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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 -

Week 2.... Week 1.... Round 6

Week 3 - Some form beginning to emerge?

Bolton Wanderers vs West Bromich Albion at The Reebok Stadium.  After an away-blank at Newcastle, where they went down to a Michael Owen goal after a penalty miss by skipper Kevin Nolan, Bolton return to The Reebok to face another promoted side. Gary Megson will be hoping his team can despatch West Brom in the same manner that they beat newly promoted Stoke City on the opening day of the season. There are concerns about the fitness of record signing Johan Elmander and Matt Taylor, who both hobbled off injured in the Newcastle game.

Tony Mowbray's West Brom side must quickly come to terms with the harsh realities of the Premier League. Although West Brom  have competed well against Arsenal and Everton, they have gone down in both matches by the odd goal. They now need to take something from this Bolton game.  West Brom fans must are already bracing themselves for a season battling the drop back to The Chamionship.

Magic predicts the first point for the Baggies:   Bolton Wanderers 1 -  West Bromich Albion 1

 

Everton vs Portsmouth at Goodison Park -  Everton picked up their first win of the season last week at West Brom in a battling display, and return to Goodison hoping to register their first win in front of their home fans. David Moyes has only been able to add one new name to his squad and time is running out for further signings before the transfer deadline closes on Monday. Notwithstanding, Everton still boast a strong squad and will be one of the teams this season that are expected to challenge for a Champions League spot.

Portsmouth come into this game without a win but  with the opponents in their opening games (Chelsea and Manchester United) that's hardly surprising. The  opening fixture list has been unkind to Harry Redknapp's men. On a positive note, given the quality in the Hampshire side's squad , transformed since "Arry's" return to Fratton Park,  surely it won't be long before Portsmouth start moving up the table.  

Magic predicts  Everton 1 -  Portsmouth 1

 

Hull City vs Wigan Athletic at The Kingston Communications Stadium   Who would have believed 10 years ago that this game would be a Premier League fixture?

Hull have made a bright start to their first campaign at the top level in English football. Phil Brown's men have competed well and taken an encouraging 4 points from their opening 2 games bannishing any ideas that they would "do a Derby"  and  fail to compete at this level. They will be full of confidence going into this game and Phil Brown will be already targeting this game as a "must win" if his team are to retain Premiership status come next May.  For Wigan it's been a poor start and Steve Bruce will certainly  want to get something out of the match otherwise another survival scrap is in the offering. Wigan did compete well against Chelsea last week, but in truth very rarely troubled a solid Chelsea defence. Goals may prove to be a problem from Steve Bruce's men as the season unfolds and he and the  Wigan fans must be hoping that Amr Zaki, the goal machine of Egyptian football, can find similar form in the English Premiership.

Magic is expecting Hull's fine run to continue    Hull City 1 -  Wigan Athletic 0

 

Middlesborough vs Stoke City at The Riverside -   Gareth Southgate was left stunned last Saturday as his Boro side contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Liverpool at Anfield.  Boro had battled  hard and had kept Liverpool at bay for almost 90 minutes when  Carragher s, truck with a shot that took a cruel deflection off skipper Pogatetz  with 5 minutes to go and Gerrard popped up with a last gasp winner.  Boro return to The Riverside looking to return to winning ways against a Stoke team that earned their first points on returning to the top flight  with a thrilling victory against Aston Villa. Villa dominated that game for long periods but as in the Liverpool game, a last gasp goal, a header by Sidibe, sent the Stoke fans home happy.  Ricardo Fuller scored a great goal against Villa to follow up on his goal on opening game against Bolton and will be hoping to make an impression on his return to the Premier League after a short unsuccesful spell with Portsmouth

Magic expects Middlesrough to return to winning ways:   Middlesbrough 2 - Stoke City 0 

 

West Ham United vs Blackburn at Upton Park.  I believe this is going to prove a sticky season for West Ham, who if rumours are to be believed are a "selling club".  With  Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil  already sold to Fulham, Freddie Llungberg having his contract settled and  leaving as a free agent. Craig Bellamy and Anton Ferdinand the subject of transfer speculation concerning moves to Manchester City and Sunderland respectively: it could leave the  Hammers short in numbers particularly at the back where they have players out injured. Alan Curbishley will be hoping Dean Ashton, who scored a brace on opening day ,will make a swift return after sustaining a calf injury in the same game, after his West ham side were soundly beaten by Manchester City last Sunday.Paul Ince's Blackburn side will visit the capital full of confidence after taking 4 points from their opening 2 games. Failing to beat Premier New Boys, Hull, last Saturday was a slight disappointment  but I expect this Blackburn side to bounce back straight away and take all 3 points.

