Epl 2012-2013

[ARUKIDNME]

Saturday, Aug 18, 2012
10:00am ET

Arsenal vs. Sunderland

This was a tough one but I can't resist the line. The Black Cats are young but they are mighty and in week 1 they have their best shot at an upset result.

Arsenal's preseason has been terrible.

NOW - No Van Persie.........Very demoralizing and a huge hole to fill. He saved their season last year. ENOUGH SAID.

SUNDERLAND +1.5 (-145) 3 Units

!~))!

 

[ARUKIDNME]

Saturday, Aug 18, 2012
12:30pm ET

Newcastle vs. Tottenham

Another tough one but I have three letters that will sum this up..........

AVB (Andre Villas-Boas)

No way on earth this guy get these boys going. He's a cancer in England and as you can see I am not a fan of his coaching style. Having never played PRO-Ball he is unfit in my eyes and has been very fortunate to have had the success he has had previous to Chelsea. If he doesn't shore up the goalkeeping and back four it will be another abreviated season for AVB.

I love the way Newcastle finished the second half of the season. They were playing great ball. This is a miss-match IMHO with Newcastle's ability to score goals and Spurs inability to stop any. Let's see if I'm right.

Newcastle PICK (-120) 3 units

!~))!

 

[rolltide]

not sure who can score for newcastle if their injury list stays as is

 

[ARUKIDNME]

You make a good point Tide but according to the EPL Injury Table.....The Magpies injured players are set to return to action by Aug 18, 2012 with the exception Tiote.

H Ben Arfa, Knee Injury....D Ba, Calf/Shin Injury....P Cisse, Hamstring Injury....F Coloccini, Calf/Shin Injury...S Ameobi ,Hamstring Injury

All are scheduled to return to fitness on opening day Aug 18, 2012.*

C. Tiote Calf/Shin Injury no return date[/]

That being said Newcastle don't have an easy first two games with Chelsea on deck after Spurs. But this is more of a play on Newcastle since I believe these are two teams that are starting the season on different levels. The Magpies finishing fifth and have the Europa league on tap and Spurs have many gaps to fill including the Luca Modric saga. Plus they were removed from the CL thanks to Arsenal and Van Persie. Just can't see AVB turning things around Day 1 and on the road to boot.

BOL but depending on the late line movement I may add another 2 Units ($200) on the ML before game time.


EPL Injury Table

 

[rolltide]

looking good...

Newcastle team v Spurs: Krul, Simpson, Perch, Taylor, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye, Jonas, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Ba

 

[ARUKIDNME]

WOW!!! I don’t care what Wenger says, you cannot lose Van Persie, Fabregas, Nasri and Song and replace them with Podolski, Giroud, Arteta and Gervihno. Work in progress.

Adding ........... Newcastle ML (+135) 2 Units

I have to be honest that I have no idea what to expect from Spurs today and I don’t think their fans do either! LOL!!!

But what I do expect is a weak defense. So it will be interesting to see how they perform defensively versus NU, since AVB wasn’t exactly a defensive master at Chelsea. I expect Newcastle to play a lot of balls over the top to catch their defense out.

Once again, AVB is doing the “high line” defense (he did this at Chelsea) with Spurs and they aren't figuring it out quick enough. It’s going to be a huge problem against the Magpies. I was watching the Spurs/LA galaxy game last month and Spurs high line defense was a joke and broken a dozen times by the Galaxy.

Cisse should tear them up.

!~))!

 

[ARUKIDNME]

Newcastle is giving Spurs too much space and the passing is horrible. They did tighten up in the last 15 min of the half. Not sure if Spurs can keep this pressure and pace for 90 min but if they do they will beat NU handily.

 

[ARUKIDNME]

Sunday, Aug 19, 2012
11:00am ET

Manchester City vs. Southampton

I'm going to keep this simple and state that Southampton will be coming out guns a blazing to try to knock off a great club week 1 and make a point.

If they sit back they are dead in the water with City's skills.

The Saints should get at least one goal on City and I hope its the first one of the game.

Manchester City vs. Southampton Over 3 (-150) 3 Units

Southampton +2 (+140) 1 Unit .........I can't resist this line

!~))!

 

[ARUKIDNME]

Monday Aug 20, 2012
3:00pm ET

Everton vs. Manchester United

Well this has been an interesting first week around the various European leagues. I think we can safely say that in the various leagues including the Premiership there have been many big surprises and teams like Paris SG, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and many more can attest to their disappointment and shock in their first round matches. Many of them were favorites; BIG favorites and in many cases lost or came very close to losing.

