Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Each round of the 2009/10 English Premiership season, a panel of self-proclaimed Sport24 soothsayers have a crack at predicting the week’s results.
Compiled by Chief Writer Rob Houwing (2008/09 runner-up), with regular predictions also from Managing Editor Garrin Lambley (the defending champion), Content Producer Raymond Kilfoil, Commercial Manager David Brooke and former Bafana Bafana and AmaZulu striker George Dearnaley, you’ll seldom find us singing from the same song-sheet.
Occasionally we invite a celebrity guest tipster to have a crack at a round of matches; watch this space …
This week’s fixtures:
BIRMINGHAM v WIGAN
Saturday, 17:00
The home team for this one are just beginning to lose their way a tad … successive away defeats to West Ham and Fulham tell you as much. But back at St Andrews I fancy Birmingham to restore winning ways – especially as Wigan still harbour unpleasant memories of a 0-3 thumping at home to Spurs. It’s a full house for the Brummie win.
Rob: Birmingham 2 Wigan 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 2-1
David: 1-0
George: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable
BOLTON v WOLVES
Saturday, 17:00
A real basement scrap, this one, which may become crucial in determining who takes the drop this year. That’s why I fancy a cat-and-mouse goalless draw, although there are some takers (Dave and George) for the vital Bolton win. Both outfits lost last weekend, although the Trotters crashing 3-0 at Blackburn was especially ominous.
Rob: Bolton 0 Wolves 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-1
George: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
BURNLEY v PORTSMOUTH
Saturday, 17:00
Burnley are deep in trouble and leaked five goals at Villa last Sunday – not a good sign. But they are a different kettle of fish at home and, considering they’re up against the only side worse-placed on the table, I believe they will deepen Pompey woes. Still, only George shares my theory.
Rob: Burnley 2 Portsmouth 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-2
George: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
CHELSEA v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 14:45
Some extra spice to what was already a fairly sexy fixture, what with the old Terry v Bridge showdown. Expect tackles to fly between these nouveau riche sides, although I still see the log-leaders as fairly clear winners. I am backed up by all colleagues but Garrin, who sees City earning a point and keeping the emerging Mancini doubters down for at least a week …
Rob: Chelsea 2 Manchester City 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 3-2
David: 3-1
George: 2-0
Last season: 1-0
STOKE v ARSENAL
Saturday, 19:30
George has obviously been studying last season’s form book closely, because he’s unexpectedly but daringly gone for a repeat of the Potters’ shock win then. But he has no support at all – Dave, especially, thinks he’s been smoking his socks and goes 3-0 the other way. It might be close because Stoke are tenacious, but Gunners to land all three points, eh?
Rob: Stoke 1 Arsenal 2
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 1-3
David: 0-3
George: 1-0
Last season: 2-1
LIVERPOOL v BLACKBURN
Sunday, 17:00
This fixture was a 4-0 romp at Anfield last campaign, to the delight of the long-suffering Kop, so I’m not sure lightning will strike twice. But Liverpool ought to do enough to win, even with their visitors on a mini-roll. Two-nil is like a burger and chips with mushroom sauce: a popular choice. Garrin, though, prefers a 1-1 “salad”.
Rob: Liverpool 2 Blackburn 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-0
David: 2-0
George: 2-0
Last season: 4-0
SUNDERLAND v FULHAM
Sunday, 17:00
The Blacks Cats are really poverty-stricken when it comes to wins, aren’t they? So this match is critical if they are to restore some morale. But visitors Fulham coming off successive wins hardly helps matters, and there’s a rash of 1-1 tips for this match. In a “dashing” independent move, I say 0-0.
Rob: Sunderland 0 Fulham 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-1
George: 1-1
Last season: 1-0
TOTTENHAM v EVERTON
Sunday, 15:00
The Toffees are probably still dining out on their great win against Manchester United; I have a sneaky feeling they’ll have a “hangover” (Steven Pienaar does!) and not be able to repeat in a tricky visit to London – especially as Spurs seem to have woken up again. I fancy a closely-contested draw, but a Tottenham win is majority pick.
Rob: Tottenham 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-1
David: 2-1
George: 3-2
Last season: 0-1
*LEADERBOARD (three points for wholly correct score-line, one for right result):
210 Rob (12 points in last round)
196 David (13)
195 George (12)
191 Ray (8)
184 Garrin (14)
Verdict: I did my “Tendulkar” last weekend … got into the 200s. It was a closely-contested round, with most tipsters getting into double figures for the week, although Ray (8) will be disappointed to have lost a little ground. Garrin earned most handsome haul of 14 to show that the champion’s pride is intact despite his current bottom-of-table discomfort. Could he yet charge through the field? We’ll see …
Compiled by Chief Writer Rob Houwing (2008/09 runner-up), with regular predictions also from Managing Editor Garrin Lambley (the defending champion), Content Producer Raymond Kilfoil, Commercial Manager David Brooke and former Bafana Bafana and AmaZulu striker George Dearnaley, you’ll seldom find us singing from the same song-sheet.
