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High Fives

Welcome to "High Fives" the personal column of our ace Director of Football "Magic Mike".

Other than being handicapped by being a Bolton Wonderers fanatic, Magic Mike's football credentials are outstanding and impeccable. We've heard rumours on more than one occasion that a potential purchaser of at least one former Premier League side has promised him the Director of Football position there, just as soon as the acquisition can be completed.

As the saying goes "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental" (Doug Plank) and Magic Mike's canny inside knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of players and teams, combined with a passion for getting it right is what you need to make an impact in this game. It also means you're going to have to be at your best to out do him.

Watch this page for Magic Mike's first round and future predictions and analysis coming this weekend on the 1st June 2008.

Here's our second round of predictions from our resident expert Magic Mike. Can he be beaten? Suck it in, swirl it about and make your own mind up. At least you have the benefit of his views before you make your own decisions. In any event have fun!

The Management - Score Five

And now over to Magic Mike...

previous predictions - Euro 2008 Round 6 - Euro 2008 Round 5 - Euro 2008 Round 4

 

Score Five’s own Magic Mike’s first column

 

Scene setter at the start of a new season and first round of matches

 

The start of a new season; renewed expectations of clubs and fans alike.

The richest domestic professional football league in the world now provides each of the 20 clubs gracing the 2008/09 Barclays English Premier League a £60m cash bonanza to spend on attracting the world’s top (and even not so top!) footballers.

July and August has seen the annual transfer merry-go-round as the influx of new talent is signed by clubs either, in the case of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, to bolster their chances of a title challenge, or maybe for Everton, Tottenham, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Manchester City, for a chance to break the stranglehold of the “Big 4” and with it the Holy Grail of a Champions League spot. A second prize for these teams would be a 5th place finish and a UEFA Cup spot or a League Cup or FA Cup success. For the rest of the teams it’s either a battle to further establish their credentials as a Premier League outfit, or pure survival.

The opening day of the season is one of the most exciting days in the football calendar. Teams can be transformed from the previous season with the new players. And fans, having been starved of Premier League action for the previous 3 months, look for early pointers as to how the season will unfold. The opening day fixtures always seem to throw out some interesting matches due to new allegiances of players or managers and teams making their Premiership bows.

 

The first fixture of the season (12.45pm kick off) features Arsenal vs. West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal has seen the close season departure of Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan and Alex Hleb to Barcelona. No doubt Arsene Wenger will be relieved to have retained the services of Emmanuel Adebayor, who recently committed his long-term future to the club after reputed interest from AC Milan and Barcelona. They also kept Cesc Fabregas who shone for Arsenal last season as well for Spain in the European Championships, and had been attracting interest from Real Madrid. Arsenal have been without a trophy for 4 years and will be hoping to break this barren spell looking for a perfect start to the season.

Success for West Brom will be premiership survival.

They have been a yoyo team over the last 6 years with 3 promotions and 2 relegations. Bryan Robson miraculously saved the Baggies from relegation in the 2003/2004 season, when they became the first team since the Premiership was founded in 1992/93, to be bottom of the table at Christmas, but survive come early May. Unfortunately Robson wasn’t able to build on that season and West Brom were duly relegated the following season.

They return to the Premiership this time under the stewardship of Tony Mowbray, who built his reputation in Scotland before moving south. West Brom played with an attacking flair that saw them promoted as the Championship champions last season as well as the division’s leading goal-scorers. The Premier League is another level however. It remains to be seen how their new signings including Scott Carson, Marek Cech and Gianni Zuiverloon will gel. A trip to the Emirates isn’t an easy start and Magic Mike isn’t expecting any surprises.

Magic predicts Arsenal 3 - West Bromwich Albion 0

 

Stoke City start their campaign in England’s top division after a 23 year absence with a visit to last season’s Premier League strugglers Bolton Wanderers.

Gary Megson begins his first full season in charge at The Reebok having saved Bolton after Sam Allardyce’s successor, Sammy Lee, endured a dreadful start to the 2007/2008 season. Megson inherited a side last year, but after the transfer activity in last season’s January transfer window and the close season that saw the departures of Anelka, Campo, Speed, Stelios, Andranik, Diouf, Guthrie, and Wilhelmson, and the arrivals of Steinson, Cahill, Taylor, Muamba, and club record signing Elmander, he now has a team more in his own mould.

