So, onto this weekend. Football is back! I for one cannot wait, and the season is already hotting up before a ball has been kicked. C has already given his predictions for 3 games so here are mine:
Saturday 3pm sees a disgruntled and unsettled Arsenal taking on Sunderland at the Emirates. I don't know if any of you have heard but Robin Van Persie has left Arsenal to join the mighty Red Devils and taken his place ahead of Samir Nasri as the next incarnation of Beelzebub to Gunners fans. Alex Song also looks as if he is on his way to Barcelona and this is a move that may not actually be too bad for Arsenal as Song was at his most effective last season linking up with RVP so with him gone, Song may not be such a threat so Arsenal will cash in now. I'm looking forward to seeing how Arsenal line up in attack, and it'll be interesting to see whether Lukas Podolski will be deployed on the wing like he is normally used by Germany or up front like he was at Cologne. I reckon he could be played up front since he had such a successful season last year in front of goal, and he will probably line up with Olivier Giroud alongside him and Santi Cazorla just behind. I'm not sure RVP leaving is the end of the world for Arsenal and that looks like a very good front line. Sunderland have just completed the signing of Louis Saha on a free but I'm not sure how fit he will be (as much as it is possible for Saha to actually be fit!), but he looks head and shoulders better than any other Sunderland strikers so how he fares will probably dictact how the Mackems fare. Arsenal will be out to prove there is life after Robin and will win comfortably in my opinion. Expect at least one headline about the game to be along the lines of 'Robin Who?'
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland
At the same time on Saturday West Brom will be hosting Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool side in an intriguing clash between two sides with new managers. It's always hard to tell how a side will set up and play when they have a new manager, and the fact that this is Steve Clarke's first managerial job makes it especially hard to predict for West Brom. I'd like to see a bit of Romelu Lukaku in this game as I have him down as the next 'Drogba'. West Brom's new signings were largely unknown quantities so it'll be interesting to see how they fare as well. Liverpool fans will be hoping that 'this is their year' (isn't it every year) and it seems almost certain that the style of football should be an awful lot more interesting and attractive than last years. I think that Liverpool might well play Borini furthest forward in attack with Luis Suarez playing off him, which is interesting. Liverpool have also bought another winger this year with Oussama Assaidi signing from Heerenveen, so now they should have width on both flanks and with Joe Allen in midfield and Lucas back it seems this could be the start of a new-look setup, which I predict will start well with a nice steady win at the Hawthorns.
Prediction: West Brom 0-2 Liverpool
Then late Sunday afternoon, Man City take on newly promoted Southampton. The Saints are fresh from the phenomenal capture (or almost anyway) of Bologna winger Gaston Ramirez. This was an amazing transfer which seemed to come from nowhere and is a genuinely exciting prospect for Saints fans. The club went through some really tough times and were in administration in 2009 so it is nice for them to have some success and that signing could be a game changer for Southampton in any prospective relegation battle this season. He hasn't signed yet though but it will be interesting to see if Saints will be buoyed by that signing. Man City have got a settled side and looked good in the Community Shield and look to be playing even more attacking football this year, which is their strong point so makes sense for them to be successful. Where Jack Rodwell fits in will be interesting, could Gareth Barry be about to make way? Or will Rodwell be on the bench? Daniele De Rossi sounds like he could be moving to the Etihad soon, but with or without him City won't struggle to get past Southampton, I'm expecting an easy win for the home side.
Prediction: Man City 4-0 Southampton
So as C said we'll be back to review the weekend's action next week, and in the meantime I'm off to the mighty Alexandra Stadium to see Crewe v Notts County! Enjoy your football this weekend everyone, I will!
C&J
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