Champion and Top 4 EPL – 2012/13 Prediction

[rondwisan]

Mancini: 'We will win the title'
ESPN, Richard Jolly - September 28, 2012



Roberto Mancini has said he is unworried by Manchester City's stuttering form and declared: "We will win the title."

For the first time in the Italian's reign, City have failed to win in four games and have only claimed maximum points in two of their first five league matches.

City find themselves three points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, but Mancini remains adamant that his team, who became champions for the first time in 44 years last season, will retain their crown.

"It is more difficult in the second year, but we will win the title," he said. "There are some moments where maybe you don't play well, the other team plays better than you or you are unlucky. This is one of those moments. You need only to stay calm and work hard."

City are yet to keep a clean sheet in any competition this season, and Mancini believes the disruption caused by Euro 2012 - which delayed some of his defenders' return to training - and late signings, with Maicon and Matija Nastastic only arriving on the final day of the transfer window, are contributory factors.

"We didn't work well in pre-season and we didn't have all the defenders," he said, pointing out that his side did not have a great defensive record at the start of last season. "We have conceded only two goals more than [at this stage of] last year, and maybe we have scored less," he said.

Samir Nasri is set to make a swifter than expected return for Saturday's game away at Fulham. The France international sustained a hamstring injury in the 3-2 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, but is back in contention. However, Jack Rodwell, Micah Richards and Maicon all miss the trip to Craven Cottage.

"Samir is ok," Mancini added. "Jack is injured: he had a problem in the warm-up [against Aston Villa] and he is not available. Micah is in training but he is not ready, and Maicon [is out]."

Mancini believes the improvement of mid-table sides means the Premier League is ever harder this year.

He explained: "All these teams like Fulham, Sunderland and Stoke are better and every game will be more difficult than last year. Saturday will be a really tough game because they play really well."

[rondwisan]

23/11/2012 09:58 - ManUtd.com, B Hibbs & G Thompson
Sir Alex: Still a three-horse race



Sir Alex Ferguson still believes the Barclays Premier League title is a three-horse race involving United, Manchester City and Chelsea, despite the managerial changes at Stamford Bridge this week.

The United boss expressed his sympathy for Roberto Di Matteo, who was dismissed by Roman Abramovich and replaced by Rafael Benitez. But, according to Sir Alex, the changes at the top do not alter the fact that Chelsea have undeniable quality in their squad.

"Certainly a few week ago we were thinking it looked like a three-horse race," the boss told reporters on Friday. "I don’t think that is out of the question either because there are only a few points between the three teams anyway.

"Chelsea have got a big squad of players. They have a lot of experience and have brought in a couple of young players – Oscar and Hazard. There is a bit of youth throughout their team now, there is a sprinkling of youth coming through and a good blend of experience and young players. So there is no way you can possibly dismiss Chelsea."

Di Matteo's dismissal had an air of inevitability about it. Sir Alex is an advocate of giving managers opportunity to prove themselves and can't help but feel the Italian wasn't given a fair crack of the whip.

"Everyone feels for Roberto Di Matteo and quite rightly," he said. "It’s quite amazing when you consider he has won the FA Cup and Champions League. The biggest disappointment for me is in two weeks time they are going to play in the Club World Cup. You would have thought they would have waited two weeks to give the guy a chance to win a world title.

"Of course, Rafa Benitez is very lucky because on his CV in two weeks' time he could have two world club titles to his name [he won one with Inter] and had nothing to do with the teams. Jose Mourinho won the Treble at Inter; Rafa took over and they won the world title without having to do anything. He had nothing to do with the construction of the eams – that’s why I really feel disappointment for Roberto – he could have an FA Cup, Champions League and Club World Cup on his CV. It’s a pity for him."

That said, Sir Alex is hopeful that a new arrival in the Chelsea hot-seat bodes well as they welcome title rivals Manchester City to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

"Benitez has been trying to get a job for a long time," he added. "I hope he is lucky on Sunday too! It happens time and time again when a new manager comes in they win their first few games. We’ve seen it before, it’s a strange thing how it happens. Sometimes you wonder if it encourages chairmen at football clubs to make changes because they think if we get a new manager we’ll win the next two or three games. History tells you that but you never know."

[VaDLi]

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West Bromwich Albion

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[rondwisan]

Defiant Benitez claims Chelsea can still become champions despite seven-point gulf
dailymail.co.uk, Laurie Whitwell - 23:16 GMT, 28 November 2012


Furious Chelsea fans turned on Rafael Benitez again after a desperate goalless draw with Fulham.

