Six Days and Twelve Games
Monday, November 27, 2006
After a weekend of exciting fixtures and key results across the globe, the footballing world more or less had a day off on Monday (my apologies to the hardcore Serie B and 2nd Bundesliga fans). But over the next six days, there will be important matches - local derbies, cup ties, potential relegation battles, as well as top of the table duels - and this guide will let you know where to keep your attention focused between now and Sunday afternoon.
Tuesday
1) The first match deserving your attention will be at Vicarage Road where Watford will host fellow relegation zone inhabitants, Sheffield United. These two newly promoted clubs have found life in the Premiership anything but easy, and through 27 games have combined for a meager 19 points. That would only be good enough for 11th in the table due to a goal differential of -20. Pitted against each other in what has to be considered a must win game for both managers, there should be plenty of fireworks.
Verdict: Adrian Boothroyd's men have only lost once at home in all competitions this season, and that was to Man U back in August when player of the month Ryan Giggs put the Red Devils back on top in the second half of a very competitive match. Watford wins 2-1 and Sheffield United are forced to seek consolation in their next match up.
Wednesday
The midweek fixtures in the Premiership keep the attention focused in England, as two matches in particular deserve a closer look.
2) Bolton's form had been woeful since their last league win on October 22nd before trouncing the visiting Gunners at the Reebok over the weekend 3 to 1. The win moved them to third in the table and feeling good about the production coming from their three-headed attack of Anelka, Davies, and El-Hadji Diouf. Next into town will be another London club and defending champions, Chelsea.
After a much-deserved equalizing goal from Ricardo Carvalho saw the Blues keep within three points of league leaders Manchester United, Chelsea, much like Sam Allardyce's men will be hard pressed not to fall victim to the dreaded let down game. Spirits were certainly higher for the boys from Bolton following their three point scalp of Arsenal, but Jose Mourinho's men must also guard against a lackluster display on Wednesday.
Verdict: Chelsea has proven to be almost ceaselessly mentally prepared for every challenge set before them with Mourinho at the helm. Allardyce also seems to find ways to get enough good results from a less than jaw-dropping squad sheet to keep his club in the top half of the table. This one ends in a draw, 1-1.
3) The other enticing Wednesday fixture in the Premiership is the first London derby between Fulham and Arsenal this season. While this match doesn't bring the same heated rivalry as their respective duels against closer neighbors Chelsea and Tottenham, this game will still be worth keeping an eye on.
Neither club has shown marked improvement over inconsistent league form from last year and seem to be stuck in similar funks again in this campaign. Which Gunners club will arrive in West London: the same side that lost at the City of Manchester Stadium, or the squad that won at Old Trafford? And after last year's success at Craven Cottage and nearly hapless attempts away from home, Fulham are still looking for any modicum of consistency. Will Chris Coleman send out the same bunch that beat Everton at home, or will their evil twins who lost to Reading this weekend rear their heads again?
Verdict: In an upset and a healthy dose of wishful thinking, I'm looking for the home side to squeak out a win, 1-0.
Thursday:
Enough of this Anglophile stuff.
4) Besides plenty of action in the UEFA Cup, tonight's big match up in the pits Pachuca of Mexico against Colo Colo of Chile in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final. Despite playing at home, Pachuca will be at a slight disadvantage heading into the match. Due to the domestic league playoffs, the club is scheduled to play Toluca the night before. Assuming they field entirely different lineups, it will be interesting to see which game is given precedence. It is still hard to imagine how the schedulers could create such a headache to begin with, but what can they do?
Verdict: Without knowing who will be available to suit up for the home side, a certain amount of the home field advantage is certainly forfeited. Colo Colo has been far from intimidating away from home in domestic play, but very efficient in the tournament. I think the Chileans will get the all important away goal, but the first leg will end in a draw, 1-1.
Friday:
5) If you like local derbies, Friday's big showdown is for you. Sporting Lisboa will be hosting cross-town rivals Benfica at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the Portuguese capital. A win for the hosts would move them to the top of the table heading into the weekend, whereas a win by the visitors would pull them within six points (and they will still have a game in hand) of current leaders, Porto.
