Dave Pundit's Predictions 07/11/09

Hi, I'm Dave Pundit. November is a notoriously difficult month for footballers. It's a month until Christmas and they'll all have one eye on their Christmas parties. Of course true professionals understand that they have to remain focused. There's nothing worse than being dropped for poor performances in the run up to the festive season and having to go to the reserve party. The hookers are completely sub-standard, trust me.

Aston Villa v Bolton
Villa showed against West Ham they have a soft centre. Whereas Bolton's middle is rock hard. Pretty much immovable in my opinion, which is exactly what you want in midfield. That way you can just bypass them with long balls over the top.
Verdict 1-1

Blackburn v Portsmouth
Pompey's form has improved recently, but then it could hardly get worse could it? However they won't have enough for Big Sam's Blackburn. Paul Hart is really going to have to earn himself a nickname soon or Pompey will be going down.
Verdict 2-0

Man City v Burnley
Burnley's away form makes this the easiest game of the weekend to predict. But football isn't a predictable game and I'd be a fool to try.
Verdict 3-0

Tottenham v Sunderland
Spurs were unlucky against Arsenal last week, they played brilliantly apart from their complete capitulation. If they can cut out better sides beating them they'll win more. Sunderland have been in decent form this year but are they better than Tottenham? Maybe, but probably not. It's probably safest to say this'll be a draw.
Verdict 1-1

Wolves v Arsenal
This is exactly the kind of game that can be a banana skin for Arsenal. They literally never beat the teams from the bottom half. Especially if they have to go outside of London to play them. Wolverhampton is probably far enough north to stop Wenger's Frog chorus.
Verdict 2-1

Hull v Stoke
Last year this would've been a real humdinger but this year Hull have been rubbish. I'm not the kind of person to get on a manager's back but I'd've sacked Phil Brown ages ago. He's not good enough. Sack him. Sack him now. Get him out. Out.
Verdict 0-1

West Ham v Everton
Neither of these teams have lived up to last season's high standards but with Everton it really is just down to bad luck with injuries, whereas West Ham were stupid to stick with that Italian pygmy, Gianfranco Zola.
Verdict 0-2

Wigan v Fulham
Could this be the game of the weekend? No.
Verdict 1-2

Chelsea v Man Utd
Now this is what football is about Man Utd's strong English spine of Rooney, Ferdinand and Fletcher up against John Terry. His spine is like a steel rod; strong, powerful and utterly inflexible. What else do you need in a spine?
Verdict 1-1