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In this new feature, we will be tracking the ups and downs of players, managers, clubs and everything else associated with the Premier League. We will look at who should be bought, held, or sold based on how they are expected to perform and how much press coverage they are expected to get in the coming days and weeks. Sometimes it will be a lesser know ‘share’ to jump on early, sometimes a more obvious one to make a solid investment.
Trending
Buy
Robin van Persie - With the announcement of the passing of the touch from Sir Alex to David Moyes and the subsequent transfer request from Wayne Rooney all eyes will be on Old Trafford as they play Swansea on Sunday and will get to lift the Premier League trophy after what will be Sir Alex’s last home game. There is absolutely no way that he won’t have his team fired up. His last ever game at Old Trafford, the game they are hoisting the trophy and coming off last week’s surrender to Chelsea, I can see them giving Swansea a bit of a thrashing. The Welsh side are no joke and will try their best to resist, but it’s going to be impossible for them. Cue a hat trick for van Persie.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea - Very much a short term buy but this should be a spectacular game. Villa’s young team are pumping full of confidence right now and know that this, their last home game of the season, is a great chance to secure survival. A win would make them mathematically safe, regardless of results elsewhere. Chelsea are in the midst of their fixture congestion and will be playing just two days after the Wednesday night game with Spurs and may rest some players with the Upcoming Europa League final in mind. They also know that if they win, they are guaranteed a Champions League spot. Villa Park will be rocking and if the fresher legs of Villa can get an early lead, it will be fascinating to see how Chelsea respond.
QPR - This one is a real roll of the dice but it’s QPR’s last home game in the league and they are welcoming a Newcastle side that looks to be constricted by fear of what might go wrong, if they fail. As we saw last week with Reading, there is always a surprise result involving a team that has been relegated and is playing with the kind of freedom that they haven’t had all year. If Remy gets a run at the woeful middle of the Newcastle defence, then anything could happen. Don’t invest a lot, but it could pay off handsomely.
Hold:
Arsenal For a third time, I’m advising holding Arsenal. They should comfortably beat Wigan. If they do, there won’t be much fanfare. If they lose, which they won’t, it would be a disaster but I just don’t see it happening. They are in a nice defensive groove and the attack looks likely for one last explosion. A Wigan team, 3 days after the cup final look like lambs to the slaughter.
Liverpool As tempting a fixture list as Fulham away, QPR at home looks, this is Liverpool and you don’t know what they will deliver. With Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger out they could be vulnerable. However, they still have plenty of attacking talent and are just as likely to win both games 5-0 as they are to lose one and draw the other. Hold tight just in case but don’t buy in.
Referees There hasn’t been a glaring error from a referee for a while so the temptation is to sell. There is also the feeling that there’s bound to be some controversy given the importance of the games so surely buy? The thing is though, if Wigan lose and then the teams above work out a way to pick up a point the Latics will be down. If Chelsea win, they are in Europe so that only leaves Arsenal and Spurs. But if Spurs trip up at Stoke, which they could well do, and Arsenal beat Wigan, then the Gunners are in Europe. If it’s all done and dusted, it will be less controversial.
Sell:
Spurs Their season looks to be done. They go to Stoke, knowing that they must win. If they draw and Arsenal win, then they can’t qualify for the Champions League. Stoke have ground their way to safety but might be pumped up for the scalp of Spurs in their last home game. Tony Pulis needs a good end to the season to take some of the heat off his seat. Spurs are flaky at the best of times and this could be a test too far.
Wigan Athletic - They’re probably going to lose the Cup Final and then, they might find themselves having to win away at Arsenal to have any chance at survival. I don’t see that happening. This looks like the end of the road for one of the Premier League’s more unlikely success stories.
Fulham - I’ve advised selling Fulham before and I’ll keep doing so. The lack of application and desire last week against Reading was abysmal and several of them found a way in to the ‘Donkeys Team of the Weekend’. They seem to have gone on an early summer holiday.
