Month: March 2019

Premier League Predictions 2018/19: March 30th-April 1st

After the first international break of 2019 and with qualification for Euro 2020 underway, the Premier League returns for the first full set of fixtures in three weeks. Admittedly, I have been bad for keeping up with the posts as I’ve gone about several job applications; some more successful than others as I’ve at least got to interview stage but these are interesting times for me.

Anyway, I will make the updated full set of predictions across the season will be available at the end of the season as I have been comparing the predictions made by Paul Merson and Mark Lawrenson as well as making predictions of my own. That continues this weekend as we enter the home stretch of the 2018/19 season. As always, I will be using the scoring system from Sky’s Super 6 game with five points for the correct score and two for the correct result. read more

Premier League 2018/19 Predictions: 8 games to go.

As we near the end of March, it’s the first international break of 2019 and like I did last season, I thought I’d use the break to make my final predictions for the Premier League season. Most teams have 7 or 8 games left to play and there is still a lot up for grabs. Last season, I focused solely on the relegation battle and I will comment on that battle again. However, with the race for the top 4 hotly contested and a proper title race this season between Manchester City and Liverpool, I will make predictions on that too.

The Title Race!

There wasn’t really a title race last season as Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester City romped to the title in emphatic style as they scored over 100 goals and secured 100 points. This season has been different as Liverpool have fought them all the way. read more

Bottas roars to season-opening victory: 2019 Australian Grand Prix Review

Formula One returned for the first round of the 2019 season under a cloud but the racing at Albert Park Melbourne carried on and the questions coming into Australia was who would be quickest?

Circuit map of the Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne [Image from formula1.com]

Ferrari had been the quickest team in pre-season testing and it looked set to be a closely thought weekend with Mercedes and Ferrari split by just 0.070 seconds in the opening practice session. However, the pace of the Ferrari dwindled and it was a Mercedes dominated weekend with the reigning Constructors Champions securing a front-row lockout in a Qualifying hour that saw some surprises with track evolution catching some big names out. read more

F1 2019 Season Preview

The wait is over, the teams have got their driver line ups sorted, they’ve tested their new cars and this weekend, 20 drivers embark on the first race of the 2019 F1 World Championship in Albert Park, Melbourne. However, it starts under an aura of darkness after the shocking news that Race Director Charlie Whiting has passed away at the age of 66. The tributes to him will be covered in a future post given it happened so close to the start of the season.

This will be the 22nd time Australia has hosted the opening Grand Prix of the season since the event moved to Melbourne in 1995 and it is sure to kick start an exciting and action-packed season. Winning the opening race can be a huge boost for the teams for all their hard work during the winter and can set a driver up for a title hilt, but it has not been the be all and end all. read more

2018/19 Premier League Predictions: March 2nd-3rd.

What drama there was in the Carabao Cup final! After 120 minutes of stalemate, it got interesting in the final moments as Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to be substituted by his manager Maurizio Sarri. He remains on the pitch for the penalty shoot-out and even though he saved one of the spot kicks, he cost them that. The Aguero penalty should never have got passed him; instead, it went right under him. It is disgraceful and Sarri was right to drop him in midweek however, the PR campaign trying to remedy it with Kepa saying he never intended to undermine the manager has been painful. He knew exactly what he was doing, he wanted the glory and instead cost them a trophy while also Sarri his job in the long run…

However, last weekend did see drama in the Premier League with some big results. Burnley shocked everyone when they beat Spurs in the Saturday dinner time kick-off while I don’t think anyone saw Crystal Palace winning 4-1 at Leicester City. It proved to be the final straw for Leicester who sacked Claude Puel this week. There were thumping wins for Watford (5-1 at Cardiff) and West Ham who condemned Fulham to yet another defeat. There were good wins for Newcastle and Arsenal against Huddersfield and Southampton respectively. The televised Sunday game was disrupted by injuries as Manchester United and Liverpool fought out a goalless draw at Anfield. read more