FA Cup and Premier League predictions

More celebrations today

FA Cup Final

There is no doubt that Manchester City will go into this game as hot favourites, but the outcome is a very long way from being a foregone conclusion. In terms of how much money they’ve got, the wage bills and the amount of money it took to assemble the squads, Manchester City are are in a different stratasphere to Stoke. However, on the pitch, the gap is a lot less than that.

Stoke are just four places behind City in the league. City have lost two of their last five league games, whilst Stoke are unbeaten in four. City were unimpressive last time out in their scrappy 1-0 win over Tottenham, whilst Stoke were excellent in the 3-1 win over Arsenal.

If their players don’t freeze on the big occasion and their big players are passed fit to play, I have a sneaing suspicion that Stoke might just make the City fans wait a little longer for a trophy.

Soccernews prediction: 1-2

Premier League

After the excitement and drama of last week’s win over Chelsea, United need just a point from their last two games to win the title for a record nineteenth time. It doesn’t come a lot less exciting and dramatic than Ewood Park, Blackburn, but that is where United get their first chance to wrap it up.

Despite picking up four points in their last two games Blackburn are not yet safe. They still won’t be after this one. It will be another United celebration day.

Soccernews prediction: 0-2

These two teams played a very famous Cup Final against each other back in the 1950s, and have a long and fantastic history in the game. Nowadays Blackpool are back in the top division, but for how long? Being one point adrift of safety and only having two games left, the second of which is at Old Trafford, Blackpool know they must win this one.

Bolton have nearly had a great season but it has all gone a bit wrong. Their 5-0 semi-final defeat to Stoke will be on their minds today as they will wish it was them playing in the final. They have lost three games in a row and are a pretty good team for a struggling club to be playing right now.

Soccernews prediction: 2-1

Mid-table Sunderland want the season to end. It is all they can do to get eleven fit players on the pitch at the moment and last week’s win at Bolton was only their second success in twelve games.

Wolves had a crucial win last week that lifted them out of the bottom three by one point. A point here will mean that they have to sweat all the way to the final whistle on the final day.

Soccernews prediction: 1-1

This is the only game today that doesn’t really matter to anyone other than the fans of the two teams. West Brom have done fantstically well under Roy Hodgson but looked like a team ready for their holidays in last week’s defeat at West Brom. Everton are in fine form and will be looking to finish the season in style in their last two games.

I fancy Everton to want it more.

Soccernews prediction: 1-2

Sunday 15th May

Premier League

I really do feel sorry for Arsene Wenger and everyone at Arsenal. It is only a few weeks ago that this looked like being the best season in the club’s history. Now they’ve won nothing and after defeats at Bolton and Stoke, they are fighting it out with Manchester City for third place.

Aston Villa have somehow survived this season, but with only two wins in their last nine games, they are hardly in great form.

Although it is a risky business predicting Arsenal to win anything, I think they might take the points here.

Soccernews prediction: 2-0

Birmingham are really struggling. They are stumbling and stuttering towards the end of the season hoping and praying that there are three teams who fail to collect more points than them. They are three points clear of the drop zone with two games to play, but they have just one point from the last four games, a 1-1 draw at home to fellow strugglers Wolves.

Fulham have turned their season around to look like a top half team, but will be keen to wipe the memories of their 5-2 drubbing at home to Liverpool last time out.

It means more to Birmingham, but Fulham are much better. Tough one to call. Neither side will be too disappointed with a point.

Soccernews prediction: 1-1

It is likely that by the time this one is played, Chelsea will already know that their title has been ripped from their grasp by Manchester United. That could mean that Chelsea play without passion or it could mean that they play without pressure and turn it on.

Newcastle have done OK this season, but I would imagine their players are just looking forward to a fortnight in Magaluf with the lads or a fortnight in Florida with the family.

Soccernews prediction: 2-0

So King Kenny has signed a new three year deal to stay at Liverpool. It was the only sensible decision after the minor miracle he has performed since January. Liverpool are very much the form team and nobody would want to play them at the moment. In particular, if you had lost the chance of Champions League qualification and your season had fallen apart a little bit, you wouldn’t want to play them.

Soccernews prediction: 2-0

This is probably the biggest game of the weekend. The bottom two play against each other knowing, particularly in West Ham’s case, that defeat will mean almost certain relegation out of the Premier League.

Both teams will see this game as a chance to pick up the three points that would give them a fighting chance of survival.

West Ham are without a win in eight whilst Wigan have won just twice in that time. It is a tough one to call but I’m afraid West Ham will be condemned to the drop and Wigan will live to fight another day.

Soccernews prediction: 1-0