First Day of EPL, First Predictions

Hi people,

Before I post my predictions, I would like to strongly encourage fellow pundits to bet with control. Although the matches can be analyzed, luck will still play a significant part. As the chinese saying goes, 'the ball is round' and anything can happen. All we can do is to bet on the matches with the highest winning probability by analzing the past results and present happenings which may affect the team.

As promised, I will now post the predictions which I am most confident with after analyzing all the matches. So, here goes...


Arsenal vs West Brom (0 : 1 3/4) - Arsenal to win by more than 2 goals.
This should be an exciting match to watch as both team are attack-minded. But, Arsenal should triumph by more than 2 goals at the end of 90mins.

Arsenal has a sturdy defense to reply on as their first team back 4 are all free of injuries. Centre defenders Toure and Captain William Gallas should do well to keep West Brom's attackers at bay while full-backs Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy will do well in ranpaging down the flanks to assist in the attack build-up.

Arsenal is not able to field Fabregas and Abou Diaby in this match as both are carrying short-term injuries. However, Arsenal's new signings, Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey are set to make their EPL debut along with Denilson and Eboue completing the midfield. Samir Nasri is a full international with the French squad and expect to see him perform.

Arsenal did well in retaining the services of Adebayor who was Arsenal's top scorer last season with 24 goals and Dutchman Robin Van Persie managed to play in Euro 2008 while keeping free from injuries. The lethal partnership of Adebayor and Van Persie plays with strength, skills and flair, will be too much for West Brom's defence.

As for West Brom, they have a number of injuries to their first team members, namely Luke Moore, Koren and Clement while new signing Zuiverloon is in Beijing for the Olympics. The absence of Clement, with new signing Abdoulaye Meite taking his place in the heart of defence will destablize the defence as they have not played together often enough to gain an understanding of each other's plays.

West Brom has also lost one of their most influential player in the form of Zoltan Gera, a Hungarian international, who moved on a free transfer to Fulham.

All the above points to a Arsenal win and winning in style they will.


Hull vs Fulham (0 : 0) - Fulham to win.
Recently promoted Hull vs regular relegation battler Fulham. However, there is a slight difference now and that is Fulham's manager Roy Hodgson. His tactical mastery and recent acquisition points to a season where their fans can finally cheer about and not suffer in silence, of the possibilty of the team you support may get relegated.

Goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer, Pascal Zuberbuhler and David Stockdale, defenders John Pantsil and Fredrik Stoor, midfielders Andranik Teymourian and Zoltan Gera and striker Bobby Zamora are all new signings at The Cottage.

Although Fulham will not have £10.5million new signing Andrew Johson available as he is injuried, Bobby Zamora, a proven quality in EPL should do well to score against Hull. Diomansy Kamara, David Healy and Brian McBride are all experienced strikers who will want to open their goal scoring account against Hull, a side not in top-flight since 104 years ago.

Fulham has much unchanged quality in midfield as Sean Davies, Clint Dempsey and Jimmy Bullard will run the show in the middle of the park. Throw in proven quality in the form of Hungarian international Zoltan Gera, Denmark international Leon Andreasen, experienced Danny Murphy and Alexey Smertin, I see a strong midfield who will overrun Hull in the middle of the park.

In the defense department, Fulham has Moritz Volz and Paul Konchesky, the 2 full-backs who will run riot overlapping the midfield to support the attack. Commanding Australian keeper, Mark Schwarzer will help marshal the defence and i expect him to keep a clean sheet. He is an undoubted quality with 11 years of EPL experience with Middlesbrough before signing for Fulham.

As for Hull, they have tried to sign players with EPL experience, namely defender Anthony Gardner, midfielder George Boateng and striker Marlon King. However, Hull manager Philip Brown has made eight new signings this season which would seriously unsettle the original team who won promotion to the top-flight. New signing would also new time to gel and gain understanding of teammate's movements. In the later part of the campaign, the new signings may prove to be a hit after the team gel together, but not the first match against a quality Fulham side.

Verdict: Fulham to win.


The above 2 matches are my most confident predictions. Happy Betting!