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Ronaldo Shows his Importance to give Ten Hag a Headache

PREMIER LEAGUE REVIEW – Manchester United 3 Brentford 0

UNITED signed off at Old Trafford with a good, solid win that will help a little to quell the huge tide of criticism that has come their way over the last few weeks.
Bruno Fernandes had gone right down in my estimation with his poor displays on the field this season and one particular comment when he declared that United “had nothing to fight for.”
His opening goal on Monday night went some way to making me eat my words as he finished with aplomb after Anthony Elanga had carved out the chance for Fernandes to strike with some good skills to the right of the Brentford danger zone.
Cristiano Ronaldo was on fire again and after having a “goal” ruled out following another sweet move he grabbed United’s second goal from the penalty spot after winning the award with some strong running and speed of thought again on the right-hand side of the penalty box.
That was his 18th Premier League goal of the season and 24th in all for United this term. Not bad for a 37-year-old and surely enough to persuade incoming boss Erik Ten Hag to keep Ronaldo in his plans for the 2022-23 campaign.
French centre back Rafael Varane was United’s third goalscorer, ramming the ball in from close range to grab his first goal for the club. It all helped to offset the planned “protest” by the anti-Glazer empty heads that fizzled out like the flares held by the idiot fan in the Stretford End.
A fond farewell and generous applause was given to midfield hard man Nemanja Matic when he left the Old Trafford pitch for the last time after being substituted in the second half.

Juan Mata, who made a rare start, was also substituted and that may have been his final act at the Theatre of Dreams.
Sadly, departing manager Ralf Rangnick chose not to give any game time to promising 17-year-old Garnacho Ferreyra, but his time will come next season and he also has the forthcoming Youth Cup final against Nottingham Forest at OT on May 11 in which to stake his claims for a first team chance. It will be a fitting stage for the young man to perform in front of an anticipated 50,000 audience.

TEAM RATINGS: De Gea 7 – Dalot 7 Lindelof 7 Varane 7 Telles 6 – Matic 6 McTominay 6 – Elanga 7 Mata 6 Fernandes 7 – Ronaldo 8.

BORO’S FINAL FLINGS! – A Middlesbrough Retrospective (1996-97)

By STEVE BOTT

Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson and Fabrizio Ravanelli – Source: Premier League

MIDDLESBROUGH in 1996 was a great place to be if football was your bag.
I was lucky enough to be appointed Middlesbrough FC man on the Sunday Sun just before the start of the 1996-97 season – one that will probably go down as one of the most memorable in the proud club’s history.

With ‘Captain Marvel’ Bryan Robson, at the helm as their manager, the former England and Manchester United skipper steered Boro to two cup finals. His big money buy, Italian stallion Fabrizio Ravanelli hit 31 goals, but despite having Brazilian aces Juninho and Emerson in tow as well Boro also managed to get themselves relegated from the Premier League.

A three-point deduction for failing to fulfil a fixture against Blackburn Rovers ultimately led to their demotion.
Roller-coaster wasn’t in it though as Boro began the season with games against Liverpool and an early trip to Chelsea and as the season unfolded Hillsborough and Wembley became Boro’s second homes as they played in semi-finals, finals and a final replay having progressed in both the League Cup and FA Cup to the last stage.
Some will say it was memorable for all the wrong reasons but as an impartial journo it was one of the best seasons I experienced in my long career covering top class football.

From the moment Ravanelli arrived at the club he was always going to be in the limelight. He was a massive name in the game having played for, among others, Juventus and, of course, he was an Italian international.
A famous newspaper picture back in the day showed Rav and his black-suited entourage, most of them hidden behind sunglasses, disembarking from a plane and walking across the tarmac as they arrived on Teesside. The headline read “Riverside Dogs” a reference to an epic gangster film and of course Middlesbrough’s brand new stadium, which had been built just a year before outside the town on the banks of the River Tees. The dye was cast.

But trying to communicate with Ravanelli was hard work. If you didn’t speak Italian you’d had it. One night I was sat with him, some other journalists and another Italian, a centre back called Festa, at the end of season awards dinner at the Riverside.
The evening had begun in sparkling fashion down in the dressing rooms with the communal plunges filled to the brim with ice and bottles of champagne.
When we went upstairs to our tables the conversation wasn’t quite as sparkling. In fact Rava and Festa hardly spoke to each other never mind to us journos and at one point Robbo scurried over and tried to encourage them to open up a bit. Festa, of course “went on the defensive” even more and Rava, well, he just sat and stared hard at the table top.

Rava though was much loved by the locals in the pub he frequented close to his club house in the area. So much so that he joined in with games of darts etc and became one of the lads. He wasn’t so friendly with his milkman. Word had it he sent him away with a flea in his ear when he called for the bill every Friday night. “Send it to Middlesbrough,” Rav told him. He did speak a little English then!
The epic games were of course the League Cup final at Wembley against Leicester which Boro drew before losing in the replay at Hillsborough. In the end of season FA Cup final just a few days after that dinner which was held immediately after a game against Leeds that saw Boro relegated, Middlesbrough took on Chelsea.
Roberto di Matteo banged in a very early opening goal for Chelsea and Boro never recovered going 2-0 down. And so ended a mad, riveting kaleidoscope of a season.
Middlesbrough did mount a recovery after their relegation and bounced back into the big league. But nothing since has come close to that epic nine months and I doubt it ever will.

Post2Post Interviews – Murphy meets Nicho.

By Joe Murphy

Kevin Nicholson, known adoringly by many fans up and down the country simply as Nicho, is a former professional footballer who has played at almost all levels across his career. He has since ventured into management and after spells at two clubs; he has become the head of coaching at Exeter City, where he is found today. Post2Post Reports’ Joe Murphy sat down with Nicho, to learn more about the sport from the man himself. We discussed the journey of his playing days, the transition to management and also considered future plans before concluding with some career highlight snap questions. This is what went down.

“No regrets”

We started off the discussion with a trip down memory lane. Nicho reveals how he broke into football after being scouted by Stoke City at twelve years of age, not far from his hometown of Derby. A couple of years later, he had played his way into a selective system by the name of Lilleshall School, which took the top sixteen players in the country, in any given year. The facility has seen the breakout of footballing stars such as Joe Cole, Scott Parker and Francis Jeffers, over the years. Kevin Nicholson was another name on this list. A pivotal career choice then followed. With offers from Arsenal and Manchester City, the defender instead opted for, the slightly closer to home, Sheffield Wednesday. When asked if he had any regrets about choosing Hillsborough over Highbury, he had this to say:

 “When people asked if I have any regrets, I say no. As a result of my choices, I’ve met my wife and had my three children. If you’d of asked me when I was 20, from a professional standpoint, then maybe it would have been a different answer. I joined Wednesday at a time when the club soon after went into free-fall. We went through about five different managers over a couple of seasons.”

Following a lack of playing time, Nicho played out his trade at Forest Green, Northampton, Notts County and Scarborough, before making the move to the English Riviera to sign for Torquay United, in 2007.

Ups and Downs on the South Coast

Nicho played at Torquay for seven years and even went onto manage the club for a couple of seasons in 2015. He suggested that there was a different culture at Torquay than at many other clubs, with players such as Kevin Hill, Steve Woods and Tony Bedeau having been at the club for many years. Despite having the opportunity to leave numerous times over his spell with the Gulls, himself and Lee Mansell were the next generation of stalwarts, mostly under the Paul Buckle era. He recounts how offers of maybe an extra hundred pounds here or there, wasn’t enough to encourage a move back up country. With some doubts over his form in the latter years of his stint, he managed to prove any doubters wrong and was in the League 2 Team of the Year, in 2012. After departing Torquay United, Nicho played out his concluding seasons at Kidderminster and Bath before becoming player/manager back at Plainmoor in 2015.

“The politics of football today are questionable… but I do miss it”.

When quizzed on the lifestyle of a professional footballer, Nicho claimed it depends very much on the individual. With technological advances in recent times, the game isn’t what it used to be and, as a result, neither are the players. Nicholson saw both era’s over his career. Moreover, gym training has gone a long way since the late 1990s, with a vague, blanket approach being replaced with more specific plans tailored for the individual.

Nicho then disclosed that a day in the life of a footballer would usually be a lot lighter than many reading this article, might expect. Starting the day with a light warm up from 10am, players only then train and do various drills for a couple of hours, before some gym work in the afternoon. He revealed that training concluded by the middle of the afternoon. Furthermore, he implied that the amount players put into training, depends on a range of factors, including age and playing level. He said that although he misses the days of his playing career, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. He recounts:

“I had more bad experiences than good as a player. Getting abuse, losing games, it isn’t nice.”

After struggling in games against Bournemouth, Bradford and Barnet, and after having a rival manager ordering his players to target Nicho as the supposed weak link, the left back took these as signs to head into management. After all, as he argues, “it was the next logical step”.

The “Great Left Back” to the “Great Escape”.

To prepare for life as a manager, Nicho got himself fitter and did everything he could to research the best ways to maximise fitness and longevity, from trying chiropractic’s to having a go at acupuncture. In this transition, the differences between being a player and what it means to be a manager became evident. As a player, Nicho suggested that you have to be, to some extent, selfish. A player can play for the team but, ultimately, it is about your own performances and subsequent career. This is not the case when you’re a manager. Moreover, during the course of spells with different teams which naturally involved working under a variety of managers, it is reasonable to approve of certain managerial decisions and disagree with others.

Nicho told Post2Post Reports that he loves management, and does indeed wish to do it again sometime down the line, irrespective of relocating within England or abroad. His managerial highlight to this day was, without question, the daring great escape, where Torquay United used the addition of extra players in the January window as well as the right mentality, passion and style, to steer the Gulls out of trouble when relegation, at one point, seemed a certainty. The managerial feat was recognised to such an extent, that the nickname “Ranieri of the Riviera” was conceived.

