Sky Sports expert Paul Merson looks ahead to this weekend's live offerings.....
Merse on Everton v Fulham
Merse on Bolton v Man City
Everton v Fulham
I had a half a feeling Everton might struggle a little bit this season after failing to buy many players in the transfer window, but things are starting to pick up for them.
Megson & Hodgson: tough weekends in store
They left a lot of their deals quite late so it was always going to take a bit of time for the team to gel. Marouane Fellaini was their big signing and he's only just starting to find his feet with two goals in two games. The only problem is he's picked up five bookings and will miss a game at West Ham next week.
Everton are a hard-working team, but David Moyes will want to see more consistency from them. They were being dominated in the first half against Man United, but were a completely different team in the second half and could have won the game in the end. They got a great result against Bolton in midweek and another win against Fulham would really get the momentum going.
I don't see that real physical threat with Bolton any more and I don't think teams are as nervous about going to the Reebok these days.
Paul Merson
Quotes of the week
12.30pm, Sat, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Bolton v Man City
3.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Cottage industry
As for Fulham, they are horribly inconsistent. They beat Arsenal and Bolton, then didn't win in their next five games and that's why I think they will be among the strugglers this year. If your team is not full of top-drawer players then you've got to perform at the top of your ability level every week and Fulham know they have to play well to win a football match. It's very rare you'll hear Roy Hodgson saying: "My team weren't at the races today but we still won the game". The Chelseas of this world can sometimes play at 70 per cent and still win comfortably, but it's very different for the teams at the bottom.
Andrew Johnson scored twice in midweek and I like him and Bobby Zamora up front - one big man, one little man and both with bundles of pace. Jimmy Bullard's a massive player for them too; his energy sets an example and rubs off on other people. He kept them up last year, but I do worry for them if any of their big players get injured.
Whoever wins the midfield battle will win this match. Both sets of forwards can score goals and win games, but they need their midfield players to dominate. I think Lee Carsley was an unsung hero for Everton and I'm not sure the defence gets as much protection now he's gone. On the other side, a lot will depend on Bullard and Danny Murphy tracking Tim Cahill's runs. They can do a good job for 89 minutes, but if he gets away from them once it could be game over.
PAUL'S PREDICTION
Home win - I'm going for a really tight 1-0 to Everton. David Moyes won't let his side go out gung-ho because he knows Fulham can pick them off, but Roy Hodgson will also want to keep it tight. The longer Fulham can stay in a tight game, the more chance they've got of winning away from home.
MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Tim Cahill - If he plays, it's got to be Cahill. For an attacking midfield player he's as good as anyone in the Premier League. He's priceless to Everton, absolutely priceless.
Bolton v Man City
This is a massive game for both teams.
People are talking about Man City breaking into the top four but they've been blowing hot and cold all season. They've had some big wins, some bad defeats and they've only drawn one game - and that was against a Newcastle team who had 10 men for most of the game. There doesn't seem to be much in-between with them at the moment.
With the players they've got in their team it seems they can only play one way and that's to have a go, so maybe that explains why they won't draw too many matches.
If it's a big game for Man City, it's a massive game for Bolton. They lost last week to struggling Tottenham then had a shocking result at home to Everton on Wednesday. There's a lot of pressure on Gary Megson now but he's a big boy and will be able to handle that no problem. I don't think it's entirely fair though. What do Bolton fans expect? Sam Allardyce did a frighteningly good job when he was there and people should remember that. I'm not sure many managers could live up to what he did.
Trotters not so hot
I do worry for Bolton this season though. Not long ago I'd have looked at this game and seen a real opportunity for Bolton. Man City aren't the biggest team in the world, the forwards are quite small, and the old Bolton would have got plenty of balls into the box and dominated set pieces. I don't see that real physical threat with Bolton any more and I don't think teams are as nervous about going to the Reebok these days.
When teams play Stoke at the moment they are worried about their physical threat and about giving away throw-ins, but that fear factor isn't there at Bolton. If anything, the pressure will be on them. I don't see a draw being much use to Bolton and they will be under pressure to go out and win the game.
To be honest I don't think Man City would be happy with a draw either, so it could come down to which side has the best attacking players. If that's the case then Man City are the only winners here - and I can see them winning quite comfortably.
PAUL'S PREDICTION
Away win - The pressure's on Bolton and if Man City can defend well enough - and they do have some good defenders - then they can pick them off for fun. The first goal is massive and if City score it and force Bolton out then the likes of Robinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Daniel Sturridge and Stephen Ireland can punish them. 3-0 to City.
MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Robinho - There's only one player who could be by magic man in this one. I thought the Premier League might be a bit tough and physical for him, but he's been a revelation. He's pure class and he could be the difference on Sunday.
Comments (7)
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Ian Blackledge (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...
I agree with what merse is saying, really fear for the whites this season, as long as megson is in charge we will continue to struggle, he doesn't seem to be able to motivate the players. We used to have players who could unlock defences and who played with a smile on their face such as Okocha, Youri, Heirro, Campo ect, come on Bolton get someone in who is capable of attracting quality again, maybe Phil Brown ?
Posted 13:32 31st October 2008
Phil Bembridge (Aston Villa fan) says...
bolton's season would be a struggle with or without megson, no manager would ever be able to step into allardyce's shoes, so if you say it will only get worse if megson is in caharge then it will get even worse with the next manager you bring in. just like newcastle in a way, tottenham did it with martin jol, and it back fired. bringing in harry redknapp is very good cuz he is an established premiership manager who save pompey frm releagtion and made em uefa cup contenders, now i don't see bolton attracting a anme as big as harry redknapp unless u work miracles in bringin big sam back. megosn has made a mistake by letting go two good players who held it quite well at bolton n tht was diouf and campo.
Posted 12:58 31st October 2008
James Cavell (Everton fan) says...
come on everton, lets see a two nil victory so i can celebrate with a shandy or two afterwards
Posted 12:54 31st October 2008
Marty Mccolgan (Manchester City fan) says...
I think Mersons prediction is correct but Im going for Stephen Ireland for the first and SWP for the 2nd and 3rd...cant wait for January though...lol
Posted 12:52 31st October 2008
Mike Aspey (Manchester City fan) says...
If City do win it will probably be 3-0 like Merse says. However, we have contrived to lose to Wigan, Middlesborough and Brighton this season so Bolton will go into the game believing they have a great chance to win. I just hope for a better refereeing performance this time out - dubious penalties at Wigan and Boro lead to those defeats.
Posted 12:43 31st October 2008
Graham Griffiths (Everton fan) says...
cmon matt give everton some credit it will be at least 3 nil wid the yak getting two of them
Posted 11:56 31st October 2008
Andrew Bruce (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...
I hate to say it Merse but I think your spot on with the bolton prediction. I'm really worried about the season at the minute and its only going to get worse the longer megson is in charge!
Posted 11:38 31st October 2008
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