Match Week 2 Preview

EPL Match Week 2 Preview

Milner. James Milner. This season is Milner’s 23^rd season in the PL, more than any other player, ever. Quite the career that continues at BHA where the 38-year-old now takes direction from 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler. Jurgen Klopp called him “Mister Professional”. He’s got a reputation as a role model for elite standards and for his tenacity - a talented grinder - who wins, he’s got all the trophies.

In Today’s CleanSheet:

• Headlines 📌

• Current Situation📈📉

• Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥- Nationalities

• Off Island 🏝️ - European Leagues

• Best Bets 💰

Headlines 📌

• CS Match of the Week. Villa v Arsenal -115 1130am Sat - Last season Villa’s run to a top 4 finish started when they beat PL leaders Arsenal 1-0 in December. Then they won at Emirates 2-0 in April. The Gunners are the better club on paper and have much more depth but it’s early enough in the season that depth will not be a factor, and Arsenal will have their hands full. Tough early road test should be a great match.

• 7.3. Weekend. 7 Saturday, 3 Sunday.

• Transfer Window. Window open for another week.

  • You can catch some of the key players update here from the BBC

  • Check out a summarized view of movement here from NBCS Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports on X).

  • CS just heard of this account - 22M followers - and @FabrizioRomano (X) is all over all the movement of players in the soccer world. Great Account!

• CS TK Water Cooler. In honor of a CS subscriber who we will call TK, we will be providing those who want to sound cool by the “water cooler” - but want to sound like you know what you’re talking about - feel free to use these lines.

  • The PL really benefits from Jamie Vardy back in it.

  • What is Chelsea doing with 42 players and why are they treating Raheem Sterling so poorly.

  • What a start for Hurzeler at BHA, wonder how he will handle it when they get punched in the face.

  • Ange needs wins at Spurs. He’s a winner, but the end to last season and the draw in MW1 are concerning.

  • Erik ten Hag got a late goal and win in week 1, but it seems like MU are walking into a lion’s den in Brighton this weekend.

  • How can Chelsea have 42 players, and Everton have only 14 “first team players available” for their match at Spurs. Yes, there are injuries and suspensions but its MW2.

  • Could Brentford make a decision on start striker Ivan Toney already.

  • Really miss Klopp at Liverpool, but man I’m starting to like Slot.

What 2 Look 4 👀- Match Week 2

Big Home Favorites 🏟️🏟️🏟️

• Man City v Ipswich Town +2500 -This is a BIG NUMBER, and rightly so. While City had some sloppiness in MW1 they took care of Chelsea on the road. 10 of 11 Ipswich starters played in their first PL match last week. They went toe to toe with Liverpool, but eventually lost the one-on-one battles. Expect more of the same at the Etihad.

• Tottenham v Everton +600 Sat - Two sides disappointed in their MW1 performances, for different reasons. Spurs let one get away after dominating for 60’. Everton got run at home. It’s difficult to know which versions of these teams will show up at Hotspur Stadium. If Everton can stay in the match well into the 2H it could get interesting, but they are already heading to the match shorthanded with suspensions and injuries. If Spurs score early, it could be another long day for the Toffee’s.

• Liverpool v Brentford +900 Sun - The Red’s have beaten the Bee’s all three time’s they’ve played in Anfield since they were promoted three seasons ago. Liverpool struggled last week in the 1H but they figured it out and got their expected W at Ipswich. Brentford did enough to take all three points at home over Palace, but Anfield will be another story, and with their star striker Ivan Toney all but transferred out, they will be looking for others to step up.

Home Dogs 🌭🌭🌭 

• Villa v Arsenal -115 1130am Sat - See Above.

• Wolves v Chelsea -180 Sat - Deja vu all over again. Seemed like Wolves picked up where they left off last season - went to Arsenal, looked better than expected and kept the game up in the air until late, then conceding late and taking the loss. Seemed like Chelsea is started this season like last, with lots of talent that need time to gel and know their roles. Whichever side can find some rhythm first may be happy with their result Saturday.

• Bournemouth v Newcastle +120 Sat -The Magpies won only 6 of 19 away matches last season, losing 11. For the Cherries, it was less about home and away and more about when they played, having long winning and losing streaks. It’s the farthest any team can travel in the PL this year - 350 miles one way - 6 hours 15 min by car or train. For the fans, it’s a tough ticket as Vitality Stadium holds just over 11,300 fans.

Slight Home Favorites🤏🤏 

• Palace v West Ham +210 Sat - Two sides looking for their first points this season. Both sides had good moments and bad in their losses. An extra week in training should help the Hammer’s integrate their new signings. Selhurst Park and the home fans should give Palace a boost.