We all know that Manchester have Van Persie to team up with Rooney and they will score many goals I’m sure of it. However, RVP needs more time to get familiar with MU’s system and I can’t see him getting the touches he was getting at Arsenal so soon in his tenure at United.

Everton has made little changes and they are basically the same team. They are at home and have only one injury (J. Gibson). I am expecting at the very least a draw for Everton and I am predicting one last surprise Week 1.

Fergusson will struggle to set a starting back 4. He has key players out (Smalling, Jones, Evans, Fletcher – Doubtful) and Rio Ferdinand is very doubtful. If this match was next month with a healthy United and RVP having 4 matches under his belt……….I would take Man U -1/2 in a heartbeat.

Everton +0.5 (-110) 3 Units

!~))!

 

[rolltide]

only Rio, of the players you mentioned, would have started today. big loss but united are more than used to playing without a normal (Rio/Vidic) central defense although normal replacements (evans, jones, smalling) are all out so they'll drop Carrick from defensive MF to center back. Would like to see Anderson instead of Cleverly playing in front of the back 4 and I don't expect RVP to show up until 70th minute replacing Welbeck.

Everton scored twice late in old trafford last year which ended up being the points that cost them the title so United will be fired up today. Not a very impressive preseason for Man U but Everton's was pretty pathetic

will be a tough one for sure (always is against these bastards)

 

[ARUKIDNME]

Interesting Roll!

I was sure he was going to start RVP. That's great news for me and Everton Backers.

Man U

I was reading some info on their site (Above) before I capped the game.
I usually like to hit both team sites and various Blogs by the Punters on each side to get a feel for what the Blokes are saying on the street.
I couldn't get any info but I like what I am hearing from you, you're a solid capper and any info helps.
Thank you!

 

[ARUKIDNME]

Sorry, the link above is asking you to log in but here is the page that it would have brought you to..........

2012/13: Our starting XI

We conclude our countdown to the season by asking six ManUtd.com staff about the opener at Everton...

Who would be in your starting XI for Goodison Park?

Adam Marshall: If Rio Ferdinand is absent, then he could be the fourth centre-back ruled out which will mean some rejigging. Scott Wootton and Michael Keane both played for the Under-21s on Saturday so Michael Carrick may be moved back, presuming none of the injured defenders are available. I'd like to see Shinji Kagawa start and think Robin van Persie may be on the bench - although that will be depend on how he's trained.
United: De Gea; Rafael, Carrick, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Scholes, Cleverley, Nani; Kagawa; Rooney.

Gemma Thompson: It's arguably harder than ever to guess Sir Alex’s XI following some exciting summer acquisitions and the return to fitness of key men; choosing the front six is by far the trickiest part. Kagawa has already shown promising signs, while fit-again Tom Cleverley excelled for England alongside Michael Carrick last week. No doubt we'll see our new No.20 make an appearance off the bench at some stage, but who's to say Sir Alex won't spring a surprise and start him?
United: De Gea; Rafael, Carrick, Vidic, Evra; Cleverley, Scholes, Kagawa; Valencia, Rooney, Young.

James Tuck: I reckon Carrick will fill in for Ferdinand at centre-back, so Cleverley will start in midfield. The rest of the front six hinges on whether Kagawa makes his debut; I think he will, just behind Wayne Rooney – so van Persie starts on the bench. Games at Everton are often tight so I’ve picked a team with plenty of attacking threats.
United: De Gea; Valencia, Carrick, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Scholes, Cleverley, Young; Kagawa, Rooney.

Nick Coppack: I think Sir Alex's selection will be governed by the fitness of his players. In the main, those who have played most during pre-season will get the nod on Monday night. Energy and sharpness could be key in this first fixture, so there's no point fielding anybody who's not quite match-fit. I expect van Persie to come on as a late substitute if United are in the driving seat.
United: De Gea; Rafael, Carrick, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Kagawa, Cleverley, Nani; Rooney, Hernandez.

Paul Davies: To play the new boys or to not play the new boys – that is the big question for Sir Alex. The defence picks itself due to injury, Cleverley and Paul Scholes will combine energy with experience but it's up front that the boss has to start dealing with the (wonderful) headache van Persie's arrival has created. I suspect he'll go for star of pre-season, Kagawa, over the Dutchman – although the latter will undoubtedly step off a strong bench.
United: De Gea; Rafael, Carrick, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Cleverley, Scholes, Nani; Rooney, Kagawa.

