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Match Week 28 Preview
nick lochner
March 08, 2024
In Today’s CleanSheet:
Headlines 📌
What 2 Look 4 👀
Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥- Promotion/Relegation on the Line
Off Island 🏝️ - European Competition Results
Best Bets 💰
CleanSheet coming to you from Scottsdale, AZ this week.
Headlines 📌
Pencil This One In. Manchester Derby. Liverpool v City Sunday, 1045am cst. Top of table and driver’s seat all on the line as City travel to Liverpool. A Win by City moves them to the top of the table. A Draw could see Arsenal jump both. Both sides have been playing high end soccer, battling injuries, playing mid-week in Europe and both sides believe by playing their best, in their style, will be enough to win. City is +130, Liverpool +180 and a Draw +270.
Proper Drama. Should be a great atmosphere at Anfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) was quoted as saying “Liverpool's trophies under Jurgen Klopp "will mean more" than City's under Pep Guardiola.”
To which Erling Haaland (City) replied “I've been here one year, and I won the Treble and it was quite a nice feeling. I don't think he knows exactly this feeling. So, that's what I felt last season. It was quite nice. If he wants to say that, OK.”
5.4.1. Weekend. 5 Saturday, 4 Sunday, 1 Monday.
Champions League On The Line. Villa host Spurs. Similar seasons - good streaks, scores in bunches, have conceded on several occasions. A win by Spurs would give them a great shot a Champions League spot, a loss would put them 8 games behind.
What 2 Look 4 👀- Match Week 28
Top 5 Matchups
Liverpool v City +130 (Sun) - See Above.
Villa v Tottenham +170 (Sun) - See Above.
Top 10 teams hosting Bottom 10 teams (H team on the left)
Man United v Everton +320 (Sat) - United have won all 3 home matches against the bottom 6 teams, Everton have lost all 3 away matches to top 6 sides. The Toffees have won only twice at Old Trafford in 32 years.
Arsenal v Brentford +1100 (Sat) - The Bees have yet to beat a top 6 team this year, 6L 1D. Arsenal have been on fire since the new year basically shutting down opponent’s chances. Brentford has not had a problem scoring this season, but the issue is conceding.
West Ham v Burnley +380 (Sun) - Just when you think the Hammers are ready to fall down the table they get to a wonderful spot in the schedule with wins over Brentford and Everton. This week, it’s the Clarets at home. Burnley have only 3 wins this season but 2 of them have been in London.
BHA v Forest +360 (Sun) - The Seagulls are falling back to earth. It’s also all or nothing for them and lately it’s been nothing with a loss at Fulham on the weekend and a drubbing at Roma in the Europa Conference midweek. The Tree’s need points.
Wolves v Fulham +165 (Sat) - Wolves are W12 D5 in their last 17 home matches against Fulham. FFC have lost only 1 in their last 6, 3W 2D.
Bottom 10 hosting Top 10
Chelsea v Newcastle+280 (Mon) - The Blues have not lost at home to Newcastle in 11 matches, 10 of those wins. Both sides have been underperforming and this match is big for the Magpies positioning for Europe spots and Chelsea jumping in to the top 10. Europe is still in play for both sides.
Bottom 10 hosting Bottom 10
Palace v Luton Town +340 (Sat) - The Eagles got a nice bounce when they changed managers to Oliver Glasner. They have been playing better although their win was against Burnley. Luton Town had 3W 2D 1L in a six-game stretch before losing 4 straight. Palace have beaten the bottom 6 six teams 4 times.
Bournemouth v Sheffield United +650 (Sat) - On pace to allow more goals than any team in PL history the Blades have been getting run off the pitch pretty much every week. The Cherries started the season on a big losing streak, turned it into a big winning streak, and since have won/drawn 4 of their last 8.