Nicho revealed the key to his style of management is honesty. During his spell at Torquay, he both moved players on and brought players in, within an incredibly challenging financial situation. He noted that he often found it difficult to be truly open with fans and the media about events unfolding behind the scenes, particularly when involving economic decisions. This was even more prominent in his second season, where he couldn’t maintain the momentum or replicate the form of his team’s incredible survival from the previous campaign, and found himself in seventeenth for the second consecutive year. Nicho stressed to Post2Post that he truly believes that had he kept the same group of players, the he is confident they would have won the league or at least won promotion. He didn’t have a bad word to say about the owners during his time as Gull’s boss.

From his experiences so far, he says that he finds it very easy to be honest with players, even when it’s not necessarily nice. He also said that he is proud to have handed opportunities to players that have gone on to do brilliant things since, such as Wales International Kieffer Moore. He says one of the most important things is learning how to deal with the pressure:

“Pressure is relative. It’s not nice, but you’re not going to die because of it…”

Recounting those career highlights

Towards the end of our conversation, we flicked through some of Nicho’s favourite bits from his career. His favourite goal took little effort to reveal, with the last minute 25-yard strike against Barnet the easy choice. Regarding his favourite game, this was rather more difficult. He selected both the victorious Play-Off final between Torquay v Cambridge at Wembley and Notts County v Huddersfield where Nicho himself score the decisive goal to avoid relegation. His favourite player is Lee Mansell who he enjoyed many games with as Torquay’s backbone for multiple years in the late 2000s. Current Bournemouth manager; Scott Parker holds the mantle as the best player Nicho has played with, whereas Angus MacDonald, Kieffer Moore, Dan Butler and Nathan Blissett share the honour of being the best players he has had the privilege to manage. Nicho stressed it was important to note that he doesn’t take credit for the players’ success, he was just proud to have been a part of their respective journies. He emphasised in our discussion, that it is the players themselves who deserve all the credit for the career gains they have gone on to make.

Our closing remarks were on the favourite and least favourite parts of the beautiful game. He strongly suggested that the one thing he would change in current football is the changes themselves. In essence, leave football alone, using VAR as an example. On a more positive note, he highlights how the best thing about the sport is the fact it brings people together from all different teams, locations and walks of life. A standout example of this was at Wembley (Nicho’s favourite stadium to have played at), during that Play-off final where he heard 14000 fans shouting his name from the Torquay United supporter’s section.

The future

As the head of coaching at Exeter City, Nicho explained how he sees this part of his career being about considering how people learn and the psychology behind decision-making in football. He is also making sure he devotes time to his family, most recently making a trip to Old Trafford to see Ronaldo for his son’s birthday.

He admitted that he hoped to break back into management at some point in the future, once he fully satisfied his current role, which he sees as comparable to a football PhD.

In summary, Kevin Nicholson has had a life dedicated to football and family. Despite his playing days having come to a close, the managerial chapter is only just beginning.

Post2Post Predicts – Week 11 of the 2021 Premier League Season

By Joe Murphy

With lots at stake up and down the table, teams across the division will be keen to enter the third international break of the season on the back of a victory. In a weekend that features some very tasty fixtures, including a Manchester derby, let’s get straight on with the predictions.

Friday 20:00pm – Southampton 1 v 1 Aston Villa

A game that either team could steal, I feel a draw is the most likely outcome. Villa have looked poor recently but still pose a threat. Whereas the hosts should be riding on a wave of confidence over their recent victory away at Watford. A score draw to kick the weekend off.

Saturday 12:30pm – Manchester United 1 v 4 Manchester City

Yes. It should be another convincing win for an away team at Old Trafford. Ronaldo saved United in midweek and Spurs simply rolled over. Manchester City have so many options at their disposal and should prove too much for United to handle. Yet again without Varane and perhaps Lindelof, Eric Bailly should come into the starting eleven. Even so, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and the in-form Joao Cancelo could cause United huge issues on what could be another long afternoon for the red half of the city.

Saturday 15:00pm games:

Brentford 1 v 2 Norwich City

This could through up a surprise result. Brentford seem to be on a slight downward spiral without their first choice keeper and Norwich will need to find a boost in games like this. In what could be quite an ugly watch in comparison to other games this weekend, the Canaries could steal the points and take all three back from West London. The hosts, if they were to keep solid, should shut the visitors out. I just don’t see it, this Saturday.

Chelsea 3 – 0 Burnley

Another clean sheet, and another comprehensive win for the Blue side of West London. They look unstoppable right now and, despite an encouraging and much needed win from Burnley last week, this test should prove a step too far. I expect Chelsea to coast to victory with a routine win from Stamford Bridge.

Crystal Palace 2 – 2 Wolves

Much like the Friday night fixture, this one could go either way. Palace are struggling to win games and their result from the Etihad was the surprise of the season so far. They have the players to certainly win this game, but then so do the visitors. Wolves went from being relegation threatened to within reach of the top six, all in the matter of a few wins. Selhurst Park should prove a difficult encounter, and a different challenge to hosting Everton on Monday. A score draw that should also be a great game with end-to-end attacking football.

17:30 Saturday – Brighton 1 – 1 Newcastle

Newcastle are in a dire position when you look at the table. And it is all well and good having 300 billion in the bank when you are in the Championship. I do expect them to get out of this predicament by the end of the season, but wins are going to have to come soon. This weekend though, unlikely. Brighton have been the overachievers so far this season and were well worth their point at Anfield last weekend. I will go for the cagey draw though on this occasion, not the worst result for either team.

Sunday 14:00pm – Arsenal 2-1 Watford

Arsenal are on a roll at the moment and are arguably the form team of the division. That being said, this is the kind of game that the Gunners could find difficult. Ranieri will set his Hornets up to frustrate and smash and grab some points. I feel Arsenal will have the cojones to take the win here, with Aubameyang among the goals yet again. It would not surprise me if Watford make it a nervous last fifteen minutes at the Emirates.

Sunday 14:00pm – Everton 2 – 3 Tottenham

Both of these sides would receive F grades for their performances last week, and rightly so. They were both poor and, as a result, there is huge pressure on both these sides ahead of this encounter. Conte on his first game as manager will get Kane back into the goals and although I expect Everton to score, Spurs will oustcore them. It should be a very even and exciting game from Goodison Park, with the visitors snatching the victory.

Sunday 14:00pm – Leeds United 1 v 3 Leicester City

Another away win now as Leicester City take the three points back to the Midlands. Leeds United’s strength is its midfield, but that is going to be outclassed by the players the Foxes have at their disposal. Two home wins across the league may be a bold prediction, but its the one Post2Post is going to make. Vardy will score at Elland Road as its the away side who march on.

Sunday 16:30

West Ham 1 – 3 Liverpool

A weekend of away victories should be needed in the same way as the final fixture of the weekend will see Liverpool take the three points from the capital. I have often discounted West Ham this season, perhaps unfairly. And they continue to prove me wrong as they currently sit in the top four. That being said, Liverpool right now are one of the form teams of Europe and have far too much in their Arsenal for the Hammers to handle. A repeat scoreline from their encounter last year, as Liverpool keep Chelsea honest, in the race for the title.

Post2Post Predicts – Gameweek 10 of the Premier League Season

Another week of predictions lays ahead, as the title race hots up and we head into November. After a week of mourning on a personal level, after a 0-5 home defeat to my team’s fiercest rival’s, I will consider if certain teams will either bounce back, continue their form or, perhaps, neither of these, as questions continue to be answered, week after week.

12:30 SAT

Leicester 2 – 1 Arsenal

The lunchtime game to kick off the weekend is certainly a tricky opening fixture to predict. I trust Leicester to boss the midfield, but I do think both teams will score in this game. The hosts to narrowly take the three points and, in doing so, make it three wins on the bounce.

15:00 SAT

Burnley 1 – 1 Brentford

Brentford losing goalkeeper Raya is a big loss for them, after such a strong start to the season. I still feel, however, that they are good enough for a point at Turfmoor, with Burnley currently struggling to generate a win anywhere. A game, where the defences, should dominate.

Liverpool 3 – 0 Brighton

I do not believe that Brighton will allow themselves to be trounced by the home team here, although a repeat shock victory at Anfield, is not set to repeat itself. Brighton, as mad as it sounds, are more of a solid outfit than United, but it should still be a classy and easy win for the hosts. Salah should continue to shine and expect Mane to return to the goals. Moreover, the defence should also complete another shut out as the return of Van Dijk is increasingly felt.

Manchester City 4 v 1 Crystal Palace

It would not shock me if Palace caused City problems, and may even take the lead. However, the Sky Blues will have too much for the Eagles to handle. Former employee of the City, Patrick Viera, will be looking to prove a point, but will struggle to take anything away from this game. Jesus to be among the goals.

Newcastle 0 – 2 Chelsea

A rejuvenated yet manager-less Newcastle United will look to make Saturday difficult for Thomas Tuchel’s men. However, I expect Chelsea to continue to looks strong, and Newcastle do not, as of yet, have the players to compete with this sort of side. The top three look set to pull away, from the rest, this weekend.

Watford 2 – 2 Southampton

Where did those five goals come from? Watford looked set to miss out on any points with fifteen minutes to go at Goodison Park last week. However, quarter of an hour later, Ranieri claimed a comprehensive 5-2 victory in his first game. That being said, Southampton will still pose a challenge and shouldn’t capitulate like the Toffees did last week. A hard fought, end-to-end game, will end with the spoils shared.

17:30 SAT

Spurs 3 – 1 Manchester United

Most pundits have United to bounce back here, and it is true that the Red Devils will have to respond this weekend. Whether or not they do, however, it a different question. Spurs, under pressure themselves, will equally want to win and, in a way, need to. Harry Kane will be back among the goals as Ole endures yet another likely defeat. A score draw is an equally likely possibility, however.

SUN – 14:00

Norwich City 1 V 2 Leeds United

I will repeat, Norwich cannot buy a win at the moment. It would not surprise me if they go the entire season without one. They have a great chance this weekend, with an injury-depleted and form-less Leeds side. That being said, the last minute point salvage against Wolves should boost the Leeds confidence. I still feel that the Yorkshire outfit will prove too much for the Canaries. But the yellows won’t have many better opportunities, to take three points.

