Sport
MICHAEL OWEN vs THE £10,000,000 COLOSSUS
Michael Owen attacks the Colossus
In my season-opening piece, I have actually tipped Bournemouth to be relegated in 18th place but I reckon Eddie Howe’s newly-promoted side could at least get their Premier League campaign off to a flying start with a home win over Aston Villa.
And where Bournemouth are involved this season I think it is reasonable to expect goals. They played a very positive brand of football in winning the Championship, scoring 98 goals in 46 matches, so I am going to take the Cherries to win either 3-2 or 2-1, with Any Other Draw (AOD) included in my perm.
Where promoted teams like Bournemouth tend to suffer is in the later part of the season when injuries kick in, and Howe has decided to rely largely on last season’s squad, only bringing in six new players.
But at least their familiarity may pay dividends in the opening weeks of the campaign and they only lost three home games in a hugely-competitive Championship last season.
Aston Villa obviously improved no end under Tim Sherwood but he has suffered a big blow in losing Benteke and Delph in the summer, and Villa did lose 12 of their 19 fixtures on the road last season. I think a draw could be the most that they will get out of this game.
I also think it could also be good news for the Championship play-off winners Norwich as they host Crystal Palace, and my three correct score line fancies here are 1-1, AOD and 2-1.
Watford could well end up propping the table come May – just as they have done on their previous Premier League visits – and Everton could give them a less-than-welcome return at Goodison Park. I take Everton to win 3-1, 3-0 or Any Other Home (AOH),
Unlike their fellow promoted teams, Watford have opted for wholesale change, both in terms of players and a new manager, on their return to the top flight.
They may take time to gel then, and Everton could be the first beneficiaries, even if they proved very disappointing in only finishing 11th last season.
But I’m sure their Europa League participation had plenty to do with that, and you can expect much better from them without the burden of Thursday night football.
Like Bournemouth, Norwich have made minimal signings in the summer, so they should at least hit the ground running. And they did end the season as probably the form team in the Championship.
It won’t be easy against Palace, who did remarkably well to finish tenth in the league after Alan Pardew took over the reins in the New Year with them sitting in 18pth place, and they actually had a better record on the road. too. I just favour Norwich if there is to be a winner here, but a scoring draw is my main fancy.
Chelsea weren’t at their best in losing 1-0 to Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend but they certainly were when beating eighth-placed Swansea 5-0 away last season, having beaten them 4-2 in this fixture beforehand.
Chelsea’s phenomenal home record – 14 wins and five draws, conceding just nine goals – tells you what you need to know here and I think Mourinho will be looking for a statement of intent from his players after that Wembley loss.
I take Chelsea 3-0 and Any Other Home (AOH).
I think better times are head for Newcastle this season under Steve McClaren – well, they could hardly get much worse after narrowly avoiding relegation – and they can get their new campaign off to winning start by beating Southampton 2-1 or 1-0.
McClaren has been backed in the transfer window with three expensive signings, while Saints have been raided again, most notably losing Schneiderlin and Clyne. And they have also lost their loan signing Alderweireld, and keeper Fraser Forster is out injured.
Last season’s league positions suggests Southampton should be winning this, but the summer activity leads me to favour Newcastle.
Stoke excelled in finishing ninth last season, with 10 of their 15 league wins coming at home, with some notable scalps among those successes, too.
Liverpool will need no reminding that they were arguably the most notable in a 6-1 humiliation on the last day of the season, but at least that will incentivise the Reds to put in a show here, not that they should need any motivation.
The loss of Begovic and N’zonzi could hit Stoke hard, in stark contrast to Brendan Rogers apparently capturing all of his summer targets with weeks to spare. Liverpool weren’t great away from home last season but I see them winning this 1-0 and 2-1.
West Brom are likely to be a solid middle-to-lower half side again this season under Tony Pulis, and they have a decent strike force with Berahino and Liverpool signing Rickie Lambert.
But as much as I think Man City will struggle in their title challenge, they will probably see off a West Brom side they beat 6-1 on aggregate in their two league fixtures last season, although it may not be easy. I take City 2-1 here.
