Sanford's Premiership Predictions

If Lawro can do it and only get one match correct on occasional weeks then I figure I can give it a go. Things are slow at the office at the moment so let’s take a crack at a few of the contests on offer this weekend…

Fulham vs. Everton

I always fancy Fulham at home and with Everton failing to win at Craven Cottage in 40 years I’ll stick with history on this one. Throw in that virus hopping about the Toffee camp and my vote is for a Fulham win.

2-1

Bolton vs. Wigan

As expected, Bolton has missed their captain Kevin Nolan and although they are at home, I think Wigan will prove difficult to beat. That said, I still think Bolton will win. Big Sam will have the lads ready to defend at the Reebok and although it will be the usual scrappy Bolton affair, they’ll pull it off – from set piece no doubt.

1-0

Liverpool vs. Reading

I really like Liverpool in this one, even though I don't approve of the gaffer's rotation policy. They’re at home and Reading lads appear to be falling back to Earth at great speed after a couple of successful months in the big time. I fear the visit to Anfield will overwhelm them.

4-1

Manchester United vs. Portsmouth

I’d like to think that Portsmouth could get a result here but that would be naïve. The Reds are starting to click and Rooney has broken his duck. This should be a lively encounter with plenty of action in both penalty areas. A late goal from Portsmouth will result in a score line that flatters them.

3-2

Newcastle vs. Sheffield United

Although this will kick off at St. James’ Park I can’t forecast a sunny afternoon for Geordie fans. Yes, the fixture list is crowded and yes that means times are tough. It also means Newcastle will fail to win: too many injuries and too much bad luck. This will be a drab encounter.

1-1

West Ham vs. Arsenal

I like Arsenal to continue their dominant play in the middle of the pitch and continue to have trouble finding the back of the net. They’ll still get a couple of goals, though. West Ham will keep it close but the Gunners will have too much for them in the end.

1-2

Right! That's it for this week. Tune in Monday to see how I fared. -Sanford

UEFA Cup Review: British teams top groups

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=389340&cc=5901

England: Latest Premier League news

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-england&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Inter aim to cement lead with win over Ascoli

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AvL5Ha.YC5Qr09xAllG6BS0mw7YF?slug=reu-italypreview&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Lawro's Premiership Predictions

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6094408.stm

Ronaldo defiant but feels a forgotten man by Capello

That's what happens when you get fat, slow, and old. Why is he so surprised? He and Cassano can go start their own team...

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fblbraesprealronaldo&prov=afp&type=lgns

South America tries to sweep violence under the carpet

Brian Homewood on the lack of concrete action by authorities to the constant violence at matches in Latin America...

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-column&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Wenger offering no explanation as Arsenal keep firing blanks

Gallas says it was God's will. I suppose that's one way to look at it...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,762-2435443,00.html

England: EPL Weekend Preview

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2436227,00.html

'Babydepor' snapping at heels of distracted Barca

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=An8hUjDjvXf5_UJBbJsgPqQmw7YF?slug=reu-spain_preview&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Friday's rumours

http://football.guardian.co.uk/rumourmill/index/0,,1938853,00.html

Feyenoord find fun amid the depression

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=389297&root=europe&cc=5901

Roeder bemoans fixture 'madness'

Glenn Roeder has hit out at a fixture list which has left his Newcastle side facing three matches in six days...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/6112648.stm

Does anyone actually care about the Uefa Cup?

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/02/does_anyone_actually_care_abou.html

Gunners Guilty of Gargantuan Gaffs

I'm not sure I've ever seen a match quite like this. The misses were so pronounced and so constant over the course of the 94 1/2 minutes. It was like some sort of Xtreme Arsenal, with them running completely rampant and causing CSKA all sorts of problems with their movement and precision but then failing so horribly in front of goal. Rosicky's "shot" (what do you call it?) was completely bizarre. Adding to the oddity of it all was the fact that Moscow did not score. When it is so one-sided yet the team dominating cannot score, it is almost inevitable that the team under pressure will get a counter attack goal. Vagner Love left Gallas for dead with a sick move but then allowed Lehman to make an exceptional save. I wonder if he had scored there if the floodgates would have opened and The Ars would have won 5-1? Probably not. Not on this night to remember.

Here's decent summation of the misses if you missed (sorry) the match:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1mKtqLCLKQ

-Sanford

Arsenal 0 - 0 CSKA Moscow

Arsenal set the bar in terms of wastefulness...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,762-2433774,00.html

Fabregas and Rosicky in Hall of Howlers

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,762-2433765,00.html

FC Copenhagen 1-0 Man Utd: Allback stuns United

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=205487&cc=5901

Champions League Wrap

Lyon and Real reach last 16 of Champions League...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=389166&cc=5901

CL Reflections: Least Productive Matchday For Brits

http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=159405

Champions League Best XI (Round 4)

http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=159152

Kevin Nolan column

The Bolton captain likes the foreign lads in the EPL...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6103004.stm

Benfica 3-0 Celtic: Caldwell shocker

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=205486&cc=5901

Lampard's goal vs. Chelsea

Sublime. Sheer class...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcvBXfTuJ_k

Richard Jolley at Anfield

Jolley takes in Liverpool's win over Bordeaux...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=388977&root=uefachampionsleague&cc=5901

Champions League Review: Werder leapfrog Barca

Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Valencia and PSV Eindhoven all advance to the Round of 16...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=388935&cc=5901

Mourinho hails dogged Drogba after Barca draw

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=389000&cc=5901

Roberto Gotta in Italy

It may sound like a broken record, but Italy is a country which wishes it was going nowhere fast.

