Gribz

Good to have a game back this weekend even if it is the cup. The FA cup in England should do the same, have a break then first game back is the cup as it brings interest.

Tough predictions again this week. Didnt do to well last week, Watford let me down on my accumulator. A draw treble will be my coupon this week at Palace, Middlesboro and Stoke. Should get around 30/1 for that. Liverpool 2-0 Swansea Bournemouth 1-0 Watford Crystal Palace 1-1 Everton Middlesboro 0-0 West Ham Stoke 1-1 Man Utd West Brom 2-0 Sunderland Man City 1-1 Tottenham Southampton 1-0 Leicester Arsenal 2-0 Burnley Chelsea 4-1 Hull

Relegated would have meant playing in the 2nd tier.

If Gilks was to move on (which was rumoured a few weeks ago) then we could do a lot worse for a strong number 2 in McGregor.

Yesterday I thought Man Utd could get second if they beat Liverpool, they still could but they have made it difficult for themselves. Agree about Man City they need Hart back in goal and a new back 4. Its good to see Pep having it difficult for once, this is his first real test as a manager as previously he has had world beaters from 1-11. I wonder if he chose the wrong club in Manchester. There will be plenty changes. For the next 6 rounds of games there is a top 6 battle. 3 for Liverpool, 1 for Man Utd and 2 for the other 4 teams. Man City v Tottenham - 21st Jan Liverpool v Chelsea - 31st Jan Chelsea v Arsenal - 4th Feb Liverpool v Tottenham - 11th Feb Man City v Man Utd - 26th Feb Liverpool v Arsenal - 4th March

The players havent kicked a ball in over 2 weeks, its a friendly match away to a team who is challenging Bayern Munich for the title. A 4-0 defeat isnt anything to panic about. Tactics and effort is though if its brought back to when the league restarts.

What a thumping for Man City, well done Everton. The Toffees started the season so well and looked like a top 4 side but then fell off the track. Would be good to see them being a top 4 challenger to make a 7th good team. A draw is no use for Man Utd and it shows they are still missing something. Liverpool were unlucky for me, and despite not wanting them to win the league I was hoping they won that while watching it as I like Klopp. Chelsea just keep winning but I see them dropping points at Anfield in 2 weeks. Spurs look sensational but it will come down to consistency for them. They have just lost Vertonghen for a while which is a blow. I think Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs are going to be the top 3 that means a battle for 4th between Arsenal, Utd and City and I see Arsenal getting it. How huge would that be for the Manchester clubs missing out on top 4.

I still think Waghorn is capable of that. Now that he is back in the team he is scoring again. A full season upfront he would easily get to 18 IMO.

A few wrong yesterday though. I changed West Ham and had them on the accumulator with Hull and Watford, so the latter let me down. Didnt think Spurs and Arsenal would win so convincingly.

Just shy of a quid every second, unthinkable. Imagine a pound coin coming at you every second.

Can we see an article what he said?

Good to have the Premier back. My predictions this weekend. Tottenham 1-0 West Brom Burnley 1-1 Southampton Hull 1-0 Bournemouth Sunderland 1-1 Stoke Swansea 0-2 Arsenal Watford 1-0 Middlesboro West Ham 2-2 Palace Leicester 2-2 Chelsea Everton 1-2 Man City Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool Payet and Costa could cost West Ham and Chelsea wins this weekend. Both should be sold by their clubs. Payet is a disgrace and I hope West Ham call PSG and get 35 million for him. A trouble around previous clubs and pretty much unknown and he got a chance, ok he paid it back on the pitch but then got a bumper contract plus a 1 million bonus but after the Euro's he obviously had his head turned but the fact is NO CLUB came in for him in the summer and now he is refusing to play. I dont have a problem with him knocking on the managers door saying he wants to leave but in the mean time he will play and give 100% until a deal is done but to refuse to play is amateurish. On his day Payet will fit into Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool very well but the latter two wont go in for him. I can only see him going to PSG or Marseille this window. There is no point letting him sit in the reserves when West Ham can get a lump sum fee. Costa has done well this season but 576k a week in China has probably made him think about going. That amounts is understandable for someone who has won a few things in the game. But again the attitude is all wrong with this dis likable player. I wouldnt worry if he left the premier league.

A couple of them were decent prior to signing aswell.

Looking forward to seeing him sign tomorrow then it will be 2 positive additions and I wouldn't be surprised to see another coming in.

Its good to see non league players get a chance there is talent down the leagues. not all good potential gets seen as a youth. Ian Wright and Stuart Pearce are classic examples and recently Vardy.

Is the gap bigger now than it was in 1992-94? Celtic were regularly finishing around 4th for a few seasons while we look set to finished second in our FIRST season back. It took Celtic 2-3 years until 95-96 to really challenge and that's about the gap I expect us to be going for it also, not the 4-5 years that has been mentioned.

Agree, Derby v Leicester looks good. Pity the Liverpool (should they get past Plymouth) v Wolves game wasn't at Molineux, it would be a better tie. Southampton should get past Norwich and play Arsenal which is a good game. I quite like Millwall v Watford aswell.

Jeffers.... Jardel - but how I wish that one did go through.

Well done Plymouth another big pay day and a good day out for the 8600 fans. Just what Liverpool didnt need in January - a fixture pile up. They have this replay, a double header in the League cup v Southampton, and 3 league games including a trip to Old trafford.

If fit couldn't Crooks be turned into a centre half proper and save on a signing fee?

At the start of the season Id have agreed with you but Hill has started to play like the references he got and our full backs never let us down. Its only numbers we need to add in defence IMO. We are a full back short and if we could get a better centre half then Id be happy.

Funnily enough I looked at Spackmans stats not so long ago and was surprised he was at Rangers for 3 years. At that time I was staying in England, as well as being young I didn't get to see much highlights of Rangers never mind live games - but I always thought he was a defender not a midfielder. Gough is another who always still looks fit enough to play.

Like someone else said, once they are at Murray Park with training tops on I will believe it.

I probably should have added the guy Antonio has been superb but you would think McLeish is managing him, he has played right back, right wing, left wing and centre forward. Didn't think we would miss Moses and Valencia but its them along with Tomkins (the 3 out) who have been replaced by terrible additions what is a major cause on the field.

Good win for Derby at West Brom. Millwall thump Bournemouth. Leicester win at Goodison. Allardyce still without a win as he is held at old stomping ground.