Tony Pulis’ Stoke will be aiming purely for survival. Kitson, Sorensen and Olofinjana remain their only signings in the close season and they will surely need to further strengthen their ranks to avoid being yet another team that will follow the traditional route of relegation following promotion.

Magic predicts a close game, but experience to count: Bolton Wanderers 2 - Stoke City 0

 

A Lancashire derby sees Everton take on Blackburn Rovers at Goodison Park.

Both teams have been largely inactive in the transfer market to date. Rumours abound about Andrew Johnson’s impending departure, with Fulham favoured to be his next destination.

Everton will no doubt be looking to add to their squad between now and the transfer deadline to try to improve on their 5th place finish last season. Blackburn have a new manager in Paul Ince, who has served his managerial apprenticeship in the lower divisions with Macclesfield and MK Dons and now has the opportunity to make his mark at the highest level.

Blackburn have so far signed Carlos Villanueva, the Chilean footballer of the year, and Paul Robinson from Tottenham. These players are direct replacements respectively for the Tottenham bound David Bentley and Brad Friedel, who joined compatriot Randy Lerner’s Aston Villa.

Magic predicts home advantage and David Moyes’ experience will be enough to outwit the untried but emerging managerial talents of Paul Ince: Everton 2 - Blackburn Rovers 1

 

Hull City vs. Fulham at the Kingston Communication Stadium sees Hull City play their first ever game at the highest level of English football, in a repeat of a game between a newcomer and a team that survived last season in the Premiership by the skin of their teeth.

Hull City came through the play-offs and will be hoping to avoid the automatic relegation, which is usually associated with play-off winners.

In Phil Brown they have a manager who has experienced survival as a play-off winner as Sam Allardyce’s assistant at Bolton in the 2001/2002 season. Brown is undoubtedly using that experience to plot a survival course for Hull City. He has already signed Bernard Mendy, who also played in one of Bolton’s early successful battles against relegation, George Boateng from Middlesborough, Tony Warner from Fulham, Geovanni from Manchester City, Peter Halmosi from Plymouth and Anthony Gardner on loan from Tottenham.

Roy Hodgson has also been one of the most active managers in the transfer market. Both he and club owner Mohamed Al Fayed will be hoping the investment in new signings will mean that Fulham can avoid another relegation dogfight that almost saw them end their 7 year stay in the Premiership last season. So far arrivals have included Andranik, Gera, Kallio, Zamora, Pantsil, Schwarzer and the rumour is that Andrew Johnson will be the next addition at Craven Cottage

Magic is predicting a close game. There is usually one premiership newcomer that has a standout result on opening day and this will be it: Hull City 1 - Fulham 0

 

Middlesbrough vs. Tottenham Hotspur at the Riverside: Gareth Southgate’s Middlesbrough have had a net outflow of players since the end of the 2007/08 season that has seen Mark Schwarzer move to Fulham, George Boateng to Premier newcomers Hull City, Lee Cattermole to Wigan, DG Lee to West Brom and Fabio Rochemback to Sporting Lisbon. So far they have seen winger Marvin Emnes arrive from Sparta Rotterdam and Didier Digard from Paris Saint Germain.

Middlesbrough struggled early season last year but recovered and in truth never looked a serious relegation candidate. There is expectation of some further signings to arrive at The Riverside before the transfer deadline and Boro management and supporters will be expecting some of their signings from last season, as well as the promising youngsters, to improve on last season’s finish.

Juande Ramos will be starting his first full season in charge at Tottenham. He will be looking to build on his League Cup triumph. There will be a weight of expectation at White Hart Lane for Spurs to make a serious challenge for a top 4 finish.

The signings of Luka Modric, the Croatian playmaker, the young promising Brazilian striker De Santos from Barcelona, and David Bentley from Blackburn will whet the appetite of the Spurs fans, although the loss of club captain Robbie Keane to Liverpool will be a bitter blow. Other notable departures from Tottenham are England goalkeeper Paul Robinson to Blackburn, who is replaced by Mario Gomez, and Sunderland’s triple signing of Teemu Tainio, Pascale Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque.