SUN – 16:30

Aston Villa 1 v 1 West Ham United

Either side could win this game, which makes it an exciting prospect. The Hammers will be inspired by yet another Carabao Cup midweek scalp, whereas Villa are looking to bounce back from some early season disappointment, since the famous victory at Old Trafford. A low scoring draw is a more than likely outcome and one that neither side will be too disappointed with.

MON – 20:00

Wolves 3 v 2 Everton

A Monday night fixture with both teams eager to prove a point. Everton especially after that aforementioned self destruction at home to Watford. That being said, Wolves could spring somewhat of a surprise by beating Rafa Benitez’ side here and continuing their recent, strong, run.

Post2Post Predicts – Gameweek 9 of the 2021 Premier League Season

By Joe Murphy

With the heavy Christmas schedule fast approaching, there is already another gameweek lined up that’s needs predicting, by both Post2Post and, this week’s special guest, with this Sundays big Derby in mind, we welcome Liverpool fan Liam Parker. With Chelsea, Manchester City, Leicester, Spurs and Liverpool all winning as predicted, there are some rather more challenging-to-predict fixtures this week, so let’s get straight to it.

Arsenal 3 v 3 Aston Villa (Friday, 8pm) L.P – 1-2

I expect this game to go in a very similar fashion to Arsenal’s draw to Crystal Palace, on this most recent Monday night. Aston Villa are conceding, and threw away three points against Wolves over the weekend. I therefore see goals, despite the fact Martinez is returning to the Emirates, desperate to, once again, prove a point. Score draw, let’s say 3-3, and a thriller to kick off the week’s action.

Chelsea 3 v 0 Norwich City (Saturday, 12:30pm) L.P – 3-0

Nothing too rampant, but Chelsea should win this comfortably and without conceding. Norwich, as seen against Brighton, don’t have much to offer going forward and it will take a miracle for them to prevent the Blues from scoring. Romelu Lukaku may not return to goal scoring ways due to his injury picked up in midweek v Malmo, but Chelsea should still see off the Canaries.

Crystal Palace 2 v 2 Newcastle United. L.P – 1-1

It would be too easy to go straight for a Crystal Palace win here, as I see Newcastle getting something from Selhurst Park. The travelling fan base will hope to encourage their team to push for the three points, but Palace should be too good to lose. Palace have found their goal scoring touch, so yet again I expect goals. Saint Maximin and Gallagher to score for each player’s respective team.

Everton 2 v 0 Watford. L.P 1-1

Everton were disappointing against West Ham. They didn’t seem to be quite the same team we had seen before the international break, who got a deserved point at Old Trafford. Whilst Watford were dismantled by Liverpool, this wasn’t as much of a surprise. As good as Mohammad Salah is, the Watford defence cannot allow that goal to happen, and that is a huge concern in my eyes as Watford will need their back line strong in order to have a change of survival, this season. This has become more of a possibility with the introduction of Claudio Ranieri to the Hornets dugout. I expect the newly managed Watford to therefore tighten up and make it difficult for Everton, but the Toffees will still have enough firepower to claim the three points.

Leeds United 2 v 1 Wolves. L.P 3-1

A difficult game to predict, mainly because both of these sides have been inconsistent all season. Both Leeds and Wolves have been outright disappointing most of the time, and this makes this a game where both sides will feel they could win or lose. Despite Wolves stunning comeback at Villa Park, I will go with the home side. Leeds have a certain returning Brazilian midfielder in Raphinha, who could prove pivotal in deciding the outcome with this one. A narrow home win for this prediction, but it could go any way this one.

Southampton 1 v 1 Burnley. L.P 0-0

Much like other teams near the bottom, both of these sides need to start picking up points. It is more of a concern for Burnley, but being the home side, this is more pressure on the Saints. I can see the game playing into Burnley’s hands slightly with the defence holding firm for the majority of the match, something which it hasn’t been able to do much of, this season. I do feel though that Southampton will score, and salvage a point.

Brighton 0 v 2 Manchester City. L.P – 0-2

Brighton look compact, steady and a threat to any team. They dominated against Arsenal and seemed in cruise control against Norwich, just unable to clinch a winner. As for City, a midweek dismantling of Club Brugge in Europe shouldn’t prove as too much of a distraction. Instead, this could empower them to keep their winning run going, and take a routine away victory. Manchester City will not fund it easy, but should find a way to score two or three at the Amex. I’ll take the Conservative option on this occasion.

Brentford 1 v 2 Leicester City (Sunday, 2pm). L.P – 2-2

I am starting to think I’m being rather unfair to Brentford. I haven’t given them much all season and neither am I this weekend, despite impressing seemingly every week. Even against Chelsea, the manner of their defeat was much less routine than expected. That being said, Leicester will be rejuvenated after the 4-2 win over Manchester United, on the Saturday just gone. Jamie Vardy revels playing against newly promoted sides, and he should prove the difference between the two sides.

West Ham 2 v 2 Spurs (Sunday, 2pm). L.P – 1-3

Arguably, in a weekend of close fixtures, this is the hardest single game to predict. West Ham kept their form train going last week with a win at Goodison whilst Harry Kane was back amongst the goals as Spurs saw off a spirited Newcastle, coming from behind to do so. Much like the majority of these fixtures, this one could go either way, so I’ll go for the safe option of a score draw. Son and Antonio to shine for their respective London clubs. Both teams will have to be at their best to beat the other, that’s for sure.

Manchester United 2 v 1 Liverpool (Sunday, 4:30pm). L.P – 1-3

The biggest fixture on the English football calendar, in this writer’s opinion. As a United fan, it’s the game I want to win the most and the fixture I want to lose, the least. That being said, after beating last year’s Spanish champions Athletico Madrid in their own backyard in midweek, they don’t exactly arrive at Old Trafford in the worst form I’ve ever seen. The prospect of Mohammad Salah against a Varane-less United backline terrifies me like you wouldn’t believe. That being said, United seem to be more steady against the so-called “big teams”, albeit more so away from home than at Old Trafford. If the Atalanta game tells us anything, it is that you never know which Man United are going to turn up, even varying from half to half, like on Wednesday night.

Ultimately, this is a question of head versus heart, and I’ve always been one to go with head. However, on this occasion, I’ll go with Pogba and Ronaldo to score, with Mane making it a nervy finish for the hosts. Although 0-4 would not surprise me either. It’s make or break time for Ole.

*All times listed to UK times

Post2Post Predicts – Gameweek 8

By Joe Murphy

We are well on the way in the Premier League Season and after the first seven games, barely anything separates the top six. With the eternal international break finally out of the way, let’s focus on the most important part of football and predict the Premier League fixtures, for this week.

Watford 0 v 3 Liverpool

There will be no repeat of the 2019 heroics for Watford as I full expect Liverpool to Coast to victory here. Mane and Salah should get in on the act as their fabulous form is set to continue.

Aston Villa 2 v 1 Wolves

Wolves have been incredibly disappointing for most of the season, with the occasional flourish. Having Traore in your fantasy team is more frustrating than anything I’ve ever known. In contrast, Villa have been mostly solid and a threat to any team, as proven at Old Trafford. That being said, expect a cagey derby, with Villa edging it.

Leicester City 3 v 2 Manchester United

Without two first choice centre backs, Manchester will rightfully worry that Jamie Vardy will be determined to capitalise, and he will. Manchester United cannot buy a clean sheet at the moment, and this could be the kick-start Leicester need, to get their season truly up and running.

Manchester City 5 v 0 Burnley

Manchester City beating Burnley 5-0 has sort of become Premier League tradition, in recent seasons. Expect City to cruise to victory without getting out of first gear. As for Burnley, it looks like it’s going to be a long season.

Norwich City 1 v 2 Brighton

I cannot see where a Norwich win is coming from, but the pressure is only going to build and mount on both the players and management. Brighton have been the overachievers so far, but deserve to be where they are, no doubt. Norwich will score, but the Seagulls will have too much to be kept quiet for too long.

Southampton 2 – 2 Leeds United

Both teams would have expected to have got more from the opening seven games, and both sets of fans will be just slightly disappointed. With both teams having similar issues, it makes sense that the spoils will be shared, at St Mary’s.

Brentford 0 v 4 Chelsea

Brentford almost don’t deserve a 4-0 prediction against them, but I feel it is coming. Chelsea will feel refreshed after the international break and should come out firing, desperate to make a statement. The contrast in ability is too much, Brentford can put this result down as a blip, they aren’t the kind of games they need to win anyway.

Everton 1 v 1 West Ham United

Much like the game on the South Coast, these two outfits have had similar starts to the league. Both are playing well and this should be a great game. I trust both attacks far more than I trust their defences, but I expect this fixture to also be cagey to an extent. Score draw is a logical conclusion, but it wouldn’t surprise me if either one of these two teams nicked a late win.

Newcastle United 1 V 3 Tottenham

The international break has been somewhat dominated by the goings-on for the Magpies. With all that money, some fans will want an instant response from players, who are, effectively, playing for their future. Steve Bruce is not in an ideal situation, either. As for Spurs, the pressure is also on the London outfit. Neither side will want to lose, but until Newcastle sign Mbappe, Haaland and Neymar in January, I feel spurs have too much for the Magpies to handle. Kane should be back amongst the goals, in a standard win.

Arsenal 2 v 1 Crystal Palace

This game will also be a nervous encounter. It wouldn’t fully surprise me if Patrick Viera’s side come away with all three points. The pressure is fully on the home side, that’s for sure. This is set to be a good game on Monday night, with Arsenal taking the narrow victory, possibly needing to come from behind, to do so.

Post2Post Predicts – Round 7 of the 2021 Premier League Season

After a pretty abysmal week’s predictions last time out, a solitary 9 points was all that Post2Post could muster up. After an interesting midweek filled with European action, we take a look at gameweek 6 before the next international break arises. With a solitary point separating multiple, early frontrunners, and with two playing each other this very Sunday, we are, at the very least, in for an interesting week.

