Welcome to this week’s installment of ‘Something For The Weekend’, which I bring to you from my holiday getaway in Egypt, with an internet connection as stable as the country’s political situation.
Let us start today’s sideways glance at proceedings with a potentially interesting fixture at Carrow Road ; as in form Norwich City take on another of the Premier League’s unfashionable outfits, Wigan Athletic. The Canaries have been chirping nicely of late (barring a mid week aberration in the ‘Milk Cup’). Their midfield triumvirate of Pilkington, Johnson and Snodgrass who sound like they should be Last of the Summer Wine extras have been in splendid form of late, providing the ammunition for the ‘Norfolk Messi’ Grant Holt, as well as chipping in with bullets of their own. Stephen Fry’s favorite team are unbeaten in nine in the league but will the ‘Canary Fairy’ be tweeting with joy after this one. With Wigan buoyed by James McArthur’s X Factor triumph, I expect goals aplenty.
Sky Bet offer 2/1 on 3.5
goals or more and that looks better value than a Christmas sale at JJB Sports.
Stoke City v Everton is a game that does not necessarily set pulses racing, we correctly called a low scoring encounter in The Potters’ last outing at Villa Park and I am not expecting a goal bonanza here. The Toffeemen’s remarkable late turnaround against Spurs last week contributed to Nikica Jelavic celebrating with more high fives than a college frat party. However, don’t expect basketball style ‘end to end’ stuff, despite the presence of a number of giants and a couple of Americans. With battles such as Fellaini v Huth, this will be brutal. This has the look of a 1-0, take your pick as to who will come out on top though,
Bet 365 offer 7/1 on Stoke winning by that scoreline
and
6/1 on Moyes’ boys triumphing
by the same scoreline.
Reading and Arsenal produced a twelve goal Capital One Cup goal-fest last month at the ‘MadStad’ however both sides have struggled of late. Interestingly, The Gunners have made the most passes in the Premier League this season (9,221) while Reading have made the fewest (4,823). However, the Wenger Boys’ performance on Tuesday was so abject that if by any horrible chance there was a repeat of the Bradford fire, there’s a stronger than usual chance that it would be blamed on Arsene. The Royals have been far from majestic of late and their defeat by Sunderland on Tuesday was as impressive as a Jason Roberts ‘Match of the Day 2′ performance. Both teams are in great need of a confidence boosting victory and judging by the last meeting between the two sides, the
8/13 offered by Sky Bet
on each of them to hit the back of the onion bag looks as likely as Santi Cazorla falling to the floor after a few too many Sangrias at a Happy Gilmore themed Christmas party.
What else can we expect from this weekend? Lionel Messi to breach more Spanish defences than Antonio Banderas and to create more manufactured records than Simon Cowell? (
BBet 365 give us 7-5 on Lionel scoring two or more v Atletico
). Chelsea to take home more meaningless silverware than an Antiques Roadshow robbery (
Bet 365 offer 2/5 on Chelsea to show Corinthian spirit and take home the World Club Championship
). Clint Hill and Ryan Nelsen to inspire ‘Arry Redknapp to utter ‘we may look to bring in a couple in January’, as QPR look to end a seven game winless streak at Loftus Road. Brian McDermott to be offered his old job of Waitrose delivery driver back? The possibilities are endless!
My camel has arrived, so ‘Maa al Salama’ for now…Ocado!
by Jamie Ellis
