Weekend Football Picks (December 8-10)

Let's face facts here- there is only one game of importance to me this weekend and I am beginning to feel like a nervous wreck in anticipation of it.

It's the calm before the storm and I just know it is going to be a game that puts me through the wringer.

These are my picks from the weekend football after a pretty good start to December. Let us hope that continues as the month moves on.


Wigan Athletic v Queens Park Rangers Pick: This is a big game for both sides, especially for Queens Park Rangers who could be dead and buried in the Premier League with yet another defeat.

However, I think QPR will create chances in this game against a Wigan team that are down to their bare bones when it comes to defensive personnel in this one and they are not exactly a solid defensive team anyway with 7 of their last 8 home games in the Premier League seeing them concede at least 2 goals.

On the other hand, it is likely that Wigan will look to use the old saying of 'attack being the best form of defence' and I think they will also get opportunities as long as they not given another harsh sending off as they did at Newcastle United last Monday night.

Wigan have only failed to score against Chelsea and Manchester City this season at home and have beaten Reading and West Ham United here so this looks a game that has all the makings of goals and that will be my pick.


Sunderland v Chelsea Pick: Rafa Benitez did earn his first win as manager of Chelsea in the simple beating of Nordsjaelland during the week, but it will be a different test for them at the Stadium of Light. However, this does seem like a good time to play Sunderland as they have really been struggling for form and may be more interested in their big home game against Reading coming up during the week.

Chelsea have a good record here at Sunderland and I think they will likely have a bit too much for a team that has struggled to score goals all season. Sunderland have only scored 3 goals in their last 5 home games in all competitions, and even one of those was an own goal.

However, Chelsea haven't been the best defensively so I expect Sunderland to have some chances to up their goal tally in this one. It is hard to trust either one of these sides, but I just feel the added importance of Chelsea earning a win during the week, even in  a futile effort to remain in the Champions League, will help them get through here.

I can see Chelsea picking up the three points, but by the minimum of margins.


Southampton v Reading Pick: After watching Reading at first hand last week against Manchester United, it is clear that their defending leaves a lot to be desired, while they are effective going forward.

With Southampton having a similar policy, this looks like a game that could be one of the higher scoring ones over the course of the whole weekend.

Neither team is better defensively than going forward so neither will sit back, although sometimes a 'relegation six pointer' can be tense affairs that stifles the creative players as managers are scared to lose rather than going to win the game. In saying that, I don't think either Brian McDermott or Nigel Adkins fall into that category and I think there is every chance we see at least 4 goals shared in this one.

The corresponding fixture ended 1-3 to Reading last season when both were promoted to the Premier League and I'll be looking for goals in this one.


Manchester City v Manchester United Pick: The biggest game of the weekend comes from the Etihad Stadium and I am both not looking forward to it and asking what it to be brought on.

I would be surprised if either of these teams decide to go all out attack for this fixture and am particularly concerned that Sir Alex Ferguson will set out United to defend in a manner similar to the game in April that effectively handed City the inside track to the Premier League title.

If the performance is as tepid on that evening, it will be inevitable that City will find the breakthrough and likely win the game. However, their swagger is not the same as at this stage last season when they were blitzing teams off the park and Arsenal, Everton and Swansea City have all limited City to just 1 goal here.

I know all the talk ahead of the game will be the amount of attacking talent both teams possess, but even United with all that ability have been held goalless at Everton and Norwich City this season and I just think the chances for goals in this game are not as great as the layers seem to think.

I am actually expecting a tight game that may only be decided by a single goal or finish as a 1-1 draw... The last 6 League games here have all be low-scoring games and I think we see more of the same on Sunday.


Everton v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: A lot of Tottenham Hotspur supporters I know seem to be upset with the team performances and it seems the results they are obtaining are a form of smoke and mirrors to whether the team actually deserves those points.

They face the draw specialists of the Premier League in Everton and will be missing the services of Gareth Bale, a big loss in a game where the counter attack could be effective as Everton push forward.

Everton have 8 draws from their League games this season and have drawn 3 of their last 4 at Goodison Park, but they have been unfortunate to an extent. They just haven't put teams away when they have them under the cosh, but I think they will be too strong for Spurs in this one.

I just feel Spurs are a touch vulnerable at the back and the likes of Maruoane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic will be able to cause plenty of problems. Everton have also beaten Spurs the last 2 times they have visited Goodison and I like the home side at odds against for a small interest.


West Ham United v Liverpool Pick: West Ham United were really impressive against Chelsea in the second half last week and if they can take that form into this game, I really fancy them to beat Liverpool and I don't quite no why they are the underdogs in this game.

Liverpool are missing their one and only centre forward in Luis Suarez and I struggle to see how they will score the goals without his presence in the side. Suarez either creates or scores the majority of the goals that Liverpool have scored so his absence is huge and there is a chance that Liverpool will not be able to play with a recognised striker.

That could give West Ham the chance to get on the front foot and I think they have been playing really well in recent weeks and could ride the momentum of last week to another win in front of their own fans this week.

At the prices, it would be silly not to have a small interest in the home side to win this game.


MY PICKS: Wigan Athletic-Queens Park Rangers Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Chelsea to win by 1 Goal (English Handicap Draw) @ 3.80 Stan James (1 Unit)
Southampton-Reading Over 3.5 Goals @ 3.00 William Hill (1 Unit)
Manchester City-Manchester United Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.20 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Everton @ 2.10 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
West Ham United @ 3.20 Pinnacle (1 Unit)



December Update: 9-7, + 3.70 Units (18 Units Staked, + 20.6 % Yield)

November Final: 8-21, - 8.25 Units (37 Units Staked, - 22.3% Yield)
October Final: 9-9, + 5.44 Units (27 Units Staked, 20.1% Yield)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)