Manchester Utd 2 v 1 Everton

Manchester United have played poorly. Like Gary Neville says, they are an odd bunch who very much play in moments. Whilst it is true they won in midweek, they were lucky to do so. Meanwhile Everton, despite injury setbacks, have made a great start to the season as Rafa Benitez settles back into life on Merseyside. This game will be close, and may shadow their 3-3 encounter from last season. I just feel that last minute Ronaldo goal on Wednesday may be enough to boost the squad to take a narrow victory, perhaps with a redeeming penalty after last week’s miss. It would not surprise me if Everton bully the midfield however and take the game away from United.

Burnley 1 v 0 Norwich City

This is too early to be a six pointer, but you feel it’s a huge game, especially for Burnley. The home side haven’t been able to replicate their form from the end of last season and are deservedly towards the bottom of the league. For the Canaries, it’s more a case that they are out of their depth. Another loss, albeit a narrow one, beckons for them. If my prediction is wrong and Burnley fail to win, then they are in deep trouble.

Chelsea 2 v 1 Southampton

Not as much of a dead cert as you would have thought, I expect Southampton to make it a very difficult weekend for Chelsea. Chelsea have the fact they played Wednesday and also have lost their last two games. That being said, Southampton showed against Wolves last night that they are a lower-midtable team at best and won’t have enough to stop Chelsea, as they did with Manchester City a few weeks ago. A narrow victory, for the Blues.

Leeds United 2 v 2 Watford

Arguably one of the hardest fixtures to predict from this week’s action is this fixture from Elland Road. Sarr, with the help from signing Dennis, is keeping Watford going at this moment in time whilst Leeds have looked unlucky and poor simultaneously. Leeds don’t have the firepower for a top half finish whilst Watford certainly need to keep their defence as tight as possible. That being said, a scrappy, nervous affair should end up with the spoils shared.

Wolves 1 v 1 Newcastle United

Again, its a case of two teams who have had very poor starts, meeting each other. I’ll go for a draw, simply because neither team can afford to lose here with pressure mounting on both managers, Steve Bruce in particular. Saint-Maximin for Newcastle against Traore of Wolves is a battle I want to see, back them to both be on the scoresheet in this tight contest.

Brighton 1 v 3 Arsenal

A resurgent Arsenal visit an impressive, overachieving Brighton. This game could go either way. If Arsenal are on-song, they could score multiple quickfire goals at the Amex and put this game to bed early, much like we saw last week in that North London Derby. On the other hand, we could see a repeat of events from the opening day fixture against Brentford with a strong resilient display giving the hosts the win. I’ll go for the former.

Crystal Palace 2 v 3 Leicester City

Leicester won the community shield not so long ago. It looked to be a promising sign of things to come but ever since, they have stumbled and faltered consistently. They have also looked out of their depth in Europe, something no other English side has had the problem of. For Palace, they seem to be rejuvenated somewhat and are a threat going forward against any team. I expect goals. Jamie Vardy could tear that Palace back line apart with his pace, giving them the slight edge.

Spurs 1 v 1 Aston Villa

Spurs were as disappointing last weekend as Villa were impressing. A team who didn’t look interested host a team that will be rising a wave of confidence. Another intriguing affair could easily end up a draw. Pressure is continuing to mount on Spurs and they will be expected to win whereas Villa will not be frightened to have a go. Villa have the stronger defence and Spurs, despite poor league form, have the better attack. The midfield is where the key battle lies. Score draw.

West Ham United 2 v 0 Brentford

I must stop underestimating Brentford, they have had continously, impressive results so far this season and deservedly sit far from trouble. West Ham have kept flying for much of the campaign so far and with Antonio back, should have enough firepower to see off the Premier League new boys. It won’t be comfortable or easy, but they should get off the line with the help of the home support.

Liverpool 1 v 1 Manchester City

The blockbuster fixture of the weekend. Can Liverpool afford to lose? Not really. That being said, it depends which Manchester City turn up. Aside from last seasons thrashing, City have particularly struggled whne visiting Anfield. The hosts are on good form, and are scoring freely. With no Trent Alexander Arnold for the hosts, the imminent battle of Grealish v Milner could be decisive. City could take the lead before Mane equalises. I would say this is must win for either, but one side doing so would be a huge statement of intent and may be a vital mental boost, to go into the international break with.

Post2Post Predicts – Round 6 of the 2021 Premier League Season

By Joe Murphy

The table is shaping up, some early contenders for things at both ends of the table are becoming clearer and we have a huge battle between two of those contenders to look forward to, this weekend. Last week, Post2Post pipped Gareth 12-11 in a Gameweek with a fair few surprises. With lots of questions ahead of this weekend, fans cannot wait for the action to kick off. So let’s get on with the predictions for round six!

Chelsea 2 v 1 Manchester City

Let’s start with the blockbuster fixture of the weekend. This is a game with a huge amount of quality involved. Manchester City cannot afford to lose this game but I think they will. Chelsea will probably officially take the mantle of being favourites to win the league, should they be victorious here. The game should be tighter, certainly not a breeze like last weekend at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but a narrow win would do Thomas Tuchel just fine. Question marks will start to rise over City’s credentials.

Manchester United 2 v 1 Aston Villa

No walk in the park for Manchester United, that’s for sure. Both teams rested players in the week so have near-fully fit squads to choose from aside from a handful of players. I can see Manchester United stealing this in another dogged display, perhaps after falling behind again. It would honestly not surprise me to see a draw, however. A lot depends on the battle in the centre of midfield.

Everton 3 v 0 Norwich City

As a regular accumulator backer of Everton in these kind of fixtures, I know first hand that things do not always play out as expected. That being said, I honestly cannot see where a draw is coming from for Norwich, let alone a win. They don’t have enough to pull of a surprise here. Everton most likely won’t be rampant, but comfortable, yes.

Leeds United 2 v 2 West Ham United

My first draw selection of the weekend comes from Elland Road. Both these sides have strength all over the pitch and a pacey attack, it should be a great game to watch. 2-2 is my prediction, with goals galore and end to end action for the duration. Both sides will hope to steal the win from the other, here. You should back Antonio to come back with a goal.

Leicester City 3 v 1 Burnley

Much like Norwich, Burnley are in a bit of a hole at the moment. They don’t seem to have the same stability, particularly at the back, as they have done in recent seasons. Leicester on the other hand have been somewhat inconsistent since they kicked off this campaign, but they should make it another win here. The perfect result to bounce back after last weekend’s defeat to Brighton.

Watford 1 v 1 Newcastle United

Another draw here in a game with pressure on both sides. It’s a game that both teams could realistically say was must win. However, for both outfits, it’s a game they mustn’t lose, particularly for the away side. Make no mistake about it, these two will be down there come the end of the season and a win here for either would be a huge statement. Expect the spoils to be shared, however.

Brentford 0 v 4 Liverpool

Another favourable fixture for Liverpool and another they should win comfortably. A very consistent side who will continue with their strong start to the season. It will show us what the home side are made of, though. Brentford have overachieved so far this campaign and have played incredibly well to sit comfortably away from the relegation zone. This step up in quality, will just prove too much.

Southampton 2 v 2 Wolves

Southampton got an amazing result at Manchester City whereas Wolves lost by two goals at home to a newly promoted side even though they had an extra player. With stark contrast weekends last weekend, I was tempted to go with a home win. However, I do believe Wolves have more to offer and Southampton haven’t got the best attack. Score draw.

Arsenal 0 v 0 Tottenham

I don’t think I have predicted a scoreless draw yet this season, and for good reason. However, this weekend’s North London Derby could end up being the first. Arsenal have sort of stabalised the defence somewhat with back to back clean sheets, three all competitions. Spurs on the other hand have also kept clean sheets and are struggling for goals. Like with Vicarage Road, a game neither team dare lose. This makes a draw, the obvious outcome.

Crystal Palace 1 v 1 Brighton

Another Derby of sorts closes the long weekend’s action Monday night as Palace host Brighton from Selhurst Park. Brighton have looked incredible this season and deservedly sit in the top four! With Palace, they seem to have got going after a sloppy start and certainly turned a corner in their season, despite coming up short at Anfield last time out. Another draw prediction, it should be a close contest. I would not be surprised for either team to win this by a goal. The deafening home support may be a key factor if Palace are to have a chance at taking home all three points.

Predictions Leaderboard –

Ethan M – 17

Sean E – 14

P2P Reports (average) 13

Gareth C – 11

J&M productions – 10

Post2Post Predicts Week 4 of the Premier League Season

By Paul and Joe Murphy

After a somewhat disappointing 10 points last game week for Post2Post, whereas Sean Edwards got a comparably more impressive 14 points, we go head to head with James and Murphy Productions very own Paul, in a battle over the fourth round of fixtures. With the international break over, some players missing and injured, as well as some new faces, there is much to ponder. Let’s see our guests thoughts…

J&M- Crystal Palace 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur.

P2P – Crystal Palace 1 – 3 Tottenham Hotspur.

I’ll go for Palace 1-1 Spurs, I think Palace will stop Spurs super start to the season as Spurs have been scrapping home in all three games 1-0 and Palace are a tough team to break down at home and I feel they always have a goal in their locker..

J&M – Arsenal 2 – 0 Norwich

P2P – Arsenal 2 – 1 Norwich

I think Arsenal have to much strength for a weak Norwich side and I’ll go for a 2-0 win for the gunners here. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a Smith-Rowe goal too. I think once Norwich hit the bottom of the league here they’ll be there for the season.

J&M – Brentford 1 – 1 Brighton

P2P – Brentford 0 – 1 Brighton

Brentford have had a good start to the season, while Brighton have also started well, I think this one is a draw banker for Saturday so I’d go for 1-1 again.l

J&M – Leicester City 1 – 3 Manchester City

P2P – Leicester City 2 – 2 Manchester City

Leicester v Man City is a juicy affair, but I feel City have hit their stride in the last couple of weeks, but Leicester are not walkovers so it might be tougher here for City although I still see them coming out winners, so I’ll go for 1-3 to the Sky Blues.