Supporters chanted ‘we want our Chelsea back’ at the final whistle as the European champions extended their winless league run to six games and slipped seven points behind leaders Manchester United.

Former manager Roberto Di Matteo’s name was sung loudly once more after a dire game in which Fernando Torres stretched his barren run to 10 hours and 49 minutes.


Defiant: Rafa Benitez believes Chelsea can still win the title despite being seven points off the pace

Benitez said: ‘Everybody here is disappointed. We have to give credit to Fulham, who worked hard, but these are the games we have to win. We controlled the game but we still have to score goals.’

It was the first time since September 2007 that the Blues had failed to score in back to back home matches and Benitez became only the second manager under Roman Abramovich to fail to win either of his opening two games. The other was Avram Grant.

But Benitez insisted Chelsea had the quality to overhaul United and Manchester City, who both won again.

‘Why can’t we?’ he said. ‘It’s still a long way to go. We have to keep going. We’ll have chances.

‘Remember last season when City were ahead and it was “easy”. Then they needed to win their last game. It’s a long, long competition.’

Interim manager Benitez acknowledged Chelsea were lacking confidence after a run of two wins in 10 that threatens to wreck their season.

He added: 'The main thing is to win games. If we do, we'll be there and we can win competitions.
"We need to start doing that and the confidence will come back.'


No-one exemplifies Chelsea's plight more than Fernando Torres who, barring a fluke goal, has not found the net for almost two months.

'It wasn't easy for him, or [Eden] Hazard or Oscar,' said Benitez.

'We were on top of them [Fulham], regaining the game higher up the pitch, and might have won it in the last minute.'

For all their pressure, Chelsea barely tested the opposition goalkeeper as they record two straight goalless draws for the first time since Roman Abramovich bought the club.


'You cannot be satisfied when you haven't won these games,' said Benitez, whose two games in charge have been watched by the Russian.

'City are a top side, a team with a lot of options.

'Today, I saw a lot of positive things, sustaining the attacks and regaining the ball very high.

'I didn't like the two chances we gave away on the counter-attack, and when we didn't move the ball too quickly, but it's a question of time.

'We've only had a few training sessions. We need more time.'

Chelsea were sorely missing some creativity tonight after resting Juan Mata, who eventually joined the fray.

Benitez said: 'We have too many games now, so we have to manage the squad.

'We cannot play the same team every time. We have West Ham, Japan, too many games.'

He denied that results proved he was too focused on improving a defence that had not kept a clean sheet for 10 games or that the change of manager had unsettled the squad.

'If you talk with them, and we do all the time, they're quite happy with the things we're trying to achieve,' he said.

The fans, however, are not.

Despite not booing Benitez before kick-off, they were back to jeering and heckling him by the final whistle.

It did represent an improvement from Sunday and he said: 'The fans realise to support the team and support the manager is the best way to move forward and win games.'

Benitez admitted Torres was lacking 'confidence', something that could not be said for opposite number Dimitar Berbatov.

Fulham boss Martin Jol said: 'Berbatov was almost unplayable and linked our play, and we had a few chances.

'After the game, everyone said Berbatov was fantastic, and he was, but the other players worked every so hard.'

Hard enough to carve out the game's clearest opportunities.

'At 80 minutes we had two possibilities,' Jol said.

'I'm not disappointed to only get a draw away from home, but disappointed we didn't make more of those chances.'

Jol played down the affect the subdued atmosphere may have had tonight.

'That could be a normal thing,' he said.

'We played them here twice last year and had two draws, and a draw at home as well.

'We could have nicked it and that would have been bad for them and great for us.'*

[rondwisan]

28/11/2012 22:22 - ManUtd.com, Adam Marshall
Sir Alex set for marathon



Sir Alex thinks it's going to be a long season for United with Manchester City only a point behind the Reds in the table.

United scored after 31 seconds through Robin van Persie but it became a nervous night against West Ham on Wednesday*with the victory not assured until the final whistle.

Manchester City's 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic keeps them in contention with the derby taking place*at the Etihad Stadium on 9 December*after United's trip to Reading*at the*weekend.

"We've got the three points and are still ahead in the league," the boss told MUTV. "Chelsea drawing tonight means it draws us away from them a little bit further. City are still on our tails so it's going to be a long season."

Sir Alex was pleased to keep a clean sheet and praised defenders Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Rafael for their stellar performances.

"It was a hard night and we played a lot of good football but we never quite finished them off," said the manager. "West Ham fought really hard and made it difficult for us.

