Dave Pundit's Predictions 18/04/09

Hi, I'm Dave Pundit. We're getting to the final sprint in the Premier League and this can be the hardest part of the season. What annoys me though is players who use fatigue as an excuse. In my day players didn't need to be rested, we just made sure we got enough red cards in a season to ensure we had a couple of days off every now and then. Not that I rested of course. If you weren't playing on the Saturday it meant you had the whole weekend to drink. Which is why I have every respect for Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor. But quite frankly if the Scottish FA are going to ban players for drinking and swearing they're going to have a very small pool to pick from.

Arsenal v Chelsea
A lot of people are saying Arsenal are peaking at the right time but this is the game where they'll start to go downhill. Let's face it their foreign fops are going to be no match for John Terry. He's like a peak all on his own. If he was a mountain he'd be Everest except no man could ever mount him. Though many would love too.
Verdict 0-2

Man Utd v Everton
Everton are the real underdogs in the FA Cup now and there's a very good reason for that; all the other teams are better than them. Except maybe Arsenal. At least Everton's manager is British, but this is the English FA Cup so being British isn't enough, you have to be English, that's why I think Sir Alex's men will win this one.
Verdict 2-1

Aston Villa v West Ham
Villa have been on a slump recently but they need to buck up their ideas if they're going to get fifth. The goals seem to have dried up since they bought Emile Heskey for some reason. Fortunately they're playing West Ham who are managed by an Italian dwarf. So it'll be an easy three points.
Verdict 1-0

Middlesbrough v Fulham
Gareth Southgate got a stay of execution after beating Hull last week. Not that I'd ever condone calling for a managers head. But if I was Chairman he'd be for the chop. He's a disgrace to his country. To be honest I've never had any faith in him since he missed that penalty in '96. I remember being involved in a shoot out for Tranmere, I stood up straight away and the gaffer said "Dave, you're half cut and you've got no chance of scoring so sit down you numpty." Sometimes the best way not to fail is not to try in the first place. Southgate could learn something from that.
Verdict 0-2

Portsmouth v Bolton
It's been an up and down season for these clubs and but I can see both of them doing enough to stay up. Or go down. Or one of them stay up and one go down. The outcome of this match could be decisive. Or not make much difference. But this is where pundits prove they're worth their salt. And I'm certainly worth salt. So this'll be a draw. Or someone will win.
Verdict 0-0

Stoke v Blackburn
When I was told Stoke would be playing in the Premier League I laughed, 'not for long' I thought. But they've shown enough at home to suggest that they could stay up. But I think they'll lose here. Big Sam knows how to get out of a relegation dogfight. I don't mean fight literally of course. But Blackburn will Big Sam will lay down his life before he let's Blackburn go down. Literally.
Verdict 0-1

Sunderland v Hull
Neither of these teams has won for a while and I can't see that changing for at least one of them. To stay in the Premier League takes one thing and one thing only: Determination. And a little bit of luck. Both these teams will be hoping for that here.
Verdict 1-1

Tottenham v Newcastle
Tottenham proved that a new manager can make the world of difference when they replaced Ramos with Redknapp. Did you know they only had two points when our 'Arry took over? Not that he'd ever bring it up himself of course. Now Shearer has to do for Newcastle what Redknapp's done for Spurs; get them into midtable mediocrity. It's what the fans demand. However he'll have to try and work out how to stop Keane first. But if anyone knows how a great British striker's mind works it's Shearer so he might just have the edge here.
Verdict 0-1

Man City v West Brom
I was sad to see Man City go out of the UEFA Cup. Man City are English through and through and seeing them lose to some Polish side is just awful. However they'll pick up the points here because West Brom are pathetic.
Verdict 2-0