J&M – Manchester United 3 – 0 Newcastle United

P2P – Manchester United 2 – 1 Newcastle United

Ronaldo is back and hopefully he’ll start at home to an ear deafening roar from the home supporters, I see Man United continuing their solid start to the season with a comfortable 3-0 here and the romantic in me says Ronaldo gets his first goal back.

J&M – Southampton 2 – 1 West Ham United

P2P – Southampton 1 – 2 West Ham United

Free flowing West Ham should be too strong for the Saints on paper, but I’m not convinced as they drew at home to Palace and beat a woeful Newcastle away, so I think it might be an inspiring performance From Southampton which earns them a tight win by 2-1, although 2-2 was a very tempting option also.

J&M – Watford 2 – 0 Wolves

P2P – Watford 1 – 2 Wolves

Watford have been playing some nice football since their promotion whereas Wolves are struggling to get off the mark, but they have played some nice football. With home advantage, I’m going for a Watford win by 2-0.

J&M – Aston Villa 1 – 3 Chelsea

P2P – Aston Villa 0 – 2 Chelsea

Chelsea are in very good form and with Lukaku adding strength to the forward line I see them being big title contenders this year, Villa are looking like a team that’s reshaping after the loss on Grealish and I think Chelsea will win this one by a safe 3-1.

J&M – Leeds United 1 – 2 Liverpool

P2P – Leeds United 0 – 3 Liverpool

Leeds v Liverpool is always an interested and open game from two attacking sides meaning prediction can be difficult, but Liverpool have found a nice rhythm to their play whereas Leeds are a little bit gung-ho in their approach, so going for discipline over adventure I’ll take Liverpool to win this by 1-2.

J&M – Everton 2 – 0 Burnley

P2P – Everton 1 – 1 Burnley

Monday night sees Everton host Burnley, and although Burnley are pretty compact and strong at the back, they lack a bit of fire power up front and therefore I see Everton being too strong for them in front of a noisy home crowd and I think Calvert-Lewin will get back on the scoresheet in an Everton 2-0 win.

Predictions Leaderboard

Ethan M – 17

Sean E – 14

P2P average – 11

Post2Post Reviews – What have we learnt so far?

By Joe Murphy

In this article, we take a look at what we have learnt over the first few weeks of the Premier League Season. Surprises, overachievers and disappointment, we have seen it all already. With three games down, and the transfer window finally closed, let’s evaluate…

Chelsea are the real deal…

Thomas Tuchel seems to have transformed Chelsea into not only, somehow, European Champions, but into genuine title challengers this term. Convincing wins against Crystal Palace and Arsenal were followed most recently by a professional display at Anfield that seemed to be heading for another three points until a mis-timed red card/penalty double jeopardy incident, left them with only a point. However, seven points from three games, two of which were away at top clubs, is a stellar return. This, boosted with summer recruits Saul and Lukaku, has turned Chelsea from a fortunate fourth place last season, to a genuine contender this time. If Lukaku can maintain his goalscoring consistency, they will surely be right up there come May.

Arsenal won’t be as bad as last year, they’ll be worse!

A mis-sight from Post2Post maybe gave Arsenal and Arteta more credit than either deserve. The immediate come back is that we are still very much early on in this season with only a few games played.

However, no goals, no points and no real light at the end of the tunnel, has sent many Arsenal fans into meltdown, whilst the rest of us look on and laugh, whilst feeling just a crumb of sympathy. Recent signings will take time to adjust and the state of Arsenal’s recent recruitment was best summed up by Willian’s 21 million pound saving release. Almost a repeat of another Ozil-type situation.

Simply put, Arsenal have not got many great players that other teams would have in their squads. Smith-Rowe and Saka could turn into something in a few years time, and Aubameyang and Lacazette have shown they can play when they fancy it. Aside from this inconsistent quad, only Kirean Tierney is a player than other top clubs in the league would even look at. Unfortunately for the left back, he is alone when considering other players, currently at the Gunners, anyone would consider even remotely “world class”. An upcoming, favourable run of fixtures could prove absolutely pivotal for Arteta to turn the ship in the right direction. They do seemingly have a squad good enough to be around mid-table. Lose to Norwich, however, that will surely be it for the Spaniard. A must-win game.

Are we unfairly and prematurely discounting Everton and Spurs?

Only one team now can boast a 100% perfect record so far this season and it’s is Spurs. Three consecutive 1-0 wins is the ideal start for new manager Nuno Espirito and sees them top the league for this first international break. Having beaten Manchester City, it shows that Spurs defence is perhaps more solid than many gave it credit for, prior to the season commencing. Tanganga, Dier, Sanchez and Reguilon have played very well so far and with another probablyle win in round four against Palace, the table reads especially well for the white half of North London. This is made even more magic in comparison to bitter rivals Arsenal, at the polar opposite of the league table. If Harry Kane can get back firing, Son maintains his form and Dele Alli continues his resurrgance, then Spurs could knock on the door of the top four, more than most expected.

The same could be said for Everton. Seven points from the opening nine available, the blue side of Merseyside remain unbeaten and they have barely put a foot wrong (aside from the first half of the first game versus Southampton). Dominic Calvert Lewin is firing, the midfield seems a lot more assured and the defence is doing relatively soundly. Therefore, Rafael Benitez can only be happy with what he has seen from his side so far. Carlo Ancelotti started much the same last season, so it remains to be seen whether they can keep this form up through the next part of the season, which offers up some encouraging looking fixtures. With new signings Demari Gray looking like a steal at little over a million quid and proven firepower in Solomon Rondon coming into the club, maybe Europe in some form is not such an unlikely outcome for the Toffees.

Brentford a surprise package, Watford lacking firepower, Norwich looking doomed?

When evaluating the start the three recently promoted teams have made, suggesting the findings are a “mixed bag” is about right. To many people’s surprise, it is in fact Brentford who have made the best start. Two away games and the South London club still remain unbeaten. Only two goals conceded will delight Bee’s fans. The only hitch in an otherwise ideal start would be the slight lack of firepower up front, with Toney and co really yet to establish themselves as ruthless Premier League calibre attackers.

It’s a similar story over in North London up in Watford. What can only be described as a steady start with one win, the Hornets just seem to missing that extra bit of firepower when it counts. Sarr and new signing Sissoko, as well as other recent recruits, will hope to be more clinical and grab a few more points in the coming weeks to stay well away from the drop. With other teams like Burnley, Newcastle and Wolves struggling, Watford will be hoping to stay above their lower-midtable rivals.

One team, however, who does look doomed, is Norwich. Of all the newly promoted teams, it is in fact last year’s Championship champions who are struggling to find their feet the most. Only one goal and no points to their name, only Arsenal are currently below them on goal difference. Canaries fans will be hoping, like other teams, that their recent signings come good and start to get in the winning habit. Something which is going to be incredibly difficult for the East-Anglia based side, with them having arguably the weakest squad in the division.

Lukaku and Grealish have an instant impact, Sancho and others need more time.

Finally, although it is early in the season, we have seen glimpses of new summer signings across the division. Some of which, it appears, have settled to Premier League life quicker than others. Romelu Lukaku and Jack Grealish of course have the benefit of having played in the division before with both having settled into life at their new respective clubs rather nicely, having both already found the net.

It’s a rather different story for Ben White, who will need rather more time to settle in following his summer move from Brighton to Arsneal. White has had Covid at the wrong time but prior to this he did struggle on his debut against Brentford. Whereas Buendia, Armstrong and Ings have all settled into their new respective homes almost seemlessly, Jadon Sancho on the other hand has only started once and has yet to show his worth. The pressure that comes with his price tag can’t help, but at least he has age on his side and an incoming Cristiano Ronaldo to help his development. Speaking of Ronaldo, there are signings we will have to wait to see the extent of which they have an impact. The affotmentioned Ronaldo at Manchester United, Daka at Leicester hasn’t quite had the chance to show us what he’s done, Dan James to Leeds United and Saul Niguez to Chelsea could prove absolutely inspired deadline day purchases. Aaron Lennon is back for Burnley and is joined by new recruit Cornet, West Ham have a third Czech musketeer to add to their roster and Joe Willock will hope to rediscover his from last season yet again for Newcastle. The jury is very much out on these moves. A lot to look forward to and a lot of unpredictability. Exactly what we need to keep the Premier league at it’s most exciting.

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Post2Post Predicts – Week 3 of the Premier League Season – V Sean Edwards!

After an impressive and improved 15 point performance last week, it was in fact Ethan Murphy who edged this person al rivalry scoring 17 points in a tight affair. It came down to the final game on Monday night where a red card proved pivotal. This week, Post2Post Predicts the result once again, going head to head with Sean Edwards of Manchester, former accountant at Bury FC. He hopes his predictions are rather more successful than the fortune that ultimately befell his former employers. Let’s start with head writer Joe Murphy’s predictions…

Manchester City 4 – 1 Arsenal

This test should prove too much for the Gunners and give Arsenal three defeats from the opening three fixtures. City should get into their stride and flex their muscles on a very weak Arsenal defence. The empty blue seats will have a great view of a vintage Kevin De Bruyne performance.

Aston Villa 2 – 0 Brentford

Aston Villa have looked rather unconvincing at times so far in the oorning two gameweeks and only the finishing of Danny Ings has saved them. Brentford have started impeccably well but this should prove a test too far. The class and experience should tell over the 90.

Brighton 1 – 1 Everton

A rather more difficult game to call you’d imagine, with either team able to pick up the victory this week. Both teams are unbeaten and I predict they will both remain this way. Calvert Lewin v the Brighton defenders will be the pivotal battle in this game.

Newcastle United 0 – 1 Southampton

Southampton did well last week whereas Newcastle struggled. A midweek home cup exit to Burnley will surely be playing on the Magpies minds and the pressure will be firmly on them to kick start their season. This pressure may prove to be their downfall as a sole penalty could ultimate be the only difference come the final whistle.