"It was a great start and hopefully you go on from such a great start but we never quite finished it off.

"They had skirmishes around the box and played high balls in there but you've got to defend them really well. They had a few blocked shots and that kind of thing but, in the main, we did defend*very well. Evans,*Smalling and Rafael, in particular, had fantastic nights.

"Rafael is maturing.*He's 22 years of age*but came here as a young kid and was in the first-team at 18.*He made rash mistakes because he's such an enthusiastic boy but he's maturing and is learning from that."

Sir Alex refused to accept that a lack of a width was an issue with no out-and-out wingers in the starting line-up, although Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck played*on the flanks when coming on as substitutes.*

"We've operated with a diamond quite a few times this season so I don't think that's any excuse," he stated.

[rondwisan]

Iya lah ...., race masih panjang, blom juga separuh musim ..., apapun masih bisa terjadi ...
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ESPNSoccernet, Richard Jolly - December 10, 2012
Yaya Toure: Title race not over


Yaya Toure has insisted the Premier League title race is not over after Manchester City's derby defeat to Manchester United left them six points behind the league leaders.

The Ivorian midfielder described Robin van Persie's injury-time winner as "a dagger in the heart" but urged his team-mates to show the spirit of champions and retain their crown.

Toure scored City's first goal as they came from 2-0 down to draw level before Van Persie condemned City to a loss that the former Barcelona player said only increases their determination.

"The title race is not finished - anything but," he told City's official website "We will continue to give United problems in the league and at the end of the season I hope we will win it again. We thought we would win the game when we made it 2-2, but United have great experience and Wayne Rooney was fantastic for them.

"It was a dagger in the heart to concede a third so late in the game, but it was a fantastic game for the fans, and that is why I like the Premier League so much. It is the toughest league in the world.

"Disappointing though this defeat is, it only makes us more determined to win the title. We have to be strong mentally and strong in every other way as well, but our championship challenge is not finished."

City were eight points behind United with six games to go last season and recovered to overhaul their neighbours but Toure has warned them this season could be even more difficult.

He added: "We have to forget what we have done in the past. This year will be tough, but we have a fantastic squad and we have the confidence to keep going until the final day. We will never give up.

"We need to improve by working even harder, because when you are at the top everybody wants to take you down.

"Last year was fantastic, but we have to realise that sometimes you go through tough periods - we can turn this around. When the chips are down, that's when the tough really get going and we will show why we are champions."

[rondwisan]

#uhuk ada yg narget posisi 4 nih
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Four the magic number for Liverpool
ESPNSoccernet, Kristian Walsh


Brendan Rodgers might coax a fourth-place finish out of Liverpool

There is not a lot Brendan Rodgers can do when it comes to digesting Liverpool's 3-2 victory at West Ham. *It is rare a match succumbs so forcefully to the wicked minds of the Fates. So many times the script was torn up, leaving it strewn across the Upton Park pitch like ticker-tape blowing in the whirlwind that played out around them.

Liverpool controlled well until Jose Enrique hobbled off through injury, their defence suddenly transforming from steady to steadfastly porous; then, Mohamed Diame clutched his hamstring, and with it, relinquished West Ham's grip on the contest.

By the time Jonjo Shelvey and James Collins combined to put Liverpool 3-2 ahead, the final, definitive re-write had taken many turns.

This was almost an entirely new experience for Rodgers, a post-match team-talk not tinged with disappointment or resentment. Instead, relief. Relief at his side not being near their best, but still three points won away to an in-form, ingenuous West Ham. Sam Allardyce’s side are no insidious outfit, but that makes them no easier to play against; to approach the last 15 minutes a goal down and still win is the point Rodgers will dwell upon this week.

He will have little other option. Such was the bizarre nature of the 90 minutes, he can take little from it; what little he can will hardly be new.

Glen Johnson continues to be the country’s best fullback, Lucas Leiva edges nearer to full fitness, Joe Allen needs some form of respite and the conspicuous Luis Suarez is the side’s best creative outlet. Tick, tick, tick, tick; a checklist familiar to regular viewers of Liverpool. Only the emergence of Jordan Henderson from the bench will give the manager a fresher outlook, his arrival providing his side an attacking impetus lacking previously.

Though true he had an easier task without the fallen Diame on the pitch, a mentality so alien with the 22-year-old finally landed. His willingness to take responsibility and make incisive movements towards goal showed a different aspect to Henderson’s game; it is one which Rodgers would be advised to coax from him more regularly.

