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Coffee 7:24 Sat Apr 2
Saturday football

SATURDAY

LIVERPOOL vs WATFORD (1230)
A routine romp beckons in the weekend’s curtain raiser. The Hornets look doomed and, for once, the other side of Stanley Park will be firmly rooting for their darling neighbours. Home win.

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs NORWICH CITY (!500)
Brighton have had little in the way of cheer from recent results. Now they have a gilt-edged opportunity to put things right. Home win.

BURNLEY vs MANCHESTER CITY (!500)
With Liverpool breathing down their necks, there’s no space for Man City complacency at Turf Moor. The Championship comes draws closer in Burnley’s rear view mirror. Away win.

CHELSEA vs BRENTFORD (!500)
Brentford look almost safe for a second season in the Premier League. By any standards, that’s a remarkable achievement for a club that is far from synonymous with the elite tier of English football. But they still need a few points to ensure that status. Today is unlikely to yield any points unless they can emulate the leadership of their opposing owner’s government with a smash and grab raid at Stamford Bridge. Home win.

LEEDS UNITED vs SOUTHAMPTON (!500)
Many felt that Bielsa was hard done by when he was dismissed. But Leeds have managed to suspend their slide towards the bottom three and now hold a seven point advantage over third-from-bottom Watford. The Saints are destined for a comfortable mid-table finish and will probably be satisfied with a point from Elland Road. Draw.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs ASTON VILLA (!500)
Until it came to a grinding halt at the London Stadium, Villa had enjoyed a resurgence of sorts that saw them climb the table to one spot below today’s hosts. Wolves’ season has been hampered by a lack of firepower that may have seen them challenging for the top four. The game could be moderately engaging. Draw.

MANCHESTER UNITED vs LEICESTER CITY (1730)
No booing Harry Maguire, please. Leicester have enjoyed a disappointing season, while Man U have also been below par. At least, that’s what their fans would say. We could do with a Leicester win this evening, even if that does seem rather unlikely. Home win.


*SUNDAY*

WEST HAM UNITED vs EVERTON (1400)
Now then, what do we have here? Three points, with any luck. Things are looking sticky for the Toffees as they seek to avoid a first relegation from the Premier League. The two managers have significant history with their opponents and will look to get one over their former employers. March was a mixed month for the visitors. Victories over Newcastle and Borehamwood couldn’t paper over the cracks deepened by a home defeat at the hands of Wolves and away losses to Palace (4-0, FA Cup) and Spurs (5-0). Their away from has been dire all season, with the last point gained on the road coming in December in an unlikely draw at Chelsea. For us, Bowen looks set to miss out again – although he may be back for Lyon next week – but it’s an excellent chance to do the double over them after a 1-0 win at Goodison last October. They should be stoked up, though, and despite league positions this will be far from a formality. Home win.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs NEWCASTLE UNITED (1630)
Until the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia came bearing a cheque book, Newcastle were bottom or next to for much of the campaign. Now they’re fourteenth, nine points clear of the drop zone and have the wind in their sails. Spurs have a kind of breeze in theirs and despite a twenty point advantage, a victory is far from guaranteed. Come on, you Barcodes. Draw.


*MONDAY*

CRYSTAL PALACE vs ARSENAL (2000)
There’ll be no room for nostalgia as Patrick Viera’s improving Palace side take on former club Arsenal, whose own improvement over the season eclipses even the Eagles’ achievements. Fourth spot is there for the visitors’ taking, but they’ll have to win games like this to be sure of it. Away win.


*WEDNESDAY*

BURNLEY vs EVERTON (1930)
With luck, both these sides will come into this on the back of defeat. It’s tough to differentiate between two poor teams desperate to avoid the drop. This could be the kind of spectacle that makes you want to watch Des O’Connor instead. Draw.


*CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP*

It’s a busy week ahead for the Championship. At the bottom, four teams are battling for one get out of jail card. With eight games to play and a five point lead over Barnsley, the balance lies with Reading at the moment. But the two teams meet in Yorkshire this afternoon, and the Tykes will have to take all three points to keep the battle going. At the top end, the title is Fulham’s to lose, and even that would take some effort. They travel to QPR this afternoon – will they take the tube? – who are still in the hunt for a play-off spot. A late goal saw Huddersfield boost their play-off aspirations at lowly Hull last night. Just two points separate the current occupants of those four places, the same number that also separate the sides in positions seven to ten. Luton host Millwall – who would you like to see win that one? Blackburn visit Coventry and Sheffield Utd go to Stoke, while Middlesboro will fancy their chances at Peterborough. And in what looks like a routine win that will further cement their runner-up spot, Bournemouth host Bristol City. In the early kick-off, Forest, who have games in hand, will expect to overcome hosts Blackpool. There’s everything to play for in this most intriguing of divisions.

Manuel 6:42 Thu Apr 7
Re: Saturday football

Stating the obvious but they are in serious shit now, would be a huge story if they went down. Could the owners panic and pull the trigger now? I would say unlikely, but if they stay up they have a decision to make in the summer, as it is pretty evident that Lampard is out of his depth with the big boys.