Norwich City 1 – 3 Leicester City

After putting a Leicester defender into my fantasy football team, a first Norwich goal of the season is confirmed. Despite this, Leicester should have way too much in their arsenal for the Canaries to handle, even without the suspended Ayoze Perez.

West Ham United 3 – 0 Crystal Palace

Two opening round defeats predicted, and there they sit top of the league. And deservedly so, it must be said. The Benrahma/Antonio combo is proving very difficult for defences to handle and Palace haven’t got much sorted at the moment. Another difficult day for the Eagles, from the London Stadium. I maintain that West Ham will still finish bottom half by May.

Liverpool 0 – 0 Chelsea

Will this be a case if two solid defences muting two incredible attacks, I certainly think so. Both keepers are outstanding and this game may turn out to be a case of two quality teams cancelling each other out. Liverpool have the edge if a team where to nick it, due to home advantage.

Burnley 1 – 2 Leeds United

This could admittedly be 2-1 the other way but I bet that Patrick Bamford will kick off his season, after an almost absent first fortnight. Burnley are in trouble this year, despite a solid effort at Anfield. The oace and attacking prowess of Leeds should hurt Burnley onn Sunday.

Tottenham 3 – 1 Watford

With Harry Kane back and set to stay at Spurs, he most probably walks back into this side. A rejuvenated Tottenham should beat Watford and fairly comfortably. Sarr could put Watford in the lead, but expect Spurs to claim all three points, with the England captain getting one of the goals.

Wolves 1 – 3 Manchester United

Wolves lack of goals so far has been a real concern, as they have had more shots at goal than most teams. A somewhat leaky Manchester United defence should be helped by the introduction of Raphael Varane and it remains to be seen whether Jadon Sancho will get his first start. Like with Spurs, Wolves could take the lead, but expect Bruno, Greenwood and co to ultimately fight back and extend that unbeaten away record. The way this transfer window has been, even a Ronaldo hat-trick here wouldn’t surprise me.

Sean has gone for:
Man City win 3-0
Aston Villa win 2-0
Everton win 1-2
Southampton win 1-2
Leicester win 0-3
West Ham win 2-0
Liverpool and Chelsea to draw 2-2
Leeds win 1-2
Spurs win 2-0
And Manchester United to beat Wolves 0-3

Leaderboard

Ethan M – 17
Wheel2wheel average – 12

Post2Post Predicts – Round 2 of the 2021/22 Premier League season!

After what can only be described as a below par performance with last week’s predictions, we live and we learn as we head to round two. After scoring 8/30 possible points, it appears this writers luck was saved for the betting accumulator and fantasy football, with both efforts rather more successful than the article predictions.

This week, we have our first head to head with predictions as fellow writer and fellow Murphy; Ethan, gives us his insight into this weekends fixtures, alongside my own. With points up for grabs as well as personal bragging rights, let’s see what we might have in store with this week’s Premier League action.

E – Liverpool 2-0 Burnley. J – Liverpool 4 – 1 Burnley

E – I think Liverpool, who were impressive against Norwich in their last outing, will be too strong for a Burnley side, especially with fans back at Anfield.

J – I can see Burnley scoring. Norwich looked OK at times last week but only really threatened the goal once towards the end. Huntley have more about them but, unlike last season, by no means enough to cause any kind of upset.

E – Aston Villa 2-1 Newcastle United. J – Aston Villa 2 – 0 Newcastle

E – Aston Villa, to my surprise, made a poor start to the campaign going 3-nil down to newly promoted Watford last week. However, I think there were signs in the last half an hour to suggest they will be stronger this week, especially will new signings to add into the fold, so an Aston Villa win for me.

J – I’ve said all along that Newcastle are in trouble. Aside from two players there is a worrying lack of quality. Villa should win this with a clean sheet on a comfortable afternoon. The villa back 5 were so good last year and, although I don’t think their record will be as good this year, this time, it will be.

E – Crystal Palace 1-1 Brentford. J – Crystal Palace 1 – 0 Brentford

E – Many people will back Brentford to get all three points in this game, as understandably so. However, I think palace have enough quality and experience to get something from this game, especially with the help of their famous home noise.

J – I just believe that Wilfred Zaha will prove too difficult for Brentford to handle. Whether it’s a penalty or a mistake, I feel the Eagle’s will narrowly take this one, giving Viera his first win as manager.

E – Leeds United 3-1 Everton. J – Leeds United 2 – 2 Everton

E – Let’s face it, Leeds were extremely poor in their loss to Man United last Saturday. However, Marco Biesla’s side have the mark of a team that will quickly move on from this performance and come out fighting. I see them beating Everton, who although won last week were far from convincing.

J – Both teams could get a hatful of goals here. I think Bamford will open his count for the season and Dominic Calvert Lewin could score multiple. I’ll go for a Desmond but either side could win this.

E – Manchester City 5-0 Norwich City. J – Manchester City 4 – 0 Norwich City

E – Similarly to Leeds, I see Man city bouncing back this week with a huge results against Norwich. They have too much quality for the canaries, and with the home advantage I can only see one result.

J – It’s a case of how many, isn’t it? I don’t see Norwich scoring in a month of Sunday’s at the Etihad. I feel they will set up for damage limitation hence only being four for City. Mahrez and Grealish to open their accounts for the season.

E – Brighton 1-1 Watford. J – Brighton 1 – 0 Watford

E – This may be the hardest results to predict. On one hand I see Watford capitalising on a great opening game week and going to the south coast full of confidence. However, Brighton also managed to scrape a late turnaround against Burnley. I’ve gone for a draw in this one which is maybe a cowards way out but I can’t split the two teams.

J – Yeah, this is a tough one, could be a win to either way or a draw, and any of these results wouldn’t be a surprise. Brighton just to hold out, with help from the home fans.

E – Wolves 0-1 Spurs. J – Wolves 1 – 1 Spurs

E – I really fear for wolves this year. They looked poor against Leicester and I just don’t think they’ve done enough recruitment going into this season. Spurs’ shock win over City will lift moods at the club, with Harry Kane’s future still uncertain. A spurs win, but not by much my prediction for this game.

J – Spurs did play well last week. Granted, City weren’t all at it but Tottenham seemed inspired without Harry Kane. Away at Wolves with their fans back is not a test to be underestimated, however. A cagey game to end with the shares spoiled.

E – Southampton 1-4 Manchester United. J – Southampton 1 – 2 Manchester United

E – As much as I personally hate to admit it, United were very impressive against Leeds in the opening game of the season. When you have Pogba and Fernandes playing like that, there are very few teams that could stop them. I see a comfortable United win in this one.

J – Ever the pessimist, I almost went for 2-2 for my team here. United looks strong at times but we shouldn’t forget it was a 10 minute blitz period and there were plenty of holes and mistakes appearing where better teams could punish the reds. Southampton started well but aren’t on of the strongest teams in the league. The home fans could boost the chances of the Saints getting something, but United to win again but in less convincing fashion, than last week.

E – Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea. J – Arsenal 2 – 3 Chelsea

E – There’s not really much more to say about Arsenal. It’s getting to the point when you start to feel sorry for them now, as there just doesn’t seem to be any direction at the club. Although Arsenal love to turn it on against Chelsea, I don’t see that happening this time, predicting this to get much worse at the emirates.

J – For risk of sounding like a broken record, we could see the impact home fans were having for their sides, last week. Now although Chelsea have a far superior team, it doesn’t guarantee victory, as seen at Spurs last week. Chelsea should be too strong, however. Saying that, I would be surprised if the score is overly convincing.

E – West Ham United 3-2 Leicester City. J – West Ham United 1 -3 Leicester City

E – Both teams put in good displays in last weeks opening fixtures. There’s not much to split the two, however I feel like West Ham maybe edge this one. Antonio, Benrahma and co. looked really dangerous against Newcastle and I feel they will be too much for a Leicester side without their star Centre back. A West game win but I’m also expecting goals galore.

J – I called that Newcastle would score twice last week, but just didn’t account for their defence being as shambolic as it was. I honestly believe the Hammers are there to be got at and the Foxes could prove very tricky opponents. Vardy could have a field day and West Ham’s midfield, as good as it was last season, could get shown up by a simply a better Tielemans, Maddison and Ndidi.

P2P #4 Premier League Predictions – Round 1

By Joe Murphy

This week is the first week of the new Premier League season. With many intriguing match ups and with all teams hoping to make the perfect start, Joe Murphy predicts how the round 1 fixtures will pan out. What surprises are in store and how will the newly promoted sides fair? Starting the new predictions game, there will be 3 points awarded for the correct scoreline, 1 point for the correct result and 0 for an entirely wrong answer.

Let’s take a look…

Brentford 1 V 3 Arsenal

A fairytale start for Brentford? Alas not! Despite the fact the Bees will have an incredible atmosphere, the quality of Saka, Aubameyang and Co should be too much. Arsenal should have more stability this season, so should only concede one. This is not the week, therefore, where AFTV will be its most interesting.

Manchester United 2 – 1 Leeds

As a Manchester United fan personally, this fixtures worries me. If you remember Liverpool v Leeds last season on the opening day, this is a tough fixture for both teams. I do not expect another multi goal thriller like last season. Instead a more difficult Leeds United side will turn up. With the game level, the introduction of Jadon Sancho could play a part as the Red Devils snatch a win late on.

Burnley 1 – 1 Brighton

This is a game where neither side will want to lose and most likely won’t press for the win too hard, either. Both teams will solid defences and big men at both sides of the pitch, there is a chance they will cancel each other out. There is a strong chance both goals in this game will be from headers and/or set-pieces.

Chelsea 2 – 0 Crystal Palace

On the back of a narrow Super Cup win, Chelsea will be full of confidence heading into this one. It remains to be seen as to whether Romelu Lukaku plays any part yet or this fixtures comes just too soon. For Palace, we may see some of Viera’s style being implemented. But as fixtures go, this may be too tough do any sort of surprise win.

Everton 0 – 1 Southampton

This is where the first arguable shock result, may come in. An Everton side should take all three pints here on paper but Southampton will show up and put in an organised performance. Without Danny Ings, this may be more difficult, but a Ward Prowse penalty or free kick, could ultimately be the difference here.