Steve Bartram: Rio’s rumoured injury has thrown a spanner in the works, so the question is whether or not Jonny Evans is fit enough to start tonight. If not, then Carrick will have to drop to central defence, giving Cleverley the chance to partner Scholes in a midfield two. I’d then expect Kagawa to play off Rooney. If, however, Evans starts then Carrick will shunt up with Scholes, Cleverley will push forward, leaving a choice between Kagawa and Nani for the wide-left berth. I expect the selection to be driven by fitness, and the vast majority of this starting XI have had plenty of pre-season minutes with United or at the Olympics.
United: De Gea; Rafael, Vidic, Carrick, Evra; Cleverley, Scholes; Valencia, Kagawa, Nani; Rooney.

 

[ARUKIDNME]

Roll was right NO RVP to start but still a challenge with Kagawa.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Neville, Osman, Fellaini, Pienaar, Gibson, Jelavic.

United: De Gea; Valencia, Carrick, Vidic, Evra, Scholes, Cleverley, Nani; Kagawa; Rooney, Welbeck.

 

[varkeyboy]

Congrats on Everton!

 

[ARUKIDNME]

Wednesday Aug 22, 2012
2:45pm ET

Chelsea vs. Reading

Let me begin by saying Di Matteo has proven himself by taking The Blues to the CL Final and winning. But that was half a season and their have been changes. He wants to desperately win the home opener and win BIG.

Chelsea put on a full assault on Wigan in the opening 10 minutes then slowed the match down after securing a two goal lead on the road. They could have destroyed Wigan but chose to dictate a slow pace and possession. I am sure they did this knowing full well they were playing Wednesday at home. I don’t expect that strategy again today.

Reading will battle hard and likely be chasing Chelsea on the scoreboard most of the match. But I don’t expect Chelsea to take their foot off the pedal at home in the opener. RDM will want to send a message, “I deserve the manager’s role.”

I believe we won’t see a Man City vs. Southampton fiasco by the home side today, Chelsea will not allow it.

The Royals have made it clear in some statements leading up to this mis-match…………….

(The following Reading excerpts are from ESPN’s Web Site)

“Reading have vowed to throw everything at Chelsea.”

“With the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar bearing down on them, the Royals would be forgiven for playing defensively in the hope of salvaging a draw, but Reading midfielder Mikele Leigertwood insists the underdogs will go on the attack in west London.”

Last season Swansea's enterprising game saw them take points off Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, and Leigertwood thinks his team should employ the same approach against Roberto Di Matteo's side tomorrow evening. "You can't go in to any games fearing teams or sitting back. You have to attack and put teams under pressure and I'm sure we'll do that,'' Leigertwood told a press conference.

"We have pace in the side and strength up front with Pog (Pavel Pogrebnyak).”

"We'll play with a high tempo and that will be good for us.

"We want to give a good account of ourselves and go there and win hopefully.”

So what does this all mean................ open football and plenty of goals, IMHO!!! At least I hope so!

Chelsea vs. Reading Over 3 (-115) 3 Units

!~))!

 

[varkeyboy]

Let's see some goals, ARUK!!!

 

[DialSquares]

i was tempted to back chelsea -2 because of the tasty odds but it seems winning by 2 is tough for them at home. Something like 3 home wins by 2+ in their last 15 league matches. They were playing CL so perhaps it reflects their struggles in the EPL and Hazard might fit in well. I like the over so i'll ride along - reading might as well win the match for the shock effect. Good luck

 

[ARUKIDNME]

I don't see them holding back at home like they did Saturday. It seems the line move is indicating just that. They want to give Reading a baptism by fire. Welcome to the EPL.

After Southampton's scare a City, The Blues will not want to take any chances.

 

[varkeyboy]

This was an EXCITING game to watch w/ plenty of goals to spare! Thank you ARUK for another 3 UNIT afternoon winner. You have been setting up my evenings....basically....i am already profit for my entire day. Thanks!

 

[ARUKIDNME]

Thanks for the boost of confidence Varkey. So far so good Week 1.

EPL 7-0
La Liga 1-0
Champ League 3-0
Turkish Superlig 1 Push but rarely play this.

Will it last??? LOL See you Saturday but I may have a Europa League tomorrow but not 100% sure about it yet. May take the day off to play your NFLx SU Dog winners. (;