The Premier League returns this weekend and the stand-out fixture (well maybe I'm biased) is the West London derby between QPR and Chelseascum.
It's derby day in West London for QPR on Saturday afternoon as they host Chelski at Loftus Road. I will be in attendance and I for one am hoping that this is a repeat of last year's game as to unsettle Chelsea seems to me to be the only way for the R's to get three points - the pensioners are on form and are undoubtedly superior in every department but there are still some loose cannons in that side who the QPR fans will want to agitate. In reality though, I am very worried that this could be a cricket score if the defence is as pedestrian as it was versus Swansea, and I'm similarly worried that the occasion will get the better of Anton Ferdinand just as it did at Stamford Bridge. Maybe Julio Cesar and Stephane Mbia will be thrown in at the deep end for QPR debuts (what a game to make it in, wish it was mine!) given that the R's don't have a settled back five at the moment. Having said that, I hope that Hughes continues with Ryan Nelsen after his steady performance at Citeh.
I'm also hoping for good shifts from Jose Bosingwa and Shaun Wright-Phillips who will both have a point to prove against their former club (ironic that it was the former who got sent off in this fixture last year for a foul on the latter!). On the subject of SWP, I think that away at Citeh he produced his most accomplished Premier League performance since playing Newcastle at home on his QPR debut and I'd love to see more of the same. Sparky repeatedly tells us that he thrives on confidence and now he's found the net once or twice in the cup I'm hoping that is the catalyst for some improved performances.
From my ramblings above, it's plain to see that 'hoping' is the order of the day on Saturday... Oh and finally, sod the handshakes, and please send off Terry Mr Marriner, I dare you!
There are few fixtures that stand out this weekend apart from that. Sunderland v Liverpool is always appealing as it conjures up memories of the inflatable variety, but I guess Everton v Newcastle on Monday night should make for good watching. Everton will want to show that their defeat at in-form West Brom was a blip and that they really are over their traditional start of season blues but Newcastle have shown signs that they are capable of hitting the heights of last season's campaign again this time around. This game will be about how Newcastle deal with Pienaar, Fellaini and Jelavic who are a huge threat and all on fire at the moment. Having said that, Newcastle have some players which will need watching of their own, particularly Hatem Ben Arfa who has made an impressive start to this season and scored a belter on this ground last year. I can see this being an entertaining score draw.
Prediction: Everton 1-1 Newcastle
Super Sunday sees Reading take on Tottenham at the Madejski (presumably Sky had to fill up their quota of Reading games for this to be shown instead of QPR v Chelsea?). I'm tipping an away win for Spurs but it won't be plain sailing for Spurs and I wouldn't mind betting that the goals will come towards the end of the game after Reading have thrown the proverbial kitchen sink at Spurs for 70 odd minutes. Spurs have enough quality to sink the Royals and I'm predicting a debut goal for Dempsey and another for Defoe to settle it.
Prediction: Reading 0-2 Tottenham
Manchester United are hosting Wigan where it's usually a five-niller or a fine Ali Al-Habsi performance to frustrate the home crowd. With Van Persie in deadly form and their tails up from that late win on the South coast, it'll probably be the former this time, but Wigan are a tougher nut to crack this year so they'll only ship four.
Prediction: Manchester United 4-0 Wigan Athletic
In the football league the headline game is in-form Bristol City hosting a Blackburn side with a squad that looks capable of returning to the Premier League at the first attempt. Bristol City have really impressed me so far this year and have made some excellent signings for modest fees including Sam Baldock, Greg Cunningham and Steve Davies. Having failed to reproduce the kind of form that took them to the play-off final in their first season back at this level, it looks like Derek McInnes has brought together a group of players that might be able to challenge in the upper echelons of the Championship once again. Blackburn did look on the ropes at times against Leeds and I think the Robins will inflict Blackburn's first league defeat of the season here.
Prediction: Bristol City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
Elsewhere it's a busy weekend for the rozzers as Cardiff take on Leeds and Hull host Millwall.
Crewe face a tricky looking trip to the Lamex stadium this weekend where they will meet a Stevenage side performing well in the league so far this year. On a related note, I was delighted to see this week's renaming of the away stand at Gresty Road to 'The Ice Cream Van Stand' under a new sponsorship deal with Whitby Morrison. I personally think it's a great idea and a fantastic wafer generating new business for the company.
1.FC Union Berlin are off to the south of Germany to play Ingolstadt 04 (a game which didn't take place last week even though we said it was going to, more dud info from our German correspondent). We're a little concerned with Union's start to the season and hoping Uwe Neuhaus can turn it around sooner rather than later.
Enjoy the weekend's football and stick with your team, win, lose or draw.
C
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