ROUND TWO-THE GAMES CONTINUE
Arsenal’s severely depleted squad takes on the second London derby of the season away to Fulham, already
paying for their miserliness during summer spending. Having dumped seventeen worthless shirts, plus the all
their opening day injuries, the Gunners are hardly in a position to field a full team. Their manager, with his
philosophical rationalizations takes more and more the mantra of mad George III. Under the spell of a soccer
whisperer from Colorado, (“Silent Sam” Kroenke) principal owner and Wal-Mart in-law, no wonder they’re
dysfunctional.
Fulham, with last week’s useful win under their belts, are also owned by an American who refuses to dismantle
the statue of Michael Jackson that blights the stadium entrance. Which leads me to my prediction: Fulham will
moonwalk to a 2-1 victory over a demoralized Gunners team (despite Wednesday’s Turkish triumph). Wenger’s
post-match interview will be “tres interessant.”
1966
With the Gareth Bale saga dragging on Spurs meet Swansea in North London. The Swans took a right good
beating from United on Welsh soil last week conceding four goals. Spurs secured a narrow victory thanks to a
Saldado pen on debut. Now Spurs unveil the new-look XI for the home supporters. All the new boys put their
best foot forward last week. Nacer Chadli looked very strong in the defensive midfield position. Paulinho
looked dangerous early and Saldado did the deed from the spot. I feel good about my side and predict another
win in round 2...
As a 25 year Yid I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention the Farsenal just a quarter hour down the A10 in
Ashburton Grove. And this isn't just a gratuitous dig. Internet scuttlebutt is that Gunners are perhaps working
on a bid for Swansea attacker Michu. Hopefully there is some truth to it and Swansea's best player has his mind
on a move rather than on Spurs sometimes-shaky defense...
Predicted fulltime score line from White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur 2 Swansea City nil. Second clean sheet
for Hugo Lloris.
Silly Point
The ManCity team (the blue one) look to continue the good form displayed against Newcastle as they travel to
the southern reaches of Wales to play Cardiff City. Kompany and Nastasic are both out injured, leaving a
gaping hole in the middle of the defense. Lescott is sure to feature and academy grad Dedryck Boyata might
make a first team start; however, Micah Richards is also healthy and has been known to fill in at center back in
a pinch. I’ll put even odds between those two starting at right center.
On the plus side, the attacking side of the team is looking brilliant and might completely relieve the defense of
any work, as demonstrated this past Monday. While Jovetic is likely still out with a knock, Dzeko performed
well as a number 10 last week and finally seems to fit into the City plan.
Cardiff hope to rebound from a 2-0 loss to West Ham over the weekend and can strive to better their mark of
one shot on target during that competition. Craig Bellamy will likely have something to prove against his old
team, especially as it’s the first home PL match of his boyhood team.
While it might be easy to say this one already looks like points in the book for City, one shouldn’t count their
chickens before they’re eggs, or something like that. I fully anticipate Cardiff to ask some questions early and
might put City on the back foot if their injury-laden back four can’t find some answers. Hopefully, the quality
of the sky blue side will eventually overwhelm the former dark blue side and three more points can be placed in
the books.
City 2-Cardiff 1
Citeh of
And here follow highlights from some other weekend games, written by the Politburo backroom staff…
Villa, already having experienced polar opposite refereeing in their first two games will be happy if their first
home fixture brings even-handedness; and a victory. Liverpool on their travels will try to eke out another
victory. However the enthusiasm of the home club will curb their gelling firepower and the game will result in
1-1 stalemate on account of brilliant goalkeeping.
The big game of the week is Monday’s at Old Trafford, when Chelsea come under their first stern test against
ManU. A tense match it will be and more deserving of the first weekend in May than the second week of the
season, as if there’s something to decide. This game will decide nothing: it’s too early. But expect RVP to add to
his tally in a 2-2 draw.
And then there’s Crystal Palace, whom the Politburo will fondly follow all the way to season’s end. When,
sadly, with ringmaster Ian Holloway, they will slip through the trap door into the Championship. They play
Sunderland on Saturday and our comrades predict a 2-1 loss.