Weekend Discussion Thread

Saturday, 18 November 2006
Arsenal v Newcastle, 15:00
Chelsea v West Ham, 15:00
Everton v Bolton, 15:00
Man City v Fulham, 12:45
Middlesbrough v Liverpool, 17:15
Portsmouth v Watford, 15:00
Reading v Charlton, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Man Utd, 15:00


Sunday, 19 November 2006
Blackburn v Tottenham, 16:00
Wigan v Aston Villa, 13:30

Lawros predictions (like we care):


SATURDAY (All kick-offs 1500 GMT unless specified)
Man City v Fulham (1245 GMT)

City will be playing against a much-improved Fulham but I think Stuart Pearce's side will finally get their act together.
They should have beaten Newcastle last week after creating a number of chances, so it is important for them to make the most of another home fixture.
Match preview

Prediction: 2-0

Arsenal v Newcastle

It could be two, three or even four goals for Arsenal. This fixture is oh so very predictable.
The Magpies have no-one to score for them and their defence is not great either - they'll be facing a relegation dogfight very soon.
Match preview

Prediction: 3-0

Chelsea v West Ham

The scoreline is almost like a calling card from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. It seems that once they get to 2-0 he tells his players to stop.
The Hammers had a couple of good results but then slipped up against Boro, so they are back in the thick of it.
Match preview

Prediction: 2-0

Everton v Bolton

This will probably be a draw. Losing Tim Cahill will prove a massive blow to Everton boss David Moyes, because there is really nobody else to score the goals from midfield.
Sam Allardyce would have given his Bolton side a right kicking after conceding a two-goal lead last week, but I still think the home side will hold out for a point.
Match preview

Prediction: 1-1

Portsmouth v Watford

Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth have posed problems at home for visiting teams and this fixture will be no exception.
The Hornets are without the dominating presence of Marlon King for the season and his absence may prove telling.
Match preview

Prediction: 2-0

Reading v Charlton

I am mystified by the appointment of Les Reed by Charlton and I reckon the full story about this whole drama will come out soon. Meanwhile, their fight against the drop continues.
Reading came back brilliantly against Tottenham and that boost will carry them through on Saturday.
Match preview

Prediction: 2-0

Sheff Utd v Man Utd

Manchester United can tear any team apart. They were dominant against Bolton and Blackburn and I cannot see that trend changing.
The Blades will want this fixture to come and go as soon as possible.
Match preview

Prediction: 0-2

Middlesbrough v Liverpool (1715 GMT)

I think Liverpool will break their away hoodoo. Manager Rafa Benitez will take off the shackles and I believe Steven Gerrard will play a more central role.
Boro got their win last week, but they are up-down, up-down, up-down. Tell me when to stop.
Match preview

Prediction: 0-2

SUNDAY
Blackburn v Tottenham (1330 GMT)

The home side have had their injury problems, but I do think they are better than their position in the table suggests.
Tottenham's away form is not great but they have enough attacking options to help them win a point.
Match preview

Prediction: 1-1

Wigan v Aston Villa (1600 GMT)

Wigan are going for their fifth-straight win, which is fantastic. They are playing very well and have got a good fluidity about them.
Villa stumbled last week and I am pretty sure they will do so again.
Match preview

Prediction: 2-1

Its always good when Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal play on the Saturday. (Sorry to other fans)

Match of the day is that much more interesting.

I think all those teams will win.

Liverpool on the TV again.

Yawn.

Atleast it's not fucking Newcastle.

Parks Lives wrote:Liverpool on the TV again.

Another big scalp for the Boro this Saturday.

They make a habit of it.

Problem is i have to go out Saturday night

I'll have to catch up with it on Sunday again I suppose, MOTD II is pretty crap though

Its alright Motd 2 - Not great, but good if you want to catch up on any missed games.

Its not like anyone does anything late on Sunday night anyway.

I do prefer MOTD II. Doesn't have Hansen, Lawrenson and Shearer for a start, although Hansen did do last weeks.

