Michael van Gerwen will be too hot for Phil Taylor in Glasgow, says Wayne Mardle
Friday 18 March 2016 07:14, UK
The Premier League is heading back north of the border for night seven in Glasgow and Wayne Mardle has made his predictions.
Premier League leader Michael van Gerwen will take on second-placed Phil Taylor, while defending champion Gary Anderson has been handed a double-header at The SSE Hydro, live on Sky Sports.
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But who does Mardle think will be the winners and losers?
Gary Anderson v Adrian Lewis
This is a rematch of the PDC World Championship final and Gary got the better of Adrian on that occasion, but I just don't know what to make of Gary. Some days he looks like the world champ he is and other days he just doesn't seem at the races.
Last week, he was superb against Michael Smith, but so was Adrian Lewis in his win over Peter Wright. I do think it could be a tough night for Gary Anderson.
He was so nervous in Aberdeen and the reception he got was incredible. But I've got a feeling that he's going to struggle. The way he played last week, I think Lewis is a man on a mission and is gunning for a play-off spot and will this by the odd leg.
Prediction: I'm going to go against Anderson and pick Adrian Lewis to win the opening match.
James Wade v Robert Thornton
Robert Thornton, away from the big stage, has been playing poorly and I've been mentioning it every week. I still don't think Robert is 100 per cent right, I don't think he's fit. When he gets a chance, he lacks composure because those chances are so few and far between. He has lost 7-0 twice this season alone and nothing is going right for him.
I cannot see any reason why that run will end against James Wade. To be honest, Wade like a lot of them, I'm not sure what to make of them this season. Anderson, Adrian Lewis and James Wade have been up and down, but what James has got is a game which allows him to play poorly and still win. Whereas a few of the others, Lewis to name just one, cannot do that.
James has been playing as good as ever, but maybe just a tad inconsistent.
Prediction: Wade will complete a comfortable victory.
Michael van Gerwen v Phil Taylor
These two have played each other already six times this year. Six times! We're only in March. There is no way that Michael van Gerwen is sick of the sight of Phil Taylor, because he keeps getting the better of him. He has won nine of the last 10, Van Gerwen. No one on the planet has ever had a record like that and no one has beaten Phil Taylor more.
I cannot see a Taylor win here, I cannot. I think the Phil will get the more hostile reaction, with it being in Scotland. I think they will go for the 'Green Machine.'
He's the only man in the history of darts to have withstood 'The Power.'
There are a couple of things that might be bothering Phil Taylor. When he gets in front, Michael doesn't falter he just fights back. He knows that Michael will not buckle and I think that actually puts Phil off. Michael is the only man in the history of darts to have withstood 'The Power.' I think Michael wins, he's on the crest of the wave, and knows he's the best player on the planet and will want to show it.
Prediction: Michael will take the win over Taylor.
Raymond van Barneveld v Dave Chisnall
We have mentioned that a few players have been inconsistent, well these two just sum it up. I've got no idea with 'Barney' and I don't think he does either. He looks as if he's up for it and if you were to say: 'Raymond, you are just about to fight David Haye', he would say 'yeah, okay.' Two minutes later you look at him and think 'what's happened?'
I just think he has a confidence crisis and sometimes he cannot get out of it. If he turns up with the swagger and strut we know, he can achieve anything. But I think 'Chizzy' is the more reliable of the two - and I cannot believe I've just said that.
Prediction: I'm going to go with Chisnall to win, because I feel he is playing to a higher level every game.
Gary Anderson v Peter Wright
If Peter Wright changes his darts again, then I will be annoyed. Like I said, I think it's going to be a difficult night for Gary Anderson. Two real tough games.
Wright has averaged 108 and 106 the last two weeks, and he won a tournament at the weekend. If he plays like he has been, can he possibly lose with a 107 average? I don't think so. It doesn't mean he's going to average 107, but the way he has been playing, he'll think he can win this.
In Glasgow, the expectation on Gary is going to be immense and I think it might be too emotionally draining for him as he plays first and last. I've already gone for a Lewis win and I think that knock of confidence will play a part in the game against Wright.
Prediction: I think Wright will sneak this in a last-leg thriller.
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