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msudogs
Moderator
Registered: Nov 2005
Posts: 65535
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As the Premier League resumes after the first international break post World Cup, Manchester United will travel down South to high-flying Watford in a bid to build on their momentum.
Watford FC have made a dream start to the competition, alongside title contenders Liverpool and Chelsea, winning all four of their games so far this season. But the most impressive result has been their most recent one – a comeback victory against a top-four side in Tottenham Hotspur, which is a testament to the thread of continuity at the club and a manager who has been able to play to their strengths and maximize their chances of winning.
On Saturday however, they face a distracted yet high-quality Manchester United outfit but given the confidence at the Vicarage Road now, especially being unbeaten in their last ten games in all competitions, let alone winning the last five on the bounce, Javi Garcia should really be expecting to come away with an impressive result this weekend.
For Manchester United, the international break may have come at the wrong time, after a comfortable win against Burnley away from home. Also, the fact that Luke Shaw – their best player in the season so far – winner of Player of the Month for United in August, missing out on the trip to Watford due to a concussion suffered while on International duty did not help them either.
But the Red Devils should be up for this one – after all the negative press they have received in the last few weeks – consecutive wins in the league for Mourinho, is the best response he could have to silence the naysayers.
TEAM NEWS
Former Red Tom Cleverley, Gerard Deulofeu and Miguel Britos are the only injury concerns for Watford this weekend. Javi Gracia is not expected to make any changes from the side that started their 2-1 win over Tottenham before the international break.
Marcus Rashford starts a three-match suspension this weekend after a straight red card against Burnley before the international break. Luke Shaw suffered a concussion in England’s defeat to Spain last weekend and will not be allowed to play here.
INTERESTING NUMBERS
There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Watford‘s last 3 games (Premier League).
Man Utd have won 11 of their last 12 matches against Watford in all competitions.
KEY MEN
Holebas – Watford
Holebas has been leading the full-back revolution in the Premier League – and has made a terrific start to his season at the club. The 34-year old has already assisted 4 goals and scored 1 – in 4 appearances, spearheading Watford’s efforts going forward. Their dominance in the air is well augmented by Holebas’ clever deliveries into dangerous areas and given United’s propensity to concede goals off individual mistakes – in set plays, his role will be crucial come Saturday to make it 5 in a row for Watford football club.
Ashley Young – Manchester United
With Shaw sidelined for a short while, it is imperative that Ashley Young gets into the side and ensures that the level does not drop on Saturday.
Luke Shaw’s winning goal in the opening weekend and subsequent performances have injected a fresher dynamic to Man United’s attack and defence and Ashley Young will do well to replicate that at his former club in the weekend – where he scored a brace, including an outstanding freekick from range last season. A repeat of that on Saturday, would not be too bad.
PREDICTION
Watford 1-1 Manchester United
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09-15-18 06:08 PM |
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msudogs
Moderator
Registered: Nov 2005
Posts: 65535
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Wolves v Everton | Sunday 16th September 2018, 16:00 | Sky Sports
Both of these sides spent big in the summer, but it is fair to say that Everton have started the better of these two sides. The unbeaten Toffees also have home advantage here which is important – they lost just five times at Goodison Park last season and that was all to teams in the top half.
West Ham look a very disjointed side under Manuel Pellegrini so far with results proof of that – they sit bottom of the league after four matches after losing all of them with an aggregate score of 2-10. They did beat League One AFC Wimbledon, but made hard work of that too despite The Dons being down to 10 men for virtually the whole game.
Everton
After all the upset and strife about Sam Allardyce’s style of play last season, Everton fans have gotten what they wanted at Goodison Park and a more progressive coach is now in charge.
That has brought a host of excitement to Merseyside as has the departures of some big wages in Wayne Rooney, Fuenes Mori, Kevin Mirallas and Davy Klaasen who all have the bad taste of the previous regime about them.
It feels like a new start at Everton, but whilst the style of play is certainly more attractive, results have been hard to come by. Their pre-season form was pretty shocking with just one win in seven. They actually lost four in a row heading into the season, with a 3-0 away loss to Blackburn probably the lowlight. Since the start of the Premier League they have picked up just one win in four too and are missing some big names for this clash.
For a side that have not kept a single clean sheet this season, it is worrying that they only have six fit defenders with Phil Jagielka, Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Sheamus Coleman all out whilst in attack they are without Richarlison, Bernard, Andre Gomes and have injury worries over Theo Walcott and Dominic Calvert-Lewin!
West Ham
What can we say about West Ham? They have had a truly horrible start to the season with multiple changes to their starting 11, massive holes in their defence and an inability to put away the chances they have been creating! The possession they do have tends to be in their own half with a reluctance to be brave and penetrate their opposition and it has all amounted to them being bottom of the league with four defeats from four.
Despite all this and the fact that they lost this fixture 4-0 I feel that the international break may well have done them some good and against an Everton side ravaged by injury and suspension, they could well cause a surprise here. The Hammers are available at 45/17 for the draw or 11/4 to win.
Of course they have been horrible at the back and a clean sheet seems unlikely as they have conceded 10 in just four games, so they will need to find their shooting boots to have a chance of picking up any points!
The betting angle
I think the bookies have got this right in terms of favourtism as Everton have an excellent home record, whilst West Ham have been shocking both home and away. I think if Richarlison was fit they would be odds on to win this game, but he is not and will be missing along with a host of others, so even at 28/25, Everton look a little short for me.
The Toffees have drawn three of their four Premier League games so far this season and I think that another draw may well be on the cards here against a Hammers side desperate for their first points of the season, and judging by the amount of players missing, I wouldn’t even rule out an away win if these talented Hammers players can finally click.
They are available at 87/50 in the draw no bet market which is a better price than backing an Everton win, so for me with a safety blanket of money back for a draw
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09-16-18 12:04 PM |
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