Gameweek 16 - FPL

West Brom vs Burnley

2 closely matched sides I really like Burnley's front four, strangely though I don;t think Costa is the right kind of striker to lead that attack, WBA aren't far away but they have more question marks over them than their opponents. Narrow but deserved away win

WBA 0-1 Bur
Mertens

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B'Mouth vs Palace

2 really strong sides here, have said for a while I like B'mouths new set-up and the only real weakness for me is Casillas...Palace I like their front 6...Alves is decent going forwards and I think he'd do a job out there up against Rose. the pace of Pea and Hazard will always carry a threat...couldn't split the two so went with a nice score draw

B'Mouth 2-2 Palace
Messi, Thiago
PEA, Hazard

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Swans vs Boro

Lubes you know I like the set-up so I'm not gonna be critical, Boro for me are the best in the league and man for man were just too strong today, that front five would take some stopping.

Swans 0-2 Boro

Zlatan, Ronaldo

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Sunderland vs Stoke

I like this Sunderland side, Hodgey will have a rebuild job close season though as few of his boys are coming towards the end, close game all in though, Gundo and Khedira if both could stay fit would be a really good platform and that front four are decent....oh just for old times sake Dibbles can't play up-top on his own

Sunderland 1-1 Stoke
Eriksen
Suarez
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West Brom v Burnley

West Brom remain strong at the back and whilst Rashford is now getting game time in RL I still feel they lack an architect in the middle of the park to supply their forwards, I do however like the threat that they possess out wide with Costa and YFC. Burnley appear to be ticking along nicely although I don’t think they’re getting the best out of Mertens on the right and Castro remains a player that can be improved. Overall I felt the visitors had more of a threat going forward and just edged this tie.

West Brom 1-2 Burnley
Costa : Nainggolan, Sane


Bournemouth v Crystal Palace

Bournemouth are a class outfit. Built on the foundation of a solid backline with the irresistible Messi pulling the strings behind a lively front two. Hard to critique this side other than maybe the addition of another world class forward which would undoubtedly make them the team to beat. Palace have brought in defensive reinforcements although I still feel they could go up a level in terms of quality at the back. Also not sure on Alves as part of a front 3 as I feel he operates best with space in front of him in the full back role, would personally have played Pulisic who offers more of a threat in the final third. For all the attacking quality on display it transpired to be a low scoring affair with the overall quality of the home side proving the difference in the end.

Bournemouth 1-0 Crystal Palace
Jesus


Watford v Hull City

In typical Tino fashion this Hull side are built on an imperious Juve back 3 which didn’t give Aguero a sniff and frustrated the home side for large parts of the afternoon. On the flip side I don’t envisage the visitors having a lot of joy against the Watford backline in what was an extremely tight affair. The difference in this tie was ultimately in the middle of the park where Watford possessed the greater quality which saw them take all three points. Nevertheless Hull now have a solid foundation to build upon next season and possibly add a little more star quality in attack, although a big move for Belotti would no doubt strengthen his credentials. Whilst for Watford the focus must surely be on bringing in some world class wingers to match the rest of their side.

Watford 1-0 Hull City
Alli


Sunderland v Stoke City

Sunderland’s players looked buoyed after holding their own against one of the title contenders last week and this must surely bode well for next seasons assault on the title. Still feel there are positional issues with Dybala although I have no doubt that this will shortly be rectified by Hodgey. Stoke as always remain strong going forward and have gradually improved the rest of their side throughout the season. I still feel they could slightly improve at the back however they will always be the league entertainers and this ended in a high scoring affair.

Sunderland 2-2 Stoke City
Draxler, Robben : Suarez, Mane

Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
I criticised Bournemouth for playing Messi as a CAM and I still maintain that in my opinion, he would be better out wide or upfront. Obviously I know some disagree but reckon a false nine would be better. I think in the centre Iniesta and Herrera is a stronger pairing than Thiago and Wanyama, not that they are bad players, but out wide Bournemouth have the advantage and defensively they are strong. A tough game to call, but I'll give Bournemouth the narrowest of wins.

Bournemouth 3-2 Crystal Palace
Messi x2, Silva; Aubemayang, Hazard


Watford vs Hull
A great side that Watford have - I would question playing Bernardo Silva on the left, for me he'd be better on the right. Otherwise it's hard to criticise. Hull are well set up with the back three finally together. I could see them holding firm but going forward they need a top class attacker. Very tempted to give a 0-0 but I'll go with Watford to score a late winner (just!)

Watford 1-0 Hull
Aguero

Swansea vs Middlesbrough
Adding Gueye to the midfield makes this Swansea side much more solid, and with the pace of Son and Dembele they could be a real threat against the Middlesbrough defense. Lindelof as I've mentioned I'm not a fan of, and I'd pick Antonio over Gaspar as a RWB. Middlesbrough need to improve their defense for me. Changing their formation to a 4-3-3 was the right thing to do to get the best out of their players, and their front three is obviously top drawer. Narrow Middlesbrough win for me, but it's close.