The art of not playing well and winning is an underrated one, far more enjoyable than playing well and failing to claim victory. The latter has been a staple of Liverpool’s season. But the noises of the performance being poor at Upton Park niggle at the ear. Though not vintage, the first 20 minutes had an air of relentless aggression; lateral and vertical movement approached a fraught West Ham defence with intent, a blinding red sandstorm engulfing those on the pitch. What came afterwards, prompted by Enrique’s injury, will give Rodgers things to work upon; but for the opening spell, his side looked fully functioning, someone always ready to receive the ball, someone always willing to create space without.

There is a feeling starting to grow within the club* this season may not be the disastrous, tear-infused blamange the doom-mongers were concocting. *Rodgers will do well to tell that to the world - including his squad.

More than points won on Sunday, the points of order need re-iterating: the victory gave*Liverpool back-to-back wins for the first time in a year, while the comeback heralded their first win from behind away from home since August 2009, when Bolton let slip a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2.

Nearer to the present, it’s now three consecutive wins and just three defeats in 15 in all competitions; just as pertinently, fringe players previously thought to be crumped atop the scrapheap have suddenly found form.

Momentum is a word that will be oft-repeated between now and the New Year now the pendulum finally seems to be swinging Liverpool’s way. The one-game-at-a-time mantra from the club betrays human inhibition to look forward and feel excited, optimistic, happy. With two home games against Aston Villa and Fulham, followed by two away days at Stoke and QPR, excitement, optimism and happiness abounds. It has been a while since such emotions resided at Anfield.

It is with good reason, though. Despite the paraphernalia and propaganda, the Premier League is not the magical, fantastical beans-to-beanstalk product it is supposed to be. Aside from the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea, this is a poor league. Six points separate 10 teams, the trademark ‘race for fourth’ becoming a destruction derby.

Teams in that bulging pack include an Arsenal side missing their 30-goal striker, a Tottenham team still adapting to life under their assiduous young manager, and an Everton side untested by any major setback so far this season.

Liverpool are not without their faults too, of course, but the discourse this is a poor side should have now evaporated. They sit just four points from fourth; indeed four, not three, appears to be the magic number. Such is the tight nature of the top half, four wins from four could even see Liverpool enter the New Year in fourth - unthinkable after an energy-sapping defeat to Manchester United in September, leaving them with just two points from five games.

A word of caution is necessary. Pride comes before a fall, so too overconfidence. There is nothing to suggest their*place rests with Tottenham or Arsenal more than Stoke or Swansea. Teams will inevitably drop from the pack, but Liverpool have no divine right to not be amongst them. They must continue to develop the good and eradicate the bad; only then will they have a chance at qualification for Europe next season.

But what if Liverpool turn the year in the top four? Will*Fenway Sports Group*see that as Rodgers working miracles and give him more water to turn into wine, or instead hand him some vintage rioja to help sustain momentum? If all goes to plan in the next four games, then not since the summer of 2011 will Liverpool have such a glaring opportunity to capitalise on such a platform. Maybe the rebuilding process will not take as long as expected; maybe the foundations, somehow, shake a little less vigorously.

That summer of 2011 was a chance squandered, and sixth became eighth. Once bitten, twice shy might be the cry from some. But if Liverpool take 10 or 12 points in the next four games, Rodgers should be allowed a bite himself. After seemingly installing a fighting spirit into this squad and reminding them of the beautiful habit of winning ugly, it is the least he deserves

[zudomiriku]

Premier League Top Four: Who Will Be in Champions League Spots at Halfway Stage?

Finishing in the top four of the Premier League, and with it qualifying for the following season's Champions League, has become just about as much of a success for some teams as winning a trophy.

Indeed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger earlier this year stated that "the first trophy is to finish in the top four," and given the financial rewards it can bring and the cache associated with competing in the biggest club competition in the world, it is hardly surprising that coaches take such a view.

In the as-it-stands Premiership table, Manchester United and Manchester City already look to be making the title race a straight two-way fight, and while Chelsea are 10 points off the top they still seem as though they have enough of a strong squad to secure third place.

The final spot though is something of a free for all given the rebuilding nature of at least two sides, Arsenal's drop in consistency and the added excitement of good seasons from West Brom and Everton so far.

The Christmas period is a very busy one in the Premier League and teams who put a run of wins together can very quickly see their aims for the second half of the season come a little bit closer—while those who suffer a dip in form can find themselves out of the running for trophies, European places or even survival.

Here's how the top four challengers have to cope between now and the midway point of the season on Boxing Day.