That, at least, would be better than hurtling downhill towards moral and material disaster as it's been doing for a while. Of course, we have museums, beautiful natural and man-made scenery, art, monuments, beaches and the sea, but hey, we had those two hundred years ago, too, and we've barely moved an inch in the direction of ethical progress since...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=388838&root=europe&cc=5901

The final chapter looms for Cobi Jones

Time for Cobi to call it a day?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=388883&root=mls&cc=5901

Barça-Chelsea: Face Off

Player vs. Player - a breakdown...

http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=158623

Platini: “Henry Made A Mistake Not Signing For Barça”

http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=158563

Champions League Matchday 4 Preview: Groups E-H

http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=158410

Media poke fun at Spartak Moscow for metro ride to game

Traffic in Moscow can be such a bear. Why didn't they just hire a bunch of goons in black suits to close off the roads for them so they could cruise on by?

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AgCLkVrcM1DuSFFScU1cvmEmw7YF?slug=reu-championsspartak&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Tony Cascarino on Barcelona vs. Chelsea

The Times' columnist says the Chelsea forward epitomised the match’s character...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,283-2431921,00.html

A ballet of few treats amid a lot of tricking

More on Barcelona and Chelsea...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,283-2431919,00.html

Why Beckham must reinvent himself

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8305-2431459_1,00.html

Richard Williams on Barcelona and Chelsea

Italian referee Stefano Farina may have been spooked by Jose Mourinho's pre-match comments, but his bizarre decisions could not spoil a pulsating contest...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/01/farinas_flustering_cannot_foul.html

Phil Ball in Spain

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=388598&root=europe&cc=5901

James Richardson in Italy

Richardson looks back at a fantastic Milan Derby...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/10/31/inter_on_track_for_title_after.html

Manchester City 1 - 0 Middlesbrough

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,1935643,00.html

Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger in Germany

Uli says the Bundesliga is in serious danger of losing face in Europe...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=388619&root=europe&cc=5901

U.S. accepts invitation to Copa America

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=388729&cc=5901

The Eternal Woe Of Newcastle

It's tough being a Geordie...

http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=157756

Champions League Matchday 4 Preview: Groups A-D

http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=157331

CL Group A Preview: Barcelona - Chelsea

Here we go again...

http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=157547

Tuesday's rumours

http://football.guardian.co.uk/rumourmill/index/0,,1935836,00.html

Kevin McCarra on The Special One

Only victory will justify the 'devil' and his detail. Jose Mourinho's latest pre-match wind-up is evidence of a devilish desire to succeed...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/10/31/only_victory_will_justify_the_1.html

Everton Focus: Virus closes training ground

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1935583,00.html

Sid Lowe in Spain

Sid looks at the problems afflicting Real Sociedad...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/10/30/broken_sociedad_scene.html

Barclays English Premiership Table

Barclays Premiership Table

		P	GD	Pts
1	Man Utd	10	18	25
2	Chelsea	10	12	25
3	Bolton	10	2	20
4	Portsmouth	10	10	19
5	Arsenal	9	11	18
6	Everton	10	7	17
7	Aston Villa	10	3	15
8	Liverpool	10	0	14
9	Fulham	10	-4	13
10	Reading	10	-5	13
11	Blackburn	10	-3	12
12	Tottenham	10	-4	12
13	Man City	10	-6	12
14	Wigan	9	1	11
15	Middlesbrough	10	-5	11
16	West Ham	10	-6	8
17	Newcastle	10	-6	8
18	Watford	10	-6	6
19	Sheff Utd	10	-10	6
20	Charlton	10	-9	5

The Insider at the Emirates Stadium

Dropped points frustrates Wenger...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=388134&root=england&cc=5901

Germany: Bundesliga match reports

Bremen put six past Mainz, poor showing for Keller in loss...

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-germanyreports&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Spain: Primera Liga reports

Wins for Barcelona and Real Madrid while Valencia lose...

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-spainreports&prov=reuters&type=lgns

English Premier League Reports

http://soccer-europe.com/EPL/Reports/Round10.html

Serie A: Late winner puts Palermo level with Inter

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=388474&cc=5901

West Ham end losing run with win over Blackburn

A goal for Old Man Teddy...

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AgV8E4zZdGFJJXV6Dx_zMmcmw7YF?slug=reu-england&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Dazzling Diego the inspiration for relentless Werder

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/10/30/perfect_10.html

Arsenal Fans Upset Henry

http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=157186

Real Madrid's Cassano suspended from training

He's been quiet for far too long...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=388644&cc=5901

Hell hath no fury like a Desperate Wag scorned

Stop the press - Wags reckon footballers are overpaid, immature and egotisical...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/10/30/hell_hath_no_fury_like_a_despe.html