Match Day 22

Sitting Mid-Table at 3-5 makes me feel more like a team fighting against regulation rather than a team that with one good week could be fighting for the top spot. Mid pack is not a bad place to be, if your Fulham, but I'm trying to make it big and win the whole damn thing. Before I predict i would like to share some transfer season thoughts:

1. Arsenal has done nothing. Surprise, Surprise. If the Gunners bring in no new blood I am predicting that the will not finish in the top four. No Champions League and no Champions League money. This might hurt.
2. Manchester City will get Kaka. Wow is one man worth $145 million. I can not believe that Kaka will make that much of a difference. mainly because he doesn't play central defense. This team leaks goals and could use a major addition to the defense. maybe like the big ole American Oguchi Onyewu.
3. I suspect that Mr. O'Neill down at Aston Villa has a trick or two up his sleeve and will produce at least one big time transfer to the Villains.

Now on to this week:

Hull 1 - 1 Arsenal
This match is a big replay from the one that put little Hull City on the Premier League map. I have to believe that Arsenal must win this game and Hull would be ecstatic with a draw. One moment of brilliance for Hull and 90 minutes of frustration and missed opportunities for the Gunners. This might be the dropped points that mean a missed top four spot for Arsenal.

Tottenham 2-1 Portsmouth
Harry versus his old team, Defoe suiting up against former teammates and a couple of teams that need and I mean in the most desperate way, need the three points. Defoe gets one against his old team and paves the way for Portsmouth to drop. Portsmouth is playing a like a sinking ship and all the players know it. You can just imagine Peter Crouch's agent calling every EPL team about a summer transfer, right now. Harry Redknapp knows this Portsmouth team weaknesses and will exploit them. Oh what are those weaknesses: zero pace up front and in the back, little experience in the mid-field and a manager who is way in over his head. Expect the Spurs to play fast the whole game and wear this team out.

Liverpool 1-0 Everton
This is going to be a very chippy Merseyside Derby. Liverpool need a win just to keep pace with a Manchester United team who has one game in hand. Everton needs this win to stay on pace for a UEFA Cup spot. This game with be played with a nasty, physical bite to it. Everton have very limited options up front and I hope Mr. Benitez realizes that Everton will not be an attacking force and plays Keane and Torres up front together. The only question will be how long the Everton defense and primarily Mr. Timmy Turrets keeps a clean sheet. If Tim Howard stand son his head he could keep Everton in it all the way. But I don't see that happening.

Sunderland 0-3 Aston Villa
Three simple words: To Much Pace. And Aston Villa controls it all. I have visions of Usain Bolt versus me as the perfect example for this match. Sunderland will keep 10 behind the ball and hope not to get run over. Which will not be the case. Barry, Young, Milner, Agbonlehor, Petrov will all play puppet master with the Sunderland defense. This will be a must win for Aston Villa's top four aspirations and they will not disappoint.

Manchester City 3 - 1 Wigan
According to the form guide Wigan is the fourth best team in the EPL over the past 6 matches. Raise your hand if you believe that. Oh by the way ManCity sits 14th in the form guide. City have too much talent, Hughes is to good of a manager, and at some point you have to believe that they will put it all together and make a run at the top ten. Well at least I think they have to. With it looking more and more likely that Mr. Kaka will join the citizens, the team will play with confidence and swagger. Robinho will run around so much it will make the Wigan defense dizzy. The Citizens in a run away.

Until next time remember to always eat after you pick.......................your nose!