Another weekend of Premier League football rolls around and a familiar face is back in the game but a new boy could be on his way out.
By Sean Nolan
5. Welcome back Martin
It is unclear at this stage if Martin O’Neill will be on the sideline or cuddled up in the stand with Niall Quinn but his influence over stuttering Sunderland begins this weekend. With the Black Cats headed to the Black Country to take on Wolves on Sunday, O’Neill has an ideal opportunity to get off to a winning start against a side with one win in their last eight Premier League games.
A classic six-pointer should get the Northern Irishman back into the swing of things very quickly.
4. AVB on the brink
Now that the first domino has fallen in the Premier League’s annual sack race, expect more to follow. Prime candidate for the chop is Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea. Three defeats in their last four home games has seen the pressure rise on the young manager and, a bit like the Euro, something has got to give.
Rumours abound that defeat to Newcastle at St James’ Park in Saturday’s early kick-off will see him get the bullet from Roman Abramovich. Newcastle are tough to beat at home so a juicy vacancy at Stamford Bridge could appear by Saturday evening. We hear that Avram Grant and Carlo Ancelotti are available.
3. Top, top, players at Tottenham
Spurs recent form has been sensational, with one draw and seven wins in their last eight. With Bolton coming to White Hart Lane a 3pm on Saturday, a win for ‘Arry’s boys will see them leapfrog Manchester United and into second place.
It may only be for a few hours, depending on how United get on at Aston Villa in the late kick-off, but the sight of Spurs at the sharp end is both justified and a sign they may be a real threat. If United stumble at Villa, we suspect Sandra will be getting a slap up feed courtesy of ‘Arry somewhere well tasty.
2. Time for the Ox to drag Arsenal up the table
Arsenal may have fallen to a sucker punch in midweek to Manchester City but the game showcased the talents of the latest Wenger gem, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Poached from Southampton, he appears to a stronger and more direct version of another former Saint, Theo Walcott.
Gunners fans have been craving for a strong player who is not afraid to take a bloody shot at goal and the Ox may be it. Playing Wigan away is an ideal game to hand him his first start. His only appearance in the league to date for Arsenal was as a second-half sub in the 8-2 mauling at Old Trafford. He will have much more fun against the dismal Wigan rearguard.
1. Fuming Fergie fights back
When Alex Ferguson gets into a grump beware. After feeling he was screwed by the referee against Newcastle last week his reserves went out in midweek and got beaten by Crystal Palace. Training this week will have resembled the opening scenes of Full Metal Jacket.
Another consequence of a classic Fergie huff is some sweeping changes to his line-up. Nobody will be safe from his wrath this week so God knows what team he will put out on Saturday, but it is safe to say Darron Gibson won’t be getting a call. At least it will make the game interesting as Alex McLeish’s side are the dullest team to grace the Premier League in quite a while.
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