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It’s not the destination, it’s the journey
We have yet to get four out of four in our Weekly JOE Group Bet, but as a group we feel like we are getting closer and closer with each passing attempt.
There’s no time for dwelling on things though, as we have a new set of fixtures coming in midweek. Few things are better than a full midweek fixture list; it feels like you’ve been given a free day, out of nowhere.
So we will make the most of this opportunity and have another go.
Dark Horse – Matt: BTTS in Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea are in chaos at the moment. Their manager Maurizio Sarri appears to be in a perpetual state of pressure, while the controversial decision of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizbalaga to disobey his manager’s substitution during the Carabao Cup final has not exactly calmed things down at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs are in significantly better shape than the Blues, but their defeat to Burnley last weekend has left their outside chances of winning the title even less likely.
As such, I think this may be a game where both sides simply go for it. Tottenham are likely guaranteed a Champions League place, and will want to beat Sarri’s side. Chelsea meanwhile just need a result. It’s either going to be very tight or very open, and I think it will be very open.
Fan Boy – Si: Manchester United to beat Crystal Palace
Given the run of form that Manchester United are on right now under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, there are few teams that I cannot see us beating. When the team we’re facing is mired in the bottom half of the table that is doubly the case.
We were extremely unlucky last time out against Liverpool. Three substitutions forced by injury in the first 45 minutes of a game is freakish, and I was pleased with how we held firm and even took the game to Liverpool at points despite being figuratively (and sometimes literally) on our knees.
Against Palace things should be a little less like a battlefield, and providing we have most key players fit, I think we’re going to have enough about us to defeat them.
Captain Obvious – Reuben: Over 2.5 goals in Manchester City vs West Ham United
This sounds a bit simplistic but in truth, it sort of is. Manchester City are really, really good and West Ham are really, really mercurial. They can be brilliant and they can be equally awful, making them a frustrating watch for their fans often.
Whether they are good or bad on Wednesday will likely be mostly irrelevant because of Manchester City’s quality. City have won their last six matches against the Hammers, scoring less than three goals only once in that run.
On top of this, City will be buoyant after their league cup win. I fully expect their current run of form (both in general and against West Ham) to continue this week, and City to dispatch them with minimum fuss.
The Stat Man – Wayne: Southampton to beat Fulham
Fulham entered the Premier League this season looking like they could surprise a few people. At this stage of the season however it looks like the only surprise will be how poor they have been.
Signing an inordinate amount of players is rarely a good idea, and that has proven to be the case for the Cottagers, who have failed to find any cohesion this season at all. Southampton have struggled too, and sit above Fulham in the relegation zone, but they are at least in better shape than the side they host at the weekend.
Fulham beat the Saints in the reverse of this fixture in November, but any momentum gained from their decent results this season has been negated by the fact that they have lost 18 games.
They have won just two out of their last eight league games – half of their entire league wins this term – and while Southampton have lost two on the bounce, they are their only defeats in their past six matches.
Add to this the fact that Southampton are not cut adrift at the bottom of the league, and I think the home side will take the points here.
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