Dave Pundit's Predictions 02/01/12

Hi, I'm Dave Pundit. Like an over-excited virgin the games come thick and fast at this time of year. For a pundit it's hard to keep your predictions fresh and avoid cliche, it can leave you sick as a parrot. But as Winston Churchill said: as long as you give 110% you'll be over the moon.

Aston Villa v Swansea
Any team that can beat Chelsea must be in great form. It's no surprise to me that McLeish has based his success at Villa on a good, solid backbone. It's exactly how a spine should be, rigged and inflexible. The likes of Bent, Ireland and Dunne are proud Brits and that's why they'll beat the thoroughly un-British Welshies here.
Verdict: 2-0

Blackburn v Stoke
Any team that can beat Man Utd must be in great form. It's no surprise to me that Kean has based his success at Blackburn on a good, solid backbone. It's exactly how a spine should be, full of grit. But when it comes to grit Stoke have more than a bad oyster. Could this be the year's grittiest fixture? Yes it could. It's all downhill for 2012 after this I reckon.
Verdict: 1-1

QPR v Norwich
After a solid start QPR have struggled whereas Norwich gone from strength to strength and few would have predicted that at the beginning of the season. Of course it's been all hands on deck at times for both teams but in that situation Norwich have a clear numerical advantage.
Verdict: 0-1

Wolves v Chelsea
There has been a lot of talk that Villas-Boas has lost the dressing room, something I used to do frequently when I was a player, but Villas-Boas doesn't look drunk. If I were him I'd stop trying to manage the team and just let the likes of John Terry take over. AVB has got his tactics all wrong but John Terry wouldn't bother with luxuries like tactics he'd just win games through the sheer strength of his will. If John Terry's will was a person it would be Geoff Capes. Or John Terry.
Verdict: 0-2

Fulham v Arsenal
Robin Van Persie scored 35 goals in a calendar year. So what? It's seasons that count not years. What can't be ignored, though, is that Arsenal are a one man team and they might rest that man today. Even Fulham should be able to beat a team that has no men in it, just foreigners.
Verdict: 1-0

Tottenham v West Brom
Tottenham took their foot of the gas against Swansea and paid the price. You won't make up any points against the teams above you with a draw. Still Tottenham are bona fide title challengers if you ask me and that's down to one man: Harry Redknapp. He's not a man to get bogged down by calendar years. It's seasons that count with him. Calendar years, academic years, tax years, none of these matter a jot to Harry. He's football through and through.
Verdict: 2-1

Wigan v Sunderland
Any team that can beat Man City must be in great form. It's no surprise to me that O'Neill has based his success at Sunderland on a good, solid backbone. It's exactly how a spine should be, determined and pumped full of testosterone. Wigan have had a few good results themselves recently but that's just down to pure luck. Their manager is too foreign to understand the true nature of backbones like us Englishers.
Verdict: 0-1

Man City v Liverpool
The game of the weekend without a shadow of a doubt. If there's one thing you can guarantee in this game it's goals. You just can't see Man City drawing a blank at the moment, they have so much fire power up front. But talking of fire power Liverpool have got Gerrard back. Add him to the likes of Carroll, Henderson and Downing and you've got goals aplenty. This game could go either way, but as it's a top four clash I'll have to say it'll be a draw.
Verdict: 2-2

Everton v Bolton
Everton are playing good football at the moment, not for them the big scoring flashy stuff the score one goal per game at the most and that's good enough for them. Bolton on the other hand are shipping goals like they're going out of fashion. Let's hope they are.
Verdict: 0-0

Newcastle v Man Utd
The rumours are that Wayne Rooney and Alex Ferguson have had a bit of a falling out but I expect him to come back here with all guns blazing. Say what you like about Rooney he has never been anything but 100% committed to Man Utd. In fact when I think of Wayne Rooney I think of commitment. He even spent Boxing Day with his wife for God's sake. How much more committed can you get? I'd've been straight down the pub. She's a lucky woman that Coleen Nolan-Rooney.
Verdict: 0-2