In partnership with SetantaBet, 7Cantonas.com brings you “Tonge’s Tips”, a look ahead to the Premier League games in the 2012/13 season with a bit of a twist. Just like last season, Alan, the 7Cantonas team and the good fellows over at GGMU and United Rant are going head to head in their predictions, and want you, our readers, to join in.
Alan: After a dramatic last gasp winner against Newcastle, we turn our next Xmas assignment to West Brom. Deary me, the experiences of watching Man Utd games this season have included more ups and downs than a fiddlers elbow and it will probably continue that way till we finally get a settled side! It’s certainly no good for the fans blood pressure that’s for sure.
I think this will be another decent test, as West Brom are having a really good season, however surely sooner or later we will win a game to nil and this will be the one!
With a couple of changes likely to keep things fresh (Vidic/Fletcher??). I’m going to cross my fingers (and toes) and suggest Man Utd 2 West Brom 0 (9/2 with Setanta Bet)
For the bonus tip, I’ll go with Norwich to put another large dent in City’s title aspirations (if they can do us, they can do them) and I’ll go with Norwich 2 Man City 1 (14/1 with Setanta Bet)
Mart: Boxing Day saw United leave it very late and give the United fans another heart attack inducing moment when Chicharito poked the ball home in injury time against Newcastle. West Brom visit Old Trafford on Saturday and yours truly will be there to enjoy it in the posh seats courtesy of @ChevroletFC.
United face a tricky Wigan side on New Years Day so we can expect to see a few changes in this one. Rooney is confirmed out for a few weeks so we might see Chicharito start alongside RvP. United could see Kagawa back into the side, a welcome boost for Ferguson. It’s hugely important that United don’t underestimated WBA and play a side that will get the three points needed to keep the league leaders a minimum of 7 points clear at the top.
I’m going to back United to win but to not keep a clean sheet. United to win 2-1 (7/1 with Setanta Bet)
For my other tip, Norwich host Man City who were shocked against Sunderland on Boxing Day and they’ll be looking to get back to winning ways. Norwich shouldn’t be underestimated with a home record that includes wins against Arsenal and Manchester United and they’re good for a point here. 1-1 (13/2 with Setanta Bet)
Ed: Manchester United’s performances this Christmas may be patchy, but the same cannot be said for manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The great Scot started the week fearing for Robin van Persie’s life and ended it by deriding Newcastle United as that “wee club from the north east”. Spectacular stuff.
But while Ferguson has returned to limelight-hogging form, the manager should still be concerned with United’s propensity to ship soft goals as in-form West Bromwich Albion visit Old Trafford on Saturday. Indeed, with West Brom up to fifth place in the Premier League table and United likely to rotate for the third game in a week, the fixture has significant ‘banana skin’ potential.
Still, while United shipped four preventable goals in the past week it cost the Reds just the two dropped points at Swansea City last weekend, leaving Ferguson’s side seven points clear of rivals Manchester City – a lead so healthy that complacency is a genuine threat.
At least Ferguson can also call on more resources than against Newcastle United on Wednesday night, with Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa all likely to be involved at some point.
Yet, with changes imminent it is hard to foresee a fluid United performance, although the Reds should do enough to secure a 2-1 victory (7/1 with Setanta Bet)
Elsewhere, City visit Norwich City – scene of the Blues’ 6-1 victory last season. Yet, with Norwich in good form Roberto Mancini will be genuinely concerned about more dropped points on the road. 1-1 (13/2 with Setanta Bet)
Setanta Bet are offering a £5 free bet to the first person who posts a prediction that beats the team, and the scoring is as follows :
*One point for a correct score
*One point for a correct result
*One point for a correct bonus prediction (the bonus prediction cannot be just a result)
The first reader, weekly, to post a set of predictions that score higher than Alan or the bloggers will win the £5 free bet with SetantaBet.
Terms and conditions below – we are not responsible for any loss made on the below predictions, they’re just for fun!
Tonge’s Tips, presented by Setanta Bet & 7 Cantonas
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