Magic Predicts:  West Ham United 1 -  Blackburn Rovers 2

 

The late Saturday game features Arsenal vs Newcastle United at The Emirates Stadium - Arsenal can have no complaints about their defeat against Fulham last week and will be looking to return to winning ways against a Newcastle side that has started well in Kevin Keegan's first season in charge of his second spell as manager.  Arsene Wenger will be hoping that Cesc Fabregas will be fit enough to return to an Arsenal side that has been sorely missing his creativity in midfield. Arsenal have managed only 1 goal in 2 games this season.

Kevin Keegan will welcome Michael Owen back for his first Premier League start after injury. Owen came off the bench against Bolton last Saturday and popped up with the winner. With Obafemi Martins out injured and Mark Viduka not expected to return to fitness for another week . Owen will be Newcastle's main goal threat.

Magic expects Arsenal to bounce back for a comfortable win:  Arsenal 3 - Newcastle 0

 

In the opening Sunday Game Chelsea take on Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.   Chelsea  boast an excellent record over Tottenham in the Premier League. Tottenham have only managed 2 top flight league victories over Chelsea in the last 18 years. Chelsea have also  impressed in their opening 2 games, taking maximum points, whilst Tottenham have had a disappointing start, in defeats against Middlesbrough and Sunderland. Looking at history and current form, It is difficult to see beyond a Chelsea victory in the latest clash between the teams but Spurs fans, at least, will be hoping for a repeat of their side's Carling Cup victory over Chelsea at Wembley last February. It is expected that Luiz Felipe Scolari will add 1 more player to his squad before Monday's transfer deadline, whilst for Tottenham, Dimitar Berbatov looks set to leave the club if Spurs are successful in signing a new striker, rumoured to be Roman Paluchenko.

Magic is expecting no surprises:  Chelsea 3 - Tottenham Hotspur 0

 

Sunderland vs Manchester City at The Stadium of Light  Roy Keane would have been delighted with Sunderland's victory at Tottenham last weekend in a game which saw new signing Djibril Cisse come off the bench to score on his Sunderland debut. With David Healy also signing for Sunderland last week and Anton Ferdinand considering a move to the North East, competion for places will be fierce . 

Manchester City bounced back after an opening day defeat at Aston Villa for a convincing victory over West Ham at Eastlands. Mark Hughes will welcome back club captain Richard Dunne to his squad after suspension and Brazilian striker Jo returns following Olympic duty. Micah Richards should hopefully recover from concussion after the  unfortunate clash of heads with team-mate  Tal Ben-Haim. City are building a useful looking squad under Hughes and I am expecting them to nick all 3 points!

Magic predicts:  Sunderland 0  -  Manchester City 2

 

Aston Villa vs Liverpool at Villa Park.  Villa impressed in their opening game against Manchester City and will be hoping to repeat that kind of form for the visit of Liverpool. Martin O' Neill must have been hugely disappointed that his team failed to take at least a point from the game against Stoke last weekend.  The Liverpool game will be an early test for an Aston Villa side, who were fancied  to continue their improvement under O'Neill's stewardship. 

Rafa Benitez's Liverpool haven't really got out of second gear this season but have still managed 2 league victories to set the early pace with Chelsea. This is quite an encouraging start , as typically those 2 wins were the type of games  that ended in draws for Liverpool last term, and which finally left  their title challenge over very early in the season. They will surely though need to step up a gear for the visit to Villa Park.

Magic predicts:   Aston Villa 1 - Liverpool 1