Local Culture Highlight Match of the Week - Chelsea
Chelsea is located in West London, just a 20 min walk west from Buckingham Palace. It is a very affluent, internationally diverse “suburb” loaded with high-end shops, restaurants, and luxury. Like the “suburb”, Chelsea FC is an international club and fan base, and depending on how you count have a top 5 fan following in the world. Interestingly, Chelsea started when Gus Mears, a businessman, purchased Stamford Bridge with the hope of luring Fulham to use the stadium. They declined. So, Mears founded his own club. |  Chelsea - West London  |
The Pensioners The club has always been very close with the community as demonstrated by their beginning as The Pensioners (Veterans of Wars, like the VA in the US). In 1952 the crest changed to a lion, and has changed 3 times since, most recently in 2005. Manager Ted Drake felt the club needed adapt to the times, and “The Pensioners” was retired and “The Blues” were created, to fit the teams’ historical colors. This fit with Drake’s no-nonsense approach. Pensioners still have a quota of seats allocated for home matches. |  The Chelsea Pensioner Pub |
The Supporters Chelsea fans would say their main rivals of London’s big clubs Arsenal and Tottenham. In addition, they are 1 of 4 teams in West London with Queen Park Rangers (QPR), Brentford, and Fulham. They may not consider them rivals given their dominance - in aggregate of 143 Matches Chelsea have 71W 43L 29D. Regardless of who they are playing you can see this play out with their passionate supporters and gameday atmosphere. The club’s supporters, known as the “Chelsea Pensioners,” are known for their songs, chants, and support of the team. |  Well known fans of The Blues The club’s traditions, such as singing “Blue is the Color” and “Ten Men Went to Mow,” have become an integral part of the club’s identity and history. |
  |  Stamford Bridge |
Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥
The top 4 leagues in England are approaching the stretch run and promotion/relegation are on the line. Here is a list of the teams that currently make up the top 4 leagues and their current league.
Should be some great finishes to these leagues.
The Championship (Level 2) - 10 Matches Remaining
Top 2 teams get automatic promotion next 4 have a playoff for 1 spot.
| Bottom 3 teams relegated to League 1
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League 1 (Level 3) - 10 Matches Left Unless Specified
Top 2 teams get automatic promotion next 4 have a playoff for 1 spot.
| Bottom 4 teams relegated to League 2
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League 2 (Level 4) - 10 Matches Left Unless Specified
Top 2 teams get automatic promotion next 4 have a playoff for 1 spot.
| Bottom 2 teams relegated OUT OF League 2 and into National League (Level 5)
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Off Island 🏝️
European Competitions to adjust 2024/25 qualification and competition structure.
There are 2 additional automatic CL qualifiers up for grabs under the new rules. So instead of 4 bids they will get 5 bids. Currently, League rankings have Italy and Germany getting those two bids. Wins add to your points. Standings will continue to change based on results these matches. 1. Italy: 109.000 points / seven clubs = 15.571 average |  |
Summary
City takes care of business.
West Ham will need to come back next week at home.
BHA got drilled.
Liverpool had a great road trip.
Villa kept a clean sheet on the road.
Champions League - 4 teams thru to Elite 8
PSG advance 4-1 Real Sociedad 1-2 PSG (PSG led 0-2) Bayern Munich advance 3-1 Bayern Munich 3-0 Lazio (Lazio led 0-1) | City advance 6-2 City 3-1 Copenhagen (City led 3-1) Real Madrid advance 2-1 Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig (RM led 1-0) |
Europa League - Leg 1, second leg next week
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Europa Conference League - Leg 1, second leg next week
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Best Bets 💰
Looking for Guest Picker’s. Send CS an email if you are interested!
CleanSheet Season Gains/Losses: Starting Balance $1000. Current Standing $1,375.
Week 28 Picks
Liverpool to Win v Man City +180. $30
Bournemouth to Win v Sheffield United by 2 +264. $10
Bournemouth to Win v Sheffield United by 3++176. $10
Villa to Win v Tottenham +135. $20
Chelsea v Newcastle -110. $22
West Ham to Win v Burnley by 2 +327. $10
West Ham to Win v Burnley by 3+ +347. $10
Wolves to Win v Fulham +155. $20
Luton Town to Win at Palace +360. $20
Man United to Win v Everton -125. $25
Forest to win at BHA + 340. $20
Arsenal to Win v Brentford 3-0 +525. $10.
Arsenal to Win v Brentford 4-0 +825. $10.
Arsenal to Win v Brentford 4-1 +1150. $10.
Longshot of the week
Parlay - Man United, Bournemouth, Arsenal, West Ham, Chelsea, Villa all to WIN. +2250. $10.
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