Leicester City 2 – 1 Wolves

Much like at Old Trafford, this will be a difficult fixtures of Leicester. Again they should win, and their quality may prove slightly too much for a Wolves side still in transition under their new manager. Expect Raul Jiminez to get on the scoresheet again but Jamie Vardy to prove too hot to handle, for the Wolves defence. A narrow win for the side in blue.

Watford 2 – 4 Aston Villa

This game could be extremely entertaining. There is a lot of attacking quality with both teams questionable at the back. It remains likely that the Villa side are just too strong for newly promoted Watford. Two late goals could see them off before a late consolation debut goal for Josh King, perhaps.

Norwich City 0 – 4 Liverpool

Carrow Road has been like a second home for Liverpool in recent years. The most certain of any fixture, there is no way Liverpool lose here. The quality gap is just too strong between these sides. The only chance Norwich will have at an upset is using the home atmosphere to their advantage and forcing mistakes. It won’t happen though.

Newcastle United 2 – 1 West Ham United

West Ham are the better side, there is no question. However, the Geordie fan base will be rocking and pushing their team to the maximum. If the Magpies can keep Antonio quiet then they can spring somewhat of a surprise here. It equally would not surprise me to see West Ham win this game 0-3, however. Saint Maxim and Wilson with the goals.

Manchester City 4 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur

I just don’t trust Spurs’ defense. Grealish, Mahrez and De Bruyne could cause an afternoon of chaos. Then there’s Harry Kane, what kind of match awaits him? There are a lot of intriguing possibilities about this game, least of all the result as City will win and should win comfortably, getting their season off to the perfect start and pushing Spurs into a whole world of problems. Although a result like this may prompt a new striker to arrive in North London.

Do you agree or disagree? Leave your predictions in the comments below and don’t forget to like!

P2P #3 – Premier League Table Prediction!

Written by Joe Murphy

This article is going to be a full table prediction! From the events last year’s, coupled with an intriguing transfer window this summer, the league has never been so hard to predict. From champions to relegation, and top four to bottom three, let’s have a punt at how the Premier League table will look, come next year.

#20 – Norwich

Unfortunately, I cannot see any scenario where the Canaries get out of the bottom three all season. They have a really tough opening set of fixtures and after losing Buendia earlier in the window, haven’t really replaced him. Pukki faded out the year before last and they haven’t got many more goals in them. Another difficult season therefore, for Norwich.

#19 – Brentford

It may have taken ten play off attempts for Brentford to be promoted, but their stay is set to be short lived. Recently promoted clubs struggled last season and despite there being an amazing atmosphere around the Brentford camp this season, I feel this may be a step too far for this side.

#18 – Burnley

This last relegation spot was the hardest position to select a team for. I have been proven wrong by Sean Dyche’s Burnley numerous time but with a lack of squad depth and investment, I feel this may be where it becomes too much. They may have ended last season relatively well, but I fear they may face the drop, this year.

#17 – Newcastle

Newcastle fans may or may not be surprised to find themselves in 17th this season. I feel without Saint Maxim and Callum Wilson, they are in genuine danger of going down. There just isn’t the quality, consistency or firepower of other teams in the league. If those two keep fit, then Steve Bruce’s side should, just about, be fine.

#16 – Brighton

The sale of Ben White to Arsenal for £50 million was a shrewd piece of business. However, there is an undeniable hole that has been left as a result. They do have talent across the pitch that should leave them just about safe, maybe with a few games to go. Another top striker wouldn’t be an unwanted addition, however.

#15 – Watford

Most likely to do well out of the newly promoted teams, Watford have attacking players that can do damage such as Sarr, Deeney, Gray and King. They played poorly last year for much of the season yet still rebounded straight back up. They have a good attack and top level experience all over the pitch. A relatively successful season in store, potentially, for the Hornets.

#14 – Crystal Palace

Patrick Viera in his first major managerial role would surely take a solid 14th place finish. A team with youth in attack and an almost ancient central defence, this honestly wouldn’t be a bad return for the Eagles. Keeping Wilfred Zaha is of course important, but so is the emergence of other players such as Eze and Mitchell. It is also crucial the manager gets more out of Christian Benteke, up top.

#13 – Wolves

Wolves are a difficult team to predict. It would not surprise me to find them in the top 10 come next May, but neither would it to see them go down. Last year they were bitterly disappointing and after losing their manager Nuno Espirito, the wheels threatened to come off. However, with Raul Jiminez back and Traore to play an ever increasing role, the team in orange should finish in a solid mid table position. However, don’t expect as good a performance as the season before last.

#12 – Southampton

After surprisingly losing Danny Ings to Aston Villa, Southampton were at risk of being lower on this list. Like many other teams, it wouldn’t be overly surprising to see them battling against relegation towards the latter stages of next year. I just feel they have quality and strength in most positions and no major weaknesses. James Ward Prowse on set pieces is also surely worth about ten extra points a season!

#11 – West Ham

Lower perhaps than many others place them in the league, I would be lying to myself to pretend that West Ham’s unbelievable finish last year was them punching above their weight. Other teams faltered and they had Jessie Lingard who they no longer do. Repeat performances from Soucek, Coufal and Co is, in my mind, increasingly unlikely. Signing a recognisable, top quality, striker to partner Antonio may lift them slightly. Lanzini and Benrahma may also play a huge, influencial role for the Hammers.

#10 – Leeds

Bielsa’s side learnt a lot about the Premier League last season, and the league learnt a lot about them. An entertaining watch most weeks, the experience should help these players consolidate an equally strong finish. There is the potential for Leeds to finish well inside the top half, if other teams I’m about to mention, fail to impress. Like many other teams, injuries could have a huge impact on Leeds’ end position.

#9 – Everton

A solid ninth place finish for Rafa Benitez at Everton wouldn’t be a disastrous first season, but higher would surely be preferable. The amount of investment in this squad does deserve better than ninth, but that is just where they are at the moment. Question marks remain over Jordan Pickford at top club level and the future of James Rodriguez remains up in the air. It is also worth noting that Dominic Calvert Lewin will most likely not replicate his goalscoring form of last season.

#8 – Aston Villa

Originally seventh in my first draft, I’ll explain in the next entry my reasons for the move down. Aston Villa now have a very good Premier League quality squad and have made some serious gains in this transfer window in Ings, Bailey and Tuanzebe. Most importantly of all, however, could be the aforementioned Buendia. Losing Grealish may be a blow, but the £100 million is still some incredible business.

#7 – Tottenham Hotspur

The only reason Tottenham are in seventh and not lower is because they still have Harry Kane at the time of writing. If indeed the England captain remains at the club, that’s the goals sorted. Without him, I do fear that maybe even the top half may turn out to be a struggle. It isn’t all about Kane, however. Tottenham are in a mess at the moment internally and it is clear for all to see. 4 managers in the last couple of years and still the trophy drought continues, they feel a long way of the top four.

#6 – Leicester City

It seems whatever the Foxes do, they still aren’t in people’s top four predictions. After beating Manchester City in the recent Charity Shield, they’ve shown they can do it against anyone. Maybe the “bottle” of the team is rightfully questionable after two narrow misses on champions league football over the last two years. However, they do have a top class team and manager, so who knows. Without doubt, the long term injury to Wesley Forfana coupled with James Justin’s continued absence, is a worry for the former champions.

#5 – Arsenal

Arsenal seemed to be a relegation meme for much of last season, yet still finished in the top half. People may be surprised to see the Gunners so high, but without that disasterous run in December last year, they may have challenged strongly for Europa League places. No European football may be the help Arsenal need to improve their league position. Without doubt, the squads of Leicester, Spurs and even Villa are better than Arsenal’s right now, but I expect more consistency, this year.

#4 – Liverpool

Signing Fabinho and Alisson to long term deals is the best business of Liverpool’s summer last year. In terms of starting XI’s, it could be argued the Red’s have the second best in the league. However, the lack of depth is worrying and with Andy Robertson out for the first couple of months at least, this season may prove tricky for Liverpool. They still have more than enough quality for a comfortable top four finish, however.

#3 – Manchester United

A third place finish would be a disappointment for Manchester United and their fans. As much as I would personally love to select them as my top choice, it just isn’t realistic. Yes, they have had a very productive window in the signings of Varane and Sancho, but there is still one or two minor issues. Firstly, the holding midfield isn’t good enough and secondly, there is still a lot of youth in that team yet to find their peak. Signing that midfielder or someone like Kane remains unlikely. Therefore, for the youngest team of any of the top six, it seems that title 21 may have to wait, a while longer.

#2 – Chelsea

Champions League winners Chelsea do have a lot of quality. Last year, the new signings had a year to settle. And now with even more additions, most noticeably the return of Romelu Lukaku to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are ready to challenge in Thomas Tuchel’s first full season in charge. With Mount, Havertz, Pulisic and Werner all set to find their feet, second place is ultimately where we will probably find the London based Blues, come next May.

#1 – Manchester City

It is hard to look beyond Manchester City to win their fourth title in five years. The strength in depth is almost laughable and with new additions in Grealish and possibly Kane, coupled with the experience of Pep Guardiola, the sky blue team can’t go wrong. In fact, they have a chance of winning multiple trophies and perhaps even going unbeaten, especially if they do sign Kane. Keeping their players fit is key and making sure the Champions League priority doesn’t hinder their domestic chances are surely the only two things that “Citeh” have to contend with. Without Kane, they may find the season more difficult, with only Gabriel Jesus as a recognisable striker. Despite this, they should still have enough to come out on top.

P2P #2 – 2021 ‘One’s to Watch XI’

Written by Ethan Murphy. Edited by Joe Murphy.

Ones to watch 11 

Robert Sanchez

After the departure of Matt Ryan to Arsenal, the Spaniard solidified his position as Brighton’s number 1 with a string of impressive performances, and clean sheets, towards the end of last season, which lead to a late inclusion in Spain’s Euro 2020 squad. If he can carry on this form, he could be a key part of Brighton’s team, who will likely be hoping to push for a mid table finish and steer well away from the relegation zone.