Takashi Miike 3:05 Thu Apr 7
Re: Saturday football

not sure if it was arogance, or just didn't do his homework in regard to how hard the job was. you could say the same about whoever hired lampard. someone like chris wilder, or even potter (if they could have got him away from brighton) would have been a far better choice

Mike Oxsaw 3:04 Thu Apr 7
Re: Saturday football

I'm sure that the media had a say in Lampard's appointment.

Everton had no really big names for non-English speakers to latch-on to.

Parachute in a name they recognise and more will tune in to the adverts...sorry...game.

It's really that simply; we had a spell of it when out twat owners felt "the fans needed" a marque signing: I suspect a little media bird was chirping merrily in their ears all that time.

Moyes has repeatedly said that's now not the route for us, although there's no doubt in my mind that Sullivan keeps throwing "big stars" names his way. "Big Stars" on the books of his mates, obviously.

If Everton do drop, I doubt they'll have the wherewithal to bounce back the first time of asking, which means that they will be quickly forgotten as the PL gravy train charges on.

Alfs 2:34 Thu Apr 7
Re: Saturday football

Lamps was a great player, there's no denying that. It's his arrogance that has let him down. He should have learned his management skills in the lower leagues until he proved that he could do the job.

It beggars belief that big clubs like Chelsea and Everton appoint a manager based on his playing ability. The RAC wouldn't offer Lewis Hamilton the role as CEO because he's a good driver.

the coming of gary 2:05 Thu Apr 7
Re: Saturday football

.. 29,000 at Forest tonight. Their young player Johnson seems set for the top
.

Sydney_Iron 1:20 Thu Apr 7
Re: Saturday football

Reading between the lines Frank looks spent to me, even said team lacks confidence, compare that to the teams around them could be a slippery slope for the toffees.

Everton fans starting to call for big Dunc to take over until the end of the season, will the board do a Watford?

Sven Roeder 12:44 Thu Apr 7
Re: Saturday football

Speaking of relegation & promotion ....
Fulham are basically promoted & can make it mathematically certain at the weekend.
Won at Boro (Mitrovic goal of course) & 3rd placed Huddersfield have 6 games left & trail them by 17 pts & 52 goals.

simon.s 12:17 Thu Apr 7
Re: Saturday football

Lot of arrogance from Lampard since he got into management and he’s not handled the transition well since he gave it large to the German. Compare and contrast with how Gerrard goes about his job.

I have zero beef with Everton as a club but I’d fucking love to see them go down.

lowlife 12:00 Thu Apr 7
Re: Saturday football

Ha - did he really say that? Even bigger prick than I thought!

Also;

Burnley scored first, fell behind, and then came back to win a Premier League match for the first time in their history.

Couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Hahahaha!

Sven Roeder 11:57 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

'We're still above Burnley in the table'

HA HA HA
Thats ok then

lowlife 11:54 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

Lampard is such a spaz, particularly with the interview he did with BBC sport before the game.

Said he was “excited” about the fight in the relegation battle. Also made some snide comments about Burnley and the way they play.

Really want to see that cunt get relegated and then say he’s “determined to put it right”.

Sven Roeder 11:51 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

As said Everton do some things right but they just make endless errors.
And the manager is deluded and W-A-Y out of his depth.

only1billybonds 11:46 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

Think tonight was absolutely MUST win for Everton,they are now in very serious trouble. As has been said, the run in they have is very tough, could be the first time in our lives we see a top division that dosnt include them.

Great stuff!

Sven Roeder 11:45 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

Has a touch of class that Cornet
Think he will have several suitors whatever happens to Burnley

Perhaps they fancy swapping him for Arthur?

Stevethehammer 11:41 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

That Cornet is a decent player, wouldn't mind him being a West ham player. Over the course of the season he has scored some good goals and is one of, if not the main reason they are still within a shout of staying up, as shown by tonight's winner.

RBshorty 11:40 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

Everton are like us when we went down under Roeder. Had the talent. But haven’t got the team spirit. Nor the manager with a scooby.

Sven Roeder 11:38 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

Perhaps if Everton want to stay up they shouldnt let that porky scruffy homeless bloke sit in the dugout.
Oh , its actually SUPER MANAGER Frank Lampard II

Agreed with an Everton fan at the time that they should have given it to Duncan Ferguson as a caretaker til the end of the season.
Might at least put some fight into them.
Would probably do it now to be fair.

twoleftfeet 11:30 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

The Allardyce/Phil Brown dream team to reunite at Everton.

Great players don't always make great managers.

Expect them to bring in Rooney.

Any Old Iron 11:30 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

Lampard not looking so smug tonight.
Great work Burnley.

Sydney_Iron 11:28 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

Everton so wasteful up front and so useless at the back, they really are in deep shit now given the games they have coming up.......

lowlife 11:28 Wed Apr 6
Re: Saturday football

Burnley’s run in looking significantly less tricky too.

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