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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.

The Management - Score Five

And now over to Magic Mike...

previous predictions -

Week 3.... Week 2.... Week 1.... Round 6

And... we're back!

After the international break the Premier League resumes with one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the season, the early Saturday clash between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield.

The bitter rivalry between the 2 teams in red continues. Both sides have been rather goal shy so far this season, between them scoring only 5 goals in 5 league games. Liverpool's cause won't be helped by the absence of their main goal threat, Fernando Torres, out with a hamstring injury as well as Steven Gerrard. Robbie Keane though will be hoping to open his Liverpool account and it will be interesting to see who he will partner upfront. Sir Alex Ferguson believes he has found the answer to United's lack of goals with the acquisition of £30m Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham on transfer deadline day. Ferguson though will be more concerned about his defence with a doubt over Rio Ferdinand's fitness.

These matches are traditionally very tight games and, in recent years, with few goals. Magic is expecting this pattern to continue but with the Manchester Reds taking home the 3 points: Liverpool 0 - Manchester United 1

 

Blackburn Rovers vs Arsenal at Ewood Park . Blackburn were better in their last game, the 4-1 defeat against West Ham , than the scoreline suggests. They are facing though an Arsenal side that looked to be returning to the same kind of form of early last season when they comprehensively defeated Kevin Keegan's Newcastle, in what turned out to be his last game in charge. Arsenal were buoyed by the return of Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas in that game and will be looking to continue that form at Ewood. Roque Santa Cruz is a doubt for Blackburn. It's difficult to see beyond an Arsenal victory.

Blackburn Rovers 1 - Arsenal 3

 

Fulham vs Bolton at Craven Cottage - This clash could so easily have been a Championship fixture as with 3 games to go last season both sides looked doomed to relegation after 7 years of Premiership football. Roy Hodgson has completely transformed the Fulham side since his arrival and hopes to have record signing, Andy Johnson, the £12m capture from Everton, available for the first time this season. Gary Megson has to a lesser extent transformed Bolton's squad since he took over from Sammy Lee just over a year ago and both sides will be hoping that survival this year will be easier than last. Fulham beat Arsenal in their last Premier League game and with Bolton's poor record over Fulham at Craven Cottage I am expecting Fulham to take the points.

Fulham 1 - Bolton 0

 

Newcastle United vs Hull City at St James Park - It could be a quieter than usual St James Park if Newcastle fans carry out their threat to boycott the game following Kevin Keegan's resignation last week. Morale may be low in the Newcastle camp following rumours that the entire first team squad was available for transfer prior to last Monday's transfer deadline. With Gus Poyet and Zico among the names being touted to be the next in line to take the "poisoned chalice" manager's role, media coverage of this game, other than for the match itself will be unusually intense. Newcastle will be without the services of Damien Duff and Mark Viduka with Obafemi Martins and Geremi also major doubts.

Hull City return to Premier League action after their 5-0 home thrashing at the hands of Wigan Athletic. Phil Brown faces an FA improper conduct charge after his touchline antics during that defeat, clearly brought on by the unfolding result! Hull look to have a full strength squad available for the game except for the slight doubt about George Boateng. Daniel Cousin is likely to make his Premier League debut after his signing from Rangers prior to the transfer deadline. Phil Brown will be looking for improved performance from his team and will see the visit to St James Park as the ideal opportunity with Newcastle club in disarray after the events there in the last 10 days.

Magic predicts a tense game; the Newcastle players to show professionalism and grind out a win: Newcastle United 1 - Hull City 0

 

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough at Fratton Park - After a tough opening fixture list Harry Redknapp's men will be looking to get their first points at home following on from their away win at Everton last time out. The Portsmouth squad may be lacking in depth, but no one can doubt the quality of players that Harry Redknapp has brought to Fratton Park. The likely England National Team strike pairing of Defoe and Crouch will be leading the line for Portsmouth.

Middlesbrough have made a solid start to their Premier League campaign with 2 victories in their first 3 games. Their strike quartet of Mido Tuncay, Aliadiere and Alves are in their second premiership seasons with Boro and look capable of scoring goals that have been lacking in the more recent Boro campaigns.