Swansea 1-2 Middlesbrough
Dembele; Ronaldo, Sanchez


Sunderland vs Stoke
Both teams have a great front four, I would probably pick Stoke's of the two but it very good both ways. And there are weaknesses through both sides defensively. Gundogan and Khedira are hard to rate with their injuries, and for me Mascherano should be in defense. I've never been a fan of Javi Martinez either, I could see him particularly struggling against this attack.
All in all I think it would be a highly entertaining game and I'll go for a fair draw with six diferent goalscorers.

Sunderland 3-3 Stoke
Robben, Draxler, Modric; Suarez, Reus, Mane

WBA 1 - 2 Burnley
Carasco ; Costa, KDB
Two very similar sides in defence and midfield, but the one big difference being Burnley have world class AM and striker which is the downfall of the WBA side. It gave the away side the creativity for the win. For Burnley again the wingers for me aren't right, both prefer the left, but even Sane has played far more than Mertens on the right in his much shorter career. Opposite problem at lb, as Azpi will be one of the strongest lbs defensively but will want to be on the right.

Watford 1 - 0 Hull City
Aguero
Two top defences, but the home side I feel would come out on top of the midfield battle, and with a world class striker up top I gave them the narrow win. I'd say both sides have world class players at the back, but in the attacking mid roles/wingers they don't have the same quality. Neither has any real weaknesses though.

Swansea 1-2 Boro
Kane ; Ronaldo (2)
The away side just had too much class for me. Going forward, Kane will always score goals, even from the most unlikely scenarios but I would be looking to improve on Lindelof and Gaspar. The away side is very attacking, which could cause it bother against some better sides as although no weaknesses as such, I'm not a big fan of Cahill, shown great form after some silly errors start of season but I think he still has those silly errors in him. I'd be looking to improve the defence further as all other areas are set, depending on what happens with Zlatan I'd consider moving CR7 central as well.

Sunderland 1 - 1 Stoke
Dybala ; Suarez
The away side is more balanced for me, but I can see Modric and Eriksen controlling the game and winning the midfield battle, and think the home side have a stronger side defensively. Overally had to go for a draw here.

BOU vs CP

The attack of Bournemouth made the difference here and whilst I still believe the Bournemouth attack is the downfall (bar Messi) in their side, it was still enough to get past what is still a dodgy Palace defence. Palace need to shore up in most areas at the back for me, but do have goals going forward, just not here against a stern defence.

Score: 2-0

WAT vs HULL

Hull are a strong side, but not enough to stop Watford in what was a close affair. Not much in this, but Watford just have the extra quality really in attacking areas where Hull didn't have enough to get through. Watford now just need a new GK for me whereas Hull have a well balanced side with no obvious weaknesses, just maybe lacks a cutting edge creative player, but the side has promise.

Score: 1-0

SWA vs MID

Middlesbrough were just too strong for this Swansea outfit in this game and were out classed. The formation of Swansea see's them quite wide open in the middle of midfield and in this game, the 3v2 paid dividends through the middle for Boro as Swansea didn't have the quality of the legs to keep up with them. Swansea need a different formation for me whereas Boro could maybe look at bringing in a world class defender to compensate with the rest of the team, however it has lots of promise and potential.

Score: 0-2

SUN vs STO

Strangely enough, a high scoring game this one. The home side have a strong midfield now capable of creating and holding most teams in this league whilst an experienced defence has its qualities too, but the attack of Stoke was too much. Even though they got goals here, I'd still look for a more natural goalscorer in that side if they could. Stoke excellent going forward, still a little frail at the back and that's where I believe they need a good improvement.

Score: 2-2

West Brom 0 - 2 Burnley

Think West Brom have a fairly average side who lack any star quality. Rashford for me shouldn't be leading the line without someone in the number 10 role. This caused a lack of chances for him to waste. Burnley have a strong side although Valencia should be improved upon.

Bournemouth 1 - 1 Crystal Palace

Bournemouth have found where Messi should be playing, although they could do with some more established strikers than Firmino and Jesus. I thought Palace had a strong group of players, but thought they were shoved together. Alves was out of place and Herrera isn't good enough.

Watford 1 - 2 Hull City

Hull's team has grown on me after a shaky start to the season. They have a strong attack and defence. Not much room for improvement in my books. Maybe Hysaj could be taken to an extra level. Watford were unlucky to be up against, in my opinion, one of the most well rounded sides in the division.

Sunderland 2 - 1 Stoke City

Not much to say here. Both sides have quality players and not much needs to be changed. Stoke were let down at full back.

West Brom 0-1 Burnley
KDB

West brom - An improvement needed on rashford for me

Burnley - would still switch mertens and sane around


Bournemouth 1-0 Crystal Palace
Messi

Bournemouth - just a keeper stops you from being title favourites for me

Palace - the alves gamble didnt work against this formation for me


Watford 1-1 Hull City
Alli; Belotti

Watford - switch the wingers and improve on sule

Hull - id look to replace rabiot with more of a playmaker


Swansea City 0-2 Middlesbrough
Zaltan x2

Swansea - like the side, just came up against a powerhouse today, i would personally look to get a playmaker in that midfield over gueye, id at least start alonso if you dont have the cash to get anyone in

Boro - im not a fan of any of the back 4 really, that would hold you back against the bigger teams in my predictions

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West Brom 1-1 Burnley

Watford 2-1 Hull

Swansea 1-2 Boro

Sunderland 2-2 Stoke

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