• Fulham v Leicester City +360 Sat - Which LCFC team will take the pitch at Craven Cottage? The 1H team that couldn’t touch the ball in the against Spurs or the team that took it to the better side in the 2H? If Vardy is healthy, anything is possible for the Foxes. For FFC, they were 3 minutes from getting a hard-earned road point at United. Fulham had made some good signings of late, but they will need some time to integrate into the club.

Toss Ups🤷🤷 

• BHA v Man United +155 Sat - Both sides kept clean sheets in MW1. BHA looked great, they just might have the right balance of young and old talent, leadership, and a manager that fits the club well. United has a “more positive” feel to it this season, although only one match in. Erik ten Hag seems to have the ear of the players, and they have the balance to go into a tough environment and grind out a win. This will be a tough road trip for the Red Devil’s, but every team gets up for United, they are used to it.

• Southampton v Forest +170 Sat - A late goal to Bournemouth and Forest felt like they let one get away. The Tree’s depth is already being tested as they lost Danilo to a broken leg. As for the Saints, they get their PL home debut against a side they feel they can compete with, in fact, they are favorites to win. Not common for recently promoted sides.

Current Situation 📈📉

Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥

Thanks to all the new subscribers (and old) for reading the CS. Make sure to share with others!

Where are the players from on your favorite team?

Speaking of team previews - thought this graphic from Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news on X) was interesting.

• The more nationalities, the more “style fit questions” and the more for potential “language issues” teams may have.

• On the other hand, if you have your nationalities spread out, you might have less impact during international breaks and competitions.

• Dual citizenship plays a role, these lists are typically counted by what National Team they play with. For example, it says BHA has 21 Internationals, and while true, they have 7 players with dual England citizenship.

  • Of BHA’s 21 nationalities, they have 7 players from England, an additional 7 players with dual citizenship with England, 4 from the Netherlands and the rest spread across the remaining 12 nationalities.

  • Of City’s 12 nationalities, they have 8 players from England, 4 from Portugal and the rest spread across 10 nationalities.

  • Of Everton’s 9 nationalities, they have 12 players from England, 3 from Portugal and the rest spread across 7 nationalities.

• While the chart is interesting, it requires more analysis to see what might be interesting about it.

In case you were thinking it - here’s a view from the nationalities who played in MW1 across all 20 teams.

• Currently just 2 Americans - Antonee Robinson for Fulham and Chris Richards for Palace.

• This number will move as transfers are made and more players will play as the season goes on.

Off Island 🏝️

Top Leagues in Europe have kicked-off, or are about to. Looking to keep up with your favorite players, maybe Christian Pulisic in Serie A in Milan, maybe the juggernaut that is Real Madrid? Check out the links to the top 4 leagues in Europe (Off-Island) outside of the EPL.

REMINDER

The PL is the top league in England, the FA Cup is the top “all club tournament” in England. The Champions League (UEFA.com) is the top league “across Europe”. So where do the teams come from that play in the Champions League (cs primer)? They come from the top leagues in each of 31 countries across Europe (wiki).

Global Football Rankings (.com) have ranked the leagues across Europe, here are the top 5. There is a “coefficient analysis” that’s used to rank the clubs.

Best Bets 💰

Still burned by Spurs - but it’s time to get back on the horse.

Match Week 2 - Winners Only Please

Going to take HOME SIDES with a “+” line…..

Palace to Win v West Ham +120. $20

Battle of two sides who felt they should’ve had a point last weekend. Hammers still working on gelling with new players and a new manager. Palace get to kick off the campaign at home.

Southampton to win v Forest +150. $20

Forest struggled on the road last year. Ask Spurs what it’s like to head on the road to a recently promoted sides home opener. While the Saints are slight favorites, give me the home side.

Bournemouth to Win v Newcastle +200. $20

Longest trip in the EPL as the Magpies head to the South Shore and to Cherrie’s 11,000 seat stadium. This also brings Eddie Howe back to where he cut his PL teeth. On paper this screams Magpies, but it’s always tough on the road in a home opener.

Wolves to win v Chelsea +340. $20

Chelsea are the better team and should win, but if you can get +340 against a side that just signed one of your best strikers and a home opener maybe you can catch Chelsea still trying to figure out their lineup.

Villa to Win v Arsenal +300. $20

Villa’s run to a top 4 finish started last season in December when they beat PL leaders Arsenal 1-0. The Villains looked great at West Ham in week 1 and really play well at Villa Park under Emery. While the Gunners are the favorites, give me Villa +300.

BHA to Win v Man United +155. $20

It’s a coin flip game. A new manager in Hurzeler for BHA against a manager who seems to be taking another step at United. I will take the home atmosphere to pull the seagulls through.

And two BIG FAVORITES

Man City to win v Ipswich Town -1250. $750

Never like laying the big number but City are that much better than the Tractor Boys and CS will risk the $750 to win $60.  😬 

Spurs to win v Everton -240. $48

This is an Ange bet.