Team

A very good gameweek, with all of my goalkeepers and defenders (Cech, Cole, Collins, Yobo and Clichy) keeping clean sheets, and both of my forwards (Rooney and Bent) scoring. Even Cole and Yobo weighed in with goals!

It would have been perfect, though, if some of my midfielders actually did anything noteworthy. (To be fair, Cahill did keep a clean sheet for an additional point.)

Summary Review: Round 5 (12/09/2009 and 13/09/2009) 18 September, 2009

It was a weekend where Manchester City enhanced their title credentials while fellow pace setters Tottenham Hotspur were somewhat put in their place. City put four past Arsenal at home and Spurs were undone by Manchester United despite taking a very early lead and playing against ten men for half an hour. How Arsene Wenger must hate Manchester by now, and could this game against the defending champions be a micro-reflection of how Spurs' season is going to pan out?

Title favourites Chelsea are showing that they are able to get three points anywhere and anyhow. Another late winner after being a goal down - this time against Stoke City - saw them maintain their perfect start to the season. I can't see them dropping many points this season, and I can't see any team getting more points than them. Liverpool kept pace with a convincing with against Burnley. I don't remember Benayoun scoring many goals, but this must have been at least his second hat-trick already in a Liverpool shirt.

Aston Villa and Sunderland continued with their fine form; extending difficult starts so far for Birmingham City and Hull City. Villa got a narrow win over Birmingham, while Sunderland had a much easier time against Hull. Speaking of difficult starts, in the bottom-of-the-table clash, Bolton Wanderers came away from Fratton Park leaving Portsmouth with zero points from five games.

Finally, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, and Wigan Athletic scored home wins against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton, and West Ham United respectively. Everton, who finished fifth last season, seems to be having trouble finding their feet this season, having just three points from four games.

Predictions

Portsmouth - Bolton Wanderers
Prediction: 2 - 1
Result: 2 - 3

Blackburn Rovers - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Prediction: 2 - 1
Result: 3 - 1

Wigan Athletic - West Ham United
Prediction: 2 - 2
Result: 1 - 0

Liverpool - Burnley
Prediction: 3 - 0
Result: 4 - 0

Stoke City - Chelsea
Prediction: 1 - 3
Result: 1 - 2

Sunderland - Hull City
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 4 - 1

Manchester City - Arsenal
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 4 - 2

Tottenham Hotspur - Manchester United
Prediction: 1 - 2
Result: 1 - 3

Birmingham City - Aston Villa
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 0 - 1

Fulham - Everton
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 2 - 1

Round 5 Tally: 10 Predictions; 0 Correct Scores; 5 Correct Outcomes
Season Tally: 46 Predictions; 1 Correct Scores; 24 Correct Outcomes

Betting

Portsmouth - Bolton Wanderers
Bet: £20 on Home Win at 2.60
Result: Away Win (Lost £20.00)

Sunderland - Hull City
Bet: £25 on Home Win at 1.80
Result: Home Win (Won £20.00)

Tottenham Hotspur - Manchester United
Bet: £10 on Draw at 3.40
Result: Away Win (Lost £10.00)

Round 4 Tally: £55.00 in Bets; -£10.00 in Takings
Season Tally: £325.00 in Bets; -£53.85 in Takings

Fantasy Football

Another decent gameweek, with the right selection of captain - Darrent Bent scoring twice for Sunderland against Hull City!

It was a good attacking gameweek in general. Wayne Rooney, Tim Cahill and Shaun Wright-Phillips all contributed goals while Lee Cattermole also had a good game.

None of the defenders and midfielders kept a clean sheet, as Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, Joseph Yobo and Gael Clichy produced a miserable total of four points.

Summary Review: Round 4 (29/08/2009 and 30/08/2009) 01 September, 2009

How Arsenal failed to leave Old Trafford with at least a point I do not know. Just what was Abou Diaby thinking when he headed Manchester United into the lead? That was a header any of United's attacking player on that day would have been proud off. Deserved or not, Arsenal's perfect start to the season has ended. But, if they can put out such a performance week in week out. they won't be throwing away too many points this season and will surely be thereabouts come May.