Rumours of a Dimitar Berbatov move to Manchester United continue to persist, and don’t be surprised to see further transfer activity at White Hart lane before the transfer window closes. Notwithstanding there is enough talent in the Spurs squad to push on this season and challenge bitter North London rivals Arsenal for a Champions League spot. This opening day fixture sees Jonathan Woodgate return to the starting line-up following his switch from Middlesbrough last term, and Hossam Mido will also be pushing for a place and a chance to start against his former club

Magic is predicting a comfortable away win: Middlesboro 0 - Tottenham Hotspur 3

 

West Ham United vs. Wigan at Upton Park. The credit crunch seems to have impacted West Ham’s Icelandic owners and Upton Park, at least in transfer activity, with Valon Behrami a £5m capture from AS Roma being the only signing.

West Ham were blighted with injury problems last season with several of their signings from last season missing the entire season after very few games played. The return to fitness of Craig Bellamy, Julian Faubert and Kieron Dyer will give added impetus to West Ham’s chances this season. But press reports suggest that there could be more players exiting before the transfer window closes, if the price is right. Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil have already joined London rivals Fulham for a combined £6.3m. This could be a difficult season for West Ham as I believe many players in their squad have already played the best football of their careers.

Wigan start the season with optimism in what will be Steve Bruce’s first full season in charge at the JJB Stadium.

Before his arrival last season, Wigan looked destined for a return to the Championship, but Bruce managed to turn things around and his side comfortably avoided the drop. This season promises to be less of a struggle with Bruce adding to his squad the likes of Lee Cattermole from Middlesbrough, Amr Zaki, the Egyptian striker, on loan, as well as Olivier Kapo and Daniel De Ridder, who follow Steve Bruce up the M6 from Birmingham.

Magic predicts a dull game: West Ham United 1 - Wigan Athletic 1

 

Aston Villa and Manchester City meet at Villa Park, where both teams will be looking to make further progress after improvements last term.

Martin O’ Neil has added Steve Sidwell to his Villa squad and replaced last season’s on loan Scot Carson with Brad Friedel from Blackburn. But with Gareth Barry’s on-off transfer to Liverpool yet to be decided, O’Neil will surely be looking to add new faces to what was the smallest squad in the Premier League last term.

This will be Mark Hughes’ first Premier League game in charge at Manchester City after succeeding Sven Goran Eriksson. Manchester City have an abundance of strikers, but with record signing Jo on Olympic duty, Benjani out injured and Bojinov being eased back to the first team squad, it remains to be seen which 2 strikers Hughes will opt for out of Vassell, Bianchi, Caicedo, Castilla, Bojinov and even youngster Daniel Sturridge, who is an outside bet to make an appearance.

Mark Hughes’s teams are always well disciplined and organized. The capture of £5m signing Tal Ben Haim will further strengthen City at the back and expectations will be running high at Eastlands that they finally have what it takes to break the domination of the big 4.

Magic predicts: Aston Villa 0 - Manchester City 1

 

Sunderland vs. Liverpool at the Stadium of Light. Liverpool are a team with a strong Irish following but allegiances could be split for some of their fans in this fixture as Sunderland’s squad features many names from the Emerald Isle.

Liverpool’s ranks boast Irishmen in the form of new £18m signing Robbie Keane and Steve Finnan. Roy Keane though seems to have been signing Irishmen for fun at the Stadium of Light!! One has to wonder whether chairman Niall Quinn is planning an application to the FA to move Sunderland’s home games to Dublin, as Wimbledon’s owner did a few years ago (LOL!!) On a more serious note, Roy Keane has strengthened his squad with the triple capture of Frenchmen Steed Malbranque, Pascale Chimbonda, and Finn Temo Tainio, as well as Senagalese El Hadji Diouf a £2.5m signing from Bolton. This would seem to be the year Sunderland look to distance themselves from being relegation candidates.