Occasionally we invite a celebrity guest tipster to have a crack at a round of matches; watch this space …
This week’s fixtures:
BIRMINGHAM v WIGAN
Saturday, 17:00
The home team for this one are just beginning to lose their way a tad … successive away defeats to West Ham and Fulham tell you as much. But back at St Andrews I fancy Birmingham to restore winning ways – especially as Wigan still harbour unpleasant memories of a 0-3 thumping at home to Spurs. It’s a full house for the Brummie win.
Rob: Birmingham 2 Wigan 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 2-1
David: 1-0
George: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable
BOLTON v WOLVES
Saturday, 17:00
A real basement scrap, this one, which may become crucial in determining who takes the drop this year. That’s why I fancy a cat-and-mouse goalless draw, although there are some takers (Dave and George) for the vital Bolton win. Both outfits lost last weekend, although the Trotters crashing 3-0 at Blackburn was especially ominous.
Rob: Bolton 0 Wolves 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-1
George: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
BURNLEY v PORTSMOUTH
Saturday, 17:00
Burnley are deep in trouble and leaked five goals at Villa last Sunday – not a good sign. But they are a different kettle of fish at home and, considering they’re up against the only side worse-placed on the table, I believe they will deepen Pompey woes. Still, only George shares my theory.
Rob: Burnley 2 Portsmouth 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-2
George: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
CHELSEA v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 14:45
Some extra spice to what was already a fairly sexy fixture, what with the old Terry v Bridge showdown. Expect tackles to fly between these nouveau riche sides, although I still see the log-leaders as fairly clear winners. I am backed up by all colleagues but Garrin, who sees City earning a point and keeping the emerging Mancini doubters down for at least a week …
Rob: Chelsea 2 Manchester City 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 3-2
David: 3-1
George: 2-0
Last season: 1-0
STOKE v ARSENAL
Saturday, 19:30
George has obviously been studying last season’s form book closely, because he’s unexpectedly but daringly gone for a repeat of the Potters’ shock win then. But he has no support at all – Dave, especially, thinks he’s been smoking his socks and goes 3-0 the other way. It might be close because Stoke are tenacious, but Gunners to land all three points, eh?
Rob: Stoke 1 Arsenal 2
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 1-3
David: 0-3
George: 1-0
Last season: 2-1
LIVERPOOL v BLACKBURN
Sunday, 17:00
This fixture was a 4-0 romp at Anfield last campaign, to the delight of the long-suffering Kop, so I’m not sure lightning will strike twice. But Liverpool ought to do enough to win, even with their visitors on a mini-roll. Two-nil is like a burger and chips with mushroom sauce: a popular choice. Garrin, though, prefers a 1-1 “salad”.
Rob: Liverpool 2 Blackburn 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-0
David: 2-0
George: 2-0
Last season: 4-0
SUNDERLAND v FULHAM
Sunday, 17:00
The Blacks Cats are really poverty-stricken when it comes to wins, aren’t they? So this match is critical if they are to restore some morale. But visitors Fulham coming off successive wins hardly helps matters, and there’s a rash of 1-1 tips for this match. In a “dashing” independent move, I say 0-0.
Rob: Sunderland 0 Fulham 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-1
George: 1-1
Last season: 1-0
TOTTENHAM v EVERTON
Sunday, 15:00
The Toffees are probably still dining out on their great win against Manchester United; I have a sneaky feeling they’ll have a “hangover” (Steven Pienaar does!) and not be able to repeat in a tricky visit to London – especially as Spurs seem to have woken up again. I fancy a closely-contested draw, but a Tottenham win is majority pick.
Rob: Tottenham 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-1
David: 2-1
George: 3-2
Last season: 0-1
*LEADERBOARD (three points for wholly correct score-line, one for right result):
210 Rob (12 points in last round)
196 David (13)
195 George (12)
191 Ray (8)
184 Garrin (14)
Verdict: I did my “Tendulkar” last weekend … got into the 200s. It was a closely-contested round, with most tipsters getting into double figures for the week, although Ray (8) will be disappointed to have lost a little ground. Garrin earned most handsome haul of 14 to show that the champion’s pride is intact despite his current bottom-of-table discomfort. Could he yet charge through the field? We’ll see …