Verdict: Simao will get a cross into the box for Nuno Gomes, who will head the ball down for the hard-charging Angolan substitute, Mantorras, whose left footed drive will wrong-foot Sporting 'keeper Ricardo and end up the match winner. Benfica wins, 3-2.
Saturday
The biggest day of action this week features two intriguing derbies, a death match, and three top of the table clashes.
Derbies
Local rivalries will be rekindled when 6) Tottenham Hotspur travels for the first time to the Emirates Stadium and 7) Porto plays host to Boavista in Portugal.
As for the real London derby, Spurs have been playing good football of late at White Heart Lane, but their away form has been dreadful all season. And as pointed out earlier, Arsenal have been far from reliable (did I mention the draw at home to Newcastle followed by a loss to Bolton?), regardless of locale. I think both clubs will remember how to play their best game when they take the pitch on Saturday.
Verdict: Just because I really, really hope it comes true, I'll say Tottenham wins in a wild one, 3-2.*
*This result could change on account of mysterious food poisoning or some other form of unsportsmanlike conduct on behalf of Arsenhole.
In the other cross-town clash, I don't see Boavista managing anything better than a share of the points. Now, if it were a contest for the coolest stadium, I might give them a slight edge. But the Dragao is pretty amazing in its own right. And when it fills up on Saturday, the home supporters will walk away winners. 2-1, Porto.
Death match
Let's just say for the sake of argument, that I am correct and Watford defeats Sheffield United on Tuesday. That would make 8) United's next match against last place Charlton all the more pivotal. Losing two relegation battles in one week would surely spell doom for Neil Warnock and company. Charlton are hoping to find some positives after the departure of Iain Dowie (besides the obvious benefit of the departure of Iain Dowie). A share of the points against Everton was a good sta
rt, but this match will tell us a lot about the future of both of these clubs in England's top flight division.
Verdict: With one team potentially coming off a loss and playing desperate football and the other coming in with more self-belief under a new manager, these two rather unimpressive sides will cancel each other out. Darren Bent continues scoring, but so does Rob Hulse, and it ends 1-1, helping neither side reach safety.
Top o' the Table
In Germany, title contenders 9) Werder Bremen will play hosts to the surprising Hertha Berlin, while down in Mexico, 10) Club America will take on Guadalajara in the second leg of their semifinal playoff, and way out East, 11) first place Urawa Reds will host second place Gamba Osaka in Japan.
Bremen have managed to surface near the top of the Bundesliga through the first 14 fixtures as well as position themselves to escape the Group of Death in Champions League play at the expense of title holders Barcelona. They play an attractive style of football and are loaded with top class talent. They will be playing host to the capital club that hasn't won a ton on its travels yet, but has consistently found ways to earn points.
Verdict: Bremen prove to be a cut above Hertha and win convincingly, 2-0.
Down in Mexico, Saturday's game will be the return leg after Wednesday night's game in Guadalajara (second leg fixtures are just more exciting, I think). It's anyone's guess what the result midweek will be.
Verdict: You gotta like the Goats, right? Usually, I'd say yes, but I think America's superior away form will give them the leg up heading home for the rematch. 3-2 aggregate.
When it comes to J League clashes, anything involving traveling to Saitama Stadium
is perilous business. Urawa have not lost at home this season, in no small part due to their fanatical supporters, and I just don't think Gamba will have enough to get the
job done.
Verdict: I like the Reds chances of locking up another league title with a convincing effort against their nearest challengers. 3-1 Urawa.
Sunday
The best match on the 3rd will be 12) Toluca at home against Pachuca, who will come in drained after the first leg of this semifinal series as well as the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final. How much energy and focus the visitors can muster will be something to keep an eye on.
Verdict: There is simply no way Toluca should let this match up slip away from them. Three games in five days should leave their opponents fatigued and given the nature of those games, banged up as well. I like Toluca to run away with this one, especially with Pachuca's primary concern being the Copa final. 4-2 on aggregate.
And that my friends is how the next six days are going to shape up (give or take a few UEFA Cup games, mind you.) Enjoy!