Rafa Benitez will be under pressure to deliver a serious challenge this season. Although Liverpool finished 4th last season they were 11 points adrift of champions Manchester United. That followed on from a 2006/2007 3rd place finish when they were 21 points short of their bitter Lancashire rivals.

Last season Fernando Torres lived up to expectations and delivered the goals that had been lacking in previous campaigns, and in Robbie Keane Benitez has signed a player who it is hoped will be the other half of a potent attacking partnership that will be the missing piece of the jigsaw. Other ‘Pool signings include Italian left back Andrea Dossena, who replaces AS Roma bound John Arne Riise, and Swiss right back Philipp Degen. The on-off transfer saga with Aston Villa over Gareth Barry continues, but if this deal goes through it could mean the end of Xabi Alonso’s Anfield career.

Anything less than a win for Liverpool would be a disappointing start and Magic doesn’t see that happening on opening day

Magic predicts: Sunderland 0 - Liverpool 1

 

Chelsea vs. Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge: Chelsea players will be keen to impress their new manager. Big Phil has plenty of world-class talent from which to choose.

The Blues will begin their title challenge by hosting an impressive Portsmouth side that proved tough opposition last season when they sent Man United crashing to an FA Cup exit before lifting the trophy weeks later. (Not to mention recording their highest ever finish in the Premier League in 8th spot – well I have now haven’t I?).

Pompey will embark on their first ever run-out in the UEFA Cup and will look to improve on last season’s league standing and break into the top six. New arrival Peter “Splug” Crouch will fit in nicely with January signing Jermaine Defoe to form a dangerous threat up front. Although weakened by the loss of Sulley Muntari to Inter Milan, Pompey have a good engine room in the form of Diarra and hard-as-nails Papa Bouba-Diop as well as (again) not to mention extra creativity from the impressive Krancjar. Chelsea starlet Ben Sahar is on loan, but will not feature in this match. At the back, Portsmouth are as solid as ever and extremely difficult to break down.

Depite Portsmouth being impressive last year, Chelsea’s attacking threat will be too much for them to handle.

Magic predicts: Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 0

 

Manchester United start their season against Newcastle United looking to retain their Premiership crown after a hugely successful run-out last term that also saw Sir Alex add another Champion’s League trophy to an increasingly impressive CV.

Unfortunately, much of the recent focus has been on Real Madrid’s public pursuit of star man Cristiano Ronaldo whose future has been the subject of intense speculation all summer. On a number of occasions the “Winker” has not helped matters by publicly expressing his desire to play at the Bernabeu while later contrarily revealing he wishes to stay at Old Trafford…Ferguson will be hoping to finally put the rumours to rest (and maybe collect on any of his offered bets) by retaining the Portuguese winger who scored an astounding 42 goals last season.

Despite further unsettling news in the form of the departure of assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, United will no doubt be serious title contenders, and you would naturally bet on them to at least finish in the top two.

Rio Ferdinand has backed striker Wayne Rooney to step out of Ronaldo’s shadow and to terrorise opposition this season after he has played too often out of position since his big money move from Everton in 2004. If Rooney is allowed to play in his favoured position and if United are successful in their attempts to lure another striker to the club, with Dimitar Berbatov looking a red-hot favourite to join, this will instill even more quality into a near-perfect squad.

United begin their title challenge by hosting Newcastle. On paper the Magpies have some great players, yet in recent seasons the team has simply not been able to do the business. Unfortunately it is unlikely the efforts of ‘saviour’ Kevin Keegan, in his first full season at the club, will stir the team into exceeding the mid-table mediocrity that they achieved last term. But there is always hope. On the other hand, new winger Jonas Gutierrez combined with Damien Duff, providing he stays fit, could provide some much needed service to an impressive front line consisting of Owen, Martins and Viduka.

Newcastle will welcome back bad boy Joey Barton to the middle of the park. However it remains to be seen how long he can stay out of real trouble. Although there is room for improvement in the midfield, the Magpies’ watertight defence that leaked 65 goals last season is an area of greater concern. Hopefully the £11m capture of Argentina international Fabricio Coloccini will ease the problems at the back.

Nevertheless Magic predicts a spanking: Manchester United 4 - Newcastle United 0