Dave Pundit's Predictions 15/08/09

Hi, I'm Dave Pundit. The first day of the season always throws up some surprises and not just for the players. I remember one year no one was more surprised than my Liverpool gaffer when I turned up on the first game. I was fit, I was sober and I'd been sold to Tranmere the week before.

Aston Villa v Wigan
Aston Villa broke many hearts last season when they couldn't take 4th spot from Arsenal. I, for one, was livid. And this year they've lost their talismanic captain, Gareth Barry. I only found out he was talismanic recently. It came as quite a shock, I'd always thought he was English. Still they should be strong enough to destroy a Wigan team that have been severely weakened by bringing in a foreigner as a manager.
Verdict 3-0

Blackburn v Man City
A lot of people think Mark Hughes has gone crazy in the transfer market this summer. Adebayor, Tevez, Santa Cruz. They can't all partner Craig Bellamy.Although they are all foreign so one golf club to the head from the Welsh wizard and they'll be demanding a transfer so perhaps he's wise to have back up. The problem is can all the signings gel? Not against Big Sam's Blackburn I fear. If anyone knows how to get dirty with Hughes's gel it's him.
Verdict 1-0

Bolton v Sunderland
Sunderland are bound to improve now they've got rid of the foreign sounding bloke and brought in Steve Bruce. What could be more English than the name Bruce? The last bloke was called Ricky, which sounds suspiciously Australian to me. However, Sunderland will have their work cut out against Bolton who will literally fight to the death. That's what football should be about.
Verdict 0-0

Chelsea v Hull
John Terry has proven his loyalty by turning down Man City's riches. What a guy. Not for him the fast cars, flashy lifestyle, the parties and the inevitable fights in night clubs that would come with all that cash. Oh no, that's not John Terry's style at all. He'll stay in virtual poverty at Chelsea because he can't betray the club he loves. God bless that man, he makes you proud to be British.
Verdict 2-0

Everton v Arsenal
I can't believe Joleon Lescott hasn't made more effort to force a move to City, think of all the beer he could buy on Man City's wages. Only an idiot would turn that down. Still Everton will be glad he's stayed. He's the lynchpin of their team. However, I'd fancy them to beat Arsenal's gallic midgets even without him. Quite frankly Arsenal need more strength, more height and less skilful players if they want to hold on to 4th place.
Verdict 1-0

Portsmouth v Fulham
Roy Hodgson was my manager of the season last year. Well apart from Alex Ferguson obviously. Fergie spent loads of money and won the league, not many managers can do that. Hodgson just got his team to play well. Many people have predicted Pompey to go down, but i think that's a bit premature, you can't make crazy guesses like that before a ball has been kicked.
Verdict 0-6

Stoke v Burnley
Can Burnley be this season's Stoke? Not if they try and play football they can't. Stoke have grit, determination and long throws. But not only that they also have determination, long throws and grit. Combine all those elements and what are you left with? Long throws, grit and determination. And that's what wins games. Not playing football.
Verdict 1-0

Wolves v West Ham
A lot of people have praised Gianfranco Zola for the job he's done at West Ham but to be honest I can't have any respect for a man who has to look up to your average jockey. Mick McCarthy is much taller and on that alone I think he deserves to keep Wolves up. He won't be able to, but he should at least get a win here.
Verdict 1-0

Man Utd v Birmingham
Everyone's favourite leg breakers Birmingham are back and if they start where they left off they'll do well this year. It'll take more than broken legs to stop Man Utd though. When David Busst broke his leg against them did they stop winning? No. When Keane shattered Haaland's knee did man Utd stop winning? No. Man Utd are made of tougher stuff and I'm sure we'll see them end a few more careers this season and still go on to win. That's what makes a team great.
Verdict 2-0

Tottenham v Liverpool
Since I found out that Robbie Keane was not British and in fact is Irish it's made it easier to understand why he failed at Liverpool. Let's face it the Irish and Liverpool don't mix. Luckily Spurs still have a good English contingent; Woodgate, Jenas and Bale. It won't be enough to beat Liverpool though. Liverpool are much stronger this year and that's because they came so close to winning last year. And let's face there's no better way for players to understand how to win the league than by not winning it the year before.
Verdict 1-2