Matt Doherty

Much promise surrounded Tottenham’s signing of Matt Doherty at the beginning of last season. Unfortunately, a number of poor performances ultimately lead to Jose Mourinho opting for Serge Aurier ahead of him, a player who he confesses he is “afraid” of watching defend. Tottenham’s appointment of Nuno Espirito, however, could help the left back rediscover the form he showed at Wolves, with the more attacking wing-back role Nuno deployed during their time together previously, suiting his game. A rekindling with an old manager could be just what Doherty means to really kick start his career as a Spurs player. 

Adam Webster

Another Brighton player who makes this 11 is English centre back, Adam Webster. The defender has been tied down on a 5-year deal, with manager Graham Potter clearly seeing Webster as a replacement for Ben White, who has been sold to Arsenal. Having impressed when called upon over the last couple of seasons at Brighton, Webster now has the chance to become a mainstay in defence, and start hopefully justifying the 20 million spent on him. 

Ben Godfrey

The Toffees defender very nearly forced himself into England’s 23-man squad for the Euros, with some eye-catching performances last season. Godfrey’s versatility was what really impressed spectators, with the ability to play anywhere across the back four and he was even utilised in midfield a handful of times. If Godfrey can solidify his position at centre back, he has all the potential to excel in an already strong Everton side who have appointed experienced manager Rafa Benitez. Southgate will certainly be keeping tabs on the 23-year old this season ahead of next year’s World Cup in Qatar. 

Konstantinos Tsmikas

This position was the hardest to choose. Originally I decided to select Matt Targett, who I thought after Jack Grealish’s departure could’ve been a well needed source of creativity for the villains. However, with the recent news of Andy Robertson’s injury, I decided to select Greek defender Tsmikas. Competing with arguably the best left back in world football, Tsmikas’ playing time was limited last season. The former Olympiacos player made 2 appearances, totalling a playing time of a mere 6 minutes. Robertson’s injury during Liverpool’s pre-season game against Athletic Bilbao could be Tsmikas’ chance to stake his claim for a starting position. Although unlikely that he will start ahead of the Scottish Captain if both fit , he could become way more utilised as the season goes on, with Robertson unlikely to be able to play as many minutes as he did last season.

Thomas Partey

Thomas Partey’s time at Arsenal so far has been riddled with inconsistency. The high calibre signing of the Ghanaian, who Arsenal fans believed would solidify a shaky midfield, never hit the ground running. Although there have been some glimpses of his potential, injuries caused too many weeks on the side line. Arsenal fans have, however, been excited to see him put in some impressive performances in pre season. He bossed the midfield pre season games against Watford and Scottish champions, Rangers. Reports that Partey has picked up a slight Ankle injury will frustrate manager Mikel Arterta. However, he’ll be confident that when he is fit to play he can be a really powerhouse in the Arsenal midfield. 

Dele Alli

There was a lot of excitement when Dele Alli, as Michael Richards used to claim he did, “burst on the scene” for spurs. An outstanding couple of breakthrough seasons in which Alli scored 28 goals and 16 assists, nearly helping spurs win their first title in 56 years, gained Alli worldwide acclaim. However, Allis consistency dropped over the following season, with many blaming an unprofessional attitude and work rate at fault. Alli has gone from the next ‘big thing’ to a forgotten man as shown by his exclusion of England’s Euro 2020 squad. Yet, much like right back Doherty, Alli could thrive from a managerial change at the club. The Englishman has impressed in preseason, playing in his more natural role in a three man midfield. And with Striker Harry Kane’s Spurs future in doubt getting Dele Alli back to his best could be key to Nuno’s first season at the club being a successful one. 

Kai Havertz

Kai Havertz signed for an eye-catching fee of £71 million at the beginning of last season and most Chelsea fans would admit that his performances didn’t necessarily justify that price. However, signs that Havertz is beginning to find his feet at Chelsea have been there, peaking when he scored the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final. A year of premier league experience behind him and a growing confidence after a somewhat impressive Euros campaign for Germany means that Havertz could really fulfil his potential next season. Could he even have a Hazard-like influence on the blues?

Leon Bailey 

With the transfer money received for Jack Grealish, Aston Villa has invested heavily in their attack, including the signings of Ex-Saint Danny Ings and last year’s Championship star Emiliano Buendia. With this, the signing of Bayer Leverkusen star Leon Bailey for £30m has been relatively overlooked. The Jamaican international, who was previously eligible to represent England through his grandparents,  excelled during his 5 seasons at the German outfit. Predominantly featuring on the wing, his attacking flair and pace is mesmerising and he also has a good eye for goal having scored 39 goals for Leverkusen. Bailey is certainly a one-to-watch this season, with many thinking he can excel in what shaping up to be a very exciting Aston Villa side. 

Harvey Elliot

As a Liverpool fan, few may call me biased for including Harvey Elliot in this list as he is fairly inexperienced in the premier league, however, few can deny the talent that this lad has. An impressive loan spell at Blackburn in the championship saw the 18 year old notch up 7 goals and 11 assists and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that Elliot’s development can continue this season. I admit that although it is unlikely that he will start ahead of Salah, Mane and co, his versatility and creativity means that he could be a very strong option off the bench for the reds this season. Liverpool struggled for goals outside their famous front three last year, can Elliot make a contribution in their search for silverware? Time will tell. 

Josh King

Much like the rest of this 11, Josh King has become somewhat of a forgotten man. After an impressive few years at Bournemouth, especially the 16/17 season which saw him finish joint 8th top goal scorer with 16 goals, King was seemingly fulfilling the potential Manchester United saw in him as a teenager. Bournemouth’s relegation from the premier league impacted the Norwegian’s performances and an unsuccessful spell at Everton saw him finish the season with no league goals. Nonetheless, King has been given the chance to revitalise his career signing a two-year deal with newly promoted Watford. If he can recapture the impressive Premier League form he showed at Bournemouth, he could be a key source of goals for Watford who will be hoping to avoid relegation.

P2P #1 – Things are getting Messi

Where next for Lionel Messi? – By Joe Murphy

After a contract dispute that seemingly was neverending, sensational news broke late on Thursday the 5th August that Lionel Messi would not be signing a new contract at FC Barcelona and, as a result, he would be leaving the club.

Many spectators of the sport, this writer included, assumed that the Argentine would resolve any outstanding issues and remain with the Catalonian club. Rumours of his exit have been regular, but never coming to fruition, until now.

With that in mind, and with Barcelona themselves confirming in a statement that the greatest player in the clubs history would be ending his stay with the club, we look at the next options for many people’s greatest footballer of all time.

1 – Manchester City

With the red side of Manchester focusing on youth and bringing young talent like Mason Greenwood, James Garner and Brandon Williams through, it seems very unlikely that Manchester United will make a move for Messi. Although it is true the Glazer family love a marketable figure to advertisement and sponsorship opportunities, it makes little sense that Messi would walk into Manchester United’s plans and overall club process. The other side of Manchester, however, can be more hopeful. With a close working relationship with manager Pep already established through their history at Barcelona together some years ago, the Argentine could rekindle the magic in the Premier League. The finances for the move would not be a problem you’d expect, but it remains to be seen if Manchester City would go for Messi, with Jack Grealish and maybe even Harry Kane being imminent arrivals. The biggest challenge would be squad space, and it remains to be seen whether Pep would sacrifice someone like Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez or Bernard Silva to fund a move for an ageing, albeit unpresendented, player. Chances of happening: 5/10

2 – PSG

The only other plausible move you can see Lionel Messi making across Europe, would be to Paris. Joining South American compatriot Neymar Jr in a move where, yet again, financing wouldn’t be an issue, a front line of Mbappe, Messi, Neymar, Icardi and Di Maria is a mouth watering prospect. PSG’s hunger for a Champions League success could prove pivotal in making this move happen. PSG are always linked with the best players in the world and have already done some stellar business so far this transfer window. A chance to work under fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino could be something that Messi is open to doing before he retires. Chances of happening: 7/10

3 – China/Qatar

It is possible that Lionel Messi may want a money move that transcends any money move in history. Playing for a club in Qatar or China will not only surely make Messi the highest earning sportsman in the world, but also mean that he never plays against his beloved Barcelona in a competitive game. This may appeal to the Argentine as he has revealed countless times his love for the Spanish club and its fans. This way, Messi earns what would surely be multiple millions a week, whilst not being at risk of eliminating his team from a competition. Although his family seem settled, money, ultimately, talks. A less financial and more personal move to Argentina is surely on the horizon, as promised by the man himself in countless interviews over the years, maybe as the attacker approaches forty. However, it is surely too soon for that move at this moment in time. Chances of happening 7/10.

4 – Inter Miami

Well, this would be a statement for David Beckham to make. An outside shot at best, but certainly not out of the realms of possibility. Not only would Messi get the finances for him and his family but he would also be living in Miami which may attract the Argentine more than the aforementioned Qatar or China. Moreover, that box of not playing competitively against Barcelona would be ticked. Playing alongside national teammate Gonzalo Higuain could appeal to Messi and this move raise the profile of the entire sport in America. Chances of happening: 2/10.

5 – FC Barcelona

OK, this may be a bit of a cheat, but it wouldn’t be the strangest thing ever for Lionel Messi to still somehow be playing in that famous, familiar old shirt next year. He is settled, his family are settled and he is nothing less than an idol on Catalonia. A team that has been built around him solely for the last decade remains a safe option. With finances the main worry, Lionel Messi was already reportedly willing to take a pay cut. Despite official posts and breaking news that he won’t remain with the club, the fear of parting may force both sides to come together and find a solution. That way, Messi and his family remain settled and he can continue with doing what he loves for who he loves. With a new influx of fresh, young players and the different approach the club has taken over the last year or so, Messi staying is certainly a possibility. There is something poetically romantic about the ‘one club man’, that’s for sure. However, if he wishes to change to try a new challenge, he certainly won’t be short on options. Chances of happening: 3/10.

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