With Arsenal's run ended, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City remain the teams yet to drop a point this season, keeping up their good work with wins against Burnley, Birmingham City and Portsmouth respectively. Chelsea must now be early-season favourites for the title, while Spurs and City look good for some Champions League football next season. The next few weeks will be interesting though, as Spurs face both Manchester United and Chelsea while City will square up against Arsenal and their neighbours, United. Those matches will be true tests of their footballing credentials this season.

Liverpool needed to come from behind twice to eventually take all three points against Bolton Wanderers, and it was no less dramatic for their city rivals Everton, who needed a last minute penalty to beat Wigan Athletic - their first win (and first points) of the season - and move away from the bottom of the table.

Aston Villa's season continues to improve as they follow up last week's victory against Liverpool with a deserved win against Fulham. Finally, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United shared the spoils, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Hull City took a point each, and Stoke City took all three crucial points against Sunderland with a typical Stoke City goal.

Predictions

Chelsea - Burnley
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 3 - 0

Tottenham Hotspur - Birmingham City
Prediction: 3 - 1
Result: 2 - 1

Blackburn Rovers - West Ham United
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 0 - 0

Bolton Wanderers - Liverpool
Prediction: 0 - 2
Result: 2 - 3

Stoke City - Sunderland
Prediction: 1 - 2
Result: 1 - 0

Wolverhampton Wanderers - Hull City
Prediction: 2 - 2
Result: 1 - 1

Manchester United - Arsenal
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 2 - 1

Portsmouth - Manchester City
Prediction: 1 - 3
Result: 0 - 1

Everton - Wigan Athletic
Prediction: 2 - 1
Result: 2 - 1

Aston Villa - Fulham
Prediction: 1 - 0
Result: 2 - 0

Round 4 Tally: 10 Predictions; 1 Correct Scores; 8 Correct Outcomes
Season Tally: 36 Predictions; 1 Correct Scores; 19 Correct Outcomes

Betting

Stoke City - Sunderland
Bet: £15 on Away Win at 3.20
Result: Home Win (Lost £15.00)

Bolton Wanderers - Liverpool
Bet: £15 on Away Win at 1.57
Result: Away Win (Won £8.55)

Portsmouth - Manchester City
Bet: £20 on Away Win at 1.61
Result: Home Win (Won £12.20)

Everton - Wigan Athletic
Bet: £20 on Everton at 1.80
Result: Home Win (Won £16.00)

Round 4 Tally: £70.00 in Bets; £21.75 in Takings
Season Tally: £270.00 in Bets; -£43.85 in Takings

Fantasy Football

A smashing game week with my captain Ashley Cole fully justifying his armband with a goal, a clean sheet and some bonus points for good measure. Petr Cech finally scores a clean sheet, while Aaron Lennon and Wayne Rooney continued their good form with goals and bonuses.

If the team can keep up such good form, honours will not be too far off at the end of the season!

Summary Review: Round 3 (22/08/2009 to 24/08/2009) 26 August, 2009

Aston Villa provided the biggest talking point of the round, beating Liverpool 3 - 1 at Anfield. Liverpool now have as many defeats this season as they had for the whole of the last, and will have to look for improvements to keep up with their title challenge. Despite what Rafa Benitez believes, Lucas is not going to fill the gaping hole left behind by Alonso. But what a huge three points it was for Villa, who were looking short of ideas in their opening day defeat.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur both made it three wins out of three with victories over Fulham and West Ham United respectively. Chelsea in particular, are looking like they are going to methodically and systematically take three points from every match.

Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the season (albeit being a game behind) and continued to give their goal difference an early boost. They put four past Portsmouth to make it ten goals in two games. Equally, Manchester City have won both of their games so far, this time beating Wolverhampton Wanderers as most would have expected. Perhaps less predicted, is the fact that they are now the only team in the league yet to have conceded a goal.