Pics courtesy of 4thegame.com, some Urawa supporter, spurodyssey.com, slbenfica.pt, bbc.co.uk, aljazeera.net, and mweb.co.zw.
Tuesday
1) The first match deserving your attention will be at Vicarage Road where Watford will host fellow relegation zone inhabitants, Sheffield United. These two newly promoted clubs have found life in the Premiership anything but easy, and through 27 games have combined for a meager 19 points. That would only be good enough for 11th in the table due to a goal differential of -20. Pitted against each other in what has to be considered a must win game for both managers, there should be plenty of fireworks.
Verdict: Adrian Boothroyd's men have only lost once at home in all competitions this season, and that was to Man U back in August when player of the month Ryan Giggs put the Red Devils back on top in the second half of a very competitive match. Watford wins 2-1 and Sheffield United are forced to seek consolation in their next match up.
Wednesday
The midweek fixtures in the Premiership keep the attention focused in England, as two matches in particular deserve a closer look.
2) Bolton's form had been woeful since their last league win on October 22nd before trouncing the visiting Gunners at the Reebok over the weekend 3 to 1. The win moved them to third in the table and feeling good about the production coming from their three-headed attack of Anelka, Davies, and El-Hadji Diouf. Next into town will be another London club and defending champions, Chelsea.
After a much-deserved equalizing goal from Ricardo Carvalho saw the Blues keep within three points of league leaders Manchester United, Chelsea, much like Sam Allardyce's men will be hard pressed not to fall victim to the dreaded let down game. Spirits were certainly higher for the boys from Bolton following their three point scalp of Arsenal, but Jose Mourinho's men must also guard against a lackluster display on Wednesday.
Verdict: Chelsea has proven to be almost ceaselessly mentally prepared for every challenge set before them with Mourinho at the helm. Allardyce also seems to find ways to get enough good results from a less than jaw-dropping squad sheet to keep his club in the top half of the table. This one ends in a draw, 1-1.
3) The other enticing Wednesday fixture in the Premiership is the first London derby between Fulham and Arsenal this season. While this match doesn't bring the same heated rivalry as their respective duels against closer neighbors Chelsea and Tottenham, this game will still be worth keeping an eye on.
Neither club has shown marked improvement over inconsistent league form from last year and seem to be stuck in similar funks again in this campaign. Which Gunners club will arrive in West London: the same side that lost at the City of Manchester Stadium, or the squad that won at Old Trafford? And after last year's success at Craven Cottage and nearly hapless attempts away from home, Fulham are still looking for any modicum of consistency. Will Chris Coleman send out the same bunch that beat Everton at home, or will their evil twins who lost to Reading this weekend rear their heads again?
Verdict: In an upset and a healthy dose of wishful thinking, I'm looking for the home side to squeak out a win, 1-0.
Thursday:
Enough of this Anglophile stuff.
4) Besides plenty of action in the UEFA Cup, tonight's big match up in the pits Pachuca of Mexico against Colo Colo of Chile in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final. Despite playing at home, Pachuca will be at a slight disadvantage heading into the match. Due to the domestic league playoffs, the club is scheduled to play Toluca the night before. Assuming they field entirely different lineups, it will be interesting to see which game is given precedence. It is still hard to imagine how the schedulers could create such a headache to begin with, but what can they do?
Verdict: Without knowing who will be available to suit up for the home side, a certain amount of the home field advantage is certainly forfeited. Colo Colo has been far from intimidating away from home in domestic play, but very efficient in the tournament. I think the Chileans will get the all important away goal, but the first leg will end in a draw, 1-1.
Friday:
5) If you like local derbies, Friday's big showdown is for you. Sporting Lisboa will be hosting cross-town rivals Benfica at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the Portuguese capital. A win for the hosts would move them to the top of the table heading into the weekend, whereas a win by the visitors would pull them within six points (and they will still have a game in hand) of current leaders, Porto.
Verdict: Simao will get a cross into the box for Nuno Gomes, who will head the ball down for the hard-charging Angolan substitute, Mantorras, whose left footed drive will wrong-foot Sporting 'keeper Ricardo and end up the match winner. Benfica wins, 3-2.