Everton, currently fourth place with 26 points

David Moyes' men have had a great start to the season, giving the blue half of Merseyside hope of making a genuine challenge for the Champions League spots. Usually, the Toffees are stronger in the second half of the campaign so if they continue that approach, they're certainly going to go close.

The next three fixtures sees Everton go away from home twice, visiting Stoke and West Ham, before a home match against Wigan on Boxing Day.

Stoke is of course a notoriously difficult place to go; these two sides are in fact the only teams who remain unbeaten at home in the Premier League. Everton will fancy their chances of leaving with a point from one of their two away fixtures though and should be able to beat Wigan at home.

What do they need: Another good signing in January could make a big difference to David Moyes' squad, especially if it's a strong midfielder. Essentially though, Everton doing as well in the second half of the season as they have so far could see them go very close.

Tottenham Hotspur, 5th, 26 pts

Spurs have been rather inconsistent under Andre Villas-Boas; no great surprise given the switch in tactics and formation, as well as something of a mini-overhaul of the squad.

They've been hit-or-miss on the road but are scoring plenty of goals; much of their attacking play comes down the flanks though and with Gareth Bale out injured it's a delicate balancing act for the manager to bring him back in time for the rush of fixtures and giving him long enough to recover.

Home games against Swansea City and Stoke City provide an opportunity for Tottenham to bring a little bit of consistency back into their game though, and they should take six points here.

A trip to Sunderland could swing either way; the Black Cats have been simply woeful but Martin O'Neill's men have to start performing at home sooner or later; that match could be a draw.

What do they need: Consistency. Spurs look to have the fixtures to take them into fourth spot over Christmas, and if they can add another player in January to what is a relatively strong-looking squad then all Villas-Boas will want is for them to show top form each game.

West Bromwich Albion, 6th, 26 pts

The third and final side level-fourth in the league is West Brom. After a great start which won new boss Steve Clarke a lot of plaudits, the Baggies have lost three games in a row now.

Back to back home games against West Ham and Norwich give West Brom a chance to arrest that slide, though the Canaries in particular are on a fantastic run recently. One win from the two games would be enough to assuage fears of a complete slide.

In the third game West Brom face a trip to QPR (Queens Park Rangers); the Hoops will be desperate for home wins but West Brom can trouble them enough to claim a point at least.

What do they need: What are their aims? West Brom have come a long way very quickly, and don't have the squad to compete in the Europa League unless they add another four players for next season, so perhaps that isn't what they have in mind. A seventh place finish would do very nicely indeed, so just keep working hard and playing well.

Arsenal, 7th, 24 pts

The Gunners are looking like they are in all sorts of bother having slipped out the top four and being knocked out of the League Cup by League Two outfit Bradford City.

Are things really that bad though? Arsenal are just two points off top spot and, despite the fact they haven't won a trophy in seven years, nobody would really have given victory a second glance if the penalty shoot-out had gone the other way midweek.

A single win is potentially enough to send them back up to fourth.

Arsene Wenger's men have three winnable games ahead of them, though whether they take maximum points is another thing. Two away games to Reading and Wigan are followed by West Ham at home. Nine points is definitely possible, but seven would also represent a decent return given how close things are at the top end of the table.

What do they need: Wenger needs to find his strongest and most reliable team, and get them winning games again. Fans want to see a big signing in January but it needs to be one who can impact the side in the right way. Simply put, Arsenal need the top four.

Liverpool, 10th, 22 pts

The Reds have lost just one of their past 11 league matches and are quietly moving themselves back into contention.

Back-to-back home games against Aston Villa and Fulham, both with just one win away from home this season, should yield a full six points for Liverpool if they have aspirations of reaching the group ahead of them.

A tough away trip to Stoke on Boxing Day has yielded good results in the past, but Brendan Rodgers would likely regard a point as a good result—as indeed it is. If Liverpool can get to January and only be a small handful of points off the top four places, Rodgers will regard it as a very successful first half a season.

What do they need: To get their targets right in January. Liverpool are going to spend, the only questions are on who and how many. If they can add goals and continue improving as they have done since the early part of the season, it could yet be a very interesting campaign for them.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1443762-premier-league-top-four-who-will-be-in-champions-league-spots-at-halfway-stage

[rondwisan]

Lah ..., Swansea ama Stoke di peringkat 8 n 9 dengan 23 point dilewatin, langsung ke Liverpool

[rinaldo.kurniawan]

prediksi ku
1.MU
2. Arsenal
3.MC
4.Chelsea