Manchester United put five past Wigan Athletic in a game of two contrasting halves. They had struggled to find a breakthrough in the first half but ran out comfortable winners in the end. Burnley, their conquerors in midweek, continued to turn predictions on their head with another 1 - 0 win, this time against Everton who find themselves at the bottom of the table for now.

Elsewhere, Hull City and Sunderland registered home wins against Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers respectively while Birmingham City and Stoke City played out a tedious goalless draw (the only draw in the league so far after twenty-six games).

Predictions

Arsenal - Portsmouth
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 4 - 1

Birmingham City - Stoke City
Prediction: 2 - 1
Result: 0 - 0

Hull City - Bolton Wanderers
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 1 - 0

Sunderland - Blackburn Rovers
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 2 - 1

Manchester City - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 1 - 0

Wigan Athletic - Manchester United
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 0 - 5

West Ham United - Tottenham Hotspur
Prediction: 2 - 1
Result: 1 - 2

Burnley - Everton
Prediction: 0 - 1
Result: 1 - 0

Fulham - Chelsea
Prediction: 1 - 2
Result: 0 - 2

Liverpool - Aston Villa
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 1 - 3

Round 3 Tally: 10 Predictions; 0 Correct Scores; 3 Correct Outcomes
Season Tally: 26 Predictions; 0 Correct Scores; 11 Correct Outcomes

Betting

Birmingham City - Stoke City
Bet: £10 on Home Win at 2.25
Result: Draw (Lost £10.00)

Sunderland - Blackburn Rovers
Bet: £10 on Draw at 3.60
Result: Home Win (Lost £10.00)

West Ham United - Tottenham Hotspur
Bet: £10 on Home Win at 3.00
Result: Away Win (Lost £10.00)

Burnley - Everton
Bet: £20 on Away Win at 2.30
Result: Home Win (Lost £20.00)

Round 2 Tally: £50.00 in Bets; -£50.00 in Takings
Season Tally: £200.00 in Bets; -£65.60 in Takings

Fantasy Football

Finally a more decent gameweek (as compared to the last two). Significant contributions from Cech, Queudrue, Lennon, Cattermole, Wright-Philips and Rooney saw my team notch up 56 points.

I have to do a better job choosing my captain though. Rooney (my captain for the last gameweek) should have been selected to score double points in this gameweek instead.

Overall, 56 points is a good improvement, but more progress is needed if my team are to be contending for any sort of honour this season.

Oh and by the way, if you're interested, you can follow the exploits of my fantasy team here.

Summary Review: Round 2 (18/08/2009 and 19/08/2009) 20 August, 2009

Biggest result of the round was definitely Burnley's win over Manchester United. United saw more of the ball, had chances to score (a penalty, no less). and would not be undeserved had they left Turf Moor with a point or three. However, most crucially, they did not score, and Burnley can take heart from their performance and the three points; they might just continue to prove their critics wrong and stay in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur continued their good start to the season by putting five past Hull City. They are starting to look a very balanced and formidable side. Palacios is doing brilliantly in the middle while on the flanks, Modric and Lennon are providing plenty of penetration.

Liverpool got their season kick started with a solid home win over Stoke City while Chelsea had to come from behind once again, this time against Sunderland. The two remaining matches of a reduced fixture round saw the other two promoted teams - Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City - post their first wins, against Wigan Athletic and Portsmouth respectively.

Predictions

Sunderland - Chelsea
Prediction: 0 - 1
Result: 1 - 3

Wigan Athletic - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 0 - 1

Birmingham City - Portsmouth
Prediction: 2 - 1
Result: 1 - 0

Hull City - Tottenham Hotspur
Prediction: 1 - 2
Result: 1 - 5

Burnley - Manchester United
Prediction: 1 - 3
Result: 1 - 0

Liverpool - Stoke City
Prediction: 3 - 1
Result: 4 - 0

Round 2 Tally: 6 Predictions; 0 Correct Scores; 4 Correct Outcomes
Season Tally: 16 Predictions; 0 Correct Scores; 8 Correct Outcomes