Saturday
The biggest day of action this week features two intriguing derbies, a death match, and three top of the table clashes.
Derbies
Local rivalries will be rekindled when 6) Tottenham Hotspur travels for the first time to the Emirates Stadium and 7) Porto plays host to Boavista in Portugal.
As for the real London derby, Spurs have been playing good football of late at White Heart Lane, but their away form has been dreadful all season. And as pointed out earlier, Arsenal have been far from reliable (did I mention the draw at home to Newcastle followed by a loss to Bolton?), regardless of locale. I think both clubs will remember how to play their best game when they take the pitch on Saturday.
Verdict: Just because I really, really hope it comes true, I'll say Tottenham wins in a wild one, 3-2.*
*This result could change on account of mysterious food poisoning or some other form of unsportsmanlike conduct on behalf of Arsenhole.
In the other cross-town clash, I don't see Boavista managing anything better than a share of the points. Now, if it were a contest for the coolest stadium, I might give them a slight edge. But the Dragao is pretty amazing in its own right. And when it fills up on Saturday, the home supporters will walk away winners. 2-1, Porto.
Death match
Let's just say for the sake of argument, that I am correct and Watford defeats Sheffield United on Tuesday. That would make 8) United's next match against last place Charlton all the more pivotal. Losing two relegation battles in one week would surely spell doom for Neil Warnock and company. Charlton are hoping to find some positives after the departure of Iain Dowie (besides the obvious benefit of the departure of Iain Dowie). A share of the points against Everton was a good sta
rt, but this match will tell us a lot about the future of both of these clubs in England's top flight division.Verdict: With one team potentially coming off a loss and playing desperate football and the other coming in with more self-belief under a new manager, these two rather unimpressive sides will cancel each other out. Darren Bent continues scoring, but so does Rob Hulse, and it ends 1-1, helping neither side reach safety.
Top o' the Table
In Germany, title contenders 9) Werder Bremen will play hosts to the surprising Hertha Berlin, while down in Mexico, 10) Club America will take on Guadalajara in the second leg of their semifinal playoff, and way out East, 11) first place Urawa Reds will host second place Gamba Osaka in Japan.
Bremen have managed to surface near the top of the Bundesliga through the first 14 fixtures as well as position themselves to escape the Group of Death in Champions League play at the expense of title holders Barcelona. They play an attractive style of football and are loaded with top class talent. They will be playing host to the capital club that hasn't won a ton on its travels yet, but has consistently found ways to earn points.
Verdict: Bremen prove to be a cut above Hertha and win convincingly, 2-0.
Down in Mexico, Saturday's game will be the return leg after Wednesday night's game in Guadalajara (second leg fixtures are just more exciting, I think). It's anyone's guess what the result midweek will be.
Verdict: You gotta like the Goats, right? Usually, I'd say yes, but I think America's superior away form will give them the leg up heading home for the rematch. 3-2 aggregate.
When it comes to J League clashes, anything involving traveling to Saitama Stadium
is perilous business. Urawa have not lost at home this season, in no small part due to their fanatical supporters, and I just don't think Gamba will have enough to get the
job done.Verdict: I like the Reds chances of locking up another league title with a convincing effort against their nearest challengers. 3-1 Urawa.
Sunday
The best match on the 3rd will be 12) Toluca at home against Pachuca, who will come in drained after the first leg of this semifinal series as well as the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final. How much energy and focus the visitors can muster will be something to keep an eye on.
Verdict: There is simply no way Toluca should let this match up slip away from them. Three games in five days should leave their opponents fatigued and given the nature of those games, banged up as well. I like Toluca to run away with this one, especially with Pachuca's primary concern being the Copa final. 4-2 on aggregate.
And that my friends is how the next six days are going to shape up (give or take a few UEFA Cup games, mind you.) Enjoy!
Pics courtesy of 4thegame.com, some Urawa supporter, spurodyssey.com, slbenfica.pt, bbc.co.uk, aljazeera.net, and mweb.co.zw.
posted by Brian at 11/27/2006 09:40:00 PM 
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