Normally have Dixon (who's good when he doesn't do Arsenal games) or Spencer who is very good.

Parks Lives wrote:Liverpool on the TV again.

Whoopee...

Parks Lives wrote:I do prefer MOTD II. Doesn't have Hansen, Lawrenson and Shearer for a start, although Hansen did do last weeks.

Normally have Dixon (who's good when he doesn't do Arsenal games) or Spencer who is very good.

I prefer MOTD 1's format, but MOTD 2's presenters. Peacock, I think it is, says some astute things from time to time, the absence of Lawrenson is a plus point for any football show, Chiles is alright as an anchorman.


I cannot abide by Lee Dixon. It's almost like he's trying to say nothing of any interest or significance. It's like having Gary Neville as a pundit.

Neville would be a good pundit.

When asked to analyse our Champions league vs Bayern Munich in 1999, he just said 'we were crap'.

The thing is though that MOTD you get to see other stuff then jsut the goals - the way the whole game went wheras MOTDII you just really get the goals, I suppose I could buy a Sunday paper and read it all but I don't think i'll have enough time this weekend

5-0 Chelsea.

I expect United to struggle at Sheffield and lose 2-1, allowing Chelsea to go back to their rightful position

Oh and it was Peacock, Saints.

Parks Lives wrote:Oh and it was Peacock, Saints.

Good good.


Seriously though, give Neville a suit, a microphone and 5 minutes of broadcast time and I think you'd conclusively see that he's no pundit.

He was a pundit at the World Cup for ITV during the World Cup 2002 as he was injured.

He wasn't too bad.

Mind you he was sat next to Gazza, who was so shit that anyone sat next to him would look alright.

Can't be worse than Alan "I have the IQ of a carrot" Shearer.

Shearer is by far the worst of the lot.

I'd rather listen to Alan Green.

I remember that - Gazza was fantastic. Couldn't understand a word that he said...

Cesc-Fab wrote:

Parks Lives wrote:Liverpool on the TV again.

Another big scalp for the Boro this Saturday.

They make a habit of it.

As ive said before, we only beat big teams. Liverpool are therefore in with a chance

We usually get beat by any team with a record like "havent won away this season" or "havent scored a goal yet" so expect 0-1 Bellamy.

Jamie Carragher would be a good pundit if he could tone down the accent.

Steven Gerrard would not.

Last thing we need is more ex-Liverpool pundits.

Lets be fair, all Liverpool and Man Utd players are cunts so neither would be good pundits

Boateng would be good.

Yeah. it's a real shame we can't have Tony "tactics board" Adams on there anymore.

We talk about Man Utd's and Liverpools.

Arsenals are so biased it is almost funny at times.

Charlie Nicholas - Biased.

Paul Merson - So biased it is untrue.

Frank McLintock - Not so bad.

Lee Dixon - Biased

Alan Smith - Biased.

Bob Wilson - Very good.

We don't really have hardly any ex-players to wank over our team.

Arsenal have Nicholas, Adams, Dixon, Merson and Alan 'twat' Smith.

Liverpool have loads - Redknapp, Hansen, Lawrenson, Alan Green (may as well of been an ex-player), Thompson.

We only have McQueen.

You need people with intelligence so its often better to go for lower league players with the brains or certain managers - o'neill for example - not the big players at big clubs who often struggle to even get to grips with their own finances and get to the age of 35 and find theyve spent all their money

Cesc-Fab wrote:
Charlie Nicholas - Biased.

Can't stand the kilt wearing cunt. He's clearly bitter about being turned down by Liverpool or something like that (that's what I keep on being told). He's got a real problem with Rafa though. Every time he comments on us, be it a week after a defeat or 3 days before the Champions League final, it's always the same; "i'm not sure benitez knows what he's doing" bollocks. Ugh.

United only have one pundit because your ex players are thick-as-fuck. Sorted.

What was wrong with Schmeichel?