Magic expects an entertaining game with plenty of goals: Portsmouth 4 - Middlesbrough 2

 

West Bromich Albion vs West Ham United at The Hawthorns. Bottom club West Brom will be looking to build on their first point captured in the goal-less draw at Bolton in their last match. Tony Mowbray's men had arguably the better chances in that game. Mowbray signed defenders Jonas Olsson from NEC Nijmegen and Ryan Donk from AZ Alkmaar before the transfer deadline and in total West Brom have made 11 new signings since winning promotion.

West Ham go into the game managerless after Alan Curbishley called time on a relationship he has had with the Hammers dating back to his childhood when he was a promising schoolboy footballer. The sale of a players without his consent being cited as main reason for his departure. West Ham should have strikers Craig Bellamy and Dean Ashton available to lead the line as West Ham look to continue their bright start to the season after 2 victories in their opening 3 games.

Magic expects West Brom to register their first win of the season. West Bromich Albion 2 - West Ham United 1

 

Wigan vs Sunderland at the JJB Stadium. Wigan return to action following the International break and will be hoping to show the same kind of form that saw them thrash Hull City 5-0, 2 weeks ago. Amr Zaki, the Egyptian goal machine, scored 2 in that game and will be looking to build on his strike partnership with Emile Heskey, who featured in Fabio Capello's England side in their World Cup qualifier in Andorra. Sunderland boss Roy Keane added Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney to his squad before the transfer deadline; those signings prompted Alan Curbishley's resignation from West Ham. Both players will bolster a Sunderland defence that leaked 3 goals in their last game at home to Manchester City. Sunderland can also call on new signings Djibril Cisse and David Healey as they look to repeat the away day success at Tottenham.

A dour game expected with Wigan taking the points, Wigan 1 Sunderland 0

 

Manchester City vs Chelsea at Eastlands - The old adage of a week being a long time in football again rings true with the developments at Eastland in the last week. City's new Arab owners sent a message of intent to the football world with the record signing by a British club of Real Madrid's Robinho, right from under the noses of today's opponents Chelsea. City now have the kind of funding available that dwarves the riches of even Roman Abramovich. The game provides an early test for Mark Hughes and his team especially with the new owners targeting a Champions League place. Robinho will be expected to make his debut and Shaun Wright-Phillips will be looking to show his former employers that they made a mistake in allowing his transfer back to Manchester.

Chelsea will be reeling from the loss of Michael Essien, who will be ruled out for most of the season after suffering a knee injury while representing Ghana. Michael Ballack could be ready to return to action but if not these are the only players who won't be available for selection in Big Phil's squad. Deco and Joe Cole will be looking to continue their good early season form and Nicolas Anelka should also feature against his former club

Magic expects a surprise result, Manchester City 1 - Chelsea 0

 

This week's Sunday game features Stoke City vs Everton at the Britannia Stadium. Tony Pulis has added more numbers to his squad before the September 1st transfer deadline but still this is going to be a long hard season for Stoke in battling a swift return to Championship football. They will be seeking to repeat their victory over Aston Villa of 3 weeks ago.

This season has so far not gone as planned for Everton manager David Moyes. With 2 home defeats and only a victory at Premier League newcomers West Brom. If Everton are going to improve on their 5th place finish they will need to start picking up results as quickly as possible. Moyes has also been largely unsuccessful with his transfer targets in the close season although he did manage to sign the highly promising Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini for a club record fee as well as Louis Saha to replace Andy Johnson just before the transfer deadline.

I am expecting Everton to grind out a result: Stoke City 0 - Everton 1

 

In the Monday night game Tottenham play Aston Villa at White Hart Lane. Tottenham played well in their last outing to take a point off Chelsea and now Dimitar Berbatov's protracted move to Manchester United has been concluded, with Tottenham securing the services of Fraizer Campbell for a year's loan deal as well as the addition of Roman Pavyluchenko, White Hart Lane is now a more settled place. I am expecting Tottenham's form to improve and that we'll see them move into the top half of the table in the coming weeks. Aston Villa have shown the type of form this season that would suggest they can challenge for a top 4 finish this season. Although they failed to break down Liverpool in their last game, Brad Friedel didn't have a save to make and Martin O'Neil would have been pleased with the clean sheet after seeing his side concede 5 goals in their opening 2 Premier League matches.

The corresponding fixture last season was an 8 goal thriller in which honours were shared. I am expecting a low scoring game this time around as both teams will be looking to consolidate their start to the season. Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Aston Villa 1