Betting

Wigan Athletic - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Bet: £20 on Home Win at 1.72
Result: Away Win (Lost £20.00)

Birmingham City - Portsmouth
Bet: £20 on Home Win at 2.10
Result: Home Win (Won £22.00)

Hull City - Tottenham Hotspur
Bet: £20 on Away Win at 2.00
Result: Away Win (Won £20.00)

Round 2 Tally: £60.00 in Bets; £22.00 in Takings
Season Tally: £150.00 in Bets; -£15.60 in Takings

Fantasy Football

Another poor gameweek saw my team take just 30 points. Franck Queudrue (clean sheet), Aaron Lennon (assists and bonus) and Darren Bent (goal) were the only significant scorers for the team (i.e. they got more than just the one or two points for being involved in a match).

Petr Cech still failed to get a clean sheet, Yuri Zhirkov still have yet to recover from injury, and Wayne Rooney - my captain for the gameweek - did not make a goalscoring contribution against Burnley as I had hoped (why didn't he take that penalty instead).

From last season's experience, to be in a chance of taking any prize, a team has to score an average of at least 60 to 70 points each gameweek. After two gameweeks, my team has got just a total score of 61 points.

Summary Review: Round 1 (15/08/2009 and 16/08/2009) 17 August, 2009

Arsenal were the big winners of the weekend, tearing apart Everton at Goodison Park. Elsewhere, Chelsea were the better team but required a late wonder (or fluke) goal from Drogba to bag all three points against Hull, Manchester United ran out comfortable but narrow winners against Birmingham, and Liverpool went down to an impressive Spurs side at White Hart Lane.

Good solid away wins too for Fulham, West Ham, Manchester City, Sunderland and Wigan, all of whom kept clean sheets as well. Manchester City's project seemed to have taken off positively while Wigan made light of key departures to totally dominate proceedings at Villa Park.

Finally, Stoke beat Burnley with a couple of goals resulting from set pieces, as all three newly promoted sides went away with no point on the opening weekend.

Predictions

Chelsea - Hull City
Prediction: 3 - 0
Result: 2 - 1

Portsmouth - Fulham
Prediction: 1 - 2
Result: 0 - 1

Wolverhampton Wanderers - West Ham United
Prediction: 2 - 2
Result: 0 - 2

Blackburn Rovers - Manchester City
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 0 - 2

Bolton Wanderers - Sunderland
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 0 - 1

Aston Villa - Wigan Athletic
Prediction: 2 - 0
Result: 0 - 2

Stoke City - Burnley
Prediction: 1 - 0
Result: 2 - 0

Everton - Arsenal
Prediction: 2 - 2
Result: 1 - 6

Manchester United - Birmingham
Prediction: 2 - 1
Result: 1 - 0

Tottenham Hotspur - Liverpool
Prediction: 1 - 1
Result: 2 - 1

Round 1 Tally: 10 Predictions; 0 Correct Scores; 4 Correct Outcomes
Season Tally: 10 Predictions; 0 Correct Scores; 4 Correct Outcomes

Betting

Aston Villa - Wigan Athletic
Bet: £50 on Home Win at 1.72
Result: Away Win (Lost £50.00)

Portsmouth - Fulham
Bet: £20 on Away Win at 2.62
Result: Away Win (Won £32.40)

Everton - Arsenal
Bet: £10 on Draw at 3.20
Result: Away Win (Lost £10.00)

Tottenham Hotspur - Liverpool
Bet: £10 on Draw at 3.30
Result: Home Win (Lost £10.00)

Round 1 Tally: £90.00 in Bets; -£37.60 in Takings
Season Tally: £90.00 in Bets; -£37.60 in Takings

Fantasy Football

I made a boo-boo on this one. After writing about the team that I had intended to put out, I must have forgotten to actually save the team. I ended up with Bent and Fellaini on the bench as unused substitutes, and Jerome in the team as captain!

Hence I ended up with a miserly 31 points for this round. That's not to say that I would have gotten many more points had my intended team were really put out though; I would have taken just 4 more points.